How to Pick the Right Nozzle for Pressure Washing or Soft Washing: Step-by-Step Guide

Choosing the right nozzle is important for cleaning well and not damaging anything. Follow these easy steps to pick the right nozzle for your pressure washer or soft wash sprayer—even if you’re brand new to all of this!

Step 1: Know Your Machine’s Details

  • Find out how much water your machine puts out (GPM - Gallons Per Minute).
  • Check the maximum pressure (PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch) your machine can handle.
  • Look for these numbers on your machine, in the owner’s manual, or on a sticker on the pump.

Step 2: Pick the Right Nozzle Material (Hot/Cold Water)

  • Brass: Good for most cold water jobs at home, but wears out faster and isn’t good for strong chemicals or hot water.
  • Stainless steel: Very tough and lasts long. Great for hot or cold water, and for heavy or frequent use.
  • Ceramic: Lasts a very long time and handles harsh chemicals well. Important: Ceramic can sometimes crack if you change between hot and cold water too fast.
  • Plastic: Only for low pressure and chemical/soap use (soft washing), never for high pressure cleaning.

Special Note: Hot water cleaning: Always use stainless steel or ceramic nozzles (avoid plastic or plain brass for hot water).

Step 3: Choose the Spray Pattern (Color & Angle)

  • Think about what you’re cleaning. Different nozzles make the water come out in different shapes and strengths.
Nozzle Spray Pattern Chart


Spray Angle Reference
Color* Angle What It Does
Red 0° Very strong, tiny spot. Only use for tough stains (be careful!)
Yellow 15° Strong, narrow spray. Good for driveways or bricks.
Green 25° Medium spray. Good for decks and siding.
White 40° Wide spray. Good for cars, windows, or delicate things.
Black 65° Very wide, soft spray. Best for soap or soft washing.

*Not all nozzles will have a color designation. Always check the angle and orifice size listed on the nozzle.

Tip: If you are not sure, start with a white or green nozzle and test a small spot first!

Step 4: Find Out How Many Nozzles You’ll Use at Once

  • Spray Wands typically use one nozzle at a time. Some operators like to change them out for different spray angles / applications. This is typically done with a quick connect system at the end of the wand.
  • Some tools use more than one nozzle at the same time (like a surface cleaner duct cleaner or a big sprayer bar). See Table Below
  • If more than one nozzle, take the psi of your machine and divide it by the number of nozzles, and that will be the final amount of pressure that will be applied to the surface per nozzle.

Step 5: Use the Table to Pick the Right Nozzle Size

How to use this Table:

  • Look up your machine’s GPM (how much water), your machine's PSI (pressure), and how many nozzles you’ll use.
  • The tables below tells you the right size for each nozzle.
For Nozzle 1 (Single Nozzle)
Nozzle Size Orifice Diameter Flow rate in GPM at:
500 psi 600 psi 700 psi 800 psi 1000 psi 1200 psi 1500 psi 2000 psi 2500 psi 3000 psi 3500 psi 4000 psi 4500 psi 5000 psi
02 0.034 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2
025 0.039 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.8
03 0.043 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4
035 0.048 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.8 2.1 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.9
04 0.052 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.2 3.5 3.7 4.0 4.2 4.5
045 0.055 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 3.5 4.0 4.3 4.5 4.8 5.0
05 0.057 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.7 3.1 3.5 4.0 4.3 4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6
055 0.060 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.4 3.9 4.4 4.8 5.1 5.5 5.8 6.2
06 0.062 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.0 3.3 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.2 5.6 6.0 6.4 6.7
065 0.064 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.3 3.6 4.0 4.6 5.1 5.6 6.1 6.5 6.9 7.3
07 0.067 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.5 3.8 4.3 5.0 5.5 6.1 6.5 7.0 7.4 7.8
075 0.070 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.4 3.8 4.1 4.6 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.4
08 0.072 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.9 5.7 6.3 6.9 7.5 8.0 8.5 8.9
085 0.074 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.8 4.3 4.7 5.2 6.0 6.7 7.4 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5
09 0.076 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.2 4.5 4.9 5.5 6.1 6.7 7.4 8.0 8.6 9.1 9.7
095 0.078 3.4 3.7 4.0 4.3 4.8 5.2 5.8 6.7 7.5 8.2 8.8 9.4 10.0 10.7
10 0.080 3.5 3.9 4.2 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.1 7.1 7.9 8.7 9.4 10.0 10.6 11.2
11 0.083 3.9 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.5 6.0 6.7 7.8 8.7 9.5 10.1 10.7 11.3 12.0
12 0.087 4.2 4.7 5.0 5.4 6.0 6.6 7.4 8.5 9.5 10.4 11.2 12.0 12.7 13.4
125 0.089 4.5 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.3 7.0 7.8 8.9 10.0 10.8 11.6 12.4 13.2 14.0
13 0.091 4.6 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.5 7.1 8.0 9.2 10.3 11.3 12.1 12.9 13.7 14.5
14 0.093 5.0 5.4 5.9 6.3 7.0 7.7 8.6 9.9 11.1 12.1 12.9 13.7 14.5 15.3
15 0.096 5.3 5.8 6.3 6.7 7.5 8.2 9.2 10.6 11.9 13.0 14.1 15.0 15.9 16.8
20 0.109 7.1 7.8 8.4 8.9 10.0 11.0 12.3 14.1 15.8 17.3 18.4 19.5 20.6 21.7
For Nozzles 2–5 (Multiple Nozzles at Once)

