Keeping your car looking its best can be hard work especially if you don’t have the right equipment for the job, owning the best car buffer will change all that. Once you have the right equipment, getting that showroom look is easier than you think.
When it comes to getting car paintwork gleaming, then you really do need the right tool for the job. We’ve selected and reviewed the best car buffers and polishers available right now so that you really can achieve that showroom shine that we all long for.
Editor’s Choice | Brand | Review |
Top Pick |
DEWALT DCM849P2 20V MAX XR 7 in (180mm) Cordless Variable Speed Rotary Polisher Kit | |
Alternative Pick |
Flex XC3401VRG Positive-Drive Rotary-Orbital Polisher | |
Best Budget Option |
Goplus Electric Car Polisher Variable 6-Speed 7″ Buffer Sander w/Bonnet Pad | |
Best Car Polishing Kit With Accessories |
Chemical Guys BUF501X TORQ 10FX |
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- Top Pick
- Alternative Pick
- Best Budget Option
- Best Car Polishing Kit With Accessories
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Worthy Mentions
The Best Car Buffers Reviewed
We think that getting your pride and joy looking its best shouldn’t be a chore, it should be an enjoyable process as you watch that shine return. Check out the reviews below, there’s sure to be a car buffer that’s right for you.
Our Top Pick: DEWALT DCM849P2 20V MAX XR 7 in (180mm) Cordless Variable Speed Rotary Polisher Kit
Our Top Pick
DEWALT DCM849P2 20V MAX XR 7 in (180mm) Cordless Variable Speed Rotary Polisher Kit
This 7 inch battery powered polishing kit from DeWalt is our top pick as the best car buffer. It’s got the power and portability to make it the first tool you grab when it’s time to make things shine.
This DeWalt 7 inch polishing kit comes supplied with 2 super powerful 5.0Ah batteries, and being part of the DeWalt 20V Max line of tools means that other DeWalt 20V Max batteries can be used with this polisher.
A really neat feature here is how the battery back is sideways mounted into the polisher body to give as much clearance as possible between the polisher and the workpiece, which helps to reduce the risk of accidental contact.
Powerful, efficient performance is guaranteed from the DeWalt brushless motor which produces an incredible 75% more runtime compared to a brushed motor and has a no load speed of 800-2200 RPM.
A built in variable speed dial is perfect for precise speed control with speed options also controllable via the trigger.
Weighing only 4.8 lbs without the battery and with a rubber gear case over-molding which also helps protect against accidental damage contact, work can be carried out comfortably using either the front grip or side handle holding positions.
With this being a cordless polisher you get freedom of movement around the workplace, no electrical cords to restrict your movements or getting in the way while you work, which means you can work faster and more efficiently.
Backed by a 3-year limited warranty for your peace of mind, a 90-day money-back guarantee, and also a 1-year service offer. So if you want the best car buffer, then you’ve found it, you really don’t have anything to lose in choosing this DeWalt battery powered polishing kit.
What We Like:
- Brushless Motor – Gives superior runtime compared to brushed motors, in fact up to 75% more runtime.
- Cordless – Freedom to move about the workplace without electric cords restricting you.
- Lightweight – Lightweight for longer usage time, and less user fatigue.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Alternative Top Pick: Flex XC3401VRG Positive-Drive Rotary-Orbital Polisher
Alternative Top Pick
Flex XC3401VRG Positive-Drive Rotary-Orbital Polisher
A high quality feature packed corded polishing tool, with a powerful 7.8 amp motor.
This dual-action orbital polisher from Flex is a pretty amazing piece of equipment, which is why we say it is one of the best car buffers around today. The orbital rotation of this polisher copies the circular moving technique of a human hand when it’s polishing, how cool is that!
Thanks to this polishers smooth running, you get a precise polished finish and that’s essential when trying to achieve a hologram free surface. Due to this polisher’s large stroke length, there’s even the chance that existing holograms can be removed from black finishes.
We all know that sometimes when you are using a polishing power tool that a lot of heat can sometimes be generated on the surface being polished due to the contact with the moving polishing pad.
