After 5 Head-to-Head Tests, We Found the 8 Best Paint Brushes of 2026

Choosing the right paint brushes is just as important as choosing the right colors for your next paint project. While many DIYers opt for rollers on large surfaces like walls, brushes provide greater precision while using less paint. They also offer more versatility, since they can create both smooth and textured paint finishes (depending on your technique) and are essential for trim and detail work. 

To help you find the right brushes for your surface, paint type, and technique, we tested eight paint brushes, and the Purdy XL Swan 3” Flat Paint Brush rose to the top. It works across paints, varnishes, and sealants; has a comfortable, easy-to-grip handle; and uses a durable copper ferrule that boosts longevity and control.

Read on to learn about brush material, size, shape, and quality—and how these factors guided our selections for the best paint brushes available. 

1. BEST FOR WALLS: Purdy XL Swan 3” Flat Paint Brush
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Purdy XL Elite Dale 1.5” Angle Sash Paint Brush
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3. BEST FOR EDGES: Wooster Shortcut 2” Angle Sash Paint Brush
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4. BEST FOR HARD-TO-REACH: Richard Goose Neck 2.5” Angular Paint Brush
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5. BEST ERGONOMIC: Proform Technologies Pro-Ergo 2.5” Angle Paint Brush
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6. BEST FOR LARGE AREAS: Purdy Nylox Swan 4”Flat Paint Brush
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7. BEST FOR TRIM: Trylon Premium 2” Thin Angle Sash Paint Brush
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8. BEST FOR OIL-BASED PAINTS: Purdy White Bristle Sprig 2″ Flat Paint Brush
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Paint Brushes Comparison

Our Top Picks

Whether you need an edging paint brush for corners, a flat brush for large areas, or a touch-up paint brush for detail work, one of the following tested picks should be right for your needs. category and recommend these brushes to get your paint project done right.

With a blend of nylon and polyester bristles, the Purdy XL Swan 3-inch flat paint brush is designed for latex and oil-based paints, stains, and primers, and can handle both indoor and outdoor projects. According to the company, its proprietary tipping and flagging process produces high-quality bristles that provide exceptional paint distribution, resulting in smoother, more consistent coverage. 

During testing, the XL Swan’s generous 3-inch width delivered plenty of coverage on walls, and the wood handle felt balanced and comfortable during longer sessions. While it’s not the best tool for tight spaces or nooks, it’s definitely a paint brush we’ll keep on hand for larger paint jobs. We also found that storing it in its wax-covered packaging after use prevented mold growth and helped the bristles return to their original state.

What our tester says: “We tested the comfort and coverage of the Purdy XL, and it did not disappoint. It worked well for everything from painting walls to applying stain on our fence.”—Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Purdy XL Swan paint brush at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware.

When it comes to trim, molding, windows, and other tight spaces, this narrow-angle sash brush featuring Purdy’s proprietary nylon/polyester-blend bristles is hard to beat. It’s designed specifically for low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, which are often thicker than traditional latex and can be harder to apply.

The bristles in the Purdy XL Elite are firm, making them great for detailed work on trim or slightly rough surfaces. In our tests, they held paint well and distributed it evenly across surfaces. The brush was lightweight and comfortable to hold, though its long handle made reaching tight areas a bit tricky. Overall, though, it’s a durable and reliable addition to any painter’s toolkit.

Get the Purdy XL Elite paint brush at Amazon or Ace Hardware. 

This short-handled angle sash brush helps create a perfect edge between ceiling and wall—and, even trickier, where two different paint colors meet. Its synthetic polyester bristles work with all paint types, especially latex acrylics and water-based stains.

We especially loved the brush’s comfortable, proprietary handle design, which feels like an extension of the hand. It gave us excellent control, making it easy to get very close to edges.

Get the Wooster paint brush at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

The Richard goose neck angular paint brush allows you to reach the edges and corners of high walls without using extension ladders or scaffolding. This bendable extender brush screws onto a painting pole, allowing you to paint high walls above staircases or cut in ceiling corners with ease. It’s also handy for painting around baseboards without needing to crouch, bend, or sit on the floor.

