Best Airless Paint Sprayer Reviews

If you’re looking to buy the best electric paint sprayer then we’ve got you covered. Here are the top-rated and best airless paint sprayer reviews on the market in 2020.

Best Airless Paint Sprayers for 2020

With so many different types of sprayers available to buy online, and so much confusion and conflicting information between different websites and customer reviews, it can be really tough to know which type of paint sprayer you need.

Well, we’re here to clear up that doubt once and for all. We’ve put together 5 of the best airless paint sprayer reviews to help you find the perfect machine. No matter what painting tasks you have, from painting kitchen cabinets, furniture painting or even painting or staining fences and home exteriors plus more.

1. Graco X5 Airless Paint Sprayer Review

The Graco Magnum X5 airless sprayer is one of the best selling models in the whole of the US.

Compared to the Graco Magnum X7, it is one of the budget airless paint sprayers and it is affordable for homeowners, so it is up there with the best paint sprayer brands that produce airless paint sprayers for DIY jobs. It is a powerful spray painting machine that is extremely versatile as well as being a small easy to use spray gun that will get the job done. Because of its size, easy storage is also an advantage.

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The stainless steel piston pump delivers high pressure and enables you to spray paint types such as latex paints without the need to thin with water or mineral spirits. An air pressure control knob that gives full control of paint flow and the flexible paint suction tube for paint pickup that allows you to spray directly from containers of 1 or 5 gallons.

Just a quick read through the thousands of Graco Magnum X5 airless paint sprayer reviews on Amazon makes it quite clear that consumers love this paint spraying machine for a wide range of reasons. This spray system is good for DIY painting projects, maybe you need to paint the exterior of your house and want a latex paint sprayer well this is it and so much faster than paint brushes.

Being one of the best airless paint sprayers it is also great for painting projects that need detail work and will give the coverage you need for a quality finish. With 3000 PSi it has the capacity to spray .27 gallons of paint per minute onto any surfaces with perfect coverage.

The power this unit has can support up to 75 feet of hose length and the RAC IV switch tip allows you to reverse the tip should you find the tip clogging up. All that said, for anyone that has spent a lifetime cleaning sprayers this feature has to be the best, to clean this unit all you have to do is connect up to your garden hose.

If you like the idea of the compactness of this model but would like a more professional version, check out some of our other Graco paint sprayer reviews, such as our Graco Pro X17 review.

Main Features You Need To Know

• Super Lightweight – Weighing in at just 13lbs, this lightweight and small paint spray gun is one of the lightest in the Graco range, it’s easy to move around, transport and store.
• Powerful Motor – The 0.5hp (horsepower) universal motor provides plenty of power to spray thicker paint types, such as latex paint and chalk paint, quickly and efficiently. The X5 model supports up to 0.015″ airless spray nozzle.
• Long 25ft Hose – The 25-foot hose length allows you to move around freely without having to constantly move the paint bucket and the sprayer.
• Multiple paint Sprayer Tip Sizes – The spray gun that comes with the Graco X5 can use nearly any brand and airless spray tip size, making it very versatile
• Handy Carry Handle – An ergonomic handle on the top of the sprayer makes it easy to carry around while doing painting jobs without getting covered in paint.
• Patented Power Flush – Using Graco’s patented Power Flush technology makes this easy to clean, both a fast and enjoyable process that only takes 5-10 minutes and job done.

2. Graco Magnum X7 HiBoy Airless Paint Sprayer

The success of the Graco Magnum X5 wouldn’t be the same without its bigger brother following in the footsteps.

The X7 Graco Magnum airless paint sprayer is a slightly larger version of the bestselling X5, this time on a stand with handy wheels for ease of moving around the work area. We’ve recently completed a full Graco Magnum X7 review so head over to the full article to learn more.

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As airless paint sprayer reviews go,  the Graco Magnum X7 is more powerful than its little brother, offering a superior motor and build size more suitable towards semi-professional decorators. It features the RAC IV switch tip that allows you to reverse the tip should your find the tip is clogging. The flexible suction tube allows you to draw the paint straight from the 1 or 5 gallons paint bucket ideal for large surfaces such as ceilings and painting walls.

With .7 horsepower and 3000 PSi, it can support 100 feet of hose and has the capacity to spray .31 gallons per minute, ideal for painting wall surfaces, home exterior painting and garage doors the list is endless and with the speed, reverse tip for anti clogging you will have the coverage to finish the project in no time at all.

With the patented Gracomot flush system you just connect your garden hose to clean the paint lines and gun.

