8 Best Paintball Tanks of 2023 | Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

In paintball, there are two main types of propellants you can use to power your paintball gun – Co2 and HPA (High Pressure Air). Co2 may be cheap and widely available, but HPA is the better choice if you want to play at the top of your game.

This is because compressed air (another name for HPA) has a far more consistent output pressure than Co2. While Co2 will dramatically drop in pressure every time you play in cold weather or fire at a rapid rate, compressed air will remain virtually unaffected. HPA is also lighter, easier to refill, and even better for the internals of your marker.

Unfortunately, buying the best HPA tank for your marker isn’t always the easiest task. Besides having to choose the size, brand, and style of tank, you also need to know whether your marker requires high or low input pressure.

Now I know all of these options may seem a little overwhelming at first, but there’s no need to worry. This guide has everything you need to know to ensure you find the best HPA tank for you and your marker.

What Are the Best HPA Tanks?

While buying an HPA tank from one of the less popular brands may save you a little money, remember that in the end you get what you pay for. 

Personally, I would only recommend buying a paintball tank from brands such as Ninja, First Strike, HK Army, Empire or Infamous Paintball. These brands simply have the best HPA tanks and overall customer service. 

But who makes the best paintball tank of them all?

In my opinion, there’s no better HPA tank than the Skeleton Air Hyperlight from  Infamous Paintball. This paintball tank comes with the best paintball regulator (Haymkr Gen III from Powerhouse) currently available and a premium lightweight carbon fiber tank from one of the top brands in paintball. Unfortunately, with a price tag close to $300, I wouldn’t recommend this HPA tank for anyone on a budget.

Learn More: Is It Dangerous to Leave Air In Paintball Tank?

Now if you want a paintball tank that’s similar in performance at a lower price range then I would recommend the Ninja SL2, HK Army Aerolite “Mega Lite” or First Strike Hero 2. All of these paintball tanks are designed to be even lighter (as much as 30%) than your regular carbon fiber paintball tank, while still delivering the same performance. 

Not worried about carrying a little extra weight?

Save yourself even more money and purchase a regular carbon fiber tank such as the Ninja Lite or HK Army Aerolite. Or if you truly want to save yourself some money then buy an aluminum HPA tank such as the Ninja Flat Bottom or Tippmann Basic. 

Of course, buying an aluminum air tank is going to limit the amount of shots you can fire and force you to visit the fill station far more often. 

Best HPA Tanks for Paintball

Here are some brief descriptions of the paintball tanks listed above and who I would recommend them for. 

Tippmann Basics

The paintball tank I recommend for players on a budget is the Tippmann Basics. This aluminum 48 CI 3000 PSI compressed air tank only costs around $50 and holds enough air pressure for 500+ shots at a time. 

The Tippmann Basics is set to an output pressure of 800 PSI.

Specifications

• 48 Cubic Inch
• 3000 PSI
• 800 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2lb 14oz
• Length – 11” 
• 500 +/- shots per fill

Ninja Flat Bottom

If you want an aluminum HPA tank with an adjustable regulator then look no further than the Ninja Flat Bottom. Some of the available size options for the Ninja Flat Bottom are the 13, 22, 35, 48, and the 62/3000 sized tank. 

Ninja is also known for creating some of the best paintball regulators in the world right here in the U.S.A. The adjustable regulator on this particular tank can be adjusted from  low (450 PSI), medium (650 PSI), to high pressure (850 PSI) by simply removing or adding shims in the regulator.

Just make sure to only adjust your regulator when your tank is completely void of air. Otherwise.. Well let’s just say it won’t be good.

Specifications

• 48 Cubic Inch
• 3000 PSI
• 450-850 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2 lb 13 oz
• Length – 10.5” 
• 500 +/- shots per fill

Ninja Lite

If you want a high quality HPA tank that’s lightweight and reasonably affordable (compared to premium paintball tanks) then the Ninja Lite is a great option.

The Ninja Lite line of paintball is almost half a pound lighter (1lb 13oz vs. 2lb 5oz) than their regular carbon fiber tanks and comes in four different sizes:45ci, 50ci, 68ci, and 90ci.

You also have the option to choose between five different regulators when buying the Ninja Lite. Here are the regulator options available.

