Pressure Washer Tips Chart: A Complete Guide To Choosing The Right One
Have you ruined your pressure washer by using the wrong tips or nozzles? This is because you may not know what type or size of tips your pressure washer requires. In such cases, you need a pressure washer tips chart to ensure perfect fitting and performance. Otherwise, both your labor and money will be worthless.
However, depending on your machine you may need to pick the power washer nozzle or tip. If the nozzle size is too small, it will force the water out in an extensive way which will damage your machine. Again, if the tip size is larger, it will spray water over a larger area. As a result, the machine or other objects will not be properly cleaned.
So, it goes without saying how important it is to use the right angle and size of nozzle for your power washing. In this article, you’ll know the complete pressure washer tip guide, some tips, different color nozzles, and many more.
Pressure Washer Tips Chart: Tips Size, Hole Size, PSI, And More
Usually, tips or nozzles are picked by the pressure washer’s volume and pressure. More specifically, you can determine the right tips or nozzles by looking at the power washer’s GPM and PSI. The standard and vastly used pressure washer spray tips range between 3 to 6.5.
Let’s give an example to clear your thoughts. Suppose, your washer PSI is 2500 and GPM 3.16, then the nozzle’s size should be 4. If you don’t ruin your machine by choosing the wrong pressure washer tip sizes, look at the pressure washer tip guide with the chart.
Tip Size | Orifice Diameter (inch.) | GPM for Different PSI | ||||||||||||||||||
40 | 100 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 1250 | 1500 | 1750 | 2k | 2250 | 2500 | 2.75k | 3k | 3.25k | 3.5k | 3.75k | 4k | 4.5k | 5k | ||
2 | .034 | .20 | .32 | 0.71 | 0.87 | 1 | 1.12 | 1.22 | 1.32 | 1.41 | 1.5 | 1.58 | 1.66 | 1.73 | 1.8 | 1.87 | 1.94 | 2 | 2.12 | 2.24 |
2.5 | .039 | .25 | .40 | 0.88 | 1.08 | 1.25 | 1.4 | 1.53 | 1.65 | 1.77 | 1.88 | 1.98 | 2.07 | 2.17 | 2.25 | 2.34 | 2.42 | 2.5 | 2.65 | 2.8 |
3 | .043 | .30 | .47 | 1.06 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.68 | 1.84 | 1.98 | 2.12 | 2.25 | 2.37 | 2.49 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.81 | 2.9 | 3 | 3.18 | 3.35 |
3.5 | .048 | .35 | .55 | 1.24 | 1.52 | 1.75 | 1.96 | 2.14 | 2.32 | 2.47 | 2.63 | 2.77 | 2.9 | 3.03 | 3.15 | 3.27 | 3.39 | 3.5 | 3.71 | 3.91 |
4 | .052 | .40 | .63 | 1.41 | 1.73 | 2 | 2.24 | 2.45 | 2.65 | 2.83 | 3 | 3.16 | 3.32 | 3.46 | 3.61 | 3.74 | 3.87 | 4 | 4.24 | 4.47 |
4.5 | .055 | .45 | .71 | 1.59 | 1.95 | 2.25 | 2.52 | 2.76 | 2.98 | 3.18 | 3.38 | 3.56 | 3.73 | 3.9 | 4.06 | 4.21 | 4.36 | 4.5 | 4.77 | 5.03 |
5 | .057 | .50 | .79 | 1.77 | 2.17 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.06 | 3.31 | 3.54 | 3.75 | 3.95 | 4.15 | 4.33 | 4.51 | 4.68 | 4.84 | 5 | 5.3 | 5.59 |
5.5 | .060 | .55 | .87 | 1.94 | 2.38 | 2.75 | 3.07 | 3.37 | 3.64 | 3.89 | 4.13 | 4.35 | 4.56 | 4.76 | 4.96 | 5.14 | 5.33 | 5.5 | 5.83 | 6.15 |
