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Airbrushing cakes is a spectacular way to decorate a large area in a short time – that’s right, no more coloring buttercream or dying fondant to achieve your desired shade. Whether you’re aiming for watercolor or nebula designs, you can create these cakes in far less time with an airbrush.
But which to choose? Given the array of choices online it can be hard to know which airbrush to commit to. Don’t fret! We’ve rounded up the top airbrushes for cake decorating with recommendations on the best kits for everyone from professional cake decorators to beginners.
Want The Quick Comparison?
Here are a few Airbrush Kits I think you’ll love!
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
Top | Master Airbrush Cool Runner II | Check Deal |
 | PME Portable Airbrush Kit | Check Deal |
 | Master Airbrush Cake Decorating Airbrushing System Kit | Check Deal |
 | SweetShop Airbrush Kit | Check Deal |
 | Watson & Webb Complete Airbrush Cake Decorating Kit | Check Deal |
 | U.S. Cake Supply Airbrush Kit | Check Deal |
 | Watson & Webb Portable Airbrush Kit | Check Deal |
Best Airbrush For Cake Decorating
Here are our top choices for airbrushes and airbrush kits for 2023. Read on to discover our highest-ranking picks for all skill sets and budgets.
Best Overall Airbrush Kit
- Contains everything you need! Kit includes a professional precision airbrush, air compressor with 3 air flow settings, 24 eye-catching vibrant airbrush food colors, detailed user guide manual with airbrushing tips and design techniques.
- Super easy to use. Simply add a few drops of color to your airbrush, power up the compressor, pull the trigger and go! Its just that easy to start your own customized creations!
- 100% Lifetime Satisfaction Guarant
U.S. Cake Supply’s Complete Airbrush Decorating Kit comes in at number 1 on our list, and for good reason! This kit comes with a single-action precision airbrush and an air compressor with 3 airflow settings in addition to a guide complete with airbrushing tips and techniques. This airbrush is available as both a 14-piece set with 12 vibrant colors or a full 26-piece set with 24 eye-popping U.S. Cake Supply airbrush food colors.
This kit is great for everyone from mid-tier decorators to children with a passion for dessert decorating! And cakes aren’t the only thing you can decorate with this kit.
Best Airbrush For Beginners
- Stay in control & work at your own speed with 3 control settings.
- The airbrush has a unique flow which accurately controls the mix of air and color. The 4mm stayclean needle is perfect for large bake jobs or tiny detailing.
- Perfect for use on gum paste, sugar paste, fondant, pastries, icing, and more.
Watson & Webb’s Little Airbrush is a small, simple and nifty airbrush, ideal for beginners and aspiring cake decorators alike. This single-action airbrush comes with 3 speed settings and a .4mm needle which can transition easily from large jobs to tiny detailing. This airbrush works at 15 PSI for quiet yet controllable pressure.
The compressor even comes with a washable air filter, which stops spray from being sucked back into the motor – a common cause of airbrush compressor failure.
You can purchase this airbrush alone or in a mid-sized 12-piece airbrushing kit with 8 Watson and Webb food colors (as well as the full kit with a carrying case and multiple accessories).
Still, this mid-sized 12-piece airbrushing kit is our top choice for a cake airbrush kit for beginners.
Best Professional Airbrush Kit
- This professional Master Airbrush Multi-Purpose Airbrushing System comes with 3 of Master Airbrushes best selling and user friendly airbrushes, along with a set of 12 Chefmaster airbrush food colors.
- With superior performance powerful at 1/5 hp single-piston compressor and with two cooling fans you know youre getting the real deal.
- Includes dual airbrush holder, clamp-on 4 airbrush holder and a cleaning brush set.
- Includes 5 year warran
For the professional baker, the Master Airbrush Model TC-320 Cool Runner II is an ideal choice. Available in a set with 12 Chefmaster food colors, this kit comes complete with airbrush holders, a cleaning brush set, and multiple airbrushes to achieve a multitude of effects.
This airbrush kit contains a compressor with two cooling fans, which allow a continuous runtime without the risk of overheating as is needed for large or high-capacity projects. In addition, this full kit contains 3 different types of airbrushes (one dual-action, one trigger style, and one single-action) so you can decorate everything from wedding cakes to cookies in numerous styles and large quantities.
To see these multiple airbrushes in action and learn a little more about this top-of-the-line airbrush, check out this youtube video:
Best Cordless Airbrush
- PME Portable Airbrush Kit USB Rechargeable for Cake Decorating
- Bring your Portable Airbrush with you! It recharges using USB!
- 11 PSI - Charge Time 1. 5hrs - Working Time 50 mi
Not everyone has room for an industrial-sized airbrush machine in their kitchen or workspace. Whether you’re living in a tiny home with a micro-kitchen or baking out of the world’s cutest cupcake food truck, we’ve got a recommendation for you.
PME’s Portable Airbrush is cordless and rechargeable via USB, and comes in a gorgeous rose-gold color. This little baby is so aesthetically pleasing, you may just want to leave it out as decor!
Do note, this airbrush isn’t the best for large projects. Its working time is just 50 minutes (with a 90 minute charge time) and the pressure is low (11 PSI). Despite this, this is a great airbrush for cramped kitchens and small or occasional decorating jobs!
Best Airbrush For Bakers on a Budget
- High Performance Precision Airbrush with a 1/3 oz. gravity fluid cup and a 0.3mm fluid tip. The cutaway handle allows you to quickly flush and clean air passages.
