Standing in the paintbrush aisle in your local DIY store, it can be daunting trying to decide which type of brush to choose for your painting project.
Firstly, you need to consider whether you’re going to use gloss or emulsion paint, as natural bristle brushes are better for solvent- or oil-based paints, such as gloss. Synthetic bristles are better for water-based paints as they are less likely to absorb water and swell. If you’re planning to paint woodwork, such as skirting boards or window frames, consider buying an angled brush that’s ideal for cutting in and giving a neat finish.
However, most DIYers start with a multipack of brushes for their everyday painting projects, so that’s what we focussed on in this test.
Ideally, you should look for a pack containing a 25mm brush for cutting in corners, a 38-40mm brush for painting along skirting boards and door frames, and a 50mm brush for large, flat areas of wall. We tested packs of three brushes from the major suppliers to find out which gave the best results.
For more DIY paint tips and advice, we've put together expert buyer's guides about the best chalk paint brushes for your upcycling projects, 10 of the best painting tools and how to paint and gloss a door.
What are the best paint brushes?
- Best overall GoodHome fine filament tip paint brush set | Buy now from B&Q, £9
- Best for woodwork Harris Seriously Good fine tip paint brush set | Buy now from B&Q, £10
- Best budget buy Wilko brush set | Buy now from Wilko, £4.50
- Best for quality Wooster silver tip paint brush set | Buy now from £32.84, Brewers
- Best for comfort Hamilton For The Trade synthetic paint brush set | Buy now from Toolstation, £7.69
GoodHome fine filament tip paint brush set
Score 10/10
- Buy now from B&Q, £9
Pros
- Resting lip feature to prevent paint transfer when the brush is laid down
- Dense bristles
- Comfy handle
- Eco credentials
Cons
- No textured grip on handle
The coverage was very good and we didn’t experience any bristle loss during painting.
Kit contains 25mm, 40mm, 50mm paintbrushes
This general purpose paint brush set is suitable for any surface or paint type, but we felt it was ideal for emulsion paints due to its deep, dense synthetic bristles. After combing through the synthetic brush with our fingers before starting work, we were pleased to see there was no bristle loss.
The polypropylene handle and nylon ferrule are made using 100% post consumer recycled plastic, and the contemporary design was noticeably different form the other brushes we tested. The handle was rounded, quite chunky and was very comfy to hold over long periods of time, although if you’re a messy painter, the lack of textured grips on the handle make it slippery to hold!
What we really loved about this brush was the resting feature - a raised lip on one side of the ferrule (see picture above) - which is designed to allow the brush to be placed onto flat surfaces whilst minimising paint transfer. It’s perfect for when you need to put your brush down when you go to make a cuppa. There's also a hole in the handle for hanging it up.
Are these brushes any good?
The dense bristles meant this brush had a high paint hold and release capacity, meaning we needed to re-load the brush less frequently. The coverage was very good and we didn’t experience any bristle loss during painting. Due to its streamlined design, the brush was really easy to clean with no tricky grooves where paint could build up.
Does this set offer value for money
Costing £9 for three, we felt these brushes offered great performance and comfort for the price.
- Buy now from B&Q, £9
Hamilton For The Trade synthetic paint brush set
Score 9/10
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Pros
- Fine, long, dense bristles
- Comfortable FSC-certified wood handle
Cons
- Handle can get colour stained easily
- No hanging hole for storage
These brushes felt and performed like expensive professional brushes
Kit contains 25mm, 38mm, 50mm paintbrushes
With a good variety of sizes included, this set is suitable for use with all type of paint and varnish, making it a great all rounder.
The fine-tipped flat brushes have solid, tapered synthetic filaments which help to reduce tramlines when painting.
The FSC-certified wooden beavertail handle was really smooth and comfy, making it easy top paint for long periods of time without any hand fatigue.
The long bristles, were firmly secured in the stainless steel ferrule and we experience no bristle loss when painting. Before painting, the manufacturer advices to wet the brush and spin it out before the first use.
Are these brushes any good?
The dense, yet fine bristles held a good amount of paint and gave a really smooth, even coverage with no bristle loss.
The bristles were very easy to clean, although the wooden handle may get stained with paint if you’re not careful, as it’s unvarnished, so the wood may absorb colour more easily.
Does this set offer value for money
These brushes felt and performed like expensive professional brushes, so we think they were a bargain at £7.69 for the set.
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Wooster silver tip paint brush set
Score 8/10
- Buy now from Brewers, £32.84
Pros
- Comfortable FSC-certified wooden handle
- Long, fine, dense bristles
Cons
- Handle can get colour stained easily
At £17.99 for a set for three, these brushes were the most expensive we tested, however they had the added benefit of coming with a one-year guarantee.
Kit contains 25mm, 38mm, 50mm paintbrushes
This set included a good variety of brush sizes suitable for all types of paint and varnish. The fine, synthetic bristles were the longest ones on our test and gave a very smooth finish and controllable paint flow. They were held firmly in a stainless steel ferrule which joined them to the very comfortable beavertail handle which is made from FSC-certified beech.
Before use, we combed through the bristles with our fingers and we were pleased to see there was no bristle loss.
Are these brushes any good?
These brushes are designed to hold their sharp shape for easy and flawless cutting-in and they didn’t disappoint. The fine, yet dense bristles gave a smooth, even finish with reduced tramlines.
