17 Choices for the Best Air Compressor for RV Tires in 2024

LOOKING FOR THE BEST AIR COMPRESSOR FOR YOUR RV?

You are in the right place because the 17 best RV air compressor options are all featured here. How do we know they are the best?  We have traveled in our RV since 2010 and bring you the best information, guides and products for your RV.

If you have ever had a motorhome, travel trailer, or RV you will know that their tires can be very different. Depending on the reason for wanting an air compressor for RV tires can make a big difference on what air compressor you would purchase.

We always have a portable air compressor in our motorhome or a portable tire inflator. When looking at a compressor you need to keep a few things in mind.

What to look at when looking for a compressor

The first thing you may look at is the PSI that the air compressor will reach. Motorhome tires can require 110 PSI while your travel trailer or camper van might require 80 PSI or less. If you look at your RV’s tires it will tell you the max PSI rating.

 However, when looking for an air compressor many will have a high PSI rating, but it would be highly unlikely they would ever be able to fill an RV tire with a 110 PSI rating with the wrong compressor because at that high of a PSI their CFM or SCFM output is so little the pump would burn up before it could fill the tire.

The second thing to remember is volume or CFM and SCFM. While many air compressors will reach a PSI of 150 or greater at that pressure your small air compressor volume or CFM can be so low that it will take you an hour to pump enough air into those high volume motorhome tires.

They also try to use nontypical comparisons making it hard to compare apples to apples. When looking at RV air compressors make sure you compare them in an equal manner. A compressor that is small and has a 150 PSI will not necessarily fill up your tire as well as a larger 125 PSI compressor.  

You will also see that some portable RV air compressors say they can put out a high CFM and a high PSI but in reality that high CFM is only viable until around 16 PSI and then their CFM output drops considerably.  

If you have a motorhome or a different type of RV remember the tires are not the same and you should be prepared with a different air compressor for your needs.

One last thing to be aware of is how you power the air compressor. If your RV has a generator, you can easily use a 120V outlet to power your air compressor. If you do not have a generator, you will want an air compressor that can be run with a 12v connection.

We have listed all the air compressors you will ever need no matter what type of RV you have. Don’t be left with a flat tire and be prepared to keep your RV on the road.

Best Air Compressor for RV Tires 

1. VIAIR

The Viair air compressor is going to be your best portable air compressor for an RV. It will inflate a wide variety of tires in a fast and timely fashion.
The 450P compressor is wonderful. It can run for an hours straight before it needs to take a break. The included air pressure inflation gun also works fantastic.

They sell different versions of this air compressor. We would recommend the 400P or the 450P. Ifyour tires are larger or require high PSI you want the 450P. If your tires are smaller you want the 400P. At the bottom of the article you will see a more detailed comparison of the two compressors.

For an RV owner the Viair is the gold standard for portable, small and tankless air compressors. If you want to be satisfied with a small compressor this should definitely be your number 1 choice. The 60 foot hose length is also incredible.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: 2.3 CFM
• Power Source: 12V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 60 feet

2. All Top

All Top provides a very competitive air compressor for the price. They stand behind their product with a 24-month hassle-free warranty and lifetime customer support.

This is a great option for RVs, ATVs, 4×4 trucks, and even sports balls. If you like to travel with fun toys that require air like we do this is a great idea.

Do keep in mind that any of these smaller compressors can overheat if used for extended time periods. One downside of this compressor is some people say the alligator clips that hook to your battery could be of better quality.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: 6.35 CFM (Not at all pressure levels so not a straight comparison)
• Power Source: 12V corded electric
• Hose Length: 26 feet

▶ Check Prices for All Top Compressors Here!

3. AstroAI

This is a good compressor if you have a very smaller travel trailer or need an air compressor that will be dual purpose. The Astro AI compressor can fill tires and inflatable rafts like SUPs or boats.

We have used a similar product and they can get you out of a bind and are very convenient to have around. I would not use this product for tires that are very big or for an extended period of time.

They make these and similar air compressors that rate for a high PSI but their CFM or volume they are able to produce at that level is so limited they cannot functionally work for tires that need a PSI that is even close to a higher tire pressure.

If you have airbags in your truck or motorhome and they don’t fill from an onboard compressor and need higher PSI these work excellent to fill those products.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 160
• Capacity: Unknown
• Power Source: 110V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 3.3 feet

▶ Check Prices for the AstroAI Compressor Here!

