For many people, the thought of painting their home’s interior conjures up images of hours spent tediously brushing paint onto walls. But with an indoor paint sprayer, you can get the job done much faster and with far less effort.
We looked at 28 of the top products on the market today and stopped at 8 of the best indoor paint sprayers. It was hard to choose a favorite, but the Graco Magnum 262800 X5 rose to the top of the pack to win our Editor’s Choice award. When choosing the best paint sprayers for interior use, we considered a number of features. Whether each sprayer was airless or HVLP, affects the spray power and spray accuracy that you’ll get. The capacity, since no one wants to be constantly adding more paint, and the pressure level of the spray. The lengths of the hoses and power cords to make sure you can reach anywhere in your home. Based on all these features, the Graco Magnum 262800 X5 became our Editor’s Choice.
More features: adjustable pressure; supports up to 75 ft. paint hose; Reverse-A-Clean spray tip for easy cleaning; connects to garden hose for cleanup
This burly airless paint sprayer from Graco won our Editor’s Choice award for its huge variety of features. To start, the sprayer offers adjustable pressure with a simple valve gauge, which allows you to move seamlessly between large walls and more detailed projects like cabinetry. You can also change spray patterns, up to 10-inch diameter circular patterns. Of course, overspray is an issue with this tool given how powerful it is.
The X5 sprayer is best suited for large projects, since it comes with a wide diameter intake hose that sits directly in your paint bucket. The spray hose itself is 75 feet long, which makes it easy to leave the sprayer and paint in one spot and work anywhere in your house (or even outside).
Users particularly loved the thought that Graco put into making it easy to clean this sprayer. It comes with the company’s unique Reverse-A-Clean nozzle, which can simply be flipped to eliminate clogs. When you’re done working, you can connect the intake valve to a garden hose to run clean water through the whole system.
The only downside to this sprayer is that it’s a bit heavy, at 20 pounds. However, that’s because it’s made entirely with metal parts, rather than cheaper and less durable plastic components. So, you can count on this sprayer to last through years of use, even if you’re using it for commercial applications. On top of that, concerns about weight are somewhat allayed by the long hose length.
More features: DEWALT XR Lithium Ion System; advanced pressure control; FlexLiner bag system to spray at any angle; sprays up to 1 gal. per charge; compatible with up to 0.016 in tips
If you’re looking to eliminate the restrictions of a power cord, this cordless indoor paint sprayer from Graco uses a Dewalt XR lithium ion battery. That offers enough juice to spray up to one gallon of paint per charge – that’s four times the capacity of the paint canister, and more than enough to cover all the walls of a large interior room without recharging. The battery is replaceable, meaning that you can buy extras to increase your project time, and battery lifespan isn’t a limitation on the life of the sprayer.
One of the most interesting features of this cordless sprayer is that the pressure is extremely adjustable. You can move from 500 to 2,000 PSI using a knob on the side of the tool. That makes it ideal for a very wide range of projects, although users noted that it can still be prone to overspray even at the low end of the pressure spectrum.
The versatility of this sprayer is increased by the vacuum-sealed paint canister. That allows you to spray at any angle, including upside down. The canister can also be lined with Graco’s FlexLiner bags, which prevent paint from getting all over the canister and complicating cleanup.
Unfortunately, all of the technology that goes into this tool will cost you. This sprayer is by far the most expensive unit we looked at – in fact, it’s more than twice as expensive as our Editor’s Choice pick from Graco.
More features: VacuValve Technology; Reverse-A-Clean spray tip; FlexLiner Paint Bag System; on-board tip storage
This compact and lightweight indoor sprayer from Graco is a good choice for small- and medium-sized jobs. It offers spray patterns ranging from 4 to 12 inches at a reduced pressure of just 1,500 PSI. That means you’ll experience much less overspray with this model than with just about any other airless sprayer on the market. Users noted that despite the lower pressure, this sprayer still works flawlessly with thick latex-based paints.
One of the neat features that helps distinguish this interior paint sprayer is Graco’s VacuValve Technology. The paint canister is sealed tightly enough in the system that you can actually operate the sprayer upside down if you wanted. Most of the time this isn’t necessary, but it can come in handy if you’re painting ceilings.
The sprayer also makes cleanup incredibly simple. You can line the paint canister with included FlexLiner bags, and then simply throw out the bag when you’re done – or save it for your next project with the same paint. There’s no hose to clean, and the nozzle can be flipped around to remove clogs without pausing your painting for more than a second.
The only downside to the design of this sprayer is that the power cord is extremely short. You essentially have to use an extension cord to operate the sprayer, which seems a little strange.
More features: 24 ft hose; adjustable flow; removable air filter; shoulder strap attachment
This large-capacity airless paint sprayer is the tool of choice for painting large indoor walls. It offers a 40-ounce paint capacity, allowing you to evenly coat an entire wall without adding more paint. Or, you can use the included wide-diameter hose to pull paint directly from your can.
The horizontal and vertical spray patterns also allow you to move fluently up, down, or across a wall for maximum efficiency. Plus, the nozzle is designed to work with just about any sprayer tip on the market, so you’re not limited to the provided spray patterns. On the whole, users loved how fast and efficient this sprayer was when it came to covering large surfaces.
This sprayer doesn’t offer adjustable pressure, so it’s not particularly well-suited for smaller, detailed jobs. However, the high 3,000 PSI output means that it can handle varnishes, oil-based paints, and latex-based paints without any issues. That’s a major advantage since it opens up a lot more options for what paints you can use inside your home.
Users also liked that the sprayer is pretty straightforward to clean. Some parts, like the hose and nozzle, come off so you can run them under a hose. The rest of the unit can be cleaned quickly with a variety of included brushes.
The unit is a little on the heavy side, at more than 20 pounds. Some users wanted to see a longer hose – the included one is 24 feet long – but this generally wasn’t an issue.
More features: 2 different air cups; compatible with 6 tips; 6-feet cord
If you’re looking for an HVLP sprayer that can get both large and small jobs done – without breaking the bank – the HomeRight Super Finish Max is it. This sprayer comes with three different tip sizes so you can easily adjust your spray pattern size to the project you’re working on. Altogether, the tips enable spray diameters ranging from as little as one inch to as much as one foot. The sprayer also comes with a very large 40-ounce paint canister, which saves time when you’re working on painting entire walls.
The design of this sprayer has some advantages and drawbacks. It’s entirely handheld – that is, there’s no hose. The canister, pressure unit, and nozzle are all in a single unit that you have to hold next to the wall. That makes it very compact for storage, but it also means that your arm can get tired relatively quickly when the canister is full of paint. In addition, the power cord is only six feet long – without a hose, that means you can only paint surfaces that are within six feet of a power outlet, or else you need an extension cord.
Users found that this sprayer works well for oil-based paints and chalk paints in addition to water-based paints, which is a big plus compared to other HPLV units. However, you may need to thin your paints before putting them in the canister to avoid clogging.
More features: 20-feet hose; 2 air filters; pressure control dial and material flow adjuster; two-stage turbine
This HVLP paint sprayer from Wagner is one of the best paint sprayers for small indoor jobs. It’s capable of producing pressures down to 1.5 PSI and patterns down to just 0.5 inches, allowing you to paint small spaces like moldings and cabinetry without worrying about overspray. The one-quart canister is good for small jobs, while a larger 1.5-quart paint canister is also included for painting entire walls.
A simple pressure control dial on the back of the unit makes it easy to adjust your spray. Better yet, this sprayer is pretty affordable, so it’s a good choice for home DIYers with a few painting tasks in mind.
The sprayer is relatively easy to clean, since almost all of the components can be disassembled for washing. That includes the hose, nozzle, and tips. Thankfully, users found that these parts are just as easy to put back together as they are to take apart.
The biggest issue that home users found with this paint sprayer is that it can be finicky with paint types. It works well for water-based paints, but struggles with oil-based paints if you don’t add a paint thinner first. Latex paints are essentially out of the question.
Motor burnouts are also a frequent problem with this paint sprayer. However, you’re covered by Wagner’s one-year warranty, so it’s relatively straightforward to get a new sprayer if yours has a bad motor.
More features: 9-foot hose; 6-foot power cord; spray volume control; lightweight at 6 lbs
This simple HVLP indoor paint sprayer is perfect for beginners and DIYers on a tight budget. It’s extremely inexpensive, but does a nice job for projects small and large. The key to this sprayer is the highly adjustable tip, which allows you to spray vertically and horizontally in patterns as wide as 10 inches. Beyond that, there are relatively few adjustments to worry about, making this sprayer extremely easy to use.
The design of this spray unit is relatively simple, but it works well. The nine-foot hose is much shorter than what other sprayers come with, so you really are limited to using this unit for indoor jobs in rooms with normal wall heights. Users would have liked to see a longer power cord, but that’s easily remedied with an extension cord. The whole unit is very lightweight, at just six pounds, so you don’t have to worry too much about your arms getting tired as you work. However, keep in mind that the paint canister is mounted on the nozzle, not on the base, so you’ll be moving that with you as you spray.
As you might expect from a budget HVLP sprayer, your choices of paints are somewhat limited. Users found that this sprayer works well for water-based paints, but can struggle with oil-based paints if you don’t add a thinner first.
More features: 25-foot paint hose; adjustable pressure control; extra storage compartments; connects to garden hose for cleanup; TrueAirless spray tip with SoftSpray Technology for less overspray
This heavy-duty airless paint sprayer from Graco was designed with commercial painters in mind. The sprayer comes with a wide-diameter intake hose that goes directly into your paint bucket, rather than using a standard canister. While the pressure isn’t adjustable, the intake flow is, and you can adjust the 0.015-inch tip to create patterns up to 10 inches in diameter. Users found that it’s relatively economical with paint, but at the same time extremely efficient at painting large indoor or outdoor areas.
The real attraction to this sprayer is the TrueAirless spray tip. This allows the sprayer to aerosolize thick paints, such as latex-based paints and primers, without clogging. It also helps to dramatically cut down on overspray. Together, these advantages save a ton of time since you don’t have to deal with paint thinner or worry quite as much about covering up surfaces next to your work area.
The paint hose is a little bit on the short side, at just 25 feet. However, this is still more than long enough for the vast majority of users. Users also loved that the paint intake hose has an adapter included that allows you to connect a garden hose. When it comes time for cleaning, simply turn on the hose and spray water through the unit for a few minutes for a deep clean.
Now that you’ve learned more about our eight favorite indoor paint sprayers on the market today, how do you choose the one that’s right for you? In our buying guide, we’ll walk you through all of the important features you need to consider when picking an interior paint sprayer and explain how they’ll affect your painting projects.
While all paint sprayers achieve the same end goal – evenly coating your wall or cabinets – they differ quite a bit in how they get there. Here, we’ll take a closer look at how indoor paint sprayers work, and how differences among models can affect a sprayers’ utility.
There are two different types of paint sprayers: airless and high volume, low pressure (HVLP).
As the name suggests, airless paint sprayers don’t rely on compressed air to spray paint. Instead, they have a fluid pump that pushes paint from the container through the nozzle. The pressure created in the process is enough to aerosolize the paint into a fine spray.
Airless paint sprayers are relatively common because the technology offers a few key advantages. First, most airless paint sprayers allow you to adjust the spray pressure so that you can release more or less paint at once. In general, airless sprayers are best for covering large areas quickly, rather than working in finely detailed spaces. Airless tools can also be used with a variety of common paint types, including varnishes, oil-based paints, and latex-based paints. Finally, airless paint sprayers are easy to clean, since you can simply run water through the tool to clean up any paint leftover after your job.
The downside to airless paint sprayers, though, is that they’re very susceptible to overspraying. Even after adjusting the pressure down, they tend to shoot paint over a pretty wide area. So, you’ll need to take care to cover up any nearby surfaces that you don’t want to paint when using an airless sprayer.
HVLP sprayers do use an air pump, which allows them to operate at much lower spray pressures than airless sprayers. These sprayers require you to be slow and steady in your application, but it’s much easier to paint small areas without also unintentionally painting everything nearby.
HVLP sprayers are ideal for spraying smaller surfaces like cabinets – although that certainly doesn’t mean they can’t be used for painting entire walls.
The pressure that an interior paint sprayer creates will determine how much paint is released, and over what area. Higher air pressure will create a wider area of spray – that’s in large part why airless paint sprayers, which produce pressures of 1,500 to 3,000 PSI, are susceptible to overspray. Lower air pressure will give you a more focused, but also lower volume, area of paint. HVLP sprayers typically produce just a few PSI of pressure – roughly 1,000 times less pressure than airless sprayers!
The nozzle on your paint sprayer plays a big role in determining the shape and area of your spray pattern. Some nozzles offer a diagonal spray pattern, for example, while others offer a horizontal or circular pattern.
For added versatility, some indoor paint sprayers, like the HomeRight model, come with multiple different nozzles. Changing nozzles allows you to quickly change your paint area so you can switch between painting full walls and detailed cabinetry with ease.
