When it comes to redecorating a room or the whole house, the go-to tool of choice is often the humble paint roller. It’s the most efficient way of getting paint on a wall and achieving an even and consistent coverage. Helping you to give a room a whole new look in a weekend.
Before you pick the best roller and tray set there’s a few things to consider before you commit…
The pile length of the roller will help indicate what type of surface it is best for: short pile is for fine and flat surfaces, medium pile rollers are best for smooth surfaces (typically used on most walls) and for very textured surfaces choose a long pile.
Another element to consider is what type of paint you’re using as some maybe suitable for all types, where as others may be more specific.
And if that wasn’t enough, you can buy your paint tray and roller sets as a 3-piece set, such as the Wickes 9” Paint roller set, for £5.25, right the way up to a 15-piece set with the Harris Ultimate Finish decorating kit for £29, which boasts everything you could need to get the job done. So we’ve put five top paint roller and tray sets to the test to see who would come out on top.
How we tested the paint rollers and trays…
We considered everything from packaging and how easy they are to use, their performance as well as value for money.
- Features (6 points): Handle - ergonomic, detachable, handle length, comfy for long use | Foam/micro pile? Various lengths? | Roller width | Tray included | Extra rollers included | Motorised?
- Results (3 points): Does the head hold paint well? Does it drip? | Does it provide a nice even finish - any stippling? | Easy to clean (tray and roller)
- Value for money (1 points): Price | Quality | Warranty
Which are the best rollers and paint trays?
- Best eco-friendly choice: Lick Tools 9” roller and tray set, £18.99, Screwfix
- Best budget-friendly option: Fit For The Job 4-piece 9” roller and tray set, £4.99, Amazon
- Best overall finish: GoodHome woven polyester medium pile roller kit 5-piece, £14, B&Q
- Best decorating set: Harris Ultimate woven fabric assorted pile decorating set 15-pieces, £29, B&Q
The best rollers and paint trays for 2024
Fit For The Job 4-piece 9” roller and tray set, Amazon
Score 8/10
Pros
- Price
- Two rolls
Cons
- Plastic tray not heavy duty
A brilliant budget option, with multiple sleeves to help you get the job done in double time!
The Fit For The Job four-piece 9” roller set comes with a tray, two roller sleeves and a roller frame.
The handle on the roller is a standard length and is moulded with subtle grooves to allow for a comfortable grip while you’re painting. The handle also has a lip where the plastic meets the metal to allow the roller to hook to the back of the tray, without letting it slip into the paint reservoir - a very useful addition. It’s worth noting that the brand state that the handle is also suitable for use with push fit extension poles, ideal for tackling the ceiling from the ground.
The two roller sleeves are medium pile with the brand suggesting they are best used on smooth and semi smooth surfaces, such as plaster, drywall and ceilings.
The tray is made from 100% recycled plastic, has a deep reservoir to collect a decent amount of paint before needing to be refilled and with grooves coat in to allow the paint to evenly spread on the roller.
Is this combo any good?
The roller held the paint well and once I’d rolled the excess emulsion on the tray there was no dripping. It seemed a little difficult to get an even all round coverage of the paint on the sleeve, but once I was applying the paint to the wall this didn’t seem to matter. The coverage on the wall was even, fast and comfortable too.
Once the paint was dry there was slightly more obvious stippling to the finish’s texture than some of the other rollers, but it was still subtle and wouldn’t put me off using the roller.
The grooves on the tray helped to evenly spread the paint and the reservoir held the paint well. However, I did notice that when I picked up the tray with the roller and paint reservoir quite full, the plastic rim did bend under the weight. It isn’t the most sturdy of trays, so is best for use on the floor or on a surface, rather than being held up a ladder!
The sleeve came off the roller frame after a bit of tugging, and washed up quickly and evenly. The sleeve didn’t malt and dried well to be in great condition for further use.
The tray cleaned up well with running water and a sponge, ready for use again.
Is this set good value for money?
This was the cheapest of all the roller and tray sets I tested and I was really impressed.
It’s extremely handy that it comes with two roller sleeves, allowing you to switch between colours without having to wash one out and wait for it to dry. The rollers seem good quality with use and washing not effecting their performance.
The only negative was that the tray could benefit from being a little stronger. Seeing how the edge of the tray bent under the weight of the paint and roller wasn’t particularly reassuring, so it worth being mindful of when using it. I did however, like that the tray was made from 100% recycled plastic, so if you clean it up well and make repeated use of it you tick the eco box too.
A brilliant budget option, with multiple sleeves to help you get the job done in double time!
