The Best Foam Cannons Make Car Washing Better
You may have an image of washing a car in a driveway with a hose and a bucket of suds, but the best foam cannons are a much easier way to do it. Not do they take less time and water, they also takes out some of the risk of rubbing grit into your finish. Even if you’re not that passionate about detailing or washing your car, owning a pressure washer and a foam cannon to use with makes the job a lot faster, easier, and can give you better results.
Most foam cannons are fairly basic and affordable products, attaching to a pressure washer or even garden hose, and blanketing your car with a nice, thick layer of foamy soap so you can get straight to washing. Instead of constantly dipping your hand mitt or sponge into a bucket full of soap, you use your foam cannon to get your car ready to be wiped down. All the mixing happens in the bottle, so they use less soap and water, too. You don’t have to constantly put your hand mitt back into your bucket for more soap, which means less chance of dirt getting back onto your paint.
There are also air powered air foamers, which use high volume compressed air for a low-water spray, but they require a lot of air and use a lot of soap. We couldn’t find a consumer version rated highly enough to make our list.
Why You Should Trust AutoGuide's Product Reviews
We drive the latest new cars, trucks, and SUVs, but did you also know the team at AutoGuide.com tests tires, waxes, wiper blades, and pressure washers? Before we recommend a product as a top pick in one of our popular product lists, our editors put it to the test. We run through all its features, test the claims that the brand makes about each product, and then give an honest opinion on what we like and don’t like from our personal experience. As experts in all-things automotive, from minivans to sports cars, and from portable jump starters to ceramic coating, we want to make sure you buy the product that’s right for you.
How We Chose Foam Cannons
We looked for the best examples of the different styles available, and included both (serious) bargains and name brands. Some of these are very similar products, but it might be worth spending more to get a warranty or customer support. Features like brass connectors and a quality bottle distinguish the best foam cannons from other choices, as the most common issues with spray foamers are leaks, and the bottle breaking at the neck. We narrowed the list down to the best based on personal experience, features, and our criteria for selection. We’ll be doing some hands-on testing, too, when summer hits the AutoGuide Garage.
For more information on the best foam cannons, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
- 1. Editor's Pick: DUSICHIN Adjustable Foam Cannon
- 2. Professional Upgrade: Chemical Guys TORQ Professional Max Foam 8 Cannon
- 3. Clean Car USA Foam King
- 3. Most Versatile: Adam's Premium Foam Cannon 2.0
- 4. Best For Garden Hoses: Gilmour Foamaster Cleaning Sprayer
- 5. MJJC Foam Cannon Pro 2.0
- 6. MTM Hydro Original Foam Cannon
- 7. TriNova Foam Cannon
- What is the Difference Between a Foam Gun, Foam Lance, and a Foam Cannon?
- What Should I Consider When Choosing a Foam Cannon?
- Can I Use My Pressure Washer as a Foam Cannon?
- Do I Need Special Soap for a Foam Cannon?
- What is the Soap-to-Water Ratio for Foam Cannons?
- Foam Cannon Tips and Tricks
- Recent Updates:
1. Editor's Pick: DUSICHIN Adjustable Foam Cannon
You could hardly pay less or find a better reviewed model than the DUSICHIN Adjustable Foam Cannon. This spray foamer comes with a .25-inch quick release fitting and features a one liter bottle. All of the included connectors are made from quality brass, so durability shouldn't be a concern. To use this foam cannon, your pressure washer must have a very high 2.0 GPM and over 1,000 PSI of pressure. It supports maximum flow of 5.3 GPM and maximum pressure of 3,000 PSI. There's a single adjustable nozzle, which is adequate but not as versatile as models with multiple nozzle options, which DUSICHIN offers for a few dollars more, as well as a version with a larger bottle.
