Driver topping up tyres
You already have an 18 V pack, or you can use the car socket. The AK 18 Multi is the 11 bar inflator at £89.99, with the 12 V cable in the box and no battery. It is 16 L/min, so it is not a feed for a nailer.
Metabo air compressor comparison 2026
The best metabo air compressors, compared.
Top pick: Metabo Basic 270-50 OF Silent Best value: Metabo AK 18 Multi – £89.99 includes the 12 V cable for an 11 bar tyre inflator, 4.5 from 40. No battery, and 16 L/min will not feed a nailer. Updated 20 October 2026.
A air compressor on amazon.co.uk is one of four machines: a hose inflator, an 18 V tank compressor, a 24 litre mains compressor whose listing disagrees about oil, or a 50 litre oil-free silent compressor. If you already own an 18 V pack, the small machines are what reviewers use for tyres and short blow-offs. A garage that wants a receiver left plugged in is looking at the 24 litre or the 50 litre mains unit. Check the model number on the rating plate, whether the pump is oil-free, whether the airflow figure is effective delivery rather than suction, and whether the plug fits a UK socket. Metabo 120 V machines are outside this comparison. The 250-24 W listing says both OF and oil-lubricated, which the [oil or oil-free](/hub/compressors/metabo-air-compressor/sub/metabo-air-compressor-oil-or-oil-free) page sets out. The box is a 12 V car cable and a volume hose with two adapters, without a battery or a charger.
A air compressor on amazon.co.uk is one of four machines: a hose inflator, an 18 V tank compressor, a 24 litre mains compressor whose listing disagrees about oil, or a 50 litre oil-free silent compressor.
14 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
4 of 4: Best metabo air compressors compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 4Best overall
Best value
6.5/10
7.3/10
8.2/10
6.3/10
∼ £481
∼ £90
∼ £170
∼ £177
4.9(14)
4.5(40)
4.4(79)
4.2(138)
Personal buying guide
Which Metabo air compressor fits?
Question 1 of 2
What job do you need it for?
The best metabo air compressors in detail
Our view
The Metabo Basic 270-50 OF Silent (601594000) is a 50 litre, 10 bar, oil-free mains compressor at £481.29, listed at 1,500 W and 37 kg. The bullets state 130 litres per minute filling capacity, 250 litres per minute suction and 61 dB(A). Metabo's datasheet for the same order number states 61 dB(A) sound pressure and 120 litres per minute effective delivery. The style field says 50L EU. Voltage is 230 V. A BS 1363 plug is not named. The customer-reviews line is 4.9 from 14 ratings, and every scraped review is marked Germany, so that line is not a UK verdict. Those reviewers describe it as quieter than a typical DIY compressor, and they also say it is the wrong machine for long runs on a large impact wrench or a spray gun. The box lists a universal quick coupling and a rubber-coated pull handle. The spare-part line says 10 years.
Pros
- Oil-free on the title and the bullets, order 601594000
- 50 litre receiver, 10 bar, two gauges and working-pressure adjustment
- 61 dB(A) is the lowest stated noise figure in this set
- Wheels, rubber feet and a pull handle on a 37 kg machine
Cons
- £481.29, and the plug is not stated
- 4.9 from 14 reviews, all marked Germany
- Reviewers say air-hungry tools still empty the 50 litre tank
- Silent is relative to a typical DIY compressor
Best for: You want a 50 litre oil-free garage receiver and you can confirm the plug before it is the only compressor you own.
Less suitable: You want a UK review sample, a named BS 1363 plug, or long spraying sessions.
Specifications
- Model
- Metabo Basic 270-50 OF Silent
- Brand
- Metabo
- Price
- ∼£481
- Customer rating
- 4.9/5(14)
- Machine type
- Silent workshop
- Power
- 230 V, 1.5 kW
- Oil-free
- Yes
- Max pressure
- 10 bar
- Listed airflow
- 130 L/min filling
- Receiver
- 50 L
- Noise
- 61 dB(A)
- Plug named
- No
- Regulator
- Yes
- Weight
- 37 kg
Common questions
Is the Basic 270-50 OF Silent oil-free?