Harris Ultimate woven fabric assorted pile decorating set 15-pieces, B&Q
Score 9/10
- Buy now from B&Q, £29
Pros
- Has all you could need
- Includes tray liners for longevity
Cons
- Price
A great piece of kit if you’re just starting out and need all the decorating tools!
The Harris Ultimate Finish decorating set is packed with all you could need when painting a room. The 15-piece set includes a dust sheet, paint stirrer, two brushes, sanding block, a narrow roller with both a foam and microfibre sleeve, narrow paint tray and liner, plus a standard sized roller with two sleeves, paint tray and liner. A great piece of kit if you’re just starting out and need all the decorating tools!
The handle has a good, ergonomic design offering a soft, comfortable grip while you paint. Like the others on test, it's a standard length and I found it to be fairly light weight too.
The roller sleeves for the larger roller are both woven, medium pile and are designed with splatter control for less mess, according to the brand. Two are included in this kit which is ideal for swapping between colours or as an instant replacement.
The tray included is made from plastic, has a standard sized reservoir and the grooves on the tray to even out paint coverage on the roller. The plastic liner simply slots into the tray to help prolong the life of the tray itself, however the liner can still be washed and reused for multiple uses to really make the most of this product. A great addition to this set to make it last longer, but also allows you to swap between paint colours with ease if necessary.
Is this combo any good?
I really liked the light weight and easy movement of this roller. It wasn’t stiff or hard work pushing it through the paint, it was easy to get paint all around the roller sleeve and it moved effortlessly to spread the paint on the grooves of the tray too.
The paint went on smoothly to the wall with little force or effort from me (phew!), there was no dripping or splatter.
After applying the first coat there did seem to be a more obvious texture, stippling of the paint on the wall, this did reduce once the paint had settled and dried, however, it was still more noticeable than some of the others I tested. Having said that, I would be happy with this finish to the paint work if it was even and all over the decorated area – so wouldn’t put me off using the product again.
The roller cleaned up well, it didn’t take long to get all of the paint washed off the sleeve, it did, however, take quite a while to dry off.
If you didn’t want to reuse the liner you could simply take it off the tray and throw it away and the tray is ready to go for next time - no washing required - great if your least favourite part of decorating is the clean up! I opted to clean the liner as I’d prefer to get a few more uses out of it before discarding it - and this is what the brand encourages too. As it’s a liner it is thinner so, therefore, a bit trickier to clean due to its bendy, flimsy nature.
The paint didn’t wash off the liner as easily as it had done with some of the other trays I’d tested, but I did manage to clean away most of the paint to make it perfectly useable again. I haven’t used a liner before but I was impressed with this one and would definitely consider it in the future - I hate the cleaning part of decorating!
Is this set good value for money?
If you’re simply looking for a roller and paint tray set to give a room of your house a fresh coat of paint over the weekend this set could be overkill, making you spend more than you need to. However, if your decorating tool kit is bare, then this is a brilliant place to start. Chuck away the DIY store shopping list and pick up this pack for all you need in one box. I really liked how Harris had thought of it all, with the different sized roller sets, paint brushes for different paint finishes, plus the dust sheet and stirrer, brush cleaning tool are the items you either always forget or never knew you needed.
This set was the most expensive of all the roller and paint trays I tested, but for what you get in the box I would say it offers great value for money. I was impressed with the roller and tray, the roller was one of the most comfortable I used and it wasn’t too heavy, so I knew I could paint for longer before the blisters set in.
Overall, a great decorating kit to get your home painted in no time.
- Buy now from B&Q, £29
GoodHome woven polyester medium pile roller kit 5-piece, B&Q
Score 8.5/10
- Buy now from B&Q, £14
Pros
- Strong and study tray
- Three rolls
Cons
- Handle isn’t very comfortable for long decorating periods
...the paint finish that this gave pushed this to the top of my list, so I’d definitely recommend this one.
The GoodHome five-piece woven polyester medium pile roller kit comes complete with a tray, three roller sleeves and the roller frame.
The handle is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic and can be used with GoodHome snap fit system and universal push fit extension poles, handy if you’re tackling the ceiling too. However, it isn't moulded or have a soft touch to make gripping more comfortable, but it does have a groove at the end of the handle to hook on the edge of the tray to stop the roller from slipping down into the tray.
The three roller sleeves are medium pile and are made from woven polyester. B&Q recommend they are best suited for applying matt or silk emulsion to walls or ceilings. The roller core measures 45mm diameter and the length is 230mm.