Testing the DUSICHIN Foam Gun
We loaded up our DUSICHIN foam gun with about 20% Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash, and hooked it to a 1.76 GPM SunJoe pressure washer, which despite making less than the recommended 2.0 GPM, quickly and completely covered our car. We did find the foam pattern to be very finicky and had trouble getting an even spray, but this might well have been because of the low pressure. We think even if we had more pressure it would sill have been tricky. We used teflon plumber's tape on the top of the bottle, and didn't have any leaks while using it, and the sprayer components were heavy brass and quality-feeling plastics. The only leaks we had were when we turned it over and shook it to mix up the soap and water before use.
The DUSICHIN Adjustable Foam Cannon has a good 85% positive rating and almost 13,000 reviews. To quote the company, "It makes soft fluffy snow foam, fun and simply."
DUSICHIN Warranty and Customer Service
The only warranty offered is Amazon's 30-day warranty, which only applies to defective product but is usually easy to deal with. DUSICHIN has a US website, but there isn't much in the way of customer service, not that we really expect much for a product in this price range. There is contact information, including a local phone number, for company founder and namesake Jinlong "Robert" Du, in Shenzen, if you really need to talk to him. As far as we know, DUSICHIN is the only brand sold by Shenzhen Dushi Jinkang e-commerce Co., Ltd. in the USA, although they are a supplier for well-known paint sprayer brand Graco.
Pros | We've paid more for a sandwich, light, and easy to use |
Cons | Very touchy and limited spray adjustment, needs high pressure |
2. Professional Upgrade: Chemical Guys TORQ Professional Max Foam 8 Cannon
We're not really sure how different the Chemical Guys foam cannon is from the very similar-looking DUSICHIN, which is 1/4 the price, but users rate it far higher than almost any other foam gun. It also uses Chemical Guys' patented TORQ threadlock system, and a sturdy UV-resistant 32-ounce plastic bottle that should help to address one of the most common frustrations with bargain brands, cracked and broken bottles. New ones are $19.95 from Chemical Guys, though, which is more than some other whole foam cannons. Chemical-resistant seals and O-rings mean you shouldn't need to use Teflon tape to prevent leaks, which is also a nice touch.
Chemical Guys says the Max Foam 8 Cannon will work from 500 to 3,500 PSI. The low end is in the range of some cordless units, meaning you could make a completely handheld (if unwieldy) unit. You'll have better results with higher pressures. It requires between 1.4 and 5.3 GPM, and again, more water will give you more and better foam. The TORQ Professional Max Foam 8 Cannon has a great 91% positive rating and over 3,100 reviews.
Chemical Guys Warranty and Customer Service
Disappointingly, Chemical Guys only offers a 30 day warranty against defects, so it might be easier to use Amazon's similar warranty. Chemical Guys does have multiple ways to contact customer service, with a toll-free and local California phone numbers, several emails for different needs, and a web form. We didn't have any trouble getting through to a person when we called and they were very helpful, although we would have liked them to have hands-on knowledge of the product.
Pros | Higher quality materials, maybe, than others; good customer service |
Cons | Disappointing warranty, you could buy four cheap ones for the price |
3. Clean Car USA Foam King
If it's called the Foam King, it has to be good. Right? Ok, it takes more than just a name to promise top car foam performance, but this unit delivers.
It starts with six different foam settings, letting you set the level of foam and water that you want for your application. This makes it great for foaming larger surfaces without using all your soap - think RVs or even your house - but lets you up the foam level for a seriously dirty vehicle.
The Foam King has a big 32 oz bottle with fill lines which make it easier for you to get ready for suds. It also has a wide wan nozzle for maximum coverage.
What's really different, though, is that this one doesn't need a pressure washer. It connects directly to a standard garden hose. That means you get slightly less performance than the rest of this list, but if you don't have a pressure washer you save a ton of cash.
Then, once you're done, the foam cannon disconnects from the included trigger nozzle (with a quick release) so you can rinse and then conventionally wash your vehicle without switching hose ends or unhooking a pressure washer. Handy.
