Spray Paint Booth Buyer’s Guide
For many projects, a portable spray paint booth is more flexible and cost effective than a permanent structure. Ranging from small tents for the individual hobbyist to industrial size booths that can travel to large machines or equipment, there are many options on the market. Before you invest in a portable spray paint booth, learn about the pros and cons of different models to find the right product for your project.
Portable Spray Paint Booth Overview
Like permanent spray paint booths, portable booths offer a professional paint finish and an environment that reduces dangerous inhalants, fire, or other safety risks. Portable booths offer additional benefits including:
- Opportunities for business growth: Without ties to a permanent location, a portable booth can allow you to grow without committing to a long term lease or expensive infrastructure.
- Ease of maintenance: portable booths are easy to keep running. Following the instructions for teardown includes the steps for upkeep, reducing repairs and lost work time.
- Lighting: Portable booths are easy to set up outside with a free, natural light source. Lighting your work with sunlight makes it easy to spot problems and get the most even finish possible.
- Portability: Bringing your booth to the job site and having the flexibility to meet on location gives your business an advantage over competitors who require projects to be delivered to a permanent booth. {' '}
- Space flexibility: For multi-use work spaces, a portable booth can be packed away, freeing up floor space for other stages of production, and quickly set up when painting is required. {' '}
- Quick set up: While larger booths require more set up time, all portable booths have easy to follow instructions and can be set up with a minimum amount of effort. {' '}
Considerations
A portable spray paint booth isn’t right for everyone. If most of your work takes place in a set location, consider these potential drawbacks before you invest in a portable booth.
- Damage potential- Any equipment that endures transportation and repeated set up and tear down is susceptible to damage. Most portable booths utilize vinyl flaps that can be ripped and may require repair or replacement.
- Downtime- Any job that happens on location or requires booth set up will take extra time. Set up and tear down time is usually not part of your billable hours or manufacturing cost, but can raise the price of your labor and decrease your project profit. {' '}
Applications for Portable Booths
Spray booths are useful for a wide range of jobs and projects. Portable booths can be used for the same set of finishing tasks as many permanent booths with the benefit of being able to travel to a work site. The following are only some of the possibilities:
- Woodwork- Tabletop models are great for small woodwork and craft projects.
- Automotive- For mobile detailing or expanding into the autobody repair industry, portable booths offer intake and exhaust systems.
- Heavy machinery- For large trucks or manufacturing equipment that won’t fit in a standard indoor shop, oversize portable booths are available to go onsite. {' '}
- Aviation- Both small commercial and personal aircraft can often need body repair done quickly and at a hangar. {' '}
Portable Spray Paint Booth Pricing
Individual booth prices vary based on size, models, and add ons such as exhaust and loading systems. The following ranges are only basic estimates to begin your budget process:
- Tabletop portable booths: $100-$750
- Midsize booths for automotive work: $5,000-$10,000
- Large booth for heavy machinery: $14,000+