HVLP Vs LVLP: What They Mean, Differences & Performance Compared

HVLP spray guns  (High Volume Low Pressure) deliver paint at high volume and are selected by painters for their higher transfer efficiency than what is possible with the use of LVLP guns. This means that they make sure that more paint will stick to the surface that is being painted. This makes your efficiency much better overall when working on large tasks. 

This is one of the most used spray guns in the painting business, but it does consume a lot of energy to use. This kind of gun is eco-friendly, and it is actually very efficient and limits waste from overspray. This is a big part of the reason that they are preferred by professional painters. 

This spray gun uses high-pressure air to blow the paint onto the surface that is being painted. It is a simple trigger squeeze to use the sprayer, and the handle is connected to an air compressor unit. The paint is placed in the bottom portion of the spray nozzle. 

These two types of spray guns can do the same jobs in most cases, but they are operated differently, and you will likely prefer one over the other based on your painting project. You need to know which tool is the best for your painting style and paint job before you pick the one that you are going to use. 

One of the best ways to be sure that you are getting the right spray gun for your needs is to compare them based on some key factors: 

The LVLP is really easy to use, just like the HVLP gun, but it is a slower gun to paint with. You will have to refill the hopper or reservoir more often, and it can also tend to clog and be finicky in some instances. You will find that the HVLP is better suited to large jobs as well, so you might need to pick this kind of gun no matter what if you are going to be painting a very large area. 

While both of these guns are easy to use, you will find that the HVLP is often the best choice for anything but smaller jobs. This is why professional painters use the HVLP style gun in most cases. 

HVLP spray guns offer fast flow and great control. You will also have a lot of efficiency with the HVLP model. The LVLP is great for some smaller kinds of jobs, but these guns can clog readily, which can slow down your painting process. You will get a better speed of flow and a lot of great efficiency from the HVLP spray gun. 

The fan width of an LVLP sprayer is smaller and narrower. This can make it a great choice for application to smaller areas and smaller jobs. The pattern is much more open and has a wider application range for an HVLP sprayer. This is why the HVLP is a better choice for large spaces that need to be painted evenly and with some rapidity. 

The HVLP will offer you superior transfer efficiency compared to the LVLP model for this need. You will get a much smoother and easier transfer experience when you choose the HVLP spray gun for your painting jobs. The HVLP will also apply more kinds of paint with consistency since it is much less likely to clog or have issues with delivering the paint to the surface. 

The HVLP spray gun will cost you at least twice as much as the average LVLP. This is part of why HVLP sprayer is not as common in home use. LVLP spray guns are more common for home use and small projects due in part to the purchase price. 

Both of these items will need to be maintained properly to be useful when you need them. You will find that the LVLP will tend to clog more, particularly in the gravity-fed model. You will always need to clean the spray gun before storing it, and you will need to be sure that you have not neglected any part of the process from cleaning to storage if you want to be sure that you can count on your gun for your needs. 

Picking between an HVLP and an LVLP spray gun doesn't have to be complicated. You will immediately see the benefits of each kind of spray gun for your needs and you should be able to judge through the use of this guide. Thanks for reading!