4. GSPSCN

The GSPSCN air compressor would work reasonably well for your smaller travel trailer tires. It does well inflating smaller tires quickly but like similar products, larger tires will be a struggle to fill.

If you don’t need a lot of volume, these compressors work great. They can fill to a high PSI but can get hot when used for an extended time period.

This compressor has bright LEDs on it which are nice for using at night making everything much easier to see without the need for a flashlight and making things more visible in an emergency situation.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: 1.25 CFM
• Power Source: 12V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 11.5 Feet

▶ Check Prices for the GSPSCN Compressor Here!

5. Griine

Griine is a digital tire inflator with a light. It works best for small jobs on small pop-up campers or travel trailers. The Griine compressor is very portable weighing only 5 pounds which is the typical weight for RV air compressors of this type and size.

It will fill a standard vehicle tire in only a couple min but do keep in mind the standard car tire is not very big. The Griine compressor will take longer to completely fill larger RV tires.

This inflator can use your standard cigarette lighter socket or can be connected with a car battery power cord. The battery cord is the recommended way to power these.

Do keep in mind the max distance this can reach is 26 feet and if you are using a truck battery to power the machine you could run into issues reaching the tires that need to be filled without unhooking your tow vehicle.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: Less than .5 CFM or less at Pressure
• Power Source: 12V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 6 feet

▶ Check Prices for the Griine Compressor Here!

6. Gobege

The Gobege compressor is comparable to the All Top compressor described above. They have a good PSI rating and a high CFM at lower pressures. They can work for off-road vehicles or your 4×4 camper van but are not as good as your Viair compressors.

The CFM drastically drops after 16 PSI but they will still be able to fill up your RV tires reasonably.

This compressor has an auto-thermal cut-off switch. This is important because when needed for heavy use it will shut off before damage is caused. Some similar compressors when used heavily can blow fuses in your vehicle when put under constant use.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: 5.65 CFM (After 16 PSI this drops significantly)
• Power Source: 12V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 60 feet

▶ Check Prices for the Gobege Compressor Here!

7. Air Armor

The Air Armor is a great portable air compressor. The ammo can construction provides for easy storage and portability. This kit comes with a tire repair kit. We always travel with a repair kit.

On multiple occasions, we have repaired our flat tire from a nail put air into the tire and continued on our way. These repair kits are not generally long-term fixes but are temporary fixes until you can get your spare on or get your tired repaired by a professional.

People who use this compressor really enjoy its rugged style, included repair kit, and the included pressure gauge. This makes it easy to see the PSI of the tire you are filling.

Like other smaller portable units, this unit will get very hot when needed for larger and higher PSI tires.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 120
• Capacity: 2.11 CFM
• Power Source: 12V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 25 feet

▶ Check Prices for the Air Armor Compressor Here!

8. Porter Cable

As we move into air compressors that are a little bigger you will see they have attached tanks. The Porter Cable compressor will not get as hot as your smaller portable units but will be a little larger in size.

This is a fairly lightweight compressor vs its counterparts. It weighs 20 pounds and has a lower decibel rating. The included water drain is great to drain condensation that can accumulate in the 1.5-gallon holding tank.

This is a great option for your travel trailer or motorhome. If you have a larger RV you will want to look past the smaller portable units and use something like this Porter-Cable.

This is a good compressor and will be one of your more economical air compressors that comes with a holding tank.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 120 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 2.0 SCFM
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 25 feet
• Weight: 20 pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Porter-Cable Compressor Here!

9. Makita

Makita is a great name brand that makes very high-quality products. If you are looking for a good air compressor to take in your motorhome or RV Makita makes some of the best air compressors for an RV. The Makita compressor is definitely one of our top picks

You will notice it is heavier because if you want a quality air compressor your strong motor is going to add a little bit of weight. These compressors work great to place in your storage compartment next to an outlet.

Once it is stored you won’t need to move much with a suitable length air hose. It will not surprise you that this compressor has some of the best reviews because it will function as intended to air up your RV tires and more.

The noise level is also a low 60-decibel rating making it an option that can be used indoors or outdoors. Below are a couple different variations of Makita air compressors that will work for your RV.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 135 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 2.0 SCFM
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: Hose not Included
• Weight: 44 pounds

👉 Click on the Pictures Below to Shop Makita Air Compressors 👈

10. Dewalt

Dewalt is another great brand in tools and compressors. This compressor is not as good as the Makita compressor but is very comparable. You have a 71-decibel rating and the protective roll cage is great for RV traveling.