Yes on this listing. The title and the bullets say oil-free, two-cylinder, model 601594000.
What plug does the listing specify?
It does not. Voltage is 230 V and the style field says 50L EU. A BS 1363 plug is not named.
What do the 14 reviews actually cover?
The listing shows 4.9 from 14 ratings. Every scraped review is marked Germany. They praise a lower noise level than a typical DIY compressor and say it is not for long runs on air-hungry tools.
Our view
The Metabo AK 18 Multi (600794850) is a 2.6 kg hose inflator at £89.99. The bullets give 11 bar, 16 litres per minute, a digital preset with automatic shut-off, and units in bar, psi and kPa. The box list is a 12 V car cable and a volume hose with two adapters, without a battery pack and without a charger. The specification table prints a 10 litre tank and 1,800 W. The bullets describe a hose inflator, so those table figures are not a receiver you can plan around. The customer-reviews line is 4.5 from 40. Scraped reviews are from Belgium and Germany. They praise fast car-tyre inflation from an 18 V pack or the car socket. One reviewer returned a unit that kept pumping about 3 to 4 units past the set value. Volume-hose adapters for mattresses and tents come up as a fit problem.
Pros
- 11 bar preset inflator at £89.99
- 12 V car cable included, plus an 18 V option
- 2.6 kg, oil-free, with a digital display
- 4.5 from 40 on the amazon.co.uk line
Cons
- No battery and no charger
- 16 L/min is an inflator flow, so it will not feed a nailer
- The table prints a 10 litre tank and 1,800 W that the bullets do not support
- One returned unit overshot the set pressure, and mattress adapters draw complaints
Best for: You want to top up car or bicycle tyres from an 18 V pack or the car's 12 V socket.
Less suitable: You need a quick coupling and a receiver for a blow gun, a nailer or a spray gun.
Specifications
- Model
- Metabo AK 18 Multi
- Brand
- Metabo
- Price
- ∼£90
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(40)
- Machine type
- Hose inflator
- Power
- 18 V or 12 V
- Oil-free
- Yes
- Max pressure
- 11 bar
- Listed airflow
- 16 L/min
- Receiver
- None in bullets
- Noise
- 87 dB
- Battery included
- No
- Regulator
- Yes
- Weight
- 2.6 kg
Common questions
Does the AK 18 Multi come with a battery?
No. The included-components line says without battery pack and without charger. A 12 V car cable and a volume hose with two adapters are included.
Does it have a 10 litre tank?
The specification table prints tank volume 10 litres. The bullets describe a hose inflator and do not mention a receiver. Treat 10 litres as an uncleared table figure.
Will it stop at the pressure you set?
Automatic shut-off is a listed feature. One scraped review says a unit kept pumping about 3 to 4 units past the set value and was returned.
Our view
The Metabo Power 160-5 (601521850) is an 18 V oil-free tank compressor at £170.03 on amazon.co.uk. The title and the highlight say a 5 litre receiver, 8 bar and 8.7 kg. The specification table on the same listing says 18 litres and 120 litres per minute, which conflicts with Metabo's UK page for this order number. The bullets state 60 litres per minute effective delivery at 80% of maximum pressure, and the highlight says 70 litres per minute filling capacity. The customer-reviews line is 4.4 from 79. The scraped paragraphs are from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Spain. Those reviewers use it for car and motorcycle tyres and short blow-offs, and they say the tank empties in seconds on a blow gun. The included-components line lists only a universal quick-action coupling, so the battery and the charger are separate, and one review says a pack did not stay seated.
Pros
- Oil-free 18 V tank with a regulator and gauges for tank and working pressure
- 60 L/min effective delivery on the bullets, matching Metabo's page for 601521850
- 8.7 kg in a tubular frame, light enough to carry between jobs
- 4.4 from 79 on the amazon.co.uk line
Cons
- Battery and charger are not in the included-components line
- Title says 5 litres; the Amazon table says 18 litres
- Scraped reviews are not marked United Kingdom
- Reviewers say a blow gun empties the tank in seconds
Best for: You already own an 18 V pack and you want a tool outlet for tyres and short blow-offs.
Less suitable: You need a battery in the box, a mains garage receiver, or enough stored air to spray.
