House Grail is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Paint Sprayers vs Rollers: Which to Choose?

paint sprayer vs paint rollers

paint sprayer vs paint rollers

Painting your home has traditionally been a task that is destined to take all day (if not many days) to complete. In the past, paint brushes, and, more importantly, paint rollers, have been the do-it-yourselfers’ only option for reinvigorating a room with fresh color.

However, paint sprayers have been around for some time now, and with them comes a new opportunity. With a good spray system, you can paint your home booth smoothly, and rapidly.

Is it a clear winner? Or, are there some merits to sticking with the classics?

These are the questions that we will explore today as we take a side-by-side look at these two painting options.

Rating Image Product Details
Our Favorite Paint Sprayer for the Money
Winner
HomeRight C800971 HomeRight C800971
  • Adjustable settings
  • Versatile
  • 39 fluid ounce container
  • Our Favorite Paint Roller Set
    Second place
    STANLEY PTST03508 STANLEY PTST03508
  • Easy and efficient
  • All-in-one set
  • High-density fabric
  • divider 1

    The Paint Sprayer:

    The speed of the paint sprayer gives it a broad appeal to people that don’t want to spend all day painting. There is no denying that this method is infinitely quicker than going the manual route.

    Painting a room that might take all day with a roller, could take only hours with a good paint sprayer.

    Because the process of spraying paint is so fluid, it is also a little bit easier to achieve a smooth, refined finish.

    However, this piece of equipment is not all roses and sunshine. For one thing, technique really is still important. If you don’t study up, you will run the risk of encountering any number of unpleasant results.

     

    Paint sprayers also require a lot of maintenance. Unless cleaned thoroughly and constantly, you are going to experience frequent clogs that will essentially render the system useless.

    The biggest hurdle for most people won’t even be the upkeep and the learning curve. It will probably be the price.

    Sprayers are available for a wide range of prices, but decent ones are going to set you back a little bit. No matter what, they are going to cost a good deal more than a paint roller.

    Many users find the expense worth it, but for some buyers paying more may not be a great option.

    The Roller:

    On the other side of the debate, we have a tried and true classic: the paint roller. This tool is a little bit more self-explanatory. The nice thing about paint rollers is that they are very affordable. You get pro-level-equipment and still wind up paying significantly less than you would have even for a mediocre sprayer.

    Rollers are also the lower maintenance option. You will still need to clean them regularly and thoroughly, but doing so is easier, and it is also much more self-explanatory.

    Unfortunately, the issues are two-fold. We already mentioned that the roller is going to take a lot more time than the sprayer. There is just no way around it.

    roller paint

    The other issue is that rollers are a lot less forgiving than sprayers. Since the paint is being applied more gradually, and by hand, it is going to be very obvious if you didn’t keep to a consistent pattern.

    Learning how to use a paint roller is relatively easy with practice, but some people may not want to have the trial and error experience in their own home.

    Still, at the end of the day, there is no denying that this is an effective and economical way to paint your house.

    divider 4

    Conclusion:

    So, which to choose? It really does depend on your situation. Ask yourself this: which matters more to you, time, or money?

    That is really the question that is dealt with when buyers compare sprayers to rollers, and it is a valid one.

    Some shoppers are going to have no choice but to value the more economical option. There is nothing wrong with this. Paint rollers have been used to great success literally millions of times, and they will continue to be used successfully for the indefinite future.

    However, if you do have a little bit more money to put into this purchase, you may find it worth your time to invest in a good spray system.

    Many buyers will likely find that the time they save going this route is well worth the extra cost.

    In any case, there really is no wrong decision. No matter what option you choose, you will get the tools necessary for tackling your do-it-yourself project!

    Related posts

    OUR categories

    Project ideas

    Hand & power tools

    woodworking

    Garden

    Automotive