6 | .062 | .60 | .95 | 2.12 | 2.6 | 3 | 3.35 | 3.67 | 3.97 | 4.24 | 4.5 | 4.74 | 4.97 | 5.2 | 5.41 | 5.61 | 5.81 | 6 | 6.36 | 6.71 |
6.5 | .064 | .65 | 1.03 | 2.3 | 2.81 | 3.25 | 3.63 | 3.98 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.88 | 5.14 | 5.39 | 5.63 | 5.86 | 6.08 | 6.29 | 6.5 | 6.89 | 7.27 |
7 | .067 | .70 | 1.11 | 2.47 | 3.03 | 3.5 | 3.91 | 4.29 | 4.63 | 4.95 | 5.25 | 5.53 | 5.8 | 6.06 | 6.31 | 6.55 | 6.78 | 7 | 7.42 | 7.83 |
7.5 | .070 | .75 | 1.19 | 2.65 | 3.25 | 3.75 | 4.19 | 4.59 | 4.96 | 5.3 | 5.63 | 5.93 | 6.22 | 6.5 | 6.76 | 7.02 | 7.26 | 7.5 | 7.95 | 8.39 |
8 | .072 | .80 | 1.26 | 2.83 | 3.46 | 4 | 4.47 | 4.9 | 5.29 | 5.66 | 6 | .326 | 6.63 | 6.93 | 7.21 | 7.48 | 7.75 | 8 | 8.49 | 8.94 |
8.5 | .074 | .85 | 1.34 | 3.01 | 3.68 | 4.25 | 4.75 | 5.21 | 5.62 | 6.01 | 6.38 | 6.72 | 7.05 | 7.36 | 7.66 | 7.95 | 8.23 | 8.5 | 9.02 | 9.5 |
9 | .076 | .90 | 1.42 | 3.18 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 5.03 | 5.51 | 5.95 | 6.36 | 6.75 | 7.12 | 7.46 | 7.79 | 8.11 | 8.42 | 8.71 | 9 | 9.55 | 10.06 |
9.5 | .078 | .95 | 1.5 | 3.36 | 4.11 | 4.75 | 5.31 | 5.82 | 6.28 | 6.72 | 7.13 | 7.51 | 7.88 | 8.23 | 8.56 | 8.89 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 10.08 | 10.62 |
10 | .080 | 1 | 1.58 | 3.54 | 4.33 | 5 | 5.59 | 6.12 | 6.61 | 7.07 | 7.5 | 7.91 | 8.29 | 8.66 | 9.01 | 9.35 | 9.68 | 10 | 10.61 | 11.18 |
11 | .083 | 1.10 | 1.74 | 3.89 | 4.76 | 5.5 | 6.15 | 6.74 | 7.28 | 7.78 | 8.25 | 8.7 | 9.12 | 9.53 | 9.92 | 10.29 | 10.65 | 11 | 11.67 | 12.3 |
12 | .087 | 1.20 | 1.9 | 4.24 | 5.2 | 6 | 6.71 | 7.35 | 7.94 | 8.49 | 9 | 9.49 | 9.95 | 10.39 | 10.82 | 11.22 | 11.62 | 12 | 12.73 | 13.42 |
12.5 | .089 | 1.25 | 1.98 | 4.42 | 5.41 | 6.25 | 6.99 | 7.65 | 8.27 | 8.84 | 9.38 | 9.88 | 10.36 | 10.83 | 11.27 | 11.69 | 12.1 | 12.5 | 13.26 | 13.98 |
13 | .091 | 1.30 | 2.06 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 8.39 | 9.19 | 9.92 | 10.61 | 11.25 | 11.86 | 12.44 | 12.99 | 13.52 | 14.03 | 14.52 | 15 | 15.91 | 16.77 |
15 | .096 | 1.50 | 2.37 | 7.07 | 8.66 | 10 | 11.18 | 12.25 | 13.23 | 14.14 | 15 | 15.81 | 16.58 | 17.32 | 18.03 | 18.71 | 19.36 | 20 | 21.21 | 22.36 |
20 | .109 | 2 | 3.16 | 8.84 3 | 10.8 | 12.5 | 13.98 | 15.31 | 16.54 | 17.68 | 18.75 | 19.76 | 20.73 | 21.65 | 22.53 | 23.39 | 24.21 | 25 | 26.52 | 27.95 |
25 | .125 | 2.50 | 3.95 | 10.61 | 12.99 | 15 | 16.77 | 18.37 | 19.84 | 21.21 | 22.5 | 23.72 | 24.87 | 25.98 | 27.04 | 28.06 | 29.05 | 30 | 31.82 | 33.54 |
30 | .141 | 3 | 4.74 | 10.61 | 12.99 | 15 | 16.77 | 18.37 | 19.84 | 21.21 | 22.5 | 23.72 | 24.87 | 25.98 | 27.04 | 28.06 | 29.05 | 30 | 31.82 | 33.54 |
40 | .156 | 4 | 6.32 | 14.14 | 17.32 | 20 | 22.36 | 24.49 | 26.46 | 28.28 | 30 | 31.62 | 33.17 | 34.64 | 36.06 | 37.42 | 38.73 | 40 | 42.43 | 44.72 |
50 | .172 | 5 | 7.91 | 17.68 | 21.65 | 25 | 27.95 | 30.62 | 33.07 | 35.36 | 37.5 | 39.53 | 41.46 | 43.3 | 45.07 | 46.77 | 48.41 | 50 | 53.03 | 55.9 |
60 | .188 | 6 | 9.49 | 21.21 | 25.98 | 30 | 33.54 | 36.74 | 39.69 | 42.43 | 45 | 47.43 |
