The Best Paint Sprayers for Your Paint Jobs, Tested

Want to speed up your paint job? Equip yourself with a paint sprayer! We field-tested some of the most capable, popular, and affordable paint sprayers available. Ahead, you can read our reviews and find out which may be the right choice for staining or painting kitchen cabinets, fences, furniture, and more.

We even sought out expert advice from professional painter Matt Boden, owner of Fresh Coat Painters in Tampa, Florida. But first, we’ve outlined the key considerations for selecting the best paint sprayer for your needs. Keep reading for our tips—and don’t miss our top picks below!

1. BEST OVERALL: Wagner Spraytech Control Spray Max Sprayer
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Graco TrueCoat 360 DS Paint Sprayer
3. BEST FOR PROS: Fuji Semi-Pro 2 Gravity HVLP Spray System
4. BEST HVLP: HomeRight Quick Finish HVLP Paint Sprayer
5. BEST FOR HEAVY-DUTY: Graco Magnum ProX19 Cart Paint Sprayer
6. BEST PORTABLE: Graco Ultra Cordless Handheld Airless Paint Sprayer
7. ALSO CONSIDER: Titan Tool ControlMax 1700 Paint Sprayer

How We Tested the Best Paint Sprayers

Paint sprayers are tasked with applying a variety of fluids, from thick, viscous exterior latex paints to solvent-based stains that are almost watery in texture. Most homeowners don’t have room for two or three different sprayers, so we wanted to perform tests that would show sprayer capability with both thick and thin products. 

Our test surface was an old wooden privacy fence. The surface was rough and grainy, with dried pine knots and knot holes that would make paint coverage challenging. Following the manufacturer’s instructions for paint and stain preparation, we used each sprayer to apply water-based paint. Then we cleaned each sprayer and then applied oil-based stain in new areas of the fence.

As expected, the four HVLP sprayers struggled to cover the imperfections with thinned paint. Two or three coats were necessary for complete coverage. The airless sprayers, on the other hand, did a great job with single coats since they use unthinned paint. With the oil-based stain, coverage was comparable between HVLP and airless. The airless models worked significantly faster with more overspray, while the HVLPs were slower and more accurate. 

Testing Stats
Products tested	7
Time spent testing	40 hours
Tests performed	6
Price range	$40 to $750

Our Top Picks

These paint sprayers can significantly reduce your project time while giving excellent coverage and finish results. Read on to learn how each one performed in our at-home tests. If you’re thinking of buying a new paint sprayer, one of these could be a great choice.

Best Overall

Wagner Spraytech Control Spray Max Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 4/5; Noise 5/5; Value 4.7/5

Product Specs 

• Type: HVLP
• Fluid volume: 1 to 1.5 quarts
• Range: 20-foot air hose, 6-foot power cord

Pros

• Base has variable power settings and 2-stage turbine for customizing the paint flow; suitable for latex paint, stains, and poly 
• Comes with adjustable air speed, pattern control, and control finish nozzle 
• Good choice for staining medium-size areas like furniture or decks
• Includes 1-quart aluminum and 1.5-quart nylon paint cups
• Easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean up after use 

Cons

• Lightweight plastic components may not be as durable as other options 
• Viscous paint must be thinned; not ideal for some applications
• Not great for painting rooms or other large areas 

Boasting a 20-foot-long flexible hose, this 11.2-pound, 110-volt, air-driven electric sprayer unleashes a high volume of paint or stain at low pressure. The sprayer’s 1.5-quart capacity hopper and two-stage turbine enable you to spray virtually any finish, be it as viscous as latex paint or as thin as wood stain. With a simple twist of the air cap, you can spray your chosen finish in a vertical, horizontal, or round spray pattern. At the same time, the sprayer’s variable air pressure control, ranging from 1.50 to 2.63 psi (pounds per square inch), reduces the risk of overspray.

The Wagner Spraytech sprayer offers excellent performance for the price, making it the top pick on our list for home usage. We achieved good coverage and finish results with water-based interior latex paint that had been thinned by about 25 percent and a medium air setting. Oil-based stain was even easier to work with since no thinning was necessary. Cleanup was relatively quick and easy.

