Are you looking for the best paint brushes for trim?
Great news! You're in the right place.
In this ProPaintCorner Review, you'll discover:
- What are the different kinds of paintbrushes for trim
- What to look for when buying a paintbrush for trim painting
- Our top trim paintbrush picks!
And much more!
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick
| Our Top Pick | Wooster 2 1/2″ Silver Tip Angle Sash
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget
| Best Budget | Bates 2-Pack 2 1/2″ Angle & 3″ Flat
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best High End
| Best High End | Wooster 2 1/2″ Ultra Pro Extra Firm Lindbeck Angle
|
| View on Amazon |
|
| ROLLINGDOG Mini Master 2
|
| View on Amazon | |
|
| Wooster Shortcut 2″
|
| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On September 15, 2023
The Wooster Silver Tip is an excellent trim brush.
Run its bristles through your fingers and you'll feel its undeniable quality.
Load it with paint and you should be cutting in about three feet of wall or trim with each loaded brush.
Top 5 Best Paint Brushes For Trim
In a hurry? Check out our Top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these paint brush formulations!
What Are The Different Types of Trim Paint Brushes?
Like many other matters in the art and craft of painting, there are no absolutely right answers. This too is true with trim brush preferences.
Personally, a 2 1/2" brush with an angled tip is what I was trained to paint trim with and it is what I prefer to this very day. You may have a slightly, or drastically, different personal preference.
Natural bristle brushes
Not your typical pick for painting trim work, a natural bristle brush is commonly used for painting varnishes, oil-based paint, shellac, and polyurethane finishes.
These natural brushes' bristles are generally made out of animal hair.
They have a nice natural property that makes them frizz out at the ends. This phenomenon is called flagging and on a good quality natural bristle brush, it actually helps the brush hold more paint.
Blended Nylon/Polyester Brushes
A nylon or polyester brush is easy to work with and easy to clean. Nylon is a very strong material, while the polyester is great at holding its shape.
These two materials blended together create an ideal blend that is incredibly well-suited for paintbrush bristles.
Read More >> How Do You Paint Baseboards Near Carpet?
What To Consider When Buying A Trim Paint Brush
Before anything, get your mind right. A brush purchase is about one of the most inexpensive equipment buys you'll make as a painter, contractor, handyman, or even as a homeowner.
That's why there's little consequence if you mess up on your first choice and have to try another.
Our goal with this guide is to help land you on a brush that you'll actually like on the first try and maybe even get it done without you even having to leave your home.
There are different sizes of both brush and handle, so if you don't feel comfortable edging with the first trim brush you try, simply clean it out, store it for a backup and try another slightly different brush.
Repeat this until you find the best brush for your particular tastes.
Where you buy it
Yes, the mom and pop convenience store on the corner where you get your lottery tickets also sells paintbrushes.
Show up with them on a professional paint project and see the looks you get from your fellow painters.
Where you buy your brush tells part of the story about how intentional you were about your purchase.
And beyond that, where you buy it also determines whether or not you'll have any chance of bringing it back if it wasn't what you expected.
Brand
The discussion of where to buy quickly becomes one of what brand to buy.
Sure, most big-box stores that sell latex paint will also sell you a sash paintbrush for your next DIY paint job.
In our day of online commerce, we bring our readers only trusted brands, sold through Amazon, as verified Amazon partners.
It's our way of guaranteeing that our readers end up getting the specific model number, the exact item we know works.
How it feels in your hand
For many, this won't be a major consideration as most paintbrushes have a very similar feel in hand as the next one.
That said, it's not always the case. Sure a Purdy and a Wooster sash brush have rather similar in-hand feels.
The attentive painter may notice the fibers of the Wooster's wood to be less gritty whereas the Purdy brush has a tackier, heavier feel in the hand.
This is an area where online shopping can be seen as lacking, but again, that's why we only partner with retailers with the most lenient return policies.
