The Best Air Compressors for Car Painting in 2023

Whether you're considering a compressor to run your spray gun for your home garage or your paint body shop and looking to get started on your first painting system. Choosing the right compressor for painting cars is critical. If you fail to choose a compressor that'll adequately support your paint gun and shop equipment, you'll end up with under-performance in your spray finishing applications. In this guide, we're going to go over the important things you need to know when buying an air compressor to paint cars. We're going to go over the critical factors that your compressor must have in order to support your painting needs, as well as our top picks for the best compressors for painting cars that are both portable and those that are best for full shop installations where you'll have a dedicated compressor. So here we go.

CFM Output

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and is the most critical element when you are going to consider choosing a compressor for painting cars. The CFM of a compressor represents the total volume of error the compressor can generate, and every tool that uses error has a CFM requirement in order to operate properly and at peak performance. For paint spray guns, especially those that are HVLP, which are most common in the paint market today for use when painting cars, you'll want at least 15 CFM of compressor output to allow your spray gun to operate properly. While 15 CFM is usually enough for many spray guns on the market, we still recommend having more CFM than your gun requires, so that your compressor does not have to run all the time in order to keep up with enough air to allow your spray gun to run and spray effectively.

Clean Dry Air

In addition to having enough CFM delivery from your compressor, you will want to also ensure your air delivered by your compressor is clean and dry. When we mean clean and dry, we mean that the air is free from oil particulate, water particulate, and for ideal results, even water vapor. What this will mean practically is that you'll often want to include or consider adding a dryer system to your compressor. You can add a dryer either at the compressor or at the drop where the airline will come down to your painting area in your shop. For price effectiveness, having a dryer at the point of use where you'll use your spray equipment will be most budget-friendly. However, if you have a variety of air tools, you'll be wanting to run in your shop that also have air requirements that need to have air that is clean and dry, then air dryer at the compressor will be the ideal way to go.

Oil-free versus Oil-lubricated Compressor Pumps

Oil-free compressor pumps are nice because they don't require any maintenance when it comes to oil changes or upkeep. The downside is an oil-free compressor generally does not have the CFM output, you'll need to be able to support a paint spray gun or a car painting operation. So because of this, you almost always need an oil-lubricated compressor in order to deliver enough air volume to be able to properly paint cars.

Now that you have an overview of the critical factors to know when choosing a compressor for painting cars, from CFM output to clean dry air requirements and oil-free versus oil-lubricated compressors, and where those matter, we'll go on now to provide you our top picks for compressors for painting cars.

If portability is important, you don't want to have to field wire the compressor into your shop or don't have a single place that you're always going to be painting a car, then consider a portable compressor that will be able to be moved in and out of locations and/or in out of your area when you're ready to spray. The models below are some of our favorites because they deliver enough CFM and have good build quality to allow you to support your car painting process.

Industrial Air Contractor, Nine Horsepower, Nine Gallon, Gas Wheelbarrow Air compressor With Electric Start Honda Engine

This compressor delivers a full 18 CFM of output and has a nine-gallon air tank. The nine-gallon air tank serves only to buffer the air coming from the compressor so that your compressor does not have to run all the time if you're using close to the maximum CFM output of the compressor. With this particular compressor, it'll deliver more air than many HVLP spray guns require, so you'll be able to run a spray gun but not have the compressor constantly and always running. It also has a maximum pressure output of 155 PSI. So you can run any tool you may imagine from an air impact drill to a spray gun. It includes the nine-horsepower Honda Engine with electric, so there will be no difficulties pulling the motor to start it, when you're ready to pump spray, simply plug in and hit the start button.

It also features two large wheels and a wheelbarrow design to make it easy to be able to lift and maneuver around the job site. It weighs in at approximately 300 pounds, but with the wheels is not too hard to move. It includes 2 one-quarter quick hose ports as well so that you can easily use up to 2 pieces of air equipment. Though for car painting, you'll only be able to use a single spray gun. It also includes pressure gauges that will let you see the pressure you're spraying at and adjust those pressures so that you can properly use your HVLP spray guns.

Mi-T-M Eight Horsepower Eight Gallon Two-Stage Wheelbarrow Compressor With Honda Engine

This Mi-T-M Wheelbarrow Compressor has an eight-horsepower Honda Engine, as well as two regulators, and gauges monitor pressure going out. It also includes a two-year Honda Engine and two-year pump warranty while delivering 17 CFM at 175 PSI. This unit can easily support the needs of a spray gun without any trouble. It is an oil-lubricated pump with a belt-drive-style compressor pump and is a two-stage design to maximize air output. It comes with an eight-gallon tank and is gas-powered. It only weighs 260 pounds, so this is a little bit lighter of a job site compressor that could easily be used for the portability of painting cars.

While portable compressors are convenient, if you don't want to stay in the same location during most of your painting, their air volume delivery and overall durability of design for hours of use are not quite the same as those that are built as stationary compressors. If you don't have three-phase power in your shop because you're not in a commercial setting, then consider these single-phase compressors that'll run off the same power sources you use for things like a dryer in a home.