Get the Wagner paint sprayer at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

Graco TrueCoat 360 DS Paint Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 5/5; Noise 5/5; Value 4.3/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Airless
• Fluid volume: 1 quart
• Range: 2-foot power cord

Pros

• User-friendly and versatile VacuValve technology can spray in any direction, including upside down
• Dual speed control for small or large projects; suitable for painting homes, decks, and fences 
• Paint thinning is not necessary, simply pour paint into the reservoir and spray 

Cons

• Not suitable for very large projects that require frequent reloading
• Should not be used in temperatures as low as -40 and as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Best for outdoors or shop work to avoid overspray

If you are a hobbyist or DIYer looking for a high-quality, general-purpose paint sprayer, this just might be it. Although it’s not the least expensive option on our list, it is one of the best values. The Graco TrueCoat 360 offers dual spray speeds, low for small detailed work and high for big projects. The stainless steel piston pump builds pressure to easily apply unthinned paint. Reversible spray tips make it easy to eliminate clogs for less downtime and a cleaner, smoother finish. The FlexLiner bags and VacuValve system allow painting from any angle, including upside down. 

We used this sprayer to apply unthinned water-based latex paint and oil-based stain. With only a small amount of overspray, it put down a smooth, even coat without runs, leaks, or clogs. The spray gun was easy to disassemble for cleaning, which took just a few minutes. The FlexLiner bags are reusable and may be recycled if they become too worn. 

Get the Graco TrueCoat paint sprayer at Amazon or Lowe’s. 

Best for Pros

Fuji Semi-Pro 2 Gravity HVLP Spray System

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 4.5/5; Noise 5/5; Value 4/5

Product Specs 

• Type: HVLP
• Fluid volume: 1 quart
• Range: 25-foot air hose, 6-foot power cord

Pros

• Powerful 1,400-watt motor and 2-stage DIY-Pro series turbine provides 5 psi air speeds
• Comes with a quick-connect coupling and air control valve for user-friendliness 
• Made with a rear-situated fan pattern control; fully adjustable spray pattern control
• 3 air cap sizes available for applying different materials; suitable for small to large projects 

Cons

• Gravity feed cup is small; may require frequent refilling during large projects 
• Air hose and spray gun are heavy; may cause strain on the user with extended use
• Thinned paint may not provide adequate coverage for some projects

This spray system is powered by a 1,400-watt electric turbine motor, housed in a heavy-duty metal case. It includes a 25-foot high-flex hose for an extended range on larger projects. The metal spray gun comes with a 1-quart gravity feed cup and a 1.3 millimeter air cap set preinstalled for spraying medium to thin materials. The fan spray pattern easily adjusts from horizontal, vertical, and circular and can be widened or narrowed for broader coverage or greater detail.

As with other HVLP sprayers, the Fuji Semi-Pro 2 works best with either oil-based or water-based paints and stains that have been thinned to the proper consistency. In our tests, it gave excellent coverage and finish results with latex paint that was thinned 25 percent, as well as with oil-based stain. The metal spray gun is more durable than the plastics used in other models, and additional air cap sizes are available for various material types. The entire spray gun and gravity cup can be disassembled for cleaning and maintenance, and replacement parts are available if needed. 

Get the Fuji paint sprayer at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best HPLV

HomeRight Quick Finish HVLP Paint Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Coverage 4/5; Cleanliness 4.5/5; Noise 4/5; Value 4.7/5

Product Specs 

• Type: HVLP
• Fluid volume: 0.84 quarts
• Range: 5-foot extension cord

Pros

• Adjustable air cap provides multiple spray patterns, including horizontal, vertical, and round
• Compatible with thinned chalk, milk and latex paint, stain, sealer, lacquer, and varnish 
• Convenient for medium-size projects like cabinetry, furniture, crafting, and small fences 
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver; provides a smooth and consistent finish 

Cons

• Airspeed is not adjustable; may not be ideal for larger projects 
• Small fluid volume reservoir is not great for painting large areas
• Only works with thinned paint and stain varieties 

This 3.6-pound air-driven electric sprayer is great for small- and medium-size painting projects. The adjustable air cap unleashes a high volume of air at low pressure to allow more paint to reach surfaces, while the adjustable nozzle allows you to spray on a smooth finish using a vertical, horizontal, or round spray pattern. Once you’ve achieved a look you love, cleanup is easy—simply fill the hopper with water and spray until the water runs clear.

HomeRight’s handheld paint sprayer is a good choice for quick projects, and it is small enough to stow away in a drawer or hang on a pegboard. In our tests, it laid down good coverage and a good finish with both thinned water-based paint and oil-based stain. It does not work with viscous paint that has not been thinned. Setup and cleanup were relatively fast and easy, except for one small O-ring in the sprayer gun that must be carefully removed, cleaned, and replaced.

Get the HomeRight paint sprayer at Amazon.

