Paintball use cases

Paintball CO2: Fills, Exchanges, and Solid Info

CO2 still powers a lot of paintball setups: backyard play, loaner fleets, older markers, and certain “it just works” builds. Unfourtunately fill policies vary wildly and people ask the wrong questions, then waste a trip. This page shows what to buy, what to avoid, how fills actually work, and how to find the right kind of CO2 place fast.

Find paintball fills near you Map Safety Refill vs exchange

Quick start

Pick your lane

  • Need “fills” for paintball tanks? Look for paintball fields/shops or gas places that explicitly do paintball fills.
  • Running CO2 for a shop/field/fleet? You’re likely using a bulk cylinder + fill station setup.
  • Just trying to get on the field tomorrow? Start with places that do fills on-site. Exchange/refill rules are simpler for standard cylinders than paintball bottles.
The #1 time-waster: calling a welding gas place and asking “do you refill CO2?” when what you really need is “do you fill paintball CO2 bottles and do you fill by weight?”.
Find paintball fills Try exchanges (rare) All paintball CO2 listings

CO2 vs HPA (quick reality check)

HPA is more consistent and common in modern play, but CO2 is still used. If your marker/setup is CO2-based, this page is for you. If you’re deciding from scratch, you’ll often find more fill access with HPA. Either way, the point here is to avoid bad fills, bad adapters, and “sure we can do that” shops that absolutely cannot.

Recommended setups (paintball CO2)

Three sane paths. Pick one based on what you’re actually doing.

Field / shop fill access (best convenience)

  • Bring your paintball tank, get it filled on site.
  • Usually the fastest answer for walk-ins.
  • Best if you’re playing regularly.
Find paintball fills Use call script

Bulk cylinder + fill station (fleet / serious use)

  • For fields, teams, or anyone filling lots of bottles.
  • Requires the right fill station and good safety habits.
  • More efficient long-term, more responsibility.
Find bulk refills Safety basics

Backup lane (exchange for standard cylinders)

  • Not for filling paintball bottles directly.
  • Useful for powering a fill station or other CO2 needs.
  • Exchange is often the easiest “get gas today” option.
Find exchanges Refill vs exchange
If you’re filling from a bulk cylinder: shops often use cylinders designed to dispense liquid CO2 (dip tube). A lot of “why won’t it fill?” problems come from using the wrong bulk tank setup.

Gear checklist (what matters and what causes dumb failures)

Must-have (for players)

  • Paintball CO2 tank in good condition (no janky valve damage)
  • Protective cap/cover if you have it
  • Basic awareness of your tank’s test/condition markings (shops may refuse sketchy bottles)

Must-have (for filling lots of tanks)

  • Bulk CO2 cylinder (properly secured)
  • Paintball CO2 fill station (proper valve + venting)
  • Scale for filling by weight (the only sane way)
  • Good ventilation where you fill

Avoid / common traps

  • DIY “adapter spaghetti” from random listings
  • Filling without a scale (overfill city)
  • Using an unsecured bulk cylinder (that’s a rocket if the valve snaps
  • Assuming any gas supplier will fill paintball bottles (many won’t)
Accessories Open paintball fills Call script

Dial-in (how CO2 filling and performance actually behaves)

What’s “normal” for CO2

  • Temperature matters. CO2 pressure swings with temperature. Cold day = lower pressure = “feels weak.”
  • Rapid firing can chill the system and cause performance drop (shootdown) in CO2 setups.
  • Keep tanks upright in use. Liquid CO2 where it shouldn’t be can cause ugly behavior.
If you’re troubleshooting on-field: let the setup warm back up, slow the firing cadence, and stop chasing the problem with random knob turning.

If you’re filling tanks yourself (bulk + station)

  • Secure the bulk cylinder before you do anything.
  • Ventilation is not optional in a confined area.
  • Fill by weight using a scale (avoid overfills).
  • Expect venting/frost during filling. Aim vents away from people.

If this section sounds “serious,” it’s because it is. A chill hobby becomes a bad day fast when pressurized cylinders are treated like toys.

Troubleshooting (symptom → likely cause → fix)

Symptom Likely cause Fix
“No one will fill my tank” Policy issue, tank condition/date markings, wrong place Call with the script; try paintball fields/shops first; ask about weight fills
Performance drops on cold days CO2 pressure lower in cold temps Keep tank warmer, reduce rapid firing, let system stabilize
Rapid fire causes shootdown CO2 cooling/phase change behavior Slow cadence; allow warm-up; consider different setup if you need high sustained ROF
Frosting / icing during fill Normal CO2 expansion + venting Use gloves/eye protection; aim vents away; don’t touch frosted metal barehanded
Tank feels “overfilled” or vents Overfill / too warm storage after fill Fill by weight; don’t leave in hot car; store upright in stable temps
Hissing/leak at valve Damaged seal/valve area Stop using; do not “tighten until it stops”; get it serviced by someone who actually knows what they’re doing
Call checklist Troubleshooting hub

Refill vs exchange for paintball CO2 (what you’ll actually run into)

Paintball “fills” are their own category

Many suppliers that do cylinder exchange/refill for welding/beverage still won’t fill paintball bottles. Paintball fills usually happen at fields, paintball shops, or very specific local places that support it.