This may not be a budget model but if your painting tasks are large and often, you will wonder how you ever got on without it.

Main Features You Need To Know

• Cart & Wheels – Whilst the machine is still quite lightweight (20lbs), the addition of wheels makes moving around with a large pail so much easier.
• Powerful Motor – The 0.7hp motor provides slightly more power which allows the Graco X7 to support up to a 0.017″ spray nozzle size.
• Longer Maximum Hose Length – The sprayer still comes with the same 25ft hose, but you can add additional hoses to create up to 100ft if needed to reach anywhere on the project.
• Multiple Spray nozzle Sizes – The spray gun that comes with the Graco X7 can also use nearly any brand of paint sprayer tips in a range of sizes.
• Patented Power Flush – Again it features Graco’s patented Flush technology which makes cleaning a fast and efficient.

3. Titan ControlMax 1700 Pro Review

The all-new Titan ControlMax 1700 airless paint sprayer is a thing a beauty, not only does it features sleek aesthetics but it also features cutting-edge HEA High Efficiency Airless spray technology under the hood.

These spray paint guns are suitable for any painting task with the capacity to spray .33 gallons per minute on any surface using its .60 hp motor and with the high pressure it can spray most types of paint without the use of paint thinner or water to thin.

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With one stainless steel 515 (10″ spray fan, 0.0015″ orifice) sprayer paint tip provided, but a selection available separately for different spray patterns, and adjustable pressure and paint flow this airless paint sprayer is easy to use for interior and exterior projects for home use. The cart and handheld gun take the effort out of house painting and is designed to provide the best paint flow for all projects.

As customer reviews go, customers report the Titan ControlMax 1700 is the new ‘must-have’ tool.

Main Features You Need To Know

• New HEA (High-Efficiency Airless) Technology – Titan boasts that the new HEA technology performs better than any traditional sprayer.
• Up To 55% LESS overspray – Overspray of paint particles has always been a nightmare for spray guns, so 55% less overspray is a huge improvement thanks to its design and tip guard. This also means more paint hits the surface, so paint goes further!
• Longer Maximum Hose Length – The sprayer still comes with the same 25ft hose, but you can add additional hoses to create up to 100ft if needed.
• Multiple Spray Tip Sizes – The spray gun that comes with the Graco X7 can also use nearly any brand of spray nozzle in a range of sizes, from a small to large fan width.
• Patented Power Flush – Again it features Titans patented Flush technology which makes cleaning a fast and efficient.

4. Titan 440 Impact Airless Paint Sprayer

The Titan 440 Impact airless paint sprayer is a long-standing bestseller among contractors and professional decorators. It may be a little high on the pricey side for domestic users, but this professional sprayer is built for heavy-duty and prolonged uses and is therefore up on the list as a best professional airless paint sprayer.

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This sprayer is a powerhouse that has stood the test of time since its original release and is considered a top rated airless paint sprayer gun. If you’ve got the money to spend and want an entry-level of the best professional airless paint sprayer machine then this is the one to go for.

We’ve written a full Titan 440 airless paint sprayer review which covers this product more in-depth if you’d like to learn more.

Main Features You Need To Know

• Heavy-Duty Design – The Titan 440 Impact is as rugged as they come, weighing around 50lbs, it’s built to withstand the heavy wear and tear of daily site use.
• Powerful Rugged Motor – The DC motor on this Titan sprayer is designed to work hard for extended periods of time for larger areas, unlike many domestic sprayers.
• 50ft Hose As Standard – Most domestic sprayers come with 25ft of hose, but the Titan 440 is supplied with double that, 50 feet of hose straight out the box which is perfect for second story painting and ceilings.
• Self Serviceable Parts – Any professional decorator needs to be able to repair their tools themselves, and this sprayer allows just that. Many replacement parts are available off the shelf or can be ordered online to ensure you’re back up and running in no time, including the stainless steel piston.

5. Graco 390 Airless Paint Sprayer Review

As you’ll find from our Graco airless paint sprayer 390 review this is one of the best airless paint sprayers and is a superb choice as it is considered to be one of the best for DIYer looking to tackle a variety of projects at home.

It also makes for a solid piece of back-up equipment for contractors and semi-professionals who need a small but powerful tool in their arsenal. As with all the electric models they can just be plugged into an extension cord should the hose length not be enough, maybe your shed at the bottom of the garden needs a little help from airless spray painting.