• Adjustable 
• Ultralite
• Pro V2 Series
• Pro V2 Ultralite
• (SLX) All Brass Pro V2 regulator

With the 68/4500 Ninja Lite tank you can shoot around 1200 shots per fill depending on what marker you’re using. 

Specifications

• 68 Cubic Inch
• 4500 PSI
• 450-850 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2 lb 3.4 oz
• Length – 10.6” 
• 1200 +/- shots per fill

Ninja SL2

If you’re a fan of Ninja paintball tanks and insist on having the best of the best then you can’t go wrong with the Ninja SL2. Since there is only a slight weight difference (2-3 oz) between the Ninja SL2 68/4500 and the Ninja Lite 68/4500, I would only recommend the Ninja SL2 to the serious paintballer looking for any competitive edge. 

Much like the Lite, he Ninja SL2 also comes with any of the five regulators from Ninja (Adjustable, Ultralite, Pro V2 Series, Pro V2 Ultralite, (SLX) All Brass Pro V2) and can be bought in the following sizes: 68, 77, and 90/4500 PSI.

Specifications

• 68 Cubic Inch
• 4500 PSI
• 450-850 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2 lb 0.6 oz
• Length – 10.6” 
• 1200 +/- shots per fill
• Backed by Ninja’s 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty

HK Army Aerolite

If you’re looking to get the most out of your money then you can’t go wrong with the HK Army Aerolite. Priced right around $150, I consider the Aerolite to be one of the best paintball tanks for players on a budget.

Besides being extremely low in price, the HK Army Aerolite is remarkably low in weight as well. Weighing in at a little over 2 pounds, the Aerolite definitely stays true to its name.

The only downside of the Aerolite HPA tank is that it comes preset with an output pressure of 800 PSI. You can get an Aerolite tank with an adjustable regulator, but it’ll cost you an extra $50 to get one and it only has an adjustable output pressure of 450-650 PSI.

My favorite aspect of the HK Army Aerolite though is that it comes with a variety of cool design options such as baby Yoda, stormtrooper, and Jagermeister on Ansgear.com. You can also upgrade your regulator to any one of their 10 color options (black, blue, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, silver, teal).

The HK Army Aerolite is only available in the small 48ci and the common 68ci.

Specifications

• 68 Cubic Inch
• 4500 PSI
• 800 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2 lb 2.4 oz
• 1200 +/- shots per fill

HK Army Aerolite Extra Lite

For most players it’s probably not worth the extra money to simply shed off 1.4 ounces of weight, but if you’re looking to compete professionally (or if money isn’t an issue) then the HK Army Aerolite Extra Lite may just be for you.

The Aerolite Extra Lite is the same as the regular Aerolite (except for weighing less) so it also comes preset at 800 PSI. Or you can spend a bit more money and get the Aerolite2 Pro Adjustable Regulator (450-650 PSI) that’s made from aircraft grade aluminum. With this premium regulator you can adjust the location of your gauge and fill nipple for maximum comfort. 

No more gauge or fill nipple jabbing into your wrist!

There’s also a dope variety of design options on Ansgear.com, although I do admit the design options for the regular Aerolite are mostly better. 

You can buy the HK Army Aerolite Extra Lite in the following sizes: 48, 68, and 80/4500.

Specifications

• 68 Cubic Inch
• 4500 PSI
• 800 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 2 lb 1 oz
• 1200 +/- shots per fill
• Limited 1-year warranty

First Strike Hero 2

The First Strike Hero 2 is the only paintball tank ever made that never has to be replaced. You still have to get your Hero 2 hydro tested every 5 years, but unlike every other HPA tank in existence (other than 13ci or 15ci tanks under 2” in diameter), the Hero 2 doesn’t have to be discarded after 15 years.

The Hero 2 also comes with a multi-position brass collar that can be rotated 360° to allow you to adjust the position of your gauge and fill nipple. For players who play with their tank attached to their marker this is extremely helpful as the gauge and fill nipple can often jab into your wrist and affect your gameplay. 

Another reason many players love the First Strike Hero 2 is that it comes in a large variety of sizes: 15, 48, 68, 77, 88, 100, and 124 cubic inches. You can also purchase your Hero 2 with any of the 5 different regulator pressures – extra low (275-300 PSI), low (450-500 PSI), mid (550-600), high (800 PSI), and extra high (950-1200 PSI). 