In our tests, we found that the bendable handle of this brush is what makes it better than most extender brushes. Once attached to an extender pole, you can adjust the handle to any angle, and it will hold that position until you move it again. The brush’s polyester/nylon-blend bristles are flexible yet precise, creating clean cut-in lines. Its 2½-inch width makes it ideal for filling in corners.

Get the Richard paint brush at Amazon.

Proform broke from the straight-handled paint brush mold with its Pro-Ergo angle sash brush. Unlike most brushes, the Pro-Ergo features a curved handle designed to fit comfortably in the user’s palm. Its generous 2½-inch width and PBT filament bristles make quick work of painting all types of trim.

Since it’s different from standard brushes, the handle took a little getting used to. Once we got the hang of it, though, the ergonomic design felt extremely comfortable and made it easier to maintain a natural angle when cutting in paint. Though it’s a bit more expensive than many sash brushes, this pick will be ideal for those doing a large amount of trim work. 

What our tester says: “Once we got used to the Pro-Ergo’s curved handle, it made holding the brush at a natural angle for cutting in much easier. It also reduced hand fatigue, which made it perfect for long trim-work sessions.”—Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Proform Technologies paint brush at Amazon.

Nylox is one of Purdy’s top-tier paint brush lines, and the Swan features the same 100 percent black nylon bristles that professionals swear by. For those looking to cover a large area with a super-smooth finish, this brush can save time and effort. 

During testing, the soft bristles applied paint evenly while minimizing the visibility of any leftover brushstrokes. The brush pickup isn’t amazing, but that’s intentional—using less paint helps prevent brush marks, which is exactly what this brush is designed to do. Another great feature of the Purdy Nylox Swan is the smooth hardwood handle, which has a nice taper in the middle that makes it easy and comfortable to grip. 

Get the Purdy Nylox Swan paint brush at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Walmart. 

The Trylon thin angled sash paint brush for trim is a professional-grade brush with durable Trylon filaments, a synthetic material designed for maximum paint absorption and release. Its thinner, tapered handle works well with any paint type. 

We found the brush to be light and relatively comfortable to hold. The filaments released the paint well and covered a few feet of edge painting before we needed to reload. However, we think some of the edge cleanliness was due to a practiced painting technique rather than the actual brush. Still, the brush cleaned up easily, and the bristles looked great after several uses, making the Trylon a worthwhile investment for frequent painters.

What our tester says: “The Trylon thin angled sash brush is light, comfortable, and releases paint smoothly, making it easy to cover several feet of trim before reloading.”—Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Trylon paint brush at The Home Depot.

The Purdy Sprig 2-inch flat paint brush features 100 percent natural white bristles, which are perfect for evenly distributing oil-based paints and stains. In addition to its soft and springy bristles, the Sprig is constructed with a stainless steel ferrule and a wood handle for comfort and durability.

In our testing, this flat brush excelled at applying oil-based paints, shellacs, varnishes, lacquers, stains, and sealers to trim and wood furniture. The natural-fiber bristles also held up well to the solvents needed to clean these types of paints and stains. However, since the softer bristles made it harder to create a straight line, it wasn’t ideal for cutting in around trim. 

Get the Purdy white bristle paint brush at Amazon or Ace Hardware.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Paint Brushes

We evaluated the paint brushes based on size, style, bristle type, comfort, and ease of use. During testing, we used the paint recommended for the bristles and applied it to walls and trim for each brush. After use, we cleaned to determine how quickly we could remove paint from the bristles. 

Once clean, we examined the brushes again to determine if any damage was evident to their bristles or handles. When the brushes were completely dry, we stored them in their original packaging and examined them a few days later to determine if they retained their shape.

What to Consider When Choosing a Paint Brush

Brushes are made of different materials and come in various shapes and sizes to suit specific products and tasks. Here’s how to determine the best paint brush for your job.

Material

Brush bristles come in two major categories, each designed for different types of paint: natural, which are recommended for oil-based paints, and synthetic, which work best with water-based paints.

• Natural brushes are made from animal hair, like hog or badger, and their fibers have microscopic splits that help them hold more product for a smooth, even finish. Choose a natural-bristle brush when applying oil-based paints and topcoats, varnishes, shellac, decorative chalk paint (for an antique look), enamel, and polyurethane. You’ll also get good results using a round paint brush with natural bristles to apply furniture wax.
• Synthetic brushes made of high-quality polyester or a blend of nylon and polyester are better suited to latex (water-based) paints because natural bristles absorb water, causing them to become limp and less effective. Low- and no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, most of which are acrylic latex, also perform best with a synthetic brush. 