Pros | Uses garden hose, six foam levels, quick-connect to hose sprayer |
Cons | Lacks flow of pressure washer, some complaints of leakage if upsidedown |
4. Most Versatile: Adam's Premium Foam Cannon 2.0
Adam's Premium Foam Cannon is definitely not another rebranded generic product. It's built with their decades of experience in exterior detailing products, and is built to hold up. A wide mouth, 35 ounce canister makes filling easy, although the large size does put stress on the threads. There's a convenient secondary set of threads to use with Adam's 16 ounce bottles.
All fittings are stainless steel for long life and corrosion resistance. There's wide adjustment to the spray pattern, and the nozzle rotates 360°, so you can fan suds in the direction you want. This foam gun does require setup and maintenance that you won't have to do on some other brands. The threads both on the fittings and on the bottle can leak if not sealed with Teflon tape, and be sure not to screw on the bottle dry, or you could damage the seal. It requires a minimum 870 PSI and 1.3 GPM, and works up to a high 3190 GPM 5.3 GPM, at up to 140°. With an outstanding 95% positive rating and over 250 reviews, it's even better rated than Adam's Italian-made professional MTM brand.
Adam's Warranty and Customer Service
Adams's offers a no-hassle one year limited warranty on defects, and free shipping on returns with a receipt. There is a toll-free number with Saturday hours, email, and live chat on the Adam's site. We had no trouble getting through to a very laid back customer service representative when we called, and they were able to answer all our questions.
Pros | Wide mouth for easy filling, all-stainless construction, great foam coverage with higher pressures, good warranty |
Cons | Threads can leak without sealing, bottle can break with rough handling |
5. Best For Garden Hoses: Gilmour Foamaster Cleaning Sprayer
Gilmour's Foamster is the only sprayer with a lifetime warranty. We were pleasantly surprised to find that moderately well-known American garden hose maker Gilmour makes the Foamaster at their factory and headquarters in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. It's also one of the few foam guns that works with a garden hose (which makes sense, given the manufacturer), which is extremely convenient. Even if you have a pressure washer, you might not want to drag it and an extension cord out for light cleanings.
A garden hose foam gun will not give you as thick or as much foam as one that uses a pressure washer, and it won't spray as far. You'll probably need to use more water to get the same results. It has a 16 ounce bottle, brass fittings, convenient garden hose sprayer handle, and single-ratio nozzle. Gilmour makes replacement parts and an upgrade 64 ounce bottle, but doesn't sell them directly. They can be hard to find.
The original Foamaster is better rated and costs than the Foamaster II, which differs in having more adjustment options for the nozzle. We couldn't find out if the Foamaster II was made in the USA, either, and it appears to be a rebranded commodity product.
Gilmour Warranty and Customer Service
The Gilmour Foamaster Cleaning Sprayer is the only product on our list to have a lifetime warranty. It might have received a higher ranking, but when we called Gilmour's toll-free number, we found a message that they weren't accepting calls, so any customer support will have to go through email.
Pros | Made in North America, uses a garden hose, lifetime warranty |
Cons | Doesn't make foam or loosen dirt like a pressure washer model, expensive, questionable customer service |
6. MJJC Foam Cannon Pro 2.0
MJJC’s version 3 foam cannon is out, and a more efficient design claims to produce a much thicker foam. The design still features a ¼-inch quick-connect fitting, which means you likely won’t have to make any changes to your wash setup to use the updated model. The V3 cannon should be much easier to use, with a more ergonomic funnel, and a new straw feature ensures every last drop of liquid in the bottle gets consumed. The MJJC cannon will work anywhere from 1,300 psi to 3,600 psi. This model has been on sale for six years with recent quality upgrades, and revisions- so we're not worried about MJJC disappearing and not honoring their warranty.
MJJC Warranty and Customer Service
MJJC has a not very convenient local Guangzhou phone number and more convenient email and web form on their site. MJJC offers a one-year warranty on parts aside from the filter, and an unclear 100% refund on products "dramatically not as described," which we would interpret to mean broken or defective on arrival.
