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Credit: Dan Roth

The Best Portable Tire Inflators and Air Compressors of 2024

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Credit: Dan Roth

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Editor's Choice Product image of Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Best Overall

Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor

Check Price at Amazon

Fast, powerful, and easy to use, this tire inflator deserves a place in your vehicle's emergency kit. Read More

Pros

  • Quick inflation
  • Easy to use
  • Battery and DC powered

Cons

  • Loud
2
Product image of DeWalt DCC020IB

DeWalt DCC020IB

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Despite its versatility, we were disappointed that the battery for this compressor has to be purchased separately. Read More

Pros

  • Inflates tires and air mattresses
  • Battery power option
  • Impressive display

Cons

  • Battery sold separately
3
Product image of EPAuto AT-010-1Z

EPAuto AT-010-1Z

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The robust direct-drive motor will inflate tires quietly and with ease. The gauge is backlit and accurate. Plus, it stores away neatly. Read More

Pros

  • Beefy direct-drive motor
  • Auto shut-off function
  • Bright, accurate display

Cons

  • Slow to inflate
4
Product image of Black & Decker BDINF20C

Black & Decker BDINF20C

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While great for use at home or at the side of the road, we were disappointed that this compressor's battery needs to be purchased, separately. Read More

Pros

  • Great cable management
  • AC power

Cons

  • No light
  • Battery costs extra
5
Product image of Air Hawk Pro

Air Hawk Pro

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While equipped with a rechargeable battery, the Air Hawk Pro does not come with a DC cable, leaving you stranded at the side of the road if it runs out of power. Read More

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Rechargeable battery

Cons

  • No DC backup
  • Short hose
  • Best Overall Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
  • Other Portable Tire Inflators and Portable Air Compressors We Tested
  • How We Tested Portable Tire Inflators and Air Compressors
  • What to Know About Portable Tire Inflators and Air Compressors
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Roadside emergencies never happen on schedule. Because of this, being prepared to deal with whatever your car throws at you is a good idea. If a low tire warning lights up on your dashboard, you could be facing an issue that could put you and your passengers in danger. No matter if you’re dealing with a slow leak from a puncture, a bad seal with the wheel, or a faulty valve, having a portable air compressor in your car will give you the ability to drive on to the closest service station to have your tires inspected by a professional.

After weeks of research and testing, we found that the best portable tire inflator and air compressor is the Avid Power 20v Cordless Inflator (available at Amazon) . It’s a lightweight, dependable car tire inflator that almost anyone can use.

Our Best Overall pick is battery powered, adaptable and can either be held or sat up on the ground while in use.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Our Best Overall pick is battery-powered, adaptable, and can either be held or sat upon the ground while in use.

Best Overall
Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor

The Avid Power 10v Cordless Portable Tire Inflator resembles a power drill. Thanks to the large battery pack built into the base of its grip, you can set it on the ground as you work, keeping your hands free to connect its long air hose and nozzle to your tire. When using it in hard-to-reach places, you’ll find that the Avid is reasonably light, well balanced, and comfortable to hold. We found that this compressor’s backlit digital display was easy to read, night or day.

During testing, the Avid was able to refill a tire from 25 PSI to 35 PSI in just over a minute, making it the third-fastest air compressor we used. More important than its speed, however, was its accuracy: the PSI readings it produced were near the top of the pack with an error rate of about 1 PSI compared to our control tire gauge.

We liked that users can set an inflation target when using this compressor--it’s a great feature that’ll help keep you from overinflating your tires. Once the Avid pumps up your tire to the desired PSI, it'll add an additional 1 PSI before its automatic shut-off kicks in. So, when you disconnect the compressor from your tire, the resulting air loss will leave you with the perfect amount of inflation.

Unlike many of the car tire inflators and portable air compressors in this guide, the Avid can make use of multiple power sources. Its included rechargeable battery, an AC charger, and DC charger adapter make it possible to keep it juiced up, wherever you go. What’s more, its battery pack is equipped with a USB port that can be used to charge additional devices.

The biggest downside is that, at 89.5dB, the Avid was the loudest inflator that we tested. While it should only be one for a few minutes in the case of a flat tire, it’s still something you wouldn’t want to spend too much time listening to.

