7 Of The Best 6 Gallon Air Compressors

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Six gallon air compressors are the perfect size for most tasks nowadays but they all seem the same...

Am I Right?

I decided to look around at various retail websites like Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, CPO and a couple of other place to see what was out there, as far as 6 gallon air compressors were concerned.

Best 6 Gal. Compressors

There weren't many 6 gallon air compressor models but there was enough to make the decision process a little difficult. I had to dive deeper into what separates one compressor from another and how to make an informed decision (which mainly came down to price, ratings, warranty and availability).

In my search for the best 6 gallon compressor, I narrowed down the results to these 7 air compressors (listed below) and I am confident that the seven models are the "cream of the crop"!

1. The PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK - The Highest Rated 6 Gallon Air Compressor Out There...

The pancake design (the most common type) that the PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK, uses is standard these days, as far as design goes and is  what most of the 6 gallon compressors in the list use.

The C2002 was the highest rated 6 gallon compressor that made the list with over 3,100 reviews online, coming from over 10 different retailer's websites.

This is probably due to the price point (around $100 at the time) and the availability of the C2002 (Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, CPO, Walmart, Sears, etc.).

PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK

The 6-gallon capacity is a good size for most tasks, maintaining portability and functionality and the unit boasts short recovery times with 2.6 SCFM at 90 PSI.

The maximum air pressure that can be obtained is 150 PSI, which will power most pneumatic tools for the majority of jobs.

A great thing about this unit is that it runs without oil, which results in less mess and practically zero maintenance costs. For a home use air compressor, the PORTER-CABLE C2002-WK does a good job, and, since it comes with an accessory kit containing 13 pieces, you will not have to purchase anything extra to use it.

Noise levels are above average for an air compressor, being around 90 decibels. The model comes with a handle so that you can move it around and is in a decent location. Weighing 34 pounds, it will not be difficult to maneuver around.

2. The Bostitch BTFP02012 Oil-Free Compressor

The Bostitch BTFP02012 is another excellent choice and is competitively priced with the Porter Cable C2002-WK, we looked at prior.

The BTFP02012 is very lightweight (weighing in at just 29 pounds) and easy to manage, as far as compressors are concerned. 

The  BTFP02012's design is more compact (comparable to others) and is primarily due to the "pancake design" that is again used by Bostitch.

bostitch btfp02012

A pretty common (plastic) handle allows you to carry this Bostitch compressor around with ease and is directly over the center of the compressor.

The air tank itself can hold 6 gallons of pressurized air (like the other models), and it can deliver a MAXIMUM air pressure of 150 PSI, which isn't as important a factor as scfm but still a good metric to know.

Its oil-free operation comes in handy if you do not like getting your hands dirty and will save on oil cost and time maintaining it. It serves to know that the 2.6 SCFM at 90PSI output ensures shorter recovery times, compared to larger models.

The BTFP02012's two quick connect fittings (found on most models in the lineup) allow you to hook up the air compressor to two different air tools at the same time, just make a note of the required scfm for each tool.

Another thing to note about the BTFP02012 is that its high-flow regulator helps with increasing performance and the noise levels are reduced compared to other models, coming in at about 78.5 decibels.

3. DEWALT's DWFP55126 (A 6 Gal. Pancake Compressor)

This 6-gallon Dewalt air compressor is a good fit for small tasks, like all of the other models in the lineup and jobs that require short bursts of pressurized air are ideal.

This DeWalt air compressor has that same "pancake design" to it like the other compressors have but a little more rubber along the bottom end.

Maximum air pressure that can be achieved is 165 PSI, a bit more than what you typically see in air compressors in this category.

DEWALT DWFP55126

The DEWALT DWFP55126 is built for safety and convenience. A special valve will ensure that air pressure does not go over the allowed maximum 165 PSI. If air pressure reaches values below 135 PSI, the motor will kick-start, due to a built-in pressure switch.

The thermal overload protection it comes equipped with prevents overheating, ensuring a longer lifespan for the unit. Maintenance free operation is guaranteed by the oil-free configuration.

75.5 decibels are the maximum noise level this air compressor can reach, which is common among its competitors. Weighing only a mere 30 pounds, it is lightweight enough to carry around with very little effort.

