As a passionate DIY-er, I was in dire need of an air compressor. But whenever I plan to buy one, I always think of my family members and neighbors. They will be going to suffer a lot because of its unbearable noise. So I always canceled my plan of buying one.
Fortunately last year I came to know about quiet air compressors. It was just like a fantasy for me. So I quickly started searching and bought one for myself and trust me, it was a wonderful decision that I made. I can do nailing, bolting, spray painting and lots of numerous tasks with small quiet compressor and the best part is its noise doesn’t disturb anyone in the house.
In 2019 and onwards you will be going to get numerous super quiet air compressors. Hence, making it difficult for you to choose one best air compressor.
Don’t worry
You have landed on to a right page where each and everything regarding such air compressors will be shared to you.
We have narrowed down the buying checklist for you which is then followed by some quietest air compressor reviews. Remember, these reviews are written on an entirely fair and neutral basis. Our main purpose is to give proper and accurate information to our readers because we believe that well-informed users can make a better decision.
So let’s start with a small precise buying guide that will guide you what factors you should in keep in mind when buying a quiet air compressor.
| Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Makita MAC2400 Big Bore 2.5 HP Air Compressor
| |
  | Senco PC1010 1-Horsepower Peak, Low Noise Air Compressor
| |
  | Campbell Hausfeld DC060500 Pancake Quietest Compressor
| |
  | DEWALT DWFP55126 165 PSI Quiet Pancake Air Compressor
| |
  | California Air Tools 2010A Oil Free Low Decibel Air Compressor
| |
  | California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet Air Compressor
| |
  | California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S Quietest Portable Air Compressor
| |
  | DEWALT D55167 Horizontal Portable Compressor
| |
  | Hitachi EC28M Oil Free Portable Small Quiet Compressor
| |
  | Excell SAC22HPE Ultra Quiet 2 Gallon Air Compressor
|
Checklist before Buying Quiet Air Compressor:
If you are planning to buy an ultra-quiet air compressor for the very first time, then it will be a big hassle for you. You will surely get confused with so many air compressor options available in the market. To avoid this, you must know clearly what specs should an air compressor have and what specs you are looking for. So we have come up with a concise buying guide that will help you a lot in choosing the right air compressor for you.
Let’s begin it from the scratch
Checklist Point # 1: Define your purpose of buying an air compressor and select accordingly which grade of the compressor will go perfect.
- Reason for Buying Air Compressor:
Before heading towards any store, ask yourself:
Why do you need an air compressor and what is the purpose of buying one?
If your purpose of buying an air compressor is clear then the later stages will be very easy for you. This is because your intended work type will make it easier to determine the specifications of your desired air compressor.
Like if you are DIY’s freak then consumer grade air compressor would be perfect for your nail gun and other tools. They even go well in inflating tires and other things. These types of air compressors are favorites of carpenters, homeowners, DIY lovers and for those who love to do spray paint on walls and vehicles.
On the other hand, professional grade air compressors are ideal for professional use where intermittent usage is a trend, like small auto shops, wood workshops, and even a dentist’s clinic, they are the most demanding pneumatic tool.
In contrast to this, if you are an industrialist and needs a steady flow of compressed air in your industry, then industrial grade air compressor can make your work simpler.
Checklist Point # 2: Depending upon your purpose of buying an air compressor, choose which air pressure will work well for your job. Higher is better
- Operating Air Pressure:
After you have cleared your purpose of buying a quiet air compressor then define how much air pressure will be suited to your desired work.
Usually, your air compressor puts out air with a certain pressure, which is measured in Pounds per square inch (PSI).
If you are buying a smaller consumer grade air compressor then 90PSI will be more than enough for you, because most of the pneumatic tools work properly at this pressure. Secondly, compressors with higher air pressure need to have powerful motors and huge tanks, which will not be suited well with your purpose of buying it.
But if you want it for actual professional purpose then choose an air compressor with higher PSI like 200 PSI. It will be appropriate for the job.
