Best Air Compressor under 200 | Buying Guide of 2022

Are you looking for the best air compressor under 200? Then welcome to the review of topmost 5 air compressors under 200 bucks for personal as well as industrial use.

How can you select the right air compressor within a low budget? The answer to this question is not easy to describe in few words. Selecting the right air compressor mainly depends on some criteria like the area of application, the CFM, PSI as well as the Horsepower of the compressor.

In this review, we are going to describe the features of the topmost 5 air compressors along with their pros and cons so that you can select the right one according to your project. So what are we waiting for? Let’s jump into the article to grab the best one before it goes out of stock.

Whole Article at a Glance

From our years of experiment on power tools today, we are going to introduce you to the topmost 5 well-known air compressors within 200 bucks. Though the price range of these air compressors is very limited we haven’t compromised with quality.

• Are you looking for the toughest, industrial-grade portable air compressor with high PSI? Then you can grab either DEWALT DWFP55126 Pancake Air Compressor or Craftsman CMXECXA0200341 Air Compressor as both compressors have CFM rating 3.7 at 40 PSI with a max pressure of more than 155 PSI.
• When your concern is the quietest working atmosphere then California Air Tools CAT-4710SQ 4710Sq Quiet Compressor is ideal for you as it has a noise level of 65 db! Yes, you have heard right. Only 65 DB. Can you believe this! You can even carry on a conversation while working. And don’t engage with a phone call as your air compressor may get over pressured if you leave it by operating the motor. This air compressor also has two quick couplers for dual operating at a time. And it’s perfect for the DIY job for having a CFM rating of 3 at 40 PSI.
• If you are looking for the lightest air compressor then we have a surprise for you which is Senco PC1010 Portable Hot Dog Air Compressor. This 1 HP peak air compressor is only 20 lbs. And don’t worry about the PSI as it has a max PSI of 135 with a noise level of 68
• Are you a garage owner? Looking for a compact air compressor unit for multifunction? Then you have another option which is Metabo HPT EC710S Pancake Air Compressor with 2. 8 CFM at 90 and 150 Max PSI. This unit has 2 quick couplers which allow two persons to work at a time.

Products Review of Best Air Compressor under 200:

Senco PC1010 Portable Hot Dog Air Compressor

Specifications

• Capacity: 1 HP peak, 0.5 HP running
• Weight: 20 Pounds
• Dimension: ‎14 x 13 x 10 inches
• Max Pressure: 135 PSI
• CFM: 0.7 at 40 PSI
• Air Tank: 1 Gallon
• Noise Level: 68 dB

Senco PC1010 Portable Hot Dog Air Compressor is one of the best air compressors for the money for its powerful 1 HP peak direct drive induction motor. And you will be surprised to know that this tiny compressor is able to do inflating, airbrushing, craft painting, hobby painting, dusting, and roof nailing with its 135 max pressure.

The air compressor unit consists of a regulator to control the unit, two pressure gauges; one is for tank pressure another is for outlet pressure, a quick coupler to connect air hose, a universal pressure switch with on/off switch, a safety valve to release excess pressure, an easy draining valve to drain out the moisture of 1-gallon aluminum tank, a bar handle for easy portability and four-legged stand to place the unit. Senco provides a 1-year warranty for PC1010 Portable Hot Dog Air Compressor which is one of the options for the best budget air compressor for small shops.

 

DEWALT DWFP55126 Pancake Air Compressor

Specifications

• Capacity: 0.9 HP
• Weight: 30 Pounds
• Dimension: 17.2 x 16.6 x 20.1 inches
• Max Pressure: 165 PSI
• SCFM: 3.7 SCFM at 40 PSI
• Air Tank: 6 Gallons
• Noise Level: 75.5 dB

DEWALT DWFP55126 Pancake Air Compressor is one of the best portable air compressors under 200 for its 30 lbs. body weight. The unit consists of two quick couplers to support two workers at a time, a high flow regulator for optimal tools performance, two gauges; one is for measuring tank pressure, another is for outlet pressure, a universal pressure switch with on/off switch, a bar handle for grabbing the unit while carrying, 3 legs to place the unit with protective rubber covers, a ball drain valve to release moisture and a cord wrap for easy storage.

