Best Paint Sprayers – The Complete 2021 Buyer’s Guide

Whether you’re looking for the best options for a weekend DIY task or you own a business that requires a lot of painting, there is a paint sprayer for you.

However, before making any decisions, read this article for all the details and information needed to pick the best product for your painting projects.

Comparison of the Best Paint Sprayers

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Paint Sprayer

Not all paint sprayers are suitable for every job. Before you go out and invest in a paint gun, ask yourself these quick questions.

How Often Is It Going to Be Used?

If you only need a paint sprayer for one specific project, renting one from a home improvement store or a tool rental company would be better. 

If you plan on using the paint sprayer for multiple smaller jobs, then a handheld sprayer should be all you require. 

If you work in a field that requires constant painting, such as a car detailer, a house painter, a furniture finisher, etc., then you will want to purchase one of the more expensive, durable, and long-lasting paint sprayers. 

You may also want to purchase a sprayer that pulls paint directly from the can or provides a large container to hold plenty of liquids, so you are not stopping and refilling in between jobs or in the middle of large ones.

What Projects Will You Primarily Use It For?

Each paint sprayer option is created for different jobs. It is important to keep that in mind when hitting the hardware store. 

Bigger jobs will benefit best from airless paint sprayers but smaller jobs, such as car-detailing or furniture finishing, would be best done with a compressed or HVLP paint sprayer, which we will be getting into more later in the article. 

Are you going to be using extensions for high ceilings, or will you need an extra hose for further reach? Will you be moving around often, requiring a sprayer on wheels or with an easy-to-transport case?

How Much Money Do You Want to Spend on the Machine and Repairs?

What you pay for is what you get, which is important when purchasing a paint sprayer. If you are thinking about getting something to refresh the paint on your deck and fence, you may not need to overspend.

If you are using this equipment to provide services for a living, purchasing something a little more expensive may be the better option. Most reputable companies only charge more money because the product is better made with high-quality materials, designs, and features.

While we are on the subject of money, you also want to consider how much you will have to pay in the future should your paint sprayer need repairs or replacement parts. 

Accessories for Paint Sprayers

Cleanup

Keeping your sprayer clean is essential for it to work efficiently. Think about maintaining your tools before purchasing them. Do you want a sprayer that easily comes apart for quick rinsing, or would it be more beneficial to buy one that pulls from the paint can directly?

Review of the Best Paint Sprayers

Now that you have an idea of what you should be looking for in a paint sprayer, here is a list of our favorite products on the market today. Each is created by a reputable company and built with durability, customer satisfaction, and safety in mind.

Why Use a Paint Sprayer?

Now that you have a good idea of what kinds of sprayers are out there. Let’s discuss what it is that makes paint sprayers better than brushes and rollers.

The most obvious reasons being how much quicker they are at getting the job done. Nothing is more frustrating than losing hours of your life, painting walls and fences instead of passing the football with your kids or taking the wife out to dinner. Using a paint sprayer will have your projects done more efficiently, leaving you more time in your day to get more important things taken care of.

A paint sprayer also helps you get the job done evenly and smoother than any paintbrush or roller will. With the unbeatable precision of a paint sprayer, you can paint over bumps, cracks, and other uneven surfaces without any hold-ups.

Finally, corners, frames, and hard-to-reach places are a breeze when using a paint sprayer. These types of areas can make any home improvement drag on. With a paint sprayer and adjustable tips, you can make these tough spots seem not so bad.

Types of Paint Sprayers 

There are many different types of paint sprayers on the market today, which can be a little confusing when you go and try to purchase one. So let’s break them down into the three main categories and discuss which are the best for each specific situation.

Airless Paint Sprayers

The airless paint sprayer is best for large jobs around your home, yard, or business. These paint sprayers do not require compressed air to push the paint up from the can and out the nozzle. Instead, this sprayer utilizes an extremely forceful pump action to suck up and distribute the paint.

Jobs for Airless Paint Sprayers

• Interior walls
  
  
• Ceilings
  
  
• Home or business siding
  
  
• Barn painting
  
  
• Decks or fencing

Compressed Air Paint Sprayers

A compressed air paint sprayer utilizes compressed air through the nozzle that will break up the paint and turn them into tiny equal-sized droplets that are dispersed quickly from the container to your project.

These sprayers can become a little messy and will leave more over-spray than the airless paint sprayer. For a more detailed comparison, read our guide on Air vs Airless Paint Sprayers.

Jobs for Compressed Air Paint Sprayers

• Car detailing
  
  
• Cabinet work
  
  
• Furniture
  
  
• Appliances
  
  
• Farming equipment

What Is an HVLP Paint Sprayer?

