Are you looking for the best paint brushes for painting baseboards? You've come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner Review, you'll discover:
- What are the different kinds of paintbrushes for baseboards
- What to look for when buying a paintbrush for baseboard painting
- Our top baseboard 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 | Purdy XL Series Glide Angular Trim Brush
|
| 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 8, 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 Baseboards
In a hurry? Check out our top 5 paint brushes! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.
What Are The Different Types of Baseboard Paint Brushes?
Like many other matters in the art and craft of painting, there are no absolutely right answers. This too is true with baseboard brush preferences.
Personally, a 2 1/2" angled brush is the one that I was trained to paint baseboards with and it is what I continue to prefer to this very day.
Tastes, like hand size and arm length, are all variables. You certainly may prefer a differently-shaped brush. Only by trying and experimenting will you ever be confident that you've found the best brush for you.
If you're new to painting baseboards, definitely give yourself an opportunity to try a wide range of brushes to determine the best size, shape, and brand for you.
Natural bristle brushes
Natural bristle brushes are generally more well-suited for painting varnishes, oil-based paint, shellac, and polyurethane finishes.
The word 'natural' in the title of this brush type is a clue that these brushes' hairs do in fact come from animals-- horsehair being the most common.
The fact that the bristles naturally frizz out at the ends is considered by many a fortunate side-effect.
This fraying phenomenon is called flagging and on a high-quality natural bristle brush, this actually helps the brush hold more paint.
Blended Nylon / Polyester Brushes
A nylon or polyester brush is easy to work with and cleans up easily. Nylon is known for its strength and polyester for holding its shape.
These two materials blended together create a hybrid material that is incredibly well-suited for paintbrush bristles.
This is the most common type of brush material from which most of your baseboard trim painting brushes will be made.
Read More >> How Do You Paint Without Leaving Brush Strokes?
What To Consider When Buying A Baseboard Paint Brush
Much like a painter may experiment with a dozen varieties of painter's tape before finding one particular favorite, so too might a new painter experiment with a variety of baseboards and trim painting brushes.
Trim and baseboard painting alike requires bristles that are more on the firm side and ones that load up well.
What makes a brush load up well yet not drip paint everywhere is the key factor that you're trying to hone in on.
Trim paint is ideally applied in one coat. That means precision.
Baseboard painting should be fast, easy, and should appear effortless.
Choose the wrong brush and you'll paint trim, end up waiting for it to dry, then realize it's not smooth.
Then you're spending extra time running it over with sandpaper, and going back for another round of touch-ups.
Skip that unnecessary step by having a thirsty brush.
(If this is your first time painting trim, have a look at this video where a professional painter goes through some basic thoughts on technique and best-practices.)
Where you buy it
A quality brush bought at a garage sale and one purchased on Amazon; each set the groundwork for rather different ownership experiences.
In the former, good luck asking for a refund if you get home and it isn't what you expected.
Brand
You'll recognize the name brand brushes front and center at your home improvement stores. Brands like Wooster, Purdy, and even paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore get in on the paintbrush market.
Any home improvement store that sells latex paint will also have a paintbrush section nearby to cater to those popping in at the onset of some exciting DIY paint job.
You may have some luck finding a store associate with painting experience and seeking out a recommendation from them.
They may know about some more obscure brands that may have escaped your awareness that may actually do the job rather well.
Grip comfort
For many, this won't be a major consideration as most paintbrushes feel very similar in hand.
Over time, as with anything, you'll develop your own personal preferences as a painter, including preferred brushes, rollers, drop cloth material, and even a brand of painter's tape that you swear is the best.
The attentive painter may notice that the fibers of the Wooster's wood handle are smooth, whereas the Purdy brush has a tackier, heavier feel in the hand.
Paint capacity, or 'loading up'
Upon purchasing a new brush, soak it in paint about 3/4 down the bristles, then press the brush against the side of your can to strain out any excess paint.
Repeat this about five times. That will be enough cycles to ensure that all the bristles are saturated and prepared to absorb their maximum paint capacity.
As you paint your baseboards, you're looking for the brush to hold enough paint to cover an approximately 2-3 foot section per fill.
Of course, how much material you cover will depend on the height of your baseboard, any intricate designs in it, and paint type.
It's easy to discover how well a brush loads up and holds paint. Simply use the actual brush! This will usually entail purchasing it and trying it.
Fortunately, a brush costs less than what you should make in an hour as a skilled painter, so it's a quality investment once you've done some research.
Many painters like to have an arsenal of paintbrushes on hand of every shape, size, and material.
You may come to think of your brushes how a chef thinks of her knives. You'll have your favorites, but you'll surely have more than one.
Read More >> What Are The Top Paint Brush Cleaner?
Our Reviews Of The Best Paint Brushes For Baseboards
Pick #1: Wooster 2 1/2" Silver Tip Angle Sash
Otherwise, it's a real long-lasting brush that loads up really well.
The angle sash helps you get that brush real low and tight, right along the floor line, without releasing unwanted drips.
Pros
Cons
Try to be easy on the brush, not banging it around or whacking it hard when trying to tap it dry.
One of the only downfalls to these is their tendency to eventually develop a loose brush head due to the smaller brads that are used to fasten the ferrule in this new-and-improved XL.
Pros
Cons
The Wooster's Ultra Pro is an excellent high-grade baseboard painting brush, for DIYers and professionals alike.
This high-quality brush is built to hold up well over time, after many cycles of use and cleaning.
Its steel ferrule is rust-resistant, so not only will the bristles hold up, so will the rest of it.
Longevity. That's what keeps painters coming back to this Wooster 2 1/2" Ultra Pro.
Pros
Cons
Pick #4: ROLLING DOG Mini Master 2"
Somewhat reminiscent of the Wooster Shortcut, this uniquely shaped brush from ROLLINGDOG is another great candidate for painting baseboards.
With its short, stubby handle and generous brush fan size, you'll be loading up real well and will get that brush into places that most others usually wouldn't fit.
The charming grip design is another perk, although mostly aesthetic.
Its design is a very tight honeycomb etching that's laser-etched into the wood's surface and tinted red to match the brush hairs.
Suffice to say, it's a great-looking brush, and another excellent choice to have for baseboard trim painting tasks.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Wooster Shortcut 2"
The Shortcut is a highly-portable, highly-maneuverable baseboard painting brush that could absolutely serve you well in a pinch.
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 Silver Tip 2 1/2" Angle Sash
With proper care, this brush should last a dozen or more paint jobs.
Check out the lowest price now on Amazon!
Final Thoughts on The Best Paint Brushes For Baseboards
Time and equipment permitting, you'd probably rather simply spray your baseboards with an airless paint sprayer.
While it is a nice thought, most folks will simply go ahead using a brush.
Most baseboards are usually rather firmly fasted in place, so their removal and refastening tend to be more time consuming than simple brushwork.
But, with careful attention and paint placement, even a complete beginner can create excellent results!