Most interior paint sprayers include a feed cup that holds your paint so it can be aerosolized by the pump inside the tool. Most feed cups are around one quart in capacity, which corresponds roughly to a small can of paint. However, some sprayers, like the VonHaus and HomeRight sprayers, have larger 40-ounce feed cups so you can spray larger areas between refills.
Note that some indoor paint sprayers, like the Graco 257025 and 262800 X5 models, actually feed directly from your paint bucket. In that case, there’s theoretically no limit on how much paint you can feed in. However, you have to worry about moving your paint bucket around the house with you as you work.
No one wants to be limited by the fact that your nearest power outlet is just slightly too far away from the wall you want to paint. Most of the sprayers we reviewed come with long six-foot power cords to eliminate this problem. You can use an extension cord with your paint sprayer, but you’ll need to make sure it’s a large enough gauge to safely power your tool.
While some paint sprayers are designed to be held while you work, others are designed to sit on the ground and offer just a controllable spray nozzle to make it easier to get into fine areas. In this case, hose length is very important. Most hoses are much longer than any interior painter needs – for example, the Graco Magnum X5 supports hoses up to 75 feet in length, while the Earlex sprayer comes with a nine-foot hose. Just beware of hose length if you have extra tall or extra long walls that may pose a particular issue for reach.
The weight of your paint sprayer is very important if its designed to be held while you paint, as the HomeRight, Graco 16Y385, and Graco 17M363 Ultra models are. In this case, even a difference of a few pounds can be enough to tire out your arms over a full day of painting.
Weight is less important if the sprayer sits on the ground and you only have to hold the spray nozzle. However, keep in mind that heavy units, like the 20-pound Graco Magnum X5, will still take some effort to move up and down stairs.
An indoor paint sprayer is a big investment, so you want to be sure it will last for multiple projects over the course of years. Most of the paint sprayers we reviewed come with a one-year limited warranty from the manufacturer to protect you against defects. However, a few models, like those from Earlex, VonHaus, and HomeRight, offer an extended two-year warranty for even more peace of mind.
There are tons of additional features to look for that can make your painting jobs easier. For example, some paint sprayers, like the Graco 17M363 Ultra, have an onboard battery that allows you to move around your home without worrying about cords. Graco also adds Reverse-A-Clean reversible nozzles to many of its sprayers, which ensures that you won’t end up with clumps of paint clogging up the nozzle.
Cleaning is another area where extra features abound. Graco sets itself apart with its Reverse-A-Clean nozzles, which can be reversed so that you simply spray through any paint clogs that form during your work.
Many airless sprayers, like the Graco Magnum 262800 X5 in particular, can connect to a garden hose so that you can easily run water through the entire sprayer after your job is done.
Both airless and HVLP sprayers can handle most types of oil-based and water-based paints. However, if you’re planning on using thicker latex-based paint to cover your walls or cabinets, airless sprayers are the better choice.
HVLP sprayers can deal with latex paint, but you’ll have to thin the paint first and possible use an additive to decrease the viscosity. Varnishes can also present an issue for HVLP sprayers, depending on how thick they are.
Indoor paint sprayers are relatively safe when used properly. That said, there are a few precautions you can take to protect yourself when using these tools.
First, always wear safety glasses when operating an interior paint sprayer. You’re aerosolizing paint in an enclosed area, so there’s a good chance that some droplets will end up near your eyes. For the same reason, it’s highly recommended to wear a mask over your mouth and nose so you’re not breathing in paint fumes.
The other thing you can do to increase safety is to make sure that the area you’re working in is completely clear of obstacles. That ensures that you won’t accidentally trip over something while you’re in the middle of painting.
Our top three favorite indoor paint sprayers on the market today are the Graco Magnum 262800 X5, the Graco 17M363, and Graco 16Y385. Graco’s airless sprayers lead the industry with innovative technologies and high-quality products for a wide range of painting projects. The Graco 16Y385 is a great choice for those who need to paint ceilings. It’s lightweight and compact, and the VacuValve Technology allows you to use it even upside down. The 17M363 Ultra stands out for its cordless, lithium-ion battery technology. It’s quite expensive, but the cordless freedom is paired with a lightweight design and the ability to spray at any angle. We think the Graco Magnum 262800 X5 is the overall best indoor paint sprayer available thanks to its all-metal construction, extremely long hose, and Reverse-A-Clean anti-clogging nozzle. The price is very reasonable for the performance of this sprayer, and it works extremely well for full-wall painting.