Pros

  • Quick inflation

  • Easy to use

  • Battery and DC powered

Cons

  • Loud

Buy now at Amazon

$77.99 from Walmart

Other Portable Tire Inflators and Portable Air Compressors We Tested

Product image of DeWalt DCC020IB
DeWalt DCC020IB

The Dewalt DCC020IB 20 V Max Inflator looks more like a tiny boombox than a portable air compressor. But it's almost toyish design hides a heavy-duty, full-featured inflation machine.

Its LED light illuminated digital display and the fact that you can choose your desired PSI with the twist of a dial makes it easy to use, in any lighting condition. In addition to tires, the Dewalt can also be used to pump air into air mattresses, sporting equipment, and pool toys, thanks to its collection of hose-end adaptors.

We did have some issues with it, however, first, while it’s possible to power the DCC020IB with a Lithium-Ion battery, the battery must be purchased separately, adding to this compressor’s overall cost. If you choose to go without a battery pack, the compressor can still be juiced up using its included DC vehicle adapter. And, while its display is well lit, we were disappointed to find that the DCC020IB doesn’t come equipped with a work light. Finally, because of its size, we feel that this compressor is best suited for use with vehicles with a lot of cargo space to spare, or in a home garage. Compact car owners should likely steer clear of the DCC020IB.

Pros

  • Inflates tires and air mattresses

  • Battery power option

  • Impressive display

Cons

  • Battery sold separately

$119.67 from Amazon
Product image of EPAuto AT-010-1Z
EPAuto AT-010-1Z

One of the smallest inflators we tested for this guide, the EP Auto AT-010-1Z was also one of the quietest. During testing, the AT-010-1Z took close to two minutes to inflate a tire, which is a little on the slow side. That said, once the correct amount of air pressure has been reached, the compressor will automatically turn itself off. This is a great feature that allows drivers to tend to other issues their vehicle might be having, without worrying about accidentally overfilling their tires.

Additionally, we liked its simple, but effective cable management system. We also appreciated the fact that the AT-010-1Z is small and sturdy enough to survive being thrown into the trunk of a car, without having to worry about it taking up too much space or being damaged.

Pros

  • Beefy direct-drive motor

  • Auto shut-off function

  • Bright, accurate display

Cons

  • Slow to inflate

Buy now at Amazon

$31.47 from Walmart
Product image of Black & Decker BDINF20C
Black & Decker BDINF20C

The Black and Decker 20v Max Cordless tire inflator can be powered by a rechargeable papery pack… provided you buy one for it. However, it does come with AC and DC cables making it possible to power this compressor with a 12V outlet or a wall socket in your home.

We were disappointed that, like the Dewalt DCC020IB, the 20v Max lacks a built-in work light for those times when you need to inflate a tire in the middle of the night on the side of the road. Additionally, just like the DCC020IB, its larger size makes it a better choice for use at home or in vehicles with a lot of storage space.

These complaints aside, the 20v Max proved capable of adding 10 PSI to a tire, in under one minute. It’s also worth noting that it had the best cable and hose management of any of the compressors that we tested.

Pros

  • Great cable management

  • AC power

Cons

  • No light

  • Battery costs extra

$67.41 from Amazon

$87.82 from Walmart
Product image of Air Hawk Pro
Air Hawk Pro

Like our Best Overall pick, the Air Hawk Pro portable air inflator resembles a cordless drill. It ships with a rechargeable battery but no DC cable. So, if you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and the battery is dead, it’s useless. We found the compressor’s user interface to be just as disappointing: its display is bright but tiny, and the small size of its buttons could make it difficult for some to use. If you can manage to push the right buttons, you’ll find that the Air Hawk Pro allows you to set the desired PSI. When that PSI is reached, the compressor will automatically turn off.

During testing, it was able to pump 10 PSI into a tire in one minute and 20 seconds. Unfortunately, the compressor’s short air hose means that if your tire’s nozzle is at the 12 o’clock position, you’ll either have to hold the Air Hawk the entire time that it’s doing its job or let it hang from the end of its hose, which is less than ideal.

Pros

  • Easy to use

  • Rechargeable battery

Cons

  • No DC backup

  • Short hose

Buy now at Amazon

$50.00 from Walmart
Product image of Husky HD12A
Husky HD12A

The Husky HD12A was the second quickest compressor that we tested. It’s a rugged metal inflator that plugs into your car’s 12-volt adapter for power. Unfortunately, in lowlight conditions, despite its display being modestly illuminated, the numbers on its gauge are so small they’re hard to read without using a flashlight.

