Pressure Washer Nozzle Guide
Pressure washer tips are sized by spray angle: 0° is a pinpoint jet, and 25° and 40° spread wider. Colors vary by brand: 0° is red on Simpson tips and orange on the Sun Joe SPX3000; 40° is white on Simpson, Generac and Greenworks tips and gray on Sun Joe's. Check your washer's manual for its tips.
Tip angles and colors by brand
The angle is the answer. Colors are listed per maker document; "—" means no such tip, or no color stated. There's no universal color chart.
| Maker document | 0° | 15° | 25° | 40° | Soap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Joe SPX3000 manual | orange | yellow | green | gray | black |
| Sun Joe SPX2688-MAX manual | red | yellow | — (no 25° tip) | gray | — (foam cannon) |
| Westinghouse WPX2700/3200/3400 manual | red | yellow | green | white | black ("detergent nozzle") |
| Simpson, "Choosing the Proper Nozzle" | red | yellow | green | white | black |
| DeWalt DWPW2100 manual | — (black turbo nozzle instead) | orange | green (optional tip) | white | no color given |
| Generac G0088950 manual | red ("Blast") | — (no 15° tip) | green ("Clean") | white ("Wash") | black ("Detergent") |
| Greenworks GPW1501 manual | — | — | green | white | — (soap bottle) |
| Champion 100783 manual | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated | black |
| Kärcher, Worx | no color-coded tip set |
Two conflicts to watch: orange is 0° on the Sun Joe SPX3000 but 15° on the DeWalt DWPW2100, and Sun Joe's own two models differ on 0° (orange vs red). Always go by the angle printed on the tip or in your manual.
Which tip to start with
These are the manuals' own suggestions, angle first:
- Cars, boats and patio furniture: 40°, per the Sun Joe and Generac manuals and Greenworks' car guide.
- Concrete, driveways and brick patios: 25°, per the Sun Joe and Generac manuals.
- Decks and siding: manuals differ. Sun Joe and Generac say 25°. Greenworks says 40° for decks, and Simpson says 40° for most siding. Kärcher says to "only use the flat jet nozzle" on decks. Check your washer's manual.
Check your washer's manual for which tips it includes and any it says not to use.
Narrow vs wide tips: what changes
A narrower angle puts the same water on a smaller spot, so it hits harder. Simpson describes the 0° tip as one where "the force available will actually penetrate soft materials or surfaces," and Sun Joe calls its 0° tip "an extremely powerful nozzle that delivers a high-pressure, pencil-point jet stream." Wider tips spread the water over more area.
Technique
Start well away from the surface, move closer slowly, and keep the spray moving. Simpson's nozzle page says to "always start well away from the surface and slowly move toward it," and to "stop immediately if any damage is noted." Westinghouse's manual says to "ALWAYS practice on an inconspicuous test area to understand when damage may occur." Manufacturers give different distance figures, so we don't print one.
Nozzle cautions
See nozzle sets, the soap tip and detergents, how to choose a pressure washer and pressure washer safety.
FAQ
What do the colors on pressure washer nozzles mean?
Each color marks a spray angle, but colors vary by brand. 0°: red (Simpson, Westinghouse, Generac, Sun Joe SPX2688-MAX) or orange (Sun Joe SPX3000). 15°: yellow on Sun Joe, Westinghouse and Simpson tips, but orange on DeWalt's. 25°: green (Sun Joe SPX3000, Westinghouse, Simpson, Generac). 40°: white (Simpson, Westinghouse, Generac, Greenworks, DeWalt) or gray (Sun Joe). Check your manual.
What color pressure washer nozzle is for soap?
The soap tip is black on most manuals we read (Sun Joe SPX3000, Westinghouse, Simpson, Generac, Champion), but some washers use a foam cannon or soap bottle instead. Check your manual.
Which pressure washer nozzle is the strongest?
Which nozzle should I use on a car?
Start with the 40° tip, per the Sun Joe and Generac manuals and Greenworks' car guide. It's gray on Sun Joe and white on Generac and Greenworks. Follow your washer's manual.
Which nozzle should I use on concrete?
Start with the 25° tip, per the Sun Joe and Generac manuals; it's green on both. Start well away from the surface and move closer slowly.
Which nozzle should I use on a deck or siding?
Manuals differ: 25° (Sun Joe, Generac) or 40° (Greenworks for decks, Simpson for most siding). Kärcher says flat jet only on decks. Check your washer's manual.
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