Top 5 Best Paint Sprayers For Cabinets (2023 Review)

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best spray gun for your next cabinet project!

What Are The Different Types of Spray Guns For Painting Cabinets?

Spray guns can make your life way easier if you’re a frequent painter or DIYer.

What once took you hours of laborious painting with a brush and a bucket can now take mere minutes once you get the hang of it.

However, there are several different types of spray guns you can choose from, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Airless Paint Sprayers

One of the best types of paint sprayers you can use with minimal overspray and high precision are airless paint sprayers.

Airless paint sprayers are probably one of the best paint sprayers for cabinets because they are the most precise form of paint sprayers out there.

Because they use a piston to propel the paint using high pressure (up to 3,000 psi) rather than atomizing the paint with air, they make it much easier to control spray patterns and create a precise paint pattern when painting cabinet doors. 

Some of the best airless paint sprayers for kitchen cabinets are the Graco Ultra and Graco Magnum models which tend to offer amazing air pressure and minimize clogging for the best finish. 

We do have a Graco airless paint sprayer on the list below if you're looking to invest in an airless sprayer for your cabinet remodel project.

I like airless paint sprayers for painting cabinets because they create an amazing paint flow and they offer a lightweight design that is easily handheld and maneuvered around tricky areas.

HVLP Paint Sprayers

High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayers are some of the best, most common paint sprayers on the market.

These sprayers use an air compressor turbine to atomize the paint. This compressed-air mixes with the paint to form a fine mist and sends it through the air cap to create different spray patterns.

These are a great place to start for DIYers because they don't have a very sharp learning curve. 

Plus, they're often much less expensive than airless paint sprayers, so if you're new to paint spraying and you've only ever used a paintbrush, HVLP spray guns are a great place to start for your cabinet painting job.

If you know for a fact that you want to use an HVLP spray gun for your kitchen cabinets, check out our article below that includes our top 5 HVLP spray guns for painting kitchen cabinets.

Otherwise, if you're still on the fence about which type of gun you'd like to invest in, keep reading this list as we'll offer a variety of HVLP and airless paint sprayers.

Read More >> What Are The Best HVLP Spray Guns To Use On Cabinets?

How Do You Paint Kitchen Cabinets With A Paint Sprayer?

If you're new to spray painting and you've only ever used paint sprayers on small projects, there are a few key things you need to know about painting kitchen cabinets using a paint sprayer.

Supplies You Need To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

First thing's first, let's go over some of the key supplies you'll need in order to get a professional finish on your kitchen cabinets as a DIYer.

This way, you can determine which supplies you already have on hand and which supplies you'll need to buy so you can figure out how much this painting project will cost you.

• Drop cloths
• Painter's tape
• Painting masks (or paint respirator)
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Painting clothes
• Sandpaper (and/or sanding block)
• Primer
• Paint 
• Sealers or varnishes for finishing the paint job

Once you've gathered the adequate supplies to take on a cabinet remodel project, now it's time to get into the proper process to create a professional finish on your kitchen cabinets.

Prepare Your Surface

One of the first things you need to do in order to get your cabinets ready for paint is to prepare the surfaces you're painting.

This involves filling any holes, dings, or imperfections on the wood with wood filler.

Then, take some sandpaper and start sanding the surface to ensure that any rough patches or other bumps on the surface are completely smooth.

Be Picky With Your Surfaces

Going right along with that, as you're sanding, it's important to be super picky with your surfaces as you go. 

If you notice something like a piece of wood filler or a little knick or scratch, take the time to sand it off or otherwise eliminate it before you start painting!

Just like we talked about in our "how to paint a wall like a pro" article, the professionals know that to create a clean, crisp finish with your paint, you first need to prime your surface.

This means you need to be meticulous with your wood surface before you get started. 

That dent or scratch will most definitely be noticeable after you put 2 or 3 coats of paint over it. 

And no, you can't just "sand it off" between coats. Once you paint over it, you're stuck with it.

So take the time to get up close and personal with your cabinets before you paint them and be as picky as possible. 

Even in those areas that you "won't see" on the insides of the cabinets. Attention to detail matters when you're dealing with paint.