The bristles were very easy to clean, however, as its unvarnished, the wooden handle may get stained with paint if you’re not careful.
Does this set offer value for money
At £17.99 for a set for three, these brushes were the most expensive we tested, however they had the added benefit of coming with a one-year guarantee. We felt their comfort and performance meant they were well worth the money.
- Buy now from Brewers, £32.84
Harris Seriously Good fine tip paint brush set
Score 7/10
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Pros
- Perfect for painting woodwork
- Good variety of sizes
- Comes with 'no bristle loss' guarantee
Cons
- Handle was uncomfortable for use over long periods
This set included a good variety of brush sizes which have been specifically designed and engineered to give good results when painting woodwork with all gloss, eggshell and satin paints.
Kit contains 25mm, 38mm, 50mm paintbrushes
This set included a good variety of brush sizes which have been specifically designed and engineered to give good results when painting woodwork with all gloss, eggshell and satin paints.
Before we began painting, we simply combed the brush through with our fingers to make sure there were no loose bristles, which there weren’t!
The brushes were light to hold, however despite the rear grip being made of thermoplastic rubber for comfort, the front of the brush handle was made of harder polypropylene and was less comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The handle was also quite narrow, which meant we found ourselves gripping it more tightly which made our hands ache over time.
Are these brushes any good?
The synthetic bristles were soft and pliable and held the paint well. They applied the paint smoothly and evenly and there was no bristle loss, which was just as well as they come with a guaranteed no bristle loss.
The deep stainless steel ferrule held the bristles firmly and would withstand plenty of washing and cleaning. Although the bristles were easy to clean, the numerous grooves on the ferrule and handle are trickier to clean if you’re a messy painter and smear paint on the handle while working.
They also have a hole in the handle for hanging up.
Does this set offer value for money
At £10 for a set of three, we felt these brushes offered fair value for money if you have a lot of woodwork to paint.
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Wilko brush set
Score 7/10
- Buy now from Wilko (£4.95)
Pros
- Affordability
- Good grips on the handle
Cons
- Bristles weren’t very dense
This brush did give a good, even finish, however due to the bristles not being very dense, we found we had to reload the brush with paint more often to get a good coverage.
Kit contains 25mm, 38mm, 50mm paintbrushes
This versatile, lightweight brush set is ideal for covering a wide range of painting jobs, from cutting in to general painting and can be used with all paint types.
Compared to the other brushes on our test, the bristles on these brushes were the shortest and least dense, meaning they needed to be reloaded with paint more often. However, it meant they were good for cutting in.
We combed through the bristles before use and were pleased that there was no bristle loss. The bristles were held firmly in place by a stainless steel ferrule which joined them to the plastic handle.
The handle had ridged side grips and raised dots on the thumb area to help give greater grip while painting - very handy if you’re a messy painter who often gets paint on the handle, making it slippery!
Are these brushes any good?
This brush did give a good, even finish, however due to the bristles not being very dense, we found we had to reload the brush with paint more often to get a good coverage.
When it came to cleaning, the bristles were easy to clean, however the grip grooves on the handle were fiddlier to clean if you’re a messy painter and get paint on the handle while working.
Does this set offer value for money
At under a fiver, this set of brushes is ideal if you’re a first-time decorator on a budget.
Buy now from Wilko (£4.95)
FAQs
Do you need to prepare paintbrushes for use?
- Before use, flick the bristles back and forth with your fingers to remove dust and any loose bristles. Next, moisten the brush in water if you are about to use water-based paint, or mineral turpentine if you are going to use an oil-based paint. Make sure you remove excess liquid with a paper towel or old rag before painting.
How should you clean a paintbrush?
- When you've finished painting, scrape off as much paint as you can on the side of the paint can. If you've been using water-based paint, run the brush under a tap to remove the bulk of the paint then soak your brush in warm soapy water for about an hour. Rinse with clean water then dry with a clean cloth and store in a dry place.
- If used with solvent-based paints, pour a small amount of solvent-based cleaner into a small jar and work the brush against the sides to get the cleaner into the base of the bristles. Soak for around two hours, dry with a clean cloth and store in a dry place. You should not pour solvents down the sink, so once you’ve finished cleaning your brushes, place a lid on your jar and leave for 24 hours. When the paint has sunk to the bottom, pour the remaining solvent cleaner into the bottle for future use. Leave the paint to dry completely in the jar before disposing of it in the bin.
Get more detailed tips on how to clean paintbrushes here.
How should you store a paintbrush?
- Once you’ve cleaned your brush, slap it against your hand a few times to bring the bristles back into alignment and then reshape the brush so it looks like new. You can do this with your fingers or use a paintbrush comb, available from DIY stores. Wrap the brush in a paper towel or a piece of newspaper and secure with masking tape or a rubber band. You can either store the brush vertically, with the bristles facing upwards, in a jar or paint kettle, or if the brush has a hole in the handle, hang it from a hook with the bristles facing down. Alternatively, you can store your dry brushes horizontally in a paintbrush wallet to help them keep their shape.
Looking for something to paint? Check our roundup of the best decking paints, or why not give your shed an upgrade with the 6 stylish shades for sheds? We've also been busy with our tried-and-tested review of the best wood primer.
