A high-quality paintbrush is just as important as the paint for a smooth, professional finish. The best paintbrush will be comfortable to hold, easy to control, and efficient at applying paint without streaking or uneven coverage. Whether you’re painting large surfaces, tackling detailed trim, or working on an artistic project, choosing the right brush makes all the difference.
From foam brushes for a smooth finish to angled options for precision, there’s a paintbrush designed for every project. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 7 Paint Brushes
- Bates Foam Paintbrushes: Best Foam Brush
- Perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator: Best for Large Areas
- Purdy Sprig Paintbrush: Easiest To Store
- Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set: Best for Artists
- Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush: Best for Angles
- Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush: Best for Trim
- Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush: Best for Corners
Compare Top Paintbrushes
| Product | Handle Material | Bristle Material | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Bates Foam PaintbrushesCheck Price | Wood | Foam | 2 inches |
Perdura Deck Stain Brush ApplicatorCheck Price | Wood and metal | Flagged | 7 inches |
Purdy Sprig PaintbrushCheck Price | Wood | Polyester and nylon | 3 inches |
Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush SetCheck Price | Wood | Nylon | Various |
Richard Goose-Neck Angular PaintbrushCheck Price | Rubber-like | Synthetic | 2.5 inches |
Wooster 5224 Sash Paint BrushCheck Price | Wood | Flagged | 2.5 inches |
Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash PaintbrushCheck Price | Rubber | Synthetic | 2 inches |
Best Foam Brush
Bates Foam Paintbrushes
These foam brushes are versatile tools for touching up wall paint jobs, applying paint to a canvas, and more. These brushes are designed to cover surfaces with minimal strokes and they work with most surfaces and paints. Their foam heads absorb paint to prevent dripping.
Pros and Cons of Bates Foam Paintbrushes
- Has absorbent foam cells
- Measures two inches wide to paint small areas
- Has a sturdy wooden handle
- Not efficient for large paint jobs
- Can become floppy after excessive use
What People Are Saying About The Bates Foam Paintbrushes
Customers said that these brushes were easy to clean and made from high-quality materials. They also praised them for being non-drip. However, dissatisfied customers claimed that these paintbrushes were flimsy and produced patchy results.
Best for Large Areas
Perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator
This paintbrush head can be attached to a pole to reach your deck, patio, porch, or other floor. It has a width of seven inches with bristles that are two inches high, making painting both fast and easy. Plus, your purchase comes with a case for storing the head.
Pros and Cons of Perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator
- Works with all types of paints and stains
- Comes with a bristle comb and a paint can opener
- Paints on a variety of surfaces, including wood, metal, and concrete
- More expensive than other paintbrushes
- Not the best option for small projects
What People Are Saying About The Perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator
Those who liked this paintbrush said that it was simple to use and finished large jobs quickly. However, some customers struggled to get it to paint between wood panels. Others said that cleaning its bristles was difficult even with the included tool.
Easiest To Store
Purdy Sprig Paintbrush
If you need to make crisp lines with your paint, this brush will make your life easier. Its stiff bristles don’t wander as you drag it across a surface, ensuring that you get straight lines around outlets, door frames, and other areas that require special attention. The brush also works with all types of paints.
Pros and Cons of Purdy Sprig Paintbrush
- Has a natural hardwood handle
- Has bristles made from a combination of nylon and polyester
- Works for both indoor and outdoor paint jobs
- Doesn’t always pick up a sufficient amount of paint
- Has a thin handle
What People Are Saying About The Purdy Sprig Paintbrush
Customers who were happy with this product said that it didn’t leave brush lines or shed bristles and that it was easy to clean. However, those who were unhappy with this paintbrush claimed that it didn’t hold paint well, which meant that they had to dip back into the paint frequently.
Best for Artists
Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set
This brush set is meant for artistic painting and comesith a fan brush, four pointed brushes, and seven other brushes with different sizes. All of these brushes work for watercolor, acrylic paints, and oil painting. They also feature a ribbed texture between the handle and the bristles.
Pros and Cons of Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set
- Has soft, durable nylon bristles
- Works on fabric, canvas, and wood
- Comes with brushes of different sizes and shapes
- Not meant for household painting
- Has bristles that shed easily
What People Are Saying About The Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set
This brush set is meant for artistic painting and comesith a fan brush, four pointed brushes, and seven other brushes with different sizes. All of these brushes work for watercolor, acrylic paints, and oil painting. They also feature a ribbed texture Happy customers said that these brushes were easy to hold. They also liked how they were designed with beginners in mind and came in a variety of sizes. However, a common complaint among unsatisfied customers was that the bristles shed easily.between the handle and the bristles.
