Kärcher · the entry step, and what it buys
Is the K 3 bundle worth double the K 2, or is the cheaper machine enough?
Ten bar apart, and the two machines answer different questions. One tells you what it moves; the other gives you the accessory that decides the finish.
| Compared on | K 2 Universal Edition | K 3 FJ Home |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum pressure | 110 bar | 120 bar |
| Flow rate | 360 l/h | Not stated in the listing |
| Area performance | 20 m (66 ft)²/h | Not stated |
| Hose | 3 m (10 ft) | Longer, not stated |
| Surface cleaner included | No | Yes — T 1 |
| Listed on amazon.com | Yes | No |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
Prefer the K 2 if the work is a bike, a car and garden furniture within a few meters of a tap — and because it is the only one of the two that tells you its flow rate.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Buy the K 3 FJ Home for a terrace: the T 1 head in the box is worth more than the ten bar, and it is the difference between an even finish and a striped one.
Because liters per hour decide how long a terrace takes, and pressure does not. The K 2 publishes 360 l/h; the K 3 publishes nothing, so the two cannot be ranked on cleaning speed at all.
On a balcony, no. On a drive it means moving the machine every few minutes and pulling it over by its own hose, which is what kinks a hose at the gun and eventually splits it.
110 bar · 360 l/h · 20 m (66 ft)²/h · 3 m (10 ft) hose
The smallest Kärcher that still publishes its flow rate — and the cheapest honest way into the range.
Best for: A balcony, a bike and garden furniture — occasional work within a few meters of a tap
120 bar · Foam Jet nozzle · T 1 patio cleaner included
The entry Kärcher, sold as a bundle with a patio head — which is the part that decides whether the machine gets used.
Best for: A small courtyard, garden furniture and bikes, where the machine is used a few times a season
