The finishing touch on any project is so important, and in general the last phase of finishing any DIY or home improvement project is a coat of paint. Unless they have had a lot of practice with a brush though, most people find it very difficult to get perfectly even layered coats just right.
Fortunately, paint sprayers make it easy even for the least skilled DIYer to lay down coats of paint that would be the envy of master craftsmen in mere minutes. Choosing the right paint sprayer makes all the difference, but with all the features and capabilities it can be a difficult process.
We’ve taken that process and broken it down so you can get the best home paint sprayer for your needs the first time. Here’s our 2018 guide and reviews to getting the best paint sprayer for home use.
Top Paint Sprayer for Home - Comparison Chart
Image | Product Name | Warranty | Editor Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Tacklife SGP15AC Advanced Electric Spray | 2 Year | ||
  | HomeRight Finish Max C800766 Paint Sprayer | 2 Year | ||
  | Graco Magnum 257025 Painter Plus Paint Sprayer | 1 Year | ||
  | Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer (Editor's Choice) | 1 Year | ||
  | Graco Magnum 262800 X5 Airless Paint Sprayer | 1 Year | ||
  | HomeRight Super Finish Max Extra C800971 Sprayer | 2 Year |
Top 6 Best Paint Sprayer for Home - Reviews
1. Tacklife SGP15AC Advanced Electric Spray Gun
Sometimes simple is best, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice features and capability for power. The Tacklife SGP15AC Advanced Electric Spray Gun has plenty of features, but is also very easy to operate and provides plenty of efficient spraying power.
The spray nozzle has three modes: horizontal, vertical, and nummular. These three modes help you coat your project more efficiently with less wasted paint since you can alter the shape of the paint stream to match the surface you are coating with just a quick adjustment of the nozzle control.
Additionally, the 900 milliliter canister is specially designed so that it can be refilled quickly via the twist on cap in the front of the sprayer. The Tacklife SGP15AC also includes a funnel to prevent messy spills and overfilling when adding paint.
Furthermore, this paint sprayer has a 5.9 foot power cord that is compatible with most three prong electrical extension cables, so you will always have plenty of room to maneuver while putting the finishing touches on your project.
The motor for the SGP15AC is also rated at 400 watts, providing plenty of power for fast, even coating without sputtering or spitting paint and causing drops and runs. If you do experience spitting or clogging, you may need to dilute your paint with a little water or primer depending on the type of paint you are applying.
Possibly the best feature of the SGP15AC is the completely detachable spray components. Every part of the spraying apparatus can be broken down for cleaning, making every component that comes in contact with paint fully washable between uses, increasing both the lifespan of your sprayer and preventing old paint mixing with new paint between uses.
Overall, the Tacklife SGP15AC is a great entry level paint sprayer for anyone looking to improve the look of their finished projects with a professional-looking coat of paint, whether its walls, cabinetry, car parts, or DIY projects in your workshop.
Pros
- 400 watt motor, Washable parts
- 900 milliliter detachable paint reservoir
- Three spray modes: horizontal, vertical, nummular
- 5.9 foot extension compatible power cord
Cons
- Nozzle must be cleared and cleaned regularly between refills
- Hard to use on full rooms or large projects without an extension cord
- Generates a lot of noise while in use
2. HomeRight Finish Max C800766 Home Paint Sprayer
Applying an even coat of paint to a home improvement project or refurbished DIY furniture can be a real pain when you attempt to paint by hand using a roller or brush. Not matter how evenly and carefully you try to paint, you still have brush or roller marks that just won’t go away.
Fortunately, HomeRight has just the solution to your painting woes: the Finish Max C800766 Paint Sprayer. This paint sprayer allows anyone to apply just the right amount of paint without dripping or running.
Thanks to the easy fill reservoir and easy to adjust nozzle, you can get this sprayer out of the box and be hard at work in just minutes with no prior experience. Simply add your paint to the reservoir, plug the unit in to the wall or extension cord, and pull the trigger.
The spray stream can easily be adjusted by twisting the nozzle to vary between vertical, horizontal, and circular patterns, allowing you to adjust the spray pattern to suit the surface you are painting.
Additionally, the C800766 comes with a brass spray nozzle, producing superior spray results and extending the overall lifespan of your sprayer since brass does not degrade when cleaned with solvents or paint thinners.
