Are you looking for the best paint sprayer for exterior house painting? There is a wide range of sprayers on the market including several different types and different price points. It can be overwhelming looking through all the information available to try and figure out which sprayer will work best for your specific needs. Here we’ve made it simple for you to find the right sprayer for your exterior house painting project.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to pick out the right sprayer for the job including what types of sprayers are available, which kind is best for painting exteriors, and a list of the best paint sprayers for exteriors house projects.
Why Use a Paint Sprayer for Exterior House Painting?
The simplest answer is time. Paint sprayers for exterior house projects are much faster than traditional paint rollers and brushes, especially when it comes to large surfaces like exterior walls. With a sprayer you’re able to cover a large area in considerably less time than it would take to paint the same area with a roller.
Paint sprayers make it easy to go over bumps, cracks, or other tricky spots. If you have a rough texture like brick it can be difficult to fully cover all the little bumps and divots with a brush or roller. A paint sprayer can fill all those little spots quite easily saving you time and paint.
You could paint your house without a sprayer, but it’s going to be more challenging and take considerably longer. Who has time for that? When it comes to exterior house painting, a sprayer is the way to go.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Paint Sprayer for Exterior House Painting Projects
Price
There is a big range of prices when it comes to the best paint sprayers for exterior house painting projects. Think about how much you’re willing to spend and whether or not you plan to use the sprayer again. If you plan to use your paint sprayer over and over again for multiple projects, it might be worth spending a little more to get a really high-quality product. Keep in mind that spending more money doesn’t automatically guarantee that you’ll get a better product.
There are some expensive paint sprayers for exterior house projects that don’t do a very good job, and some cheaper products that offer excellent value for the money. Here we’ve done the research for you to recommend quality products at several different price points. You’ll see those recommendations below.
Uses
Different sprayers are best suited to different projects. If you’re only planning to use the paint sprayer for exterior house painting, you’ll want to choose something that is especially good at covering large areas quickly. If you want to use the sprayer for other projects, pick something that works well for a variety of jobs so you won’t be limited in how you can use the sprayer later on.
Features
There are all kinds of features on paint sprayers for exterior house painting including how they hold paint, what kinds of controls they have, and what accessories they include. Some come with multiple spray tips of different shapes and sizes for different spray patterns. Some come apart easily making them more convenient for cleaning.
Think about what features are important to you and what will make your life easier while you’re doing the work. Don’t be afraid to invest in a machine with a lot of features that will help you accomplish all the goals you have for the paint sprayer, but don’t pay more for a ton of features that you’re not going to use.
Power
When painting a home exterior you want something that has enough power to cover a large area quickly. The size of the motor affects the pressure and flow rate of the sprayer. A smaller motor will have a slower flow rate with less paint coming out at a time which means it will take longer to cover the same area. Look for a paint sprayer that has a motor of at least 0.5 horsepower.
Hose Length
The longer the hose, the easier it is to move around without stopping and moving the base of the sprayer. If your paint sprayer for exterior house painting has a short hose you’ll have to move the base around constantly as you work. A longer hose also makes it easier to reach higher areas of the house without lifting the motor up onto a ladder which is especially convenient if you have a multi-story house.
Some paint sprayers for exterior house painting come with hoses that are easily interchangeable so you can switch out the hoses to give you the perfect length for each part of the project.
Portability
Even with a long hose you’ll have to move the paint sprayer around as you work, especially as you’re moving from one side of the house to the other. You want something that is lightweight enough that you can pick it up and move it around without hurting your back. Cart designs can be especially convenient for moving around, you can just pull and roll them instead of picking the entire unit up.
Types of Paint Sprayers for Exterior House Painting
There are two main types of paint sprayers for exterior house painting: airless paint sprayers and HVLP sprayers. There are some other types of sprayers available but they tend be more expensive and/or more specialized so not as useful for DIYers looking for a good machine to use at home.
HVLP Paint Sprayers
HVLP stands for High Volume Low Pressure. These sprayers use a high volume of compressed air to push the paint through the system and out the nozzle at a very low pressure, usually around 10 psi.
HVLP sprayers will have either a dedicated system that uses a turbine or a conversion system that works with an air compressor. An HVLP paint sprayer uses a lot of air so you’ll need the right size compressor. A flow rate of around 30 CFM works best, but you can get by with less. Here’s some more information on choosing the right air compressor for your spray gun. If you don’t already have a nice air compressor, an HVLP spray gun with a turbine built in can be a good option.
Pros
- HVLP sprayers work well for a variety of projects. If you’re planning to use the sprayer again to paint interior walls or for smaller jobs like furniture or cabinet painting, an HVLP sprayer is a practical choice.
- They have far less overspray so you’ll use less paint than with an airless sprayer
- You’ll get a finer finish than you would with an airless paint sprayer
Cons
- HVLP sprayers are slower than air sprayers.
- They cover a smaller area at a time than an airless sprayer which is not ideal for exteriors but is useful for smaller projects.
Airless Paint Sprayers
Airless paint sprayers use strong air pressure created by an electric motor. The air pressure is much higher than an HVLP spray gun uses, usually around 2,000 PSI. A piston sucks paint up into the system where it’s pumped through a hose under pressure and comes out a tiny hole in the tip of the spray gun. The tip breaks up the paint into a fine spray of tiny droplets. Different tips will give you different spray patterns that can range anywhere from 2″ to 24″. Airless sprayers are perfect for large projects like exterior walls and fences because they cover large areas quickly
Pros
- Airless sprayers apply paint very smooth for a professional-looking finish
- They are very fast. You can cover a large area in a small amount of time which is ideal for large exterior surfaces.