The tray included boasts a strong and sturdy plastic design, with grooves to help spread the paint on the roller and a reservoir. Despite the deep look of the tray, the reservoir is shallower than expected which could potentially mean refilling more often.
Is this combo any good?
The roller head held the paint well once I’d dipped and rolled it in the tray. The grooves helped to even out the paint on the roller to make applying it to the wall a breeze. The paint didn’t drip from the roller and there was little to no splatter.
The roller left a very slight texture to the wall which was visible once dry too, however, of all the rollers I tested this one gave the smoothest finish once the two coats had dried, a massive plus point for this product.
Although the sleeve needed a good tug to come off the frame, it was easier than some of the others and least messy too. Water cleaned up the sleeve well, while the sponge cleaned the paint from the grooves in the tray with ease. Both items cleaned up well ready for use again, however, as the set comes with three roller sleeves if you had to discard one your decorating task wouldn’t be delayed and you could carry straight on with the job in hand.
Is this set good value for money?
The B&Q GoodHome 5-piece set is priced at £14 and I liked that it came with multiple roller sleeves so that you could use one for different colours or discard one if it became worn.
The tray and sleeves all washed up really well and of all the sets I tested I was most impressed with the tray on this one. It was sturdy and of a decent size, with the grooves doing a great job with the paint - it also didn’t buckle or bend under the weight of some paint and the roller, so I would feel comfortable with this in hand up a ladder!
However, I was a little disappointed that the handle wasn’t more comfortable, a soft touch or shaping to aid a more comfortable long last grip would have been a welcomed addition. That said, the paint finish that this gave pushed this to the top of my list, so I’d definitely recommend this one.
- Buy now from B&Q, £14
9” Paint roller set, Wickes
Score 8/10
- Buy now from Wickes, £5.25
Pros
- Price
- Groove on handle so it doesn’t slide down into tray
Cons
- Only one roll
For a quick DIY paint job I think this is a great find, giving good coverage at a bargain price.
The Wickes 9” paint roller set comes with three pieces, the tray, roller and medium pile roller sleeve.
The handle is a standard length and has a soft touch finish with a few grooves in the design to make it comfortable and help the grip as you paint. There is also a handy groove where the handle meets the metal to allow you to hook the roller at the back of the paint tray to stop it rolling into the paint - a useful touch!
The set comes with one medium pile sleeve which is best suited for smooth to semi-rough walls and ceilings. The 9inch diameter, and 230mm width, helps to give a faster coverage as you decorate.
The tray is of decent, standard size, with a reservoir and grooves cut in to help spread the emulsion evenly on the roller.
Is this combo any good?
The roller held the paint well once I’d rolled it in the grooves of the tray, with no dripping once the tray had helped to even out the paint. The paint was rather heavy on one side of the roller, so it did keep spinning round initially meaning I couldn’t get the paint spread evening all the way around, so I’d advise dipping it in the paint lightly taking time to add more paint and spread it around the roller before applying the emulsion to the wall or ceiling.
The roller gave good, even coverage and after two coats of paint there was just a subtle textured pattern on the wall from the roller.
When it came to cleaning the roller, it was a little stiff and I needed a bit of strength to pull it off the roller frame. Once off it was quick and easy to rinse the paint off. For the tray I used a household sponge to help clean the paint from the grooves and the corners, it didn’t take long to get the paint cleaned off. Overall, both the sleeve and the tray cleaned up well, meaning both were more than capable of being used further.
Is this set good value for money?
The Wickes 9” paint roller set is priced at £5.25 for this three-piece set. I thought it was good value as it felt durable and up to the task of painting a whole room if necessary.
While I only tested it on a smaller area, I found the grip on the handle was comfortable and the soft touch definitely helped. For a quick DIY paint job I think this is a great find, giving good coverage at a bargain price.
It would have been nice if there were two sleeves, in case one got damaged while doing the job, or if one hasn’t dried out in time for the second coat, but all in all a great, no frills budget option.
Lick Tools 9” roller and tray set, Screwfix
Score 7.5/10
- Buy now from Screwfix, £18.99
Pros
- Eco credentials
- Stylish set
Cons
- Price
The Lick Tools set is among the pricier roller and tray sets I tested, however, if you’re looking to make a greener choice when it comes to purchasing decorating equipment you might be willing to pay the extra.
The Lick Tools paint roller and tray set from Screwfix is the most stylish and eco-friendly options available when it comes to the decorating tools to makeover our homes with.