Examples:

  • If you have a 4 GPM machine and need 2 nozzles with a 4000 PSI machine, pick a size 02 nozzle for each one.
  • If you have a 6 GPM machine and need 3 nozzles with a 1900 PSI machine, pick size 03 for each nozzle.
Pump
capacity		 Nozzle Size How many nozzles are you using and your machine's PSI?
2 Nozzles 3 Nozzles 4 Nozzles 5 Nozzles
4 gpm 02 4000 1800 1000 700
025 2200 1000 600 -
03 1900 750 - -
04 1000 - - -
5 gpm 02 - 2800 1600 1000
025 4000 1600 900 600
03 2700 1300 600 -
04 1500 650 - -
05 1000 - - -
6 gpm 02 - 4400 2250 1600
025 - 2200 1300 900
03 4000 1900 1000 650
04 2400 1000 550 -
05 1400 650 - -
06 1000 450 - -
8 gpm 02 - - 4000 2500
025 - - 2200 1500
03 - 3200 1900 1100
04 4000 1800 1000 600
05 2500 1100 650 -
06 1800 800 - -
07 1300 - - -
10 gpm 02 - - - 4000
025 - - 4000 2200
03 - - 2750 1800
04 - 2800 1500 1000
05 4000 1700 1000 650
06 2750 1300 700 -
07 2000 900 500 -
08 1500 650 - -
09 1200 - - -
15 gpm 03 - - 3750 2200
04 - - 3750 2200
05 - 4000 2200 1400
06 2750 1500 1000 -
07 2000 1150 750 -
08 3500 1500 850 550
09 2800 1200 700 -
10 2250 1000 550 -
20 gpm 04 - - - 4000
05 - - 4000 2500
06 - 2750 1700 -
07 - 3600 2000 1300
08 - 2800 1500 1000
09 - 2200 1200 800
10 4000 1850 1000 640

Step 6: About Nozzle Connections

Most pressure washer nozzles for wands use a quick-connect fitting (often called “1/4” quick-connect”). Make sure the nozzle connection matches your wand or lance. Some equipment may use threaded connections or specialty fittings—always double-check before purchase. Never force a nozzle that does not fit!

Step 7: Double-Check for Safety and Best Results

  • Never use higher pressure than your machine can handle.
  • Never spray people or pets. Wear goggles and closed-toe shoes.
  • Always start with a wider angle (like white or green) and test a small area first.
  • If using hot water, make sure your nozzles are stainless steel or ceramic. Don’t switch quickly between hot and cold if using ceramic.
  • Plastic nozzles are only for soap/soft washing (low pressure)—never for high pressure!
  • Change nozzles if they look old, worn, or clogged.

Step 8: You’re Ready to Clean!

Just follow the steps above to pick the right nozzle, every time. If you get stuck, check your washer’s manual or contact us.