10 Best Quiet Air Compressors of 2020 – Reviews & Buying Guide
The desire for a low noise compressor is one shared by so many air compressor users. This has to do with how frustrating it can get to work with a loud compressor for a while.
The good news is, quiet air compressors have become a reality and are available. All you need is to make the right choice by picking out the quietest air compressor you can comfortably afford.
Finding such an ideal compressor is easy if you know what to look out for, and that's the point of this whole review. You get all the information you need to make the right choice, plus a list of the best quiet air compressor offers out there.
Image | Product Name | Loudness | Size | CFM | Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. California Air Tools 4710 Ultra-Quiet Air Compressor | 60 dB | 4.7 gal | 3.1 | 4.5 | |
 | 2. Hitachi EC28M Ultra-Quiet Portable Air Compressor | 59 dB | 1 gal | 1.3 | 5.0 | |
 | 3. California Air Tools 2010A Air Compressor | 60 dB | 2 gal | 3.1 | 4.5 | |
 | 4. California Air Tools 1P1060S Ultra-Quiet Air Compressor | 56 dB | 1 gal | 1.2 | 4.6 | |
 | 5. California Air Tools 8010 Quiet Air Compressor | 60 dB | 8 gal | 3.0 | 4.4 | |
 | 6. DeWalt 200-PSI Heavy-Duty Air Compressor | 71.5 dB | 2.5 gal | 3.0 | 4.0 | |
 | 7. California Air Tools 4620 Quiet Air Compressor | 70 dB | 4.6 gal | 6.4 | 3.7 | |
 | 8. California Air Tools 10020C Quiet Air Compressor | 70 dB | 10 gal | 6.4 | 4.2 | |
 | 9. Campbell Hausfeld Low-Noise Compressor | 68 dbA | 8 gal | 2.4 | 4.2 | |
 | 10. DeWalt Low-Noise Air Compressor | 78 dBA | 15 gal | 4.8 | 3.5 |
You can also read other air compressor reviews such as 12V portable air compressor, small air compressor, pancake air compressor, portable air compressor.
10 Best Quiet Air Compressors - Reviews
1. California Air Tools 4710 Ultra-Quiet Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(4.5 / 5)
- Noise level: 60 decibels
- Tank size: 4.7 gallons
- Power: 1.0 Horsepower
- Weight: 37.5 lbs
Coming in at 60 decibels, this California Air Tools compressor only gets as loud as a conversation while working. It features an oil-free and well-shielded dual piston motor to keep the noise down.
You can get this compressor with either a steel or an aluminum tank. The steel tank might be stronger, but it's heavier and subject to corrosion and rust.
With an aluminum tank, you get a more lightweight tank, which is also resistant to corrosion. The only drawback here is that aluminum is not as structurally strong as steel.
Although looks are not very important to certain people, it sure means a lot to others. This compressor could benefit from better looks if more design effort gets invested in its design. In spite of that, it remains one of the best quiet air compressors for the money.
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2. Hitachi EC28M Ultra-Quiet Portable Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(5 / 5)
- Noise level: 59 decibels
- Tank size: 1 gallon
- Power: 0.4 Horsepower
- Weight: 25 lbs
Hitachi's EC28M features an ultra-quiet operation at only 59 decibels, making it a pleasure to work with since you can easily hold a normal conversation while it's running.
It features an industrial oil-free pump, as well as an industrial quick-coupler for a one-handed hose connection, plus a regulator and gauges to keep an eye on the air pressure.
A steel roll cage covers the entire construction, offering protection to the internal tubing and components. It also makes this compressor look a little attractive on the outside.
On the con side, it's a little pricey for its half-horsepower drive and 1-gallon tank size, but it's very well made and Hitachi backs it with a 1-year professional warranty.
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3. California Air Tools 2010A 2-Gallon Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: (4.5 / 5)
- Noise level: 60 dB
- Tank size: 2 gallons
- Power: 1 horsepower
- Weight: 35 lbs
The 2010A from California Air Tools packs lots of power into a small form while making only 60 decibels of working noise.
It features an oil-free engine, which the company guarantees for a lifespan of over 3,000 hours before you can have any issues. The tank is from aluminum and has a 2-gallon capacity, which makes it just right for hobbyists with tools like airbrushes and brad nailers.
You get a dual-piston motor, which helps in keeping the noise down, plus Teflon cylinder rings and stainless steel valves for a longer and reliable service life.
Although this compressor is small and quiet, it's by no means weak because it'll deliver up to 3.1 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) and it comes complete with 2 pressure gauges, plus a 1-year warranty California Air Tools.
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4. California Air Tools 1P1060S Ultra-Quiet Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(4.6 / 5)
- Noise level: 56 decibels
- Tank size: 1 gallon
- Power: 0.6 horsepower
- Weight: 29.5 lbs
If you need a compact and ultra-quiet air compressor that runs quieter than a conversation, then check out this offer from California Air Tools. It's super compact and lightweight at 29.5 lbs and works at a loudness of just 56 decibels.
This compressor comes designed for small jobs like inflating tires and powering a finish nailer, but it won't do much more than that, given its small dimensions and engine size.
Included features are a thermal overload protector, a steel tank, 2 gauges, a regulator, and a steel frame with a handle for easy transportation.
Given its specifications, you'll need about 1 second for each PSI of pressure that you add to your car's tires, plus the tank also needs about 50 seconds to go from empty to completely filled.
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5. California Air Tools 8010 Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(4.4 / 5)
- Noise level: 60 decibels
- Tank size: 8 gallons
- Power: 1 horsepower
- Weight: 48 lbs
When you need to get serious with work and you want a high-powered compressor with a large tank and low noise output, then California Air Tools has the CAT-8010 for you.
What you get is a powerful pump, with an 8-gallon tank, and a 3.1 cubic feet of air supply per minute. In addition to all this, this compressor is only 60 decibels loud, making it a top-rated quiet air compressor.
The motor is oil-free and features a dual-piston pump, which produces top air pressures to make sure more air than you need gets pumped into the tank and that the compressor is always ready for work.
This hot-dog air compressor also comes with handles and wheels to make its movement easy. The only area it lags in is design and aesthetics. California Air Tools could pay more attention there, else it's a great and reliable compressor, which is also super quiet.
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6. DeWalt 200-PSI Heavy-Duty Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(4 / 5)
- Noise level: 71.5 decibels
- Tank size: 2.5 gallons
- Power: 1.1 horsepower
- Weight: 36 lbs
DeWalt also makes good air compressors, which are also quiet. Although it's not as quiet as the offers from California Air Tools, this DeWalt compressor does come with plenty features and advantages.
It delivers a supply of 3.0 cubic feet of air per minute, which makes it able to run some serious air tools like drills and impact wrenches or to run up to 3 finish nailers at once.
It's also relatively lightweight at 36 lbs and it comes in a well-designed roll cage which makes it look good and allows its use in either a horizontal or a vertical position.
This compressor comes with 2 universal couplers and is at 71.5 decibels, actually twice louder than all the compressors we've seen so far on this list. But it's from DeWalt, its well made and it looks great.
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7. California Air Tools 4620 Quiet Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(3.7 / 5)
- Noise level: 70 decibels
- Tank size: 4.6 gallons
- Power: 3 horsepower
- Weight: 67.2
Unlike most other California Air Tools compressors in this review, this one looks stylish enough and it comes with a heavy-duty delivery of up to 6.4 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM).
While this is the loudest California Air Tools' compressor so far on this list, it's also the most powerful, with enough air and power to run different tools, including up to 2 nailers without any problems.
You get a 4.6-gallon stacked compressor, with one tank on top of the other. It's oil-free, uses a dual-piston system, and it's rated at 2 horsepowers.
CAT makes the tanks with aluminum to prevent any rust issues, and it comes backed by a 1-year warranty from California Air Tools.
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8. California Air Tools 10020C 10-Gallon Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(4.2 / 5)
- Noise level: 70 dB
- Tank size: 10 gallons
- Power: 2 horsepower
- Weight: 82 lbs
If you want the ultimate compressor with a high-volume air delivery and low-noise operation, check out this CAT compressor with a 10-gallon tank, complete with a handle and wheels.
The 2 horsepower system delivers up to 6.4 CFM at a low-noise level of 70 decibels. It will take about 2 minutes to fill up the tank initially, and then about 25 seconds each time to top it off once the air starts getting used and the pressure drops.
You get a large tank made from cast aluminum, including a manual drain valve. You also get the option to order this compressor with an automatic drain tank to make things easier for you.
Another plus for this compressor is easy to use controls, which include a regulator, a tank pressure, and regulated pressure gauges, plus 2 universal quick couplers. California Air Tools backs it with a 1-year warranty.
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9. Campbell Hausfeld 8-Gallon Low-Noise Compressor
Editor's Rating: (4.2 / 5)
- Noise level: 68 dBA
- Tank size: 8 gallons
- Power: 1 horsepower
- Weight: 67 lbs
Campbell Hausfeld is another quiet air compressor brand known for high-quality products. This compressor is only 68 dBA loud but it comes with an oil-free dual-piston pump and offers an 8-gallon capacity.
