5 Best Car Buffers, Tested And Reviewed (2023 Guide)

Jan 16, 2024

James Kiefer has been writing about automotive products on Motor1 since 2021 and has assessed hundreds of products. He's reviewed everything from the best headlight restoration kits to OBD2 scanners to dash cams, giving him an in-depth knowledge of products that can fit into any driver's lifestyle. Outside of auto products, James is an award-winning action photographer and writer with content creation chops that stretch back to the heart of NASCAR country. Highlights from his portfolio range from shots of record-setting foot races to the carnage of demolition derbies. When not lugging a camera around or writing auto product reviews, James can be found at classic car shows seeking the perfect Chevelle.

Reviewed By: Charles Noyes

A corded or cordless car buffer that gradually speeds up as needed.

A car buffer that tells you what speed to use for what imperfection.

A simple, lightweight, and versatile car buffer.

A car buffer that can be purchased by itself or in three kit versions.

A high-performance car buffer that is also lightweight.

If your car's exterior is starting to show signs of age, it may be time to purchase a car buffer. The best car buffers help restore your car's paint job by smoothing out any surface imperfections and adding a layer of shine.

A car buffer is an essential tool for automotive enthusiasts who want to keep their vehicles in gleaming condition. They can be used with a foam pad to apply polishing compounds, or they can be used for sanding. There are a number of options on the market, and the best car buffer depends on how you plan to use it. This guide can get you started in your search for the perfect buffer for your car care toolkit.

You don't have to buff your car. Most people don't. However, if you want to preserve the appearance of your vehicle's paint for as long as possible, you should clean and wax your car regularly. For auto enthusiasts who take pride in their vehicles, adding a fresh coat of wax can give your car that coveted "wet" look.

Even if you plan to buff your car, you can do this without purchasing a car buffer. Car wax can be applied by hand, but this takes a lot of labor. The time and effort you will save versus hand-buffing makes a low-cost car buffer a worthwhile investment, even if you only plan to wax your car once.

The car buffers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon, RealTruck, and Advance Auto Parts for top products, looking at factors such as quality, durability, customer ratings, and prices.

Our product testing team then ordered the car buffers that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on a 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, taking note of how well the car buffer could vary its speed, its maneuverability, and its versatility. Each car buffer was given a rating out of 5 stars based on these criteria.

Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

DeWalt is a trusted manufacturer of high-quality power tools, including the DeWalt DWP849X Buffer/Polisher, a variable-speed polisher. While it costs a couple hundred dollars, it was built to last with its wool ingestion shield that prevents wool pads from getting stuck in the motor.

Another unique feature of this heavy-duty tool is its soft start. Instead of immediately starting at a wild spin, it gradually works up to speed. This helps to better control the buffer while in use.

The DeWalt DWP849X Buffer/Polisher buffed out scratches on our testing vehicle with ease.

We really enjoyed working with the DeWalt car buffer. This orbital polisher was incredibly maneuverable, easy to hold, and didn't bother our review team members when using it for extended periods of time. It offers plenty of power to work with and we especially appreciated the fact that variable speed settings are denoted in RPM rather than arbitrary speed rating numbers.

Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 5,300 ratings

Customers like the speed control on this buffer. When turned on, it slowly works its way up to the desired speed so that you don't buff too hard too quickly. Reviewers also like the convenient speed setting dial.

Negative comments refer to defective products. Some customers said that they received buffers that stopped working after a few months. However, this issue should be covered by DeWalt's three-year warranty.

The Avid Power car buffer is meant for beginners. It has a rubber body so that it doesn't slip in your hands, and it comes with detailed instructions to help you determine which of the six speeds to use for the imperfection you’re trying to buff out.

This car buffer also comes with all of the tools you need for application, including a foam disc, detachable handle, spanner, hex wrench, and foam pads.

The Avid Power AEP127 Polisher ships with a number of different accessories and buffing pads, making it a great choice for those new to buffing out scratches on their car.

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 6,300 ratings

Customers like this buffer's affordability They claim it is easy for beginners to use because it includes specific directions that tell you what speed to use for different surface imperfections.

There are some customer complaints that this buffer stops spinning if you put too much pressure on it.

The Milwaukee M18 Random Orbit Sander is an incredibly maneuverable car buffer, as it's cordless and weighs just 2.0 lbs. This buffer features a variable speed control dial that lets you choose from six different speed settings, ranging between 7,000 and 12,000 OPM. This ultimately means users are in more control over orbit speed and can more accurately match speed to their application.