Checklist Point # 3: According to your job choose an air compressor that has an appropriate CFM. Higher is better
- Air Volume:
Amount of air that is required to operate a paint gun, nail gun or an impact wrench is called the air volume. This is measured in Cubic feet per minute. CFM is always followed by PSI measurement. It is usually labeled as 2.5CFM @ 60 psi. This means when the tank is at 60psi you can expect a flow rate of 2.5CFM.
There are some air tools that required higher CFM to work whereas others can work on lower CFM. For instance, a caulking gun works well on at least 4CFM; whereas 14 CFM is required by a quarter inch impact wrench. So every air tools require different CFM for proper operation. Again it all depends upon your intended job that you want to be performed with an air compressor.
Checklist Point # 4: According to your job choose an air compressor that has an appropriate tank capacity. Higher is better
- Tank Size- Big or Small?
The question is tank size really an important consideration?
Yes to some extent it is.
A tank of compressor does not produce air; it just stores the air for the next part of the job.
So if you are buying an air compressor to perform heavy duty operations which are steady and continuous, it is recommended to buy an air compressor that has a big tank, so that it will have more space to store the compressed air.
On the other hand, if you intend to use it intermittently like nail guns, then it is preferable to buy a smaller tank air compressor.
Smaller tanks will allow you to use more compressed stored air. Once its fully used you have to stop your work so that it’s motor refills the tank with required Psi again whereas there is not any hassle of stopping in big tanks, it saves a lot of time
For smaller consumer grade air compressor 1-6 gallons of tank is appropriate but for commercial purpose 60 gallons or more tank capacity is demanded.
Checklist Point # 5: Choose motor of appropriate power according to your nature of work.
- Motor of Compressor:
The performance of the compressor’s motor or engine is measured in horsepower (HP). The motor of compressor is one of the important parts but let me mention you, it is not directly linked with the delivery of air. But it’s an important part that has to be kept in mind when choosing a low noise air compressor.
Basically, the purpose of the motor is to compress the air and delivers it into the tank for storage purpose.
That’s it.
For this purpose, it requires some Horsepower. If the motor has higher HP, the tank will fill up more efficiently, hence saves recovery time. Well, those air compressors that have big tank usually have motor of high Horse Power.
Checklist Point # 6: Choose a super quiet air compressor. Lower is better
- Noise Level
We are really well aware of the noise problems associated with an air compressor that’s why noise level is one of the most important considerations in our article, also because we are reviewing the quietest air compressors.
Noise level is measured is Decibel (dB). It measures how intense the sound is.
Let me make it more clear to you by sharing some example.
A normal casual conversation between 3-4 people is 60 dB, which is not much loud. 140dB is the intensity of the Aircraft carrier deck which is way too loud.
A constant noise of 100dB or more is damaging for ears, it may cause noise induces hearing loss.
But nowadays you will find some silent air compressors in the market that produces noise ranging between 40-90dB. Above 85dB the air compressor would be considered as noisy, whereas below 50dB will be considered as the quietest compressor.
Checklist Point # 7: Choose a lubricated or non lubricated air compressor.
- Which one to Choose -Belt or Direct Drive?
Well, there are two kinds of air compressor one that has a belt, which connects the motor to the air compressor with the help of a pulley and the other one that is direct drive, have motors directly connected to the crankshaft of the compressor.
Belt drive requires constant lubrication whereas direct drive air compressors are totally oil less- they do not require any lubrication.
As far as the noise level of air compressors are concerned, belt drive air compressors are perfect to use because the lubricated part will definitely help in reducing the noise level.
Both types of air compressor are a nice choice to use. They both of some advantages and disadvantages too. It all depends upon you and your nature of work. In my opinion, it’s great to choose lubricated one that is belt drive.
Checklist Point # 8: Depending upon your need and job; choose a suitable duty cycle air compressor.
- Duty Cycle
You should have complete knowledge of duty cycle before you are planning to buy an air compressor.
Don’t worry. I am gonna explain to you briefly.
Duty cycle is the amount of time an air compressor is operated in a given time period, let’s say 10 minutes. It’s expressed in percentage. Basically, it tells you how much an air compressor is operated in a given time.