Cons
- There can be a considerable amount of overspray which means you’ll use up more paint.
- Airless sprayers are great for large exterior surfaces but they’re not as good for small jobs. If you’re only planning to use the sprayer for large exterior purposes, this won’t matter to you.
Top Picks for the Best Paint Sprayer for Exterior House Painting
1. Graco Magnum X7 Cart Airless Paint Sprayer
Graco Magnum X7 Cart Airless Paint Sprayer
$456.24 in stock
6 used from $353.12
This model is one of the best paint sprayers for exterior house projects because it has a cart system with a large handle that makes it easy to maneuver around as you work. It sprays paint directly from the bucket and can support up to 100 feet of hose giving you a lot of room to work with.
An in-handle filter blocks debris to prevent clogged tips. The pressure controls are easy to adjust giving you maximum control of the paint flow. You can find The Graco Magnum X Cart airless sprayer at Amazon.
2. Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer
Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer
$344.00 in stock
8 used from $269.00
Another great paint sprayer for exterior house projects is the Graco Magnum X stand sprayer. It has some similar features to the Magnum X cart sprayer but instead of a cart it has a small stand with a wide frame for a sturdy base. The compact size is very easy to move around and it doesn’t take too much space to store. It’s easy to clean with an attachment that connects to a garden hose and is very easy to use, even for beginners. Get it at Amazon.
3. Graco Ultra Max Cordless Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer
Graco Ultra Max Cordless Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer
This cordless model works with DeWALT 20V lithium-ion batteries which is handy if you already own some other DeWALT tools. It puts out one gallon of paint per charge. The handheld design is very portable and convenient.
t makes it easy to reach tricky areas that a hose might be difficult to maneuver around, making it a good choice for a paint sprayer for exterior house projects. It weighs 11 pounds which can get heavy when you’re working all day, but not having a cord or bulky equipment to deal with may be worth it to you. You can find this sprayer on Amazon.
4. Graco Project Painter Plus
Graco Magnum Project Painter Plus Paint Sprayer
7 used from $244.30
The Graco Project Painter Plus is a great entry-level paint sprayer for exterior house projects. It’s easy to use and good for a variety of jobs including exterior walls and smaller jobs like decks or ceilings. It supports up to 50 feet of hose without diminishing performance so it’s easy to work with, especially when painting hard-to-reach areas.
You can spray unthinned paint directly from the bucket so there’s no need to stop and fill a paint cup multiple times. It connects to a garden hose for quick and easy cleaning. You can get the Project Painter Plus from Amazon.
5. HomeRight PowerFlo Pro Airless Paint Sprayer
The HomRight PowerFlo has a .5 horsepower motor giving you a good flowrate to knock out exterior painting projects quickly. This paint sprayer for exterior house painting includes a reversible spray tip to easily remove any clogs and it’s quick and easy to clean.
You can quickly change the pressure by adjusting the control knob to get your desired spray pattern. It has a handle on top that makes it easy to pick up and move around as you work. The 25 foot long non-kink hose gives you great maneuverability. It sprays directly from the bucket so refilling a paint cup is not required. This paint sprayer for exterior house painting is available from Amazon.
6. Titan ControlMax Paint Sprayer
Titan ControlMax High Efficiency Airless Paint Sprayer
$306.39 in stock
3 used from $303.33
This paint sprayer for exterior house painting is great for covering large areas fast. A 0.6 Horsepower motor gives you a lot of power for a faster spray that can cover a lot of wall in a short amount of time. It offers good control and a softer spray for less overspray and a smoother finish.
The spray gun is made from metal which is more durable than models that use plastic components. It has a simple control knob that is easy and straightforward to adjust. You can find it at Amazon.
7. Wagner Flexio 890 HVLP Paint Sprayer
The Wagner Flexio 890 is a great paint sprayer for exterior house painting because it has a dedicated system with a turbine so you won’t need an air compressor. It does a great job spraying unthinned paints which not all HVLP sprayers can do.
This paint sprayer for exterior house painting is a good choice if you want to be able to use it for a variety of projects. It comes with a general-purpose nozzle that is great for exterior paint and a fine finish nozzle that is perfect for small jobs like painting kitchen cabinets. The 11.5-foot hose is somewhat limiting, especially if you have a multi-story house. You can get The Wagner Flexio from Amazon.
8. Fuji Spray Semi-Pro 2
Fuji Spray Fuji Semi-PRO 2 HVLP Spray System
6 used from $481.20
This is another HVLP sprayer. It’s lightweight and portable so it’s easy to move around while you’re working. It uses a paint cup so you’ll have to refill it regularly when doing a large job like exterior walls. It comes with a 6 foot hose and has a maximum hose length of 25 feet. The Fuji Spray provides excellent quality and is very easy to use, even for beginners. It’s easy to take apart for cleaning and has a compact size that’s easy to store. Order online from Amazon.
Final Thoughts on the Best Paint Sprayer for Exterior House Painting Projects
These models all made the cut on my list of the best paint sprayer for exterior house projects for a reason: they are all great choices, so you can’t go wrong! Whether you go with a cordless model, a cart system, an airless sprayer, or an HVLP sprayer, you can get great results on your exterior house painting project with one of these sprayers. If you need help with color ideas, check out our post on the most popular paint colors for this year.
Check out our Exterior Painting page for even more information on exterior painting, paints, and products.
