Pressure washer nozzle colours and angles
A narrower angle puts the same water through a smaller footprint, so it hits harder. The colour code is universal across manufacturers.
| Colour | Angle | Impact | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 0° | Maximum, a pencil jet | Stubborn stains on concrete only; will cut wood and skin |
| Yellow | 15° | High | Stripping paint, heavy grime on hard surfaces |
| Green | 25° | Medium | General cleaning, decks, driveways, equipment |
| White | 40° | Low | Vehicles, siding, windows, painted surfaces |
| Black | 65° | Very low, low pressure | Applying detergent; opens the chemical injector |
| Turbo / rotary | 0° spinning | High over a wide area | Fast cleaning of concrete and masonry |
Nozzle orifice size
The size number, 3.0, 4.0, 5.5 and so on, is the orifice diameter in a nozzle sizing convention, and it has to suit the pump. Too small an orifice and the pump cannot push its rated flow through it, so the unloader bypasses and the pump runs hot. Too large and the pressure never builds.
Find your machine's rated PSI and GPM, then read the size off the table. If you fall between two, take the larger.
| GPM | 2,000 psi | 2,500 psi | 3,000 psi | 3,500 psi | 4,000 psi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 2.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| 3.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 3.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| 5.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Which nozzle for which job
Start wider than you think and step down. A 40 degree white nozzle cleans most things without damage, and if it is not shifting the dirt you go to green. Yellow and red are for concrete and stubborn build-up, and even there a turbo nozzle usually does the job faster and more evenly than a red one.
On vehicles, siding and anything painted, stay at 40 degrees and keep the wand moving. Wood is softer than it looks: a 25 degree nozzle held too close will furr the grain on decking.
