What Size Air Compressor Do I Need in 2024?

To determine what size air compressor you need, the first thing you should know is the major factors that determine the working competence of an air compressor, and then consider the type of air compressor based on your actual situation and requirements for compressed air.

Here are some points for reference.

what size air compressor do i need

What determines a good air compressor?

what size air compressor do i need for home use

Horsepower

Horsepower is an important indicator of the working capacity of an air compressor, but this does not mean that the higher the horsepower of an air compressor, the better. Most consumers do not know many parameters of air compressors, and horsepower is the most commonly known.

Therefore, most air compressor suppliers began to use high horsepower as a gimmick, a marketing strategy to attract more consumers. The horsepower indicated in the advertisements placed by suppliers usually does not take into account the efficiency or actual power output of the air compressor under load. Efficiency plays a vital role in determining the actual power output of the air compressor.

A more efficient machine will output more power with the same input energy. To illustrate this point, for example: 1 horsepower is approximately equal to 0.746 kilowatts. Therefore, in theory, a 100-horsepower machine should be able to provide about 74.6 kilowatts of power.

However, due to factors such as mechanical losses and the actual efficiency conversion of the air compressor, the actual output power may be significantly lower. At the same time, more horsepower also means a higher price and higher energy costs. This highlights why it is important to consider not only horsepower but also efficiency and other factors when evaluating air compressors.

Working pressure

It is one of the key indicators to measure the performance of air compressors. It is essential to ensure the normal operation of the system and meet the needs of specific applications. It is generally measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) or bar.

It describes the pressure level of compressed air delivered by the air compressor. The higher the PSI measurement value, the stronger the compression capacity of the air compressor and the higher pressure gas it can produce.

However, the working pressure of the air compressor is not the higher the better. For example, in industrial production, different process flows may require different working pressures. If the working pressure is set too low, it may not meet the needs of the production equipment, resulting in the equipment being unable to operate or being inefficient; if the working pressure is set too high, it may cause unnecessary burden on the equipment or even damage the equipment.

Therefore, choosing the right working pressure is important to ensure the safe and efficient operation of air compressors and gas-using equipment.

Air delivery (FAD)

This refers to the amount of compressed air that the air compressor can deliver within a certain period of time, and the unit is generally expressed in CFM (cubic feet per minute) or m3/min.

The higher the displacement, the more compressed air the air compressor can output, and the more pneumatic tools it can supply at the same time, which can also make you done your work faster at certain times.

However, it is not correct to excessively pursue large-displacement machines. The larger the displacement, the greater the power consumption of the air compressor, and the greater the load when the air compressor is in use, which can easily lead to machine failures, wear and other problems, thereby shortening its service life.

And if there is no such a large demand for compressed air in actual use, it will cause a waste of resources, and the investment will also be a large expense.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle describes the working period of the air compressor. Most air compressors cannot work non-stop for a long time, and inevitably need to stop and rest, because the large amount of heat accumulated during the working process will pose a great threat to the safety and working efficiency of the machine. A 70/30 duty cycle means that the compressor is working about 70% of the time, but you can’t use the air compressor about 30% of the time. For most compressed air applications, short-term downtime is acceptable. But for applications that require constant compressed air (such as painting automotive parts), the smaller the duty cycle of the air compressor, the better.

Compressor capacity and tank size

When it comes to โ€œhow big air compressor do I needโ€, it may refer to the air compressor capacity and air tank size. The air tank serve as a buffer zone for compressed air, storing the compressed air that you don’t need temporarily, and releasing it when you need it. It ensures that you always have enough compressed air to use.

An air compressor with a larger air tank means that its duty cycle will be smaller and it can provide compressed air for a longer time, which means that your work will be less affected by the inevitable downtime of air compressors. But it doesn’t mean that the larger the air tank, the better.

Chosen an oversize capacity air compressor will not only increase the investment cost, but also increase the workload of the air compressor system. Your air compressor will have to work harder to fill the air tank. Overloading may cause the air compressor to trip, leading to serious consequences. Know more about air compressor overload tripping.

Types of air compressor

Different types of air compressors have different working capabilities, produce slightly different compressed air, and are suitable for different industries.

For example, the compressed air produced by oil-injected air compressors will inevitably contain a small amount of oil, while oil-free machines do not have this problem.KUW Series Silent Oil Free Scroll Air Compressor

Therefore, oil-injected air compressors are suitable for occasions that do not require strict compressed air purity, such as manufacturing and construction; while oil-free air compressors are suitable for industries that require high compressed air quality, such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Learn more about the applications of various types of air compressors:

How to calculate your compressor needs?

In order to avoid choosing an air compressor that is too large or too small, in addition to understanding the various parameters of the air compressor and having a basic understanding of the air compressor, we also need to combine our own air compressor requirements, working environment, etc. to determine what size air compressor do we need.

How many psi/bar of air compressor do I need?

This can be obtained by the rated pressure required by the pneumatic tool you are using. Generally speaking, the rated air pressure of handheld pneumatic tools is about 6.2 bar (90 PSI). For pneumatic tools that require high precision, the rated air pressure tends to be relatively low, about 3.4 bar (50 PSI) or lower.

