No matter what you need it for, find the best portable air compressor right here!

Basic inflator (12 V): Campbell Hausfeld RP1200. This inflator is quick, powerful, and plugs into your cigarette lighter. Priced around $20-25. Campbell also offers at 120V option if you need more power, which is priced ~$55.

Most portable options:

Pancake tank – Powermate 1-gallon Pancake Air Compressor. This is a very user friendly model that requires minimal maintenance and only weighs 16lbs! Priced $70-80.

More powerful options:

Pro-Force 10 Gallon, Oil Free, Air Compressor – This model offers much greater power while still being mobile enough to use around the house or garage. Priced ~$250 it is a great investment for any novice homeowner. *A professional or semi-professional contractor along with homeowners that attempt advanced household projects may want a more powerful option.

Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate 20-Gallon (Belt Drive) Cast Iron Compressor – This model is one of the best options that provides as much power as you would need for any consumer pneumatic tool and still is portable enough for any shop or garage. Runs on 120V and priced ~$600. Great mix of quality and affordability.

All the above options are electrically powered and thus a great option for any homeowner. If you are just using it around the house I would definitely recommend using an electric option, as gasoline powered options often come with a much larger maintenance burden. However, if you are interested in a portable, gasoline powered option than check out:

EMAX 17-gallon, 8HP Single Stage Portable Air Compressor w/Honda Engine. This is a great mix of quiet and power. Great for any job site as it is tough and durable while still portable enough to roll around on flat surfaces with relative ease. Priced ~$1,800-2,000 it is definitely only recommended for professionals.

I will reiterate that the average homeowner only needs a small pancake or hotdog tank to do small tasks like blowing up a tire, stapling, or air brushing. If you need to use any other air powered tools than I would recommend upgrading to a vertical/horizontal tank model (See ‘Pro Force’ above) or the Ingersoll Rand model described above if you will have extended periods of use with larger tools.