High volume low-pressure spray guns, also called HVLP spray guns and sprayers, are an alternative to airless models. These tools use a turbine motor that produces a low pressure of as little as three pounds per square inch but also allows a high volume that you want to use come out of the tip. Many auto shops use these models for making repairs and coloring cars and trucks, but you can also use one in your own home for the projects on your to-do list.
When looking for the best high volume low-pressure spray gun, we knew that we needed one that every type of customer could use. We weeded out some of the professional and commercial models because those products are so hard to use at home. After factoring in price, features, and reviews from customers, we picked the Fuji Spray Semi-PRO 2 (Check Price on Amazon.com) as our top model.
The Semi-PRO 2 comes with a cup that relies on the force of gravity to slowly feed the pigment into the nozzle, which prevents leaks and keeps the flow at a steady rate. It also comes with a 25-foot long hose that won’t bounce back on you or kink up the way some hoses can. You can read more about this model and compare the Semi-PRO 2 to the others we thought deserved a spot on our list.
36 HOURS OF RESEARCHING
25 MODELS CONSIDERED
1 WINNER
Top 5 HVLP Paint Sprayer Comparison Chart
5 Best HVLP Paint Sprayer - Reviews
1. Fuji 2203G Semi-PRO 2
Our top choice is the Fuji Spray Semi-PRO 2, which combines a professional system into a package that anyone can use. This system comes with all the parts necessary for staining at home, including a separate turbine motor, hose, and spray gun. The machine works so well that you may even see it used in auto shops and by professionals.
The 25-foot long hose is one of the longest hoses included with any of these machines. This hose does a good job of reducing overspray, which occurs when you use a higher pressure setting. It also prevents bounce back and will not kink.
The metal used on each end prevents air leaks and provides a more steady flow. Those metal pieces also stop the air flowing from the turbine from blowing across your surface and leaving behind pits and other marks caused by blowing debris.
This professional system has a non-bleed design that keeps your stain from bleeding onto other nearby surfaces to give you a nice and smooth finish.
Putting the product away at the end of a job is easy too. The metal case used on the turbine has a convenient carrying handle on the top. This case also comes with a holder for the spray gun.
2. Devilbiss Finishline 4 FLG-670
Though the DeVilbiss Finishline 4 does not come with its turbine motor, we wanted to include this model because you can use it with a motor or engine that you have in your garage. It will work with any system that has a CFM rating of at least 13 and a PSI rating of at least 13. The included pressure gauge helps you set the system up and can prevent accidents caused by a higher amount of pressure.
Three tips come included with this gun and measure 1.3mm, 1.5mm, and 1.8mm. You can use any of these three when working with lighter and thicker pigments like auto body colorant, interior house colorant, and lacquers. The tips all easily fit onto the end of the spray gun and clean easily too.
As a gravity fed spray gun, the Finishline 4 comes with a metal cup that is similar to those found on commercial models. It holds a higher amount to help you finish jobs with fewer breaks for refills. The cup sits at an angle on the top of the gun, which allows the pigment to follow the natural path of gravity to reach the tip.
3. 3M 16580 Accuspray
3M makes commercial products used by professionals like this Accuspray system. Though it does not come with a turbine, you can hook it up to the one you already own and use it with other types of motors. This system can help you color a car or boat, seal your wood deck and furniture.
Designed to provide professional results in one convenient package, it comes with a standard spray gun that has built-in features for connecting to a motor. This gun has a simple trigger that acts as a pressure mechanism. Adjusting your hand and grip changes the rate at which it flows.
The manufacturer provides you with four different tips in 1.2mm, 1.3mm, 1.4mm and 1.8mm sizes that are suitable for a wide range of jobs. Each tip has a flow control design that keeps its flow steady but blocks too much pigment from coming out to stop clogs.
We also like the cup that comes with this model because 3M added measurement markings to the sides. They have a dark black finish that you can easily see the plastic before filling it and after adding your stain. This cup uses gravity to move the pigment from the container to the tip that you use.
4. Wagner Spraytech 0518080
The Control Spray Max from Wagner is a highly affordable model that functions just like a commercial HVLP spray gun because it comes with its turbine engine. Wagner put that engine in its plastic case that keeps dust from damaging the inside. This case connects back to the spray gun via an included 20-feet hose that will not kink or bend.