Best for Angles
Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush
Painting hard-to-reach areas is a hassle with a standard paintbrush, but this angled brush makes it a breeze. It has a flexible brush handle that bends to any shape to paint around objects and attaches to an extension pole if you need more reach.
Pros and Cons of Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush
- Has angled bristles
- Works with oil- and latex-based paint
- Has a flexible handle that bends to any shape
- Can’t replace the head because it’s attached to the handle
- Has soft bristles that may not produce the cleanest edges
What People Are Saying About The Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush
Satisfied customers felt that this paintbrush was easy and comfortable to hold, made from sturdy materials, and useful for painting up high. However, those who left negative reviews said that this product’s bristles were soft and didn’t hold enough paint.
Best for Trim
Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush
This angled sash brush is ideal for painting trim. It has soft, fine bristles which create smooth, feathery brush strokes. It features a stainless steel ferrule and a wood handle that’s easy to grip. This brush is great for applying enamels to metal, varnish or polyurethane on wood.
Pros and Cons of Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush
- Has thin filaments that reduce brush marks
- Works on a variety of paint types
- Comes in multiple pack sizes
- Not ideal for applying stains
- Some customers claimed it rusted easily
What People Are Saying About The Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush
Customers who gave this paintbrush positive reviews on Amazon liked that it had smooth, easy strokes, worked well on odd angles, and that it was built with sturdy materials. However, there were some customers that felt as though this brush was heavy, and others had issues with bristles falling out.
Best for Corners
Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush
If you need to paint challenging angles and corners, this paintbrush from Wooster can do the job. This brush has a flexible handle that allows for more maneuverability so you can fit into tight spaces. It also features a durable bass-plated steel ferrule.
Pros and Cons of Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush
- Has a white nylon and gold polyester blend that works with all paints
- Fits neatly into the palm of your hand as you brush
- Has an ergonomic, comfortable design
- Paint can sometimes pull easily
- Short handle may not be good for those with larger hands
What People Are Saying About The Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush
Those who gave this brush positive reviews on Amazon pointed out that it had a durable, flexible design that was easy to grip. Others liked that it was easy to control and that it made cleanup easy. On the other hand, there were others that felt this brush rusted and discolored after minimal use, and some found that the bristles clumped and lost their shape.
Paintbrush Buying Guide
From staining a deck to covering a wall, there are different uses for a paintbrush. To help you determine which one you need for your next project, read our guide below on how to pick a paintbrush.
Bristle Type
The bristles on your brush are either natural or synthetic. Natural bristles are usually made from animal hair. They work well with oil-based paints, top coats, and varnishes. The bristles on synthetic brushes are typically made from polyester, nylon, or a combination of the two. They’re best for water-based paints as well as low- or non-VOC paints.
Size
The larger the area you need to paint, the larger the brush should be. Brushes sizes typically range from one to six inches. Brushes that are smaller than two inches are best for touch-ups, while those in the three- or four-inch range can paint walls and ceilings. Brushes larger than five inches are usually used for painting a large surface, such as a deck, fence, or garage door.
Shape
Two common brush shapes are square and sash. Square-cut brushes can paint large, flat surfaces. Sash brushes are better for painting corners or other places at an awkward angle. If your brushes are for artistic painting, you may also see round brushes, pointed brushes, or fanned brushes.
Paintbrush FAQs
How do I clean a paintbrush?
To clean a paintbrush, follow the below steps:
- Wipe off as much excess paint as possible.
- Fill a bowl with enough liquid to cover the bristles. For latex paint, use water, and for oil paint, soak it in a solvent, such as mineral spirits or turpentine.
- Stir the brush in the liquid.
- Press the bristles against the side of the bowl to clear them.
- Use a comb to remove excess paint between the bristles.
- Dab the bristles on a cloth or paper towel to get rid of excess moisture.
- Let the brush dry before storing or reusing it.
How do I avoid getting streaks in my paint job?
Make sure the bristles of your brush are compatible with the type of paint you’re using. It’s also important to paint in the same direction as the grain when applicable.
Should I wet my paintbrush before using it?
Wetting a paintbrush before its first use can help the paint glide more smoothly across a surface. However, be sure that the brush is only damp and not dripping with water. Also, if you’re using an oil-based paint, dampen your brush with mineral spirits instead of water.
Our Methodology
To provide our readers with the best product recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down by comparing each model’s feature-set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products for the home, from doorbell cameras and dining room decor to circular saws and snow blowers.
Once we conclude the research and testing phases, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.