We were also disappointed to find that while its hose can be tucked neatly away, there’s no cable management for the compressor’s DC car adapter. This is bad news if you need to store the HD12A in a messy trunk, as there’s a chance that it could get snagged and frayed.

Pros

  • Quick to inflate

  • Rugged

Cons

  • Hard to read gauge

  • Poor cable management

Buy now at Home Depot

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Stanley JumpIt J5C09 Jump Starter
Stanley JumpIt J5C09 Jump Starter

The Stanley Jumpit J5C09 has a lot of things going for it. You can jumpstart a car with it, its internal battery can be used to power USB devices, and, because its battery is so large, you’ll be able to refill your tires using the Jumpit without having to worry about DC cables. But its huge battery is also a huge drawback. Weighing in at 17.75 pounds, it’s too heavy and too unwieldy to be hauling around in your trunk.

If you just need a compressor to use at home, get the Jumpit. If you want something that’ll save you in a pinch in the middle of nowhere, skip it.

Pros

  • Can jump start a car battery

  • USB hook up to charge electronics

Cons

  • Heavy

  • Loud

$116.85 from Amazon

$116.85 from Walmart
Product image of Viair 85P
Viair 85P

If you’re looking for pure speed, the Viair 85P is your compressor. This car tire inflator was able to top off 10 PSI in just 43 seconds. That’s 18 seconds quicker than anything else we tested. Unfortunately, the first time we used it, we didn’t realize that the gauge was off by 5 PSI. On our second attempt, in order to meet our 35 PSI target, we had to adjust the compressor to shut off 40 PSI. This might not sound like a big deal, but given that a normal tolerance for error on a compressor is 1-3 PSI, a 5 PSI variance is pretty high.

We were disappointed to find that the Viair 85P’s work light is so dim that it’s nearly worthless and worse, there’s nothing in the way of actual backlighting to illuminate its gauge.

Finally, this portable air compressor has no cable management system to speak of. That said, users can gather up it, along with its cable and hose, and stuff the lot into an included storage sack. So it’s got that going for it.

Pros

  • Quick Excellent

  • build quality

Cons

  • Gauge isn’t backlit

  • Poor Cable Management

$65.05 from Amazon

$69.95 from Walmart
Product image of AstroAI Air Compressor Tire Inflator
AstroAI Air Compressor Tire Inflator

The Astro angular plastic body looks like something out of a 1970s science fiction movie. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, the quality of plastic used will ensure that the compressor will get banged up pretty badly once it’s been riding around in a trunk full of tools and heavy objects for a while. bad but its plastic outer body seems like it’s going to get banged up pretty bad once it makes its way to a trunk. It does have a bright and easy-to-read display. But its flashlight is tiny and nearly worthless.

Beyond this, we found the Astro’s work light was too dim to be useful. Poor cable management and the fact that it took nearly two minutes to add 10 PSI to a tire made this compressor less desirable than almost any of the models we tested for this guide.

Pros

  • Quirky retro futuristic design

  • Digital read out

Cons

  • Questionable build quality

  • Poor cable management

  • Compressor slow to refill

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Pittsburgh 96068
Pittsburgh 96068

Producing 73dB of sound while operating, the Pittsburgh inflator was the model that we tested for this guide. That it’s so quiet is a win, as you’ll be listening to it for a long time: it took two minutes and 18 seconds to complete our tire fill test, making it the slowest tire inflator that we tested for this guide.

While we were impressed by its sturdy build quality, it’s not enough to overlook to problems: the first is that the compressor’s carry handle obscures the Pittsburgh’s pressure gauge. The second, and more concerning issue, is that When we could see its gauge, it was off by a whopping 15 PSI! We ran three tests in order to confirm that we hadn’t simply read it wrong. In the end, we had to pump our tire up to 50 PSI (according to the gauge) in order to get to the actual 35 PSI that we were after.

Such a huge discrepancy makes this inflator nearly worthless unless used in conjunction with a tire gauge.

Pros

  • Comfortable carry handle

  • Rugged

  • Quiet

Cons

  • Wildly inaccurate display

  • No backlighting

  • Slow to refill

Buy now at Amazon

How We Tested Portable Tire Inflators and Air Compressors

A Viair 85P portable air compressor is being used to inflate a car tire.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Dan Roth

We tested each of the portable tire inflators and air compressors in this guide, multiple times, to ensure our data was correct.