Thanks to variable pressure control, you can quickly adjust the air pressure provided by this product to get more or less coverage. It also features three different spray patterns that you can select before coloring to ensure that you get the finish that you want. This model will work with thicker ones like latex interior house pigments and with thinner wood stains too.
The two-stage motor that comes with this model can even handle the spraying of lacquers and other materials that most products cannot. You can choose between using a commercial metal cup or a standard plastic cup for your stain. Each one can hold up to 1.5 quarts of liquid.
Wagner included two different air filters that protect your work too. These filters keep particles in the stain from coming out of the tip and stop air produced by the engine from blowing debris onto a wet finish.
5. HomeRight Finish Max C800766
Some of the other HVLP spray guns on our list are expensive, and we want to include the HomeRight Finish Max because it’s an example of a more affordable sprayer. This model does not come with a turbine motor but has an electric cord on one end that you can plug into an outlet. You can use any stain in this model and still get the smooth coverage provided by a more expensive model.
Designed for beginners who have less experience, this HomeRight model requires less prep work and less setup time. You’ll want to read the manual to see how to use it, but you can then add your stain to the included cup and get started. That cup screws onto the tool at a spot just below the spray head and sends a steady stream to the device.
One advantage this one has to some of the other highly ranked models is that it weighs less. Even when you fill the cup, this one weighs so little that you can use it for hours. The ergonomic trigger reduces tension in your hands too. HomeRight gives you a dependable two-year warranty on this model also.
And the Winner is…
The Fuji Spray Semi-PRO 2 is the type of spray gun that you can use for almost any project you have in mind. While you may not want to use it when detailing or adding a fresh coat of paint to a car, it works great for most DIY projects. You can use it to stain your deck and staircase, to cover up scratches on floorboards and to color the walls in your home.
It has a non-bleed design that ensures the stain that you use will never bleed or run onto any other surfaces. The gravity cup uses the natural force of gravity to keep the colorant moving from the cup to the nozzle in a steady stream that you can easily manage and control. Both the cup and air cap as well, as many other parts, use durable types of metal for lasting use.
Though it has just one spray pattern, which is a fan pattern, you can adjust your pressure on the trigger to increase or decrease the flow of paint. The included turbine motor has a two-stage design and works with the 25-foot hose that won’t kink or bounce to let you work further away from it.
For a comprehensive review of all the paint sprayer options on the market, visit our epic guide for Airless Paint Sprayers here.
How to Choose the Right One for You
1. How Does CFM Relate to PSI?
You need to understand what the terms CFM and PSI mean before shopping for an HVLP sprayer. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and tells you how much coverage the product provides in terms of cubic feet every 60 seconds. PSI, which stands for pressure per square inch, tells you the amount of pressure that the product produces.
Unlike other types of sprayers that have an airless design or those that work with an air compressor, these models come with a turbine engine or motor that provides all the power you need. You want one with a CFM rating of at least 100 and a PSI of up to either. A lower PSI rating of around three or four has less of an overspray and helps you waste less pigment.
2. How Many Spray Patterns Can You Use?
The Semi-PRO 2, which is our top choice, has just one spray pattern but lets you adjust the trigger to get more or less coverage. Depending on the projects that you want to do, you may want to consider one that has multiple patterns. A horizontal pattern lets you spray up and down, a vertical pattern lets you spray from side or side and a circular or round pattern provides even coverage when working on round objects or things with multiple angles.
3. What is the Hose Length?
One of the most important parts of these spray guns is the included hose. Unless you look at a product like the HomeRight Finish Max, which plugs into an outlet, you'll get a hose that connects the gun to the turbine motor. The length of that hose can determine how many projects you can do around your home.
A hose of at least 20-feet in length is best for most projects. You can leave the motor in the center of the room and still reach each corner. For larger rooms, you'll want a hose that is at least 25-feet long.
4. How Does the Cup Work?
The small cup included with the tool that holds your colorant as you work. These cups usually come in plastic versions, but some manufacturers use a commercial grade of metal. This cup can use gravity or have some type of hose inside.
Those that use a hose suck the stain up from the cup and move it to the tip. When you get closer to the bottom, you may need to move the cup around or adjust the way you hold it to get the liquid closer to the bottom.
Models that use gravity are a much better option. Gravity keeps the pigment flowing out of the cup. This ensures that you do not waste a drop of the liquid.