Industrial Air 5.7 Horsepower, 60 Gallons, Single Stage Air Compressor, 230 Volts Single Phase

This industrial air compressor can deliver 18 CFM at 90 PSI. It also has a 60-gallon tank. The larger tank will allow you to spray longer before the compressor runs compared to the portable models with a similar CFM output. The pump is an oil-lubricated model and it features a 16-inch flywheel. The larger flywheel will maximize performance and minimize any wear on the equipment over time. It does require a 30 amp breaker as it draws 22 amps. This is a completely electric-operated compressor, unlike those above, that require gasoline to run.

EMAX Industrial Plus Silent Five Horsepower 80 Gallon Two Stage Air Compressor

EMAX makes some of the quietest compressors on the market. Additionally, this particular compressor has an optional dryer package that you can add to give you full shop dry air by adding the dryer at the compressor source. This compressor can deliver 19 CFM and is fully capable of supporting a standard paint spray gun's air requirements. The piston design on this compressor is also set up to reduce the sound volume by up to 20%. So if you're running in a home garage or in a area you don't want others to be bothered by the sound, this is a great option for a compressor.

The compressor also includes a built-in intercooler and after cooler. This helps to reduce moisture in the airline, and it is a unique feature to the EMAX line, is built to deliver up to 50,000 hours of commercial use making this compressor highly useful for those who have a lot of run time anticipated for their compressor. The compressor also features an 80 gallon tank with an auto-drain. The auto drain will remove moisture that accumulates as the compressor runs over time. Lower price compressors will require you to manually empty the compressor tank. It also features a five-year extended lifetime pump warranty, if you've use EMAX's maintenance package that they require.

Campbell Hausfeld Five Horsepower, 80 Gallon Two Stage Air Compressor

This compressor is a three-phase compressor that has a pump that's designed to deliver over 15,000 hours of use without trouble. It has an 80 gallon tank and can deliver up to 175 PSI. It also has an automatic stop/start pressure switch, which turns the [inaudible 00:15:40] only when it deems it necessary. You won't see this compressor running all the time if you don't need air.

Campbell Hausfeld Seven and a Half Horsepower, 80 Gallon Two Stage Air Compressor with Starter 230 Volt Single Phase

This compressor can deliver up to 25 CFM on single phase power, make it one of the highest CFM outputs for our single phase compressors that we offer. The Hive output can allow you to easily run a compressor plus air impact gun or similar type tool. The compressor designed with a 15,000 hour pump life rating and includes an 80 gallon tank to buffer air demand. It also includes a three-year warranty on the tank and pump. This compressor will require about a 30 amp breaker to properly run.

If you're serious about air demand and want to go with the most volume you can or you have an industrial setting, then consider a three-phase power compressor. Three-phase compressors will cost you less in operating electricity as they do not need as many amps to properly run a higher volume of air.

EMAX Seven and Half Horsepower, 120 Gallon Rotary Screw Air Compressor, Including the Dryer Package

This package is an ideal option as it delivers 30 CFM, making it capable of supporting up to two spray guns. Depending on the model of spray gun you have. It also includes 120 gallon tank and has a rotary screw design. When it comes to compressor longevity, rotary screws will outlast any standard non screw-type compressor. It includes an inner cooler to help reduce oil and water in the compressed airline, making it ideal to keep your provide clean, dry air for your paint equipment. It also has auto-drain to remove moisture that can build up over time. Compressor features a 10-year pump warranty when used with the proper service kit and the cabinet motor yield warranty of five years plus two years electrical warranty.

EMAX 10 Horsepower Tankless Rotary Screw Compressor With Variable Speed Drive

The variable speed drive on this compressor is unique compared to the other ones mentioned above because it includes the option to vary the amount of air it delivers depending on the tools that are being used by the compressor. As it senses the need for more air volume, the compressor will ramp up production of air to its maximum total in order to keep up with the tools. While it still needs enough CFM to run your equipment, this compressor will easily run any paint equipment as it can deliver up to 45 CFM. This compressor would be ideal if you're wanting to run more than one paint spray gun, as it has plenty of volume of air for that kind of need. While it does not have a tank, it can keep up with your compressor needs easily for a single spray gun, as it has way more volume output than required.

EMAX Silent Air Seven and a Half Horsepower, 80 Gallon Two Stage Compressor

This compressor features their silencer technology that we've mentioned on previous models and has about 25% quieter than most compressors on the market. The volume of this compressor is slightly less than a standard household vacuum cleaner. It features a five-year warranty and also includes an 80-gallon tank to help buffer air demand. It produces 31 CFM of output and so is able to support up to two spray guns. However, it does require a 50 amp breaker as it draws 32 amps of power.

Schulz, Seven and a Half Horsepower, 80 Gallon, Two Stage Air Compressor

This Schulz seven-and-a-half horsepower compressor can deliver 30 CFM, making it perfectly suitable for up to two spray guns. It features a one-year warranty on the compressor and components, and a two-year warranty on the actual pump, has powder-coated components and has a WEG motor, and is designed to last.

So there you have it. We've gone over what you need to consider when choosing a compressor for painting cars and important factors to know about. We've also provided a variety of recommendations on ideal compressors that'll allow you to easily paint the cars that you want.