When using this orbital polisher hardly any heat is created at all, and with a no load speed of between 3200 and 9600 orbits per minute, the trigger switch and speed selector allows you to control exactly how fast you want to work, so if you are working on heat sensitive finishes then this polisher is definitely worth serious consideration.
Weighing in at only 5.75 lbs, with a 6.5 inch polishing pad this polisher is feature packed. You get 8 mm orbital movement, soft start, consistent speed control, and in the event of electrical power loss, restart protection is a really great safety feature.
What We Like:
- High Performance – Lots of power to help you achieve the perfect finish.
- Feature Packed – Speed control, soft start, and overload protection.
- Restart Protection – Great safety feature that prevents the tool from automatically restarting in the event of electrical power interruption.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Budget Option: Goplus Electric Car Polisher Variable 6-Speed 7″ Buffer Sander w/Bonnet Pad
Best Budget Option
Goplus Electric Car Polisher Variable 6-Speed 7″ Buffer Sander w/Bonnet Pad
Ideal for home and business use, this very versatile and powerful Goplus buffer/sander makes the perfect choice for those on a budget.
This is the best car buffer budget option, it’s the powerful Goplus, 1600 watt buffer/polisher. Featuring a 7 inch polishing pad this polisher is solidly built and weighs in at 10.85 lbs. It features a high impact housing to protect it from accidental damage.
No load speeds of between 600 and 3100 rpm are available via the speed control dial, giving you plenty of options for many different types of polishing jobs.
Helping you keep a steady hand on the polishing process is a D type handle that really does help the user work more comfortably for longer. Included is a storage case to keep the polisher safely stored when not in use.
What We Like:
- Value For Money – Budget option but that doesn’t mean poor quality, you get a very capable polisher here.
- Speed Control – Lots of speed control options to help with different polishing jobs.
- Powerful Motor – Powerful 1600 watt motor delivers all the power you need to complete those polishing tasks.
Things to Consider:
- Electrical Power – Extra care is always needed when using corded tools to avoid surface damage caused by the electrical cord making contact with the polishing area.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Car Polishing Kit With Accessories: Chemical Guys BUF501X TORQ 10FX
Best Car Polishing Kit With Accessories
Chemical Guys BUF501X TORQ 10FX
If you’re after a high quality polisher kit, then this polishing kit has everything you need to get started, right out of the box.
If you want everything you need to start polishing right away all in one box, then this polishing kit is the kit for you. It truly is the best car buffer kit with accessories out there.
Supplied with this kit, you get a 120 volt high quality well balanced Torq polisher that has digital speed control that will deliver between 1500 and 4200 OPM with smooth power delivery between 2800 and 7800 RPM.
You also get 2 x 5 inch backing plates, 3 x 5.5 inch pads, 2 x 4 ounce compounds, 2 x 4 ounce polishes, 1 x polishing pad cleaner and 1 x polishing pad conditioner.
So you see, you really do get everything you need, right out of the box to start straight away on those polishing jobs.
What We Like:
- All In One Box – Save yourself the time of buying everything you need separately, this kit has it all in one box, ready to start work.
- High Quality Tool – Quality polishing tool, well balanced for user comfort when using for long periods of time.
- Lots Of Speed Options – Digital speed control to ensure you are working as fast or as slow as you want to.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you polish your car?
We all know when it’s time to wash your car, that’s an easy one to work out, when it looks dirty of course. But not everyone knows when it’s time to polish your car.
There is an easy way of checking and you can do this by simply pouring some water onto the car and seeing if the water beads up and runs off. ( Beading is where the water gathers into small blobs. )
If it does bead up then you are still ok and no polishing and waxing are required. If on the other hand the water just sits there, then it’s time to get that wax and polisher out and get that paintwork back to showroom condition.
Should you polish your car?
People often ask, why bother polishing your car? Well, the simple answer is that you need to polish your car to protect the paintwork from everyday wear and tear.
Cars are used in all weather conditions and different environments, it could be really hot and dusty or maybe cold and damp where you live or travel.