For instance, if an air compressor has a duty cycle of 50%( time is 10 minutes), it means the air compressor has worked for 5 minutes and wait for 5 minutes before starting again. Let me make it more clear to you if an air compressor has a duty cycle of 65%, it means it worked for 6 and a half minutes and waited for 3 and a half minute.
Usually, consumer grade air compressors have 50% duty cycle and industrial grade air compressors have 100% duty cycle. It all depends on your need.
10 BEST QUIET AIR COMPRESSORS OF 2019:
1. Makita MAC2400 One of Best Quiet Air Compressor
The first one on my list of most quiet air compressor is Makita MAC2400.
Makita is a renowned name in the field of power tools. They are known for manufacturing high-end and durable tools.
As far as their air compressors are concerned they are almost noiseless.
Yes, you heard it right its peak operating sound is 79dB because the pump runs at lower RPM that is 1730 which contributes greatly to its low noise.
Talking about the durability, it has Big Bore piston and cylinder that is designed to build forever. It will not gonna damage in its entire lifetime. Apart from this, it has cast iron pump and heavy duty crankshaft that gives minimum recovery time for more efficient working.
As compared to other air compressors of same category MAC2400 has spacious big bore cylinder and pistons are. This is one of the plus points of MAC2400 because it results in increased efficiency, minimum recovery time and decreased noise because of lower RPM.
This handy air compressor has a 2.5hp 4pole motor that gives enough power to make compressed air at a pressure of 90Psi and delivers it at the rate of 4.2CFM.
One of the most amazing features that this air compressor has, it has two standard ¼ inch connecting outlets, which allow two people to work on a similar job at a time. This is how MAC2400 completes your work quickly and efficiently
The entire air compressor is packed in a cast iron frame that reduces wear and tear and increases pump life. Moreover, it has double stacked tanks and both are capable of holding 4.2gallons of air at a time.
Makita MAC2400 air compressor is built to give high output along with lower noise. I would say it is one of the quiet air compressors that is portable and durable too.
2. Senco PC1010 1-Horsepower Peak, 1/2 hp running 1-Gallon Compressor
If you are looking for a small quiet compressor then grab your hands on to Senco PC1010 its worth buying air compressor that is not only small and compact but also affordable too.
This small boy has electrical oil-less motor that gives 1HP power when it’s working with full peak, otherwise, it works great with 0.5HP. Since the motor is oil-free so it needs little or almost no maintenance at all.
Its 115V motor is powerful enough to deliver air with the maximum pressure of 120psi. No doubt it is ideal for doing small household jobs. Senco is lightweight and portable too. It weighs only 20 pounds and it has a carrying handle on the top that makes it easy to move it on the work station.
This amazing air compressor comes with 1-gallon tank that stores the maximum amount of compressed air so that you can work smoothly without any interruption.
Since noise is the burning topic in this article, so if you are concerned about sound intensity level, then there is good news for you.
Senco air compressor gives 71dB of sound intensity on decibel meter when its place an inch away. But if you keep the meter about a foot away, the sound level drops to 65dB on full power, which is not too much noisy. It’s a noise level of conversation between two people.
This quiet air compressor is perfect for doing light duty work, which needs a quick job. It is efficient enough to generate 20-44 drives per minute and it takes only 128 seconds to reach its maximum psi. Isn’t it impressive?
Apart from all these features, I have observed a small flaw. The foam pad that has covered the carrying handle will start tearing off in a few months and hence cause a problem in portability. This flaw is small enough that it can be neglected easily until or unless senco air compressor is performing well.
This small and handy air compressor will gonna be a perfect choice for DIY lovers.
3. Campbell Hausfeld DC060500 6 Gallon Pancake Quietest Air Compressor
If you are looking for a durable and reliable air compressor that last for ages then I will suggest you consider Campbell Hausfeld air compressor.
Campbell is an old player in the ground of air compressor and air tools. It has been serving its customers since 1835 so you can imagine how fine and high-end would their products be.
