Air compressors are frequently used in the auto industry to paint cars, trucks, and other automobiles. Many people want to paint their cars at home. But here, a question arises: What is a Minimum Size Air Compressor For Painting A Car? Air compressors produce compressed air generated by an engine or a motor. This compressed air is then used to spray paint for cars. Painting a car yourself at home is an affordable way to tackle an expensive task yourself.

Minimum Size Air Compressor For Painting A Car

Using an air compressor for painting cars is a very efficient and time-saving method. It covers every difficult-to-reach part of the car very quickly.

Once you’ve decided on a color for your car, the most important thing is to ensure you have the correct-sized air compressor with all the required standards for painting a car.

Paint is sprayed with pressure on a car with the help of a spray gun and nozzle in very-fine mist liquid particles, which covers the vehicle with paint evenly coated.

A minimum 10 HP air compressor, with 60 gallons tank size and a higher CFM around 20, with 20-25 PSI air pressure, will be required to paint a car.

However, higher PSI is recommended for a clearer paint.

Higher HP air compressors may operate more efficiently and can also be used for other tasks.

What Is A Good Size Air Compressor For Painting A Car?

The minimum size and requirement of an air compressor to paint a car depends on multiple factors. For example, what size is your car? Do you want full-vehicle paint, minor patch repair, or touch-up work?

Below, we will discuss the what size air compressor do you need for painting a car. We will discuss every aspect and requirement in detail.

If you want to paint your car yourself, make sure to meet the following air compressor standards before starting the process, also check these best air compressors for home garage.

1- Tank size

2- CFM

3- Horsepower

4- PSI Air pressure

Tank size:

The tank size of an air compressor plays a vital role in painting a car smoothly and efficiently.

Smaller tanks don’t have enough air volume CFM (cubic feet per minute) to paint an entire car at one shot.

The paint gun will start to strain as the smaller tank will run out of air while you are using it non-stop, wishing to cover the whole vehicle at once for smooth, clearer paint.

So, a smaller tank will need to be refilled several times for a full-vehicle color painting.

Another issue while using a smaller 15-20 gallons tank for car painting is that your air compressor will get hot because of constant running.

As a result, the compressor will start building water in the tank, which must drain once in a while.

Drain your compressor after covering each side of the car to be safe.

How to drain your Air Compressor

First of all, turn off your compressor and let it cool down for a few minutes. Now unscrew the drain valve of the air compressor.

It usually is a ¼ inch round brass fitting. You will find it under the belly of your air compressor tank. (as shown in the image below)

Open this water release valve by turning it in an anti-clockwise direction. You can turn the valve with a pair of pliers. You will hear a sudden sound of releasing pressurized air stored in the tank.

Wait until all the condensation and pressurized air bleed out. Once you are sure that all air is drained, now firmly turn back the water-release valve in a clockwise direction to close it back.

Recommended Air Compressor Tank Size for Painting a Car

To paint whole-car at once without refilling, you will need an air compressor with a 60 gallons tank.

In a smaller tank, the air pressure and paint flow are stopped and start again and again. It leads to an uneven color coat resulting in a slight color variation after every refilled tank.

So always use a recommended tank size for smooth, even, and clearer paint.

CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute):

CFM (Cubic feet per minute) is the volume of air delivered in one minute from an air compressor.

Smaller tanks don’t have enough air volume CFM (cubic feet per minute) to paint an entire car at one shot.

Therefore, higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) is required to paint a car efficiently.

Higher CFM breaks the paint in very-fine mist liquid particles, then sprayed with a paint-gun nozzle to evenly cover the car with paint.

Recommended CFM for Painting a Car

Look for a two-stage air compressor that delivers around 20 CFM is required to have smooth and clearer paint on your car. Higher the CFM, the softer paint you will get.

Higher air volume CFM (cubic feet per minute) is required to break the paint into very-fine mist liquid particles and cover every difficult-to-reach part of the car quickly.

Make sure you are looking at the delivered CFM, as there are several different CFM ratings out there.

Delivered CFM is the actual volume of air that will reach your spray paint gun.

The tank size should be large enough to serve more CFM than the required CFM for painting a car.
The excess CFM allows the compressor to have some time to cool down and prevent from overworking and heating up.

HP (Horse Power):

Horsepower (HP) is the amount of work that an air compressor can do. Higher HP does not necessarily mean it is better for every tool.

Recommended Horse Power for Painting a Car

A 10 HP air compressor is recommended for painting a car. However, higher HP air compressors may operate more efficiently and be used for other tasks.

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) Air Pressure:

PSI (pounds per square inch) is a measurement of air pressure delivered by an air compressor. The higher the PSI, the higher the air volume that can be compressed into a tank.

When painting a car with an air compressor, air pressure is less critical than CFM. Air pressure is measured to the rate at which pressure paint is delivered from the nozzle.

Important is to obtain a higher CFM so the output of paint will be in the form of very-fine mist liquid particles, resulting in a smooth and clearer paint.

Recommended Air Pressure for Painting a Car

The recommended PSI range is between 20 – 25 PSI. But you need to set the PSI settings as per the operational requirement and personal feel.

Below, we are sharing the recommended PSI for different requirements:

• 15 – 20 PSI: For airbrushing, touch-up, shading, sun-bursting, and thin finish materials.
• 20 – 25 PSI: For soft, velvet-like coverage, with lacquers in particular.
• 35 – 45 PSI: For average spraying range for sealing and top-coating.
• 50 PSI and above: For water-based, lacquers may need this much pressure.

“Spraying paint is NOT a pressure thing, but a VOLUME of air.”

Can I Paint My Car With A Small Air Compressor?

Yes! You can paint your car with a small air compressor. Many air-powered tools are used intermittently, such as nailers, impact wrenches, pneumatic blowers, etc.

But paint spray guns require a continuous compressed air flow from an air compressor.

So, to keep up with the spray gun, paint sprayers require a compressor with a large tank, preferably from 50-60 gallons and above.

Using Air Compressor For Various Tasks

Air compressors are used for many tasks such as inflating a tire, operating a nail gun or impact wrench, refilling a Co2 tank, and much more.

So when you look around yourself, you may find an air compressor in your garage or may see your neighbor painting house with an air compressor, or some youngsters filling a paintball tank.

We find many new ways to utilize our air compressor to make our lives easier with every passing day. You can even blow out your sprinkler system with an air compressor!

How Much PSI Does A Paint Gun Need To Paint A Car

Paint gun takes around a minimum of 15 PSI, whereas recommended PSI for clearer coats is around 20-25 PSI.

Spray Paint Gun Specifications

Before using the spray paint gun to paint your car, make sure the paint gun matches your air compressor’s specifications.

Regardless of the air compressor capacity, a professional spray paint gun will be efficient with every air compressor. So it’s crucial to use a professional spray paint gun to paint your car.

Recommended Paint Gun for Painting a Car

HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) Spray Paint Gun offers a softer spray using a high air volume at low air pressure.

HVLP Spray Paint Gun is also recommended for painting smaller parts like bumper, fender, or other small-detailing areas.

Recommended Nozzle Sizes

If a spray paint gun comes with interchangeable tips, you can determine the thickness of the coating. So you can change the thickness of the paint according to your requirements.

Nozzle size depends on your requirement and preference.

As for the standard nozzle size, below we are sharing the recommended nozzle sizes for different requirements:

• Nozzle size 1.4 to 1.6 for sealers and single-stage urethanes
• Nozzle size 1.7 to 2.2 for primer surfacers and heavy body primers
• Nozzle 1.4 to 1.6 for basecoats spraying
• Nozzle size 1.3 to 1.7 for clear-coats spraying