Top 6 Best Paint Brushes For Furniture (2023 Review)

Last Updated On September 15, 2023

Looking for a good brush for your furniture makeovers? We can help!

Furniture painting is a great way to freshen up your interior look.

Using the right paintbrush will help make your DIY projects easier and less stressful. 

In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you will learn:

  • Which are the best paint brushes for painting furniture
  • Tips for painting furniture like a pro
  • Which paints to use for the best look

And much more!

Top 6 Best Paint Brushes For Furniture (2020 Review)

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best paint brushes for painting your furniture.

Image Product

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Wooster Brush
  • 2-inch/50 mm
  • Peg-hook handle
  • Ferrule made from brass-plated steel
  • 2-inch/50 mm
  • Peg-hook handle
  • Ferrule made from brass-plated steel
View on Amazon

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Pro Grade
  • 5-piece paintbrush set
  • Inexpensive
  • Made in China
  • 5-piece paintbrush set
  • Inexpensive
  • Made in China
View on Amazon

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Purdy
  • Made in the USA
  • 2.5-inch/63 mm
  • Use with all paints and stains
  • Made in the USA
  • 2.5-inch/63 mm
  • Use with all paints and stains
View on Amazon

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Bates Paint Brushes
  • Inexpensive option
  • Includes 4 brushes
  • Lightweight
  • Inexpensive option
  • Includes 4 brushes
  • Lightweight
View on Amazon

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Professional Chalk And Wax
  • Work with paint or wax
  • Reusable
  • Larger with a round head
  • Work with paint or wax
  • Reusable
  • Larger with a round head
View on Amazon

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Presa Premium
  • Up to 30% more paint holding capacity
  • Durable SRT filaments
  • Heavy-duty
  • Up to 30% more paint holding capacity
  • Durable SRT filaments
  • Heavy-duty
View on Amazon

Our Overall #1 Rated Pick

Updated On September 15, 2023

Wooster is our favorite because of its compact shape, quality design, and excellent performance when painting. 

With a reasonable price and recommendable quality, we have painted with Wooster brushes, and we like the way they feel in our hands.

This is one of the best brushes on the market, so you won't be let down by picking one of these up off of Amazon.

Top 5 Best Paint Brushes For Furniture

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 paint brushes! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.

  1. Wooster Brush
  2. Pro Grade
  3. Purdy
  4. Bates Paint Brushes
  5. Professional Chalk And Wax
  6. Presa Premium

What Are Paint Brushes For Furniture?

Paintbrushes for furniture typically range from a 1-inch(for nooks and crannies) to a 3-inch length allowing you to cover the surface of a project easily and accurately. 

Sure, a smaller more artistic style paintbrush is perfect if you are painting a flower design, but to cover the full surface you might want to select a brush(or set of brushes) from our recommended list for the best results.

Not sure where to start when painting a piece of furniture? Below is a video that will help point you in the right direction. 

The first step is usually always using sandpaper--paint bonds best with smooth surfaces. 

Read More >> How Do You Paint Without Leaving Brush Strokes?

What Are The Different Types of Paint Brushes For Furniture?

Before we dive into telling you the best brushes for furniture, it's important to understand that there are many different variations of brushes to choose from.

Understanding the key differences between these types will help you learn how to select the right brush for the job. Which will empower you to feel more confident when painting in the future, and that's always my goal!

Natural (Animal Hair)

Natural bristles that are made from a wide variety of animal hair

Synthetic (Nylon, Polyester, etc)

Synthetic bristled paint brushes are ideal for using water-based paints because they don't produce moisture. 

Chalk Paint/Wax Brushes

If you are going to apply wax or chalk paint to your project you are going to want a thicker chalk-style paintbrush like the Professional Chalk And Wax brush.

Foam Brushes

You could always try a foam brush when painting furniture to give it a unique look. The sky is the limit when painting.

Angled Brush

You might notice that some brushes aren't square on the tip, but cut rather at an angle. 

The purpose of this design is to make it easier to accurately cut corners and edges. 

Take this into consideration when painting your furniture.

Read More >> What Exactly Is A Synthetic Brush & When Should You Use It?

Did you know: While more brushes are being made with synthetic hair, paint brushes can be made from ox, goat, and even sable hairs!

What To Look For In The Best Paint Brushes For Furniture?

It depends on what your painting, and what paint you are going to use. 

For example, if you want to stain a wood surface like a coffee table you could simply wear nitrile gloves, and use a rag to apply the stain. 

Oil-based paints

Natural bristle brushes typically work best with oil-based paints.

Water-based paints

Synthetic bristled brushes work best with water-based (latex paint) because they don't absorb as much water.

Shellac

Synthetic brushes typically work better with shellac paints 

Lacquer

Natural bristles like a Chinese hog-hair brush work great with lacquers

Milk Paint

We recommend a foam brush when painting with milk paint.

Stains 

You can use many tools to apply stains, including a rag, paint roller, brush, or you could even dip the piece of furniture in the stain for quick application. 

When staining a deck you might try a 5-inch flat brush.

Read More >> What Are The Top Paint Brush Cleaner?

