3000 PSI vs 4500 PSI Paintball Tanks

Not all compressed air tanks are created equal, there are different brands, varying volumes and also different maximum pressures they can hold 3000 PSI or 4500 PSI.

Today paintball tanks are made from two different materials aluminum and carbon fiber. Aluminum compressed air (HPA) tanks are normally the budget option and start at are $50 like some of the tanks below, normal these are easy to spot because they are flat bottom and stand up. In the paintball industry aluminum compressed air paintball tanks are always 3000 PSI.

Carbon fiber tanks on the other hand are much more expensive, but come in many more size, are much lighter and they are able to hold up to 4500 PSI.

Tippmann Empire Basics 48ci 3K Paintball...
Tippmann Empire Basics 48ci 3K Paintball...
Lightweight Aluminum DOT and TC certified cylinders Made in the USA; 3000 PSI fill capacity with an 800 PSI output pressure
$61.95 Amazon Prime
HK Army 68/4500 Aerolite HPA Compressed...
HK Army 68/4500 Aerolite HPA Compressed...
68 Cubic Inch Lightweight Bottle w/ 4500 psi Capacity; Reliable Aircraft Grade Aluminum Regulator
$179.95 Amazon Prime
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank
Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank
Lightweight DOT and TC certified aluminum 20oz CO2 cylinder Made in the USA; Five year retest cycle
$35.99

Most paintball tanks are designed to have an output pressure of around 750 – 800 PSI. So if you buy an aluminum HPA tank or a carbon fiber HPA tank they are are both going to have the same output pressure. In other words the advantage of the 4500 PSI tank is the extra 1500 PSI worth of pressure, that address pressure adds up to 33% more shots. The 4500 PSI tank will not shoot further, hard or more powerfully because it outputs the same 750 – 800 PSI as the 3000 PSI tank

Some great tank resources

Co2 and Compressed Air Questions & Help