Paint a Car How To Choose Suitable Size Compressor

Air compressors use the power generated by fuel or motors to compress air and deliver it in the form of pressurized flow to drive other equipment or power tools. Air compressors have a wide range of uses. If you want a compressor designed specifically for car painting, you need a compressor designed specifically for spray guns.

Airfler is committed to helping you choose the most suitable and best air compressor for car painting. Before purchasing an air compressor, you need to consider various factors such as air compressor size, horsepower, compressed air tank capacity, pressure, etc.

Working principle of car painting air compressor
The working principle of car painting air compressor is to generate high-pressure airflow through compressed air, atomize the paint and spray it on the surface of the car. Its core components include compressor and spray gun system.

The air compressor drives the compressor to operate through the motor, sucking in air and compressing it to a high-pressure state. Screw air compressors compress gas through the rotation of the rotor, and piston air compressors compress air through the reciprocating motion of the cylinder. The compressed air is stored in the air tank.

When the high-pressure airflow passes through the spray gun nozzle, the airflow velocity increases sharply to form a negative pressure area, sucking in the paint and stretching it into tiny particles. At the same time, the airflow shears the paint, reducing its surface tension and dispersing it into mist. The staff controls the atomization by adjusting the air pressure and the paint flow.

What size air compressor should be used for car painting?

1. PSI.
Spray guns have low air pressure requirements and are characterized by high capacity and low pressure.

2. CFM
It is very important when spraying paint because it measures how much air can be delivered at a specific pressure. Due to the continuous nature of spraying paint, spray guns require higher CFM ratings than other pneumatic tools.

3. Air tank capacity
The air tank size of the air compressor used for automotive painting affects the overall operation efficiency. Smaller air tanks need to be refilled in large operations such as full vehicle painting. Therefore, air compressors for automotive painting must be equipped with large air tanks because air sprayers need to use compressed air continuously and require a larger air volume.

Airfler offers screw air compressors of various power sizes, and the quality and functions are very suitable for automotive painting. We provide two-stage screw compressors with sufficient CFM flow.


Airfler's air compressors are equipped with water/air cooling dryers and filters to ensure that the car's paint is even and beautiful. Professional sales staff will provide you with purchase guidance and suggestions.