Electric Air Pumps

Buyer’s Guide

Portability

One of the main things to consider when buying an electric air pump is portability. Whether you’re just using it to blow up air mattresses during camping trips or to remedy your bike tires’/vehicle tires’ sudden air loss, you’ll want something that’s lightweight and easy to store.

At 0.8 lbs, the lightest low-pressure air pump on this list is the battery-powered Coleman QuickPump 4D. The Ryobi P737 is the lightest high-pressure air compressor on this list at just 2.3 lbs with a battery.

Pressure range, features, and functionality

When choosing an electric air pump, it’s important to check for certain features. For instance, you’ll want to know if the air pump is compatible with your inflatables.

If you’re looking for an air pump for high-pressure inflatables, like yoga balls, inflatable kayaks, and bike tires, you’ll want a high-pressure, low-volume electric air pump, like the Kensun Portable Air Compressor Pump and the EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump.

Conversely, for low-pressure inflatables, like pool toys and air mattresses, you’ll want something like the AGPTEK Quick-Fill Air Pump or the Etekcity Electric Air Pump.

You’ll also want to consider if the air pump is AC-compatible, DC-compatible, or both. You’ll want something DC-compatible for use from your car. AC-compatible air pumps are for use with electrical plugs.

Another feature you’ll want to check for is an auto stop/shutoff mechanism for when the air pump is on the verge of overheating and/or when the desired pressure is reached.

You’ll also want to check if your air pump has an accurate pressure gauge so you’ll know when to stop pumping (if the air pump has no auto-stop mechanism) and if your air pump has a pre-set air pressure feature.

One of the most important factors to consider is compatibility. Even if you bought a low-pressure air pump for your low-pressure inflatables, you’d want nozzles and valves that are compatible with your inflatables. To be safe, it’s best to get an air pump that already comes with different nozzles.

Moreover, understand that air pumps specifically designed for a certain inflatable, such as electric air pumps for inflatable paddle boards, are always better at blowing up the inflatable they’re designed for compared to universal air pumps.

Pumping Speed

Obviously, not all electric air pumps are made equally. Some are actually slower at inflating your inflatables than manual air pumps. You’ll want to look for an electric air pump that can blow up your inflatables in no time.