By Timothy Dale | Updated Oct 31, 2021 9:57 PM

BobVila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Built for comfort and ease of use, the backpack sprayer is becoming a go-to tool for gardeners, landscapers, and pest-control professionals—as well as homeowners who simply want to enjoy a weed- and insect-free outdoor space. A backpack sprayer’s ergonomic design features adjustable shoulder straps and a spray wand, allowing you to carry fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, or any other liquids on your back, rather than hauling around a heavy metal cart or handheld manual sprayer.

Keep reading to learn how these tools work, what features suit your space and style, and why these are among the best backpack sprayer models in their respective categories:

Before opting for the first hobbyist or professional backpack sprayer you see, take some time to familiarize yourself with the various product factors that might affect your final decision. Consider the pressure (psi), tank capacity, the type of liquid delivery system, and the type of pump that pressurizes the backpack sprayer.

Pounds per square inch (psi) is the unit of measure identifying the amount of pressure a backpack herbicide sprayer can propel through its nozzle. The average for a backpack sprayer is around 70 psi, but smaller models can use as little as 40 psi and a commercial backpack sprayer may use as much as 150 psi.

Pressure is important to ensure your backpack sprayer operates effectively. Too little pressure will produce an uneven spray that reduces the effectiveness of its contents, while too much will prove excessive for a smaller yard.

If you have a large yard with many hard-to-reach spots, or you are a professional who works in many different-sized spaces, a sprayer with a psi rating of 70 or above is your best bet. For those with average-sized or smaller yards, a moderate rating between 40 and 70 psi is more than enough to spray your space.

Backpack sprayers generally come in one of two types of liquid delivery systems: piston pump and diaphragm pump.

Backpack sprayers use an internal pump to draw liquid out of the chamber, through a hose, and out through a wand and nozzle. This pump can be operated manually or an electric backpack sprayer will often use a motorized system—the pricier option.

Manual backpack sprayers operate via a hand pump attached to the backpack chamber. Pumping manually for an extended period can cause muscle fatigue and pain, so while this style of sprayer is fine for smaller yards, once-per-season jobs, and the average homeowner, it’s less suited to professionals who have to spray for hours at a time. Manual backpack sprayers cost as little as $40 to as much as $150, on average.

Motorized backpack sprayers are powered either by battery or gas, with a battery backpack sprayer offering more versatility and a simpler setup. A motorized sprayer automatically pumps the liquid from the backpack chamber to the wand, requiring no physical work by the user. Intended for large projects and long workdays, a motorized sprayer (which can run between about $100 to $500) is a better choice for the busy professional who’ll rely on it daily.

Sprayers are available in a tank capacity range between 2 and 7 gallons. Carry smaller-capacity sprayers with a handle, and tote the largest tanks with a wheeled cart. A 4-gallon backpack sprayer is considered to be about average in size.

Sprayers that fall between these two size extremes are true backpack sprayers—light enough to carry on your back, but too heavy to lug around by hand. For typical jobs, such as fertilizing a lawn or spraying an insect infestation, a 4-gallon tank can do the trick for a yard between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet.

Backpack sprayers may include a variety of different features, such as a built-in gauge to monitor the pressure of the unit while in use, extra padding in the shoulder straps for added comfort, a foaming nozzle, and a foldaway pump handle that won’t get in your way while spraying. Larger models may offer an extended hose and wheeled cart that can be used for more complex yards and heavier tanks.

This curated list includes backpack sprayers suitable for homeowners, hobbyists, and professionals alike.

For versatility and safety, the Chapin 61900 sprayer can handle some of the most volatile fertilizers, weed killers, and pest control treatments in use today. It features Viton seals, which are specially manufactured to be chemically resistant, and a 3-stage filtration system to prevent clogging.

A wand-mounted pressure gauge and a control flow valve both assure the user that the spray and pressure levels are consistent, while three different nozzles are included for direct stream, fan spray, and foaming applications. Great for homeowners or industry professionals who need a single sprayer suited for multiple applications.

Capable of operating for up to 8 hours on a single battery charge while maintaining a constant pressure of 70 psi, the Petra backpack sprayer is an excellent choice for anyone with a lot of ground to cover.

The sprayer’s 4-gallon tank can handle large yards without frequent refills, and it’s translucent, letting you see how much liquid you have left at any time. With padded straps for added comfort and a wide-mouth lid on the tank to prevent spills, this motorized backpack sprayer will keep you working comfortably all day long.

Don’t worry about missing the hole while filling the tank with this affordable backpack sprayer that has a large, 5-inch diameter opening to help prevent spills. It weighs about 9 pounds when the tank is empty and comes equipped with adjustable padded shoulder straps to help support the tank when it’s full. These straps also improve user comfort, while the adjustable brass spray nozzle allows users to change the spray pattern from a fine mist to a coarse stream.

