When painting a wall or large surface, using a roller can be a tedious experience. Constantly having to reload the paint is one thing, but the drying time from the thick paint is another. Brushes are just as inconvenient, though they are useful for edges and corners.
Paint sprayers are the only other viable option, but not every wall can be reached with a regular paint sprayer. Sure, you could use a ladder, but that limits your freedom of movement.
That’s where paint sprayer extension tips come in. Paint sprayers with extension tips are a must-have for DIYers and professional painters because of the convenient, energy-saving effort that comes with a paint sprayer.
Gone are the days of climbing up a worryingly wobbly ladder to reach every corner, because paint sprayer extension tips allow you to paint a wall seamlessly without leaving the comfort of the ground.
We have found the 5 best paint sprayer extension tips to help every painter – from household DIYers to professionals. We have also included a handy buyer’s guide and FAQ service to help you find the best extension tip.
5 Best Paint Sprayer Extension Tips
1. Our Top Pick: Jewboer 29.5″ Airless Paint Sprayer Extension Tip
The Jewboer Extension Tip is suitable for airless spray guns, which work to push paint at a high air pressure through a hose or extension to provide an even distribution of paint droplets.
Available in lengths ranging from 8” to 29.5”, this extension tip is ideal for painting a variety of large and tall walls and surfaces.
This extension tip has a maximum pressure of 3,300 PSI and comes with a nylon seal for extra durability and stability, which prevents leaking and dripping.
To ensure that there is no dripping, users are required to tighten the seals with a wrench. Weighing just over 5 ounces, this extension tip won’t weigh down the air sprayer, so you can paint with just one arm.
This extension tip can be easily cleaned as there aren’t crevices. All it needs is soaking in hot water to prevent paint from drying and building up!
Pros
- Range of lengths – Variety of lengths to suit different purposes
- Lightweight – Weighs only 5 ounces for one-handed painting
- Nylon seal – Tight seal prevents leaking or dripping
Cons
- Requires wrenching – Seals must be wrenched to prevent leaking
2. Most Affordable: Lovehappy Airless Paint Sprayer Extension Tip
For homeowners wanting to complete a DIY task, it might seem daunting to find an affordable paint sprayer extension tip. Fortunately for those on a budget, it is possible to find an inexpensive product that works just as well as those with a higher price point!
This Lovehappy paint sprayer extension tip comes in three lengths (10”, 20”, and 30”) and is suitable for airless sprayers with a ⅞” thread. It can withstand air pressures of up to 3,300 PSI by evenly distributing paint droplets across a surface.
This product comes with a durable and hardy nylon seal and is made of a lightweight aluminum. The 10” extension tip weighs an impressive 0.5 ounces, which makes painting with this tip effortlessly easy. The aluminum material is resistant to rust and corrosion, but will need cleaning regularly to prevent paint build-up.
Pros
- Affordable – You don’t have to break the bank to find a good-quality extension tip
- Lightweight – Aluminum material is lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion
- Fits most paint sprayers – Suitable for the majority of airless paint sprayers
Cons
- Slight leaking – Seals will need tightening or tape to prevent leaking and dripping
3. Most High-Quality: Graco 243034 30″ Extension Tip with Guard
The most ideal length extension tip is generally anything between 20” and 30”. This Graco 30” extension tip is ideal for painting large surfaces like walls or decking without creating fatigue in the back, shoulders, and knees. Paint as high or as low as you need without straining your body!
Graco is one of the top brands in the paint spraying industry. Professional painters and hardcore DIY experts consider this the most trusted brand for painting, which is why we have two of their products on our list.
This paint sprayer extension tip comes with a handy tip guard which works to position the paint droplets in a triangular shape. This means the paint covers the specific area of which you want to paint without spraying outwards, which helps to make an even layer of paint.
Pros
- Guard included – Helps to aim the paint droplets in the right place
- Trusted brand – Graco is an industry-standard brand
- Fast – Paints range of surfaces quickly and with minimal effort
Cons
- Clogs – Avoid spraying downwards as the paint will clog the extension
4. Best Short Extension Tip: Graco 287019 10″ Airless Extension Tip
Another popular Graco product, this 10” extension tip is super useful for smaller painting jobs. You don’t need a 30” extension tip for a shorter wall, but a short extension tip is much more useful than a paint sprayer with no tip. This is a good size to get the hard-to-reach areas without spraying every other surface nearby.
This extension tip is suitable for most airless sprayers with a ⅞” thread, and has a maximum air pressure capacity of an impressive 4,050 PSI. If you find the length isn’t long enough for some tasks, this extension tip can be combined with another extension tip. The size is handy for a bunch of reasons, but especially for professionals who require space to carry their tools as this is a space-saver.
Whilst this tip does come with a guard, some reviews have stated that the guard isn’t suitable for this extension. That being said, it can be customized and altered for a compatible guard if necessary.
Pros
- Good length for small tasks – Ideal for spraying small areas such as stairways or soffits
- High-quality – Made from a trusted brand
- High maximum air pressure capacity – Maximum capacity of 4,050 PSI and works with most airless paint sprayers
Cons
- Guard – Guard isn’t always suitable but can be swapped for another
5. Best for Beginners: Creexeon Airless Paint Sprayer 15” Extension Tip
The last paint sprayer extension tip on our list is this Creexeon product. At 15” long, this is a suitable length for those who aren’t sure of which length to get. You might feel slightly out of control with 30” extension tips, whilst 10” extension tips just don’t cover the amount of space you need.