Eliminating Dust to get a Smooth Coat of Paint

Another key step here to achieve a high-quality result is to prevent any dust or lint from getting stuck on the paint before it dries. Not only will this not sand out, but it will also give your cabinets a rougher texture in the end. 

To do this, make sure you're letting the paint dry in one area and sanding in another. Ideally, these would be separate rooms. This is because fine dust particles can linger in the air when you're sanding and that can cling to wet paint very easily.

You'll also want to use an air compressor tool to blow off any invisible dust that might be lingering on the surface before going in for the next coat of paint.

All of these little steps are what will create the highest quality finish in the end.

Painting Your Cabinet Doors

Now that it's time to actually paint your cabinet doors, it's time to familiarize yourself with your new paint sprayer.

Make sure you read all the instructions and figure out the adjustable pressure on your spray gun to prevent any clogging or viscosity issues when you're painting.

While you'll be avoiding the hassle of brush marks by using a paint sprayer, there are still things you need to learn in order to use a paint sprayer and get a high-quality finish.

So, below are the things you need to know before actually laying down paint on your cabinet doors with your paint sprayer.

Test Your Spray Gun Between Coats of Paint

Here's a tip that most DIYers might skip: test your gun!

Before you go in for that next round of paint, use a scrap piece of wood to test out your HVLP gun. Yes, every time!

Why? Because you need to make sure that the paint is going to come out smoothly and evenly each and every time you spray your cabinets. One messy spray can ruin your finish.

If you've been at it for a while or you took a break to sand in between coats, the paint inside the canister could've settled into a goopy mess. But you won't know that beforehand if you don't test it out first! 

Sometimes you'll need to add fresh paint or test the consistency of your fluid between rounds to ensure that it's spraying properly. 

And sometimes you'll need to clean the tip before you go in for the next round of paint because it'll congeal and have dried bits around the nozzle that will ruin your spray pattern.

So before you make a mess, test, test, test!

Different Parts of Your Cabinets Need Different Spray Patterns

This is where we really separate the amateurs from the professionals because, especially with cabinets, dialing in your settings is the key to a high-quality finish.

For example, the parts of your cabinets that have broader surface areas can handle a larger spray pattern. Those bigger, broader strokes are going to look nice on the bigger areas.

But what about the corners and edges? What about the frames?

Those smaller, more detail-oriented areas are probably not going to look great if you use a super-wide spray pattern on them.

They need a finer mist that's narrower to come outright. 

That's why you'll probably want to fine-tune your settings for those pieces, especially on the second or third coat, to really get the detailed, crisp finish you're looking for.

How To Lay Down Coats Of Paint Properly

Once you've tested your gun and it's different spray patterns, it's time to start laying down some paint.

With your first coat, take your time mastering the paint flow and the technique that you want to use to get an even coat of paint down.

Then, between coats, let the paint fully dry (the can of paint you use should say how long you need to wait before adding a second coat) and then get ready to start sanding again!

You can look at the video below to see why it's important to do a spot check in between coats, but if you want to get the best finish possible this is important.

Once you've sanded and dusted between coats, make sure you inspect your first coat really well and take note of any thin spots or missed spots so you can focus on those areas when you lay down the second coat of paint.

Finish Off With A Paintbrush

Once you've sprayed the surfaces of your cabinet doors, make sure you go in with a detailing paintbrush to get around the nooks and crannies that you might have missed with your spray gun.

This is something many amateurs skip because it seems "good enough" to leave these areas behind as they might be hidden when the cabinet doors go back on. 

However, in terms of resale value, and getting a high-quality professional finish on your kitchen cabinets, going in with a paintbrush is a good move to finish off the project.

Our Reviews Of The Best 5 Spray Guns For Painting Cabinets

Final Thoughts On Choosing & Using Spray Guns For Cabinets

Choosing the right spray gun for your cabinets doesn’t have to be a chore. 

All of these spray guns will help you get the job done, and they’ll be amazing tools for a variety of projects once your cabinets are done, too.

Before you get started on painting your cabinets, just take some time to familiarize yourself with whichever paint spray gun you choose so you can get the most out of its features and settings. 

This will reduce the amount of trial and error you have to go through during the project and yield the best overall results.