Ceilings can be a nuisance to paint and worse if you are using brushes and rollers. You save yourself the trouble and paint faster, easier, and with a finer finish with a paint sprayer.
Buying the best paint sprayer for ceilings is a challenge when you don’t have the right knowledge of what to look for. It gets worse if you have no idea of some great models you should consider.
This article explores some of the best paint sprayers you can buy for your next ceiling painting project, either as a DIYer or a commercial-level painter.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Paint Sprayers For Ceilings
- OUR TOP PICK: Wagner 0529033
- RUNNER-UP: HomeRight Super Finish Max
- BEST FOR THE MONEY AND BEST PAINT SPRAYER FOR BASEMENT CEILING: Graco Magnum X5
Comparison of the Best Paint Sprayers for Ceilings
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How to Choose a Sprayer for Painting Ceilings
Several factors or aspects determine what a good paint sprayer for ceilings is and isn’t. You have to consider the following factors carefully to ensure you pick the right sprayer for your project.
Weight
Painting ceilings with a heavy sprayer will be an even harder job. You’ll want a lightweight sprayer that strikes a good balance between the weight and amount of paint it holds.
The weight of the paint sprayer depends mainly on the size of the paint cup. A larger cup holds more paint and weighs much more when full, while a small cup will be lighter at full capacity.
When painting ceilings, you should use a sprayer that holds as much paint as possible, but that isn’t always the best option because of the resultant hand fatigue.
Some paint sprayers have more weighty components, such as a stationary base. While the base can be a nuisance to shift around, it won’t cause weight problems for the hand because of the hose.
You’ll still be able to spray with no hand fatigue because you can move the hose around, and the base remains grounded with its weight.
Adjustability Options
Paint sprayers with more adjustability options are your best bet for painting ceilings. Since you will be working against gravity, you’ll want a sprayer that allows as much paint as possible to stick.
Airless sprayers may be a good option for painting large ceilings at high speeds, but there will be a lot of oversprays, and the high pressure means fewer material sticks to the ceiling.
Paint sprayers come with a combination of different adjustability options, such as spray patterns, tip and nozzle sizes, pressure, and flow rate.
Sprayer Capacity
As much as you want a paint sprayer with the highest capacity, this isn’t always the wisest choice when spraying ceilings.
A sprayer with a larger paint container holds more paint, making the sprayer heavier and causing you more hand fatigue if you hold it for a long time.
Handheld sprayers are ideal for ceilings. They have smaller paint cups that hold less material, making them suitable for holding for extended durations with less fatigue.
If you opt for an airless sprayer for painting the ceiling, be sure to pick a model with a long hose and a small paint cup to keep the weight off your hands.
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.
- Type of Sprayer: This tells you the method the unit uses to spray paint. (ie; HVLP, LVLP, airless, compressor, handheld, etc)
- Pressure: The pounds per square inch (PSI) the sprayer puts out.
- Spray Tips Included: Included tip sizes for the sprayer’s optimal usage.
- Weight: The actual weight of the sprayer.
- Dimensions: The length, width, height of the sprayer.
- Capacity: The amount of paint the sprayer can contain at a time. Measured in CCs, gallons, quarts, milliliters, or cups.
- Hose or Cord Length: The length of the sprayer hose or cord.
Review of the Best Paint Sprayers for Ceilings
When you are scouring the market for the best paint sprayer for your ceilings, it’s advisable to start with some knowledge of some great models you can check out.
Here are some great paint sprayers that will do your ceiling painting job well. Be sure to pick a favorite and order it in good time.
Best Overall
Wagner 0529033
Specifications
Type: HVLP
Pressure (PSI): 2.5
Capacity: 20 oz
Hose Length: 6 ft
Weight: 1.08 lbs
Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 10″
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Review
There’s a good reason the Wagner 0529033 HVLP paint sprayer tops our list. As an HVLP sprayer, it ensures you spray with more precision, less overspray, and with less hand fatigue.
The sprayer is very lightweight, making it possible to spray ceilings for an extended period without causing your hands’ excessive fatigue.
However, you’ll have to struggle with frequent refills because of the small paint container.
Bottom Line
The Wagner 0529033 handheld HVLP sprayer is ideal for painting both small and large ceilings. If you have moderately sized ceilings, the sprayer will serve you even better.
The one downside to the sprayer is that you’ll have to refill it too often because of the small paint cup. Frequent refills are usually messy and consume too much of your precious time.
Pros
Super lightweight device for less hand fatigue
Includes a material flow control knob to reduce overspray
Has a pattern adjustment dial for changing spray patterns
Comes with a 6-foot hose for easy reach and maneuverability
Has a 6-foot hose hence keeping the weight of the stationary base grounded
Cons
Low capacity due to small paint cup makes frequent refills necessary
Runner-up
HomeRight Super Finish Max
Specifications
Type: Handheld HVLP
Pressure (PSI): 3-4
Spray Tips Included: 4.0mm, 2.0mm and 1.5mm
Capacity: 40 oz
Hose Length: 25 ft
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 12.5″
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Review
The HomeRight Super Finish Max offers excellent features such as a powerful motor, a set of three brass spray tips, and options to adjust the flow rate and spray patterns.
