Picking the best air compressor for your home garage is very important.
There are tons of tools that are powered by air, so it is likely you will be using the air compressor you choose quite a bit.
There are some special considerations to keep on mind when picking you home garage air compressor that are different than if you were selecting one for a commercial application such as shop or industrial facility.
Just want to see our recommendations?
Then you can just take a look at the list below to see our top picks.
Our Top Picks
We have broken up our top picks by tank capacity.
The two top tank capacity picks for home garage air compressors are 20 gallon and 60 gallon sizes.
Top 20 Gallon Air Compressor Picks
| Top Pick | STEALTH SAQ-12018 Review | Check Prices |
| California Air Tools 20020 Review | Check Prices | |
| PORTER CABLE PXCMF220VW Review | Check Prices |
Top 60 Gallon Air Compresor Picks
| Top Pick | California Air Tools CAT-60040CAD Review | Check Prices |
| Quincy QT-54 Review | Check Prices | |
| NorthStar DQT-FBA Review | Check Prices |
Top 20 Gallon Air Compressors
STEALTH SAQ-12018
Our top pick for the best 20 gallon air compressor for your home garage is the STEALTH SAQ-12018.
Quick Specs
- 20 Gallon Tank
- 150 PSI Max Pressure
- 6.0 CFM @ 40 PSI
- 5.0 CFM @ 90 PSI
- 68dB Noise Level
- 1.8 HP Induction Motor
- Oil Free Compressor
- 130 Pounds
- 20L x 18W x 42H inches
- 120 Volts
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Imported
What We Like
This is the quietest home garage air compressor on our list, at a noise level of only 68dB.
It also has a limited lifetime warranty.
What We Do Not Like
This air compressor is the heaviest on our list of 20 gallon air compressors at 130 pounds, but that might not be an issue for you if you do not plan to move or transport the air compressor very often.
Check Current Prices on the STEALTH SAQ-12018
California Air Tools CAT-20020
Another good choice for your home garage is the California Air Tools CAT-20020.
Quick Specs
- 20 Gallon Tank
- 125 PSI Max Pressure
- 6.4 CFM @ 40 PSI
- 5.3 CFM @ 90 PSI
- 70dB Noise Level
- 2.0 HP Motor
- Oil Free Compressor
- 114 Pounds
- 20L x 20W x 45H inches
- 120 Volts
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
- Made in Mexico
What We Like
This air compressor is still pretty quiet, coming in at a noise level of only 70dB.
That is always nice for use in a home garage.
It also has the highest CFM rating on our list.
What We Do Not Like
The maximum working pressure of this air compressor is lower than the other options on our list at 125 PSI.
Most air tools you will encounter and use in your home garage will work fine at around 100 PSI, so the lower maximum PSI may not be a concern for you.
There is also only a 1 year warranty versus our top pick’s limited lifetime warranty.
Check Current Prices on the California Air Tools CAT-20020
PORTER CABLE PXCMF220VW
This pick could be considered as a budget option for the best air compressor for your home garage.
Quick Specs
- 20 Gallon Tank
- 150 PSI Max Pressure
- 5.0 SCFM @ 40 PSI
- 4.0 SCFM @ 90 PSI
- 84dB Noise Level
- 1.5 HP Induction Motor
- Oil Free Compressor
- 97 Pounds
- 17L x 18W x 43H inches
- 120 Volts
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
What We Like
This air compressor is a lower cost option, so if you are on a budget then this may be a good choice for your home garage.
It is also the lightest 20 gallon home garage air compressor on our list, so if you plan to move or transport your compressor then this may be a big advantage for you.
What We Do Not Like
This is the loudest air compresor on our 20 gallon air compressor list at 84dB, which is pretty loud.
At this noise level hearing protection is recommended.
It also has the lowest CFM ratings, but it should be noted these a SCFM rating versus the other picks, which are in CFM.
Because of this the CFM specs are not really directly comparable.
Check Current Prices on the PORTER CABLE PXCMF220VW
Top 60 Gallon Air Compressors
California Air Tools CAT-60040CAD
Our top pick for the best air compressor for your home garage with a 60 gallon tank size is the California Air Tools CAT-60040CAD.
