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5 Best Portable Paint Sprayers (Learn From Our Experience)

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We have 15 years of experience in using different paint sprayers and we can easily say that handheld paint sprayers are the best when it comes to small home renovation projects. You can move around easily, they are lightweight and easy to use.

So, if you are planning to do some small/medium painting projects then make sure to check our best handheld paint sprayers list before buying one.

We have used these paint sprayers and we got great results from them. We have reviewed literally hundreds of different products and then came with this list. So, check it down below, you won’t be disappointed.


Our Top Picks

What Type Should Your Handheld Paint Sprayer Be?

The very first thing that you need to look into handheld paint sprayers is their type. After that, you should check how they work and their finish quality.
 
There are many different types of handheld paint sprayers, but three of them are the most used ones. These three types are good for different projects. So, before choosing one or the other you need to know the type of project you will be working on.  Here are the three types –
 

Standard

The only reason you should buy standard sprayers is that they are cheaper than the other two, you can get a new one for xx$. But here’s the catch – they need a compressor to operate.
 
If you already have a compressor then buying a standard paint sprayer will save you a lot of money. If you don’t then you can buy a cheap compressor, make sure it has enough power.
 

HVLP

The most used handheld sprayers are the HVLP paint sprayers. They offer fine finish quality and they are fast. Except for these, here are some other reasons –
  • Even Spray – If you have used a paintbrush before then you know the importance of even paint. Usually, paint rollers tend to leave brush marks behind. With HVLP you won’t have that problem. These types of sprayers are known for even paint.
  • Small Motor – The best thing about the HVLP sprayers is that they don’t need a powerful motor to operate. Their system uses low pressure to spray a high volume of paint. On the downside, this feature uses a lot more paint, so you have to plan what you are painting and whatnot.

And, HVLP paint sprayers usually cost more than standard paint sprayers.

Read Also — Best Cordless Spray Gun

Airless

These types of paint sprayers are all-inclusive. That means that they come with their own motor and compressor, you just have to fill the paint and start spraying. Reading its name, you have probably guessed that these sprayers don’t use air to push the paint through.

They are mostly used by professionals and people with more experience because they are kinda difficult to work with.  But, some models are specially made for DIYers that are easier to work on and cost less.

Best Handheld Paint Sprayers


1. Graco 17D889 – Best Portable Paint Sprayer

The first picture I took of the Graco 17D889 when I bought it.

Best Features  

  • Perfect Size
  • Powerful
  • Easy To Carry

More detailed review ↴

The first thing we noticed when holding this handheld sprayer is the size. This model isn’t big or small, it has an average size that fits my hand perfectly. The Graco 17D889 only weighs 3.8 pounds which is way less than the other Graco sprayers such as the 17A466 (which weighs 4.5 pounds). 

The feature I like most is the adjustable speed settings, I can easily adjust the speed depending on the project I’m working on. It also allows you to adjust the pressure (900 – 1500 PSI) & more.

Although this sprayer is made mostly for small DIY projects, I have tested it with un-thinned paint and I got great results. I definitely don’t recommend using this only for un-thinned paint, but you can do that every once and then. The reason this sprayer can spray un-thinned paint is that it comes with a steel piston pump.

The thing that makes this airless paint sprayer different from the others is that it comes with paint bags instead of paint cups. You can fill these bags with paint and once you are done you can re-use or recycle them. This makes the cleaning process a lot of times easier.

The only downside about this product is that it’s only made for small and medium projects. If you have a large and professional project then having a larger sprayer might be better for you.

The Features We Liked

  • Paint Quality – Like most of the airless sprayers, this one provides a great finish quality.
  • Size – The Sprayer has a comfortable size, it fits into your hands.
  • Adjustable – You can change the speed settings and pressure
  • Lightweight– The sprayer only weighs 3.8 pounds
  • Un-thinned Paint – The sprayer has enough power to spray un-thinned paint. 
  • Cleaning Process – It’s very easy to clean, all thanks to the paint bags. 

The Things We Don’t Like 

  • Recommended for small and medium projects only. 

2. HomeRight C800971 –  Best Handheld Electric Paint sprayer

Here's how the HomeRight C800971 looks.

Best Features  

  • Easy To Use
  • Three Spray Tips
  • Powerful

More detailed review ↴

One of the newest handheld series of HomeRight is the C800971 model. In comparison to the older versions of the HomeRight, this one has a larger cup size, can paint a larger surface, and deal with latex paints 50% better than its older model(C900076).