Furthermore, the C800766 is fully compatible with virtually any kind of paint, varnish, or other coating, allowing you to apply even coats of varnish, textured paint, or other finishes to any project quickly and easily. You may need to play with the dilution of your coating to ensure the best viscosity, but overall most paints, varnishes, and coatings just need to be added to the reservoir straight from the can or container.
The C800766 is an altogether excellent paint sprayer for home use, and works exceptionally well in a wide variety of applications for finishing work. It’s definitely worth a first look if you are in the market for consistent paint spraying performance in a compact package.
Pros
- Compact ergonomic design
- Brass spray nozzle
- 3 adjustable spray patterns
- 6 foot power cord
- 400 watt motor
Cons
- Noisy operation
- Not all parts disassemble easily for cleaning
- Paint reservoir cannot be refilled without removing it from the sprayer
3. Graco Magnum 257025 Project Painter
The super-duty pickup truck of paint sprayers, the Graco Magnum 287025 Project Painter Plus is a powerful and versatile paint sprayer that works exceptionally in a variety of applications with just about any kind of coating you can apply via aerosol spray.
Need to reseal your wooden back deck? Not a problem for the Graco Magnum. Just connect the feeder hose to your finish container, fire up the steel piston pump, and start spraying. Need to paint a room floor to ceiling quickly? Drop the suction hose in a 1 gallon or 5 gallon bucket of paint and start spraying.
Operating the Graco Magnum requires very little of the operator save that they ensure that the unit is thoroughly cleaned out after each use, and that you don’t exceed 50 gallons per year in terms of annual usage.
Furthermore, the Graco Magnum also comes with an attachment that lets you connect a garden hose to the feeder tube via the Power Flush adapter, making cleaning flushes fast and easy every time. Better still, should the nozzle clog while you are working, you can, you can just reveres the tip to clear the blockage and keep right on working.
Finally, thanks to the the powerful air compressor, you can quickly and easily adjust the pressure to keep paint or other finishes flowing smoothly regardless of whether or not it has been thinned for use with a sprayer.
If you do frequent painting work refinishing painted or stained furniture, or you need to repaint multiple rooms in your home, the Graco Magnum 28705 Project Painter Plus is an excellent addition to any workshop, and it is portable and versatile enough to take on any painting application.
Pros
- Steel Piston air compressor with variable pressure
- Reversible tips for easy blockage clearing
- PowerFlush connection works with home garden hoses
- Compact and lightweight design
- Supports up to a 50-foot suction feeder tube
Cons
- Requires complete flush after every use
- Paint gun is difficult to use in tight spaces
- Very noisy compressor
4. Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer
Offering professional grade features in a consumer grade product always makes an item more attractive, and the Wagner Control Spray Max is one of those items that offers the best of both worlds.
Featuring a metal paint cup for enhanced durability when spraying finishes that are not suitable for plastic containers, the Control Spray Max also includes a large 1.5 quart plastic cup for use with more plastic-friendly coatings and finishes. Better still, it also features variable pressure so you can find just the right setting for working with whatever coating medium you currently need to apply to your project.
Whether you are spraying interior latex, varnish, lacquer, or other interior coatings, the Wagner Control Spray Max makes even, thoroughly consistent coats a matter of just a few quick passes. If you are in need of room to maneuver while you work, the Control Spray Max also makes it easy to get around while you work thank to its 20 foot air compressor hose.
Furthermore, having the compressor separate from the spray nozzle significantly reduces the overall weight of the spray apparatus, letting you paint for longer periods of time without putting additional strain on your wrist, arm, and shoulder.
Need to change up the spray pattern to match the surface you are coating? Give the nozzle a twist and change between vertical, horizontal, and circular spray patterns instantly. This sprayer may have some high end, pro-grade features, but it is easy enough to operate that you can get it loaded and ready to paint or stain in just minutes right out of the box.
Best of all, the nozzle and spray components disassemble easily for cleaning in between uses, allowing you to keep your sprayer in top working order with minimal effort. For the motivated DIYer or home hobbyist, the Wagner Control Spray Max HVLP sprayer is an excellent choice to put that professional finishing touch on your next project.