For the processing manufacturing or construction industries that require high air pressure, the rated air pressure may be as high as 10 bar (145 PSI) or higher.

Based on experience, we recommend that you buy an air compressor with a PSI 20% higher than the tool required. This will leave a buffer time for your pneumatic tools, so that they will not stop working when the air pressure fluctuates or drops slightly after the air compressor stops, thus providing you with the best power output.

If you need the air compressor to supply compressed air to multiple pneumatic tools, choose the pneumatic tool with the highest rated pressure as the standard.

How many CFM of air compressor do I need?

To determine how much air compressor you need, check the rated CFM requirements of your pneumatic tools. Generally speaking, most frame nailers need at least 2.4 CFM, nail guns need at least 1.2 CFM, and spray guns generally require 7.2 to 21.6 CFM.

If you need the air compressor to supply air to multiple tools at the same time, collect the CFM requirements of all the pneumatic tools you use, and then add the CFM of each tool together to get the total CFM requirement.

However, to ensure that the air compressor you choose is sufficient to meet your requirements and facilitate the subsequent addition of new tools, it is recommended to slightly increase this CFM value by about 10% to 30%, depending on your budget.

What capacity air compressor do I need?

To determine the optimal air tank size, multiply the calculated CFM by 6. The result will be the ideal size of the air tank in liters.

Learn more about how to calculate air compressor CFM value.

Frequently Asked Questions

what size compressor do i need

Are air compressors worth the investment?

Yes, they are, and once you experience the power of air compressors and pneumatic tools, you may never want to use hand tools again. They can do in minutes what would take hand tools hours to do. And almost all repair and construction tools come in pneumatic form.

Air compressors can assist with everything from painting to running industrial facilities.

When should l consider air compressor HP(horsepower) rating?

While the horsepower rating might give an initial idea of the compressor’s capacity, it’s more important to consider factors like SCFM and Psi levels for a more accurate understanding of the compressor’s performance and efficiency.

What size air compressor do i need for home use?

Determining what size air compressor do i need for home use mainly depends on its specific application. Before buying an air compressor, you need to first determine how you plan to use it and what you will use it for. And the second step is to list all your tasks (works) that need the air compressor. Once you have determined the application of the air compressor, you can narrow down the target range.

At the same time, frequency of use is also a key factor to consider when sizing the air compressor for home garage. Maybe only a light air compressor is able to provide enough help to your work, and you donโ€™t often need it. At this time, you can consider a lightweight combined screw air compressor.

The special structure of the screw air compressor not only meets the compressed air needs of most small and medium-sized pneumatic tools, but also can play a higher air compression capacity when needed, which is enough to cope with most home use scenarios.

Whatโ€™s more, its lightweight combined design allows it to be both portable and can quickly complete the cleaning and storage of the machine after use. It is the optimal choice for air compressors suitable for home use!

What size air compressor do I need for impact wrenches?

Impact wrench tools generally require 90 PSI (6.3 bar) of air pressure to work properly, and the required air volume is generally between 2.5-10 cubic feet per minute.

Therefore, you may need an air compressor equipped with a medium-sized air tank and sufficient CFM, such as the Kotech KGP series air compressor, which can provide powerful compressed air enough for pneumatic ratchet wrenches to be used with tools such as paint sprayers, framing nailers, framing nailers and sandblasters, and provides an extremely low duty cycle to ensure that your work goes smoothly.KGP-1.6/7 Gasoline Air Compressor

What size air compressor do I need for nail gun?

A nail gun is not a continuous-use tool, so it doesn’t require a constant supply of compressed air. Instead, it uses short bursts of air to drive nails.

Therefore, you only need an air compressor rated for at least 2-5 CFM. If you’re going to use a compressor with an air tank, a tank capacity of 2-6 gallons is sufficient.

What size air compressor do I need for spray painting?

Spray painting needs to be done continuously. An air compressor with a 10-gallon tank capacity or 6 CFM of compressed air at 90 PSI is sufficient for house painting. This large tank helps you avoid stopping to refill every few minutes.

If you are spray painting a car, a 60-gallon capacity, 5-6 HP, 14-18 CFM, and 90PSI air compressor is recommended. Compressors with smaller CFM output can also be used for spray guns, but may cause overspray, especially in the clear coat stage.

At the same time, spray painting has higher requirements for the quality of compression, and it is suitable to use an oil-free air compressor to complete the work. The suitable air compressor is the Kotech KUW series oil-free scroll air compressor, which can provide you with a powerful boost to complete the work perfectly.

Are you looking for a reliable and efficient power source for your industry? Kotech dealers are experienced in finding the perfect air compressor for your needs.

Contact your local Kotech dealer today and discover how an air compressor can increase your productivity and safety.

Table of air delivery requirements for common pneumatic tools(Reference only)

what size kotech compressor for pneumatic tools

Explore Kotechโ€™s air compressors

Kotech is the first choice for all your air compressor needs. Our team of experts is experienced and professional, and can help you solve any problem you may have on air compressors. From selection to installation to maintenance, we can provide a complete guide including optimal advice and solutions for your project.

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