Sometimes, silence matters. Although there's no such thing as a silent air compressor, the quietest ones make less noise than a normal conversation. They're particularly great for workplaces where people spend their day near the air compressor or for garages where you can DIY to your heart's content without disturbing anyone. 

To help you find the best for your needs, I've compiled this list of the best quiet air compressors. Click on each model below to view the product page filled with more features, specs, reviews, and other great resources. Also, be sure to check out my criteria for picking the best compressors.

 

The Best Quiet Air Compressors

 

Best Quiet Air Compressor	Best Quiet Air Compressor for Home Garage	Best Rotary Screw Air Compressor
EMAX ESP07V080V1	California Air Tools 60040CAD	Quincy QGS 7.5

 

---

 

Best Quiet Air Compressor: EMAX ESP07V080V1  

Offering two-stage power at one of the quietest decibel ratings available, the EMAX Industrial Plus air compressor is the best quiet air compressor for a wide range of commercial uses. Its patented silent air technology uses baffle plates to reduce decibel readings by up to 35% compared to competing models.

Don't think that just because it's quiet, it lacks power. The EMAX can provide 31 CFM at 100 PSI with its pressure-lubricated dual-piston design, making it capable of handling professional auto repair, woodworking, and other industrial applications. This power is brought to you by a 7.5-horsepower industrial-grade motor. Plus, it's rated at up to 70,000 hours of continuous runtime and has an 80-gallon tank.  

I'm impressed by this compressor's performance and longevity, made possible by a slew of features. A belt tension adjustor reduces vibration and extends belt life, while five levels of air filtration protect it from dirty working environments. Built-in aftercooling technology provides a 35% lower operating temperature and reduces moisture buildup. To prevent water buildup, the compressor comes with a time-controlled automatic tank drain that eliminates daily manual maintenance. Keep in mind that this is a single-phase compressor. 

Overall, this is the quietest air compressor at these power levels, and you won't believe its performance once you start using it. The price is definitely right for the machine you're getting. 

Power

- 31 CFM @ 100 PSI - 208-230 Volt AC motor - 7.5-horsepower

Reliability

- Two-stage cast iron pump rated at up to 70,000 hours - Solid steel, heavy gauge rods - Belt tension adjustor cuts vibration - 5-layer filtration - Aftercooler - Electronic drain valve

Efficiency

- Low 1750 RPM creates less wear - 80-gallon tank

Noise

- Patented Silent Air technology reduces decibels by up to 35%

Overall Value

- Rugged & great for professional jobs without creating a disturbance

 

Who It's For:

 

Who It's Not For:

 

Runner-Up: Ingersoll Rand 2475QD7.5

At only 68 dB, the Ingersoll Rand 2475QD7.5 certainly earns its place on our list of best quiet air compressors. It provides 24 CFM of airflow at 175 PSI and is designed for continuous duty operation. The compressor comes with a built-in 80-gallon tank, automatic drain valve, and aftercooler. A low oil shut-off protects the pump. All these standard components make this an ideal unit for professional contractors working in automotive shops, wood shops, and more.  

 

---

Best Quiet Air Compressor for Home Garage: California Air Tools 60040CAD

 

If you have a home garage where you work with various air tools, I highly recommend the California Air Tools 60040CAD single-stage air compressor. At 75 decibels, it's only about as loud as a vacuum cleaner and 30% quieter than similar compressors. In fact, if you turned it on, you probably wouldn't think it has a 4-horsepower dual motor that can provide 10.6 CFM at 90 PSI and 12.80 CFM at 40 PSI, but it does. Its 60-gallon tank takes only seven minutes to go from empty to full. 

I love how this compressor can handle many different garage applications like staple guns, nail guns, and airbrushes with ease. The oil-free, dual-piston pump makes it a particularly good option for quality-sensitive jobs like painting, and it can be used in a variety of temperatures and uneven terrains. To further help with quality, a 5-micron air filter removes dirt, dust, and moisture. If you need to switch between air tools with different pressure requirements, no problem! The compressor's pressure regulator knob lets you adjust the PSI as needed. It's also worth mentioning that a time-controlled automatic drain valve protects the compressor from condensation, while a thermal overload protector prevents overheating.  

