Best Airless Paint Sprayers

When it comes to buying an airless paint sprayer, you just know you’re making the right choice. The best airless paint splatters will allow you to complete your painting project much faster than a roller or brush.

Fortunately, there are many models to choose from. However, because there are so many models, it can be more difficult to choose.

This is why you should check out our airless paint spray reviews, where we have listed the top 5 devices. Plus, you can make the right choice with our buying guide.

Top Best Airless Paint Sprayers list 2021

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The right spray gun can make the difference between a perfect professional finish and an inferior finish with a lot of wasted paint.

We supply some of the best spray guns on the market for most types of paint spray equipment including

The Best Airless Paint Sprayers, Right Now

Best Airless Paint Gun- Buying Guide

If you are looking for a powerful paint sprayer then an airless paint sprayer is your perfect choice. It comes with a powerful motor that can spray paint at very high pressure. Because of its motor and high pressure, airless paint sprayers can spray paint a large surface very fast and save you a lot of time.

There are many features that an airless paint gun has, but some of them are more important than the others. If you still haven’t decided which one of these top-rated airless paint guns to choose then here are the features that you need to look into:

Power

As we have mentioned earlier, airless paint sprayers are powerful. How much power you really need depends a lot on the project you will be working on. If you are planning to paint some small pieces of wood, then you don’t need a lot of power. But, if you are planning to paint your whole house ( including walls), then you need a product that is able to handle that task, airless paint sprayers can.

Keep in mind – if you need thicker paint then more power (pressure) is needed. Airless paint guns are very good when it comes to thick paints. If you want thinner paint then you need to thin the paint before starting – which takes a lot of time. Moreover, more power usually means more speed. So, if you are looking to complete a project fast, then a powerful airless paint sprayer should be your choice.

Volume

It’s not something that people look a lot, but volume is a very important factor that you need to look into before buying a paint sprayer.  The volume of the paint that an airless paint sprayer can hold dictates the size of the unit. So, if you are looking for a smaller and portable paint sprayer then you need to buy one that doesn’t have a lot of room for paint.

This means that while painting, you will have to re-fill the paint sprayer a lot of times, which can be frustrating if you are in a hurry.  On the other hand,  while a big volume means that you will be re-filling the sprayer less, it also means that the unit will be bigger and heavy. So, the product will be less portable and hard to store.

That’s why before buying a sprayer, it is important to know if you want a portable airless paint sprayer or a big and less portable one.

Pressure & Tips

Some paint sprayers allow you to change its pressure which provides you more flexibility for different projects. High-pressure means that the paint sprayer is faster which helps you to complete the project fast, high-pressure is usually used when you are dealing with large surfaces. Plus, if the sprayer has high pressure then it can deal with latex paint easier.

On the other hand, low-pressure means that the unit is slower, low-pressure is mostly used when you are dealing with small projects and with detailed jobs.

Most of the airless paint sprayers come with spray tips that allow you to change the flow of the paint.  The spray tip size (flow) you choose really depends on the material and surface you are working on.

Some of these tips are very sensitive, so they can wear and tear very fast. To avoid this, it is important to take care of them. It is recommended to use a soft brush to clean the spray tips and filters after each use.

The Construction

The paint gun can be used in different spaces, you can use it inside, outside, or both. That’s why the construction of the sprayer is very important. Today, most of the sprayers on the market are made from plastic.

Most of these airless sprayers are portable, small, and cheap. The plastic airless sprayers are not as durable as metal, but since they are lightweight and cheap most people buy them.  If you are dealing with a small project, then a plastic airless paint sprayer is just fine and will do the job.

But, if you are dealing with a big project then a metal airless paint sprayer is needed. They can handle the pressure and the power of the motor, plus they are resistant to wear and tear that can happen from moving the product from one place to another. But, metal sprayers cost more and are heavy. The choice is yours. But, I think the best airless paint sprayer for DIY is the one that comes with metal construction.

Size and Weight

Size and weight are not a “feature” that a paint sprayer can have, but it is very important to check the weight and the size before buying one. You have to think if you can move the paint sprayer and where you will store it before buying it.