This quiet compressor that I am going to review is one of the most running products of Campbell Hausfeld. It’s a pancake shape compressor that allows easier storage and portability.
You are here because you are looking for a quiet air compressor. Campbell Hausfeld DC060500 is enough to quench your thirst for silent compressors.
It is 50% less noisy than any other compressor of the same grade and quality. We measured its sound intensity and it amazed us. It is only 63db noisier when there isn’t any other machine operating in the workshop. This much sound level makes it ideal to be used for home, small workshops and even in busy environment shops.
As far as specifications of this superb air compressor are concerned, it has 1 HP oil-free dual piston pump induction motor that is capable enough to efficiently compressed air and stored it into its huge6-gallon tank. Having a large tank means you have more space to store compressed air and hence increase the duty cycle of your compressor
Talking about its performance, it is able to generate maximum air pressure of 125 psi. Its CFM is rated as 2.4CFM @90 psi.
I wouldn’t say that it is lightweight because it weighs 55 pounds, which is too much. But yes it is easy to carry. Thanks to its steel handle which is surrounded by a soft foam pad. You can fearlessly move it all over your work station.
The best part about this is, it doesn’t require any maintenance not even a drop of oil. Its key components are built to last long. Indeed Campbell Hausfeld dc060500 is durable and reliable air compressor that worth every penny.
4. DEWALT DWFP55126 6-Gallon 165 PSI Pancake Silent Air Compressor
Here comes another pancake compressor on my list of quiet air compressor. I really prefer buying pancake compressor since they do not occupy too much of space as compare twin stacked air compressor.
This beast that I am going to discuss is from the banner of Dewalt a popular air tools manufacturing company.
The DWFP55126 air compressor has 6 gallons of the tank that makes it easier to finish the job quickly without any interruption.
It features a 0.9HP of motor that requires 120 volts of power supply. With this much horsepower, the motor generates air with a maximum pressure of 165Psi. It has an oil-free pump that delivers 2.6 SCFM @ 90 Psi. This will definitely gonna make your work easier and quicker.
It’s a perfect air compressor that can be used for small purposes like you can keep it in your garage and can clean your car’s engine. You can even inflate tires with it. There are endless possibilities with Dewalt pancake air compressor.
That’s not enough. There is still more to discuss.
The most important part that will not gonna disappoint you is its noise level, which is 75dBA which is ideal for a quiet work environment.
Since it is built for safety and convenience of the user, so Dewalt has incorporated special safety features in it. It has special air valve that does not let air pressure to exceed its maximum limit of 165psi. Quite impressive!
Moreover, it has a belt driven motor that does not require any lubrication or maintenance. You can fearlessly use it for years.
With so many useful features there are some shortcomings such as the product doesn’t come with an air hose. To be honest this is not at all a big shortcoming when you have so many astounding features in a product.
It also comes with a carrying handle that makes it portable. I would say that the Dewalt air compressor is one of the lightest air compressors. It is not only light but also compact too. It weighs only 30 lbs, meaning, it’s easy peasy to carry it. There is no harm in saying that it is a good choice if you need a small, compact, powerful and quiet pancake air compressor.
5. California Air Tools 2010A Aluminum Tank Ultra Quiet Air Compressor
California is a high-end air tool manufacturer with numerous successive and running air compressor models in the market.
You can say they are the market leader. No doubt they deserve to be.
This model that I am going to review weighs only 35 pounds which is simply amazing. You won’t believe at first glance that it could be this much lighter.
It’s ultra quiet air compressor with only 60dB sound intensity, which is even lower than the normal conversation noise.
Let’s peep into what this beast actually has.
First of all, it’s power. It has a strong and powerful motor of 2.0HPpeak power which delivers enough pressure so that you can easily perform all of your jobs on time. If I talk about its running power, it is 1.0 HP which will not gonna disappoint you.
Its motor has 1680 RPM which generates 3.10 CFM at 40 PSI and 2.20 CFP at 90 PSI. Painting, nailing and bolting is no more a big hassle now with California Air tool 2010A. It takes 14 seconds of recovery time from 90psi to 120 psi.