4. Hitachi KNT50AB Finish Combo Kit - The Compressor And Starter Kit Combined

If you are looking for a complete compressor setup to help you with smaller tasks at home, work or wherever, the Hitachi KNT50AB may be a good fit.

The combo kit for the KNT50AB includes the EC710S pancake compressor, the NT50AE2 brad nailer, an air hose, a pair of safety glasses and a special lubricant for pneumatic tools.

Hitachi KNT50AB

Comparable to other compressors in the category, its 6-gallon air tank can hold 150 PSI maximum air pressure. The pancake design ensures extra stability, easier mobility and more efficiency.

The air compressor (EC710S) allows the use of multiple tools at the same time (because of the 2 ports) and its recovery time is short, due to the 2.8 CFM at 90 PSI output. The oil-free operation of the EC710S cuts maintenance costs down to nothing (no oil to buy) and is a much more appealing feature to have integrated into an air compressor.

The brad nailer (Hitachi NT50AE2) is easy to operate and works with brad nails up to 2 inches in length. A 25-foot (hybrid) air hose is provided with the kit. The Hitachi's air hose design ensures durability, and the spiral configuration prevents sharp bends that can damage it.

The hose works even in cold weather, and it maintains its flexibility, despite less than ideal temperature conditions. The safety goggles come as an extra and is a more than welcome addition to the kit. There is no need to buy other accessories, seeing as how the combo kit has nearly all of the important stuff right out of the box.

5. California Air Tools 6010LFC - The Quietest And Most Powerful (SCFM) 6 Gal. Model

This California Air Tools 6010LFC is the quietest model out of all of the 6 gallon compressors in the lineup (operating at around 60dB). It is much quieter (than the other models) but I wouldn't confuse that with "barely audible". Take a look at some common decibel ratings for common "everyday" items that you can relate to.

The 6016LFC also had the greatest amount of air output (measured in SCFM) but only by a small margin in comparison to many of the other 6 gallon models (.2 - .4 SCFM in most cases).

california air tools 6010lfc

The manufacturer guarantees 4,000 hours of use, which is more than what other brands offer for the same competing category of air compressors. This is also an oil-free type of motor, like the others and cuts down on maintenance and premature wear.

The dual piston pump is another asset of this air compressor. While the maximum air pressure produced is 125 PSI, the dual piston pump delivers more air than other models that use a 1.0 HP motor.

This California Air Tools compressor (6010LFC) really strikes a balance between what it can do (features and performance) and the level of disturbance that it causes, mainly regarding noise and maintenance. The 6010LFC can run in cold weather without any problems, a pretty common design feature that all models share nowadays.

The 4.00 CFM (at 40 PSI) and 3.00 CFM (at 90 PSI) outputs guarantee short recovery times and is a little better than some of the other models that made "the list".

6. Ridgid's OF60150HA Is Up Next...

Ridgid did have a pretty decent 6 gallon compressor (OF60150HA) that had a good number of reviews (on Home Depot mainly) but had one of the best warranties out of all of the other 6 gallon models listed.

All of the other specs were fairly average (in comparison to the other models) and the price was also another positive ($130, at the time) aspect that stood out.

Ridgid OF60150HA 6 Gallon Compressor

When reading through some of the reviews (Home Depot's website) I came across many users that were talking about a nailing gun and I wasn't sure if the OF60150HA came with a gun of some sort (as part of a kit?) or if these reviews were for a different Ridgid product.

7. A Harbor Freight 6 Gallon Compressor (68149)

Harbor Freight did have their own 6 gallon compressor that I thought should make the list because it had decent ratings (3.9 out of 5 stars) but all of those ratings did come from Harbor Freight's website and there were no other reviews online from different retailers that I could look through.

This was also the reason that there weren't that many total reviews for this HF compressor (68149). The specs were about average (for the 6 gal. compressors) but the 68149 was a little bit louder (90dB) than the others and only had a 90 day warranty.

Harbor Freight 6 Gallon Air Compressor 68149

When I tried to look through the user reviews for the 68149 on HF's website, there was nothing showing at the time so I will have to revisit the product page to see if it was just a minor glitch.

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About the author

Ryan

I have been in construction nearly my entire life and have a fascination with tools and love when they make my life easier. Match that with my "research addiction" and you create something like this website!

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