Because paint guns are powerful, they tend to come with a big motor that is usually bigger than the HVLP paint sprayers.  The big motor adds weight and makes the whole unit bigger.

If you are going to paint only in one place without moving, then a big and heavy paint sprayer is just fine. But, if you are going to move around and paint then you need an airless sprayer that comes with wheels and a handle. These types of products cost more, but they are worth every penny.

The hose length is also important if you are working outdoors, especially for DIY projects. The hose will allow you to move around your garden without having to move the whole sprayer. Plus, most of these sprayers allow you to connect a garden hose to clean the sprayer faster.

Features we like in paint sprayers

A tight spray pattern

Our test revealed a large variation in spray patterns. The less expensive paint sprayers with smaller turbines and plastic spray tips produced a pattern that was spread out with foggy edges and large paint spatters. On the other end of the spectrum, the Graco electric paint sprayer produced very fine paint particles in a tight spray pattern with minimal spray beyond the edges, allowing you to get a super-smooth finish with good control.

Manufacturers claim all kinds of features, but here are the ones we think are the most important. Besides the features we mention, you may see claims about easy cleaning or additional adjustments. The truth is that all of these sprayers require disassembly for thorough cleaning, and the only adjustments you really need are for the spray pattern and the paint flow.

A powerful turbine
While airless sprayers are rated by how many gallons per hour they can spray, HVLPs are usually rated by the wattage of the turbine. The theory is that the higher the wattage, the more pressure the turbine can create. and higher pressure allows better atomization of the paint and allows more viscous (thicker) materials to be sprayed. Wattage is only one part of the equation to find the best paint sprayer, but in general, more is better. The Rockler turbine is rated at 1,000 watts, with the Wagner PaintREADY System turbine coming in second at 540 watts.

How We Tested

All of these HVLP sprayers include thinning instructions and a “viscosity cup” to help determine the right amount of solvent—in our case, water—to add. We started by thinning a few gallons of water-base paint enough to meet every sprayer manufacturer’s recommendation so we could compare the sprayers with the same viscosity of paint.

Then we sprayed a band of paint for eight seconds with the spray tip held 1 ft. from the surface. We compared the coverage, spray pattern and paint particle size. This gave us a good idea of each sprayer’s performance. Next, we practiced on walls and raised-panel doors to get some real-world experience. Finally, we compared features and components. Read on to see what we discovered.

What’s The Best Spray Guns For

WALLS & INTERIORS

High quality airless guns such as the TriTech T360 are ideal for spray painting walls and interiors in both DIY and contractor settings.

Automatic pressure adjustment and ergonomic design make it easy to cover large areas quickly and with exceptional results.

The use of an Ultra Finish spary tip will ensure you get that really glass smooth professional finish on even the most intricate jobs.

FENCE PAINTING

If the fence you need to spray consists of large panels with a solid surface then you’ll probably find airless/ electric or high pressure guns to be your best choice. You’ll be able to apply solid coverage really quickly with minimal wastage.

If the fence consists of more delicate or ornamental features or is on a small scale then an HVLP or a smaller airless sprayer with the TriTech 360 will give you fine control with minimal wastage.

ROOF PAINTING

Airless / electric or high pressure guns are ideal for spray painting roofs.

The higher pressure and thicker coverage means you can cover large areas quickly with a consistently thick coat. Overspray isn’t usually such an issue either.

FURNITURE

Airless paint sprayers are perfect for painting or coating furniture. With the right spray gun you can achieve a mirror like finish and perfectly even coats without any brush marks.

HVLP and airless sprayers can help you cover large areas with a high quality finish and they’re also great for tight corners and detailed work but HVLP won’t always cope so well with thicker materials.

HOME USE

Superior quality airless guns such as the TriTech T360 give you the flexibility to achieve truly professional results on all pray painting jobs around the house.

From roofs to walls and interior trims or furniture the T360 has it covered and the Ultra Finish tip gives you perfect control for the really detailed work too.

LATEX PAINT

Latex paints are water based paints that are popular because of their adhesion, washability, and speed of application. Latex paints use acrylics or polymers to bind the paint and they offer fast drying times.

Electric Airless guns and sprayer kits are the ideal choice for most latex applications on houses.