CAT has equipped 2-gallon aluminum tank in its 2010A air compressor which is durable and rust free. This means it will be going to last longer. This strong but light tank takes about 50 seconds to fill up completely with compressed air
The astounding part about this low decibel air compressor is it has oil-free pump system, which does not need any lubrication or maintenance.
Just because of its low decibel it is ideal to use at places or workshops where loud noise is a big issue.
This is one of the lightest air compressors that you will find on the internet today, it is as light as feather, because of which it is easier to transport it from one work station to another.
California 2010A air compressor is indeed a wonderful air compressor but it is not ideal to be used industrial jobs.
6. California Air Tools 8010 Ultra Quiet Steel Tank Air Compressor
Trust me, California air tools have not paid me a single penny to talk more about them. Literally, I am compelled to add more and more products from their banner. It’s all because of the quality, performance, and durability.
This air compressor is a little bit different from the one I have reviewed.
Looks wise it’s a look like 2010A but it’s different in terms of specifications. You can say that it’s perfect for heavy-duty jobs.
This silent air compressor comes with 1.0 HP (running) and 2.0HP (peak) motor at 1680RPM, because of which it creates less noise. This is amongst one of the quietest air compressors which operate at 60dB.
Indeed, its sound intensity is too low, making it perfect for busy work stations.
Coming back towards the performance of motor, it is powerful enough that it can easily generate 3.10 CFM at 40 PSI and 2.20 CFP at 90 PSI, which is similar to the previous model of California air compressor.
For greater performance and durability it has an oil-free dual piston pump system, which gives duty cycle of 3000 hours or more. This is better than the other compared air tools.
One thing that makes it way too different is its large spacious tank. Yes, it has 8 gallons of steel rust free tank that takes up 165 seconds to fill up completely with compressed air.
This much size of tank contributes a lot in the overall weight of the product, hence I will say that CAT 8010 is bit heavier than other models of the same category that is 54 lbs and it’s all because of its 8-gallon steel tank.
As far as portability is concerned, CAT 8010 comes with a wheel kit and carrying handle. So that if you want to carry it from one operating room to another you can easily do so.
The manufacturer has marketed its air compressor as an ultra quiet air compressor and trusts me; there isn’t any doubt in this statement.
Indeed, A worth buying air compressor for light to the medium level job.
7. California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S Portable Quiet Air Compressor
The last one from the banner of CAT, is 1P1060s.
This is the quietest air compressor which is a concoction of durability and high-end performance.
56dB is the noise level that this air compressor generates. It features unique 1P series 0.6HP of motor that rotates at 1680RPM. Remember, lesser the RPM, lesser will be the noise and wear and tear. All credits of being a silent air compressor go to it’s motor’s rotation.
This hot dog style air compressor delivers 1.20CFM of air @ 90Psi. This much air is sufficient for your garage to clean and pump up the tires.
Its oil-free single piston pump motor is designed to produce clean compressed air so that you can work easier without any trouble. Moreover, its single piston pump gives astounding life cycles of 3000 hours and more.
It features a one-gallon steel tank which is quite lighter in weight. The entire compressor weight only 25 lbs. amazing?
Moreover, the device does not require any maintenance. Big thanks to its oil-less motor that is almost maintenance free.
CAT 1P1060S is durable and high-performance air compressor that is easier to move. It is ideal for small jobs.
Now you can connect your staple gun, finish nail guns or airbrushes to CAT 1P1060S at home and professionally do your small jobs. No one will gonna mind, it’s almost noiseless.
8. DEWALT D55167 Horizontal Portable Low Noise Air Compressor
Now, this is something that you can keep in your workshops or garages. I will say it’s a professional grade air compressor.
It’s a hot dog style air compressor with a tank size of 15 gallons. That means you will going to have uninterrupted air supply at your workplace.
Dewalt D55167 is able to generate compressed air with a maximum pressure of 225PSI. Isn’t it quite impressive for you!!
