Are you looking for the perfect paint roller cover to add to your painting arsenal?
You've come to the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you will learn:
- What the different types of paint roller covers
- How to choose a quality paint roller cover
And much more!
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use a paint roller cover!
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick
| Our Top Pick | Purdy White Dove Roller Cover 3 Count
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget
| Best Budget | HomeRight 3/8 Inch Roller Cover
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best High End
| Best High End | Purdy Colossus 9″ Roller Cover
|
| View on Amazon |
|
| Wooster Brush Painter’s Choice 3/8″ Nap 6-Pack
|
| View on Amazon | |
|
| Wagner Spraytech 3/4″ Power Roller Covers
|
| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On September 1, 2023
Our top pick for paint roller covers is this awesome 3 pack by painting powerhouse brand Purdy.
These Woven Dralon roller covers are an excellent all-around nap coming in at 1/2" and they're great for everything from semi-smooth surfaces all the way to semi-rough surfaces.
Whether you're covering drywall or bare wood, these are an excellent option for creating a smooth finish that looks professionally done!
Top 5 Best Paint Roller Covers
In a hurry? Check out our top 5 paint roller covers! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.
What Are The Different Types of Paint Roller Covers To Choose From?
While most paint rollers today can do a decent job with just about anything, choosing the proper roller cover for the job you're working on will always yield better results.
Luckily, it's pretty easy to learn how to identify which roller cover you should go with.
So let's go over some of the most common paint roller cover types below so you can learn how to choose wisely and get amazing, professional-looking results!
Natural Fibers
Natural fiber roller covers are often made of materials like mohair and lamb's wool that are excellent at laying on water-based latex paints.
These types of roller covers are very versatile and they can usually work on rough surfaces and smooth surfaces alike!
Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fiber paint roller covers are much more common than natural fiber covers and they're often made of things like polyester and nylon.
However, just like natural fiber covers, synthetic fiber covers are versatile and can work on rough or smooth surfaces and they work well with latex paints as well.
Foam Roller Covers
Foam roller covers are a more specific option that work well for a few particular circumstances.
For instance, foam covers are great at working with oil-based paints or high-gloss latex paints.
This also makes them excellent for working on porous surfaces like bare wood, cement, and brick.
Blended Covers
The final common type of paint roller covers is a synthetic blend.
These covers are typically made of a combination of polyester and natural fibers which make them even more versatile.
These are often a good choice for pretty much any project you're working on, which means they're a great option if you're just looking to keep some roller covers stocked in your toolkit.
Read More >> How Do You Paint A Wall Like A Pro?
How To Choose The Right Paint Roller Cover?
When choosing a paint roller cover for your home improvement or DIY project, there are a few key factors to consider before you get started:
- What type of surface are you working with?
- What type of paint are you working with?
- What kind of finish are you going for?
- How big is the surface area you're trying to cover?
Ultimately your answers to these questions will help guide you to the right roller cover for you.
For instance, if you're trying to paint on interior walls with latex paint, you'll want to use a synthetic fiber cover or a blended fiber cover.
Then, once you've decided on your ideal fiber, it's time to choose the nap length and style you want to go for. This will determine the ultimate look and feel of the paint finish on your project.
Nap Length & Style
The "nap" of the roller is basically the thickness of the material the cover is made of.
These come in all different nap lengths ranging from a 1/4-inch nap all the way up to 3/4-inch nap, with 1/2-inch nap roller being the most commonly used style.
So how do you know which one is right for your painting project? Here are some basic rules of thumb:
- 1/2-inch nap is a great all-purpose roller cover for walls and medium rough surfaces
- 1/4-inch nap is great for smooth surfaces like new walls, wood doors, and trim
- 3/4-inch nap is really high-density which makes it great for rough surfaces like textured walls, plaster, and brick (but it will soak up a lot of paint)
Roller Cover Length
The final criteria to look for is the actual length of the roller cover.
This will probably depend largely on the actual paint roller frame you have on hand.
The typical size of a roller (as you'll see from our list of recommendations) is the standard 9-inch roller cover.
But they can go up to 12-inches or bigger for covering larger surface areas, all the way down to mini rollers that are great for painting baseboards and crevices.
The size of the roller you choose is more of a preferential choice, and it will only matter based on how large or small the surface is that you're trying to paint.
However, a standard 9-inch roller will do most of the work you need to get done for a typical paint job.
Read More >> How Do You Get Primer/Paint Off Your Hands?
Our Reviews Of The Best Paint Roller Covers
The Purdy White Dover Roller Covers are amazing at applying both latex paints and oil paints on pretty much any type of surface.
These little rollers work for almost any painting project you have going on because they're able to work with all types of paints and stains.
They're just some of the best rollers out there which is why Purdy has garnered such an amazing reputation among professional painters and DIY nerds alike!
Pros
Cons
Pick #2: HomeRight 3/8 Inch Nap Roller Cover
These are truly some quality roller covers for rough surfaces and unline non-perforated covers they won't soak up all of your paint.
Plus they are reusable and the perforations lead to an easier clean up as well!
Pros
Cons
Pick #3: Purdy Colossus 9" Roller Cover
If you want a heavy-duty, high-quality roller cover with a whopping 1-inch nap, this Colossus cover by Purdy is your new best friend!
Not only that, but it also comes in multiple styles and multiple nap lengths, so no matter what paint project you're working on, the Purdy line has you covered (pun intended)!
The 1-inch nap is an excellent choice for covering rough to extra rough surfaces in an efficient manner.
It's honestly one of the best paint applicators out there for really rough walls that are made of concrete or brick.
Pros
Cons
These Wooster Brush 3/8-inch nap paint roller covers are an excellent choice for rough surfaces.
Luckily, these also come in multiple nap styles so they most definitely have something that'll work for your next paint project.
Plus, it comes in pack sizes ranging from 2 to 5 roller covers, which makes them a cost-effective option if you know you'll be needing more than one roller cover.
Pros
Cons
Last but not least is the Wagner Spraytech 3/4-inch nap Power Roller Cover.
This roller cover is another great choice if you're working with rough surfaces like brick, popcorn ceilings, unfinished wood, or concrete.
These rollers are also perforated like the one mentioned above, so they'll use a smaller amount of paint because the paint can absorb into the roller from within.
These also work great with a HomeRight extension pole PaintStick that allows the paint to permeate the roller cover fully.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Purdy White Dove 1/2-inch Nap Roller Cover 3 Count
They're just excellent value for the money, and you can get them easily from Amazon now.