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The Graco 390 has several great features but is most notable for its integrated stand design. This keeps the sprayer steady throughout the job. While it does mean there are no wheels for the sprayer to roll along with you, it keeps you from worrying about the sprayer tipping while you work.

Another being that with 3300 psi and the powerful motor it can spray .47 gallons of paint per minute and adjustable pressure control this is easy to use and perfect for household use.

It also has a powerful motor for its size that is capable of pumping paint through 150 feet of hose at 3,300 psi.

Unlike a lot of older models, the Graco 390’s 5/8 hp motor and design are capable of taking paint straight from the paint can especially good for the painting project that covers large areas. It requires no thinning and will even work with thick finishes without a struggle.

For a quick recap, Here are our Top 3 Products:

Main Features You Need To Know

• Capable -A small sprayer that can handle large areas and significantly reduce the time and energy spent on a larger paint job or small DIY project.
• Easy Cleaning – It is designed for very easy cleaning with a garden hose and flush system.
• Powerful – The powerful motor means it can handle thick materials straight from the can without thinning.
• Hose Extension – The Greco 390 comes standard with a 30-foot hose but can handle up to 150 feet.
• Pressure Contol – The adjustable pressure is smooth and accurate, allowing for greater control against other paint sprayer comparison models, regardless of tip size.
• Quality – It is made entirely from high-quality solid stainless steel, that is both easy to clean and durable.
• Stability -Its integrated stand makes for low mobility but high stability.

Airless Paint Sprayer Buying Guide

Sprayers are excellent tools to have at your disposal, spray painting can speed decorating jobs up by 10x and provide a much better finish than any brush or roller.

They are NOT best suited for smaller more delicate work (such as windows and doors), but if you need to cover large surface areas fast (like spraying interior walls), an airless paint sprayer is what you need to buy.

Benefits of an Airless Paint Sprayer

1. They’re REALLY Fast!

So just how fast are they? You really can’t appreciate the power and speed of an air-less sprayer until you’ve used one. It’s unbelievable just how quickly even a budget airless paint sprayer can coat an entire room top to bottom, how does 8 minutes and 45 seconds sound?.

Numerous studies have shown that even small and cheap airless paint sprayers are 5-10x quicker than the traditional brush and roller methods, meaning a job that would normally take an 8 hour day with a brush, you can paint gun spray fashion in as little as an hour.

With the speed does come some new risks though, such as paint particles left in the air known as overspray. It’s absolutely essential you wear a paint respirator or mask when using any type of airless paint sprayer.

2. Excellent Coverage

Coating the surface of a flat rendered interior walls with a roller isn’t all that difficult, but if you’ve ever had to paint popcorn ceiling, raw blockwork, exterior walls, decking or fencing then you know first hand just how much of a pain in the ass it can be.

After relentless dabbing, filling & swearing, you’re still left with gaps that just won’t go away. With a spray gun, you can wave goodbye to that stress and simply point your gun and watch every crevice be nicely filled with speed, no matter how awkward it is.

Check out our article on paint spraying vs rollers.

3. Superior Finish

The problem with brushes and rollers is they require direct content with the wall. This causes brush lines, hairs, bobbles & marks on your newly decorated wall.

When you use any type of sprayer, even the simple best handheld guns and air compressor types, there is no contact with the wall which, assuming you have the gun set up correctly (by ensuring you don’t have the pressure to high or by low pressure), will give you a flawless finish that even a professional decorator would be proud of. Electric paint sprayers give such a high-quality finish that your wall will look like it’s brand new.

Downsides to spraying with airless

When you’re looking for a spray gun all you’ll ever read about online are the benefits of them and how fast and efficient they are.

What people often neglect to mention is the downsides to these powerful machines. So we’d like to take a minute to make you aware of some of the challenges you’ll be faced with if you decide to buy the best airless paint sprayer for the money.

They Make One Hell of a Mess!

Anyone in the industry of decorating knows this first hand. They are not clean and tidy machines, a paint sprayer will spray a mist out fast and they spray it out hard. What does this mean?

It means there’s a lot of ‘overspray’ left in the air. Overspray is paint that has either not made contact with the object your spraying or has bounced back off the object and are now a mist floating in the air. When using most electric airless paint sprayers you’ll need to mask up, cover and prepare everything in the vicinity that you don’t want a mess on.

They Need Regular Maintenance

Just like all complicated power tools, they need tender loving care. Airless spray guns are actually quite complex inside, with many moving parts, small passages, and areas that are destined to get plugged up with dry paint and debris.

