The Best Backpack Sprayer: 2024 Reviews & Buying Guide

Proper lawn and garden care often requires a number of products to be applied to large areas. For that kind of job you’re going to want the best backpack sprayer you can get. Inside we’ll show you what to look for when shopping for a backpack sprayer of your own and our top picks.

best backpack sprayers

Backpack sprayers are a great tool to use around the home and garden. 

When applying liquid fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides a good reliable backpack is tuff to beat. 

With so many options available our list will provide you with the best backpack sprayer for the job and your budget. 

Our list of the best backpack sprayers include battery powered options which will provide constant pressure and precision as well as hand pump operated sprayers that are budget friendly and built to last.

The 4 Best Backpack Sprayers: Our Top Picks

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. We only include brands we use and trust. See the full disclosure in the privacy policy.

M4 MY4SONS 4-Gallon Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer

Our pick for the best backpack spray is from My4Sons.  My4Sons is a dedicated backpack sprayer company that provides top notch sprayers for commercial and homeowner use.  This sprayer is battery (included) operated and comes with a 4 gallon tank.  The My4Sons sprayer is built to last and provides excellent consistent performance.  Included with the sprayer is a brass spraying wand with multiple attachments for your various spraying needs.

Pros

  • Battery operated
  • 4 gallon capacity
  • Wide mouth for easy filling
  • Long battery life
  • Super versatile. Perfect for any job from applying herbicides to deck stains.
  • Brass wand with multiple attachments
  • Variable pressure from 20-60psi
  • Comfortable backpack straps with wand storage
  • Best in class customer service

Cons

  • None

Field King 190515 Professionals Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer, 4 gal

Second on our list the Field King 190515 battery powered backpack sprayer.  This Field King offering provides the homeowner with a professional grade sprayer without breaking the bank.  This 4 gallon sprayer comes ready to use with an 18 volt battery and is calibrated to spray at 40psi.  Included in your purchase is a set of four nozzles for your various spraying needs.

Pros

  • Battery Operated
  • 4 gallon capacity
  • Up to 4 hours of spraying on a single charge
  • Multiple attachments included
  • Comfortable straps and waist harness
  • Good value
  • Triple filtration system that prevents clogging

Cons

  • Some reviews note plast fittings may deteriorate after a few seasons of use

Chapin 61900 Pro Commercial Backpack Sprayer

The Chapin 61900 4 gallon backpack sprayer is a commercial grade sprayer with a price point and features that a homeowner will enjoy.  This hand pump backpack sprayer is equipped with metal wand and commercial grade spray fittings that are built to last.  This Chapin sprayer comes with a pressure gauge and control valve that will give the user a consistent spray.

Pros

  • Commercial grade
  • 4 gallon capacity
  • Pressure gauge
  • Control valve gives consistent pressure
  • Budget friendly

Cons

  • None

Field King Max 190348 Backpack Sprayer

This hand pump backpack sprayer is our second offering from Field King.  The Field King Max is another budget friendly sprayer packed with commercial grade fittings.  This backpack sprayer comes with a metal wand and multiple spray nozzles. Similar to our other offerings it has a 4 gallon capacity.

Pros

  • Equipped with commercial grade fittings
  • No-leak pump design
  • 4 gallon capacity
  • Multiple spray nozzles including
  • Comfortable straps
  • Budget friendly

Cons

  • Pressure control valve not included makes precision spraying difficult

Backpack Sprayer FAQ’s

What is backpack sprayer? 

Backpack sprayers are handy tools that you can use in your lawn, garden and your home’s landscape to apply fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other liquid products quickly and effectively. 

How does backpack sprayer work? 

In simple terms a backpack sprayer is filled with water and is mixed with the product you plan to apply. 

Once you are ready to spray the sprayer needs a build-up of pressure to spray.  This build-up of pressure is created by manually pumping a handle to gain pressure within the tank or by a battery operated mechanism that will create a vacuum in the tank giving you the pressure you need to apply your product.  Once pressure is obtained in the tank you will use the attached wand and trigger to apply. 

When spraying you can spot spray areas or you can do a broadcast spray which means you will spray an even coverage over an entire area.  

Make sure to always read a products label and mix the recommended product to water ratio in the sprayers tank.  We recommend filling the sprayers tank with half the recommended amount of water and then adding the solution you are going to apply. 

Once the solution is added you would then top off the tank with water to your desired level.  It is important to mix the two thoroughly.  You can do this with a drill and a mixing attachment or you can simply close the lid and mix by shaking the tank back and forth.

Once you have your product mixed you can turn on an electric battery powered sprayer to pressurize the tank.  If your sprayer is pressurized by a pump handle you will need to pump at a consistent rate to maintain pressure as you spray.

Who makes the best backpack sprayer? 

Our pick for the best backpack sprayer is the My 4 Son’s 4 gallon sprayer.  The My 4 Son’s sprayer is a consistent top performer and is backed by a company that lives for sprayers and is backed by great support and awesome customer service.

How far will a backpack sprayer spray?

Backpack sprayers have the ability to spray anywhere from 10-25ft depending on the sprayer and the spraying tip that is used.  

How do you calibrate a backpack sprayer?

Here is an easy method to calibrate your sprayer:

  •  Mark or section off an area that is 1,000 square feet.  You can use a 20×50 foot area to achieve this.
  • Fill your sprayer with two gallons of water.
  • Once your sprayer is filled, set a timer and time how long it takes to spray this area while walking at a smooth comfortable pace. We recommend walking in straight parallel lines while slightly trying to overlap your previous spray pattern.  This will usually be about two feet or so depending on the sprayer.  
  • Once you spray your area, document how long it took.  
  • Measure how much water you used by subtracting the amount of water that is remaining in the tank.  This will give you how much water you used to spray 1,000 square feet.
  • *You can perform this test once or twice more and average your totalls together for accuracy.

Calibration is important in determining how much of any given product to safely apply.  Most products you will apply will either be labeled to apply a certain amount every 1,000 square feet or mixed at one dose per gallon of water. 

How to calibrate a backpack sprayer

The Best Backpack Sprayers for Herbicides and Fertilizers