Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or professional painter, getting an airless painter for your next painting project can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
You will save yourself time and get higher quality finishes, which are benefits the airless paint sprayer you choose should offer you. But how do you know how to pick the best sprayer for your project? Here’s a thorough handy guide to help you choose.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Airless Paint Sprayers
- OUR TOP PICK: Graco Magnum X7
- RUNNER-UP: HomeRight Power Flo Pro 2800
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: TOMIC Himalaya RT-SGALS4
Comparison of the Best Airless Paint Sprayers
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What to Look For When Buying an Airless Paint Sprayer
Several aspects come into play when you are buying an airless paint sprayer. Below are some critical things you should consider before making your purchase.
Horsepower Rating
The power rating of an airless sprayer is a crucial aspect to consider relative to the size of your project. Airless paint sprayers are generally very powerful, but that isn’t always a good thing.
If you have a small project like painting furniture, an airless paint sprayer with a horsepower rating between 0.5 and 1 will do. For larger projects, like spraying large exterior walls, consider buying a more powerful sprayer with a rating of 2 HP or more.
Tips and Pressure Adjustability
One thing not to like about most airless paint sprayers is that they do not allow you to adjust the system’s pressure. Some won’t even come with fixed-size paint spray tips! Remember to check if the sprayer allows adjusting the pressure to lower levels to fit smaller projects.
The tip sizes should also be adjustable to allow you to use spray materials with different thicknesses without wearing out or blocking your tips too often.
Material Construction
Most airless paint sprayers have a plastic body that can be a little less durable. If you have a small painting project, getting a small handheld sprayer with a plastic body won’t hurt, but you’ll want to buy one with metal construction for larger projects and more prolonged use.
Volume/Flow Rate
How much paint can the airless paint sprayer you are eyeing hold? A sprayer with a small volume is great for smaller projects to enhance portability.
An airless paint sprayer with a bigger volume will be great for larger projects that require more paint. It will save you the time you would have wasted doing frequent refills, but its portability will be minimal.
Weight and Size
The size and weight of the airless paint sprayer you choose will determine how easily you can store it or move it around. Large models with large motor pumps are heavier and will be trickier to store and move around.
If you have only small projects, go for smaller sprayers for easier storage and mobility.
Key Terms to Know
To help compare products in this review, we have included a few key specifications for each. Here is a quick summary of what they mean.
- Weight: The actual weight of the unit.
- Dimensions: The length, width, and height of the unit.
- Hose Length: The length of the sprayer hose.
- Horsepower: The amount of power the sprayer outputs. Higher powers produce a finer mist and are faster with paint coverage.
- Gallons Per Minute (GPM): This indicates the maximum delivery flow rate of the paint based on the unit’s horsepower and recommended tip size.
- Max Tip Size: The largest tip size recommended by the manufacturer for use with the unit.
- Adjustability: This refers to which parts of the sprayer allow you to adjust the flow. This can include speed, spray size, pressure, etc.
Review of the Best Airless Paint Sprayers
There are hundreds of airless paint sprayers on the market to choose from, which can be overwhelming even when you know what to look out for in a great sprayer. We have penned this review of the top ones to make it for you to choose the best one for your needs.
Best Overall
Graco Magnum X7
Specifications
Weight: 26 lbs
Dimensions: 19 x 15 x 37″
Hose Length: 100 ft
Horsepower: 0.63
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.31
Max Tip Size: 0.017″
Adjustability: Tips, Pressure
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Review
The Graco Magnum X7 is a handy paint sprayer for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Despite its major shortcoming in the rigidity and limiting the hose length, you’ll enjoy painting with up to 0.31 gallons per minute.
The sprayer allows for adjusting the flow rate by changing the pressure and the size of the spray tips. It supports a maximum of .017 inches of spraying tip size, which is suitable even for unthinned paints.
Bottom Line
The Graco Magnum X7 is a lightweight airless paint sprayer that you can easily use to paint both small and relatively large surfaces out of a paint bucket. The stock hose is only 25 feet long, but the sprayer can support up to 100 feet of custom hose for more reach.