- Portable and lightweight with a mini 12V DC airbrush compressor and a direct plug in 110V AC adapter.
- Edible colors are highly concentrated with superior strength and are made in the USA with high quality approved ingredients. Certified Kosher.
- Has everything you will need to start decorating! Perfect for bakeries or for private use. Includes a bonus How-To-Airbrush Manual & Guide Booklet by Master Airbrush.
The Master Airbrush Airbrushing System comes with an ergonomic dual-action G23 airbrush and lightweight miniature TC-22 compressor, great for those who don’t have room for hulking compressors. The air delivery is 18 PSI, which is perfect for most culinary projects and ideal for beginners who find it easiest to start at lower speeds.
In addition, this set comes with a carrying case and 4 highly concentrated Chefmaster food colors. For less than $100 you’ll be able to open the box and immediately start spraying! Okay, you should probably read the manual first.
Best Airbrush For Children
- Create unique designs and decorate your favorite cakes, cookies, pastries, and more like a pro!
- Portable And Easy To Use: Comes with a convenient storage case to make transportation a breeze. Using this airbrush is so easy! Just fill with edible food dyes, point, and shoot.
- Perfect for kids who are discorvering their love for baking and decorating!
This kit may be considered a lower-end model, but I’d still recommend it for children who have a passion for decorating. Why? The trigger is lightweight and less resistant than other airbrush guns making it easy for tiny fingers to press and pull.
Available in person at many Micheals locations (be sure to use a coupon for the best price!) as well as on Amazon, this kit is also an option for those who need to pick up an airbrush kit the same day!
Best Transportable Airbrush Kit
- This airbrush accurately controls the mix of air and color, ensuring an even and flawless finish.
- Perfect for use on cakes, gum paste, sugar paste, fondant, pastries, icing, and more.
- Stay in control & work at your own pace with 3 speed control settings.
This complete Airbrush Decorating Kit comes with 25 Watson & Webb colors, 3 bottles of cleaning solutions, 4 skyline stencils, a handy color wheel, and a sturdy storage case. This kit is ideal for anyone who may need to transport their airbrush kit or likes a nice organized location to keep all their supplies in.
In addition, this set comes with multiple power adapters so it can be used with international outlets. That’s right – if you ever decide to run away to France, this kit can come too!
So, What Is The Best Airbrush Kit For Cake Decorating?
The best airbrush kit depends on the needs of the individual decorator. Are you an occasional baker with a passion for decorating cookies and treats for Holiday gatherings? You may not need the dual cooling fan airbrush to prevent overheating on large capacity jobs – instead, your needs may be better met with a more modest airbrush. Yet, if you have your own cake decorating business and are consistently decorating for long periods of time throughout the day, the Master Cool Runner II might be your best bet!
Be sure to weigh your needs with each machine’s benefits – there’s no shame at all in starting with a beginner’s set and seeing where it leads you before investing in a master decorator kit further down the road!
How To Care For Your Airbrush
Clean your airbrush after every project! It really is that simple. To keep your airbrush running smoothly, you’ll want to clean it regularly. When changing between colors, water will work fine, but when your project is finished and you’re wrapping up the day, use airbrush cleaner and follow up with water for a thorough clean that prevents future issues.
See all those reviews by people who state they used the gun once or twice and it never worked again? That’s because excess ink left in an airgun can dry and clog it. In order to reverse this, you’ll pretty much have to disassemble your airbrush, clean it, and reassemble it. If needed, you’ll find plenty of YouTube tutorials to help with your individual model.
In addition, be sure to only use airbrush food coloring in your gun. Some preferred choices include Wilton airbrush color, Chefmaster airbrush food coloring, or AmeriMist. These colors are pretty much guaranteed not to clog guns.
However, if you are mixing your own airbrush food coloring with gel food coloring or luster dust, be sure all lumps are dissolved before pouring them into your airbrush.
Wrap-Up and Review
In combination with your essential cake decorating tools, you and your airbrushing kit are ready to conquer the cake decorating world! It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or a professional confectionery decorator, there’s an airbrush out there for everyone. We’ve covered our top choices for beginners, children, and professionals in addition to budget and space-conscious bakers. Still more, we’ve defined common airbrushing terms and tips for care.
You’re now fully armed with the knowledge as to which airbrush is best for you and how to upkeep it, so get decorating!
How Much Do Cake Airbrushes Cost?
As with any product, airbrushes can range from the low end to the high end. You’ll find standalone airbrush guns with small compressors for as little as $50 to $60 and full-blown kits with multiple speeds, nozzles, and food coloring sets approaching $200.
Which kit is best for you? That depends on several factors including your budget, frequency of use, and needed capacity.
Terminology
Before we run down our top choices for airbrushes and kits in 2023, let’s define a few relevant terms.
What Is PSI?
PSI stands for pounds per square inch. In terms of airbrushing, it refers to how strong the airflow or spray of your airbrush is. Oftentimes, you won’t need a PSI above 20 to decorate a cake.
Turning the PSI up too high can damage your cake or blow holes in buttercream, so don’t worry if the PSI seems low on some of these airbrushes – when it comes to decorating cakes and confections, pressure matters less than precision.
What is a Dual Action Airbrush?
A dual-action airbrush has two methods of spraying, you may be able to push down for a little spray and pull back for a larger amount of spray. Some airbrushes will just be single-action, meaning you only operate the trigger in one direction.