This extension tip is suitable for most airless sprayer guns with a ⅞” thread. Made of aluminum, this is a lightweight extension tip that resists bending, corrosion, and rust. Aluminum is the best material for extension tips because of this, though be sure to clean the tip regularly to prevent paint build-up.
This product comes with Wagner seals to prevent leakage and dripping, making this a reliable extension tip for those looking for a good starter product.
Pros
- Ideal length – Not too long, not too short, and just right for most surfaces
- Affordable – Good price for a great product
- Good material – Aluminum is sturdy, lightweight, and resistant to rust and corrosion
Cons
- Tape needed – Tape might be needed around the seals to prevent leaking if the seals haven’t been tightened
Buyer’s Guide
Paint Sprayer Extension Tips Explained
As the name suggests, a paint sprayer extension tip provides an extended straight hose to a paint sprayer. Often called a hose, wand, pole, or rod, these items work to reach areas that can’t be reached with a regular paint sprayer.
They work to make the job easier for those who would otherwise use a ladder, paint roller, or paint brush to get to hard-to-reach areas.
There is a range of sizes for these extension tips. It doesn’t matter which size you choose as they all have different functions, but they can be anywhere between 10” to 35” in length.
The easiest way to describe extension tips is like a feather duster. People use feather dusters as an arm extension to reach tall heights that are filled with dust or cobwebs. Paint sprayer extension tips do the same, except they work to spray paint and cover a surface.
What to Look for in a Paint Sprayer Extension Tip
The most important thing to consider when looking for a paint sprayer extension tip is the length of the tip. The size of your project should indicate the length of the tip you should look for.
For example, if you’re painting an interior wall that is about 12ft tall, you’re not likely to need an extension tip longer than 10” (remember, your arm will be fully extended!).
Other jobs such as decking are slightly trickier to navigate, but these benefit from longer extension tips to prevent the user from walking over paint. Longer tips also help to paint hard-to-reach areas.
Some professionals will have multiple extension tip lengths which can be combined together to create a longer tip, but you will need to check that this is doable for your chosen extension tip.
Whilst not necessary, some paint sprayer extension tips come with a guard. These guards work to keep the paint droplets in formation so they don’t go everywhere. However, as most extension tips are designed to prevent the paint droplets from spreading outwards, these aren’t a necessary factor to consider.
Spray Gun vs Brush/Roller
Spray guns are slowly becoming the preferred option for professional painters and DIY experts. Paint brushes are useful for painting corners and edges that require precision, but they aren’t enough to paint a large area.
Paint rollers are slightly better for painting a large area, but they require a lot of reloading and tiring bending up and down.
Paint sprayers work to cover a surface with an even amount of paint quickly. When it would take a paint roller 10 minutes to paint a surface, paint sprayers only need a minute. This coat is generally more evenly distributed and dries much faster.
Also, spray guns can be used for both interior and exterior purposes – just be sure to cover surrounding surfaces as paint sprayers aren’t designed for precise painting, even with an extension tip!
Types of Paint Sprayers
Airless
These are the most common paint sprayers. Airless sprayers push the paint out at a high air pressure to formulate droplets of paint. Extension tips are almost always recommended for these products, because they help to evenly distribute the paint droplets.
These are the fastest and most efficient paint sprayers. Due to their speed, they should only be used for large areas such as sliding or garage doors, and not small surfaces that require precision.
Low Volume Low Pressure (LVLP)
As the name suggests, LVLP sprayers use minimal air pressure to push paint droplets out of the nozzle, which is why they are best suited for small and intricate applications. Due to their size and capability, they aren’t suitable for heavy paints.
High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP)
Again, as the name suggests, these sprayers push paint droplets out with a high volume of air but at a low pressure. These are the fastest at dispersing paint and therefore have the fastest drying time.
Gravity Feed
These sprayers are best suited for painting cars due to their fine finish, but they aren’t suitable for other large surfaces. They are aptly named due to the paint reservoir that is situated above the gun, which helps to provide better pressure distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use spray gun for primer?
Spray guns are great for distributing primers evenly and quickly across a surface. We recommend using a High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) paint sprayer, as these can formulate droplets from the primer to distribute across the surface.
Other sprayers might do the job like airless sprayers, but they aren’t designed to handle thick liquids such as Spraying primers. You should always check with the product details and manufacturer to prevent blocking or clogging the spray gun – especially if you have an extension tip.
Is airless or HVLP better?
When it comes to spraying a large surface, airless paint sprayers are the best option. When it comes to spraying small objects and projects, an HVLP paint sprayer is more suitable.
This is because airless sprayers are designed to evenly distribute paint droplets quickly due to their high air pressure, which can be hard to control for small surfaces and objects.
HVLP sprayers can handle thicker volumes of paint (to an extent) to evenly cover a smaller surface such as a household project or smaller wall space. This is because they produce a low pressure, which means the paint can be controlled more precisely.
