If you're looking for the best latex paint sprayers, you've come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner Article, you’ll learn:
- What is a latex paint sprayer
- How a latex paint sprayer works works
- How to choose the best latex paint sprayer for your budget
And more!
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick
| Our Top Pick | Wagner Flexio Stationary Spray Gun
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| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget
| Best Budget | Homeright Finish Max
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| View on Amazon |
| Best High End
| Best High End | Graco Magnum Cart Paint Sprayer
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| View on Amazon |
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| Scuddles Handheld HVLP Spray Gun
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Tack Life HVLP Paint Sprayer
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Wagner Spraytech Handheld Sprayer
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Graco Magnum Project Painter
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Titan High Efficiency Airless Paint Sprayer
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| View on Amazon | |
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| WSMLA Handheld Paint Sprayer
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Wagner Control Pro
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On September 1, 2023
We can't get enough of the Wagner Flexio Stationary Gun. This product has everything we're looking for in a fun and unique design.
By removing the attached motor and placing it separately on the ground, Wagner was able to boost the power in this product and give us an extremely high pressure to help deliver the best smooth finish and create a high-quality airless paint sprayer.
If you want a spray gun that can handle latex paint, this is your best bet.
The Wagner Flexio is designed to be extremely flexible and handle a wide array of materials, including any different type of paint and numerous other stains and sealants.
This product will work under any conditions and will always give you a great finish.
You can control spray patterns and change tip sizes as you need. This is easily the best paint sprayer you can get for the price.
If you're planning on working with latex paint in the future, you need to know the risks and how to handle it.
A lot of different things go into determining the best latex paint sprayer, and we have analyzed them here to show you what to look for.
Read More >> How Do You Clean An HVLP Spray Gun?
Top 10 Best Paint Spray Guns
In a hurry? Check out our Top 10 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these paint sprayers!
What Are Latex Paint Sprayers?
You may think that all paint sprayers are created equal and that the main differences are between airless paint sprayers and standard HVLP sprayers. However, that is not the case.
You see, not all paint is created equally, so an HVLP paint sprayer may handle different types of paint differently each time you use it, and the same goes for an airless paint sprayer.
It is easy to overlook the fact that paint is made of many different chemicals, and this composition can drastically impact the performance of tools being used to spray it.
Water based paint and latex based paint are completely different beasts, and are, in and of themselves, different from oil based paint.
These different paints, lacquers, and stains all behave differently, and so they have to be treated differently, especially when they're being used in a sensitive process such as a spray gun.
A standard spray gun that handles water based paint may get gummed up when using latex paint, and one that handles latex paint may cause excessive overspray when dealing with a urethane paint or stain.
These differences drastically impact the performance of the tools.
A latex paint sprayer is a type of sprayer that is designed to spray latex paint, which is a notoriously thick paint. This viscosity makes it difficult to spray consistently, and often will require thinning of the paint.
Because thinning the paint affects the adhesion and color, it is best to avoid that if at all possible. Because of that, latex paint spray guns are used to handle latex paint whenever possible.
Read More >> What Are the Best Gravity Feed Spray Guns?
What Are the Different Types of Latex Paint Sprayers?
As you get further into the details, you will find that there are many different types of latex paint sprayers.
First and foremost, there are airless paint sprayers for latex paint and HVLP paint sprayers for latex paint. These two tools use different means of generating pressure to propel the paint through the nozzle.
In general, HVLP paint sprayers are cheaper but require an air compressor if one is not already included, while an airless paint sprayer is more powerful and provides a better finish for a higher cost.
Beyond that, you can find handheld paint spray guns, which have the whole spray gun machinery included in one handheld device.
These are small and lightweight, which makes them great products for beginners, however they have many drawbacks. For instance, they are not as powerful nor do they hold as much paint.
Additionally, because of their smaller motors and components, they do not have adjustable pressure, or at least not the extent that large sprayers do.