The Dewalt compressor is a wonderful compressor with a 1-gallon tank. It is lighter weight and comes with a 1-year warranty that you will most likely not need.

This compressor will air up most any tire you will need to air. Whether you have a 5th wheel or a class A motorhome, this compressor will work for you.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 135 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 0.75 SCFM
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: Hose not Included
• Weight: 24 pounds

👉 Click on the Pictures Below to Shop Dewalt Air Compressors 👈

11. Stealth

The Stealth compressor is an ultra-quiet 65-decibel rating portable air compressor. You will enjoy the compact design and easy-to-carry handle.

Many people really love how quiet it is making it great for those who do not like a loud compressor. For the price of this compressor, it is a good buy and easy to move around if you don’t mind the weight. It is on the heavier side for portable compressors.

Some people do not like that the power button is a push-button since this style of switch is not the normal for most air compressors. The majority come with a lever style switch and it can vibrate a little more than some wish it would.

RATING INFORMATION

PSI Rating: 150
Capacity: 2.5 CFM @ 90 PSI
Power Source: 120V corded
Hose Length: 6 feet of hose
Weight: 44 pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Stealth Compressor Here!

12. Bostitch

This is a great pancake air compressor. It is lightweight and comes with a large tank that can hold 6 gallons making filling your tires a breeze. It is a little louder than some of the other air compressors with a decibel rating of 80.

This has some of the best air compressor reviews with over 1,000 reviews and almost 85 percent of them being a 5-star rating.

This compressor also comes with a long hose making it easy to reach all your tires that might need air or a close RV neighbor. This is an air compressor you can us in your RV, on the job site or around the house making it very versatile.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 2.6 SCFM
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 50 feet
• Weight: 29 pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Bostitch Compressor Here!

13. Porter-Cable

Porter Cable is another great pancake air compressor option. It is a more economical option and very comparable to your Bostitch pancake compressor.

They both have almost identical compressor stats and both have many good reviews. This compressor will start easily in the winter with an extension cord.

This compressor has an easy carry handle making it great to move from your travel trailer to your home.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 2.6 SCFM
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: Hose not Included
• Weight: 31.2 pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Porter Cable Compressor Here!

14. Metabo

This Metabo pancake air compressor would work well for an RV tire inflator and then some. This is very comparable to other pancake-style compressors.

These compressors are a good price, don’t weigh too much, and can hold 6 gallons of air. This makes them very versatile for your RV air compressor needs. You don’t have to just use it for the motorhome, but it can be used for other applications.

You can find other much smaller air compressors that are a little more portable but they do not supply air as well as these will.

In general, if your RV is not small and you ever need to put air in the tires you would be much happier will a compressor of this style.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150
• Capacity: 2.8 CFM at 90 PSI
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: 50 feet
• Weight: 36.5 pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Metabo Compressor Here!

15. Craftsman

Craftsman like many other brands makes many different styles of air compressors with each having a varying degree of cost and size. Below you will see 3 options that would be great for an RV or other portable uses.

One is a hot dog tank-style Craftsman air compressor. It is a fairly small 2-gallon air compressor. Similar 2-gallon air compressors will have a 1 HP motor making it a heavier air compressor, but this Craftsman has a 1/3 HP motor making it smaller and more portable.

The small motor makes a little bit of noise with about a 78-decibel rating. This compressor works well if you want a small compressor around the house that will also double as a portable compressor for your RV.

We would personally recommend the 1.5 HP compressor with the 3-gallon tank. It has a protective cage and is reviewed well on Amazon.

The last one is their dual tank compressor with the same 1/3 HP motor making it very compact and easily portable. You will enjoy one of these craftsman compressors for many years.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 125
• Capacity: 0.7 CFM at 40 PSI
• Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: Hose not Included
• Weight: 17.8 pounds

👉 Click on the Pictures Below to Shop Craftsman Air Compressors 👈

16. California Air Tools

California Air Tools has two good options to use in your search for the best camping air compressor. Both are heavy-duty and would be good options for motorhomes with larger tires or if you will need more air.

The dual tank California compressor is definitely the larger but will provide much greater CFM output with its bigger motor and larger holding tanks.

Both compressors have good reviews with more than 80 percent recommending the product with a 5-star review. People really enjoy the quiet compressor and the reliability of these machines.

