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Pressure washer nozzle colors, and what each one is for
Updated
The common code is red for 0 degrees, yellow for 15, green for 25, white for 40 and black for soap. Generac's help center uses exactly those colors. But colors are not a fixed standard: one Sun Joe model guide we read lists its 0 degree tip as orange and its 40 degree tip as gray. Go by the degree number stamped on the tip.
The chart
| Common color | Angle | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 0 degree | A single pinpoint jet, the most force on the smallest spot | Stuck-on gunk on metal or masonry. Rarely needed at home |
| Yellow | 15 degree | A narrow fan with high force | Concrete, garage floors, brick, stripping loose paint |
| Green | 25 degree | A medium fan, the everyday tip | Siding, decks, fences, patios, outdoor furniture |
| White | 40 degree | A wide fan with the least force | Cars, windows, boats, anything easy to damage |
| Black | Soap | A wide, low pressure spray that pulls in detergent | Laying down soap before you rinse |
The uses above follow Generac's list. Turbo or rotary nozzles are separate: they spin a narrow jet in a circle and are for concrete and brick.
How much the angle changes the force
Water from the same machine spreads over a wider strip as the angle opens up. At the same distance, a 40 degree tip spreads the jet across a strip about 2.8 times wider than a 15 degree tip, so each square inch gets hit far less hard. That is why the tip matters more than the PSI for damage.
Which colors come with our picks
- Sun Joe SPX3000: 0, 15, 25, 40 and soap, every standard angle but no turbo.
- Greenworks 3000 PSI: 15, 25, 40, soap and turbo.
- Westinghouse ePX3500: 0, 15, 25, turbo and soap. No 40.
- Karcher K1700: 15, turbo and a 65 degree tip.
- Westinghouse ePX3100v: a 3 nozzle set plus a foam cannon.
If a set is missing the tip you want, quick-connect tips are sold on their own. Match the fitting size to your wand, and check that the tip is rated for your machine's PSI and GPM.
For surface by surface advice, see our nozzle guide. Check any listing's numbers with the cleaning units calculator, or see all five machines on our picks page.
Never test a tip on your hand. The 0 degree jet in particular can inject water under the skin, an injury that needs a doctor right away.