How to choose the right paint brush and roller

13 Jan.,2025

 

How to choose the right paint brush and roller

There are a variety of sizes available. So think about the size of the job because using the wrong one will be a slow and messy process.

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Paint brushes come in sizes 12mm to 100mm and all have different purposes. 

  • 12-25mm: for small jobs and touch-up work such as chairs and timber trim
  • 38mm: suitable for furniture, small panels, window frames, trellis, mouldings, shutters and downpipes
  • 50mm: for small to medium size work such as doors, screens, table tops, railings and cabinets
  • 63mm: handy size for outdoor furniture, cupboards, gutters, eaves and doors
  • 75mm: for medium to large areas such as fence posts and rails, floor boards, steps, skirtings and fascia&#;s
  • 100mm: for all large areas such as walls, floors, ceilings, roofs and fences

There are also brushes designed for specific jobs like cutter brushes, which are ideal for cutting in for feature walls, and door and window frames. The tapered edged tip makes accurate painting easy and a longer handle can help control the stroke and precision of the paint.

A key point to think about is the paint you&#;ll be using. Oil-based paints, primers and varnishes are best with a solid, medium length bristle brush. With Acrylic paints you should choose a long bristle brush, ideally with a synthetic bristle as they will give a smoother finish.

If you&#;re staining rough sawn timber, use a short bristle brush. This works best for making sure the stain gets in all the cracks.

When you&#;re painting a large surface, rollers can make light and quick work. Consideration should be given to the surface and finish required when selecting a roller. Generally, the best rule to apply to most painting jobs is glossier paints and smoother surfaces demand a shorter pile.

Rollers come in 3 different sizes. A short roller is generally 5-8mm thick and is best with glossy paint. It doesn&#;t hold as much paint but it delivers a smoother finish. A medium or all-purpose roller is 8-12mm thick. It can be used with any paint and produces a soft clean finish on smooth and semi smooth surfaces. Medium rollers are most suitable for water based paints on surfaces such as walls and ceilings.

On the other hand, large rollers are 20-32mm thick. They are best used on semi rough to rough surfaces such as brick work or masonry. Large rollers have exceptional paint holding capacity ideal for working into damaged or textured surfaces to ensure you get good coverage. The general rule is that greater the irregularities, longer the pile you need.

The thickness, the material used and the quality of the roller should be taken into consideration when choosing a roller. Roller sleeves are available in a range of materials. Furthermore, different materials should be used with different paints and on different surfaces.

  • Woven Polyester: suitable for use with ALL paints including full gloss enamels
  • Knitted Polyester: more suitable for use with water based paints on smooth and semi-smooth surfaces such as wall boards and cement render
  • Lambswool: generally used on rougher surfaces such as cement render and brickwork because of the longer pile height
  • Mohair: used with full and semi-gloss enamels on smooth surfaces, ideal for applying polyurethanes, epoxy resins and fiberglass coatings
  • Foam: for use with full and semi-gloss enamels on smaller areas such as kitchen cupboards where a mirror finish is required
  • Micro Fibre: used with most water based paints and the short pile is suited for use with acrylic enamel paints
  • Textured: coarse, medium, fine covers for textured coats

Paint Brushes and Rollers Buying Guide

Paint brushes and rollers are essential tools for decorating projects. But how do you know which size to choose? Whether a straight or angled brush is best? Or, how to decide between a short and long pile roller? We&#;re here to help.

This paint brushes and rollers buying guide looks in detail at the different types of paint brushes and rollers. For paint brushes, it explains what the different shapes, bristle types and sizes are best used for. And for rollers, it lists the different pile lengths, what wall type they&#;re suitable for, and the different materials and sizes they come in. It then highlights other decorating accessories you may need and gives advice on cleaning, storing and maintaining brushes and rollers. Finally, it covers the key things to consider before buying and answers some frequently asked questions.

View our range of paint brushes and paint rollers.

Paint brushes and rollers are hand tools used to apply paint, varnish and treatments to hard surfaces.