Different Types Of Tips/Nozzle Color Chart (Based On The Angle) And How They Work
Different pressure washers have different nozzle tip sizes. Technically, there are different nozzles and they perform differently as well. Among them, 5 pressure washing nozzle degrees (color-based) with other special pressure washing tips are given below. By reading this chart, you can determine the perfect pressure washing spray tip sizes for your machine.
Nozzle Color/Name | Pressure Angle | Used For/Best Application | Cautious |
Red (Blasting Nozzle) | 0° | Very powerful sprayer and is used for eliminating solid staff like weeds from sidewalk cracks. In addition, any gum-based objects from concrete, aluminum, steel, and masonry can be removed by it. It is widely used in lawn mower underside cleaning and removing caked mud from equipment. | Don’t use this tip on any soft surface. Its powerfully pressurized water stream can damage wood or siding. |
Yellow (Chiseling Nozzle) | 15° | Applicable for removing thick and heavy dirt, stain, dirty concrete, brick, peeling paint, gutters, bugs, etc. | Never use this on a soft surface, especially on wood or vinyl siding as it also sprays the water powerfully. |
Green (Flushing Nozzle with narrower spraying pattern) | 25° | Perfect for cleaning lots of surfaces as it has a more spacious spraying pattern than the above two. Best to remove damp leaves from walkways, curbs, driveways, gutters, aluminum rims, and more. | |
White (Wash Nozzle and Wide Spraying Pattern) | 40° | An incredible option for cleaning windows, rooftop, cars, boats, aluminum siding, patios, and any softer surface. | |
Black (Low-Pressure Nozzle) | 60° | It is a detergent nozzle that can be used when applying detergent to your projects. When low-pressure rinsing is needed, this is often used. | |
Turbo | 0° to 25° | Used to amplify and optimize the pressure and ensures fast cleaning requiring less hassle. It can spray between 0 and 25 degrees. The circular motion allows to clean tough staff. | |
Soap | 65° | Usually operates at 65 degrees, so their spraying pattern is wider than others. Therefore, it is sprayed with a foaming agent or detergent. You can use it to clean cars and boats very quickly, and there is no need to worry about peeling paint. | |
Adjustable Nozzle (All-in-one nozzle) | Not specific | Excellent because it has all the angles you need in one. So you can use this anywhere to clean or take off grim. | |
Sewer Nozzle | 0 to 45° | Use to clean the sewer. |
Note: Stay away from misconceptions about nozzles. Pacific Bay says, there is a rumor that nozzles can be used on all machines. Different nozzles or tips come for different machines, depending on machine pressure and volume.
A Helpful Tutorial You May Need!
4 Tips To Choose The Right Pressure Washer Tip
Still, don’t understand which pressure washer nozzle tip sizes suit your machine? Don’t worry. Here are some decision-making ideas to choose the desired one.