Quick Specs
- 60 Gallon Tank
- 125 PSI Max Pressure
- 12.6 CFM @ 40 PSI
- 10.6 CFM @ 90 PSI
- 75dB Noise Level
- Two 2.0 HP Motors
- Oil Free Compressor
- 21L x 28.5W x 66H inches
- 213 Pounds
- 220 Volts
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
What We Like
This is the quietest 60 gallon air compressor on our list at 75dB.
It is also the lightest option on our list at only 213 pounds.
What We Do Not Like
This air compressor has the lowest CFM ratings of the 60 gallon air compressor on our list, so if you plan to use multiple air tools at the same time or ones that require a lot of CFM this might be an issue for you.
Also, this air compressor has two motors, so that means more components that could potentially fail.
It also has the lowest maximum working pressure of the 60 gallon air compressors at 125 PSI.
Check Current Prices on the California Air Tools CAT-60040CAD
Quincy QT-54
Quick Specs
- 60 Gallon Tank
- 175 PSI Max Pressure
- 15.6 CFM @ 40 PSI
- 15.4 CFM @ 90 PSI
- 80dB Noise Level
- 5.0 HP Baldor Motor
- Splash Lubricated Compressor (Requires Oil)
- 50,000+ Hour Pump Life
- 100% Duty Cycle
- 475 Pounds
- 29L x 21W x 64H inches
- 220 Volts
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
What We Like
This 60 gallon home garage air compressor has the highest CFM ratings on our list at 15.6 CFM @ 40 PSI, and 15.4 CFM @ 90 PSI.
It also has the highest maximum working pressure at 175 PSI.
The air compressor has a 100% duty cycle and a pump life of 50,000+ which are both very impressive.
What We Do Not Like
This air compressor is a little on the loud side at 80dB.
While it is not the quietest 60 gallon air compressor, it is within the average noise level range for this type of air compressor.
It is also the heaviest 60 gallon air compressor on our list, by quite a bit, at 475 pounds, but we do not imagine you plan to move a 60 gallon air compressor around too much.
Check Current Prices on the Quincy QT-54
NorthStar 75711
Quick Specs
- 60 Gallon Tank
- 135 PSI Max Pressure
- 13.4 CFM @ 40 PSI
- 11.5 CFM @ 90 PSI
- 80dB Noise Level
- 3.7 HP Induction Motor
- Splash Lubricated Compressor (Requires Oil)
- 75% Duty Cycle
- 247 Pounds
- 31L x 27W x 70H inches
- 220 Volts
- 4 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial Warranty
What We Like
This air compressor has the second best CFM ratings on our list of the best 60 gallon air compressors for your home garage, coming in at 13.4 CFM @ 40 PSI and 11.5 CFM @ 90 PSI.
It also has a nice warranty of 4 years for consumer use, like your home garage likely is, and a 2 year warranty for commercial use.
What We Do Not Like
We do not see anything about this air compressor that stands out as things we do not like.
Most the the specifications are in the middle of the range for this type of 60 gallon air compressor.
We think it is solid choice, especially considering the price of this air compressor.
Check Current Prices on the NorthStar 75711
Looking for Other Options?
You can also feel free to click below to search Amazon for other 20 or 60 gallon air compressors to meet your home garage needs.
These two tank sizes are the top choices for home garage air compressors.
Check Current Prices on 20 Gallon Air Compressors
Check Current Prices on 60 Gallon Air Compressors
Now that you have seen our top picks we’ll go over important considerations to take into account with picking the best air compressor for your home garage.
Air Compressor Use
What will you be using the air compressor for?
If you just need to inflate vehicle tires, inflate balls / other sports equipment, and use air tools like nail guns that don’t require a continuous supply of air then you might be best served with a pancake air compressor.
If you think you will just need your air compressor for the types of tasks mentioned above, then it sounds like a pancake air compressor might be all you need.
If so, check out our best pancake air compressor recommendations.
Power Requirements
Another thing to consider is available power. Many larger compressors require 220V instead of 120V.
In your home garage you likely only have existing 120V outlets available.
So it would be better to choose a 120V air compressor if you can get one that will provide the needed capacity.
Having a 220V outlet installed is something you will need an electrician to do, and if you do need the capacity of a 220V compressor then the cost might be worth it.
Local prices for this type of work will vary from place to place.
Air Compressor Size and Layout
Air compressors can be large, so the size of the best air compressor for your garage is something you should consider.
There are two main types of air compressor tank layouts you will see, a horizontal and a vertical layout.