You will be surprised to know the max pressure of this tiny air compressor. It can supply you with a max of 165 PSI! So this heavy-duty 6.0-gallon air compressor is ideal for almost all the garage work like inflating, dusting, drying, craft painting, finish nailing, and air blowing.

DEWALT DWFP55126 Pancake Air Compressor is a belt-drive high flow compressor that you can power by an extension cord. And the console cover allows easy repairing when necessary. In a word, this portable air compressor is a complete solution for a small garage with a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

 

California Air Tools CAT-4710SQ 4710Sq Quiet Compressor

Specifications

• Capacity: Running 1 HP Peak 2 HP
• Weight: 43 lbs.
• Dimension: 19.5 x 9.5 x 24 inches
• Max Pressure: 120 PSI
• CFM: 3 CFM at 40
• Air Tank: 4.7 Gallon
• Noise Level: 65 dB

California Air Tools CAT-4710SQ 4710Sq Quiet Compressor is one of the best budget air compressors for its portability along with low maintenance cost. The oil-free dual-piston 1680 RPM pump makes sure a quiet working atmosphere where you can carry your conversation.

This air compressor consists of two pressure gauges; one is for measuring tank pressure, another is for regulator pressure, a quick coupler for connecting air hose, a regulator to control the unit, a universal pressure switch with on/off switch, a bar handle to carry the unit, rubber feet with the stand and a 4.7-gallon steel tank with a drain valve to release moisture after every single use of the unit.

California Air Tools CAT-4710SQ 4710Sq Quiet Compressor has a lifespan of more than 1000 plus hours with a 70% duty cycle. This ultra-quiet air compressor is ideal for the DIY shops as well as the home user for its powerful engine within 200 bucks. And California Air also provides you a 1-year warranty for this super portable unit.

 

Metabo HPT EC710S Pancake Air Compressor

Specifications

• Capacity: 1 HP
• Weight: 36.5 lbs.
• Dimension: 16.5 x 16.5 x 18.5 inches
• Max Pressure: 150 PSI
• CFM: 2.8 at 90 PSI
• Air Tank: 6 Gallons
• Noise Level: 73 dB

Metabo HPT EC710S Pancake Air Compressor is a complete solution for nailing within 200 bucks. This oil-free, 1 HP, single-stage, 120-volt electric-powered air compressor is totally maintenance-free.

The compressor unit consists of a universal pressure switch with a knob, a pressure gauge to measuring tank pressure along with outlet pressure, two quick couplers to operate dual operations at a time by two users, and a steel roll cage with a rubber grip to protect the motor of the unit. There is also a rubber cap for the stand of the compressor to prevent tear and wear.

You can also do dusting, inflating, hobby printing as the CFM as well as PSI of this low budget air compressor is also high. So Metabo HPT EC710S Pancake Air Compressor is a great option for the best air compressor for small shops.

 

Craftsman CMXECXA0200341 Air Compressor

Specifications

• Capacity: 1.5 HP
• Weight: 36 lbs.
• Dimension: ‎19 x 19 x 12.4 inches
• Max Pressure: 155 PSI
• CFM: 3.7 at 40
• Air Tank: 3 Gallons
• Noise Level: <78 dB

Craftsman CMXECXA0200341 Air Compressor is the best budget air compressor with a max of 155 PSI. This oil-free 1.5 HP electric powered, UMC motor ensures durability for multifunctional applications like inflating, nailing, air stapling, bolting, hobby painting, and so on.

The whole shipment carries 1 piece of air filter, a 6 feet cord, a quick coupler, a ball drain valve for installation with the compressor. So the air filter makes sure the moisture-free air while pumping the motor. Again the ball drain valve is easy to drain the water from the air tank.

The compressor unit consists of two pressure gauges; one is for measuring tank pressure, another is for outlet pressure, a regulator to control the unit, a universal pressure switch, a quick coupler to connect the air hose, a safety valve that prevents blasting by discharging extra pressure and a drain valve to drain out the water of the air tank.

And Craftsman provides a 1-year warranty for the CMXECXA0200341 Air Compressor which is the best option for small garages as well as shops.

 

Buying Guide

Before buying an air compressor you need to know the key factors regarding an air compressor. After providing the list of topmost 5 air compressors we are giving a buying guide additionally which will be very helpful for the novice users.