Although the Milwaukee M18 is considered a random orbit sander by name, it's actually a palm sander. This is due to the fact that by definition, a palm sander is smaller and more lightweight than a random orbital sander – which tend to be much larger tools. This battery-powered portable power sander may be small, but it's surprisingly powerful and effective.

This car buffer is the only fully cordless car buffer in this review and our team loved how effective it was.

The fact that this car buffer is cordless makes life that much easier. There's no worry about power sources or concerns about getting wrapped up in cabling, just pick this car buffer up and start buffing out scratches.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 2,300 ratings

Customers praise the Milwaukee's durability, claiming it is among the best car buffers for the price. Many also say it's straightforward to use and wield. The vast majority of customers claim that they’re happy with their purchase.

This car buffer is manufactured by Torq but sold through Chemical Guys. You can purchase the buffer by itself or in three kits that all have different car detailing products from the Chemical Guys company. Kit options include:

If your car has many deep scratches, this may be the best car polisher for you. This is a high-speed buffer that offers an RPM speed of up to 7,800, which is enough to buff out any imperfections capable of buffing.

Without needing to purchase anything separately, the Torq 503X TORQX Random Polisher Kit provides everything you need to start buffing and polishing your car.

With a lightweight and balanced ergonomic design (BED), our team members weren't getting fatigued using this polisher meant even after several hours of use. While unable to reach exceptionally high speeds, this car buffer offers more than enough power.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 8,200 ratings

Customers say this product is user-friendly for drivers of all auto detailing backgrounds, especially if you watch the Chemical Guys’ instructional videos on YouTube.

Some customers say that this buffer works great initially but can suddenly break down. There are a few reports of the device making a popping noise and never working properly again. This appears to happen to a very small number of users, but if this occurs within the one-year warranty, you may be able to have your buffer replaced.

This car buffer was designed with ergonomics in mind. It's lightweight, which means you don't have to worry about holding up a heavy machine. It also has two handles, allowing you to buff from all angles.

As with other tools on our list, this buffer is backed by a warranty. If it stops working within two years, you can contact the company for a replacement. In addition to the warranty, the Black & Decker buffer comes with a foam applicator and polishing bonnets.

Even though the Black & Decker WP900 6-Inch Random Orbit Waxer/Polisher isn't overly expensive, it's certainly one of the best car buffers on the market.

Featuring a lightweight and slim design, this car buffer is highly maneuverable. However, with only a single speed setting we weren't able to effectively complete each stage of the buffing process.

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 9,400 ratings

Customers say this product is lightweight and quiet in comparison to other car buffers. They also like the two-handle design because it allows users to buff from different angles.

Some have complained that the buffer vibrates a lot during use and that it doesn't perform well if you put product on the polishing pads.

When buying a car buffer, there are several factors and features that car enthusiasts should consider.

There are two main types of spin on a car buffer: rotary and random orbital/dual-action.

The greater the car buffer's speed, the better it will be at targeting deep scratches. However, too much speed can lead to friction and heat. The happy medium is between 2,000 and 4,000 RPM.

You’ll have to lift up the car buffer in order to use it, which means you’ll want a machine that is lightweight and easy to maneuver.

Related to weight is how you will hold the buffer. The best type of handle is a dual one so that you can hold the machine with both hands at once to give you the most control.

Our comprehensive review highlights the best car buffers available. The best car buffers restore your car's paint by smoothing the exterior surface to remove signs of imperfection and aging while leaving behind a layer of shine. Car buffers should be strong and reliable, easy to use, and have good hand control to ensure you’re getting the best results.

A portable, corded power polisher/buffer can be useful for paint correction or preserving a base coat. Most kits come with several attachments like polishing pads, microfiber towels, and other tools that latch onto the backing plate depending on the job.

Buffing is a paint correction process that usually utilizes wax to smooth out a desired area of the vehicle. Polishing utilizes abrasive materials to level out flaws in a paint job.

Buffing can be used to fix swirl marks in a paint job, reduce built-up oxidation on headlamps, or just restore shine to a car's clear coat.

DIY car buffing is possible and not too difficult for the layperson. You may want to read the instructions specific to the car buffer that you purchase, but the general steps entail:

Yes. You can polish your car by hand with just the polishing agent. However, your results won't be as good because you won't be able to maintain the same speed and pressure or be able to get out the stubborn scratches.

Yes. Buffing your car windows will help remove light scratches and water spots. To protect your windows from these imperfections in the future, apply a layer of wax after buffing.

*Data accurate at time of publication.