Can you spray latex yourself? Yes, you can. You can rent or buy a latex spray machine, strain the paint, mask and get started yourself. It is not an impossible job, but it takes more preparation than many people expect, and you need the right sprayer, the right tip opening and respiratory protection. On this page you can read what is involved, why an airless sprayer does not use a compressor and when it is better to leave it to a latex sprayer. We spray from €7.95 per m2, and the exact price is in the quote.
Can I spray latex myself? This is what is involved
Spraying latex yourself is mainly a matter of preparation. The spraying itself is fast, the work around it is not. Think of:
- Emptying or covering the room, including floor, windows, frames and sockets.
- Checking and repairing the surface. Holes, cracks and inside corners have to be sorted first.
- Straining and thinning the paint according to the manufacturer.
- Setting up the sprayer, testing on scrap and only then going onto the wall.
- Clearing up and cleaning the sprayer properly.
Wagner writes that even beginners with a sprayer apply paint four times faster than with a brush or roller (Wagner, as of 6 October 2026). That is a claim by the manufacturer. Set against that, a first time is usually slower and less crisp than you hope. For a bedroom or partition wall, spraying yourself is feasible. For a complete home with ceilings and a stairwell, it pays to have a professional take a look. What that costs you can see under latex spraying cost per m2.
Renting or buying a latex spray machine
Anyone who wants to spray themselves often searches for a latex spray machine to rent. That is common at hire companies and DIY stores. Rental prices differ per provider and per week, and we have not been able to verify a reliable amount. So always ask for the full price, including spray hose, tip, filters and cleaning.
When renting, look at these points:
- Is the machine suitable for water-based wall paint (latex)?
- Which tip opening goes with your paint? For Sigma Air Pure Supermatt the manufacturer gives an opening of 0.018 to 0.021 inch.
- Do you get a short explanation and a manual?
- Who cleans the sprayer, and what happens if a part clogs?
Buying is only interesting if you are going to spray a lot. For one or two rooms, renting or having it done is usually more logical. You can find more about the technique under airless wall spraying.
Spraying latex with a compressor or airless?
A frequently asked question is whether you can spray latex with a compressor. For walls and ceilings the usual method is different. An airless spray machine pumps up the paint and pressurises it, without using air. That is stated in the brochure from Graco (as of 6 October 2026). So for airless you do not need a compressor. The paint is forced through a small opening and breaks up into a fine mist.
Systems where air atomises the paint also exist, but that is a different technique with a different sprayer. So when renting, always check which type you get and whether it suits your paint. An airless sprayer works at high pressure. Graco mentions pressures up to 207 bar and advises starting at the lowest pressure setting and raising it gradually until the coat is even. For Sigma Air Pure Supermatt a spray pressure of 16.5 MPa is given.
Tip opening, distance and thinning: the settings
If you spray latex yourself, three things determine the result: the tip, the pressure and the distance. Graco explains that you can read the tip code: the first digit times 5 is the spray width in centimetres at 30 cm distance, the last two digits give the opening in thousandths of an inch. A 515 tip therefore gives roughly 25 cm width and 0.015 inch.
Graco also advises straining the paint and using the right filters, and keeping about 30 cm distance. For thinning with airless, Sigma gives 0 to 10 per cent tap water. Note that the tip in Graco's example is not necessarily suitable for your paint: always follow the data sheet of the paint itself (Sigma data sheet).
Safety when spraying yourself: respiratory protection and covering
Spraying puts a fine mist into the air. Wagner advises wearing respiratory protection with overspray. That also applies to water-based latex. Also wear goggles and protective clothing, make sure nobody else is in the room and keep pets out.
High pressure calls for care with the spray gun and hose: never point the gun at yourself or anyone else, and read the hirer's manual for the safety lock. Ventilation and waiting times after the work are important, but we have not found a reliable figure on that. So read the safety information on the paint packaging.
See also our explanation of the disadvantages of latex spraying.
DIY spraying or hiring a decorator, in a table
A comparison of the two options, without figures we cannot support:
| Aspect | Spraying latex yourself | Hiring a latex sprayer |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Rent a sprayer, arrange tip and filters | Professional airless equipment |
| Preparation | Mask and repair everything yourself | Masking, small repairs and filling of inside corners included |
| Hand sanding | Do it yourself | Included in our package |
| Number of coats | You decide | Always two coats of latex |
| Safety | Own respiratory protection needed | Protected working and shielding |
| Clearing up | Clean the sprayer yourself | Clearing up and handover included |
A worked example: 60 m2 in the Basic package comes to 60 times 7.95, so €477.00. Just an example, because the exact price is in the quote.