Find paintball fills

Exchange/refill is more relevant for bulk cylinders

If you’re running a fill station, then “refill vs exchange” matters for the bulk tank you’re using to fill from. Exchange is often the “fastest” option; refill can be cheaper depending on your area.

Bulk exchanges Bulk refills

The hidden question: “Do you fill by weight?”

A legit paintball fill operation typically fills CO2 bottles by weight and follows basic safety rules (secured bulk tank, ventilation, proper vent direction). If a place can’t answer the weight question clearly, downgrade your expectations.

Use the call script

Call script (get a real answer in 20 seconds)

Don’t ask “do you refill CO2?” That’s how you get “yeah probably” followed by disappointment. Ask this:

Script: “Hi. Do you do paintball CO2 fills (filling paintball bottles), and do you fill by weight? If yes, what sizes do you fill, what are your hours, and do you have any restrictions on bottle condition?”
  • If they say “we do exchanges only,” ask if that’s for bulk cylinders or just their normal shop cylinders.
  • If they say “we don’t do paintball,” ask if there’s a local field/shop they recommend.
  • If they sound unsure, move on. Confusion + pressurized tanks is not a cute combo.
Full call checklist Open filtered listings

Safety notes (short, serious, and worth reading)

  • Secure bulk cylinders if you’re filling anything from them.
  • Ventilation matters in enclosed areas where CO2 can accumulate.
  • Aim venting away from people during filling operations.
  • Don’t fill damaged valves or tanks that look tampered with.
  • Don’t store tanks in extreme heat (like baking in a car).
  • Keep tanks upright and stable in transport and storage.
CO2 safety basics FAQ

Paintball CO2 FAQ

Paintball CO2 is its own weird little ecosystem. Policies vary a lot, so these answers focus on the stuff that saves you wasted trips.

Do paintball places still fill CO2, or is it all HPA now?
Many fields/shops moved toward HPA (compressed air) because it’s more consistent, but CO2 fills still exist. The key is: don’t assume. Some places do HPA only, some do CO2 only, some do both, and some will fill only certain sizes.
What should I ask so I don’t drive there for nothing?
Ask this exact question:
Script: “Hi. Do you do CO2 fills for paintball tanks? If yes, what sizes do you fill, and do you require the tank to be in date / hydro current?”
That’s it. You’ll get a real answer instead of “uhh… I think so?”
Do gas suppliers fill paintball tanks?
Sometimes, but often they don’t want to deal with small paintball tanks because of adapters, time, liability, or policy. Industrial suppliers are more likely to do exchanges/refills for standard CO2 cylinders (5/10/20 lb), not necessarily on-the-spot paintball fills.
Should I do exchange, refill, or “fills” for paintball?
Paintball usually means fills (topping off your paintball tank), not exchanging a standard cylinder. If you’re building a home fill setup, then you’ll be using a larger CO2 cylinder and you’ll either exchange or refill that cylinder. Quick rule: playing at a field → fills. running a home station → exchange/refill.
Why do some places refuse CO2 fills?
Common reasons: they switched to HPA-only, staff aren’t trained, equipment got removed, insurance/liability concerns, or they only fill during certain hours/events. It’s not personal. It’s just the paintball world being paintball.
What does “hydro” mean and why do shops care?
“Hydro” (hydrostatic test) is a periodic certification test for pressure vessels. Some places won’t fill out-of-date tanks. If you’re trying to refill/exchange a larger cylinder, suppliers may check the date too. If your tank is out of date, expect “no” from the more professional shops.
My CO2 tank “shoots liquid” or gets crazy cold. Is that normal?
CO2 can be stored as liquid in the tank under pressure. Rapid discharge can cause extreme cooling and icing. Keep tanks upright, don’t abuse valves, and don’t run sketchy fittings. If you’re seeing liquid CO2 where you shouldn’t, something about your setup or orientation is wrong.
Can I run CO2 in cold weather?
CO2 performance drops when it’s cold because pressure falls with temperature. That’s one reason many players moved to HPA. If you’re playing in colder weather and consistency matters, you’ll probably want HPA.
What’s the best way to find paintball CO2 near me on this site?
Start with listings filtered specifically for paintball fills:
Paintball CO2 listings Map view

Find CO2 near you (paintball)

Start with places that explicitly do paintball fills. If you’re running bulk for a station, use refill/exchange filters for the bulk cylinder supply.

Paintball fills (best) Bulk exchanges Bulk refills Map view
If you find a listing that’s wrong or incomplete, send an update. Being accurate is literally the entire point of a locator site.
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Next steps

Refill vs exchange

Useful for bulk cylinder supply decisions and long-term convenience.

Open guide See exchanges

CO2 safety

The stuff that prevents “I did a silly thing” stories.

Open safety FAQ

Tools

Decision helpers and quick checklists when you’re shopping or calling suppliers.

Open tools Call checklist
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