How it loads up
To find out how well a brush loads up, you'll usually need to use the actual brush, thereby likely voiding any ability to later return it.
Fortunately, a brush costs less than what you should be making in an hour as a skilled painter, so it's a quality investment any way you look at it.
Your budget should have some wiggle-room for buying an extra brush or two to get the best performing brush for you.
The first time you get a new brush, soak it in paint about 3/4 down, strain out excess paint on your bucket or can and proceed to edge-in a straight line.
You're looking for a brush that loads up a decent amount of paint or a lot of it perhaps. And you're also wanting that paint to come out evenly for a smooth finish.
Read More >> How Do You Paint Trim Near Carpet?
Our Reviews Of The Best Paint Brushes For Trim
Pick #1: Wooster 2 1/2" Silver Tip Angle Sash
This brush just sops up paint.
You could end up with some serious drips and splatters if you aren't careful.
Once you've got the feel, a brush like this really loads up easily and is great for any experienced painter.
Some painters who've used this brush explain that it does sometimes shed a few bristles fresh out of the package.
The way to manage this is to gently manipulate the brush with your hand to shake whatever loose bristles out.
Then, proceed to use the brush as normal. It should tighten up and quit shedding right away.
Pros
Cons
Pick #2: Bates 2-Pack 2 1/2" Angle & 3" Flat
This is not a bargain bin, 2-for-1 deal at the local dollar store.
These are quality Bates brushes. You get a 2 1/2" angled sash brush and another 3" flat tip brush.
Depending on your preference, either one of these could become your go-to trim and edging brush on your next paint project.
If you're a new painter, this would be a pretty good choice for you because it would allow you to try both tip shapes to see which you prefer.
Chances are it'd be the angle sash, but you need to discover that for yourself!
Pros
Cons
You want to lay down paint in a manner that shows your client, or that reminds yourself if you're painting your own house, that care was taken doing it.
You accomplish this with fine attention to detail.
You get the details right by constantly paying attention to them.
That's why we picked Wooster's Ultra pro as our Top Premium Pick.
It'll hold up as good as any with proper care, and no one can deny how beautiful this sash brush is.
When cleaned immediately, properly, and fully after each use, this high-quality brush will continue to look like a brand new brush even after many uses.
Pros
Cons
Pick #4: ROLLINGDOG Mini Master 2
This little brush with character is a great fifth-pocket addition that could find its way into the mix on many painting projects.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Wooster Shortcut 2"
This little sneaky brush actually packs a pretty impressive punch.
It loads up a ton more paint than you'd expect of something so portable, and it lays that paint down over a much larger surface area than many would expect.
Many painters swear by the Shortcut for edging. Others won't edge or do trim with a two-inch brush, saying a 2 1/2" is the only way to go.
The Shortcut's strength is its portability, maneuverability, and pro-grade quality.
It's a detail brush, regardless, never intended to cover large surfaces.
The small form factor makes it a great choice for painting baseboards as it leaves more room to maneuver precisely when working so close to your flooring material.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Wooster 2 1/2" Silver Tip Angle Sash
The Wooster Silver Tip 2 1/2" angle sash trim brush is our top pick in the interior trim painting category.
It's versatile, affordable, comfortable in the hand, and it holds a substantial amount of paint with its firm bristles.
Because it's still not a super-expensive premium brush, you don't have to feel terrible if you accidentally wait too long to clean it and need to order another before long.
At the same time, properly cared for, there's no reason why this brush couldn't hold up to a dozen or more painting tasks. It's just such an excellent value for the money. Check out the lowest price now on Amazon!
Final Thoughts on The Best Paint Brushes For Trim
If it were feasible, you'd pop off your trim, use a paint sprayer and recoat every single inch of trim. You'd then refasten that trim on the wall after it'd had been painted and had a chance to dry.
In this real world, you're going to end up painting this trim with a brush like one of the ones we've recommended here.
If you're not particularly familiar with painting trim, here's a quick rundown on proper technique from a professional painter.