Just like our first pick, this sprayer is adjustable too, you can adjust the material flow knob with will increase or decrease the paint flow. You can also adjust the air cap to change the spray pattern to horizontal, vertical, or round, this can be helpful if you are dealing with tight corners or different sized objects.

Except for the air cap adjustments, the sprayer also comes with 3 different sprayer tips. You can use one or the other depending on the paint type you are using. It’s slightly larger than most of the HomeRight products, but the weight is somewhat the same. 

The thing I liked most about this sprayer is that it comes with a powerful 450W motor inside. That’s the reason why it can spray un-thinned latex paint, unlike its older versions that can’t. 

The main reason why you might not buy this product is its price. It costs more than the other HomeRight products.

The Features Worth Mentioning

  • Home Projects – The Homeright sprayers are very good for home projects.
  • HVLP – It uses less pressure to spray more paint.
  • Adjustable – You can adjust the speed & more.
  • Air caps – You can adjust the spray pattern to horizontal, vertical, or round.
  • 3 tips– It comes with 3 different spray tips to help you spray different paint types.

Things We Didn’t Like

  • The product is pricey if you compare it to its older versions. It has some improvements from the older version, but we are not sure if you should pay more for those features. 

3. REXBETI Ultimate-750 – Best Small Paint Sprayer

The REXBETI Ultimate-750 just a few moments after I bought it.

Best Features  

  • 6 Tips
  • Long Cord
  • Powerful

More detailed review ↴

If you ask anyone for a good handheld sprayer for DIYers then they will mention the REXBETI 750, that’s how we found about this sprayer and the reason we bought it 

This sprayer is known for its motor, it comes with a powerful 500W motor that can deal with the majority of the paint types.

This one too comes with three different spray patterns – horizontal, vertical, and round. It also comes with three nozzles – 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm. These 6 tips make this tool very versatile, you can use one or the other nozzle depending on the paint type and thickness.

The thing I like most about this product is the long power cord, the cord is 6.6 ft long. This is very helpful, especially if you have to move around with your sprayer. We have used this one mostly for small projects since it’s easy to move around with it, it only weighs approximately 3 pounds.

The downside about this sprayer is that it comes with a small paint cup, and that’s the reason why only used it for small projects. It has a 1000ml cup size, which is more than enough for small/medium projects, but not enough for large projects. 

What We Liked About This Sprayer

  • Powerful – It comes with a 500W motor.
  • 3 Spray Patterns – Horizontal, Vertical, Round.
  • 3 nozzles – 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm
  • Power-cord – The power cord is 6.6ft long.

The Things We Don’t Like

  • You have to refill the paint cup a lot if you are working on a large painting project.

4. Wagner Spraytech 0518080 – Best Hand Sprayer

Best Features  Wagner Spraytech 0518080 Control Spray Max HVLP Paint or Stain Sprayer, Complete Adjustability for...

  • Stationary
  • Spray Gun
  • Long Paint Hose

More detailed review ↴

Although this product isn’t labeled as a handheld paint sprayer, we like to think that it is. The reason we bought this sprayer is that it comes with a stationary body which means that the whole weight of the sprayer stays on the ground. The two-stage motor also played a big role there.

The stationary body and the powerful motor are what sets this sprayer apart from its competitors. Basically, it is a sprayer that holds a lot of paint, but also at the same time allows you to move around very easily. 

The spray gun that is connected to the body is very lightweight and comfortable, and the hose is 20ft long. While I am using this sprayer, I just move around and spray a whole surface without having to re-fill the paint or move the heavy body of the sprayer.

Like all the other paint sprayers we listed above, this one too is adjustable. You can adjust the paint flow and the pressure to get the perfect finish or to match the project you are working on. You can also adjust the spray pattern to horizontal, vertical, and round.

But, I don’t recommend buying this if you are a beginner. It’s harder to use than the other products listed here. 

Best Features

  • Powerful – It comes with a two-stage turbine motor that can handle a wide variety of materials
  • Stationary – The whole weight stays on the ground, you only have to carry the weight of the spray gun.
  • Hose – The spray gun is connected to the base with a 20ft hose.

DrawBacks

  • It's not easy to use if you are a beginner.

5. Wagner 0529021 FLEXiO 890 - Best Handheld Spray Gun

Best Features  Wagner 0529021 FLEXiO 890 Stationary HVLP Paint Sprayer, Sprays Unthinned Latex, Includes two...

  • X-Boost
  • Adjustable
  • Lightweight

More detailed review ↴

Like the previous model, this one is also a stationary/portable paint sprayer. That means that it comes with a base at the ground that is connected to a spray gun. This product is designed to help you cover a larger surface without having to stop to refill the paint, and without having to carry around the paint weight.