The Tester

Roberto Baldwin is a freelance automotive and tech reporter whose work has appeared in Car and Driver, Motor1, Engadget, Wired, and a host of other publications. Roberto grew up with a mechanic father and a mechanically inclined mother. Both would typically interrupt his teenage-weekend fun by forcing him to help fix the family car. Nowadays automotive repair is no longer a chore and has become a way to relax after a long day of writing about cars.

The Tests

To fairly test portable tire inflators and air compressors, we examined a number of different factors using the same vehicle, a 2014 Subaru BRZ. The vehicle’s driver-side front tire was subjected to dozens of deflations only to have it reinflated, again and again, likely to the annoyance of neighbors wondering why someone would work on a car during the day, then again in the evening.

First, we compared and recorded a number of objective attributes for each of the air compressors in our test group, including power cord and hose length, size, weight and, what, if any, accessories the compressor came with.

To see how well the car tire inflators in our test group performed, we used each one to raise the inflation pressure from 25 PSI to 35 PSI, four times in a row on 17-inch tires installed on a passenger car. In order to ensure that we started testing at the same 25 PSI tire pressure, every time, we used a Kobalt digital tire gauge. The Kobalt was also used as our control, throughout the test to verify the readings produced by each inflator.

We measured sound levels as well, taking A-weighted dB readings from 24 inches away. This test conducted OSHA sound measurement techniques, which define a two-foot sphere around the head as the “hearing zone.” Given the way people crouch down in close proximity to a car’s tire when filling it with air, it’s conceivable that one or both ears would be within 2 feet of any inflator while it runs. Our readings are specific to this test, however, and may differ from officially published figures which adhere to measurement and calibration specifications.

Finally, to test the brightness of built-in lighting and the legibility of each inflator’s display, we ran our tests, both during the day and at night.

Once we had all of the information we needed. The objective measurements we collected during testing were averaged and weighted. These results were then considered, along with the subjective impressions we had of each device in our test group, to determine which inflator we should recommend.

What to Know About Portable Tire Inflators and Air Compressors

Stanley Jumpit
Credit: Reviewed.com / Dan Roth

This portable Stanley contains a car battery charger/jumpstarter and a compressor.

How to Use a Portable Tire Inflator and Air Compressor

The proper use of a tire inflator or air compressor is key to successfully making sure your tires are safe to drive on.

  • If the inflator doesn’t have a battery supply, plug it into the 12-volt port in your car. This used to be known as the cigarette lighter.
  • If the inflator has an on/off switch, turn it on.
  • Connect the inflator’s hose to the tire valve. There are two tire hose connection types: screw-on and lever. The first requires you to screw the hose to your tire’s valve stem (so easy!) Using a lever-type connection is a bit more involved. To make sure you have a good seal, push the connection onto the valve then push the lever down to secure the connector in place.
  • After connecting to the tire, give a slight tug to the compressor hose to make sure you have a good seal.
  • Now keep an eye on the pressure gauge. Once you hit the desired PSI, remove the connection and you’re good to go.

How Much Air Should I Put in My Tires?

The best place to find out how much air to put in your vehicle’s tires is in a very weird spot: on a label in the driver’s side door jamb. Unless you’ve replaced the tires on your vehicle with rubber that’s wildly different from what it shipped with, the PSI numbers on the label should be spot on. Match this to the gauge on your portable air compressor.

Why Do Tires Go Flat?

A tire that’s gone flat over time can be the result of a whole host of scenarios. A slow leak from a puncture, a bad seal with the wheel, or a faulty valve. Tires will also lose some of their pressure naturally over a long period of time. That’s why it’s important to check your tire pressure once a month. It’s the more immediate issues that are cause for alarm and should be repaired as soon as possible.

Will a Car Tire Inflator Fix a Flat Tire?

A tire that’s losing air due to a puncture, bad seal, or faulty valve will not be fixed by putting air in the tire. In fact, as you use your portable tire inflator, the extra pressure exerted by the air you add will likely result in your hearing air escape. After adding air to the faulty tire, be sure to have it repaired or replaced at your local tire shop as soon as possible.

Meet the tester

Roberto Baldwin

Roberto Baldwin

Contributor

Roberto Baldwin is a freelance automotive and tech journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s currently in too many bands and longs for a rear-wheel-drive convertible electric car.

See all of Roberto Baldwin's reviews

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