DeWalt DWPW2400 vs Craftsman CMEPW2400: Same Rating, Different Motors and Frames

Where these two differ

Both are rated at 2,400 PSI and 1.1 GPM with a 13 amp motor, a 25-foot hose and an onboard detergent tank, so they clean at the same rate. The DeWalt DWPW2400 has a brushless motor, a steel frame and a 35-foot cord. The Craftsman CMEPW2400 has a conventional motor, a plastic-part frame and a standard cord, at a lower price from Lowe’s. The DeWalt is built to last; the Craftsman is built to a price.

This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both washers and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either washer ourselves.

Cleaning power

Identical. Both strip a driveway with a surface cleaner, clean a deck with a 25-degree nozzle and wash a car on soap.

Motor and longevity

The DeWalt brushless motor runs cooler and quieter and is rated for a longer life. The Craftsman conventional motor is adequate for a few washes a year and is the part that wears first.

Build and handling

The DeWalt steel frame survives garage life and a drop. The Craftsman frame is lighter with plastic parts. Both have small wheels and an onboard detergent tank.

Hose and cord

Both ship with a 25-foot hose. The DeWalt 35-foot cord reaches further; extension cords are discouraged by both makers.

Yard jobs this decides

A driveway, a deck and a car suit both. A washer used often and kept long favors the DeWalt. An occasional patio clean favors the Craftsman price.

Warranty and support

On the DeWalt DWPW2400, DeWalt covers it with a three-year limited warranty, one year of free service and a 90-day money-back guarantee. On the Craftsman CMEPW2400, Craftsman covers it with a three-year limited warranty. Both makers run service networks in the US and both honor the warranty only with proof of purchase, so keep the receipt with the manual. Registration takes a few minutes online and is worth doing the day the tool arrives.

Care and storage

Both pressure washers last longest with the same habits: run clean water through the pump after detergent, release the trigger pressure before storing, and keep the pump from freezing. A pump saver or antifreeze flush before winter protects the seals on either. Store hoses coiled loosely and the wand off the ground. Most early failures on either machine trace to a frozen pump or a kinked hose starving the inlet.

Accessories worth adding

A surface cleaner attachment is the accessory that transforms either washer on a patio or driveway, finishing in a quarter of the time of a wand and without stripes. A foam cannon helps on cars, a longer hose reaches a second-story wall, and a gutter wand saves a ladder. Both machines use standard quarter-inch quick connects for all of these.

Common owner complaints

DeWalt owners mention small wheels and a stiff hose. Craftsman owners mention plastic parts and a stiff hose. Both do the job.

Which one should you buy

Buy the DWPW2400 for the motor, the frame and the cord. Buy the CMEPW2400 for the same cleaning at a lower price.

Our verdict

The DeWalt DWPW2400 takes this comparison on build. The Craftsman CMEPW2400 is the budget pick for occasional use.