In comparison to the Wagner 0518080, this one comes with a smaller hose, only 11 ft. long which can be bad if you tend to move around a lot. 

One major setback of this hvlp spray gun is that it takes a lot of time to set it up. Once I assembled the sprayer I noticed that it comes with two nozzles (detail & iSpray Nozzle). I use the detail nozzle for small projects and the iSpray Nozzle for larger projects.  The nozzles can spray at three different patterns - horizontal, vertical, and round.

The thing that sets this sprayer apart from the others is the X-Boost feature -- this feature allows you to control the pressure easier and also adjust the material flow.

What We Liked

  • Portable – The base is on the ground and it’s connected to a spray gun.
  • Two Nozzle – iSpray Nozzle for large tasks and Detail Nozzle for small tasks.
  • 3 Pattern – Horizontal, Vertical, Round.
  • X-Boost – A feature that helps you control the pressure and adjust the material flow.

What We Didn't Like

  • Takes a while to set it up.

Read Also — Airless Paint Sprayers Review


What To Consider When Buying A Handheld Paint Sprayer?

Although these are small things, choosing the right one will help you be more efficient and complete the project faster. After all, you are looking for the best handheld paint sprayers.

Paint Cup

The sprayers with paint cups are very common. We actually have some on our list too. HomeRight sprayer is one of them.  Basically, this type of sprayer allows you to work without any restrictions. No hose or anything else gets in the way.

The paint is inside the sprayer, so moving around will be easier. But, the downside is that most of the sprayers have small paint cups, so you will have to re-fill the paint cup very often. Usually, these types of sprayers are used for small and medium tasks such as spraying furniture or cabinets.

Paint Hose

If you are planning to work on a large surface then having a paint hose is very important. I usually use paint hoses while I'm spraying outside because it helps me move around faster without having to carry the weight of the paint.

If you don't know, with the paint hose you can get the paint directly from the can. The downside about this is that you are limited by the length of the hose, and changing the paint type can be difficult because you need to clean the whole hose before changing the paint.

Although these accessories are not essential they can help you and the handheld paint sprayer to work properly. These are mostly used to protect yourself.

Protective Gear 

 You should always wear protective gear while working with paint sprayers. You may never know where the paint may end, so protecting your eyes and face is very important.

Sprayer Tips 

Most of the sprayers come with different sprayer tips. If they don't, then buying some can be important. Usually, they are used when you change the paint type. If you will be using un-thinned paint then having a large sprayer tip is necessary, and if you are using thin paint then you need to have a smaller sprayer tip.

Cleaning Kits 

This isn't necessary, but it's good to have them. Some sprayers are very hard to clean, so having some cleaning kits such as small brushes can help you clean the whole paint sprayer faster and better. As you know, after each use you need to clean the sprayer so it can last longer.

Read Also — Chalk Paint Sprayers Review

Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Sprayers

1. What Can I Use the Handheld Sprayers For?

It depends on the model you are using, some models are made for only small projects, while some are made for large projects. But, here are the projects you can take with most of the sprayers: 

  • Cabinets
  • Ceilings
  • Furniture
  • Decks
  • Walls
  • Shelvings 
  • Treehouses & More.

2.Why Choose a Handheld Paint Sprayer?

There are many reasons why you should choose a handheld paint sprayer, but here are the main reasons:

  • Portable: You can easily move around with these types of sprayers.
  • Affordable: Portable sprayers are cheap.
  • Finish Quality: Handheld paint sprayers offer a professional finish paint quality.
  • Fast: Handheld paint sprayers are faster than brush or rollers.

3. Do I Need a Compressor for a Handheld Sprayer?

No, handheld paint sprayers don't need a compressor. They have everything they to atomize the paint inside.  

4. Can Anyone Use a Handheld Sprayer?

Yes, handheld paint sprayers are by far the easiest sprayers to work with. You just have to put the paint inside the paint cup and start spraying. 

Final Words

As you can see in our best handheld paint sprayers list most of the models we listed here come with different features. Some of them are HVLP's and some of them are airless or standard paint sprayers.

Before you buy, you need to know what will you spray with them. If it's a small project then you should get a smaller paint sprayer and vice versa.

Read Also — Paint Sprayers Vs Paint Rollers?

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We’re a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

The Tool Geeks Team

We're a team of engineers, contractors, technicians, and woodworking experts who use power tools daily and share fact-based information, tips, and recommendations. At thetoolgeeks.com, we debunk myths about power tools and share methods to use them effectively.

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