Should You Get an Airbrush as a Mural Artist? (2026)

I get asked this a lot. And my honest answer is: yes — but with caveats. Here's everything you need to know before you spend the money.

The Cons (let's get them out of the way)

Cleaning. This is the big one. An airbrush left dirty will clog up as the paint dries inside, and then it's useless. I've lost count of the times I've gone to grab one and had to clean it first. Spray cans? You just pick them up and go.

Cost. To get started properly — airbrush, compressor, hose, paint — you're looking at a minimum of £300. The paint (I use Golden High Flow Acrylic) is more expensive than spray cans, though it does last a long time.

Power. You need electricity. At a live event or on a street job, that means a portable battery pack or a battery-powered compressor. The small battery compressors are fine for finishing details, but for a full session you need a proper power source. Some venues won't allow it at all — trip hazard rules.

The Pros

Detail. This is where an airbrush is simply unbeatable. The tiny fades, the small transitions — in my opinion it surpasses even a brush for this kind of work. Oil painters may disagree, but for photorealistic murals, nothing comes close.

Scale flexibility. On smaller murals — say, one to two metres wide — spray cans hit a ceiling. You can push them far, but eventually you get stuck. An airbrush takes you past that ceiling and into genuinely fine detail.

Mixed media is the sweet spot. My process: roller for the big base, spray cans for the mid-work, airbrush for the detail, brush for the finishing touches. You get the best of every tool, not just the best of two.

Do You Need One?

For walls? Not strictly. You can get a long way with cans, rollers, markers and a stencil cap (which mimics an airbrush effect in a pinch — messy, but it works).

For cars, helmets and motorcycles? Yes, absolutely. Spray paint builds up thick and almost 3D — for vehicle work you need the thin, controlled application only an airbrush gives you.

For serious mural work in general? I wouldn't go without one.

What to Buy

The airbrush: Whatever you choose, make sure it's dual action — press down for air, pull back for paint. Avoid the cheap single-action plastic ones with a glass bottle. They won't help you.

My current recommendation for mural artists is the Möbius TG. It bridges the gap between a traditional airbrush and a spray gun, which makes it much more comfortable for longer sessions — especially if you have large hands. The traditional Iwata Eclipse is excellent but can get painful after a couple of hours.

The compressor: Get one with a tank. The tank keeps pressure consistent and stops the motor running constantly.

The hose: At least 3 metres. You'll still trip over it, but less so.

My Recommendation

Start cheap. Get a dual-action airbrush and a portable compressor from Amazon or eBay — minimum outlay, maximum learning. If you take to it, invest in proper equipment. If you don't, you haven't lost much.

Think of it like a chopsaw for a carpenter. Could you manage without one? Yes. Would you want to once you've used one? No.

Keep it clean, get the right setup, and it'll become one of the most valuable tools you own.

Questions? Drop them in the comments on YouTube — I answer every single one.