If you’ve ever stood in front of a rack of spray tips wondering what the numbers mean, you’re not alone. Choosing the wrong tip is one of the most common reasons for poor finish quality, wasted paint, and frustration on the job. This guide explains exactly how airless spray tips work and which size to use for common NZ painting jobs.
What Do the Numbers on a Spray Tip Mean?
Every airless spray tip has a three-digit number — for example, 517 or 415. These two numbers tell you everything you need to know:
The first digit tells you the fan width. Multiply it by 2 and you get the fan width in inches at 30cm from the surface. So a tip starting with 5 gives you a 10-inch fan. A tip starting with 4 gives an 8-inch fan.
The last two digits tell you the orifice size — the hole the paint passes through — measured in thousandths of an inch. A 517 has a 0.017-inch orifice. A 415 has a 0.015-inch orifice. The bigger the orifice, the more paint flows through, and the heavier the coating it can handle.
Quick Reference: Common Tip Sizes for NZ Jobs
- 209 / 211 / 311 — Narrow fan, small orifice. Best for trim, architraves, window frames, and furniture. Gives you control on detailed work.
- 415 / 417 — Medium fan, mid-size orifice. A versatile all-rounder for interior walls and ceilings with standard latex paints.
- 515 / 517 — Wide fan, larger orifice. The go-to tip for exterior walls, large ceilings, and new plasterboard. The 517 is one of the most popular tips in New Zealand for good reason — it suits most water-based house paints and gives fast, even coverage on large surfaces.
- 519 / 521 — Wide fan, large orifice. For roofs, texture coatings, and high-build products that need more material flow.
Choosing by Paint Type
- Lacquers, stains, enamels — Use a small orifice (09–13). These are thin materials that clog easily with a large tip.
- Standard interior/exterior acrylics — A 415, 417, 515, or 517 covers most situations.
- Primers and undercoats — Slightly heavier, so step up one orifice size from your topcoat tip.
- Roof paint and texture coatings — These are thick and require a 519, 521, or larger.
How Do You Know When a Tip is Worn Out?
A new tip sprays an oval fan pattern. As it wears, the pattern becomes “tailed” — thicker at the edges, thin in the middle. A worn tip uses more paint, gives a patchy finish, and makes your pump work harder. As a rule of thumb, replace your tip every 40–50 litres of paint sprayed, or sooner if you notice tailing.
Do All Tips Fit All Guns?
No — and this catches people out. Most professional airless guns use a standard RAC-style tip seat, but some brands (Wagner in particular) use their own fittings. Always check your gun’s tip guard type before ordering. If you’re unsure, contact us at Paintfix and we’ll confirm compatibility before you buy
Where to Buy Spray Tips in New Zealand
Paintfix stocks airless spray tips for professional and DIY painters across New Zealand, with fast shipping from Whakatane. The 517 tip is a popular choice and regularly in stock.
Browse our spray tips paintfix.co.nz