Pros
- Air compressor is independent of spray nozzle
- Variable air pressure
- Three spray modes for horizontal, vertical, and round surfaces
- High quality metal cup and plastic cup included
- 20 foot air hose for maximum maneuverability
Cons
- Power cord is relatively short
- Spray nozzle is plastic rather than brass
- Pressure only variable between 1.5 and 2.63 PSI
5. Graco Magnum 262800 X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer
This more compact version of the Graco 270025 has a built in stand and can handle more extensive use than its larger power sprayer cousin. One of the key differences between these two paint sprayers is that the 26280 X5 is intended for more routine use than the Graco Magnum 270025, and can handle up to 75 gallons of use per year.
This capacity makes it ideal for use on a quarterly basis, so if you refinish/refresh the finish on your fencing, exterior, shutters, or other areas of your home a few times a year to maximize their lifespan, the Graco Magnum X5 is going to be ideal for your paint spraying needs.
It also functions by spraying streams of paint at high pressure rather than aerosolizing paint and finishes, making it ideal for outdoor painting and thicker paints and finishes.
Inside the box there is a flexible suction tube that can be used with paint or varnish buckets up to 5 gallons, and the X5 also includes a Power Flush attachment to connect your sprayer to a garden hose for fast, thorough cleaning when you are done for the day.
As with the 257025 model, the spray gun tips are also reversible for clearing blockages without needing to exchange tips or disassemble the spray gun for a complete cleaning when your sprayer starts to sputter and spit mid-project.
Bottom line, the Graco Magnum X5 paint sprayer is a project grade paint sprayer intended for semi-professional use multiple times per year. It is ideal for DIY users who are looking for a little extra horsepower and the ability to paint more surface area for longer periods of time.
The X5 delivers top of the line quality and power for home hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts, and is an excellent choice if you intend to be completing multiple large surface area painting or finishing projects throughout the year.
Pros
- Powerful 3000 psi air compressor
- Reversible nozzle for quick clog clearing
- Maximum annual use of 75 gallons per year
- PowerFlush attachment for rapid cleaning
- Supports up to a 75 foot feeder suction hose
Cons
- Not for year round professional use
- Requires thorough cleaning between uses to maintain performance
- Pump must be sent back to factory for repair or replacement in the event of failure
6. HomeRight Finish Max Extra C800971 Paint Sprayer
A compact paint sprayer that is ideal for larger indoor or outdoor projects around the house, the HomeRight Super Finish Max Extra gives you premium performance and versatility in an easy to use, handheld package.
Much like its sister model the C800766, the Super Finish Max Extra applies varnish, lacquer, paint, and other coatings without over spraying or sputtering and spitting. Rather than the single brass nozzle of the 766 model, the 971 has three interchangeable brass nozzles to make switching finishes or paints fast and easy.
Furthermore, the nozzle on the Super Finish Max Extra is fully adjustable between vertical, horizontal, and circular spray patterns, allowing you to adapt on the fly to whatever surface you are presently coating. All you have to do is give the nozzle a turn, and your desired spray pattern is ready to go.
This model is also exceptionally easy to set up and use right out of the box, and the air compressor is powerful enough to require little or no thinning of your painting media when you fill up the spray cup, ensuring that more of your chosen finish ends up evenly distribute on your project instead of clogging the spray nozzle or over spraying in uneven globs.
All in all, the Super Finish Max Extra C800971 is a convenient handheld power paint sprayer that lets you get your projects painted quickly with minimal mess and post-painting maintenance.
It’s ideal for anyone who routinely needs to add varnish, stain, or other finish coatings to projects or surfaces around their home on a semi-annual basis, or for craftsmen and restorers who need to refinish restoration projects.
Pros
- Compact handheld design
- Powerful integrated air compressor
- 3 brass nozzles included
- 3 variable spray patterns
- Easy to clean paint cup with included twist on cap to save leftover finish for later
Cons
- Short power cord needs an extension cable
- Integrated air compressor makes the unit top heavy
- Paint cup cannot be refilled without removing it from the unit
Choosing the Right Paint Sprayer for Your Home
There are so many different types of best home paint sprayers that the options and features available can feel overwhelming. In order to determine your needs effectively, here’s a guide to understanding paint sprayers and the must-have home paint sprayer features.
Types of Paint Sprayers
There are three basic types of paint sprayers to choose from. You want the one that works best for the type of painting you plan on doing. Check out our descriptions and recommended applications for the different types of paint sprayers.
