10 Best Portable Tire Inflators [Buying Guide]

One of the best models according to Amazon reviews is this unit from EPAuto. The 12-volt air compressor runs with a maximum of 100 PSI. There’s also an included digital display gauge that you can program to display in kg/cm, BAR, KPA, or PSI.

The auto-shutoff feature ensures you don’t over-inflate your tires. It also includes overheating protection which shuts down the compressor if it becomes overloaded. Many models don’t come with this added protection—if you use your air compressor frequently, it’s probably worth spending a little bit extra for it.

If you need to fill your tires at night, you’ll be thankful for the built-in LED flashlight. Weighing just under four pounds, you’ll find that this inflator is easy to carry and use. It’s also relatively inexpensive considering all the features that come included.

This affordable, compact and convenient unit, made from AAA, is reliable when you’re in a jam with a flat tire. It’s ideal for anyone who drives but doesn’t know much about car maintenance because it’s simple to use. On top of that, it’s also lightweight and can fit in most standard glove boxes.

Don’t let the smaller size fool you; it’s rated up to 300 PSI. While it might not actually put out that much pressure, users confirm it’s surprisingly strong. Just plug it into the 12V outlet, attach it to your tire, and turn it on.

The reach is a little smaller than others, as you only get a 10-foot power cord and 1.5-foot air hose. For this reason, we only recommend it for smaller or medium-sized vehicles. The two accessory nozzles it comes with are great for inflating other objects like pool toys or balls. You could even maintain your bike tires with this unit.

If you don’t need the top-of-the-line air compressor and are looking to save some money, this budget-friendly option is a great way to go.

If you want to take things up a notch, upgrade to this best portable tire inflator. It’s powerful, rugged, and great for anyone that spends a lot of time on the road. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything with more power. It’s made from metal parts, so it’s incredibly durable and comes equipped with a brass chuck.

This portable tire inflator is also quiet. It comes with noise-isolating features and rubber feet, so the vibration and noise are kept to a minimum during operation. Instead of a 12V plug, it operates with alligator clamps directly connected to your battery. If you know how to jump-start your car, you’ll be able to use this air compressor.

The unit also has a built-in fuse, so you don’t have to worry about blowing a fuse in your car. In total, you get 21 feet of air hose and power cord reach; plenty to get around even the biggest vehicles.

Other features include thermal overload protection and an extremely accurate pressure gauge. Because it operates at a maximum of 120 PSI, we’d feel comfortable recommending this as a great portable tire inflator for trucks or SUVs.

If you’re looking for a portable tire inflator that can handle heavy-duty truck tires (or possibly RV or trailer tires), this powerful portable compressor from MasterFlow is made for the job.

This 12v air compressor attaches directly to your vehicle’s battery and comes with a 10-foot heavy-duty power cord and alligator clips. The 16-foot self-coiling air hose has a quick connect type M automotive air fitting and easy twist brass inflator. The unit puts out an impressive 5,500 cubic inches of airflow per minute and can inflate a full-size truck tire to 25-35 PSI in less than 2 minutes or a standard passenger tire in under a minute.

Great for off-roaders who are frequently airing up and down at the trailhead, this tire inflator does come with a premium price tag and is geared toward a more specific audience. It comes with a heavy-duty nylon carry bag, two adapter nozzles, and a ball inflation needle.

A little higher up on the price scale, this Kensun portable air compressor is a versatile option that works with vehicle DC sockets as well as your home AC outlets. That means you can use it in the car or around the house.

It’s only five pounds, so it’s easy to tote along with you. There’s also an auto shut-off function that makes sure you don’t over-inflate your tires. Before pumping up your tire, you simply set the desired PSI level on the LCD screen.

It also has a small LED lamp that you can use to illuminate small, dark areas for added visibility if you need to work on your tires at night. Considering emergencies happen at any time of day, this is a great additional feature.