Both natural and synthetic brushes can last for years with proper care. To clean paint brushes properly, remove excess paint, wash with soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and let dry on a flat surface.

Size

Paint brushes for house painting tasks typically come in sizes ranging from 1 to 6 inches. Generally speaking, small paint brushes between 1 and 2½ inches are better for tighter areas and more detailed work, such as trim and corners. 3-inch brushes work well for doors, cabinets, and shelving, while 4- to 6-inch brushes are designed for large, flat areas like walls and ceilings.

Style

There are three main styles of paint brush, each designed for a different purpose and surface area:

• Square cut: A 4- to 6-inch square-cut wall brush will be ideal for large, flat surfaces, both interior and exterior. With a good-quality wall brush, you may be able to skip using a paint roller entirely—and even use less paint thanks to its precision.
• Angle sash: Originally designed to paint window sashes (the movable frames that hold window panes), short-handled, angled brushes are great for detailed work. They’re easy to maneuver and offer great stability, making them great paint edgers for grooves, panels, corners, and tricky areas like behind toilets.
• Round sash: These smaller brushes range from 20 to 40 millimeters. They’re ideal for decorative painting (such as faux finishes) and furniture (such as chair and table legs) because the circular bristle arrangement accommodates three-dimensional surfaces well.

Quality

A top-quality brush offers smoother, fuller coverage and a more professional finish, and while it may cost more (depending on size and bristle material), it can last up to 20 years with proper care. Look for flagged bristles—slightly split at the ends—which hold more paint and provide the best coverage. The bristle tips should flex and spring back into shape, and the bristles should be shorter on the outside and longer toward the center to enhance precision and control. As a general rule, bristles should be about 50 percent longer than the width of the brush to pick up the right amount of paint and provide maximum coverage and control.

FAQs

There are many types of painting tools on the market, each designed for specific applications. Using the right paint brush for the job—and the right paint for that brush—will make every project easier and more successful. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about paint brushes.

Q. What type of paint brush gives the smoothest finish?

A softer-bristle brush will give you the smoothest finish, provided it’s paired with the appropriate type of paint.

Q. How can I avoid paint brush streaks when painting?

Make sure the brush bristles are designed to work with the type of paint you are using, use proper painting techniques, and paint in the same direction as the wood grain (if applicable).

Q. What is the best paint brush for interior walls?

A wide-flat or square-cut brush is best for interior walls because it covers large surfaces efficiently.

Q. Are expensive paint brushes better?

Expensive professional paint brushes​ are generally better made, with higher-quality bristles, tighter ferrules, and better shaping, meaning they hold more paint, leave fewer brush marks, and last longer when properly cleaned. However, for rough work, one-off projects, or applying primers where a fine finish is less important, a cheap brush might be perfectly adequate.​

Q. How often should you change your paint brush?

You don’t need to change a paint brush on a fixed schedule, as a good-quality, well-cleaned brush can last for many projects before performance drops. When a brush’s time has come, its bristles will be frayed, splayed, shedding, or it won’t hold a clean edge or smooth finish anymore.​

Q. Should you wash paint brushes after every use?

Yes, you should wash paint brushes after every use to remove all paint from the bristles, as this will prevent them from hardening, fraying, or losing their shape. If you’re just taking a quick break, however, you can temporarily wrap the brush or keep it in a brush keeper, but you’ll still want to give it a good wash once you’re done for the day.

Q. How do you tell if brushes need replacing?

Brushes need replacing when the bristles are frayed, splayed, shedding, stiff with dried paint, or won’t hold a straight edge or point. If your brush isn’t springing back into shape, feels clumpy even after cleaning, or makes painting harder rather than easier, it’s time to retire it or demote it to rough tasks. 

Q. How should you store a paint brush?

After you clean and reshape your brush, store it lying flat or hanging vertically with the bristles down in a dry place. Avoid storing them standing upright or in containers where they touch anything to help retain their shape and prevent damage.

 

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