No matter what you're doing in your garage, chances are the 60040CAD can help when it comes to air tools. Plus, it won't break the bank-you'll get your money's worth out of this machine. 

Power

- 10.6 CFM @ 90 PSI - 230 Volt AC motor - 4-horsepower

Reliability

- Oil-free dual piston pump - 5-micron air filter - Thermal overload protector - Electronic drain valve

Efficiency

- Low 1680 RPM creates less wear - 60-gallon tank

Noise

- Only 75 decibels - One of the quietest 4.0-HP compressors in the industry

Overall Value

- Great air solution for serious DIYers into woodworking and painting

 

Who It's For:

 

Who It's Not For:

 

Runner-Up: Eagle EA-6500

This 2-horsepower Eagle air compressor is a great runner-up if you are limited to 115-volt power and need a quiet machine. Eagle rates this at an astonishing 53 decibels from 25 feet away, which is quieter than a conversation! Providing 7.9 CFM at 40 PSI with a 50% duty cycle, this compressor is oil-free and perfect for quality-sensitive applications like painting. Expect it to last four times longer than most comparable compressors.

 

---

 

Best Rotary Screw Air Compressor: Quincy QGS 7.5

Although rotary screw compressors are quiet by nature of how they operate (no noisy pistons), I included this one on the list for those seeking the best solution for their 24/7 air needs. Providing 20.4 CFM at a whopping 150 PSI and a 100% continuous duty cycle, the Quincy QGS is the right piece of equipment for small to medium-sized applications ranging from paint booths and component assembly to long-running industrial installations.  

Packed with premium standard features, the QGS is perfect for small-footprint, quiet operations that require clean, dry compressed air. To this end, an integrated refrigerated air dryer condenses the air to remove moisture, dirt, and oil. Pre-package filtration ensures low pressure drop while preventing oil contamination.  

Quincy ensures many years of operation with premium synthetic lubrication that's rated for 8,000 hours and a V-belt drive for reliability. The high-flow, low-consumption fan includes a wide heat exchange surface that improves efficiency, safety, and longevity. A soft start motor further reduces energy use and component wear.  Operators will love how easy it is to access the unit and perform maintenance, specifically the hinged doors, detachable panels, and simple fluid monitoring. All this, plus an attractive extended warranty option, makes the QGS a wise capital investment, and I highly recommend it for your business.

Power

20.4 CFM @ 150 PSI 230 Volt AC motor 7.5-horsepower

Reliability

Rated for 8,000 hours Long-life V-belt drive Integrated refrigerated air dryer

Efficiency

Continuous 100% duty cycle for 24/7 applications 60-gallon tank

Noise

Only 64 decibels

Overall Value

Must-have for heavy-duty industrial or commercial applications

 

 

Who It's For:

 

Who It's Not For:

 

Runner-Up: Kaishan KRST-7.5A3F0D8U

This powerful Kaishan rotary screw air compressor provides 20.6 CFM of airflow at 150 PSI to effectively handle air tools in manufacturing, automotive, and industrial applications. It includes an integrated air dryer and pre-filter, along with a built-in aftercooler and 120-gallon tank. You won’t go wrong with this reliably-built, long-lasting compressor.

 

---

How We Picked the Best Quiet Air Compressors

When recommending quiet air compressors, we take five features into account. 

 

Power

We start with the amount of power the air compressor can produce. There are two main characteristics of air compressor power: Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). CFM refers to how much air the air compressor can deliver per minute (the volume), while PSI measures the force of the air. These two characteristics work together in a crucial balance to satisfy the needs of your application. 

For example, if you're using a tire inflator, airbrush, or dental tools, then having high pressure is more important than high volume. The opposite is true for paint sprayers, nail guns, and other tools where you need more volume. Many of our best air compressor categories are based on application, so you can be sure we're recommending the product with the best PSI or CFM-whichever is needed. Finally, both CFM and PSI are determined by the motor's horsepower, which is another aspect of power we consider, along with the voltage requirements.

 

Reliability

When you buy an air compressor, you want it to last for years to come. That's why reliability is so important when making our best picks. We start with the overall construction and design. What is it made of? Does it have protective features like air filters or a built-in dryer to keep out contaminants?