You can choose between round and horizontal spray patterns, which are both suitable for painting your ceiling. The powerful motor makes it possible to spray.
Bottom Line
One thing to like about the HomeRight Super Finish Max is its high number of allowable spray tips. The sprayer comes with three brass tips out of the six permissible tips.
Although you have to buy the remaining tips separately, the sprayer is still a good option when you want a sprayer that can handle a wide range of spray materials with different thicknesses.
Pros
Generous 2-year warranty
Can spray thick materials as it has a powerful 450-watt motor
Manages overspray by adjusting the flow rate using a control knob
Allows horizontal, round, and vertical spray patterns by adjusting the air cap
Supports up to six brass spray tips that are more durable than plastic tips
Cons
You have to buy three of the six allowable spray tips separately
Best for the Money and Best Paint Sprayer for Basement Ceiling
Graco Magnum X5
Specifications
Type: Airless
Pressure (PSI): 3000
Spray Tips Included: 0.015”
Capacity: 1 or 5 gal
Hose Length: 25 ft
Weight: 19.73 lbs
Dimensions: 14.5 x 12.75 x 19″
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Review
The 110-volt Graco Magnum X5 airless paint sprayer will serve you well for spraying tight spaces like basement ceilings.
The airless sprayer can spray unthinned materials at high pressure and speed, ideal for quickly painting a basement ceiling.
The good thing is that you can easily adjust the pressure to lower levels to make it easy to spray your ceiling with less overspray and reduced material wastage.
The sprayer supports up to 75 feet in hose length, so it is easy to reach open and tight spots easily over the basement ceiling.
With the Magnum X5, your cleaning time will be easier because of the RAC tips and Power Flush Adapter.
The RAC tips allow you to unclog the tip by reversing it, while the adapter enables you to connect a garden hose to the unit for easy cleaning.
Bottom Line
Spray painting basement ceilings on a tight budget are easy with the Graco Magnum X5 airless sprayer. Since it is an airless model, the sprayer makes painting large ceilings easy and faster than handheld and HVLP sprayers.
The sprayer eliminates the need for thinning paint because it ejects paint at high pressure, forcing even thicker particles out of the tip onto the surface.
The Graco Magnum X5 is your best bet for spraying ceilings faster while drawing large amounts of unthinned material from detached paint buckets.
Pros
Sprays up to 125 gallons per year
Can spray unthinned materials at high pressure
Uses Reverse-A Cleaning tips for easy unclogging
Can be connected with a garden hose for easy cleaning
Fully adjustable pressure for controlled material flow rate
Cons
Stationary base and required buckets for holding the paint can easily become extra baggage
Best Paint Sprayer for Popcorn Ceilings
Graco Magnum ProX17
Specifications
Type: Airless
Pressure (PSI): 3000
Spray Tips Included: 0.017″
Capacity: 1 or 5 gal
Hose Length: 50 ft
Weight: 32 lbs
Dimensions: 15.1 x 13.2 x 21.2″
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Review
The Graco Magnum ProX17 can paint as much as 300 gallons of material per year, making it ideal for commercial painters with large repeat projects.
The sprayer comprises three major parts and a fourth one when you add the paint bucket. It’s a fairly compact model but can get limiting when you fix up to 300 feet of the allowable hose.
However, you are still okay with this sprayer since the long hose makes it easy to reach expansive areas.
Bottom Line
When spraying popcorn ceilings, you’ll want a sprayer that can spray material at high pressure to ensure most of the material sticks in between the bumps. The ProX17 is a good bet for this.
Pros
Can be cleaned easily once connected to a garden hose
Uses Reverse-A Cleaning spray tips for easy unclogging
Pressure fully adjustable for optimal material volume control
Supports hose length of up to 150 feet for easy reach and maneuverability
Has a flexible suction tube for drawing paint directly out of a detached bucket
Cons
Wasteful at high pressure because of excessive overspray
Best Airless Paint Sprayer for Ceilings
Graco TrueCoat 360
Specifications
Type: Airless
Pressure (PSI): 1500
Spray Tips Included: 0.015”
Capacity: 32 oz
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Dimensions: 5.25 x 12.5 x 9.75″
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Review
The Graco TrueCoat 360 is a powerful electric handheld paint sprayer ideal for painting small and moderately sized ceilings.
With the powerful 120-volt motor, you can spray unthinned materials at high pressure to eliminate the need for messy thinning.
One exciting thing about the sprayer is its recyclable FlexLiner bags to replace the ordinary cups traditionally used in other sprayers.
Bottom Line
The Graco TrueCoat 360 airless sprayer is an excellent choice for spray painting ceilings. Because it is a handheld model, the sprayer lets you paint even large surfaces fast and with less hand fatigue.
Pros
Uses Reverse-A Cleaning tips that are easy to unclog
Uses VacuValve technology to allow spraying in any direction
Robust 120-volt pump suitable for painting at high pressure
Has reusable FlexiLiner bags that are better than traditional paint containers
Cons
Power cord is short, and limits reach
Types of Paint Sprayers for Ceilings
Paint sprayers come in different types, and some are ideal for spray painting ceilings, while others are ideal for other types of painting jobs.