The smaller California compressor is ultra-quiet with only a 56-decibel rating.

Rating information

• PSI Rating: 150 (Working PSI)
• Capacity: 1.2 CFM at 90 PSI
• Power Source: 110V Corded Electric
• Hose Length: Hose not Included
• Weight: 34 pounds

👉 Click on the Pictures Below to Shop California Air Compressors 👈

17. Campbell Hausfeld

This Campbell air compressor is a twin stack compressor and is very lightweight. It comes in two sizes. You can get the 1 gallon or the 4.6-gallon Twinstack. Both are very nice and will be a great RV air compressor.

There are some good reviews, but I do think the reviews could be better. The one thing that is really nice about this compressor is the 4.6-gallon tanks and the lightweight. Outside of that, I would say you might go with a similar product unless you really like this brand.

Rating information

PSI Rating: 125
Capacity: 3.2 CFM at 40 PSI
Power Source: 120V Corded Electric
Hose Length: Hose not Included
Weight: 38 Pounds

▶ Check Prices for the Campbell Compessor Here!

Benefits of Having the Best Air Compressor for RV Tires 

There are many benefits to having an RV air compressor. Filling RV tires with an air compressor is not the only benefit of an air compressor.

Inflate Your Toys

 You can inflate stand-up paddle boards or SUPs for short so you can play at the lake. Many manual hand pumps are light, but they can be bulky and slow. You can also use your air compressor to fill up your inflatable pool toys.

Versatile

The proper air compressor can be used for your RV, home, truck, or car and has many other applications. A good air compressor is so versatile and worth the money to purchase.

Convenient

They are super convenient to have. You don’t really know you need an air compressor until it is too late. We have multiple different air compressors for our RV, home, and car. Each has pros and cons but they have really saved us when we needed it.

Types of RV Air Compressors 

There are many different types and sizes of air compressors. Some are specific to small car tires and some you can use for just about everything. Their size, weight, and holding tanks vary to ensure you have the pressure you need.

Dual Cylinder

Dual cylinder tanks are going to be your most heavy-duty RV air compressor. They typically will have a larger motor and will be very durable. They are also often used in home repairs for smaller nail guns.

Hot Dog

Hot dog-style tanks with air compressors have a cylindrical shaped tank and the ones you will want for your RV often come with a protective cage. Some larger ones do not have the protective cage but are still a good idea.

Pancake 

Pancake compressors look like a pancake. The motor goes on top and pushes air down into the tank. They often have a 6-gallon tank and are taller than the hotdog-style compressors. 

Understanding the Difference Between Viair compressors 400p vs 450p 

Viair has two excellent styles of air compressors. They have a Viair 400P-RV and a Viair 450P-Rv. One is rated for a lot more constant use than the other, so it is important to understand the difference.

Viair’s 400P uses a 33 percent duty cycle. This means that for every 15 min of use you should have 30 min of not using it to let it cool.

Viair’s 450P is a 100 percent duty cycle. This means it is designed to have one hour of continuous run time.

However, it is important to understand that the 400P does fill faster for smaller tires than the 450P but the 450 is a great consistent air compressor that is suggested for larger tires.

Most Important Features of the Best Air Compressor for RV Tires

When looking at the best RV air compressor you need to understand how they compare and to make sure you compare apples to apples.

PSI vs CFM vs HP VS SCFM

One constant when looking at air compressors is PSI. PSI stands for pounds per square inch. It is a pretty universal way of measuring the maximum pressure your air compressor will be able to put into an object.

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It is essentially your flow rate. However, it is important to know that at each level of PSI your CFM can be different. Companies use this to make their product look better than they might really be.

For example, you might have a 6 CFM under 16 PSI but at 80 PSI your CFM would be 0.5 or less. That is a big difference.

SCFM is a better measurement than CFM but one you might not be familiar with. SCFM stands for standard cubic feet per minute. This means they use a standard PSI, temperature, and humidity when testing.

This means when you look at an air compressor with SCFM you can directly compare SCFM because they are all taking the same pressure under the same environment.

CFM can use some different environments making them a little harder to directly compare.

HP is the size of the motor that is running your air compressor. In general, the larger the motor the faster your tank will fill up.

Power Source

Air compressors have different power sources. We would not recommend an air compressor that is a gas air compressor for your recreational vehicles. This is because they are too bulky and heavy and not necessary since most of the time when your RV you will have a power source available, but they are very good air compressors.

