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Few things can elevate a room as quickly as a new paint color. Though DIY-friendly, painting a room is no small task. The right tools can create the difference between an uneven paint job and a neat and relatively straightforward one.
To get the job done right the first time, we’ve rounded up the best painting tools for home renovators. Our list includes top-rated, necessary materials to paint clean, prepped interior walls and make the process as stress-free as possible. Give any room a facelift with the best painting tools, ahead.
1. ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
Painter’s tape is useful to cover areas that aren’t being painted, for example, outlets, light switches, and along door, window, and wall molding. ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape is the best painter’s tape for most situations. It’s a medium-adhesion, multi-surface tape with a versatile 1.88-inch width. Easy to apply and remove, it’s great for smooth to lightly textured walls, baseboards, trim, tile, and glass.
Get the ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape at Amazon for $19.99
2. Green Lifestyle All Purpose Canvas Drop Cloth
Drop cloths are a necessity to protect flooring and furniture from paint splatters. Between canvas and plastic, canvas cloths are often the better choice. They’re a bit pricier, but they aren’t as slippery and actually absorb paint spills (paint will pool on plastic tarps). The Green Lifestyle All Purpose Canvas Drop Cloth is a stellar pick because it’s absorbent, heavy-duty, washable, and comes in a range of sizes to suit almost any home painting project.
Get the Green Lifestyle All Purpose Canvas Drop Cloth at Amazon for $17.95
3. Project Source Metal Paint Tray
Using a paint tray makes it easier to dip rollers or brushes in the paint and also keeps the paint can free of dust and debris. Made of metal, the Project Source Metal Paint Tray is a sturdier choice than comparable plastic trays. Plus, painters can use the brand’s disposable plastic inserts to make the paint tray easier to clean.
Get the Project Source Metal Paint Tray at Lowe’s for $4.98
4. Wooster Pro/Doo-Z Woven Roller Cover
A paint roller is a must-have to cover large surface areas like walls. For a smooth paint job, a high-quality roller like the Wooster Pro/Doo-Z Woven Roller Cover is a smart choice, which is why it’s one of our picks for the best paint roller. This 9-inch roller cover is made using dense interlocked fibers to make the roller lint-free, as well as shed-, drip-, and splatter-resistant. It doesn’t come with a frame, so make sure to also pick up a 9-inch roller frame (like the Wooster 9-inch Sherlock Roller Frame).
Get the Wooster Pro/Doo-Z Woven Roller Cover at The Home Depot for $17.62
5. Wooster Sherlock GT Convertible 2 ft.- 4 ft. Extension Pole
An extension pole helps give a paint roller more reach to paint up high on walls or for working on the ceiling. The Wooster Sherlock GT Convertible 2 ft.- 4 ft. Extension Pole is a versatile choice, especially for painters who already have a compatible roller frame from the brand. This extension pole has a two- to four-foot reach, but Wooster also sells other length options. With an easy click-on design, the metal grip tip is compatible with many Wooster roller frames and tools. For other roller frames, this pole also comes with a conversion tip to fit threaded painting tools.
Get the Wooster Sherlock GT Convertible 2 ft.- 4 ft. Extension Pole at The Home Depot for $29.13
6. Wooster 2 in. Shortcut Polyester Angle Sash Brush
An angled brush can be used for cutting in, but its main strength is its ability to paint straight lines and create clean edges. Angled brushes are also perfect for along trim, in wall corners, or between the ceiling and wall. The Wooster 2 in. Shortcut Polyester Angle Sash Brush has a comfortable handle and dense angled brush. Plus, we consider it the best paint brush for edges because it offers easy and comfortable control in tight spaces.
Get the Wooster 2 in. Shortcut Polyester Angle Sash Brush at The Home Depot for $6.12
7. Purdy XL Swan Flat Paint Brush
A flat brush is useful for painting areas that are difficult to paint with a roller. It’s not necessary for every paint job (many DIYer’s will just settle for an angled paint brush), but it’s another great tool for cutting in and for tight areas that are too small for a roller. The Purdy XL Swan Flat Paint Brush is our top pick for the best overall paint brush. Not only did it provide smooth and full paint coverage in our tests, but we also found it very comfortable to hold.
Get the Purdy XL Swan Flat Paint Brush at Amazon for $23.70
8. Shur-Line Edger Pro
A paint edger is useful to use in place of painter’s tape, especially in tight spaces where it might be inconvenient to apply tape. For professional-level results, the best paint edger for DIY projects is the Shur-Line Edger Pro. Compact, durable, and comfortable to hold, we found this edger comfortable to use and easy to control in our testing.
Get the Shur-Line Edger Pro at Amazon for $11.88
9. Husky 15-in-1 Painter’s Tool
A painter’s tool is a convenient addition to any painter’s toolkit. The Husky 15-in-1 Painter’s Tool is an inexpensive tool with so many different uses in one simple item. It can be used as a spreader, scraper, paint can opener, nail puller, and paint roller cleaner. It’s made of durable carbon steel, so it’s built to last for years.
Get the Husky 15-in-1 Painter’s Tool at The Home Depot for $6.98
10. Little Giant Ladder
A ladder is a must-have to reach up-high edges and corners. The Little Giant Ladders Flip-N-Lite Stepladder tops our list for the best ladders and is well-suited for painting jobs. It’s built to hold up to 300 pounds, with wide rungs and a large sturdy standing platform (that can also double as a convenient spot to place a paint tray).
Get the Little Giant Ladders Flip-N-Lite Stepladder at Amazon for $91.15
11. Shur-Line Touch Up Painter
Whether you’re applying initial paint samples or fixing any mishaps from the painting process, a touch-up tool like the Shur-Line Touch Up Painter is useful for painting projects and beyond. Designed for use with latex paints, it has a built-in paint holder and fabric roller to easily touch up sections of your walls, and won’t leave any marks like traditional paint brushes do. Once the painting project is done, keep your paint in the touch-up tool for future quick fixes—it stores the paint upright to prevent spills and seals tightly to keep the paint from drying out.
Get the Shur-Line Touch Up Painter at Amazon for $11.99
The prices listed here are accurate as of publication on June 26, 2023.