2 HP air compressors: quiet shop and garage units on standard 115 volt power

2 HP is the largest piston compressor you can run on an ordinary 115 volt, 15 or 20 amp circuit, which is why it is the most common size in home garages, trim carpentry trailers, dental and lab rooms and small repair shops. Expect 4 to 7 CFM at 90 PSI depending on the pump. That covers nailers, staplers, blow guns, tire inflation, an impact wrench in short bursts and small HVLP touch up work. It will not keep up with a die grinder, a DA sander or a full size spray gun; for those, start at the 5 HP page.

What is on this page

The largest group is California Air Tools ultra quiet oil free units: 4.6 gallon aluminum tank hand carry, 5 gallon steel, 10 gallon with auto drain and 80 or 98 percent air dryer options, the 10 gallon sound proof cabinet models, 15 gallon and 20 gallon steel tank units, in 110 volt and 220 volt (22060) versions. All run about 5.3 CFM at 90 PSI and 125 to 135 PSI maximum at around 70 dBA. Oil lubricated choices are the Quincy Q12124 2 HP 135 PSI vertical portable, the ABAC AB-224VP 24 gallon vertical at 145 PSI, the Chicago Pneumatic 2 HP 4 gallon twin stack hand carry, and the Champion R-Series simplex (vertical, horizontal, base mounted and Airstation) and RV Series stationary units, which are two stage 175 PSI industrial machines sold in 2 HP trim. The Quincy QOF oil free scroll is also offered at 2 HP for medical, lab and food contact air.

Buying notes

Tank size matters more than horsepower at 2 HP. A 4 to 6 gallon tank is for trim nailers and portability. A 10 to 20 gallon tank gives an impact wrench or a framing crew enough reserve to work between pump cycles. If the compressor will sit in an occupied room or an office, the California Air Tools sound proof cabinet units and the scroll compressors run quietly enough to share the space. Check the plug: most 2 HP units draw 14 to 15 amps on 115 volt and want their own circuit, and the 220 volt versions need a dedicated 20 amp outlet. Oil free pumps need no oil changes but have a shorter pump life than a cast iron oil lubricated pump, so a shop running air every day should look at the Champion R-Series or the Quincy and ABAC units instead.

Related pages

• 3 HP air compressors
• Under 5 HP air compressors
• 5 CFM air compressors
• Oil free piston compressors
• Home and shop air compressors
• Shop by CFM and Shop by PSI