Pros | Wide filler mouth and large capacity, brass fittings, good availability of replacement and upgrade parts |
Cons | Expensive, no US customer service |
7. MTM Hydro Original Foam Cannon
Featuring adjustable fan blades (narrow or jet) so you can control just how much foam is being sprayed onto your car, the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon is priced a bit higher than other basic bottle style foam guns on our list. With this foam cannon, you can also adjust how much soap is being mixed with your solution, so you can increase or decrease the foam output. It comes with a relatively large 1.25mm nozzle, which produces more foam but requires higher pressures. The bottle is a generous 32 ounces but the filler is very small. You'll want a funnel when adding soap, or it can easily bubble up and overflow.
MTM Hydro says its foam cannon is compatible with pressure washers from 1,100 to 5,000 PSI of pressure and 1.8 to 5.3 GPM, but users report it's much more effective at higher pressures and volumes. Some foam guns work well in the 900 PSI range or even lower, so check the output of your pressure washer. A huge number of orifices, adaptors, accessories, and replacement parts are available from MTM. The Original Foam Cannon has a good 85% positive rating from around 500 reviews.
MTM Hydro Warranty and Customer Service
A 60 day warranty is included with the Original Foam Cannon, which is very short for a product in this price range. There is a toll-free customer service number, email, web form, and social media links in on the MTM Hydro site, as well as instructional videos, user manuals, parts diagrams, and other helpful materials.
Pros | Quarter-inch and M22 adaptors, Italian-made brass body and 32 ounce bottle, lots of replacement and upgrade parts available |
Cons | Short warranty for the price, works best with higher pressure |
8. TriNova Foam Cannon
One brand that has been growing in popularity within the car care industry is TriNova, and the company's foam cannon is worth a look. Boasting a neck that's designed not to crack, this cannon is equipped with a .25-inch female quick connect and can only be used with a pressure washer. With this option, you can adjust the nozzle for either a narrow or wide stream, as well as the air intake to control the amount of foam it generates. It's rated from 800 to 3,500 PSI, but TriNova recommends 1,000 PSI or more for best results.
TriNova also gives its foam cannon a wide base so it doesn't constantly tip over. So if you've previously owned a foam cannon and experienced a cracked neck, this recommendation might be the ideal replacement for you. You can also choose to bundle this product with a gallon jug of TriNova's Car Shampoo & Conditioner, so you can get to cleaning right away. The neck is narrower than we like for easy filling, but if it prevents breakage and leaking, it's a tradeoff worth making. The TriNova Foam Cannon has a very good 89% positive rating and about 5,000 reviews. We could not find out where it is made.
TriNova Warranty and Customer Service
After some digging, we found that TriNova is make by Gold Eagle, a 90-year-old, family-owned company in Chicago, Illinois, that also makes popular brands including HEET, STA-BIL, and 303. There is a toll-free support number and several web forms on the Gold Eagle site, along with instructional materials and FAQs. There is also a customer service email, but it's hard to find. When we called with questions we got through to a person quickly, but they were unable to answer our questions and transferred us to a voicemail. We'll update this product if they return our call. Gold Eagle advertises a 100% satisfaction guarantee with no time limit indicated.
Pros | Guarantee, reinforced bottle |
Cons | Small filler neck, questionable tech support |
What is the Difference Between a Foam Gun, Foam Lance, and a Foam Cannon?
No one seems to agree on what either term means and they're often used interchangeably. When you ask detailers, however, they tend to agree that a foam cannon is a more serious piece of equipment that requires high-pressure water, usually from a pressure washer. If you use a self-serve car wash pressure washer, that's a foam cannon. They can not only produce a thicker foam and spray it on faster, but they can do it with enough force to start to lift the dirt right away.
A foam gun usually screws onto a regular garden hose. It's a spray foamer that does exactly the same thing as a foam cannon, coating your car with detergent to start the pre-wash process. It doesn't do it as fast or as hard, but in the end if you take your time, you can get results just as good without needing to haul out extra equipment.
Products sold outside North America are often called foam lances, and it's also used interchangeably with foam cannon and foam gun.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Foam Cannon?
