Best Air Compressors Under 100 Dollars For Quick Jobs Around Home (Reviews)
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A high-quality air compressor is a must-have tool for every homeowner, shop owner and DIY enthusiasts. But for those who are on a tight budget, it will be a cold day in Hell before you can find a good-quality air compressor for home use without breaking the bank.
Worry no more, because we’ve searched the market for you and come up with the list of these 5 best air compressors under 100 dollars, perfect for different tasks like inflating tires, running air tools or whatever projects you have at home.
| Image | Product | Features | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Best Overall PORTER-CABLE C2002 |
| |
 | Runner-Up Bostitch BTFP02012 |
| |
 | Best For Tire And Ball Inflation Campbell Hausfeld FP2028 |
| |
 | Ultra Quiet California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S |
| |
 | Best For Casual DIY-ers Campbell Hausfeld FP209499AV |
|
Best Pancake Air Compressors Under 100 Dollars
PORTER-CABLE C2002Best Overall
Pros
- Portable with a mere weight of 30 lbs
- Compact for small space
- Quick recovery
- Stable and long-lasting
- Works well with a variety of air tools
- Simple to use, perfect for beginners
Cons
- It runs loud to some users
- The drain valve can be better
- Accessories are not included
This Porter-Cable C2002 is all DIY fanatics can ask for their home projects. From inflating tires to powering the nailers, this little beast will blow you away by how efficient it is. Lightweight, compact and quiet, you will be surprised by how many great features it packs inside this small silhouette.
Featuring 150 PSI max pressure and a generous 6-gallon tank, it allows you to run your air tools longer and optimize your productivity. It runs at 2.6 SCFM at 90 PSI, giving enough power to run various kinds of air tools and quickly recovering.
If you don’t like to mess with oil spills and maintenance work, this air compressor is a life saver due to its oil-free pump. The pancake design makes it more stable to stand on itself. Two air couplers which allows 2 users at the same time will be a bonus to a DIY couple.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Application Use | Vehicle tires, Brad nailer, Finish nailer, Roofing Nailer, Framing nailer, Staple gun, Airbrush, Blowing out a sprinkler system |
| Max PSI | 150 |
| Tank Capacity (Gallons) | 6 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 40PSI | 3.7 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI | 2.6 |
| Noise Level | 82 dbA (1 meter away) |
| Weight (lbs) | 31.3 |
| Highlight Features | Starts easily in cold weather, Oil-free pump, Lightweight and compact, Quick recovery |
You can’t go wrong with this Porter-Cable C2002 air compressor for almost any DIY project around the house.
Bostitch BTFP02012Runner-Up
Pros
- Quieter than Porter-Cable C2002
- Perfect for various light-duty home projects
- Reliable and durable
- Portable with lightweight design
Cons
- Take more time to refill than Porter-Cable C2002 (1 min only!)
- It leaks a bit
- Accessories are not included
If you have read so many comments saying that Porter-Cable C2002 air compressor is noisy (aren't all compressors?), this Bostitch BTFP02012, with noise level of 78.5 dbA will be a bit nicer for the ears.
Just like Porter-Cable C2002, it has a 6-gallon tank and maximum pressure of 150 PSI, which is suitable for inflating tires and powering air tools for your DIY projects such as framing nailers, brad nailers.
However, some people state that it does not refill as quickly as Porter-Cable C2002. What we also like about this air compressor is the color yellow, which means you can’t lose it in the mess of tools in the storage.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Application Use | Vehicle tires, Brad nailer, Finish nailer, Roofing Nailer, Framing nailer, Staple gun, Airbrush, Blowing out a sprinkler system |
| Max PSI | 150 |
| Tank Capacity (Gallons) | 6 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 40PSI | 3.7 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI | 2.6 |
| Noise Level | 78.5 dbA |
| Weight | 29 lbs |
| Highlight Features | Quieter than Porter-Cable C2002, High flow regulator and couplers, Easy to start in cold weather |
Bostitch BTFP02012 will help you finish your projects while being nice to your ears.
Campbell Hausfeld FP2028Best For Tire And Ball Inflation
Pros
- Super lightweight and compact
- Perfect for small-scale projects and keeping tires aired-up
- Simple to use
- Accurate and easy-to-read gauge
- Accessories are included
Cons
- It is pretty loud while filling up
- Some complain that it takes time to refill
Got too many tires to inflate at home? Not to mention the kids’ pool and balls, the air mattresses, your manual pump will knock you off your feet. That’s why Campbell Hausfeld FP2028 is here for you.
It is lightweight and compact, perfect for inflation tasks and some small maintenance jobs. With a tank of 1 gallon, it surely can handle all kinds of vehicle types of your family, from bicycle, to car and truck. It runs at 0.36 SCFM at 90 PSI, enough to run a few small air tools like brad nailers with ease.
We love this air compressor because it can be used to blow dust out of the computer keyboard and blow the bikes dry when we wash them. How convenient is that? On top of that, Campbell Hausfeld FP2028 comes with an inflation kit, and with the price of a bit more than $70, it is a steal.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Application Use | Tire and ball inflation, Running brad nailers |
| Max PSI | 110 |
| Tank Capacity (Gallons) | 1 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 40PSI | 0.51 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI | 0.36 |
| Noise Level | 76 dbA (5 feet away) |
| Weight | 12.7 lbs |
| Highlight Features | Lightweight design, Sturdy handle, Come with 5-piece accessory kit and hose |
Campbell Hausfeld FP2028 is made for those who want to top off their tire and keep up with small home projects with some brad nailers.