The set comprises a recycled and reusable tray, dust sheet made from 100% recycled materials, an angled paintbrush boasting a bamboo handle, a 9” eco roller sleeve with a mid pile suitable for smooth to semi-smooth surfaces with all paint types. The 9” eco roller frame also ticks the eco boxes, with a sustainably grown bamboo handle, recycled steel frame and recycled plastic end cups. I really liked that the set also arrived in a sturdy, brown paper bag that can be reused to store the kit or recycled too.
The roller itself also measured 230mm in width to allow good, quick paint coverage as you go. There was only one roller sleeve supplied with the kit, but you can purchase addition Lick Tools eco sleeves from Screwfix, priced at £4.79 each.
The tray provided in the set is made from recycled materials, is suitable for all paint types, is biodegradable and compostable - meaning that nothing goes to waste with this set.
Is this combo any good?
First impressions were great, when I unpacked the Lick Tools set, I loved how eco-friendly each part of the kit was, right down to the packaging! But not only are the items kinder to the environment, they also looked the most stylish of all the sets I tested - making you want to clean them up and take care of them for further use.
However, straight away I noticed the weight of the roller once I’d got the sleeve on - it was the heaviest roller which was a downside and can make reaching up high or getting into corners hard work. I also struggled to get the roller head to rotate as I placed it in the reservoir and then onto the paint tray’s grooves to even out the paint - not an ideal start!
After the first coat I did notice some fluff had come away from roller and had become embedded in the paint on the wall. The brand recommends dampening the roller sleeve before use, so maybe if I had done this more the malting fluff might have been avoided. I picked out the debris and rerolled the areas for an even finish. The paint remained more mottled after the first coat, while still wet, but this evened out a lot once dry, giving that standard, slightly textured roller finish.
The roller washed up well, with all the paint cleaned off easily and ready for use again. The tray was a little harder to clean than the others I tested. The brand recommends simply wiping it clean, however I had paint left in the reservoir and I didn’t want to keep adding layers of emulsion to the tray. Drenching it in water isn’t an option as it feels like it would weaken the structure, so I used a sponge to clean it out as best I could. Due to its material I couldn’t get it as clean as the smooth plastic ones I tested, but it was good enough for further use. Because of this it probably wouldn’t last as long as the other trays, however, as it is compostable and biodegradable I wouldn’t be adding to my household waste so wouldn’t be put off by the shorter lifespan.
Is this set good value for money?
The Lick Tools set is among the pricier roller and tray sets I tested, however, if you’re looking to make a greener choice when it comes to purchasing decorating equipment you might be willing to pay the extra. I loved the design of the whole set and that even the packaging for the roller sleeve is compostable. For me, however, the weight of the roller and the stiffness to get it to rotate in the paint let it down. The handle was comfortable to grip, but I would struggle, due to its weight, to decorate a whole room without suffering from arm ache and having to take breaks.
The dust sheet and brush for cutting in both made great additions to the set, another roller sleeve would have completed the kit further.
If you’ve got a good set of arm muscles and the stamina for decorating, and don’t mind paying a little extra for a more eco-friendly choice, this could be the set for you!
- Buy now from Screwfix, £18.99
Need replacement rollers? Try the Nicholas Jack 9 inch Roller Sleeves with 1.5" Standard Fitting, just £12.99 for a pack of 10 from Amazon
- Buy now from Amazon, £12.99
Save money and extend the life of your 9-inch roller paint frame by opting for these paint roller sleeves. They are compatible with most paint frames on the market, featuring a 1.5-inch diameter hole. With this set of 10 replacement roller sleeves, you can count on their durability.
These professional paint roller covers are versatile, ensuring a smooth and even finish across a range of painting tasks, from emulsion to gloss paints. Their design minimizes splatter, resulting in a cleaner work environment.
Crafted with high-density microfiber, these roller head replacements hold generous amounts of paint, making them ideal for large projects. Whether you're tackling your dining room, kitchen, ceilings, masonry, walls, or porch, these 9-inch roller sleeves are built to withstand the demands of the job, delivering lasting performance.
FAQs
What is the best roller for emulsion?
When it comes to choosing the best paint roller set to use when decorating with emulsion, pick a medium pile microfibre roller. It’s one of the more common types, and works well with water-based emulsions. This type or roller holds the emulsion well and evenly, and gradually, dispenses it on the surface without the need for reloading for every stroke.
What paint roller set is best for walls?
For tackling large expanses of walls opt for a 9” microfibre, medium pile roller and tray set. Look out for paint rollers from brands such as Screwfix, that boast two sleeves to help you get the job done quickly. And if your decorating kit bag is a little on the empty side, choose a set that includes dust sheets and cutting in brushes too.
If you’re decorating doors, furniture or super smooth walls choose a foam roller instead.