Pros
Fairly lightweight for easy movement
Adjustable pressure for controlled paint flow
Has RAC tips for easy cleaning when clogged
Has a flexible suction tube to allow spraying directly from a paint bucket
Allows adding up to 100 feet of hose suitable for spraying multi-story houses
Cons
Short stock hose at only 25 feet long
Rigid hose that makes it hard to achieve good spraying positions
Runner-up
HomeRight Power Flo Pro 2800
Specifications
Weight: 15 lbs
Dimension: 6 x 5 x 5″
Hose Length: 25 ft
Horsepower: 0.5
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.24
Max Tip Size: 0.015″
Adjustability: Pressure
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Review
The HomeRight Power Flo Pro 2800 airless sprayer comes with a 1/2 HP motor that can deliver up to 2800 psi for small painting projects around the home or workshop. You can adjust the pressure to light or heavy spray to match your needs for the thickness of the coats.
The sprayer also has a reversible spray tip system that makes cleaning easy when the tip gets clogged. It comes in handy when you set the sprayer to the light spray mode.
Bottom Line
If you have small painting projects where you don’t need to move the sprayer around a lot, this HomeRight 2800 psi airless sprayer will work well. The hose is only 25 feet long, but this is suitable for small projects.
Pros
Reversible spray tip and guard for easier cleaning
Lightweight at only 15 pounds thus easy to move around
Has a pressure control knob for adjusting spray patterns
Has a 1/2 HP motor that achieves 2800 psi suitable for light projects
Non-kink hose for durability and easy maneuverability
Cons
“Heavy spray” setting causes excessive paint wastage
Best for the Money
TOMIC Himalaya RT-SGALS4
Specifications
Weight: 18.8 lbs
Dimension: 16.75 x 11.8 x 11.3″
Hose Length: 25 ft
Horsepower: 0.63
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.28
Adjustability: Convertible nozzles
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Review
The Tomic Himalaya airless spray painter is a high-pressure model suitable for small and large DIY or professional contract painting projects as it achieves up to 3000 psi.
One thing you might dislike about this sprayer is that it has a short 25-foot long hose. While this may seem like the standard stock hose length, it’s clear that users want a lot more, and you could do better if the Tomic Himalaya sprayer has a longer hose.
Bottom Line
The Tomic Himalaya airless sprayer may have the standard features common in most sprayers, but it is your best bet if you are on a tight budget and want a good sprayer for either small or large projects.
With high pressure of 3000 psi, you can even spray oil-based paints without fear of clogging up since the nozzles are convertible.
Pros
Has a long spout reach of up to 25 feet
Achieves a flow rate of up to 0.28 gallons per minute
Achieves up to 3000 psi with a 0.63 HP motor for fast painting
Suitable for spraying exterior and exterior oil-based and water-based paints
Cons
Short hose at only 25 feet long
Best Handheld Airless Paint Sprayer
HomeRight C800917
Specifications
Weight: 3.89 lbs
Dimension: 6 x 5 x 5″
Hose Length: 5 ft
Horsepower: 0.5
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.13
Max Tip Size: 0.8mm
Adjustability: Volume control, speed
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Review
The HomeRight C800917 handheld sprayer is an excellent choice for its ease of use and lightweight nature. It allows for adjustability by altering the volume knob control to control the spray pattern to fit your spraying speed.
One disadvantage of the sprayer is its minimal paint capacity and necessitates refilling frequently, leading to time wastage and spillage inconveniences.
Bottom Line
A simple handheld sprayer is an excellent option when you only have a small painting project. Even for a bigger project not suitable for a massive airless sprayer, the small HomeRight C800917 sprayer will come in handy.
You don’t have to break the bank when you only have a small project at hand. Just grab a handheld paint sprayer to finish the job with ease and less hand fatigue.
Pros
Extremely lightweight thus suitable for prolonged spraying times
Comes with an extra atomizer and atomizer valve for spare use
Allows two-speed selection suitable for both small and fairly large jobs
Easy to spray at various angles since it has a flexible suction tube
Has a volume control knob for regulating the spray pattern based on the thickness of spray material
Cons
Not ideal for spraying larger surfaces
Small capacity makes frequent refills a necessity
Best Airless Paint Sprayer for Cabinets
Titan ControlMax 1700
Specifications
Weight: 19.4 lbs
Dimension: 30 x 13.5 x 16″
Hose Length: 30 ft
Horsepower: 0.6
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.33
Max Tip Size: 0.017″
Adjustability: Tips
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Review
The Titan ControlMax 1700 is an excellent choice for the DIY painter who only requires to paint smaller surfaces such as cabinets at lower speed and pressure.
The 1700 maximum pressure limit of the sprayer makes it easy to control overspray on small surfaces to reduce paint wastage and cut back on spent money.
The ControlMax 1700 comes as a plus given its longer hose at 30 feet, 5 feet longer than the hose length of most airless sprayers on the market.