What I personally love about the FS Hero 2 though is that it now comes in a 15/4500 sized tank. This small HPA tank (called the Half-Pint) has the same diameter as a 13/3000 tank; although it’s 1 ½  inches longer. This is great news for magfed players like myself because the 13ci aluminum tank can be integrated into the buttstock of many magfed paintball guns such as the EMF100 from Planet Eclipse.

With a 13/3000 compressed air tank you can normally expect around 150 shots per fill, whereas with the 15/4500 you can expect around 250 shots per fill. 

Here is mine with a regular 13/3000 tank in the stock. 

Specifications

• 68 Cubinc Inch
• 4500 PSI
• 275-1200 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• Lifetime use
• 2 lb 4 oz
• 1200 +/- shots per fill

Infamous Air Tank W/ Haymkr 500 Reg

The best paintball tank currently available is none other than the 68 or 80/4500 Infamous Air Tank with Haymkr 500 Regulator. 

However, it’s not the carbon fiber tank from Infamous that makes this paintball tank such a great investment. Instead, it’s the Powerhouse Gen III regulator known as the Haymkr 500.

The Haymkr 500 from Powerhouse is the most talked about regulator in the paintball community at the moment as it has surpassed all other regulators on the market in terms of consistency, reliability, and comfort. 

Let me explain.

Consistency: The Haymkr 500 comes with (what Powerhouse refers to as) wave spring technology to control the output pressure of the tank. The “wave spring” (essentially a metal spring) delivers a more consistent output pressure than regulators that are adjusted with shims (i.e. every other regulator on the market).

Reliability: The Haymkr 500 is made from stainless steel, whereas the other regulators on the market are made from aluminum. Stainless steel is a much stronger metal and unlike aluminum, it can’t be stripped from too much usage. 

Comfort: Low profile burst disks are included to further lessen the chance of anything jabbing into your wrist while you play. 

All Haymkr 500 regulators comes preset at a 500 PSI output pressure but can be adjusted anywhere from 400-700 PSI or 400-850 PSI depending on the regulator. You can also contact Powerhouse and they will build you a regulator with a preset custom output pressure if you desire. 

I’ve already contacted them myself and I have to admit they have great customer service as well.

10/10 would recommend.

Specifications

• 4500 PSI
• 400-850 PSI output pressure
• 5-year hydro
• 1200 +/- shots per fill

How to Choose the Correct Paintball Tank

Listed below is everything you need to know so you can decide what paintball tank is best for you.

Decide Between Aluminum and Carbon Fiber

The first decision you need to make when buying an HPA tank is whether you want your tank to be made from aluminum or carbon fiber. While aluminum air tanks (commonly referred to as steelies) may be a lot cheaper than carbon fiber, they can only hold up to 3000 PSI. On the other hand, a carbon fiber air tank can hold up to 4500 PSI.

If you’re not familiar with the term PSI, it stands for pounds per square inch, or pound-force per square inch to be more exact. In simpler terms, the PSI of the tank essentially determines the amount of pressure per square inch that can fit into the tank. And the more pressure inside the tank, the more shots you can fire.

The core of a carbon fiber tank is made from aluminum. The thin layer of aluminum is wrapped in carbon fiber to increase the maximum PSI of the tank.

A good rule of thumb is to expect around 10 shots per cubic inch at 3000psi, and around 15 shots per cubic inch at 4500psi (depending on marker and regulator). This usually equals out to around 50% more shots in total when comparing a 4500 tank to a 3000 tank of the same size. To find the size of the tank in cubic inches, just look at the number listed before the PSI: such as 68/4500.

Besides being able to hold a lot more air, carbon fiber tanks also benefit from being much lighter in weight. While the weight of the tank may not always bother you, it can definitely wear you down when playing longer games.

Find Out The Best Size For You 

A big mistake a lot of beginners make is buying an HPA tank based solely on how many shots they want to be able to fire. The problem with this approach is that you may end up with a tank that’s too long or short for you to comfortably handle.