It’s essential that you spend enough time at the end of every use to properly clean out your airless paint sprayer with water (or thinners) and manually wash the gun, spray tips and any filters.

By keeping your machine cleaned properly, you’ll reduce the risk of having any dry paint or debris inside and causing permanent damage or disrupting the spray pattern from the nozzle. When you purchase your sprayer there will be a user manual included that will cover the cleaning of your particular model.

They May Need Servicing

Many of the DIY paint sprayers (normally below the $400) won’t require (and can’t be) professional serviced. But if you’re looking at buying a professional-grade machine such as the Titan 440 then your machine will need to be taken to repair centers to have the wearing parts (mainly the packing kit) replaced over time.

Because of the way airless paint sprayers work, and it does depend largely on the frequency of use and the size of the machine, but as a guide, most professional painters that use them frequently will need a service once or twice per year. If it’s for DIY projects, you’ll likely get 3-5 years usage providing you kept it properly cleaned.

There’s a good video by PPG Paints which discusses the servicing aspect of your machine.

Tips For Buying The RIGHT Model

There are probably over 1000 different models on the market, some good, some bad, some best for commercial use and some more suited for domestic use.

Finding the best one for your needs can be difficult no matter how many airless paint sprayer reviews you read, so here are some things to consider before you’ll be able to buy the best airless paint sprayer for the job at hand.

1. Consider Future Projects

One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a sprayer is not considering future projects they may need to undertake. Many of the cheaper and domestic use sprayers are great for a few jobs around the home, but often break down after spraying a few rooms over a couple of years.

If you know you’ll need to redecorate a few times over the next 5 years, or have other uses in mind such as waterproofing the exterior of your home, painting the garage or spraying all your fencing then it may be worth spending a few extra hundred dollars now and buying a machine that is a bit less ‘domestic’ and more professional.

2. Consider The Type of Paint You’re Spraying

Smaller paint sprayers struggle with thicker materials, which means you may have to thin them down beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations. Not ideal.

Most domestic sprayers are designed to spray thinned down emulsion, but not much past that. If you have special requirements and need the best airless sprayer on the market, for materials such as fire-retardant paints, marine coatings, and roofing coatings, then you will most certainly need to look at bigger, more professional machines that are rated for viscosities that thick.

With so many different types of paints, it’s impossible to list them all, so if in doubt, contact the paint manufacturers’ support number and ask them about using it with airless guns.

Important note: if you’re looking to use exterior paint inside, there’s a lot of health risks you need to be aware of, especially when using a sprayer.

3. Will You Be Moving Around A Lot?

Large pails and professional equipment often aren’t light, which makes moving them from place to place during a job a pain. If you have a large renovation project or are spraying a long fence, consider opting for a paint sprayer with wheels.

Most models with wheels, such as the Graco X7 come with a handy pail hook that allows you to wheel the sprayer and your paint around at the same time, which saves a lot of mess, backache and most importantly, time. Some professional machines can weigh upwards of 30lbs which is difficult to walk with, consider this before making your purchase.

Also, consider the fact that you may need to purchase a long reach extension lead as all of our electric paint sprayer reviews on this list require an outlet.

4. How Often Will You Be Using It?

Most airless sprayers have a ‘rated gallon’ amount per year, which gives you a good indication of how much fluid they can spray between services.

If you’re a professional and are going to be spraying a lot, find a machine that matches your monthly or yearly spray requirements otherwise you’ll be spending more time waiting for machines to be serviced than you will be spraying.

This isn’t as applicable to sub $300 domestic use airless sprayers as more often than not they can’t be serviced and once they ‘break’, that’s it, so consider it wisely.

Frequently Asked Questions [Airless Sprayer FAQ]

Many of you have similar questions about airless spraying and the techniques involved. Below you’ll find some of the most frequently asked questions about airless sprayers, their usage, and the cleaning process.

What is the best airless paint sprayer for home use?

Depending on how much area you have to cover will be the ultimate decider in which is the best paint sprayer for home use. If you have a standard 3 bedroom house with a modest garden, the Graco X5 will be fine. But it you have a large home with large fences, barns .etc you may wish to paint, perhaps consider the Graco X5 for Graco 390.

What is the best brand of airless paint sprayer?

There is no single best airless paint sprayer brand, unfortunately, much like power tools, depending on who you ask you’ll get a different answer. What we can tell you, are the 4 biggest brands (in no particular order). They are Graco, Wagner, Titan & TriTech.

Which is better air or airless paint sprayer?