This backpack sprayer from Chapin has a maximum psi of 60 and it requires manual pumping to keep the sprayer pressurized while in use. Unfortunately, this may increase user fatigue, especially if it takes the entire 4-gallon tank to properly treat the yard.

This backpack sprayer from My 4 Sons is a premium product that comes at a premium price. The additional cost is worth it for the impressive features of this backpack sprayer, like the variable pressure switch that allows the user to adjust the output pressure to the optimal level. This product also comes with a variety of nozzles, so users can switch between them, depending on the job and personal preference.

The battery-powered backpack sprayer has a motorized pump that works continuously to keep the pressure inside the sprayer between 40 and 60 psi. When used with the right nozzle and held at the right angle, this pressure allows the sprayer to spray up to 30 feet in a horizontal direction. Just keep in mind that even if the 4-gallon tank is filled and ready to go, the sprayer will not run unless the battery is charged.

Professionals in the market for a new backpack sprayer will appreciate this Petra backpack sprayer’s 6.5-gallon tank and its rugged steel cart for hauling the unit from your vehicle to the worksite. It features a 100-foot hose for treating large areas without moving the sprayer from the cart.

This battery-powered sprayer provides a base setting of 70 psi that can be increased to suit your needs—a great versatility factor when working on a variety of yards over the course of a long day.

With a 4-gallon tank and a 4-hour battery charge, the Field King 190515 backpack sprayer is ideal for an enthusiastic amateur landscaper. It features a fully padded harness to cushion your shoulders against muscle strain, a preset rating of 40 psi that users can increase if necessary, and a lockable shutoff on the wand to help reduce hand fatigue. A built-in carry handle and wand storage make transportation simple.

If you’re looking for excellent performance with long-lasting comfort, the Field King Max 190348 is a manual model that delivers both. It features a 150 max psi and an internal pump design to contain leaks within the tank.

There are four different nozzles: one for stream-to-cone spray patterns, one for a wide flat fan spray pattern, one for a narrow flat fan spray pattern, and one for a foaming spray. If you don’t mind using a bit of muscle to operate a hand pump, the Field King Max will keep your outdoor space looking great.

Offering multifunctionality and useful features like anti-clog, the Chapin 61900 is an excellent choice for treating the yard with fertilizer, weed killer, or pest control products. But, if you’re looking for the convenience of a motorized tool, this Petra backpack sprayer might be the right choice for you.

To select the top backpack sprayers, we engaged in extensive product research to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and outstanding qualities of each product. Primary factors of concern included the pressure (psi) of each backpack sprayer, the type of pump, the capacity of the backpack sprayer tank, and whether a product used a piston or diaphragm liquid delivery system.

These key factors reflected the overall ability of each product and were considered collectively to find the best backpack sprayers in each category. Taken separately, a backpack sprayer with a very high psi looks appealing, but if the tank is relatively small, the user will need to refill it constantly. Additionally, any products with outstanding features were typically preferred over similar products that lacked these special features.

Backpack sprayers are helpful tools for quickly and efficiently treating the yard and garden with liquid fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, but to ensure that you don’t over-or under-spray an area, it’s important to keep the same walking speed and distance from the target while spraying.

Additionally, users need to ensure that the backpack sprayer is properly pressurized at all times so that it’s easier to maintain an even spraying pressure. By taking the time to balance the pressure, you can be certain that you are applying the same amount of solution to each area of the yard and garden.

However, before starting to use a backpack sprayer, make sure to adjust the shoulder straps so that the sprayer fits properly. You don’t want to have to deal with a shifting tank of fertilizer, water, or pesticide while you work because it will take extra effort to control the moving weight, increasing fatigue. Solve the issue by taking a few minutes to make some simple adjustments prior to starting.

Buying and using a backpack sprayer brings up several questions. We’ve answered some of the common questions below.

A backpack sprayer is used to quickly and effectively spray the yard, garden, and trees with pesticide, herbicide, water, fertilizer, or any other liquid solution.

You can fill a backpack sprayer with almost any liquid solution that has a similar consistency to water. This includes insecticide, herbicide, and liquid fertilizers. Just make sure the solution isn’t too corrosive or volatile as these dangerous substances might eat through the walls of the sprayer.

Backpack sprayers are safe to use as long as you fill them with suitable solutions and take proper precautions to protect your eyes, skin, and respiratory system during use. The reason for the added personal protection is that when the liquid sprays from the backpack, some of it might get caught in the wind and blow back toward you. While this wouldn’t matter much with water, it could be hazardous when the sprayer is filled with pesticide or herbicide.

The maximum distance that a sprayer can spray a liquid solution is determined by the maximum psi of the sprayer, the type of nozzle, the wind direction, the force of the wind, and the angle of the spray wand. On average, a backpack sprayer can spray up to about 10 to 20 feet, though there are models that can reach over 30 feet.

To clean a backpack sprayer after using it to apply a volatile chemical like herbicide or pesticide, follow these simple steps:

Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy.

Copyright © 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved.