Choosing a correct and suitable air compressor for your needs depends on how and where you are going to use it. From a heavy duty industrial to small inflator’s models, the ways of choosing air compressors are almost the same. Finding out the purpose of buying an air compressor can helps you to buy an air compressor that best suit your needs.

In the market, we have three common types of air compressors, which are for the garage or house; on a construction or job site like in a industrial or mechanical shop. The type & size of air compressor is normally based on the place you use the air compressors.

For the garage or house, a small inflator or a portable air compressor will be good enough for you. Well, a small & simple inflator is used to inflate things like toys, sporting goods such as basket ball. However, one of the disadvantages of inflators is the slow speed of air compression. If you are looking for faster inflation in running a small air tools, such as air brushes or nailers, a portable air compressor is more suitable and save time.

For other job site or construction, you may need a bigger air compressor to power multiple spray guns, nailers, sanders or other tools. We would recommend you to get a compressor that has a higher CFPM (cubic feet per minute) of airflow than the tools you plan to use. For example, a spray gun may need 4 CFPM of airflow to work properly, so the air compressor you are buying must be able to produce more than this much air in a shorter time. For high usage on a lot of job sites with air compressor, you may also consider to get a contractor grade, truck mounted, air compressor so air power is always available for your needs.

For shop, stationary or industrial setting, we may recommend you to get a bigger capacity air compressor. There are many types of industrial air compressors in market including single stage, multi-stage, twin stack, wheelbarrow, pancake, rotary screw etc. Normally this huge size air compressor is centrally located so that it can work with many air tools and wide ranges of machineries.

Durability is also one of the important criteria when choosing an air compressor. The durability is normally depending on how frequent you use it. The good news is there are many models specifically made for different usage level such as limited, occasional, frequent or constant use. Thus, you may just get a "limited use" air compressor if it is only low usage.

Like other machines, first hand air compressors is always more expensive than used one. The prices are range from few hundred dollars to few thousand dollars. If you have low budget, reconditioned models may be the one for you. It is available in many main manufacturers at very low prices. They also provide limited guarantees on these kinds of air compressors. Some of the well known manufacturers air compressors are Alup, Boge, Ingersoll Rand, Atlas Copco, Kaeser, Hitachi, Kobelco, Friulair & Swan.