Your first question is, "do you have a pressure washer," and if so, how much pressure does it make (and how much water can it move)? A few will take as low as 800 PSI, but most foam cannons need at least 1,000 to 1,100 PSI for results that aren't disappointing. You'll also need decent water flow (GPM, gallons per minute) along with the pressure. Requirements vary from 1.3 GPM and up, but 2.0 GPM is safe. That's hard to find in an electric pressure washer, so unless you have a gas powered model, look for foam cannons that with lower flow needs.
If you don't have a pressure washer, see our list for the best garden hose foam gun we could find. It'll work just fine, if not as well as one that uses pressurized water.
Can I Use My Pressure Washer as a Foam Cannon?
As we talk about in our pressure washer article, you really need to know what you're doing before you point a pressure washer nozzle at a car. It only takes an instant to start removing paint rather than dirt, pop off a badge, or force water under weatherstrip and seals. With the right nozzle and settings, it can be a good tool to rinse away dirt before a wash, but a foam cannon not only uses your pressure washer to make foam, it reduces the water pressure to safe levels. When used with a high pressure pressure washer, you can shoot out soap foam hard enough to make a difference, but not hard enough to damage the finish.
Do I Need Special Soap for a Foam Cannon?
With trial and error, you can use just about anything that's safe to use on a car, including dish soap. But it may take a lot of trial and error, involving a lot of frustration. It certainly won't hurt your foam cannon, it just depends on how much time you want to spend getting your mixture right. Foaming car washes, designed for foam guns, foam cannons, and foam lances, will have mixing instructions that give you great foam the first time. Many spray foamers can be bundled with soap, but you can use any brand with any foaming sprayer.
What is the Soap-to-Water Ratio for Foam Cannons?
That varies with not just the brand, but your experiences with how much pressure and water your pressure washer delivers. It can be as little as 1:15 or less, or two ounces to a 32 ounce bottle, for a concentrated premium brand; to 1:5 or more. These soaps are also appropriate for hand washing or detailing with a bucket and chamois, at even lower concentrations.
Foam Cannon Tips and Tricks
Leaks and broken bottles are the most common complaints about foam cannons. Leaks can often be addressed with some wraps of Teflon (plumber's) tape, which will cost you about $2 almost anywhere tools are sold. We'd apply it to any threads before use, and to the bottle if there are leaks there.
The only advice we can give about broken bottles is be gentle with them, especially when putting your foam cannon down. Keeping the spray head and bottle disconnected when not in use will reduce the likelihood of damaging the bottle (and increase the risk of not being able to find one), and keeping it out of heat, cold, and direct sun will help a lot.
If you can, use your foam cannon with clean water after foaming, until it runs clear without any soap. You can make this part of rinsing your car. If it has a removeable filter, take it out and rinse it from the other direction to flush out anything that could restrict the flow. When storing your foam cannon, glance at the gaskets and make sure nothing fell out when you disconnected it.
Recent Updates:
October 9, 2023: Added Foam King, updated links
September 19, 2022: Replaced the MJJC recommendation with a newer version of its Foam Cannon.
May 26, 2022: Updated DUSICHIN foam cannon with hands-on test results.
March 15, 2022: Updated introduction. Replaced Fasmov brand with MJJC Foam Cannon Pro. Removed Twinkle Star brand due to lack of warranty and customer service. Added Gilmour Foamaster. Updated information for MTM Hydro Original Foam Cannon and TriNova Foam Cannon. Removed Blisstime, Tool Daily, and Obecome brands. Updated product links. Added FAQ sections.
March 14, 2022: Replaced Adam's Standard with better rated Adam's Premium Foam Cannon.
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After completing a degree project in automotive design, Dave wrote and photographed for almost a decade in print car magazines (remember those?), before transitioning to digital. He now subjects a series of old high-performance cars to the roads and weather in Vermont and wonders why they're always expensively broken. Please stop when you see him crawling under one on the side of the road.
More by David Traver Adolphus
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