Paint brushes are made up of a handle, bristles and a ferrule (a metal ring that overlaps the handle and base of the bristles). They can be used to apply paint to large, flat areas, but they&#;re best for smaller, precision tasks, such as cutting in edges, painting trims and skirting boards and painting non-flat surfaces, such as lap fence panels.

Paint rollers come in two parts: a handle/frame and a roller sleeve which slides over the frame, allowing you to use different rollers on the same frame. Paint roller uses include painting large, flat areas, such as walls, floors and ceilings. They are more efficient at painting large areas than brushes. 

A large selection of paint brushes and rollers are available for various applications. Choosing the best option for your needs will depend on several factors. For example, the size of the area you are painting, the texture of the surface, the type of paint or treatment you are using and the finish you are looking to achieve. Also, consider whether you need products for professional or DIY use and the volume of work you will be doing.

In this section, we list the popular types of paint brushes that can be used for various jobs and materials for professionals and DIYers. 

The most common shapes for brushes are round, flat and angled, and the bristles are available in different materials, which we discuss later in this guide. The ferrule part of the brush is made of steel or stainless steel, but the handles can be made of wood or plastic. Plastic handles are easier to clean than wooden handles.

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Multipurpose brushes explained

A multipurpose paint brush is suitable for use with any type of emulsion paint applied to any surface. These types of paint brushes are particularly suited to DIYers or tradespeople who use brushes infrequently but for a wide range of tasks.

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

The bristles on multipurpose brushes are usually made of synthetic materials or a mixture of synthetic and natural materials. The handles can be made from wood or plastic, and they come in a range of sizes from ½&#; to 2&#;. 

Top things to consider: 

  • Multipurpose brushes can be used for all types of paint, but they are still available with different brush shapes and types, such as fine-tipped, angled and cutting-in shapes. A flat-shaped brush can be used for most purposes, but for more refined work, consider one of the other types. 

Fine-tip brushes explained

Fine-tip brushes have bristles shaped into a fine point at the end, designed to leave a smooth finish with minimal brush marks in the paint. They&#;re best used for painting small areas where the appearance of the finish is important. 

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

Fine-tip brushes have bristles made from synthetic materials and wooden handles. They are available in sizes ranging from ½&#; to 2&#;. 

Top things to consider: 

  • Fine-tip brushes come in different shapes, such as flat, angled and cutting-in brushes (see below for more information). A flat-shaped brush can be used for most purposes, but for more refined work, consider one of the other types.  

Angled sash brushes explained

Angled sash brushes have bristles shaped at an angle. They are perfect for painting tricky indoor areas that need precise cutting-in, such as around door frames or above skirting boards. Their shape is also designed to reduce the risk of leaving tramlines in the paint to give a perfect, straight edge and finish.

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

Angled sash brushes have bristles made from synthetic materials and wooden handles. They&#;re available in sizes ranging from 1.5&#; to 2&#;.

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Top things to consider: 

  • Look for long handles for more precision and reach when cutting in.
  • For a professional finish, look for features such as the bristles holding their shape for flawless cutting in, controllable paint flow to ensure an even coating of paint and fine tips for reduced brush marks.

Cutting-in brushes explained

Cutting-in brushes can have flat bristles or bristles which are shaped at an angle. They&#;re designed to cut-in paint around edges such as where the ceiling meets the wall, around switches and sockets and above skirting boards.

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

Cutting-in brushes have bristles made from synthetic materials and wooden handles. They&#;re available in sizes ranging from 1&#; to 3&#;.

Top things to consider: 

  • Look for short-handled cutting-in brushes for extra control. 
  • For a professional finish, look for features such as fine tips for reduced brush marks.
  • If you&#;re using quick-drying paint, look for a brush with soft tips that virtually eliminate brush marks.

Paint brushes for decking and fences

Decking and fencing paint brushes have thicker bristles than other types of paint brushes, designed to be used on rough and textured surfaces. In addition, they typically have a chunky, block-style design, allowing the bristles to hold lots of paint to cover large areas, and chunky, easy-to-grip handles.

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

A paint brush for decking and fencing usually has bristles made from synthetic materials and plastic handles. They are generally around 4 ¾&#; wide. 

Top things to consider: 

  • Look for features such as an angled head and soft grip handles for comfort. And an integrated can hook allows you to hang the brush inside the paint bucket for convenience and cleanliness.

