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The Best Portable Tire Inflators of 2025 | GearJunkie Tested

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Properly inflated tires are vital for your safety on the road. Check out our list of the best portable air compressors.

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The Best Portable Tire Inflators of 2025

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Properly inflated tires are vital for your safety on the road. Check out our list of the best portable air compressors.

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Paul Mandell

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Rugged construction, versatility, and power earn the DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator ($149) the title of Best Overall for our guide. Although significantly more expensive than the other units (even while not including the 20V battery, charger, and 110 AC adaptor), the DeWalt Inflator is the only cordless inflator in our review that was reasonably capable of being used in both light vehicle and full-sized truck tires. Additionally, this inflator is the only unit in our guide designed to inflate rafts, paddleboards, and air mattresses. The unit has two output ends, one with a standard Schrader valve and a larger high-volume hose designed for larger inflatables.  The DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator has an easy-to-use interface that includes a round ”click-wheel” selector for choosing the desired psi output, a real-time pressure readout, and an automatic stop. The pressure gauge is accurate in reading pressure to within ±1.5 psi. This inflator is solid and feels well-built. Rubber feet insulate the unit from “walking” along the ground while in operation. A high-quality rubber hose with a threaded brass chuck is designed to attach directly to a Schrader valve or can be attached to an included Schrader-to-Presta adaptor, a needle valve for inflating balls, and a small smooth-bore nozzle. All of the aforementioned adaptors are stored neatly in the unit. A 13-foot-long 12V cable fits into your vehicle's accessory outlet and is long enough to reach the rear tires of an extended cab F-250 from the accessory outlet on the dashboard. This model has a spotlight that can be turned on and off separately from the air compressor function, which is far more practical than some inflators whose spotlight feature only turns on when running the compressor.Although we're very pleased with the DeWalt inflator overall, we do have some critiques. We would like to see an integrated accessory charger, as is seen in several other models in this review, for the emergency charging of phones, headlamps, and other small electronics. It's the largest in the testing lineup with exterior dimensions of 12” x 5” x 10”, but really not that much larger in the grand scheme of things compared to the other units once placed in their respective carrying bags. Also, at $149, it does not include the 20V MAX battery or charger (sold separately for around $100 for the 1.5Ah battery option.)  This inflator is especially appealing to anyone already using the DeWalt platform as the batteries are interchangeable with everything from impact drivers to lawnmowers. In light-duty vehicle testing (exact parameters of all tests are described in detail below) the DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator was able to inflate a tire from 10 psi to 45 psi in an average of 7 minutes and 42 seconds. In the heavy-duty vehicle test, the unit could inflate a tire from 20 psi to 80 psi in 32 minutes and 36 seconds, on average, while operating off a 5Ah 20V battery. The ability to purchase a 110V adapter makes the unit even more versatile for heavier use in a shop setting. Ultimately, if you have a medium-sized vehicle or full-sized truck, frequently inflate boats or paddleboards, and want a burly inflator that can be used with or without a cord, the DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator should be your first choice.

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