If you are a DIY'er like me, you might have noticed quite the selection of paintbrushes on the market. Whether it’s your back door that needs sprucing up or your window frames, there is a brush for every job. And, selecting the right paintbrush will ensure you get a professional finish every single time.
Related: How to choose the best paint for your walls at home
Depending on the size of the job and the paint you're using, there are a few tips to know before selecting your brush. As a general overview, an angled brush is great for getting into the nooks and the crannies, whereas you would use your widest brush as the quickest solution for large spaces.
The bigger your variety, the better. Mainly because if you can complete your job far more efficiently, why wouldn't you? Just remember to cover your brushes in-between jobs to stop them from drying out. And, limit the amount of paint per stroke, using the tips of your brush, to create a brush-free finish.
Paint brush types:
As I have shortlisted a range of different types of paint brushes in this article – masonry to cutting in brushes, I thought a basic overview of them all wouldn’t be a bad idea. The three biggest differentiators of brush types include bristle type (filaments), size and purpose, and quality.
1. Masonry brush: a long bristle (usually natural), firm-textured brush – great for rendering or with water-based masonry exterior paints.
2. Cutting in brush: a fine-angled brush with a clean finish – great for all straight edges (walls, ceilings, corners) and high-gloss paints.
3. Precision brush: a pointy looking brush designed for detailed work (sash windows and cornices).
4. Synthetic or acrylic brushes: a smooth textured brush designed for cutting in and a clean finish – great for painting straight lines between surfaces and water-based interior finishes (satin, eggshell, gloss finishes).
5. Natural bristle brushes: a brush that tends to become larger in water-based paints – great for holding paint and traditional solvent-based paints (but less precise).
What paint brush size should I use?
You should keep the following sizes in mind when considering which brush selection is perfect for you (and I would recommend getting a couple of spares, especially for the smaller sizes):
1. 0.5-Inch – all the small bits and pieces
2. 1-Inch – narrow spaces (window sashes)
3. 1.5-Inches – architraves, window frames and skirting
4. 2-inches – panels, small doors, and wider skirting
5. 2.5-Inches – large panels and doors
6. 3-inches – cutting in and walls
Best paint brushes
1 of 7Harris 102021051 21mm Seriously Good Woodwork Stain & Varnish Round Paint Brush
This 21mm round paintbrush by Harris is 'seriously good for woodwork stain and varnish'. Being Amazon's choice for the best furniture paintbrush, it's designed to give you very smooth results. The round head gives you more control in those intricate areas and it has no-loss technology so you won't find any pesky bristles while painting.
2 of 7Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, White, 2 inch
Wooster Brush has created the shortcut angle sash paintbrush which is extremely popular. With over 6000 five-star reviews, it has a flexible purple Shergrip handle (2-inches), giving it great manoeuvrability in tight spaces. It's white and ideal for all acrylic paints.
3 of 7Harris 809 Shed and Fence Block Brush, 4 inch/ 100mm
Harris's Shed and Fence 4-inch Block Brush is another favourite. Coming in a range of packs, the natural bristle wooden brush is made with animal hair. Very durable and with high absorbency (for getting the job done faster), it's perfect for fences and sheds. It's also suitable for all wood treatments.
4 of 7RODO Professional 4-inch Flat Masonry Brush
RODO Professional's 4-inch Flat Masonry Brush is another product worth the investment. It's a traditionally styled masonry brush with a blend of polyester filaments and pure bristle for better performance and durability. It even has extra bristle for maximum paint holding and ideal for water and resin-based masonry paints.
5 of 7Axus Décor AXU/BGPSS4 Grey Series Pointed Precision Paint Brush Set, 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, & 25mm, Set of 4 Pieces
AXUS Décor's Grey Series Pointed Paint Brush Set is the best precision paint product. The set of four includes a 12mm, 15mm, 20mm and 25mm brush, and is ideal for sash windows, architraves, and mouldings. The super-fine, tapered, and synthetic filaments are designed to achieve a smooth finish with minimal brush marks. it's great, too, for cutting in with emulsion.
6 of 7LG Harris 13190 Harris Platinum 5 Brush Set, Set of 5 Pieces
Harris's Platinum 5 Brush Set is another product well worth your time. With over 6000 reviews, the synthetic filaments are designed for a very fine finish. Suitable for all paints, the wooden set contains two 1-inch brushes, two 1.5-inch brushes and one 2-inch brush. Also, very easy to clean!
7 of 7Stanley HOBBY10 10 Piece Hobby Paint Brush Set
I had to include Stanley's larger 10-piece Hobby Paint Brush Set for anyone looking for the full kit. The synthetic blend bristle paint brushes include 0.5-inch to 3-inch brushes. Very easy to clean, these DIY necessities also have plastic comfort grip handles.
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