Let’s face it, we all clean our cars at some point, some people take their vehicle to a car wash facility, others prefer to use their own bucket of water and a sponge. You could also use a power washer or a pressure washer to get that grime off.
If dirt and grime isn’t removed, then it really can cause damage to paintwork, especially if that paintwork is not protected properly by wax and then given a good buffing.
Will polishing a car remove scratches?
Polishing a car will help to remove fine or minor scratches from paintwork, but only if the correct polishing products are used. It’s also advisable to use an electric or battery powered polisher to achieve the best results as these can obviously polish at a higher speed compared to polishing manually.
Some of the better quality electric or battery powered polishers have been designed to copy the movements of a human hand when polishing, ensuring an even and consistent polished surface.
Do you wax or polish your car first?
When trying to achieve the perfect polished finish on your car paintwork, you firstly need to wash and clay the car thoroughly to get rid of the daily dirt and grime that builds up between washes.
Clay is a compound that can be used after washing the car to remove any dirt and grease that the washing process has failed to remove.
If the car is not properly cleaned then when you apply the wax, you will actually be sealing in all that dirt and grime.
When the paintwork has been cleaned and dried off then the polishing process can begin. Electrical powered or battery powered polishers are recommended as these enable you to work faster and more efficiently.
Polishing products, help to remove ingrained dirt and grease from the paintwork, polishing also helps in the process of removing minor scratches too.
When the polishing stage has been completed the waxing stage can begin, this waxing stage helps to protect the paintwork by forming a clear wax cover over the paint which can then be buffed to create a high shine finish.
Other Worthy Mentions
The following selections didn’t quite make it into our top picks best car buffer sections, but we thought that they were still definitely worth a mention.
Chemical Guys BUF_209X Complete Detailing Kit
This 13 piece kit has everything you need to do a complete polishing job.
Key Features:
- 1200 – 4200 OPM.
- Dual action movement.
- Powerful 680 watt motor.
Great polisher kit to get your car paintwork shining again.
Key Features:
- Variable speed control.
- Lightweight at only 4 lbs.
- Dual action buffer.
DEWALT Buffer/Polisher DWP849X
Top quality buffer/polisher for professional and DIY use.
Key Features:
- Powerful 12.0 amp motor.
- Variable speed dial.
- 90 day money back guarantee.
A great value for money polisher/buffer strong and durable.
Key Features:
- Powerful 12.7 amp motor.
- 6 speed settings.
- Soft start function.
A very versatile polisher that can also be used for sanding jobs too.
Key Features:
- 12.5 amp, 1500 watt motor.
- Digital display screen.
- Variable speed from 1000 – 3000 RPM.
A great car polishing kit to get you working right out of the box.
Key Features:
- Variable speed dial.
- 500 – 3300 RPM
- Powerful 1200 watt motor.
URCERI Random Orbital Polisher
Great polisher for a variety of applications, comes equipped with 6 foam pads and 2 wool bonnets.
Key Features:
- 1100 watt motor.
- Variable speed control dial.
- 0 – 6000 RPM.
This 6 inch dual action polisher/buffer is packed with great features to help you with your polishing jobs.
Key Features:
- Variable speed control.
- Ergonomic design for user comfort while working.
- Weighs only 6.7 lbs.
This 7 inch polisher comes with 7 pads to buff and polish that paintwork back to perfection.
Key Features:
- Powerful 10 amp motor.
- Variable speed trigger with lock feature.
- 6 speed settings from 600 – 3000 RPM.
A really handy 6 inch polisher that comes equipped with 2 foam discs and a neat carrying bag.
Key Features:
- Nice and compact tool.
- Weight of just 5.7 lbs.
- 6 variable speed options.
This 7 inch variable speed polisher is an ideal choice for the DIY enthusiast or professional.
Key Features:
- Powerful 12.0 amp motor.
- Comes with 5 x foam pads and 1 x 8 inch wool buffer.
- Variable speed of between 1000 and 3000 RPM.
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