In order to get the best tank size possible, you want to make sure the tank you’re buying stops at the crease of your elbow when holding the paintball gun in your hand. If there’s no pro shop in your area then this may be hard for you to do, but you can always look up the tanks measurements online and take an educated guess.

For a person of average height, this would normally be a 48/3000 or 68/4500 sized tank. If you’re a little more on the shorter side though then something along the lines of the 38/3000 or 48/4500 may be more your style. On the other hand, if you’re extremely tall or plan on carrying your tank on your back, then you may want to consider a tank such as the 90/4500 or 100/4500.

Peanut (50/4500) tanks are also very popular as well, but unless you’re fairly short you may not be able to get enough leverage. 

Of course, every player is different so there really is no such thing as the perfect sized tank. While some players just want to get the biggest tank size possible, others could care less and are more interested in reducing their markers overall weight.

How Many Shots Per 3000 PSI Tank

Size	Shots
13 CI	130
22 CI	230
35 CI	370
48 CI	500
62 CI	640

How Many Shots Per 4500 PSI Tank

Size	Shots
48	720
68	1020
80	1200
90	1350

Do You Need High Pressure or Low Pressure Air?

If you’re new to using HPA, then you may be confused at the difference between high and low pressure tanks. To be clear, all air tanks are filled with high pressure air, but the actual output pressure coming from the regulator on the tank is much lower. While most paintball guns are fine using a high pressure (HP) tank set at 850 PSI, some electronic markers do demand a low pressure (LP) tank set at 450 PSI or lower.

If you can’t seem to find out what type of tank you need, then your best bet is to check and see if you can find out the operating pressure of your marker online. The operating pressure is the minimum input pressure required for your marker to function. As long as your marker has no internal (inline) regulator, then anything over this pressure should be fine.

If your marker does come with an internal regulator though, then you’ll want to make sure your input pressure is around 300-500 PSI more than the operating pressure of your gun. Any lower and you risk your inline regulator not being able to recharge fast enough (resulting in shootdown), and any higher may lead to unnecessary wear and tear over time.

This means that unless your marker has an operating pressure of 150 PSI or lower, you should probably avoid buying a LP tank. You can, however, still use a HP tank on the majority of paintball guns with a low operating pressure, just make sure to do your research beforehand. Some electronic markers such as the Bob Long Victory and G6R simply can’t handle the high input pressure.

Now, if you really want to get the best input pressure for your marker (and future markers to come), then you should probably buy an HPA tank with an adjustable regulator. This way you can always adjust your output pressure to the perfect PSI to match your marker. And if your marker happens to run better off an extremely high or low input pressure, then you may want to look into getting a regulator that can deliver that PSI.

While markers such as the Bob Long Victory and G6R work perfect with a SLP regulator set at 300 PSI, my Automag RT ULE loves a SHP regulator set at 1100 PSI.

Should You Worry About Weight?

The weight of the paintball tank is more important to some players than others. 

Depending on your size, build, and what type of paintball (or how often) you’ll be playing determines how important the weight of the paintball tank is to you. 

If you have a smaller frame then the weight of the tank is going to be more important to you than someone with a larger frame. Weight is also more important to competitive speedball players who want to maximize their performance and scenario players who are going to be playing for extended periods of time.

When you’re on the paintball field non-stop for hours at a time those ounces eventually begin to add up.

Is Co2 Ever the Better Choice?

Compressed air may be better than Co2 in virtually every way possible, but there are a few exceptions when Co2 may be the preferred propellant of choice. 

For starters, if Co2 is the only propellant you can refill in your area then Co2 may be your only option (unless you want to buy a scuba tank or 3000 PSI rated air compressor). Co2 is also a great air source for backyard players who simply want to buy a bulk Co2 tank and a bunch of Tippmann markers and call it a day. Or for players who just want to play stock class paintball and use Co2 cartridges instead of a regular sized tank. 

In all honesty, there’s nothing wrong with using Co2 if you simply want to have fun and don’t care about maximizing your performance. And since Co2 tanks are incredibly cheap compared to most HPA tanks, it’s an easy way to save money when just starting out (especially if you have to buy for multiple people).

Of course, not all paintball guns can use Co2, so make sure to do your research before you end up damaging the internals of your paintball gun. 

Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API