Best Car Buffers: Enjoy a Concours-Level Polish on Your Sweet Ride

Because there is such a plethora of options on the market when it comes to car buffers and polishers, I decided to only select products from top well-known and respected manufacturers for this review. I wanted to include a variety of sizes, speeds, and price tags to suit a range of needs.

Instead of the best price, I focused on the best value, or which car buffer provides the best experience per dollar spent. I also considered warranty and customer service reputation to round out the list of selections. To read more about our process and standards, click here.

If you’re looking for an ideal combination of power, durability, reliability, and price, our top pick is the Porter-Cable Variable-Speed Polisher. For a great budget-friendly option that will still deliver reliable results without breaking the bank, consider the Black & Decker Variable-Speed Polisher. 

Do you have a reliable car buffer that makes your ride shine, but didn’t make our list? Hit us up in the comments and let us know.

There are several key factors to think about when selecting the ideal car buffer. How often you’re going to use it should be at the top of the list. If you’re a frequent car-buffing nut, you may want to pony up for something that’s a little pricier, but super lightweight and with an ultra powerful motor that won’t let you down. A great warranty also helps. If you’re looking to do fewer jobs or smaller cars, maybe a budget-friendly, compact car buffer is best for you. 

A rotary-style buffer is what most professionals use. It has a rotating pad that spins on a spindle in one direction. It won’t orbit, oscillate, or vibrate. The straight spinning action has the most power and buffing ability. Their drawback is that the concentrated spinning in one spot creates a risk of damage. You can easily buff through your paint’s clear coat. Only consider purchasing a rotary-style buffer if you’re experienced working with polishers and detailing cars. 

Most car owners working on their cars should use an orbital buffer. The buffing pad spins around on a spindle similar to a rotary style, but it also moves around on an axis, adding an additional movement of vibrating, orbiting, or oscillating. 

There are three types of orbital buffers, fixed orbital, dual-action random orbital, and dual-action forced rotation. Each type has a different movement in how it spins and orbits. Beginners will work best with a dual-action random orbital because they have the lowest risk of damaging your paint. 

As mentioned above, there are two main spin styles to choose from: rotary and orbital. Rotary buffers spin in a clockwise direction and buff one spot continually until you move the buffer. Orbital buffers spin and move on an axis. This gives you greater coverage and is easier to use. Orbital buffers tend to have lower motor power than rotary styles. 

The more speed your buffer has, the more power it will have to target deeper scratches. However, too much power means increased speed, which leads to excessive friction and heat, potentially causing damage to your vehicle. A safe speed range is between 2,000 and 4,500 RPMs. 

Using a car buffer can be an awkward and uncomfortable job if you get the wrong one. It can really tax your shoulders, upper back, and arms after just a few minutes if the buffer is too bulky, too heavy, or has handles that don’t sit comfortably in your grip. Also, if you work frequently on taller vehicles, getting a powerful, but lightweight car buffer is going to be key to saving you cash at the chiropractor.

The more powerful your buffer is, the larger motor it needs. This leads to increased weight. Keep the weight of the buffer in mind when comparing models since you’ll have to hold that weight, move it about, and lift it high. A heavy buffer can be too heavy to hold for the entire time it takes to buff your vehicle. 

We are big fans of a great manufacturer’s warranty. It says that a company stands behind its product if any unforeseen issues arise. Let’s face it—when it comes to power tools, they can all have their fair share of unplanned functional snafus. Look for a car buffer that comes with at least a one-year warranty.

You can get a decently powered and compact car buffer for less than $50. These are usually ideal for occasional use on smaller vehicles. For between $50 and $200, you can upgrade to a large selection of car buffers that offer more power, durability, and larger buffer sizes. If you’re serious about your car buffing game, spending more than $200 will get you superior quality and professional-level performance that’s ideal for frequent use.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

A: There is a spirited debate about whether buffing is bad for your car. Buffing is a great way to remove slight surface imperfections, dullness, and scratches. The caveat is that you shouldn’t buff too often or with too much pressure. Brilliant buffing takes some practice but can have numerous positive effects on your car’s precious paint job. 

A: The polishing process uses abrasive belts to create a brushed or lined finish. Buffing removes these lines and creates a brilliant luster by using soft cloth bonnets and a buffing compound.

A: Only surface scratches that haven’t penetrated through the thin clear coat layer of your car’s paint job can be buffed out. Anything that penetrates past that first protective layer will likely need to be addressed with touch-up paint and may even require a professional’s touch.

A: If you want to clean your polishing pads in order to remove abrasive and grimy buildup, you can run the polisher while applying light pressure to the pad with a shop towel or a plastic bristled brush. This will remove surface grime and give you a cleaner polish job. After polishing is complete, you should clean the pads immediately so they don’t get crusty and hard. Use a good quality all-purpose polishing pad cleaner and spray the pads liberally. Let them sit for 3-5 minutes. Massage the cleaner into the pad and then rinse it thoroughly under running water until the water runs clear and there is no residue left.