You will have 12V corded air compressors that plug into your cigarette lighter or can be connected directly to your car battery.

The other source is your 120V typical plug into an outlet air compressor. This works great if you have a generator that will power it. If you have a motorhome or an RV with a generator you would need to start your generator and plug the compressor into an outlet before your air compressor would work.

Weight and Tank Size

Weight is always something to look at when traveling in an RV. Many times, we want things that are lightweight and super durable and those do not often go together and if they do they are very expensive.

You should be aware of what an air compressor will weigh because if it is too heavy to move or carry it might not be the one for you.

Some compressors do not come with tanks. These are your smaller compressors that have mainly 2 purposes. The first is to put air in a tire and the second is to inflate SUPs, air beds or other similar products. These will run constantly and do not have any type of reservoir to store air. Air compressors with tanks generally give a more consistent pressure.

Tank size is important because your air compressor can start off with air. This means your air compressor has a reservoir that works to keep it ahead instead of constantly running to have enough air.

This also means if the tank is full, you can move the full tank and use the stored air to fill something up without power. Do be aware most air compressors for campers will have a smaller tank so they will not have a lot of air to use for this purpose.

Duty Cycle

Duty cycle is very important and most people do not know what it is. This is pertaining to how long an air compressor can run before it needs to take a break.

Some air compressors like the Viair 450P have a 100 percent duty cycle meaning they can run for an hour straight before they need to be turned off.

You might find that your small RV air compressor is getting really hot. This could be because you are surpassing its duty cycle. You are running it for too long of a time period without a break.

Many small RV compressors can have a duty cycle of 33 percent. This means you can run them for 15 min and then you should take a 30 min break before you run them for another 15 min.

Any use outside of your compressor duty cycle will shorten the life of your compressor or cause damage to the unit.

Air compressors with tanks have better duty cycles because the tank gives them the ability to not start from zero and they might not need to run for as long of a time period because once the tank pressurizes they will automatically shut off.

Noise

Compressors can be very noisy. Fortunately, they all use the same decibel rating system making it easy to compare how loud they are.

This may or may not be a big deal for an RV air compressor because you typically won’t run them for long periods of time.

Hose Length 

You should pay attention to your hose length. If you do not have enough hose, you might not be able to reach where you are trying to fill up. It is good practice to make sure you can reach or that you have a plan for how you will use your air compressor.

We also recommend having some extra hose if your compressor is one that can add extra hose length.

FAQ – Best Air Compressor for RV Tires

Check out some of our most common questions asked when it comes to air compressors.

What type of air compressor do I need for an RV?

The exact type depends on how you want to use it and how big your tires are. Some small compressors will take a very long time to fill large tires and are not recommended for that use.

If you want to make sure you are covered, we recommend a small air compressor with a 1 to 6-gallon tank and about a 1 HP motor or try a Viair.

What size air compressor do I need to fill trailer tires?

Larger RV tires will need a larger air compressor to fill up. Small RV tires can be filled with a small air compressor. If you are not sure if your RV has large or small tires compare them to your car.

If your tires are a similar size as your car, you would be fine will a small air compressor. When your trailer tires are bigger, we would recommend using an air compressor that is a little larger.

What PSI Rating should I have for an RV air compressor? 

We would warn not to focus too much on the PSI rating. As long as the compressor will get to the PSI your tires need you will be fine however do not buy an air compressor just based on the PSI rating. Some have very high PSI rating but very low CFM ratings.

This means if your tire needs 110 PSI and the compressor can get to that PSI but has a low CFM your air compressor will burn up before it will ever be able to fill that tire.

Also, be aware some companies will state they have a high CFM but then make it very hard to find that their high CFM only is good for low pressures, and after the low pressure, their CFM drops significantly.

Every compressor we recommend buying will have sufficient PSI for your RV.

Conclusion: Best Air Compressor for RV Tires 

 When it comes to a small portable RV air compressor, our top pick is hands down the Viair’s 450P. This is a great air compressor and will function as you need it when you need it. However, don’t dismiss the other options if you are not wanting to spend that much money on a compact air compressor that will not take up much space.

The space and weight are important factors but the other compressors can be more versatile than the Viair compressor in some instances. Whatever you decide your family will thank you and your road trip or camping trip may go a bit more smooth.

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