Specifications
- Model
- Metabo Power 160-5 18 LTX BL OF
- Brand
- Metabo
- Price
- ∼£170
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(79)
- Machine type
- Cordless tank
- Power
- 18 V
- Oil-free
- Yes
- Max pressure
- 8 bar
- Listed airflow
- 60 L/min at 80%
- Receiver
- 5 L (table 18 L)
- Noise
- 69.4 dB
- Battery included
- No
- Regulator
- Yes
- Weight
- 8.7 kg
Common questions
Does the Power 160-5 listing include a battery?
The included-components line lists only a universal quick-action coupling. A battery and a charger are not named.
Is the tank 5 litres or 18 litres?
The title, the capacity field and the item highlight say 5 litres. The specification table says tank volume 18 litres. Both figures are on the same amazon.co.uk listing. Metabo's UK page for 601521850 says 5 litres.
What airflow does the listing print?
The bullets say 60 litres per minute effective delivery at 80% of maximum pressure and the highlight says 70 litres per minute filling capacity. The table says 120 litres per minute air flow.
Our view
The Basic 250-24 W listing (model number 601533000) is a 230 V, 1,500 W, 24 litre, 8 bar machine at £176.95, weighing 24 kg, with 81 dB printed on the page. The title and one bullet include OF. Another bullet calls the design a powerful oil-lubricated piston compressor. The model name and the part number are Basic 250-24 W, without an OF suffix. Metabo publishes 601533180 as an oil-lubricated 250-24 W and 601532000 as the oil-free 250-24 W OF, so 601533000 matches neither order number exactly. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 138 ratings. Two scraped reviews are marked United Kingdom and stay short. Most of the detail comes from other countries. Reviewers say the pump needs oil, that a bottle was in the box, and that a loose filler cap left the unit oily after shipping. Airflow, the plug and the dimensions are absent from the scraped table.
Pros
- 24 litre receiver, 8 bar and 1,500 W at £176.95
- Largest review count in this set: 4.2 from 138
- Pressure-reducing valve, gauge, overload protection and rubberised wheels are named
- Two scraped reviews are marked United Kingdom
Cons
- The title includes OF and a bullet says oil-lubricated
- Model 601533000 is not Metabo order 601532000 or 601533180
- Airflow and the plug are not stated
- Reviewers report a loose oil cap and accessories they expected and did not receive
Best for: You want a 24 litre mains receiver and you will read the rating plate for oil before you trust the title.
Less suitable: You need one lubrication statement, a stated airflow, or a named UK plug.
Specifications
- Model
- Metabo Basic 250-24 W
- Brand
- Metabo
- Price
- ∼£177
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(138)
- Machine type
- Mains workshop
- Power
- 230 V, 1.5 kW
- Max pressure
- 8 bar
- Receiver
- 24 L
- Noise
- 81 dB
- Plug named
- No
- Regulator
- Yes
- Weight
- 24 kg
Common questions
Is the Basic 250-24 W oil-free?
The title and one bullet include OF. Another bullet says oil-lubricated piston compressor. The model name and part number are Basic 250-24 W, number 601533000. The listing does not settle it.
What airflow does Amazon print?
The scraped specification table has no airflow figure. Maximum pressure is 8 bar and the tank is 24 litres.
Does the listing say which plug is fitted?
Voltage is 230 V. The plug, the cable length and the dimensions are not in the scraped table.
How we compared
Scores use the four amazon.co.uk listings kept for this comparison, shelf date 19 October 2026, plus Metabo pages for the order numbers named below. This is not a lab test. A star line is the amazon.co.uk customer-reviews figure. Scraped review text marked Germany, Italy or another country is not scored as a UK owner sample. Weights sum to 100.
1
Listing completeness
30%A single lubrication statement, a receiver that the title and Metabo agree on, an airflow figure named as effective delivery, and a clear line on the battery or the plug score higher. A title that says OF beside a bullet that says oil-lubricated, a tank cell that contradicts the title, or a mains listing with no plug loses points.
2
Evidence
25%Star rating and review count on amazon.co.uk, then a deduction when the count is under 20, or when none of the scraped paragraphs is marked United Kingdom.