The HVLP paint sprayer is a carpenter’s dream for painting and finishing any smaller projects. Similar to compressed air paint sprayers, compressed air pushes the paint up the canister and through the nozzle to distribute it onto your project. 

Unlike a compressed air sprayer, HVLP paint sprayers require less pressure and a higher volume of air.

There are two different types of HVLP sprayers. Dedicated systems, which atomizes the finish with a turbine, and conversion systems, which use a compressor to move high-pressured air to a low pressure making the spray more manageable.

Jobs for HVLP Paint Sprayers

• Automotive paint jobs
  
  
• Boat finishing
  
  
• Furniture painting
  
  
• Wall paintings
  
  
• cabinetry

Types of Sprayer Tips and Patterns

When choosing a sprayer tip and pattern, the concern shouldn’t be the item you are painting but the product you are spraying. The thicker the paint, the larger the tip opening you are going to require. On the other hand, the thinner the paint, the smaller tip you are going to need.

Sprayer Size	Types of Job per Tip
0.5 -1.0mm	Dyes Stains Thin clear-coat
1.2mm-1.3mm	Clear-coat Thin base-coats
1.4mm	Universal tip
1.5mm-1.6mm	Base-coats Single-stage paints
1.7-1.8mm	Most types of primers
2.0-2.3mm	Thick paint High-build primers

Top Brands in the Paint Sprayer Space

There are many different brands available today that state they provide the best paint sprayers on the market. However, not all spray guns are created equal, and we have found the top brands that are passionate about the products they sell.

Graco

In 1926, the great city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, welcomed a new air-powered grease gun manufacturing company, started by two brothers, Russel and Leil Gray. 

Fast forward 30 years and successful business throughout the civil war, the company started to work with all types of materials, and in 1957, their airless paint spray gun was born. 

Almost a century later, this company is still well-known for its durable and long-lasting home improvement products and continues to utilize modern technology to improve its spray guns frequently. 

Wagner Spraytech

The Wagner company is another popular brand based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, the brand didn’t start there. Josef Wagner, creator of Wagner Vertriebsges. mbH repairing machines, woodworking tools, etc. 

In the 1960s, Wagner created an airless high-pressure paint spraying system and became one of the biggest European manufacturers of this technology. By the 1970s, Wagner’s products were sold worldwide, and he opened his US-based plant in Minneapolis.

Wagner brings European and American technology together to create reliable and well-crafted painting products from the worldwide market industry leaders.

Fuji

Fuji’s story starts much more recently than the other listed brands. However, that doesn’t stop them from being one of the best. 

Since 1986, the Fuju company has been manufacturing fluid spraying products based out of Toronto, Canada, while servicing North America and other global markets. They credit their success to Canadian technology and their versatile products sold at competitive prices.

The Fuji brand has won many awards in the industry, with many of its products recognized as high-quality and trusted HVLP spray sys

Price Points of a Paint Sprayer

Just because the sprayer is expensive doesn’t mean it is better, just as affordable and lightweight doesn’t necessarily make it easier. Here is how we found how to paint sprayers differently depending on their price.

$0-$100

When purchasing a paint sprayer in this price range, you can expect to get a handheld electric paint sprayer. The power will be strong enough for small to medium jobs and will work well with thinner materials like thinned latex paints.

These paint sprayers are more for home DIYers looking to redo cabinets and furniture. These sprayers will come with basic settings and tips with a smaller capacity.

When is a Paint Sprayer Not the Best Option?

Painting a room or even a row of cabinets can be a time-consuming task. Many people will consider purchasing a paint sprayer to save time and energy by ditching the old paint roller and brush. 

However, this isn’t necessarily always true. It is important to remember that the time you save spraying the paint is used when preparing the machine and cleaning everything up at the end. 

Using a paint sprayer also increases the paint particles floating around in your home. If you are painting walls or furniture in an area where people are frequently walking through, it may be a better option to use a brush.

Another thing to consider when using a paint sprayer is the amount of paint it uses. This method can use over 30% more paint than brushing or rolling, costing you a lot more money in the end. 

It is also more beneficial to use a roller over a sprayer when painting a dirty surface covered in stains. The thickness applied when using a roller allows you a little more wiggle room when it comes to coverage.

Conclusion

There is no doubt about it. Paint sprayers can be a great way to get painting projects done quickly and with ease. There are many great options on the market today. When picking your product, make sure it is a perfect fit for you. 

People Also Ask

Whether you have used a paint sprayer twice or 22 times, there is a lot to learn, and you might still have questions before you get the hang of it. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about using a paint gun.