Best Hotdog Air Compressors Under 100 Dollars
California Air Tools CAT-1P1060SUltra Quiet
Pros
- Quieter than a normal conversation
- Can be used indoors, day or night
- Great size for little nailers
- Quick recovery time
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Leak some air while idle
- A bit heavy for its size
Finally there is an air compressor that is quiet enough for you to use indoors without scaring your pets and disturbs your neighbors. California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S is that air compressor.
With a mere noise level of 56 dbA, it is incredibly quieter than most of the air compressors of its size on the market. What amazes us is how quickly it recovers, it takes only 50 seconds to fill the tank and about 15 seconds to recover pressure from 90 PSI to 120 PSI.
With 1.2 SCFM at 90 PSI, it has enough power to run some air tools for your home DIY projects such as brad nailers, pin nailers and even finish nailers. Vehicle tires, balls and air mattresses won’t be a problem to this air compressor.
Also, you can use California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S for some cleaning tasks. If you are struggling with dust accumulation in your laptop, this air compressor will be a life-saver.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Application Use | Tire and ball inflation, Running brad nailers, pin nailers, finish nailers, airbrush, small staple guns, Blowing out a sprinkler system |
| Max PSI | 120 |
| Tank Capacity (Gallons) | 1 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 40PSI | 1.6 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI | 1.2 |
| Noise Level | 56 dbA |
| Weight | 29.5 lbs |
| Highlight Features | Only 56 dbA, Quick recovery |
We would give this California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S 10 stars for its low noise level. Our kids say it is quieter than their mom’s blender.
Campbell Hausfeld FP209499AVBest For Casual DIY-ers
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Great for small DIY tasks
- Reliable and simple to use
- Come with accessory kit
Cons
- A little bit loud
- Take a while to fill the tank
This Campbell Hausfeld FP209499AV is an updated version of Campbell Hausfeld FP2028 with a larger tank of 3 gallons that ensures longer tool run time. 110 max PSI means that it has enough power to run the big boys shooting 8P nails, and even 16P.
It is super portable to carry around your home for your projects. The gauge is conveniently placed in your eyesight, easy to read and accurate. Its oil-less pump makes sure that you don’t need to mess with oil and complicated maintenance work.
Moreover, you get a 10-piece accessory kit including blow gun, coiled hose, inflation needles and fittings along with the air compressor at such a bargain.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Application Use | Tire and ball inflation, Running brad nailers, small stapler, airbrush, Blowing out small hoses or pipes |
| Max PSI | 110 |
| Tank Capacity (Gallons) | 3 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 40PSI | 0.51 |
| Air Delivery SCFM @ 90PSI | 0.36 |
| Noise Level | 76 dbA (5 feet away) |
| Weight | 20 lbs |
| Highlight Features | 10-piece accessory kit included, Easy to read gauge, Reliable power |
Don’t be fooled by its small silhouette. Honestly, you can count on Campbell Hausfeld FP209499AV for most of your home projects, even building a house.
How To Choose The Best Air Compressor Under $100 (Buying Guide)
SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet Per Minute)
This is the amount of air produced by the air compressor per minute, and used to determine which air tools can be run by the air compressor. The higher the SCFM at 90psi is, the more powerful the air compressor is.
In order to find the perfect air compressor for your job, check the CFM requirements of each air tool you need to operate. Find the highest required CFM at the highest pressure, then multiply by 1.5 and you have the minimum CFM of your desired air compressor to run all of your tools without a hitch.
For example, if you need to run a tool that requires 3 CFM, you multiply 3 by 1.5 and you will have 4.5. You will need to find an air compressor that can deliver 4.5 CFM.
Here is a chart that shows some common air tools and their average CFM requirements. Average CFM is counted based on 25% duty-cycle (in use for 15 seconds out of 1 minute). If you intend to use these tools on a daily basis, it is recommended to multiply the average CFM by 4.
PSI (Per Square Inch)
PSI is the amount of pressure an air compressor can generate inside the tank. The higher PSI a air compressor has, the more air its tank contains, allowing you to run air tools longer.
Light-duty portable air compressors usually deliver 90 PSI, which is powerful enough to run most prematic tools for small tasks around the house; commercial and industrial air compressors can produce 150-200 PSI for heavy duty tasks.
Tank Size
Air compressor’s tank is measured by gallons and the more gallons it has, the more powerful the airflow to the air tool and the longer you can run these tools. When you choose a more portable air compressor with smaller tank size, it is always better to opt for the ones that have higher CFM rating for quicker recovery.
Depending on what you will use your air compressor for, you can choose a suitable tank size. Large tanks (60-80 gallons) are for heavy-duty jobs in extended periods of time, but small and quick jobs, a 1-gallon to 10-gallon tank will be enough.
Pancake vs Hot Dog Air Compressors
Pancake air compressors are lightweight and compact, usually come with small tanks from 1 to 6 gallons. They are loved because of the greater stability on precarious surfaces like roofing.
Pancake compressors are more convenient to store than hot dog compressors and they are oil-free, which means they are maintenance-free.
Hot dog air compressors are also lightweight and portable, often with bigger tank sizes and more power to operate most residential-grade pneumatic tools. They are also oil-free.
However, great power comes with greater noise and hot dog air compressors tend to vibrate much more than a pancake counterpart. To solve this problem, you can either put a cloth under the machine or buy a model with rubber-padded feet.
And hot dog air compressors are not the most powerful kinds on the markets, so if you want to run a die grinder, disc sander or impact wrench, they are not for you.
Conclusion
With an air compressor at just under $100, we can open your own DIY workshop at your own home. These best air compressors under $100 don't compromise the quality, durability and versatility when it comes to home projects and small quick tasks around your home.
We hope you enjoy the article and have found yourself the most suitable product. Happy shopping and please don’t hesitate to send us questions and feedback!