Airless Paint Sprayer
- functions by pumping paint through the nozzle at high pressure instead of aerosolizing the pain
- good for thicker paints and finishes
- recommended for outdoor painting and finishing work
- great for fences, shutters, decks, and lattices
Compressed Air Sprayer
- uses compressed air to apply paint evenly
- best for cabinets, furniture, and other refinishing or DIY small scale projects
- tend to be messier and overspray more than other types
- uses more paint than other sprayers
- tend to cost less
- users who already own an air compressor need only a hose and paint gun
High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) Sprayer
- applies paint by streaming it on continuous volume of air
- finish applies more slowly and evenly
- best for interior trim and finishing work such as molding, trim, molding, cabinets, etc.
- does not work well with thicker paints, lacquers or varnishes
What Kind of Painting is Best for a Paint Sprayer?
Here’s a quick rundown of the types of jobs that are made easier by using a paint sprayer:
- large surface area projects (walls, siding, etc)
- furniture (spray coats more thoroughly and gets into spaces brushes and rollers can’t reach)
- Empty rooms or houses (paint spraying is messy and you don’t want to accidentally get paint on furniture or flooring)
What Painting Jobs are not Suitable for a Paint Sprayer
There are any number of jobs when using a paint sprayer to coat or refinish a surface is less than ideal, but here are the basic scenarios where you want to skip the paint sprayer and instead apply finish by brush, roller, or other means:
- small painting jobs without a dedicated paint spraying area
- jobs when you are trying to use pain sparingly (sprayers are paint hogs)
- painting when you don’t want to due significant amounts of prep work (everything in the room has to be taped over or covered by drop cloths)
- short jobs where you will spend more time cleaning the sprayer than you do actually painting
What are the Most Important Features to Have?
The answer to this question largely depends on how you plan on using the paint sprayer, but overall there are a few features that should be deal breakers for just about every user. Check these out:
Brass Spray Nozzle
Brass is much easier to clean than plastic spray nozzles, and it is less prone to clogging as well. More importantly, brass won’t degrade if you apply solvent to it, which is a big deal with some types of paints.
Adjustable Pressure
This is very important if you plan to use your paint sprayer with multiple types of paint or finishes, as the difference in viscosity has a direct effect on how much pressure is needed to apply them easily. Without variable pressure, you will need to determine how much to thin the paint or finish you are applying to your project.
Easy to Clean
Make sure that the breakdown process for your paint sprayer is designed to be quick and easy. Cleaning paint nozzles is tedious work, and you want to make sure that disassembling and reassembling your spray nozzle doesn’t make cleaning more of chore than it already is.
Portability
If your paint sprayer weighs a ton in your hand or requires significant exertion to move it around while you are working, it’s probably not going to be a good fit for you. Make sure you understand how much the unit weighs when you’re holding it, as well as when you go to move it.
Power Source
Electric power sprayers are best for home use, but you also need to keep in mind that there are other options such as compressed air sprayers, battery powered, and heavy duty gas powered models (less common in home use models). Make sure that you are getting a sprayer that you can easily power in your shop or designated spray painting area.
What Kind of Accessories Should I Purchase?
Again, it depends on the kind of painting you plan on doing with your paint sprayer. Most experts recommend conditioners and protestants to spray or apply on the parts of your paint sprayer to help it last longer. Extension rods for spray guns make it easier to spray finish on decks and other surfaces that you would normally have to bend down to paint, too.
Use good filters as well to prevent clogging and spitting, and don’t forget that a good hose can make all the difference in the performance of your paint sprayer. Above all, always wear a mask and protective goggles when operating a paint sprayer to protect your vision and respiration. Safety should always be your chief concern when using any kind of aerosolized varnish, paint, or other finish coating.
Conclusion
Based on our reviews and buying guide, our first choice for the best home paint sprayer is the Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Sprayer. Due to the high volume low pressure application method, the Wagner Control Spray Max applies finish evenly without overspray or inconsistency, and the paint or other finish doesn’t require thinning or mixing to improve the performance of the sprayer overall.
If you are looking for high consistency and satin smooth finishes on every project every time, you should definitely check out the Control Spray Max from Wagner. It has all the features a pro would want, and yet is easy enough for even an inexperienced amateur to use. Take our word for it, and check out a Wagner 0518080 Control Spray Max first when you are shopping around for the best paint sprayer for home use. It is well worth your time.
