The 4 Best Paint Sprayers of 2024, According to Testing

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You can tackle any DIY project with these paint sprayers. Spray Equip

The 4 Best Paint Sprayers of 2024, According to Testing

Better Homes & Gardens / Alli Waataja

Paint sprayers are helpful tools for tackling any DIY painting project. The best paint sprayers can be used to paint small items, like a frame or accent chair, or larger areas, like room walls or an exterior fence.

“While there is more prep work, paint sprayers are superior to rollers because they create a more even coat with fewer drip marks. They are also faster than the traditional rolling technique”, says Catherine Hart, a professional mural artist.

To find the best paint sprayers on the market, we tried several options at home. In addition to Hart, we also consulted Tracey Amadio, CEO of Porch Daydreamer, for additional insight.

We evaluated nine paint sprayers on their flow rate, consistency, and compatibility. For more information on how we tested paint sprayers at home, check out our testing process below.

The power flush system connects to your garden hose for fast and easy cleanup.

The power cord is only 3 feet long, so plan on pairing this tool with a heavy-duty extension cord.

Overall, our favorite paint sprayer we tested was the Graco Magnum Paint Sprayer. The 15-pound paint sprayer is heavy-duty without being too bulky. Plus, it’s not as expensive as some of the other options we tested.

We love that the low-profile gadget is stable and can spray directly from a 1-gallon paint can or a 5-gallon paint bucket. This versatility means it's big enough for large-scale projects and detailed enough for smaller, more intricate painting.

The set comes with one tip and a 25-foot hose, though it can support up to a 50-foot hose (sold separately) if you need a more extended reach. We found the paint sprayer easy to set up and use. Just keep in mind that the power cord is only 3 feet long, so you’ll likely need to use this pick with an extension cord.

We appreciated that while the sprayer is stationary, the hoses are long to allow the user to move as needed. However, if you use the entire length of hose, watch that it doesn’t kink.

The paint can be used directly from the can, and when the painting is over, it’s easy to clean. You quickly hook the paint sprayer up to your garden hose for a fast and easy cleanup. However, there’s also the option to flush the lines into a pail, but it does require two pails–one for water and one for waste.

In our tests, the trigger sprayed evenly and quickly, and changing the pressure with the knob was easy and intuitive. There’s no way to lock the trigger, so if you paint a large area, you’ll need to manually hold down the trigger the whole time you paint.

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

Lightweight and handheld, this sprayer is perfect for small projects.

It didn’t work well upside down, so it’s not ideal to use ceilings.

The HomeRight Paint Sprayer is perfect for small jobs and a great option if you want a less expensive model. The handheld sprayer weighs under 4 pounds (without paint), so it’s lightweight and maneuverable.

The set comes with a 28-ounce container for the paint, which locks right into the appliance. Painters can use one plastic tip and nozzle in three spray patterns: horizontal, vertical, and round.

During testing, this pick was easy to set up and use–we were able to start painting within five minutes of opening the box. We thought it was fairly easy to hold and maintain a spray for extended periods. While we used the sprayer from multiple angles, we noted that it’s not a good option for ceilings since it doesn’t work well upside down.

After trying out this pick, we also recommend cleaning this sprayer immediately after use. Once it’s clogged, it will not spray well and will be pretty hard to clean.

Better Homes & Gardens / Art Silverio

It uses disposable liners that make clean-up a cinch.

Cleaning this unit takes some time, so you’ll need to account for it when using it.

Graco’s Cordless Paint Sprayer is more expensive than other options but the handheld unit was very convenient during testing. Overall, we think this option is perfect for small to medium jobs.

A cordless paint sprayer is convenient since you don’t need to worry about tangling or kinking the cord. However, keep in mind that this option is heavy and will only get heavier when full of paint.

The portable paint sprayer comes with a convenient storage bag that makes it easy to keep the sprayer, one tip, lithium-ion batteries, charger, a funnel, and four disposable liner bags neatly together.

We found this paint sprayer easy to use and set up quickly. In one test, it did sputter a bit at both the beginning and end of spraying, so always start with a test spray. Cleaning is essential for this gadget (and most paint sprayers). Just keep in mind that while cleaning isn't difficult, it does take time so be sure to account for that when using it.

Better Homes & Gardens / Katherine Fuller

An adjustable knob makes it easy to control the exact level of paint flow.

This sprayer weighs over 19 pounds, which is heavier than other picks.

The Titan Tool Paint Sprayer is the best paint sprayer if you need an adjustable option for any DIY projects. The 19-pound paint sprayer comes with a 30-foot hose so while it’s not the most portable option it’ll still be able to get the job done.

Simple to use, the paint sprays directly from 1 or 5-gallon paint containers, so this is an adequate tool for bigger paint jobs. To adjust the paint flow, there’s a dead simple knob–we love that you can turn the knob between one to five, including increments between the numbers for a custom level.

