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If you’ve ever shopped for an airless paint sprayer, you probably came across several professional models made by Graco. Some of them sell for well over $1,000. I’ve been a Graco fan for years, so I was excited to test the company’s DIY-friendly Magnum X5 model as part of a larger hands-on test to determine the best airless paint sprayers.
Could a budget-friendly airless paint sprayer provide a professional finish? The Graco Magnum X5 did just that. While it doesn’t have quite as much pressure as some of the pricier models, it has more than enough to impart a flawless finish. Keep in mind that technique is a big part of spray-painting success. If you take the time to use the correct technique, Graco’s Magnum X5 will take your painting projects to the next level.
Keep reading to find out more about how the Magnum X5 performed in my tests, what I like best about this paint sprayer, and what I think Graco could do to make it even better.
Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer: At a Glance
Our rating: 4/5
| What We Like | What We Don’t Like |
| Easy-to-adjust spray pressure | No wrench for hose attachment |
| Power flush adapter for easier cleanup | Only 1 spray tip included |
| Stainless steel piston pump |
| Graco Magnum X5 Specs | |
| Type | Corded electric |
| Maximum pounds per square inch (PSI) | 3,000 |
| Hose length | 25 feet |
| Weight | 17 pounds |
Testing the Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer
Airless paint sprayers are finely tuned tools that require the proper painting technique to achieve professional-quality results. With some, however, a flawless finish is easier to obtain than with others. This Graco paint sprayer fits that bill. I assessed several aspects of the sprayer, noting the quality of the build, the complexity of assembly, the ability to adjust the pressure, and the overall performance.
I tested the Graco Magnum X5 on drywall, dimensional lumber, plywood, and, finally, on a couple of pre-primed bifold doors for an actual client. While the Magnum X5 is designed primarily for DIYers, it’s also ideal for small-to-medium interior and exterior projects. I achieved professional results on the bifold doors.
Assembly and Startup
The Graco Magnum X5 airless paint sprayer came mostly assembled. All I had to do was attach the 25-foot hose to the pump unit and then connect the spray paint gun to the other end of the hose. Both connect via twist-on nuts that should be tightened with a wrench. Graco didn’t include a wrench, so I used one of my own, but it would be nice if the Magnum X5 came with a wrench that could be stored on the body of the pump itself.
Startup was a breeze. Like other paint sprayers, I had to prime the pump on the Magnum X5 before I could start painting. This involved pouring latex paint into a clean bucket, inserting the intake tube into the paint, and then inserting the detachable discharge tube into a separate bucket. After doing that, I turned on the machine and flipped the primer lever. Paint was immediately drawn up the tube, and within 10 to 15 seconds, paint came out of the discharge tube. I flipped the lever back off; that’s all it took to prime the pump.
The next step was to bleed the air from the blue spray-gun hose. That was also simple—I just aimed the paint gun at a piece of cardboard and pulled the trigger. Fifteen seconds later, the paint started coming out and I was ready to start testing.
Pro Tip: Always pour your paint through a strainer before adding it to the bucket for spray painting. Paint strainers that fit on buckets are inexpensive and prevent clogs, which can halt your project while you flush out the lines.
Painting Performance
This Graco airless paint sprayer has a flow rate of 0.27 gallons per minute (GPM) and a maximum pressure of 3,000 PSI. Its flow rate is slightly less than another Graco paint sprayer I tested—the Magnum ProX19, which has a 0.38 GPM flow rate—but I found the X5’s rate to be more than sufficient for most DIY projects, such as painting a deck, furniture, or exterior siding on an average-size house.
I was able to tweak the fineness of the paint spray by turning a large pressure knob located on the side of the X5. I was looking for a very fine spray pattern that was solid in the center but gradually faded at the edges. Very little pressure adjusting was required to get an optimal spray pattern.
The Magnum X5 comes with a TrueAirless 515 spray tip already attached. The 515 is a good all-around interior/exterior spray tip and performed well in my tests. However, adding one or two more TrueAirless spray tips would make this Graco airless paint sprayer even more versatile.
Pro Tip: If you’re painting with vertical motions, adjust the spray tip (by turning the tip holder) so the spray comes out horizontally. Adjust the spray tip to a vertical pattern if you’re painting with horizontal motions.
Cleanup and Storage
Cleaning an airless sprayer after painting is always one of the most time-consuming parts of the whole process, and that holds true for the Graco X5 paint sprayer as well. Fortunately, Graco incorporated power-flush capability, which allowed me to attach the pump to a garden hose for faster flushing. That was quicker than manually flushing the system, but it still required taking time and making sure all the paint was out of the lines and that the water from the pump ran clear.
Graco also included a bottle of Pump Armor, a solution that squirts into the pump’s intake port to keep it clean and clear during storage. In the past, I’ve used a mixture of Dawn dish soap and plain water at a 1:1 ratio for keeping the pump clean during storage, but I liked being able to use the Pump Armor, which comes in its own squirt bottle—it was a real time-saver.
After detaching the spray gun from the hose, I removed the 515 spray tip and soaked both for a few hours in clean water as an extra precaution. Then, I scrubbed both to remove all traces of paint before packing them away.
Professional Results at a DIY-Level Price Tag
As of this writing, the Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer is priced around $370, depending on the retailer. That’s about midrange for a good DIY paint sprayer, but the Magnum X5 offers excellent results for small- to medium-size projects. I obtained a flawless finish on the bifold doors I painted by applying three fine coats. The X5 imparted a fine, uniform spray that dried to perfection.
Keep in mind that your results can vary based on your painting experience, but once you learn the correct technique (always use a test board first), you can apply a professional finish with this airless paint sprayer.
Product Comparisons
| Graco Magnum X5 | Wagner Spraytech130 | Vevor Airless | Titan ControlMax 1700 | |
| Price | $369 | $229 | $146.24 | $349 |
| Max Pressure | 3,000 PSI | Not listed | 3,000 PSI | 1,500 PSI |
| Type | Corded electric | Corded electric | Corded electric | Corded electric |
Is the Graco paint sprayer right for you?
You won’t go wrong with this affordable Graco paint sprayer if you’re looking for a high-quality airless paint sprayer for small-to-medium projects, such as painting fences, decks, and furniture. It comes with a 25-foot hose but can be upgraded to a 75-foot hose if desired. It features a 0.5 horsepower motor with a max flow rate of 0.27 GPM. In testing, it did a great job of achieving a flawless finish with latex paint.
However, if you’re looking for a sprayer for larger projects or commercial jobs, you may want to consider one like the Graco Magnum ProX19, which handles thicker paints and supports hoses up to 150 feet long. For most handymen and DIYers, the Magnum X5 offers more than enough power to provide professional results on interior and exterior painting projects.
Where to Buy the Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer
Get the Graco Magnum Airless Paint Sprayer at:
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a contractor, product tester, and writer focusing primarily on construction, DIY tools, and remodeling techniques and products.
