Picking the wrong airless spray tip wastes paint, burns billable hours, and leaves a finish you'll have to come back and re-coat. Use this chart to lock in the right orifice and fan width for latex, stain, or oil-based enamel — in 30 seconds — then check your sprayer can actually handle it.
How to Read an Airless Tip Number
Every airless tip has a three-digit code. The math is simple:
- First digit × 2 = fan width (in inches, measured 12" from the surface)
- Last two digits = orifice size (in thousandths of an inch)
Example: a 515 tip sprays a 10-inch fan through a 0.015" orifice. A 311 sprays a 6-inch fan through a 0.011" orifice. Wider fans cover ground faster but demand more flow; smaller orifices atomize thin materials cleanly.
What the prefix tells you: the three digits set orifice and fan width, but the letters or digits in front of them identify the OEM line and guard. Graco — 286 = RAC 5, LTX = RAC X, FFLP = fine finish low pressure tips (stain and cabinets), 269 = contractor flat, TRU = RAC IV (TrueAirless). Titan — 330 = HEA, 661/662 = SC-6. The three-digit size code itself is universal across brands: a 515 is a 515 whether it’s a Graco or a Titan tip, so match the size first, then pick the prefix and guard that fits your sprayer.
Best Spray Tip Size by Material
| Material | Orifice Range | Common Tip Codes | Tip Family | Fan Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latex paint — walls & ceilings | .015 – .019 | 515, 517, 519 | Standard or Large Barrel | 10" |
| Latex paint — trim & doors | .013 – .015 | 313, 315, 413 | Standard | 6 – 8" |
| Stain — interior & exterior | .010 – .012 | 210, 310, 410, 412 | Fine Finish Low Pressure | 4 – 8" |
| Oil-based enamel — cabinets & trim | .010 – .013 | 210, 310, 311, 412 | Fine Finish Low Pressure | 4 – 8" |
Note: When a paint manufacturer prints a specific tip range on the can or spec sheet, follow their number — Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Valspar tune their formulations to specific orifice sizes. Use this chart when no spec is available.
Latex Paint — Walls, Ceilings, Trim
Latex is a medium-viscosity material that atomizes well through mid-range orifices. For broad surfaces, run a wider fan to cover ground; for cut-in work, narrow the fan to control overspray.
Walls and ceilings: a 515 spray tip (.015 / 10" fan) is the workhorse for most interior latex jobs and the highest-volume tip on production repaint crews running a 395 or 695. Step up to a 517 (.017) for thicker premium paints, or a 519 (.019) for exterior siding and ceilings where speed matters more than finish. If you're running a RAC X guard, the large-barrel 517 version handles thicker coatings with less tip wear over a long job.
Trim and doors in latex: drop to a 6-inch fan with a smaller orifice. A 313 (.013 / 6" fan) or 315 (.015 / 6" fan) are the standard picks for baseboards, casing, and interior doors. A 413 (.013 / 8" fan) gives you a touch more coverage for door slabs.
Stain — Interior & Exterior
Stain is a thin, low-viscosity material — it floods a standard tip and creates runs. You need a small orifice and low pressure so the stain atomizes without flooding the surface. Fine finish low pressure tips are built for this exact job.
Run a 200-mesh inlet filter to keep particulates from clogging the small orifice, and drop your sprayer pressure to roughly 1,500 – 2,000 PSI before opening the gun.
Recommended tips:
- 210 fine finish low pressure tip (.010 / 4" fan) — narrow stain work like spindles and lattice
- 310 fine finish low pressure tip (.010 / 6" fan) — most common pick for deck rails, fences, siding boards
- 410 fine finish low pressure tip (.010 / 8" fan) — broad horizontal surfaces like deck boards and outbuilding siding
- 412 fine finish low pressure tip (.012 / 8" fan) — slightly thicker exterior stains and semi-transparent finishes
Oil-Based Enamel — Cabinets, Trim, Furniture
Oil-based enamels and waterborne urethane cabinet coatings are heavier than stain but demand a glass-smooth finish — the standard cabinet-shop production challenge. You want a tight fan (4–6") and a small orifice so the material lays down flat without ripples or orange peel. The fine finish low pressure family is purpose-built for this — lower pressure means slower particle velocity, which means the material has time to flow out and self-level.
Keep your pressure around 1,800 – 2,200 PSI. Higher pressure causes tails (heavy edges on the fan pattern) and overspray; lower pressure causes spitting.