As far as the volume of air is concerned, it delivers 5.0 SCFM of air at 90 psi. This let the compressor to have less recovery time.
It features 1.9HP of motor that rotates at the speed of 1750 RPM. Because of this speed, it generates 78dB of sound, which is not too much noisy. The noise levels have been certified and tested as per ISO3744 for a quieter work environment.
One thing that I don’t like about this Dewalt air compressor is, it’s too heavy. It weighs 83lbs and I am sure it’s because of its 15-gallon tank. In my opinion, the manufacturer should have used light weighted material for tank construction.
It is equipped with wide track semi-pneumatic tires that make movement easier.
Like other quietest air compressor for garage, it has oil-free and maintenance free piston pump. Even its tires do not need any kind of maintenance.
Well, it’s a perfect choice for those who want to have the best combination of power and noise.
9. Hitachi EC28M Ultra Quiet Portable 1 Gallon Air Compressor
There are some brand conscious people who trust in old and already established brands such as Hitachi, Mitsubishi. If you are one of them then we have one more quiet air compressor review for you.
EC28M is an air compressor that is from the banner of well known electronic brand Hitachi.
We all know Hitachi for ages. So it doesn’t need any introduction. Let’s jump on to the air compressor directly.
It’s small, handy and portable air compressor that weighs only 25 lbs. Beside this, It is almost noiseless. It operates at 59dB which is ultra quiet. You can even talk when it is operating because its sound is almost noiseless.
EC28M comes with 1-gallon rust free air tank that stores clean and compressed air for your work. Its belt drive motor has the running power of 0.5HP that generates maximum air pressure of 125 Psi.
As far as the flow rate is concerned that this small handy boy can deliver 1.3CFM @ 40 Psi and 0.8CFM @ 90Psi, which is superb as per its size and weight
It is covered with a strong and robust steel roll cage that has a rubber grip which protects all the critical components and provides maximum holding convenience. EC28M is portable and one can easily transport it from one job site to another.
One thing that bothers me about this silent air compressor is it has single handed hose connection, this means only one job can be performed at one time. But I would say this is not at all a big flaw, you can ignore this only if you think you can finish and perform your task alone easily. Indeed this one is one of the quietest portable air compressors on my list.
10. Excell SAC22HPE Ultra Quiet 2 Gallon Air Compressor
The last one on my list of best quiet air compressor is Excell air compressor.
The reason I have added it in my list is its noiseless operation. It has a sound intensity of only 61dB that contributes to maintaining a noise free work environment.
As per a manufacturer, it is 80 % quieter than other compressors of the same category. But I would say there are other compressors in the market that are way too quieter than it. Anyways, if it suits your pocket it will be the best one for you.
Excell has incorporated high quality and durable components in its SAC22HPE which increases its life expectancy up to 4 folds.
It has direct drive induction motor that gives 1 HP of energy to generate a maximum pressure of 125Psi. It has a dual piston pump which operates at low speed that’s the main reason behind 61dB of sound.
In addition to this, it has an oil-free piston pump that offers minimum or zero maintenance. Excell knows your job and time is very precious.
This small quiet compressor features a 2-gallon tank that takes around 60 seconds to fill up completely. Moreover it provides 3.0SCFM @ 40 Psi and 2.0SCFM at 90Psi. SCFM is an accurate unit for measuring molar air flow.
It is surrounded with a steel roll cage along that has rubber foot pads. Its compact design makes it easier to carry on the workplace.
This air compressor is the best choice for small jobs such as spray painting, nailing, and other finishing work. Apart from all these features, it is light on the pocket too. Yes, it’s quite affordable. In such minimum amount you will be getting a small, light weighted (45lbs), durable air compressor that is able to do all your tasks.
Conclusion:
At this point, you are well aware now that there are numerous amazing quiet air compressors available in the market that are enough to make your mind hotchpotch. With this buying guide and some quiet air compressor reviews that I have shared, I do hope that now it won’t be a tedious task for you to buy the best quiet air compressor. Just use the right information that I have shared and make your DIY or other jobs easier by buying a quiet air compressor.
