I have been playing paintball for more than a decade. My friends consider me an expert. I will tell you how much paintball guns costs and how they became so expensive.
It’s not inflation.
Your first paintball gun can cost anywhere from $50 to $500, depending on the model. Higher-end guns tend to be more accurate and have more features, while lower-end guns are less expensive and may not be as reliable.
What Affects a Paintball Marker’s Price?
The price of a paintball marker can be affected by many factors:
- The type of gun
- The quality of the paintball
- The cost of the regulator
- The paintball player’s skill level
Professional paintball players tend to purchase high-end guns as they need accuracy and reliability. Paintball guns for beginners tend to be lower cost as they do not need all the features of a professional gun. The cost of the paintballs and regulators also affect the price of the marker. Consider all these factors before making your purchase.
How Much Are You Going to Play?
How much are you going to play? If you’re only playing a few times a year, getting all the gear might not be worth it since you can always rent. Owning your gear might be worth it if you’re playing a lot. Rental gear is no fun.
How Much Do You Want to Invest as a Beginner?
You can buy a gun and some paintballs for a relatively low cost, but if you want to get serious about the sport, you’ll need to invest in better equipment. Better guns and paintballs cost more money, but they’ll help you improve your game and have more fun.
Is It Worth It to Buy an Expensive Paintball Gun?
If you are a beginner, buying an expensive paintball gun may not be worth it, as you may not be able to take full advantage of all the features that a higher-priced marker makes available. However, if you are playing regularly and are looking to get into professional paintball games, a high-end paintball gun may be worth the investment.
Do You Want a Low-End, Medium-Range, or High-Range Gun?
There are a few factors to consider when deciding if you want a low-end, medium-range, or high-range gun. Price is a significant factor, but you must also consider what type of game you’ll play. A low-end gun might be all you need if you’re playing paintball for fun. If you’re serious about the game, you’ll want something with a little more power. If you’re playing speedball, you’ll need a gun that can shoot fast and accurately. That usually means spending a little more money. So it comes down to how much you’re willing to pay.
Brands considered low range are JT Splatmaster, Mercury Rise .50 caliber, Spyder Victor, and some HK Army guns, often priced around $100.
Mid-range models are Mercury Rise .68 caliber, Tippmann Cronus, Tippmann TMC, DLX Luxe, Kingman Spyder, Valken, and Empire Mini GS, costing roughly $150 to $400.
High-range examples are Empire Axe, Planet Eclipse GTEK, and Dye Rize CZR, which cost approximately $400 up to $1000 or more. Pay more and get dangerous power. These are the brands that professional paintball teams use in tournaments (read more about using paintball guns here).
Electronic Paintball Markers vs. Mechanical Markers: Which One Do You Want?
If you are on a budget, choose a mechanical marker. If you want fast, choose an electronic marker.
There are a few differences between mechanical paintball guns and electronic paintball guns:
Mechanical markers are louder as the process of firing paint involves many physical parts, and it fires as fast as you can pull the trigger. They use a solenoid to open and close a valve that controls the flow of compressed air and paint.
Electronic markers have a circuit board that controls the firing sequence. They typically have a mode that allows them to fire as fast as you can pull the trigger, but they also have semi-automatic and ramping modes that limit the rate of fire.
Cost is usually the most significant factor when deciding between an electronic and mechanical marker, and electronic markers are more expensive but offer more features and control options.
What Kind of Paintball do You Want to Play?
Speedball or woodsball?
There are different types of paintball guns suited to specific kinds of play. If you’re looking to play speedball, you’ll want a much more durable gun that can handle high speeds.
Woodsball is a bit slower-paced, so you don’t need as much speed from your gun, but you may prefer camo-colored gear. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner since you can use either type for either game, but if you invest a high sum in gear for the long run, you may want to consider what kind of paintball you want to play in the future.
Are You Willing to Buy Used Equipment?
#1 advice for those one a budget: Buy used equipment.
You don’t have to buy new paintball gear. You can save a lot of money by buying second-hand paintball gear since it usually holds up pretty well after being used for a long time. Metal markers and hard-plastic hoppers are durable, and the co2 air tanks are almost unbreakable.
Consider how much you are willing to spend. Go to the Facebook marketplace, search for “buy sell paintball” and find groups in your area. Sometimes the public marketplaces make it challenging to buy and sell paintball guns because algorithms don’t always understand the difference between paintball guns and firearms so you may have better luck in private groups. Craigslist is also an option.
Paintball equipment does not have to be expensive, and you can expect to pay around $100 for an excellent second-hand quality marker. If you are a beginner, definitely buy used equipment to save money. It might not always be in the best condition or completely scratch-free, but it’s good enough for beginner play.
What is the Average Price of a Paintball Gun?
The average price of new paintball guns on the market is $173 based on nine players who bought their first paintball markers from different gun lines. The cheapest was $80, and the most expensive was $425. Paintball prices can range from around $60 to $900. Over the long term, the total cost of a paintball gun depends on the brand, the quality, the accessories, how much you use it, and how you replace parts. For a beginner, starting with a cheaper second-hand gun is best so you can get used to the game and slowly upgrade as your game improves.
Why are paintballs so expensive?
Paintballs are expensive because they are functional. Just consider what they do: stay intact and then break on impact. Be hard on the outside and fluid on the inside.
Paintballs are relatively expensive when compared to other projectiles of similar size. Paintballs are high-priced because they are meant to break upon impact and must be precise to function correctly. In addition, paintballs sell in bulk, making them seem more expensive than buying something of lower quantity. But the price per unit of paintball is low. The overall cost of paintball is still cheaper than many other sports. Compare it to how expensive ammo at a firing range is.
Why such a massive variation in price?
Quality is the biggest reason for the price of a paintball marker. Manufacturers design top-of-the-line products for durability and reliability, increasing the cost of paintball guns.
The brand is another reason. Spyder and Tippmann are cheaper than Valken, Dye, and Planet Eclipse.
Mechanical markers are typically cheaper than electronic paintball markers.
There is a vast range in prices for paintball guns, from around $70 for cheap paintball guns to over $1000 for high-end paintball guns.
Will you always play paintball?
I have been a paintballer for a very long time, and I will play for many years in the future, so it makes sense to spend money on good equipment. But I won’t play forever.
What about yourself?
How long you will play paintball depends on how much you enjoy it and how long you continue to find it fun. Age and health may determine how long you will play paintball. What if all your paintball friends get married, have kids, and never have time to play anymore? Or if you move for a better job in another city with no paintball culture.
Paintball equipment doesn’t have to be expensive: CO2, Kits, and upgrades.
A good mask costs $50, a decent gun and hopper can cost around $200, and paintballs are about $30 per case or less if bought in bulk. If you purchase second-hand items, your cost will be even lower. Or look for a starter kit like GOG with a good warranty for your first gun. CO2 tanks are just as good if used. Then slowly upgrade as you see fit.