Read on to find out which sprayer types are the best for painting ceilings.
HVLP Paint Sprayers
HVLP means High Volume, Low Pressure. The term refers to paint sprayers that eject painting material at high volume but low pressure onto the intended surface.
Because of the lower pressure, HVLP systems are slower and ideal for small to moderately sized painting projects. You can choose this type if time is not a big worry.
HVLP sprayers are also great for ceilings because the lower pressure means that most of the high volume material sticks to the surface with less overspray and material wastage.
When you want more precision, an HVLP sprayer is ideal. The reduced overspray means that an HVLP sprayer will paint more of the intended parts and less of the surrounding unintended areas.
Electric Handheld Sprayers
Given their small paint cups and lightweight nature, electric handheld paint sprayers are the best for spraying ceilings.
The only two major limitations with handheld sprayers are the lower capacity and electric cord.
A small paint container means lower capacity, making frequent refills necessary. Refills are time-consuming and can be messy.
An electric handheld sprayer relies on electricity supplied through the cord from the main outlet. The cord is usually short in most sprayers, which limits maneuverability.
Also, you can only use the sprayer as long as it is connected to mains. However, you can use power extensions to bring the sprayer closer to your working area.
Another viable option for painting ceilings is cordless handheld sprayers. These are easy to use, highly portable, and very lightweight.
The two significant downsides of cordless handheld paint sprayers are low capacity and fast-draining batteries.
Since manufacturers want to keep cordless models as lightweight as possible, they only make ones with small paint cups. You have to keep stopping more often for refills.
Additionally, fast-draining batteries become a nuisance in a cordless handheld sprayer because you can only work as long as the battery is still powered.
Once the battery runs out, you have to stop working and recharge it. As such, battery-powered or cordless handheld sprayers aren’t a good fit for painting large ceilings.
Airless Sprayers
As noted earlier, you would have better times painting a ceiling with an electric handheld or HVLP sprayer. However, if the ceiling is quite large, an airless sprayer would serve you better.
Airless sprayers eject a high volume of material onto the intended surface at high speed and high pressure. These two qualities make airless models ideal for projects where time is of the essence.
The major downside to airless sprayers is that they have a lot of oversprays, which leads to paint wastage and messing up surrounding surfaces or objects you didn’t intend to paint.
Which Sprayer Tips Are Best for Ceilings?
As mentioned, paint sprayers offer different adjustability options. Using spray tips with different sizes helps you regulate the amount of material and spray patterns.
You can use the following spray tips to spray different materials for ceilings.
414 Tips
414 tips are ideal for spraying ceilings with thin materials like paint and lacquers. Such thin materials require low pressure and can be ejected at moderate speed.
515 – 523 Tips
Thicker materials like latex, primers, acrylics, and other interior paints require large spray tips. They also require more pressure to eject.
Price Points of a Paint Sprayers for Your Ceiling
Since there are different brands on the market, you can expect to pay varying prices for a paint sprayer for your ceiling. Here are general price points for ceiling paint sprayers.
$80 – $100
The Wagner 0529033 and HomeRight Super Finish Max are great examples of paint sprayers in this price range.
Some features to expect here include adjustability options, durable brass spray tips, powerful motors for spraying unthinned materials, and hosed sprayers.
$100 – $320
Graco TrueCoat 360 is a handy sprayer within this price range, as is its sister, the Graco Magnum X5.
With sprayers in this range, you can expect to spray 25-125 gallons of material per year, easy-to-clean devices, RAC spray tips, and long paint hoses.
$500+
The Graco ProX17 is an ideal sprayer above $500 with likable features such as a 150-foot paint hose, RAC tips, adjustable pressure, and annual spraying ability of up to 300 gallons.
Conclusion
The best paint sprayer for ceilings is the one that best does the job for you with less overspray, more precision, and in considerably good completion time.
An HVLP system strikes the middle ground when you consider the aspects above, while handheld models and airless sprayers follow closely for small and large ceilings, respectively.
People Also Ask
Below are some common questions people ask about spray painting ceilings. This section will help clear any doubts or confusions you may have about painting ceilings either as a DIYer or commercial painter.
Spray painting a ceiling is easy if you have the right type of sprayer and a good model.
Since you are working against gravity, find a sprayer that ensures as much paint sticks to the ceiling as possible. An HVLP sprayer will be best here, with less overspray, more sprayer control, and high precision.
There is no harm in using the same paint sprayer for ceilings and walls. For a new house that’s empty, an airless sprayer will be great for spraying faster and at a high volume.
If the house is occupied, an airless sprayer is a no-no because of excessive overspray. You’ll have to go for an HVLP system to enable you to spray with more precision.
You could also use an electric handheld sprayer if you want even more control and have lots of time to spray slowly.
Regardless of the type of paint sprayer you choose, ensure that you start with the ceiling and then the walls. This way, you’ll mask up less surface on the ceiling when painting the walls.
