Top 5 compared
The best paint brush sets
Crisp, clean lines where the wall meets the ceiling, plus baseboards, doors and window frames painted neatly.
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The top 5 at a glance
A paint brush set gives you a brush for each part of a room the roller can’t reach: a narrow one for window sashes and tight corners, a mid-size one for baseboards and door casings, and a wider one for cutting in where wall meets ceiling. Angled sash brushes make a cut-in line easier to steer; flat ones lay paint on broad trim and doors.
Synthetic filaments, nylon and polyester, suit latex paint, which is most house paint. Every set here also takes oil-based paint and stain; all but Bates’s natural-bristle set suit latex walls and trim. Shedding is what spoils a brush: one bristle caught in fresh paint shows in the finish.
What matters
- A short-handled stubby brush, if there are cabinets to paint.
- Filaments that keep their shape, for a crisp cut-in line.
- Two of each size, if walls and trim are different colors.
#1Purdy XL Paint Brush Set (3 brushes, 140853100)
$20–$30
Three of Purdy’s XL brushes, each a different shape: a 1-inch angled Dale with a short rattail handle for trim and touch-ups, a 1½-inch angled Glide for cutting in, and a 2-inch flat Sprig for doors and wider boards. The nylon and polyester blend takes any paint or stain, indoors or out, and keeps its stiffness in hot, humid weather.
What owners say: Painters say these last through big projects without shedding, rinse clean in warm water and lay paint on smoothly; the smallest is steady enough to cut a straight edge without tape.
A closer look: Use the 1-inch Dale around window panes and hinges, the 1½-inch Glide to cut in along the ceiling, and the flat Sprig on doors and baseboards. Wash latex out in warm, soapy water right away, then reshape the tips and let the brushes dry before putting them away.
- Keeps stiff in humid heat
- Rattail handle for trim work
- Interior and exterior
Best for: Cutting in by hand
- Brushes (inches)
- 3: 1, 1½, 2in
- Filaments
- Nylon and polyester
- Paints (maker)
- All paints and stains
- Handle
- Hardwood, 3 shapes
#2Coltree Paint Brush Set (5 brushes)
Under $10
Five brushes for a weekend of painting: flat 1-inch and 2-inch for trim and doors, and angled 1½, 2 and 2½-inch for cutting in, on light solid wood handles with stainless steel ferrules. Each brush type has its own handle shape, which makes the right one easy to grab.
What owners say: Owners put them on a par with name brands, finding they clean up easily and spread paint smoothly and evenly, with one reporting no shedding at all; the spread of sizes wins praise too.
A closer look: Clean them in water after latex paint and with the right solvent after an oil-based coat, as Coltree advises, then hang them to dry. Before the first dip, work the bristles back and forth against a palm to shake out any loose ones, so they end up in the trash rather than on the wall.
- Handle shape shows brush type
- Shake out loose bristles first
- Clean with water or solvent
Best for: Painting a room over a weekend
- Brushes (inches)
- 5: 1, 2 flat; 1½, 2, 2½ angled
- Filaments
- –
- Paints (maker)
- Oil or water-based
- Handle
- Solid wood
#3Pro Grade Paint Brush Set (5 brushes)
Under $10
A five-brush set with a 2-inch angled stubby, the short-handled brush for inside cabinets, window sashes and tight corners where a full-length one won’t fit, alongside 1 and 2-inch flats and 1½ and 2½-inch angles. The SRT synthetic filaments take latex, oil, primer and stain.
What owners say: Soft bristles that make the job easy and hold up well are the main praise, and owners use them happily with both latex and oil-based paint around the house. Shedding splits them: none for some, stray bristles for others.
A closer look: For a smooth finish, load only the bottom third of the bristles and tap off the excess against the inside of the can rather than wiping it across the rim. That keeps paint out of the heel of the brush, so it cleans up faster and keeps its shape for the next job.
- Stubby fits window sashes
- Adhesive-bonded bristles
- Load the bottom third only
Best for: Cramped spots and cabinet interiors
- Brushes (inches)
- 5: 1, 2 flat; 1½, 2 stubby, 2½ angled
- Filaments
- SRT synthetic
- Paints (maker)
- Latex, oil, primer, stain
- Handle
- Solid wood
#4Pro Grade Angle Paint Brush Set (10 brushes)
$20–$30
Two each of five angled sash brushes, 1 to 3 inches, so there’s a clean brush for a second color or a second coat without stopping to wash out. The thick synthetic blend holds plenty of paint for long cut-in runs along ceilings and baseboards.
What owners say: Clean lines along ceilings and baseboards with no bleed are what owners notice, along with a smooth finish and brushes that hold up through repeated washing. A few find an occasional bristle comes loose.
A closer look: Keep one of each size for the wall color and the other for the trim, and both colors can go on in one session without washing a brush out in between. The 3-inch angle covers wide baseboards and door panels quickly, and all ten are made to be washed and used again.
- All angled sash brushes
- Holds paint for long cut-ins
- Interior and exterior
- Washable and reusable
Best for: Two colors, one project
- Brushes (inches)
- 10: 2 each, 1–3in
- Filaments
- Synthetic blend
- Paints (maker)
- Latex, oil, stain
- Handle
- Wood comfort grip
#5Bates Paint Brush Set (6 brushes)
Under $10
Three flat and three angled brushes, 1 to 2½ inches, with natural bristles that hold a good load of paint or stain, which makes them handy for a deck, a fence or a set of cabinet doors as well as indoor trim.
What owners say: Strong bristles that hold paint and keep their shape impress owners, who find the finish smooth and the brushes easy to clean on jobs large and small. Shedding gets mixed reports.
Heads up: Bates lists these for oil-based paint and latex stain; for latex wall paint, the synthetic sets here suit better.
A closer look: After oil-based paint or stain, clean them with mineral spirits or the thinner named on the can rather than water, so have a jar ready before starting. Work it through to the heel of the brush, then let the bristles dry fully before storing.
- Clean with mineral spirits
- Indoor and outdoor jobs
- Dry fully before storing
Best for: Decks, fences and oil-based paint
- Brushes (inches)
- 6: 1, 1½, 2 flat; 1½, 2, 2½ angled
- Filaments
- Natural bristle
- Paints (maker)
- Oil paint, latex stain
- Handle
- Treated wood
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Purdy XL 3-pack | #2Coltree 5-piece | #3Pro Grade 5-piece | #4Pro Grade 10-piece | #5Bates 6-pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Most brushes | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Price | $20–$30 | Under $10 | Under $10 | $20–$30 | Under $10 |
| Brushes (inches) | 3: 1, 1½, 2in | 5: 1, 2 flat; 1½, 2, 2½ angled | 5: 1, 2 flat; 1½, 2 stubby, 2½ angled | 10: 2 each, 1–3in | 6: 1, 1½, 2 flat; 1½, 2, 2½ angled |
| Filaments | Nylon and polyester | – | SRT synthetic | Synthetic blend | Natural bristle |
| Paints (maker) | All paints and stains | Oil or water-based | Latex, oil, primer, stain | Latex, oil, stain | Oil paint, latex stain |
| Handle | Hardwood, 3 shapes | Solid wood | Solid wood | Wood comfort grip | Treated wood |
| Best for | Cutting in by hand | Painting a room over a weekend | Cramped spots and cabinet interiors | Two colors, one project | Decks, fences and oil-based paint |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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