These are great for small projects but don't really hold the high volume necessary for a big painting job.
Finally, there are paint sprayers for un-thinned latex and then there are sprayers that require thinning.
Those that require thinning are typically made to use with multiple different paint types so they can cover a wider range of paints.
However, there are clear drawbacks to thinning the paint if it's not necessary.
Read More >> How Do You Clean Dried Latex Paint From a Paint Sprayer?
How Do Latex Paint Sprayers Work?
To understand how latex paint sprayers work, we need to examine how regular spray guns work. For a regular High Volume Low Pressure spray gun, an air compressor is used to build up a high pressure in a tank of air.
The paint is loaded into a hopper or a suction tube is placed into the paint can. As the high pressure air flows through the tubes, it draws the paint into the stream creating a mixed air and paint flow.
The lighter the paint, the easier it is to draw up into the airflow.
Once it reaches the nozzle, it is forced out at a high rate of speed, creating the spray pattern that we're familiar with on HVLP spray guns.
For an airless sprayer, instead of using an air compressor, the motor builds up pressure within the paint itself.
This high pressure paint is forced out the spray tip as an aerosol. Once again, a lighter weight paint will spray more easily and smoothly, making for an easy and clean spray pattern, even with an airless sprayer.
Latex paint is thick and heavy - it is highly viscous. Viscosity is a measure of how slowly a liquid runs.
Water is the standard measure for viscosity, and every other liquid is compared against it. Something like ketchup has a much higher viscosity.
Latex paint falls somewhere between water and ketchup, but it is certainly higher than most other paints, making it difficult to deal with.
You can measure the thickness of a material using a viscosity cup, which measures how much paint and thinner materials flow under standard conditions. Because of this, latex paint sprayers have to be able to handle more viscous material flowing through it.
Not only does it make for a poor spray and finish, it causes issues with clean up.
The narrow hoses and tight nozzles are hard to clean out when they are clogging up frequently with latex paint.
Read More >> How Do You Clean An HVLP Spray Gun?
What To Look For in a Latex Paint Sprayer
When you're looking for a latex paint sprayer, there are a few considerations, some of them standard to all spray guns, and some of them reserved especially for latex paint and its special characteristics.
First and foremost, know your project and your needs. If you are just going to be doing simple DIY projects, you probably don't need a large industrial size spray paint gun.
However, if you are doing professional work, you won't want to refill frequently, so a handheld device is not for you.
Next, you'll want to take a look at what sorts of painting projects you'll be asking of this paint spray gun.
You may want to do more than simply paint with latex paint. If that's the case, you can find a device that is compatible with a range of different paints, including lacquers, lighter urethanes, and water based paints.
This can give you versatility and flexibility without having to buy another project. However, remember that this may mean you'll have to thin the latex paint, and you may need to do more clean up.
Finally, look at the spray gun itself. If you are planning on doing latex paint, make sure you find a gun that is easy to clean first and foremost.
Latex paint is messy and is hard to clean. If you can easily disassemble the spray gun you'll have an easier time cleaning it out.
You'll want to have wider spray nozzles as well because the latex paint will be harder to spray and will come out at a higher pressure.
Read More >> How Do You Thin Latex Paint For a Wagner Spray Gun?
Our Reviews of Latex Paint Sprayers
Pick #1: Wagner Flexio Stationary Spray Gun
Wagner's Flexio line is one of the best in the industry for dealing with multiple different variables, such as type of paint, size of the job, and air pressure.
This device is a bit different in that it was designed to be a stationary spray gun instead of a handheld sprayer.
The turbine that drives the paint spray was upgraded, giving you a much more powerful spray and higher air pressure.
To make up for the weight, a long hose was attached and the turbine moved to the floor.
That makes this a less portable option, but gives you a much more powerful device, and offers a very smooth finish.