When you want to transport or carry the unit, you’ll find that the provided grab handle makes it easier than most other models. This machine reaches a maximum of 90 PSI, which is more than enough to inflate the tires of most passenger vehicles on the road. Plus, it comes with three connector types so you can blow up inflatables and bike tires as well.

If you want a heavy-duty option that is both durable and powerful, this Slime tire inflator should do the trick. The dual-cylinder inflator is powerful enough to inflate a standard car tire in under 2 minutes.

The tire inflator comes with alligator clamps and hooks directly to your vehicle’s battery. With 30-feet of reach to work with, you should be able to reach all four tires on trucks and SUVs with no issue.

The tire inflator comes with three air accessories and a hard-sided storage case. The hose has an in-line tire pressure gauge so you can monitor your tire pressure while filling the tire. For added convenience, you can leave this gauge attached to the inflator or remove it to use it as a tire pressure monitor on it’s own.

This versatile tire inflator can run off DC or AC power. In your vehicle, you simply plug the unit directly into the 12V plug for use on the road. The powerful dual motors are engineered from metal parts for added durability.

Uniquely, this compressor has an inflation and deflation mode. While you likely won’t need to use the deflation mode on your tires, it can come in handy for things like deflating air mattresses, rafts, or other inflatable toys that you might have on hand, say for a camping trip or weekend adventure.

The unit comes with three nozzle adaptors and a high-volume hose. The LCD digital display monitors pressure, and you can set it to PSI, Bar, or KPA, making this air compressor super easy and safe to operate. The incorporated LED flashlights is another nice-to-have feature should you find yourself on the roadside at night.

This portable air compressor weighs 4.3 pounds and fills 18-inch tires to 30 PSI in just under three minutes. It has a working pressure of 60 PSI and a duty cycle of 20 minutes.

Some of the features on this machine include an LED work light, solid brass twist-on tire chuck, accessory power plug, and 100-PSI gauge. It also comes with a three-piece tip kit and a convenient carrying bag. You’ll have plenty of room to reach all your tires with the 10-foot power cord and additional 3-foot air hose.

This unit is one of the best 12V portable tire inflators on the market. If you need something stronger, you’ll want to look for a model that connects directly to the car battery instead.

Another mid-price-range option is this tire inflator from the P.I. Auto Store. Because it features a premium 12-volt DC connection, it’s capable of inflating most mid-size car tires to 30 PSI in under three minutes. In addition to that, the company claims that this is one of the quietest portable air compressors around.

This 12-volt option utilizes the car’s outlet for power. It has a backlit LCD so you can easily monitor the tire pressures. And thanks to the auto-shutoff feature, you don’t have to worry about overinflating your tire. This machine only weighs two pounds, so it’s quite compact and easy to take on the go.

Between the air hose and power cord, you’ll have about 13 feet to work with, which should be plenty for most users. There’s also a snap-on connector to make attaching the hose to the tire valves simple. The included carrying case, bicycle valve adapter, and four spare dust caps are a bonus.

There’s no doubt that this portable tire inflator is the most stylish on our list. If you care what your compressor looks like, then this might be an option for you. The 12V unit comes with an LCD screen and a built-in LED light. This makes reading your measurements simple and easy, no matter what kind of lighting you’re in.

The easy-to-use controls are simple, even for someone who’s never inflated a tire before. There’s a handy cord storage compartment located on the back of the machine to make transportation a little easier. At just under two pounds, the unit is easy to transport and store.

It also features a 150 PSI maximum pressure, so this isn’t a joke. You can inflate your bike tires and sports equipment as well without any trouble. This unit will run for eight minutes before it needs to cool off. Most of the time, you shouldn’t need to run it longer than that. Whether you have cars, bikes, or motorcycles, this is a great all ’rounder.

Along with the inflator, you’ll also get an extra fuse, carrying case, and three additional nozzle attachments. In total, there’s about 12-feet of length between the air hose and power cord.