After that, we look at the operation. Is there built-in technology that reduces wear and tear? How does it handle vibration or moisture? Finally, what is its rated lifetime in hours? How many years can you expect this air compressor to last? By examining reliability and durability, we're making sure you don't have to buy a replacement every couple of years.

 

Efficiency

We measure efficiency by how well an air compressor can deliver your air needs with minimal downtime, and at the lowest cost to you as possible. Compressors that can do both very well rank highly because they perform almost continuously, don't slow down your performance, and save you money in the process.  

One of the key measurements in this is an air compressor's duty cycle, which represents how long it can operate before needing to cool down or refill the air tank. The higher the duty cycle percentage, the longer it can operate continuously without issue. For example, an air compressor with a 50% duty cycle will run 50% of the time without needing a break.  

Efficiency can take many forms in an air compressor, so we look at the whole unit to determine what features are in place to help bridge the gap between cost and performance. On a rotary screw compressor, this could be a variable-speed drive that continuously calculates the air needs and adjusts the motors to only work as hard as necessary for the task. Other features like motor and pump RPMs, tank-fill time, after-cooling technology, and more are also considered.

 

Noise

Sound level is an increasingly important factor, especially when it comes to traditionally loud piston air compressors. That's why we reward quieter air compressors with a higher ranking. The best piston air compressors today are barely louder than the average human conversation. When it comes to rotary screws and other heavier-duty compressors, silent operation is standard in the nature of the design.  

When you need a compressor running in a workshop, the garage, a tire shop, or on the factory floor, there are certain safety standards that must be met to prevent hearing loss and other problems, like not being able to hear someone shouting. In short, we think you should be able to work on your projects safely and without worrying about going deaf! 

It's important to point out that the measurement of loudness in decibels is not standardized across the industry, and different manufacturers may test the loudness of their compressors differently. To combat the discrepancies, we typically consider brands that pledge to test their loudness consistently through organizations like C.A.G.I. or publish their testing standards so we can fairly compare them with other compressors. Of course, the best and most accurate way to know is to listen to as many compressors as we can in person and make determinations on our own. 

 

Overall Value

Taking all the above criteria into account, along with price, leads us to an overall value appraisal for each air compressor recommendation. We don't go by the "cheapest" air compressor alone because you're going to get what you pay for, and we prioritize performance and quality. The sweet spot of affordability and performance is what we're after.

 

Back to Top

 

---

Quiet Air Compressor FAQs

What Makes a Quiet Air Compressor?

An air compressor's loudness varies depending on its style of operation, power source, and certain design enhancements that can reduce noise. Reciprocating air compressors are the loudest because they use pistons to compress the air. On the other hand, rotary screw and scroll air compressors, most common for heavy industrial applications, are significantly quieter because of their contactless operation.

Regarding power sources, electric-powered air compressors are quieter than gasoline-powered ones because they lack the explosive sounds of internal combustion.

Finally, certain design improvements like sound-dampening components and rubber isolation pads can muffle sound and reduce vibrations. Such improvements can even bring a loud reciprocating compressor down to conversation volume. Check out our guide to quiet air compressors for more information.

 

How Are Air Compressors Rated for Sound?

Not all manufacturers rate their air compressors for sound. Those that do may have different testing procedures. For example, one may test their compressor from 25 feet away and rate it as quieter than another manufacturer that tests theirs at 20 feet. Thankfully, an organization called the Compressed Air & Gas Institute (CAGI) performs standardized decibel testing. If you purchase an air compressor from a manufacturer that belongs to CAGI, you will get a much more accurate decibel rating.

 

---

 

About Melissa 

Melissa has been fascinated by air power since childhood when she would help her dad with hobbies using his old compressor. Years later, she would heavily use compressors herself when powering air tools for building theater set designs.

Her ability to fuse her fascination with air tools with her passion for theater exemplifies how compressors can play a role in almost any profession-from brewing to auto work and dentistry to heavy industry. After designing sets for eight years, Melissa worked as a flooring and window treatments manager for seven years before joining the Air Compressors Direct team.

Today, as the air compressor expert, Melissa sets the stage for customers' success with a whole range of air applications. When not at work, she uses air compressors herself on various home improvement projects. Besides this, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her cats, outdoor activities, painting, gaming, and watching musicals.

You can count on Melissa to pull back the curtain on air compressors and answer all your questions and concerns!