As the names suggests, with a vertical layout the motor and compressor are on top of the air compressor’s storage tank, and the tank is oriented with the length of the tank vertical.
A vertical compressor will be taller and take up less floor space.
A vertical air compressor is usually the most space efficient for most home garages since it takes up less floor space at the expense of vertical space.
The horizontal air compressor layout still has the motor and compressor on top if the air storage tank, but the tank itself is oriented so the length of the tank is parallel to the ground.
This takes up more floor space but less vertical space.
If you need a compressor that will fit into a space with limited vertical room at the expense of floor space then a horizontal layout may be best for you.
Noise Level
If your garage is attached to your house then you should consider the noise level of the best air compressor for your home garage.
Even if your garage is detached you probably want to consider the noise level to some extent.
Of course, in either case the quieter the better, but quieter air compressors are usually more expensive than similar capacity ones that make more noise.
So if you can put up with more noise you can save some money in most cases.
Air Compressor Capacity
There are two main capacities to consider when picking the best air compress for your home garage.
These are compressor CFM (cubic feet per minute) and the size (usually in gallons) of the air storage tank.
Compressor CFM
Compressor CFM is the amount of air the compressor can pump and stands for cubic feet per minute.
The higher the CFM rating the more air the compressor can move and the faster the compressor can fill the air storage tank.
If you will be using air tools that use air continuously such as drills, sanders, and paint guns then the CFM rating will be very important.
All air tools should have a CFM rating at a certain PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure.
This lets you know the volume of air the tools uses during normal operation at the specified pressure.
If the combined CFM of the tools you will be using at the same time with your compressor is higher than the capacity of the compressor then the air compressor can not “keep up” and will deplete the air stored in its tank.
At some point enough air will be depleted to drop the pressure below what is needed to properly operate the attached tools.
Once this happens you will have to stop using the tools and wait for the air compressor to refill its storage tank before continuing.
If you want to avoid this downtime then you should pick an air compressor with a higher CFM rating than the combined CFM rating of air tools you plan to use at the same time.
Also, make sure to take into account the CFM PSI rating.
For example, a compressor that has a CFM rating of 5 CFM@90 PSI will have a higher CFM at a lower PSI, say 40. It will also have a lower CFM rating at higher pressures.
Most compressor specifications will at least show the CFM rating at 90 PSI, which is pretty standard. Most common air tools operate fine at 90 PSI or less and will specify the PSI of their CFM rating.
All these CFM and PSI ratings can be confusing, but the main thing to keep in mind is to make sure the air compressor has a higher CFM rating at the same or higher PSI of all tools you plan to use at the same time.
Maintenance
Maintenance of air compressors is usually pretty simple.
The main items are changing the oil in the compressor and draining any water from the air storage tank.
Changing the oil is pretty straightforward, just drain the used oil and fill with a oil that is recommended by the compressor manufacturer.
There are also oil-free compressors that are a good choice for a home garage.
In the past oil-free compressors were louder and did not last as long as their oil-filled counterparts.
Modern oil-free units do not have reduced these limitations and are good choice for a home garage in many cases.
When air is compressed it is heated, and as the air cools it will cause condensation in the compressor’s air tank.
If you live in more humid conditions there will be more condensation than in drier climates.
From time to time, depending on the conditions on you area, you will need to drain this condensation from the compressor’s air storage tank.
Most air compressors will have an value that is easy to operate that will allow you to drain water from the tank.
There will likely be a place to attach a hose as well to help direct the water.
Safety
Air compressors have lots of moving parts.
They have a motor, a compressor, pulleys, and usually belts from the motor to the compressor to drive it.
Most air compressors have a wire cage around the moving parts to keep foreign objects out, but very small items can still get inside and possibly get caught in the moving parts.
Children, especially small ones, may be tempted to place things inside the wire cage, so if you have children keep this in mind.
Choosing a vertical layout compressor could help with this, since the motor and compressor will be higher off the ground and harder to reach.
One other thing to keep in mind is that most air compressors automatically stop when a certain pressure in the storage tank to achieved.
They will also automatically start when the tank pressure drop below a certain level.
This auto starting and stopping will happen suddenly and without warning.
Conclusion
So you can see that there are many important considerations to keep in mind when picking the best air compressor for your home garage or workshop.
If you keep these thing in mind when selecting the best air compressor for you then you should be able to pick one that will meet your needs and last you for many years to come.