Bottom Line
Small and tight spaces like cabinets and other furniture are best spray-painted using low-pressure sprayers to reduce overspray. The Titan ControlMax 1700 not only helps you minimize overspray but also makes it easy to reach tight spots like corners with its longer hose.
Pros
Adjustable tip sizes between 515 and 517 suitable for latex paints
Has a 30 feet hose, longer than the standard 25 feet in most models
Lower spraying pressure reduces overspray by over 50 percent
Lightweight at under 20 pounds for a sprayer of its size and design
Comes with an integrated storage compartment for tips and other detachable parts
Cons
Achieves only 1700 psi, which may be insufficient for large projects
Best Airless Paint Sprayer For Home Use
Wagner Control Pro 170
Specifications
Weight: 39.5 lbs
Dimension: 17 x 20 x 32″
Hose Length: 50 ft
Horsepower: 0.6
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.33
Max Tip Size: 0.017″
Adjustability: Pressure control
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Review
The Wagner Control Pro 170 is an excellent choice for home-based spray painting, given its cart system design, low psi, and a longer hose. The low 1500 psi is suitable for home users who only need to spray small items like furniture and bars that require more spraying precision.
The cart system design makes storing the sprayer easy as it takes up only a little standing space and has enough own room for holding the long hose.
Bottom Line
The two main things to like about the Wagner Control Pro 170 are its ease of portability and the ability to reduce overspray by over 50 percent. The cart system makes it easy to move the sprayer around, while the low 1500 psi helps manage overspray.
You’ll also like the extra-long 50-foot stock hose that makes it easy for you to move the sprayer around your home and even reach more places without the constant need to move the sprayer around.
Pros
Has a 50-foot stock hose for enhanced portability
Adjustable pressure to regulate the flow of spray material
Supports a maximum tip size of 517 suitable for latex paints
Mounted on a cart complete with wheels for easy portability and storage
Reduces overspray by over 50 percent as it only achieves 1500 psi
Cons
Not ideal for large spray painting projects requiring high-pressure sprayers
Best Professional Airless Paint Sprayer
Graco Ultra Max II 490 PC Pro
Specifications
Weight: 47.8 lbs
Dimension: 19.76 x 17.9 x 17.4″
Hose Length: 50 ft
Horsepower: 1
Gallons Per Minute (GPM): 0.54
Max Tip Size: 0.023″
Adjustability: Motor Speed
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Review
The Graco Ultra Max Ⅱ 490 PC Pro is a one of its kind electric airless paint sprayer with top-notch features like a brushless motor, advanced cleaning system, and SmartControl.
The sprayer assures you that you can easily clean it with half the water you would use for a standard sprayer, which is convenient when working with thick paints as it will also take you less cleaning time.
Bottom Line
The Graco Ultra Max 490 Pc Pro is highly suitable for professional contractors for their own use or leasing. Its SmartControl system makes it easy to track the location of the sprayer, as well as the number of gallons sprayed, pressure output, and hourly productivity.
When you are not using the sprayer, you can lend it to your trusted friends and recoup some of your investment while at it!
Pros
Has an intake valve for faster cleaning
Suitable for professional usage and even leasing
Lifetime warranty on parts like the cleaning system and brushless motor
Adjustable motor speed to suit your spraying needs and enhance productivity
Complex SmartControl system for tracking sprayer location, pressure, gallons sprayed, and hourly productivity
Cons
A little heavy at 34 pounds thus limiting maneuverability
What is an Airless Paint Sprayer, and How Does an Airless Paint Sprayer Work?
An airless paint sprayer is a motorized pump and hose system used to spray atomized paint onto a surface using a high-pressure stream jet.
An airless paint sprayer uses an electrically driven hydraulic motor pump to draw paint from a container using a tube into a high-pressure hose that channels the paint into a spray gun and eventually to the spray tip that lets it out on the surface being painted.
The high pressure within the hose atomizes the paint, turning it into a fine mist that comes out of the tip as a high-speed, high-pressure stream. The tip helps break up the misty paint into an even fan-shaped spray pattern of small droplets.
The misty paint lands on the target surface because it gets disrupted once it hits the air and separates into tiny droplets to form the fan-shaped pattern.
Top Brands in the Airless Paint Sprayer Space
Sometimes before making a purchase, you will want to consider the brands that make various models of the product you are looking for to help you make a more informed purchase. Here’s a brief overview of some top airless paint sprayer brands.