3
Job fit
25%Whether the machine can do the job its bullets describe: tyre inflation, a short blow-off from a real outlet, or a garage receiver. An inflator does not score as a tool compressor.
4
Value
20%Shelf price in GBP against what is actually in the box. The AK 18 Multi can take full marks here because £89.99 includes the 12 V cable for a tyre job. A £481.29 receiver with an unstated plug does not.
Independent review
Last updated: 20 October 2026
8 sources checked
Metabo air compressor buying guide
Four Metabo listings on amazon.co.uk cover an inflator, an 18 V tank, a 24 litre mains compressor with two oil statements, and a 50 litre oil-free silent compressor. Start with the job, then the airflow type, then what is actually in the box. Prices below are the shelf figures scraped on 19 October 2026.
What is a Metabo air compressor in this set?
A Metabo air compressor in this comparison is one of four amazon.co.uk machines, and they do not do the same job. The AK 18 Multi, order 600794850, is a 2.6 kg hose inflator at 11 bar and 16 litres per minute. The bullets do not describe a receiver. The box is a 12 V car cable and a volume hose with two adapters, without a battery or a charger. The Power 160-5, order 601521850, is an oil-free 18 V tank compressor at 8 bar and 8.7 kg.
Best for
- Drivers who already own an 18 V pack and want tyres or a short blow-off
- A garage that can confirm oil and the plug before leaving a receiver plugged in
Not ideal for
- Anyone who needs a battery in the box, or a named BS 1363 plug, before they pay
- Spraying and large impact wrenches that reviewers say empty these tanks
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Trusting OF when a bullet says oil-lubricated
The Basic 250-24 W title includes OF and another bullet says oil-lubricated. Model 601533000 is not Metabo order 601532000 or 601533180. Read the rating plate.
- 2
Comparing suction with tool consumption
The Power 160-5 bullets say 60 L/min effective delivery at 80% of maximum pressure. The same listing also prints 70 L/min filling and 120 L/min in the table. The 270-50 prints filling and suction, while Metabo's datasheet states 120 L/min effective delivery.
- 3
Reading the Power 160-5 table as 18 litres
The title and Metabo's page for 601521850 say 5 litres. The Amazon table says 18 litres. Use the title. The same mistake applies to a missing battery and to German-located reviews treated as a UK verdict.
What to weigh up
Job and airflow
HighTyres and inflatables can be the AK 18 Multi at 11 bar and 16 L/min. A blow gun or a brad nailer needs a receiver. Reviewers say spraying and large impact wrenches are what these tanks do not keep up with. Use effective delivery at a stated pressure. Metabo also prints suction and filling capacity. The Power 160-5 listing shows 60 L/min at 80% of maximum pressure, 70 L/min filling, and 120 L/min in the table.
Oil, battery and plug
HighOil-free is a different Metabo order number from oil-lubricated. The Basic 250-24 W listing, B00IPDGTIQ, model 601533000, says both. Both cordless listings omit the battery and the charger. The AK 18 includes a 12 V car cable. The mains listings here are 230 V. The plug is often unstated, and the 50 litre style field says 50L EU. A Schuko-only lead is a UK socket problem. Do not treat a 120 V Metabo HPT machine as a UK Metabo compressor.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Short blow-offs on 18 V
You want a tool outlet, not only a tyre inflator. The Power 160-5 is the oil-free 18 V tank at 8 bar and 8.7 kg. The title says 5 litres. The battery is a separate purchase.
Quieter garage receiver
You can pay the £481.29 shelf price and you can see that the 14 reviews are marked Germany. The Basic 270-50 OF Silent is the 50 litre oil-free mains unit at 10 bar and 61 dB(A). The plug is not named.
Common questions about metabo air compressors
Which Metabo air compressor is the top pick here?
The Power 160-5 18 LTX BL OF is the top pick on this page. It is an oil-free 18 V tank at 8 bar, with 60 L/min effective delivery on the bullets, priced at £170.03, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.4 from 79 ratings. The battery and charger are not in the included-components line. The title says 5 litres and the Amazon table says 18 litres, so use the title and Metabo's page for order 601521850.
