How to Find the Best Airless Sprayer for Painting

Consider the size of your project. If your project is large, use a sprayer that has a high horsepower and gallons per minute. Units with more power tend to have fewer problems with clogged tips. If your project is small, such as painting a piece of furniture, then a powerful unit is less necessary.

Look at the pressure available on any sprayer you're considering. The higher the pounds per square inch, the easier it is for the sprayer to propel thick coatings such as paint.

Plan your work and think about how often you will use the sprayer. A small, low-power sprayer wears out from heavy use and only is suitable for occasional use. If you want the sprayer for a single project, consider renting a sprayer rather than purchasing one.

Find out what size tips any sprayer you consider uses. Tips with larger openings spray paint more easily than tips with small openings. Learn about the tips by looking at the numbers in the tip size. The first number refers to the size of the spray. Multiply the number by 2; this is about the width of the spray when held approximately 12 inches from the surface to be sprayed. The second number refers to the tip opening size. Sprayers suitable for painting often use between a .15- and a .17-size opening. Note that the decimal is not included in the tip size numbers. It's better to use a tip with an opening that is a size below the recommended maximum size, as tip wear can make the opening larger than the recommended size.

Consider features of the sprayer that make use convenient. For instance, a sprayer with a large hopper or one that draws straight from a paint can needs refilling less often. Units that come apart in many places are easier to clean than units that don't. Tip extensions make painting hard-to-reach places such as ceilings easier. Units with long cords make outdoor painting easier.