Its components are designed to last 4 times longer than comparable compressors and Campbell backs it with a 1-year warranty. You can use this compressor for inflation, finish nailing and stapling, air wrench, sanding, and painting.
Campbell also offers you the chance to buy it with a complete kit, so you can start your projects right away. The available kits include a 25-foot long air hose, a 17-piece accessory kit, and a 3-in-1 gun, chuck, and gauge for inflations.
This air compressor offers you everything you need in a high-quality and dependable compressor. You get lots of power, quality and dependable components, a nice-looking system, plus the seal of a brand known for quality products.
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10. DeWalt 15-Gallon Low-Noise Air Compressor
Editor's Rating: 
(3.5 / 5)
- Noise level: 78 dB
- Tank size: 15 gallons
- Power: 1.6 horsepower
- Weight: 83 lbs
Combining power with portability and low noise, this DeWalt low-noise compressor is a monster in its own regard. It comes with a 15-gallon tank and is brightly painted in DeWalt's trademark yellow color.
The tank offers a nearly unlimited air supply to any air-hungry tool. It comes with a high flow air regulator and is the ideal compressor for spray-painting and medium to heavy-duty nail tools.
This compressor's pump is also oil-free, and it's backed by a 30-day money back guarantee and a 1-year warranty from DeWalt, one of the foremost tool makers and popular brands in the power tool industry.
DeWalt also took some time to design this compressor nicely, including its handle, which also doubles as a hose wrap and its well-positioned control and its display surface.
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How To Buy the Best Quiet Air Compressors
Once you've set your mind on finding a quiet or even ultra quiet air compressor, you'll need to understand the different features and factors to look out for. They are as follows:
#1. Purpose
Your reason for buying the compressor is important because the type of work you intend to do determines the specifications and to some extent, the noise level of the air compressor you're going to buy.
The reason you're buying the compressor can also determine how much you're willing to spend. Air compressors usually cost more as they get quieter, so it's left for you to know just how much is an okay price to pay.
Your intended use of the compressor will also help you find out if only a low-noise feature is all you need, or if you'll be needing more volume, pressure, or tank storage size.
#2. Noise level
The level of noise produced by the compressor is of course of vital importance since this review is about quiet air compressors. Noise level is given in decibels and unlike other measurement standards, this one is non-linear.
With decibels, every 10 points of increase will double the volume, and so on. For example, 40 dB is about 2 times louder than 30 dB, while 50 dB is about 4 times louder than 30 dB.
To better understand decibels, a ticking watch is 20 dB loud, while a normal conversation is about 55-65 dB loud. Hearing protection gets recommended from 85 dB upwards, a lawn mower is about 90 dB loud, while most air compressors range between 40 and 90 dB.
You'll need to check the noise level when deciding on a compressor. Over 80 dB is usually considered noisy, between 60 and 80 dB is usually considered quiet, while 60 dB and below is a super quiet or a whisper air compressor.
#3. Tank Size & Pressure
How much attention you pay to the compressor's tank size and pressure depends on your tools and their air requirements. The tank size is usually given in gallons and you'll combine it with the compressor's maximum pressure to know how much air it can store.
Tank sizes range from 1 gallon to 30 gallons and over, with many compressors offering an average storage capacity of 6 gallons. Maximum pressure is mostly 150 PSI, although some compressors will have higher and others lower processors.
Some tools like drills and sanders prefer higher pressures and come rated at around 90 PSI, while spray guns, for instance, prefer lower pressures around 40 PSI, but need higher volumes of air.
#4. Air Volume
Different pneumatic tools have different air needs, some need higher quantities, while others need less. Air volume is usually measured in CFM, which stands for Cubic Feet per Minute and it usually ranges from 2-3 CFM in most small air compressors.
#5. Maintenance
Modern and electric-driven compressors are easier to keep up, especially those with oil-free motors. You should always check to make sure the tank has a simple water-drain valve because you'll need it.
#6. Warranty
A good manufacturer will usually warrant its product against defects for at least a year, although some manufacturers offer longer warranties than that. The longer a compressor's warranty is, the more valuable it is.
Conclusion
Coming to the end of this review, you can see there's a large selection of quiet air compressors available in the market, and ranging from compact and quiet air compressors to more heavy-duty offers for professional use.
As you might have guessed by now, there's no single best quiet air compressor because each make has its advantages and its disadvantages.
What you can do, therefore, is to make your choice, based on your needs, your personal preferences, and of course, your budget.
Last Updated on August 29, 2020 by Tom Bradly