Where used for structural steel or large truck bodies (eg mine dump trucks) the High pressure airless gun is used

This is because latex paints are frequently quite thick and low pressure guns and sprayers will not atomise the paint properly leaving globules and splatter marks to spoil the finish.

WATER BASED

Water-based paints are increasingly popular because of the lower impact on the environment and the easier clean-up.

Water-based coatings are available across most types of applications from car paint to external house paints, and even stains. Water-based paints tend to be easier to prepare and may be used with most types of spray guns.

ENAMEL

Enamel paints are often used as a finishing top coat to add shine.

Enamels form a hard layer due to the binding polymers.

Enamel paints are ideal for metal, wood and plastic surfaces and are frequently used in automotive painting but getting the right mix of reducer and hardener can make working with enamel a challenge.

Choosing the right gun for enamel application will depend on the nature of your project.

Airless guns will allow you to cover large areas very quickly but they do tend to produce more overspray. HVLP guns are better for smaller areas and intricate, detailed work.

HOW TO USE

Good results with spray guns start with the surface preparation. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and spend some time making sure the surface is ready for painting.

Make sure the paint is correctly thinned and well mixed.

Choose the right tip for the product you want to spray. If you’re using an HVLP gun you may need to adjust the pressure. Do some test sprays on a piece of cardboard to check the adjustments and get your eye in.

Use good technique.

Maintain the tip at an even distance from the surface (around 30cms). Depress the trigger before you move onto the surface and sweep the sprayer in an even line across the surface. Hold the trigger down until after you finish each sweep. Overlap each stroke by around 40%.

Avoid laying down too thick a coat—several thinner coats are better.

Always make sure you clean your gun and paint equipment immediately after use.

HOW TO MIX PAINT

Mixing paint for spray paint guns.

Good results with spray guns start with the surface preparation. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and spend some time making sure the surface is ready for painting.

Make sure the paint is correctly thinned and well mixed.

Choose the right tip for the product you want to spray. If you’re using an HVLP gun you may need to adjust the pressure. Do some test sprays on a piece of cardboard to check the adjustments and get your eye in.

Use good technique.

Maintain the tip at an even distance from the surface (around 30cms). Depress the trigger before you move onto the surface and sweep the sprayer in an even line across the surface. Hold the trigger down until after you finish each sweep. Overlap each stroke by around 40%.

Avoid laying down too thick a coat – several thinner coats are better.

Always make sure you clean your gun and paint equipment immediately after use.

HOW TO ADJUST PRESSURE

You need to make sure the pressure is set correctly whatever type of gun and sprayer you’re using but each type of gun and sprayer manages this aspect differently. With an airless setup pressure is controlled on the pump while the spray pattern is determined by your choice of tip.

Setting your paint spray gun correctly is vital for making sure you get good results.

You need to get the correct balance of air pressure and flow of coating material for effective coverage.

If the air pressure is incorrect you will end up with a disrupted spray pattern; too high and you may get streaking and paint wastage, too low and you end up with poor separation of paint particles and excessive paint build-up.

HVLP & Air guns allow for a much greater range of adjustment and spray pattern. This gives you incredibly precise control over spray coverage and spray pattern.

Remember that wider fan patterns are good for large projects but you’ll want to reduce the fan size for those smaller more detailed jobs. Most guns have three adjustable controls that regulate the flow and pressure.

Having these adjustments does give you good control but it also means you need to optimise the gun for each and every project and for spraying different materials.

The TriTech 360 and 720 guns feature fully automatic adjustment thanks to a calibrated spring and valve stem. This ensures the trigger spring is set to provide minimum resistance while allowing a positive shut-off at maximum pressure.

Final Words

And this is it folk – these are the top 5 best airless paint sprayers that we recommend you to buy. As you can see, these units have a lot of features that will benefit you. Some of these features are very important, such as power and weight, and it’s very important to check them before buying the sprayer.  You also want to have a portable airless paint sprayer if you are moving a lot.

Luckily for you, paint sprayers are improving every day, so there are a lot of great products available.  Whatever your budget is, or whatever your needs are, there’s an option out there.