Tip #1: Know The Nozzle Types
First, you should understand the different types of nozzles and their functionality. There are many nozzles for different tasks to perform.
Red nozzles are powerful and can’t be used in any place. Its fast and powerful spraying pattern damages any soft surface easily. If you need to clean or remove solid objects, choose the red one. For your lawn or any soft cleaning task, a white nozzle would be excellent.
According to Pro Tool Reviews, a general rule of thumb is-
No matter what pressure washer you have. Always try to choose the widest nozzle or tip if your power washer allows it or if there is any scope. As a result, you can clean the surface effectively without leaving damage.
Key Note: Never spray the surface you clean for a long when spraying with the red and yellow nozzle. Noticeably, it changes the object’s shape and leaves significant damage.
Tip #2: The Orifice Size Need To Keep In Mind
Nozzle orifice (hole) size is crucial when choosing the right one for your power washer. The orifice of the nozzles helps to determine the machine’s operating pressure. You can’t just guess the size. This will be a total waste of money and will ruin your machine or cleaning objects understandably. The orifice size is mentioned on the pressure washer tip size chart along with GPM and PSI.
Remember two things before choosing the right orifice nozzle.
- Nozzles with larger size holes decrease the working pressure of the machine.
- A nozzle with a smaller orifice restricts the water flow and helps the machine to take an extreme load.
Tip #3: Know The Machine’s PSI And GPM
To avoid costly mistakes, you should look at the machine’s PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) and the GPM (Gallon Per Minute) rating. You can find these numbers on the pump’s metal plate.
Apart from this, look at the user manual. And if you lost the user manual, we suggest going to the manufacturer’s website. Once you have done searching the PSI and GPM, you are all set to choose the right nozzle.
Tip #4: Know About Your Needs
Lastly, you know what you need. If you are dealing with solid grim or long-time uncleaned surfaces, choose strong spraying power washer tips. But don’t forget the machine’s RPM, PSI, and GPM rating. Focusing on that, choose the desired one to get the most out of it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No doubt, the red tip (0°-nozzle) is the strongest pressure washer tip for its powerful concentrated stream. It is also known as a cutting nozzle that works on a specific surface strongly. The purpose of using it is to cut solid stains from concrete and other rock surfaces.
After that, the yellow nozzle comes to the place. It works at a 45° angle and works like a scraper. There is no worry to take off tough paint, grease, and bugs when you have a 15° nozzle. Green, white, and black will come next respectively.
Arguably, it depends on what type of job you want to finish. Each of the pressure washer tips comes in handy for different tasks. However, as mentioned before that choosing the widest spraying pattern tips will always be an appropriate choice. So using the white nozzle (40°) will be perfect for its wide spraying pattern. Its versatile usability and perfection make it stand out.
Some mind-blowing ways tell you which nozzle you should choose for your machine. First, make sure what type of work you are doing. If it’s something like cutting solid stain, choosing the strongest spraying pattern nozzle is the best. Besides, choosing the exact tips requires knowing the machine’s RPMs, GPM ratings, PSI, and other factors.
Thorough Clean says, A turbo nozzle efficiently increases the cleaning pressure (PSI) by about 60% by changing the fan nozzle. It can increase the pressure from 2200 to 3520 PSI. Rather than a fan jet stream, the water is condensed down into a pencil jet stream. This is how the work is done. According to the University of Georgia Extension, A 110-degree fan angle can be used on this nozzle.
Final Takeaway
Don’t overlook the importance of selecting the right nozzle when dealing with strong stuff or preventing premature damage to your machine. If you think so, you’re going to attempt a costly mistake. There are some crucial factors involved when choosing the right pressure washer tips.
Before buying the nozzles, carefully look at the PSI, GPM, orifice size, machine operating RPM, etc. Otherwise, you can’t pick the right one for your project.
We care about your needs and know how frustrating it is to destroy expensive stuff by using the wrong washer pressure spraying tip sizes. We mentioned the pressure washer tip chart to make it easy for you. Through that chart, you can understand the PSI, hole size, GPM, etc. Selecting the right pressure washer tips is now effortless, isn’t it?
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