Recommended tips:
- 210 fine finish low pressure tip (.010 / 4" fan) — narrow trim, mullions, cabinet face frames
- 310 fine finish low pressure tip (.010 / 6" fan) — cabinet doors and drawer fronts, the most-used size
- 311 fine finish low pressure tip (3-pack) (.011 / 6" fan) — slightly more flow for thicker enamels and primers
- 412 fine finish low pressure tip (.012 / 8" fan) — wider passes on larger pieces like wardrobes and built-ins
Check Your Sprayer's Max Tip Rating Before You Buy
Every airless sprayer has a maximum tip orifice it can drive at full pressure. Use a tip larger than the rating and your sprayer will lose pressure, pulse, or burn the motor. Here's where the common models land:
| Sprayer | Max Tip Size | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Graco Ultra 395 | .023" | Pro contractor — full residential / light commercial |
| Graco 695 | .029" | Pro contractor — commercial, multi-gun |
| Graco 795 | .031" | Heavy commercial — block fill, elastomeric |
| Titan Impact 440 | .023" | Pro contractor — Titan equivalent to the Graco 395 |
| Graco 390 | .021" | Light contractor — residential repaints |
| Graco Magnum X7 | .017" | Homeowner / property maintenance — interior latex |
| Graco Magnum X5 | .015" | Homeowner — light interior latex |
If the material recommendation exceeds your sprayer's max: step down to the smaller orifice in the recommended range (e.g., use a 515 instead of a 517 on a Magnum X5), thin the paint slightly with the manufacturer's approved additive, or upgrade the sprayer. Don't try to "push through" with an oversized tip — it shortens pump life and you'll never get a clean fan pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a wall tip (515/517) for trim work?
Technically yes, but expect heavy overspray and a wider fan than the trim can absorb. You'll waste paint and spend longer masking. A 313 or 315 in the same orifice but with a 6-inch fan is the right tool for trim — the cost difference is small and the finish is dramatically cleaner.
What's the difference between RAC 5 and RAC X guards?
RAC 5 is Graco's older guard system, still standard on Magnum, 390, and most 395-series sprayers. RAC X is the newer thicker-thread guard found on 495+ and Ultra Max models — it locks down tighter and handles higher pressures. The tips are not interchangeable between the two systems. Browse the full Bedford tips collection and filter by guard type (RAC 5, RAC X, or XHD) to make sure you're ordering the right mount.
How often should I replace my spray tip?
A worn tip is the #1 cause of finish problems contractors blame on the sprayer. Signs of wear: the fan pattern develops tails (heavy paint at the edges), the orifice egg-shapes from round to oval, output volume drops, or you find yourself cranking pressure higher than usual to get a clean pattern. As a rule of thumb, expect 50 – 200 gallons of paint through a tip before it needs replacing — abrasive materials like primer, block fill, and exterior stains wear tips faster than interior latex.
Cross-Reference: Common Graco Tip Part Numbers
Shopping by OEM part number? The tip sizes in this guide correspond to these common Graco part numbers — Bedford Precision manufactures a compatible replacement for each one:
- Graco 286515, 286517, 286519 — compatible with the 515, 517, and 519 tips for walls, ceilings, and exterior latex
- Graco 286313, 286315, 286413 — compatible with the 313, 315, and 413 tips for trim, doors, and baseboards
- Graco FFLP210, FFLP310, FFLP311, FFLP410, FFLP412 — compatible with the 210, 310, 311, 410, and 412 fine finish low pressure tips for stain, enamel, and cabinet work
- Graco LTX517 — compatible with the large-barrel 517 tip for RAC X guards
Each Bedford replacement tip matches the OEM orifice size and fan width and fits your existing guard. Browse the tips collection by size, or search for the part number stamped on your current tip.
Shop the Right Tip
Bedford Precision stocks compatible replacement tips for every Graco and Titan airless sprayer, in singles and multi-packs, at well below dealer pricing. Browse the full tips collection, or jump straight to the family that matches your job — Standard for general latex, Fine Finish Low Pressure for cabinets and stain, or Large Barrel for RAC X sprayers.
Graco, Titan, RAC, RAC 5, RAC X, Magnum, and Ultra are trademarks of their respective owners. Bedford Precision Parts is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by these manufacturers. OEM brand names and part numbers are used for compatibility reference only; Bedford tips are compatible replacements manufactured to OEM-equivalent dimensions for proper fit and performance.