How much does a Metabo air compressor cost on amazon.co.uk?
Shelf prices scraped on 19 October 2026, for this set only, are £89.99 for the AK 18 Multi before you add an 18 V pack, £170.03 for the Power 160-5, £176.95 for the Basic 250-24 W, and £481.29 for the Basic 270-50 OF Silent. Do not average those into one typical price. A dealer figure for oil-free order 601532000 is a different machine from ASIN B00IPDGTIQ.
What should you check before buying a Metabo air compressor?
Name the job first. Tyres and inflatables can be the AK 18 Multi. A blow gun or a brad nailer needs a receiver. Then read whether the airflow is effective delivery at a stated pressure, not suction or an unnamed table figure. Check that the title and the table agree on the tank, and that oil is one statement. Both cordless listings omit the battery. These mains listings are 230 V, and the plug is often unstated.
Is the Basic 250-24 W oil-free?
The listing does not settle it. The title and one bullet include OF, and another bullet says oil-lubricated piston compressor. The model number is 601533000. Metabo publishes 601533180 as an oil-lubricated 250-24 W and 601532000 as the oil-free 250-24 W OF, so 601533000 matches neither order number exactly. Read the rating plate before you treat the title as the pump type.
Is the Power 160-5 tank 5 litres or 18 litres?
The title, the capacity field and the item highlight say 5 litres. The specification table on the same amazon.co.uk listing says 18 litres. Metabo's UK page for order 601521850 also states 5 litres. Treat the title and that Metabo page as the receiver, and treat 18 litres as a conflicting table cell, not as a second tank.
Do the cordless Metabo models include a battery?
No. The Power 160-5 included-components line lists only a universal quick-action coupling. The AK 18 Multi is supplied without a battery pack and without a charger. It does include a 12 V car cable and a volume hose with two adapters. You need a pack you already own, or the car socket on the AK 18.
Does 61 dB(A) mean the silent compressor meets UK noise rules?
No. The Basic 270-50 OF Silent lists 61 dB(A), and Metabo's datasheet for 601594000 also states 61 dB(A) sound pressure. That is a sound-emission figure. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 bind employers, not a householder, so a home listing figure is not a compliance result. Other battery machines sit in the cordless compressor comparison.
Our verdict
On these four amazon.co.uk listings the Power 160-5 is the top pick: an oil-free 18 V tank at £170.03, 8 bar, with 60 L/min effective delivery on the bullets and 4.4 from 79 ratings. The AK 18 Multi is the best value at £89.99, because the 12 V car cable is in the box for a tyre job. The Basic 270-50 OF Silent is the quiet 50 litre receiver, at £481.29, with every scraped review marked Germany and no plug named. The Basic 250-24 W listing says both OF and oil-lubricated, so the rating plate has to settle that before the 24 litre tank is useful.
Best value
View offer
Metabo AK 18 Multi
£89.99 includes the 12 V cable for an 11 bar tyre inflator, 4.5 from 40. No battery, and 16 L/min will not feed a nailer.
Editorial
Editor
DIY & toolsamazon.co.uk listingsAir compressors
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: 20 October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to metabo air compressors
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Metabo air compressor buying guideThe order of decisions: type, tank, oil, plug and battery.Best Metabo air compressorWho each listing is for, and who should skip it.How to use a Metabo air compressorDrain, regulator, oil check and first start after purchase.Oil or oil-freeLubricated versus oil-free, including the 250-24 conflict.Cordless Metabo air compressorAK 18 Multi against the Power 160-5. Mains machines stay aside.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources from the research digest, checked against the four amazon.co.uk listings. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the 19 October 2026 lines. A listing decibel is a sound-emission figure, not a noise-regulation result.
- Metabo UK, Power 160-5 18 LTX BL OF (601521850) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Metabo UK, AK 18 Multi (600794850) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Metabo, Basic 250-24 W oil-lubricated (601533180) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Metabo UK, Basic 250-24 W OF (601532000) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Metabo, Basic 270-50 OF Silent (601594000) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- PSSR 2000, Schedule 1 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE INDG178, written schemes of examination (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines scraped on 19 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.