Air Volume

Air volume means the flow of air per minute. It is expressed by the term CFM (cubic feet per minute). Every air tool has an exact CFM rating for operating with compressed air. And for operating that tool your air compressor must fulfill the minimum CFM rating of that tool.

Most garage tools have a CFM rating of 0 to 5. So you can run small home tasks like inflating, dusting, airbrushing, nailing if your air compressor has the CFM of 0.5 to 3.00 CFM rating.

Air Pressure

Air pressure is also a considerable factor for buying an air compressor. Like CFM every air tool has a specific pressure level to run with the compressed air of the air compressor. And the pressure level is expressed with the term PSI (the pounds per square inch).  PSI as well as CFM is leveled on the body of the power tools and also on the body of air compressors. Most garage air tools like nail guns, paint guns, spray guns, air staplers run at 40 to 90 PSI. You can set the required PSI according to your tools by the regulator. And for inflating tire you need 32-35 PSI. On the other hand, a paintball tank needs 2800 to 3000 PSI! But for our garage tools, 120 to 150 max PSI is enough.

Horsepower

Horsepower is the term by which we can learn the capability of an air compressor. It represents that how fast the tank is filled by the motor.

The HP of medium piston air compressors is 1.5 to 6.5 HP. And for running garage tools 0.5 to 2 HP motor is ideal.

Tank Size

Tank size is also a considerable factor for selecting the right air compressor. If the tank is giant then it becomes a burden for you. On the other hand, if the tank is too tiny then you need to run the motor continuously. Along with that, you don’t get sufficient air.

To cope up with all these crisis what you need to do is to select a precise air tank considering the places of application. If you need to carry the compressor from one place to another place then 2 gallons to 6 gallons tank is enough.

Again if you want to do a professional paint job then you need a bigger air tank as for coating, a continuous airflow is a must. Click best air compressor for spray painting for buying the right air compressor for car paint.

Portability

Portability means the compactness of an air compressor. The lighter the tank is the more portable the unit is.

And for roof nailing, finish nailing, inflating, and air stapling what you need to focus on first is the portability of the compressor. Do you know why? Because you cannot continue these works simply by standing at a specific place. So your air compressor must have light-weight so that you can carry it whenever and wherever you need it.

Reading User Manual

Read out the user manual is the prime duty after buying an air compressor. In a user manual, the using procedure along with the configurations of any device is written. So if you want to run the compressor flawlessly then you must read the manual first.

Some Tips & Warnings to Follow

• Never place the compressor in a wet place as moisture creates rust which causes internal tear and wears
• Use air muffs if the noise level of your compressor is more than 70 dB
• While working with an air compressor wear gloves along with goggles to prevent any accident
• Never leave the compressor without releasing the pressure as it may blast the system
• Install an air filter if your compressor unit does not have an air filter installed to get moisture-free air
• Never allow children to roam around the working place to prevent any unexpected occurrence
• Drain out the water of the air tank on a regular basis to avoid tear of the metal body of the air tank
• Always try to use 3 pronged grounded outlet for safe power generation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Is it necessary to drain out the moisture of an air compressor after every use?

Answer: Yes, if you drain out the moisture after every single use then there will be no possibility of rust on the inner layer of the tank.

Question: Is it possible to leave the compressor without releasing the pressure?

Answer: No, it’s not wise to leave the compressor without releasing the pressure as the pressure may harm the metal body of the compressor.

Question: Which is the required PSI and CFM of running home appliances?

Answer: The CFM ratings of most home appliances is 0 to 5 rating. And the required PSI of almost all the small to medium power tools is 90 to 120 PSI.

Question: From where I can buy my air compressor?

Answer: As the Covid-19 pandemic is going on it’s not wise to go outside for buying any product. You can place an order for any type of air compressor from Amazon simply by clicking the bottom of your electronic devices.

The Closer

An air compressor is a multitasking device. It’s the powerhouse for power tools like nailer, air stapler, airbrush, tire inflator, and what-not. And selecting the right air compressor according to the need of the project is the most essential task.

After going through the article you can select the best air compressor under 200 according to the need of your air tools. Don’t forget to wear gloves as well as goggles while working with the compressor as the heat of compressed air can harm your eyesight. Feel free to share any kind of queries regarding power tools as our expert team is always ready to assist you. Stay home and stay safe.