Spraying latex yourself or outsourcing: cost, time and risks side by side
Spraying latex yourself saves labour costs, but takes an investment of time and tools. Hiring a latex sprayer costs more per m2, but you have no worries about masking, spraying and clearing up.
What does DIY spraying cost?
According to Kooistra Stuc (as of 6 October 2026), renting an airless spray machine costs about €50 to €100 per day. With latex paint and masking material added, the same source puts it at €200 to €400 for materials and hire. Allow at least 1 day for careful masking and preparation, and 1 day for spraying and cleaning the machine.
The risks of spraying yourself
- Spray mist (overspray) throughout the room if you do not mask everything.
- Visible strips or patches because of the wrong pressure, tip opening or coat thickness.
- Hassle with cleaning the spray machine afterwards.
Tip: practise first
Going to do it yourself after all? Then practise first in an attic, a shed or on a board, before you start on the living room.
What does outsourcing cost?
Price guides quote between roughly €10 and €16 per m2 for having latex sprayed (Homedeal) and from €12.50 per m2 (Kooistra Stuc). With us, spray work starts from €7.95 per m2, including masking, sanding, filling and two coats. In our experience an average family home is finished in 1 to 2 days.
| Aspect | Spraying latex yourself | Hiring a latex sprayer |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Hire approx. €50 to €100 per day, plus paint and masking material | Price per m2, with us from €7.95 |
| Time | At least 1 day preparing and 1 day spraying and cleaning | Home often finished in 1 to 2 days |
| Risk | Spray mist, strips, patches | Experience with pressure and coat thickness, two coats |
| Masking and clearing up | Do it yourself | Included |
| Payment | Hire and materials upfront | Only after completion |
When is it better to hire a latex sprayer?
Spraying yourself is sensible for a small, empty room and if you enjoy DIY. Hiring a latex sprayer is more sensible for:
- a whole home or several ceilings;
- a lived-in home where covering is a lot of work;
- a surface with many repairs or texture;
- a schedule in which you have little time.
We come to look, measure and discuss the surface. Is your home in Haarlem or Heemstede? Then look at latex spraying Haarlem and latex spraying Heemstede. Still torn between doing it yourself and having it done? Also read rolling or spraying latex or ask for a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I spray latex myself?
Yes, with an airless sprayer that you rent or buy. Do expect a lot of preparation: masking, repairing, straining the paint and a good set-up. For a single room it is feasible, for a whole home it becomes heavy.
Can you spray latex paint?
Yes, water-based wall paint can be sprayed with an airless sprayer. Follow the instructions on the data sheet. For Air Pure Supermatt, Sigma gives for example 0 to 10 per cent thinning with tap water and a tip opening of 0.018 to 0.021 inch.
Can I rent or buy an airless latex paint sprayer?
That is possible at hire companies and some DIY stores. Ask for the total price including tip, hose and filters, and whether you get an explanation. Rental prices differ per provider, which is why we quote no amount.
Do I need a compressor for latex spraying?
Not with airless spraying. Graco describes that an airless spray machine pressurises the paint without using air. Systems with air also exist, but that is a different type of sprayer from what is usual for walls and ceilings.
What is the difference between airless spraying and spraying with a compressor?
With airless the paint is forced through a small opening at high pressure, without air. With an air sprayer, air is used to atomise. Always check in the manual whether the sprayer suits your paint.
What safety equipment do I need?
Wagner advises respiratory protection with overspray. Also wear goggles, gloves and clothing that is allowed to get dirty, and make sure others do not enter the room while you spray.
Is spraying yourself cheaper than a latex sprayer?
In labour costs, yes: you mainly pay for hiring the spray machine (roughly €50 to €100 per day according to Kooistra Stuc) and materials. Against that, you lose at least 2 days to masking, spraying and cleaning, and you risk spray mist and strips. A latex sprayer costs more per m2, but you have no worries about the work.
How long before I can spray the second coat?
With Sigma Air Pure Supermatt the paint is dry after about 1 hour and overpaintable after 4 hours at 23 degrees and 50 per cent humidity. Always use the data sheet of your own paint.
What happens if spraying it myself goes wrong?
Common problems are drips, an uneven coat or a clogged tip. Usually it needs sanding and spraying again. After such an attempt we can come and look and give a quote for the repair.
Do you also spray in my municipality?
We work within a radius of 30 km around Haarlem. Look at the service area overview or call +31 6 38048347, and we will see together whether your address falls within the area.
More about spray painting walls and ceilings
- spray painting in Haarlem
- latex spraying Amsterdam
- service area around Haarlem
- knowledge base on latex and lacquer spraying
- request a quote
Written by Sander, latex sprayer at Meesterspuiters in Haarlem, with more than 10 years of experience in latex and lacquer spraying. Updated on 6 October 2026. More background in our knowledge base.