Best for Heavy-Duty

Graco Magnum ProX19 Cart Paint Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 4.7/5; Noise 5/5; Value 4.7/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Airless
• Fluid volume: Direct suction from paint pail, up to 5 gallons
• Range: 50-foot airless hose, 6-foot power cord

Pros

• Changeable spray gun tips prevent clogs and overspray; can accommodate different material applications
• Great for staining large areas like houses, rooms, fences, and decks
• Paint does not need to be thinned before application for user-friendliness 
• Swivel connectors on spray gun and hose offer freedom of movement
• Hose and sprayer can be stored easily on the included wheeled cart 

Cons

• Complicated cleanup and storage procedures compared to some handheld options 
• Requires a larger storage area than most other options on this list
• Not a good choice for smaller projects 

This professional-grade 27.3-pound spray unit features adjustable pressure, a stainless steel piston pump, and a flexible suction tube that lets you spray paint at your preferred rate of flow directly from a 1- or 5-gallon paint can. The built-in wheeled cart helps you haul cans of paint, and the 50-foot flexible hose allows you to spray hard-to-reach surfaces, such as the side of a multistory house. The Graco is rated for use for up to 500 gallons of paint annually.

The Graco Magnum ProX19 is the perfect choice for large projects like decks, fences, or a whole-house exterior. In our tests it offered ample power to spray unthinned, water-based latex paint with outstanding coverage; good accuracy; and a nice, even finish. The 50-foot airless hose was surprisingly agile, thanks to swivel connectors at both the spray gun and pump connection points. Cleanup was more time-consuming and complicated than with smaller handheld spray guns but not difficult.

Get the Graco ProX19 paint sprayer at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

Best Portable

Graco Ultra Cordless Handheld Airless Paint Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 5/5; Noise 4/5; Value 4.3/5

Product Specs

• Type: Airless
• Fluid volume: 1 quart
• Range: Unlimited—cordless

Pros

• Rechargeable battery power, sprays up to 1 gallon of paint per charge
• Sprays at any angle, including upside down at up to 500 to 2,000 psi 
• Spray tips are interchangeable with other Graco airless spray guns
• No paint thinning is necessary before spray application 

Cons

• Battery life may not be adequate for large jobs
• Gun stops working and needs repriming if air enters FlexLiner
• More time-consuming to prep than other paint sprayers

This sprayer offers the spraying power of airless with the mobility of handheld cordless. The kit includes the spray gun and FlexLiner cupholder with two spray tips included, four FlexLiner paint cups, two rechargeable 20V Max DeWalt batteries, a battery charger, and a soft-sided carrying case. The spray gun produces operating pressure between 500 and 2,000 psi. It boasts the ability to spray virtually any viscosity paint or stain without thinning.

The Graco Ultra cordless performed as well in our testing as the traditional stand-up and cart-type airless sprayers. It had no trouble producing an even finish of unthinned water-based latex paint without runs, clogs, or leaks. Oil-based stain worked equally well. We applied quarts of both products on the same battery without losing charge or any noticeable reduction of power. This is an excellent tool for smaller projects, but the somewhat complicated and time-consuming reloading process makes it less convenient for larger jobs.

Get the Graco cordless paint sprayer at Amazon or Acme Tools.

Also Consider

Titan Tool ControlMax 1700 Paint Sprayer

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Coverage 5/5; Cleanliness 4.5/5; Noise 5/5; Value 4.7/5

Product Specs 

• Type: Airless
• Fluid volume: Direct suction from paint pail, up to 5 gallons
• Range: 30-foot airless hose (can be extended to 80 feet), 2-foot power cord

Pros

• Highly efficient airless technology decreases possible overspray by 55 percent
• Lightweight construction is easy to carry and maneuver; unit is made with a frame for easy portability 
• Simple assembly has few intricate parts; use should be quick and easy out of the box 
• Comes with a built-in airflow control knob; varies between levels 1 and 5
• Good results for a great price; 0.6-horsepower and 1,500 psi air volume 

Cons

• Lack of swivel connectors makes mobility difficult
• Short power cord means that an extension cord is always necessary
• Almost too low to the ground for use with 5-gallon paint buckets

This high-efficiency airless paint sprayer features a softer spray pressure (1,500 psi max) and improved tip design that reduces overspray by half while keeping pace with conventional airless paint sprayers. Powered by a 0.6-horsepower motor, it sprays unthinned paint directly from a 1- or 5-gallon pail at rates up to 0.33 gallons per minute and over 300 gallons per year. It boasts a durable metal spray gun and a 30-foot airless hose that can be upgraded to 80 feet for maximum reach.