The Wagner Flexio Stationary Gun has impressive flow control and can make your paint spraying incredibly smooth from start to finish so you don't have to worry about changing the settings frequently or adjusting the pressure.
Pros
Cons
Pick #2: Homeright Finish Max
The Homeright Finish Max is a handheld paint sprayer that is small and simple to use.
This small device is well known for being a great affordable option because of its high-quality work and ease of use.
Additionally, it has very stable air pressure control and has a tightly sealed paint container so that you won't worry about spilling or losing air pressure during your painting job.
This device is not for large projects, but may be able to tackle a couple of interior walls or a simple DIY project.
Fortunately, if you're just looking for something small and within a limited budget, the Homeright Finish Max is a great product that will last for quite a while and will deliver impeccable results.
It may not tackle the biggest jobs or be as sturdy as a stainless steel product, but for the price, it's pretty hard to beat.
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Cons
Pick #3: Graco Magnum Cart Paint Sprayer
If you swing the complete opposite direction in terms of price on Amazon, you'll find the Graco Magnum Cart Paint Sprayer.
This product is large and sound. It is made of stainless steel with an aluminum cart frame, which means it is both significantly sturdier and larger than the other products we've discussed.
This is not a handheld device, it is a large, wheeled machine that you can transport across job sites to get the job done.
However, it is one of the best in its class. The Graco Magnum line is a fantastic product line, offering some of the best painting devices available.
You can purchase one of these cart airless paint sprayers and use it for years on end.
An additional benefit is that this is an airless paint sprayer, which means it will provide a much smoother finish and give you very high-quality work in the end, while also being able to provide higher pressures and easily deal with latex paint.
Pros
Cons
Pick #4: Scuddles Handheld HVLP Spray Gun
Because this device comes with different nozzles from which to choose, you can select the appropriate sizing and find one that works well for your paint job.
This small, inexpensive device can handle any type of paint, but you should test it out with latex paint just to ensure that you don't need to do any thinning.
Fortunately, its compact size means that is offers easy cleaning and great portability.
This is definitely a spray gun for the DIY enthusiast, as opposed to the heavy user, since it will need to be refilled frequently and doesn't provide much power.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Tack Life HVLP Paint Sprayer
The Tack Life HVLP Paint Sprayer is a very affordable full size HVLP system.
With an included air compressor, air hose, and spray gun, this tool definitely has everything you need to tackle larger projects.
You can change out the tip size to handle thinner materials or to tackle more viscous paints like latex.
Additionally, it is built with a siphon so you don't have to load the paint into a hopper or chamber prior to use, meaning there is easy set up and cleanup.
This paint sprayer, though it has everything included, is not a very powerful device, and that should be emphasized.
It is made almost entirely of plastic and does not offer high-quality work. It's low price makes it a good introductory product, but it will not last for a long time, nor will it give you the best results compared with some of the more powerful and sturdy machines.
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Cons
Pick #5: Tack Life HVLP Paint Sprayer
The Tack Life HVLP Paint Sprayer is a very affordable full size HVLP system.
With an included air compressor, air hose, and spray gun, this tool definitely has everything you need to tackle larger projects.
You can change out the tip size to handle thinner materials or to tackle more viscous paints like latex.
Additionally, it is built with a siphon so you don't have to load the paint into a hopper or chamber prior to use, meaning there is easy set up and cleanup.
Pros
Cons
Pick #6: Wagner Spraytech Handheld Sprayer
The Wagner Spraytech Flexio 590 series is the ultimate in flexibility.
This is another handheld product that holds a small amount of paint in a paint container beneath the gun.
However, this one is much more powerful and dynamic than the others we've discussed.
The Wagner Spraytech is one of the better handheld machines on the market.
With adjustable pressure and innovative air pressure control and control knobs, this spray gun can transition from low pressure to incredibly powerful with the turn of a knob.
Other products tout their air pressure control, but none of them make it as easy and user friendly as Wagner does, and the Spraytech offers some of the best finishes around, making this an unbeatable product for the price.
