The 7 Best Paintbrushes (2024 Review)

Best Foam Brush

Bates Foam Paintbrushes

4.6/5

Go

Best for Large Areas

Perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator

4.6/5

Go

Easiest To Store

Purdy Sprig Paintbrush

4.7/5

Go

Top 7 Paint Brushes | Buyer’s Guide | Frequently Asked Questions | Why Trust The This Old House Team

A high-quality paintbrush is just as important as the paint itself for achieving a smooth, professional finish. The right brush should be comfortable to hold, easy to control, and efficient at applying paint without streaks 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. To help you find the best one, the This Old House team researched the top-rated options on Amazon. Here are our seven recommendations.

Top 7 Paint Brushes

• Best Foam Brush: Bates Foam Paintbrushes
• Best for Large Areas: perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator
• Easiest To Store: Purdy Sprig Paintbrush
• Best for Artists: Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set
• Best for Angles: Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush
• Best for Trim: Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush
• Best for Corners: Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush

Best Foam Brush: Bates Foam Paintbrushes

Bates Foam Paintbrushes

• $5.99
• $8.99
• 33% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $5.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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

Courtesy Amazon

perdura Deck Stain Brush Applicator

• $39.99
• $49.99
• 20% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $39.99 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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

Courtesy Amazon

Purdy Sprig Paintbrush

• $16.48

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $16.48 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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

Courtesy Amazon

Benicci Professional Artist Paintbrush Set

• $8.97
• $12.97
• 31% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $8.97 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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.

Best for Angles: Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush

Courtesy Amazon

Richard Goose-Neck Angular Paintbrush

• $18.1
• $19.09
• 5% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $18.1 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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

Courtesy Amazon

Wooster 5224 Sash Paint Brush

• $10.86

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $10.86 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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

Courtesy Amazon

Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush

• $6.47
• $7.94
• 19% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

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.

• $6.47 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ 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 Customers Are Saying

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.

Buyer’s 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Why Trust The This Old House Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.