Paint brushes come in various sizes, and it&#;s essential to use the right size for your task to ensure a good, even finish and to make the job as easy as possible. Using a paint brush that&#;s too small will mean the task takes longer, and using one that&#;s too big means you could apply too much paint or get paint where you don&#;t want it. 

As well as considering the width, consider the length of the handle. A short handle will give more control for cutting in, a long handle can help you get into hard-to-reach places, and a handle with an angled head is more comfortable to use over long periods.

What paint brush size should I use?

As a guide, use:

  • 1&#; brush for cutting-in around glass and window frames
  • 2&#; brush for skirting boards, architraves, door frames and panel doors
  • 2.5&#; brush for large flush panel doors
  • 4 ¾&#; brush for decking and masonry painting

In this section, we list the popular types of paint rollers that can be used for various jobs and materials for professionals and DIYers. 

Paint rollers can be categorised by the length of the pile on the sleeve or by the type of task they're suitable for. The handles on paint rollers can be made from wood, plastic or composite materials. 

View our range of paint rollers.

Short pile paint rollers explained

Short pile paint rollers have a pile that's around 6-8mm in length. They're designed to apply paint onto smooth, flat surfaces, leaving a fine, untextured finish. The length of the pile means they don't drip much while painting. These are one of the best rollers for painting walls. Rollers designed for glossing have short piles, as do some emulsion and multipurpose rollers. 

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

The fibres on short pile paint rollers can be made from natural or synthetic materials depending on the type of paint they're suitable for. The handles can be made from plastic, wood or composite material. They come in 4" and 9" roller lengths and are sold singularly or in sets with a tray and handle, plus between one and seven rollers.    

Top things to consider: 

  • When choosing between roller sizes, consider the size of the surface you are painting and the type of paint. A 4&#; roller is best for small areas and gloss paint, while a 9&#; roller will paint large walls quickly with emulsion. 

Medium pile paint rollers explained

Medium pile paint rollers have a pile that's around 10-12mm in length. They're designed to apply paint onto lightly textured surfaces such as Artex ceilings, although they can be used for smooth surfaces. The length of the pile means they can get into the nooks and crannies found on textured surfaces. Rollers for emulsion paints and multipurpose rollers can come in a medium pile option.

Materials and sizes they&#;re available in:

The fibres on medium pile paint rollers can be made from natural or synthetic materials depending on the type of paint they are suitable for. The handles can be made from plastic, wood or composite material. They come in roller lengths of 4&#;, 9&#; and 12&#; and are sold singularly or in sets which include a tray and handle, plus between one and seven rollers.   

Top things to consider: 

  • When choosing between roller sizes, consider the size of the surface you are painting. A 4" roller is best for small areas. A 9" roller can cover large areas, while a 12" roller will cover vast surfaces quickly.

Paint roller sleeves can be made from three different types of material. The type you choose will depend on the paint you will use. It's important to use the right one for the paint type to ensure the roller doesn't slip or leave an uneven finish. Types of materials include:

  • Synthetic roller sleeves are usually made from micropoly (or microfibre). They're available in short and medium pile options and have the smoothest surface of all roller material types. They are used with water-based paints and are the best paint rollers to give a smooth finish and thick coverage.
  • Mixed roller sleeves use a combination of synthetic and natural materials. They are best used with oil-based paints, such as gloss.
  • Natural roller sleeves can be made of materials such as lamb&#;s wool and mohair. They are suitable for use with any type of paint. 

Paint rollers are available in lengths of 4", 9" and 12". The 4" rollers are often referred to as mini rollers as they are shorter in length and smaller in diameter. Most rollers have a standard-sized, short handle, but some mini rollers come with long-reach handles that help you get into hard-to-reach areas behind radiators and furniture. You can use an extension pole for longer reach on a standard paint roller.

What size rollers should I use for painting?

As a guide, use:

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  • 4&#; roller for glossing or painting emulsion in small, awkward areas.
  • 9&#; roller for painting internal walls, ceilings, and exterior walls.
  • 12&#; roller for painting vast interior and exterior walls.