Although priced about $250 lower than some comparable paint sprayers, the Titan ControlMax performed similarly. It easily laid down a smooth, even coat of latex paint without runs, leaks, or clogs. Although we would have appreciated a few upgrades to the design, such as including swivel hardware on the airless hose at the gun and pump attachments, it’s hard to beat this one for the combination of price and results.

Get the Titan paint sprayer at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot. 

Jump to Our Top Picks

What to Consider When Choosing a Paint Sprayer

Types of Paint Sprayers

Heavy-duty air-driven paint sprayers use high-pressure air from an air compressor to atomize paint or stain and provide a fine finish. Airless sprayers are electric- or gas-powered tools that mechanically pump paint or stain into the sprayer, which then pushes the finish through the sprayer tip, where it’s atomized and becomes a spray.

Pro tip: According to Boden, “The type of surface does impact the choice of sprayer because if you are painting high ceilings, you will need a lighter handheld or a sprayer with a longer hose to be able to reach. So, depending on the area being painted, you will need to be comfortable with using the sprayer.”

Sprayer Tips and Patterns

Sprayers are rated for the tip size or sizes they can support.

• A sprayer’s tip size sometimes refers only to the size of the opening, as in a 0.015 tip. Other times, it indicates two things at once—both the fan size (in inches) and the size of the tip opening. For example, a 515 tip sprays paint in a 5-inch diameter out of a tip opening that measures 0.015 inches.
• Stains require smaller tip sizes and less pressure, while paints and heavier coatings need larger tip sizes and more pressure. Consider the jobs you will be tackling, and for each sprayer option you consider, pay attention to its maximum recommended tip size. The greater the maximum recommended tip size, the more finish the sprayer can output per minute.
• A paint sprayer’s spray pattern is the shape in which the tool outputs the finish. The best paint sprayers can spray in multiple patterns: round, horizontal, and vertical. Having these options available means you can switch from spraying a wide fan across a surface to a fan of the same width moving up and down without having to turn the sprayer.
• Each tip size comes in multiple spray-pattern widths. Widths can vary from about 6 to 14 inches wide. Smaller surfaces, like fence rails, call for smaller pattern width. Ceilings, walls, and larger surfaces call for larger pattern width.
• Tips can be standard or reversible. The difference? A reversible tip can be unclogged easily by turning it around and blowing out the blockage.

Safety

Sprayers demand your respect. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s safety, setup, and operating instructions. Use a respirator mask and proper eye protection when spraying, and never spray at a person, animal, or window.

Cover or mask off anything in the vicinity of your project, including windows and trim, because vaporized paint gets into everything. If spraying outside, cover plants, and avoid painting on windy days.

Tips for Choosing the Best Paint Sprayer

• Sprayers with 25 feet or more of a flexible hose or a long extension cord are best for jobs that require distance, like painting a fence.
• If you need to carry your paint supply a long distance, consider a unit with wheels or a backpack.
• Determine your paint capacity and how often you’ll need to refill. You might opt for a larger hopper or a unit that draws straight from the can.
• Think about the cleanup and whether you want a unit that comes apart for easy cleaning. Smooth interior surfaces and units that draw from the can make cleaning easier, too. 

Boden says that “the most common mistake people make when using sprayers is not properly taking the time to clean them after using them.” He adds, “If you don’t take the necessary steps to properly clean the machine, it will not function properly for future use.”

• Consider an adjustable pressure control with high, low, cleaning, or roller settings to help extend the life of your spray tips. A model that comes with a pressure roller attachment can also take over on projects where spraying isn’t possible (it, too, applies paint up to four times faster than a traditional roller and with less mess!).
• Note whether or not the sprayer takes tip extensions—a handy feature when painting high ceilings, foyers, and hard-to-reach spaces.

It’s also worth noting, for cost purposes, that shoppers will want to consider whether or not they should rent or buy a paint sprayer, depending on what they need to use one for and how often it will be used. 

If you do wish to purchase one, Boden shares his expert advice: “If the homeowner has multiple uses for the sprayer, I would start with a handheld sprayer so you can practice the technique and get used to painting with it before buying a more commercial sprayer.”

FAQs

Not sure whether buying a new paint sprayer is right for you? Read on to learn more from these frequently asked questions.

Meet the Tester

Mark Wolfe is a writer with an extensive background in the green industry, and an avid DIYer who lives in a 50-year old home. When he isn’t writing, he spends his time upgrading, repairing, and replacing anything and everything in his home, yard, and garden. He tests and writes reviews about hand tools, lawn-care and home-repair products, and outdoor-living goods.