There’s just one nozzle, but by turning the nozzle, you also adjust the paint spray patterns. One knob was a plus since the adjustability was easy to execute, and we appreciated that it didn’t result in more parts to clean.

After testing this pick, we noted that cleaning isn’t difficult but does take time. Cleaning may take more time than painting, which thought was more of a reflection on how quick this sprayer works.

Better Homes & Gardens / Alli Waataja

Overall, the Graco Magnum 257025 Project Painter Plus Paint Sprayer is the best paint sprayer to consider. The versatile pick is lightweight and can tackle many home projects. We found it easy to set up and intuitive to use and appreciated the two cleaning options.

To find the best paint sprayers, we tested nine products at home. Each pick was evaluated for their performance, design, and features.

Testing began by unpackaging and preparing the sprayer for use. Then, we used the sprayers, noting the type of paint, how long the setup, painting, and clean-up process took, ease of use, evenness, comfort, and more.

While using each paint sprayer we also considered the evenness of the paint, if we could use the sprayers in different positions, and if the sprayer ever sputtered or clogged. Once testing concluded, we evaluated if we thought the price was reasonable given our testing experience.

Better Homes & Gardens / Chrissy Lee

When choosing a paint sprayer, consider that the weight of the sprayer doesn’t account for the paint that will go into it. Therefore, if you think you’ll have difficulty holding a paint sprayer for an extended amount of time, you’ll want to consider lightweight options, like the HomeRight Paint Sprayer, our best budget pick.

There are three main types of paint sprayers on the market:

The flow rate indicates how much paint can run through your sprayer per minute. Bigger jobs may do best with a faster flow rate but will also run through more paint, so make sure you have enough to finish the project you’re working on.

Operating pressure is measured in PSI and refers to how much pressure runs through the paint sprayer. The PSI will differ based on the type of paint sprayer you’re using. For example, our best overall pick, the Graco Magnum Paint Sprayer, is an airless model and the PSI is 3,000 PSI. However, the HomeRight Paint Sprayer, our best budget pick, is an HVLP style and operating pressure is 450 PSI.

The tip size of the paint sprayer impacts how much paint is released from the tip. Some sprayers come with multiple tips, while others only have one. To determine the best tip size, you’ll need to judge both the size of your project and the type of paint you are using.

Some sprayers can handle thick paints, while others will need them thinned. Always refer to the user guide, which will help you determine the best application method for your needs.

Better Homes & Gardens / Alli Waataja

The Graco 17G180 Magnum ProX19 Cart Paint Sprayer worked well in our tests but the sprayer is much larger and more expensive than other picks we tried. It’s also best suited for larger paint jobs, so it may not be the most helpful option for more homeowners.

The Graco Magnum 262800 X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer is more expensive than the Graco Magnum Paint Sprayer, our best overall pick, but we didn’t see much difference in quality, ease of use, or performance between the two.

A benefit of the Titan Tool ControlMax Airless Paint Sprayer is that it’s a portable cart design, so it’s helpful if you need to move around an area, like painting all four sides of a shed or a long fence. Overall, we found it worked well as a paint sprayer. The only downside is that once paint is loaded, you must lift the paint can while rolling the cart, which we found difficult.

Better Homes & Gardens / Melissa Inman

Paint sprayers are offered at a variety of price points, with some options being about $60 and others being upwards of $600. If you’re new to using paint sprayers or don’t think you’ll use it often, the Graco Magnum Paint Sprayer is our best budget option. For a more expensive and advanced pick, the Graco’s Cordless Paint Sprayer, our best cordless option, is over $700.

In addition to the gadget, you’ll need to budget for the paint and protective materials, including tarps, tape, safety goggles, and masks.

Paint sprayers are easy to use but require learning to get the hang of the gadget. Always read the complete instruction manual, watch videos about using your exact model. Armadio recommends you always start with testing the model on a piece of cardboard.

Precaution should be taken when using a paint sprayer. Always wear protective eyewear and a mask that is at least an N95 or has its filtration system. Create as much ventilation as possible when working on indoor projects by opening windows and running an air purifier.

Also, safely cover any surface you are not painting. “The particles are getting blown out into the air, they literally dry in the air before they actually fall. Anything with a horizontal surface is going to get a layer of finely mystified paint,” says Amadio.

Paint sprayers provide a faster, more even layer of paint and allow you to paint large areas more time more efficiently than a roller or brush. Paint sprayers can also reach crevices more evenly than a brush.

Maya Polton is an experienced freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens who has written for a wide variety of publications. She also spoke with mural artist Catherine Hart and Tracey Amadio, CEO of Porch Daydreamer, for advice and feedback on how to use paint sprayers.

Equipment For Painting Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.