Graco
Graco was founded by the Gray brothers almost 100 years ago and has become a leading producer of fluid and powder handling products worldwide. It has locations in over 100 countries on six continents and keeps growing.
The company makes reliable products for homeowners, professional contractors, and even industrial consumers. In the US, the company has locations in Minnesota, Ohio, Minneapolis, and South Dakota.
One of Graco’s best inventions was portable airless paint gun systems in 1958 to reduce the time spent painting with rollers and paintbrushes.
Wagner Spraytech
Wagner Spraytech is a Minneapolis-based subsidiary of Wagner Holding, Inc. It produces high-quality decorating, painting, and surface preparation products such as paint sprayers, heat guns, and rollers.
Wagner, as the company is better known, is now more famous for its spray equipment. The company began producing airless spraying systems in 1960 and has since grown to acquire HomeRight in 2018.
Wagner now has five manufacturing facilities worldwide with headquarters in the US.
Price Points of Airless Paint Sprayer
Airless paint sprayers come at different price points for the many different designs, brands, and varying complexity of features. Below is a breakdown to guide you on how much you can expect to spend on a good airless paint sprayer.
$50 – $100
Popular brands with airless sprayers within this price range include HomeRight and Wagner Spraytech with simple handheld sprayers suitable for small projects at home. HomeRight C800917 is a good example in this category.
$100 – $200
Brands like Wagner and Tomic have handy airless paint sprayers within this price range. You can check out the Tomic Himalaya discussed earlier as a good model under $200.
$200+
Top brands with airless paint sprayers in this price category include Wagner, Graco, HomeRight, Titan, and Hausse.
You can expect to find models with advanced features like smart control systems, longer hoses, cart systems, enhanced overspray control, and integrated storage. The Graco Magnum X7 is a popular top model for this price range.
When is an Airless Paint Sprayer Not the Right Choice?
Despite the mentioned advantages of airless paint sprayers (high-speed and high-pressure painting), they are not always the right choice.
Firstly, they are not suitable for small projects that involve only a few gallons of paint. The high pressure disperses paint all over, even on surfaces you don’t intend to paint, causing paint wastage, a huge pain for small projects like painting furniture. Secondly, airless paint sprayers produce so much pressure that it sometimes breaks or bends weak materials like metal and plastic.
If you do not have enough experience using the sprayer, it’s advisable to seek help. You might even break your skin!
An airless paint sprayer will not be the right choice if you paint surfaces high up from the ground, such as a large exterior wall. The massive size and weight of the sprayer suitable for that project will make it difficult for you to move the sprayer up and down.
For small painting projects, you would be better off using a brush, roller, handheld sprayers, or small HVLP sprayers to control spraying pressure better and make moving around easier.
Conclusion
Buying the best airless paint sprayer to serve your professional or DIY painting needs doesn’t have to be hard once you know what to look out for, how much to spend, and some of the top brands to consider.
Be sure to go for an airless paint sprayer that allows more adjustability and ease of movement while still offering optimal paint flow rate, good pressure, and prolonged durability of parts and the whole system.
People Also Ask
If you still have burning questions about using airless paint sprayers, this section will help you find answers for them to make your purchase journey even easier.
The two most significant advantages of airless sprayers are that they save you a lot of time and result in even smoother finishes. The high pressure results in the emission of paint droplets at high speeds, cutting your painting time by over ten times compared to brush painting.
Furthermore, you can spray unthinned paint using airless sprayers because of the high pressure.
Airless paint sprayers will not consume more paint, but they waste a lot of paint that falls on unintended surfaces. On average, it is estimated that an airless paint sprayer wastes about 40% of your paint. As a result, you’ll end up using more paint.
You can use an airless paint sprayer indoors to paint interior walls or detached items like furniture if your spray booth is indoors.
You need to check whether the paint you are using has a high concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as these will put you at health risks when inhaled or ingested.
You can paint a car using an airless paint sprayer, but you might have to apply more paint reducer and extra coats to get a fine finish. Compared to brushes and rollers, spray painting a car is better, and airless sprayers will do a more satisfactory job.
Well-kept airless sprayers can last between five and ten years. Some ways to ensure your sprayer lasts a long time include thorough cleaning after every use and ensuring it is operated only by experienced persons.
Airless paint sprayers are not exempt from creating overspray. Other than the high pressure, using the wrong nozzle, wrong sprayer, and spraying in the wind can lead to wasteful overspray. Ensure you pick the right sprayer and avoid spraying when it’s too windy.
