5 Different Types Of Paint Sprayers (Explained For Beginners)

1. Airless

Airless paint sprayers are the most common type and can vary in price range from affordable to expensive. These spray guns use high levels of air pressure (high pressure) to force the paint drops through a paint sprayer tip.

The result is an atomizing of the paint into minute particles pushed by the air pressure to the surface being painted.

An airless sprayer uses an electric pump to create the air pressure needed, which is high enough to cause physical harm to your skin. It can lacerate a fingertip or embed paint under the skin resulting in the need for immediate medical attention.

However, with proper safety gear, you can achieve a fine finish on almost any surface. Because you can swap the nozzle tips for different sizes, you can also use a wide variety of paints, finishes, and lacquers.

Airless sprayers have a lot of benefits, but airless sprayers also offer some drawbacks you should be aware of.

Airless paint sprayers are ideal for indoor and outdoor jobs on a large scale. The airless paint sprayer includes walls, ceilings, exterior walls, fences, etc.

These types of paint sprayers are also great for using multiple paint thicknesses (known as viscosity) because of the high pressure and various tip sizes. An airless paint sprayer, unlike compressed air sprayers, are more expensive and messy, making airless paint sprayer not the best option for exterior painting furniture or detailed work.

Airless paint sprayers Airless paint sprayers use an electric pump rather than an air compressor to spray the paint. When the paint reaches the tip of the sprayer, it fans out with the electric pump behind it.

2. HVLP

High Volume, Low Pressure (HVLP Sprayers) paint spray guns are a safer alternative to airless models. These spray guns are designed for precision work, detailed projects, and smaller-scale tasks.

Because of the lower pressure, less paint is used, and therefore less paint is wasted paint in these types of paint sprayers. Clean-up is easier, and there is less over-spray on high volume low pressure - HVLP sprayers.

What you will find, though, is that these units need to be carried around because of a shorter hose. The lower pressure requires things to be a certain way, and painting a large wall, fence, or outdoor area would take multiple days.

Inside, however, trim molding, craft projects, and smaller jobs are handled with ease. When using HVLP sprayers, you get exact coverage with a slower delivery of paint. Because of the low pressure, though, it isn't suitable for thicker viscosity paints.

Depending on the task, the HVLP spray guns or most HVLP sprayers system might be the best option for you. However, there are some downsides to using them as well.

HVLP paint sprayers are one of the best types of paint sprayers that are best suited for indoor craft applications, small projects, or touch-up work. For larger projects, working outdoors, or automotive applications, though, you will need a different paint sprayer.

3. LVLP

The other side of the volume and pressure coin is the Low Volume, Low Pressure, or LVLP sprayer. These are the most common DIYer spray guns used. They are simple to operate, cost a fraction of other styles, and don't require large, expensive air compressors.

LVLP works the same way as HVLP spray guns or HVLP sprayers but are designed for a larger application of paint using a low-pressure air stream. This means indoor projects, walls, ceilings, and outdoor projects like siding and fencing are perfect for LVLP. The lower-pressure air stream applies thick coatings and interior projects and small paint jobs or large paint jobs.

Because of the low pressure, you need to carry everything with you, even the air compressor. Most LVLP sprayers come as an all-inclusive unit with carrying handles or shoulder straps.

However, this also means that, like HVLP sprayers, thick paints are not ideal and can cause clogs or spattering easily. The lower pressure combined with the low-volume air compressor means that these thick paint much slower than the other options means pushing paint through the applicator tip onto your intended surface slowly.

As with all other sprayer types, LVLP sprayers have pros and cons, too. Let's take a look.

LVLP sprayers are great for most projects around the home. This includes patchwork, a single large wall, or even a fence. However, you will refill the paint cups more often and the paint is slower, so painting an entire home inside or out may require a different option.

High-pressure hose attachments are an option, but hand fatigue will still affect larger projects. LVLP spray guns also have a smaller paint reservoir, and the paint tips aren't ideal for high-pressure air.

4. Compressed Air (Pneumatic)

Compressed air units are very easy to use but lack power and consistency in their paint application. To get the best results, you will need a high-quality air compressor, which can cost a lot more than the average homeowner models.

Pneumatic sprayers (compressed air sprayers) are losing popularity with commercial painters for these very reasons but remain popular with artists and designers for their ease of use and general cost-effectiveness.

The compressor canister can move plenty of viscous liquids and wood stain, and a new paint sprayer will provide a new finish.

However, DIY projects, painting cabinets, and smaller new projects are best with these types of spray guns, but anything else is best handled with an airless spray gun instead of a compressed air sprayer.

Compressed air paint sprayers have their concerns and their benefits.

Pneumatic sprayers are best used indoors on small to medium-sized projects. Pneumatic sprayer is often used for stencil work, arts and crafts style projects, and cabinets or other smaller, hard-to-reach areas. It doesn't offer a smooth finish like high-volume, low-pressure spray guns do.

However, if your paint job is for art projects or you are learning how to use these types of painters, a pneumatic paint sprayer is a good starting option.

5. Gravity Feed

Gravity-fed paint spray guns are named that because of how they operate. While technically not a category of their own, the paint cup is mounted on top of the paint sprayer instead of underneath, allowing gravity to drawing paint into the spray nozzle.

These most paint sprayers tend less pressure to operate and offer exacting precision even at odd angles. The most common use for these is in automotive painting and detailing, where you find the vast majority in use today.

Gravity-fed spray guns can use compressed air sprayers or any spray gun attachment, and you will find them on compressed air sprayers, High volume low pressure - HVLP sprayer, and other powered paint sprayers. Gravity-fed wet cups are more of a subset and not a paint spray gun type.

While the paint gun can use a gravity feed, which is useful for any project type, they are still primarily used in the automotive sector, where it excels.

Gravity-fed sprayers have their benefits, for sure. However, they carry some disadvantages as well.

Gravity-fed spray guns are best suited for the high detail and smooth application demands of automotive painting job.

In this capacity, there is nothing better to use, and you get smooth quality and even coverage of the thinner automotive paints, clear coats, and finishes.