It will cost a bit more than other handheld products, but it is certainly worth it.
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Pick #7: Graco Magnum Project Painter
Another Graco Magnum device, this one is a bit smaller and more maneuverable, making it easier to use.
The Project Painter is designed for versatility because Graco knows that no one is using the same type of paint day in and day out.
If you want to use gallons of paint buckets that are all water based immediately after spraying latex paint for five hours, the Project Painter is capable of transitioning quickly and handling the load.
This is an extremely flexible product and it's also very powerful.
Because it is not a handheld unit, it can use a more powerful air compressor and drive a higher air pressure to give you a better paint job and more impressive top coat in the end.
Additionally, it's much more reasonably priced than the Cart Airless Paint Sprayer that they also offer, so this one fits much better into most budgets.
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Cons
The Titan High Efficiency Airless Paint Sprayer is designed for just such a task as this.
To tackle highly viscous liquids like latex paints, the Titan product line was designed to be highly efficient and discourage clogging.
The simple, straightforward tubing and internal workings of the Titan make it a much more efficient sprayer that can handle latex paint completely unthinned, meaning you don't have to worry about the quality of your paint or the color after you put it in the sprayer.
What's more, being an airless paint sprayer, this will give you an incredibly smooth finish and be much more efficient and powerful than other models on the market.
This is a very sturdy and heavy duty product, made of stainless steel and aluminum so that it can withstand the toughest jobs.
These large airless paint sprayers are more expensive than the HVLP spray guns, but this is well worth the cost.
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Cons
Pick #9: WSMLA Handheld Paint Sprayer
If you're willing to pay a premium for a handheld spray gun, the WSMLA product has what you want.
This a high-quality product that can easily handle unthinned latex paint.
However, it is extremely expensive, comparable in price to the biggest cart airless sprayers we've discussed here, even though it is a corded handheld spray gun.
With multiple tip sizes and a selection of different air pressure options, this product can tackle thicker paints just as well as thinner materials with ease.
It is easily disassembled and offers easy cleanup as well as an ergonomic design for extended periods of use.
Even though it is only a handheld device and has a smaller capacity, it is a phenomenal product that can provide a clear, smooth finish while being comfortable and easy to use.
If you're interested in the luxury option and want a product that can work hard while feeling good, this may be the choice for you.
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Pick #10: Wagner Control Pro
Our final product is a stationary airless paint sprayer.
This is not quite as large as a stand airless paint sprayer, but it offers the same benefits.
It is lighter weight and therefore more maneuverable than a standing sprayer, but it is still attached to a long hose and a powerful motor.
This combines the power and the portability of different designs to create a unique product.
It is safe to say that Wagner has some of the best products on the market and this is no different.
The Control Pro is named that way for two reasons - one because it gives you an immense amount of control over the process, with extra power and many different adjustable options, and two because it controls the overspray better than any other product on the market.
This device will keep you from wasting time, paint and money, and will give you an impeccable finish.
Pros
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Our Top Pick: Wagner Flexio Stationary Spray Gun
The Wagner Flexio Stationary Paint Sprayer is the best paint sprayer for the money on Amazon.
You really can't go wrong with this incredible sprayer, especially when it comes to latex paint.
If you're planning to use a paint sprayer for many years to come, this sprayer will make your life much easier for every home improvement project on your plate!
Plus, it's an excellent value for the money. Check out the latest price on Amazon!
Final Thoughts on Latex Paint Sprayers
If you're shopping for an HVLP paint sprayer for your latex paint project, whether it's a small DIY job or a large painting project, take the time to look through this list and find the perfect product for you.
Whether you need a small handheld sprayer or an industrial size device to tackle a massive job, we have options here for you.
We can't recommend the Wagner Flexio Stationary Gun enough, but there are options available for whatever you need.
Take a look and get the best product for your next project now!