There is no competition when it comes to whether air or airless paint sprayers are better, they’re from different worlds. Air (or compressor powered) paint sprayers are typically utilized for automotive or furniture spraying, whereas airless paint sprayers are designed for larger surface areas such as walls, industrial steel, fencing .etc.

Can you paint a car with an airless sprayer?

Can you paint a car with an airless sprayer? Yes. Should you? Absolutely not.

Painting a car with an airless paint sprayer is like brushing your teeth with a pressure washer. Put simply, there’s just simply too much power. Even with small tips and the pressure set to minimum, airless paint sprayers just have too much power for the subtle art of automotive spraying.

Are they hard to use?

Paint sprayers are not difficult to use, but they do require some practice. The overall usage, cleaning, and maintaining can be learned very quickly (within a few uses), however, it does take time to really hone in on the skill to be able to spray as quickly as professionals.

Most of the skill required comes down to perfecting your hand movements, being able to move at a steady pace and squeeze the trigger just at the right time is where the magic happens. Again, it’s not difficult but you will certainly notice you get a lot better at it after a few walls.

How fast are they?

Most professional airless sprayers spray about as fast as you can physically move, but they can be turned down if they need to be.

Once you get good at spraying, you can expect to spray an 8×8 meter room within 10 minutes or so, but there is a lot of preparation beforehand that will need to be done which isn’t taken into consideration, such as covering windows, fittings, and doors.

You also need to ensure that you prepare your walls for painting if you want a professional finish. This includes filling, sanding, and cleaning.

Why are some paint sprayers so expensive?

The airless sprayer market varies in prices widely because of the difference in build and recommended usage. For the average homeowner, a small motor and simply pump system is normally enough to spray a few rooms.

For professionals, however, they could be using the sprayer every day to spray entire houses 5 days a week. With this sort of usage comes a lot of wear and tear, meaning they need much bigger motors, high-quality tungsten parts and durable airless spray guns and hoses such as those found on the Graco Mark V texture sprayer.

As a rough guide, these are the most common pricing categories we see:

• $100-$600 – Homeowner DIY paint sprayers (Used a few times a year max)
• $600-$1200 – Semi-professional usage (Used a few times a month max)
• $1200 – $2000 – Professional grade airless sprayers for weekly usage.
• $2000+ – Specialist airless paint sprayers for specialized paints or materials.

Does my machine require servicing?

If you’re buying a small $400 machine, then no you will probably not need to have it serviced.

Most small domestic use DIY spray guns are not built to be repaired and are often mostly sealed units. You will, of course, get a standard manufacturer warranty with it against faults but if the issues have arisen due to paint drying inside the machine then, unfortunately, your warranty won’t cover you.

If you’re looking for a semi-pro to professional grade airless sprayer then your servicing period will depend on your usage. Most professional airless spraying contractors have their machine serviced every 6 months to a year. Again, it varies significantly between makes, models, and usage.

Overall, the better you clean your machine, the longer it should last you.

What are spray tips/spray nozzles?

Airless spray tips are how you can control both the width of the spray coming from the gun and also the rate of flow.

Every type and brand of paint has a unique thickness, and every job is different, therefore you’ll need to manage to the size of the spray and the amount coming out of the gun.

For thinner materials such as stain you’ll need a spray tip with a very small flow rate (known as an orifice size) otherwise you’ll end up with a jet instead of a spray, and for thicker materials such as emulsions, you’ll need a much larger orifice size.

Choosing the right spray tip is a topic of its own and we’ll cover it separately soon.

How do I clean my airless sprayer properly?

Cleaning out a paint sprayer is a job nobody likes doing, especially at the end of a long day, but it has to be done and it has to be done well. Failure to properly clean out your machine and gun will most likely result in a costly repair.

The cleaning process for an airless spray machine has three main steps. These are:

1. Flushing the machine and hose – This involved replacing the paint pail with warm water (or thinners) and a special cleaning solution than running it through the machine and hose for several minutes.
2. Cleaning the spray gun, filters and tips – Many spray systems have filters in the machine and also in the spray gun itself (known as a pencil filter). You’ll have to clean each of these components by using warm water, solvent wipes, and an old toothbrush so you can get into small areas.
3. Preparing for storage – This is where many people go wrong when preparing their airless spraying system for storage, you should not leave it dry unless directed to by the manufacturer. When the inside is dry, the paint dries and the problems start. Where possible, leave the clean water and cleaning solution in the machine and tightly wrap an elastic band around the suction hose and also around the spray gun end. This should prevent air from entering the machine and having it dry out.