Our Reviews Of The Best Paint Brushes For Painting Furniture

Pick #1: Wooster Brush

Want a good quality brush for your next furniture project? We recommend Wooster. 

This is a very versatile brush that is built with quality for covering flat surfaces effectively, cutting in small areas like a boss, and performing touch up with ease.

A Wooster will flow well with whatever paint colors you decide to go with. 

With its compact handle that fits into the palm of your hand, this brush gives you the maneuverability and portability for painting all types of furniture and with success.

Pros

  • Ergonomic handle
  • For use with all paint finishes
  • Quality 

Cons

  • Only comes with one brush
  • Smaller handle
  • Costs the same as some 5-brush sets

Pick #2: Pro Grade 

Want to go the cheap route? We don't blame you. 

Purchase this set of 5 paintbrushes at a steal of a price that will make you want to knock out all of your small painting projects at once when they arrive on your doorstep from Amazon.

This 5-piece set of Pro Grade paintbrushes have the potential to give you professional results on cabinets, trim, walls, doors, and more at a price that is so good it's almost hard to believe.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Comes with five paintbrushes
  • Multiple sizes

Cons

  • Made in China
  • Cheaper quality
  • Other options might be better

Pick #3:  Purdy  

Purdy is a popular brand of paintbrushes that are easy to locate in retail paint stores, and they also get the job done adequately without costing you too much coin. 

Purdy brushes provide you with a high-quality brush that will last for many projects to come. This 2 1/2-inch brush is a versatile brush that can be used with all paints and stains.

Pros

  • Made in the USA
  • Angled tip for cutting edges
  • Designed for all paints and stains

Cons

  • Dominates the industry
  • Expensive
  • Only comes with one brush

Bates provides you with a four-pack of wood-handled paint brushes at a ridiculously low price for all of your smaller painting projects.

With brushes ranging from 1 1/2 to 3 inches, you can choose the best-sized brush for the job whether it be sprucing up a coffee table or cutting in the corners on a repaint. 

Purchase these Bates Paint Brushes for a low-cost option.

Pros

  • Wood handle
  • Comes with four different brushes
  • Thick filaments

Cons

  • Cheap
  • Doesn't say whether bristles are natural or synthetic
  • May be sacrificing quality for the price

Using chalk paint? Applying a wax coating? Here is a great brush to help you do a great job.

Because not all paint jobs are the same.

If you are constantly painting wood furniture, picture frames, hutches, nightstands, etc, then you are going to want a full arsenal of paintbrushes in your inventory, and this is a perfect set to add to the collection.

Purchase this five-piece set off of Amazon to help you paint using chalk and wax time after time without having to purchase

Pros

  • Natural bristle brushes
  • Comes with 5 different brushes
  • Heavy-duty quality

Cons

  • On the expensive side
  • Not ideal for latex/oil paints
  • Natural bristles(animal cruelty)

Pick #6: Presa Premium

Presa gives you another great option when choosing paintbrushes for your upcoming projects. 

You might not see brushes like Presa at Home Depot, which is why we are recommending you save some money on this set from Amazon.

This five-piece paintbrush set comes with brushes ranging from 1-inch to 3-inches, so you can utilize the perfect size brush for the accomplishing the task.

Pros

  • Wide variety of brushes
  • Excellent price
  • Good paint-holding capacity

Cons

  • Cheaper quality
  • Probably not made in the USA
  • 5 brushes may be an excess amount

Our Top Pick: Wooster Brush

We like the Wooster because of its compact shape, pin-hook handle, slightly angled design, and quality performance. 

Another reason why Wooster is our favorite brush listed above is that it is one brush that will handle all of your painting needs. 

There's no need to clutter your paint bucket with cheap odd-sized brushes that you may never use, and that may only be useable just one time. 

Pick up a Wooster brush off Amazon and paint your furniture to perfection.

Final Thoughts On The Best Paint Brushes For Furniture

Have You Considered A Paint Sprayer?

If you have never used a paint sprayer on a small project, you might want to try it out, and you might like it compared to brushing on the paint. Try an inexpensive handheld HVLP spray gun the next time you want to change things up.

Read More >> What Are The Best Gravity Feed Spray Guns Out There?

Want More Painting Tips?

Visit our Pro Paint Corner page to learn everything you need to know about painting. 

Our paint bloggers are trained professionals that are around 24/7 to help you with any of your painting needs. Good luck!

Meet Your Pro Paint Corner Author

Ryan Nichols

Ryan Nichols

I first painted professionally in my late teens. I have painted everything from long military base walls to spraying cedar wood siding on cabins in the mountains of Utah. I am also an automotive technician with plenty of auto body and paint experience. In my spare time, I even enjoy artistic oil painting.

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Got Paint Questions? Search For In-Depth Answers Below!

Ryan Nichols

Ryan Nichols

I first painted professionally in my late teens. I have painted everything from long military base walls to spraying cedar wood siding on cabins in the mountains of Utah. I am also an automotive technician with plenty of auto body and paint experience. In my spare time, I even enjoy artistic oil painting.

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