Painting baseboards with a high quality finish can be tricky. It’s all too easy to notice the brush strokes spoiling your work once it’s dried, and by then it’s too late to do anything about it.
The more paint you try and add afterward, the more the brush strokes and blemishes become highlighted.
The trick to painting baseboards without brush strokes lies in the tools you use. You may have a preferred paint to use for painting your home, but have you spared much thought for the paint brushes that you use?
The right paint brush can make or break your paint’s finish. Painting baseboards with the right brush can help you achieve the smoother finish that you’re after.
We’ve done all the research for you and reviewed hundreds of products to find the best paint brushes for baseboards. You can rest assured that all of the products we’ve selected will help you achieve the perfect paint job. Take a look at the product reviews below!
Top 5 Paint Brushes for Baseboards
Wooster Angle Sash Paint Brush
The Wooster angle sash paint brush will be the perfect choice for painting your baseboards. It features angled bristles so that you can effortlessly get beautiful coverage without having to hold your hand at awkward angles.
It features a 2 inch long handle to give you added maneuverability, which will be handy in tight spaces.
This particular paint brush makes use of white nylon and gold polyester bristles. This makes it suitable for use with all paints. Ideal if you want a versatile paint brush that won’t be limited to just oil based paints or latex paints.
The bristles are firmly packed together thanks to the brass plated ferrule, which helps with bristle retention.
The Wooster angle sash paint brush features a soft, flexible handle for easier painting. The handle also features a non-slip surface to give you an improved grip.
Perfect if you don’t want to accidentally drop the paint brush while you’re painting. The angled brush will give you even coverage to perfectly paint your baseboards.
PROS
- Durable – features a brass plated ferrule for better bristle retention
- Angled – achieve smoother, more even coverage
- Proper grip – non-slip grip surface, soft and flexible brush handle
CONS
- Cramp – may cause cramp over long periods of time if not held correctly
Bates Paint Brushes
The Bates paint brushes are a great choice if you want a standard brush as well as an angled brush. This pack of two brushes will give you all the tools you need for a thorough paint job.
The paint brushes included in this multipack are a 3 inch flat brush and a 2.5 inch angled brush to help you achieve great coverage on your baseboard.
This particular brush set features synthetic filaments. These have been designed to hold more paint on the brushes, meaning less time spent dipping your brush in the paint pot.
They are suitable for use with a variety of different paints. The softer bristles mean they’re less likely to leave streaky paintwork or noticeable brush strokes once the job is finished.
These Bates paint brushes come with treated wood handles. The handles are longer so that they are easier to hold. This also gives them a more ergonomic design, and they will be more comfortable to hold over long periods of time.
PROS
- Ergonomic – features long wooden handles for easier gripping
- Multipack – gives you an angled sash brush and flat brush
- Synthetic filaments – capable of holding more paint on the brush
CONS
- No brush covers – no covers included to protect brushes when not in use
Zibra Grip-n-Glide 2-Inch Angle Sash Paint Brush
This Zibra Grip-n-Glide 2 inch angle sash paint brush is just the thing you need for painting your baseboard. This brush features an angled design to give you more precision when painting.
You can easily paint along curved surfaces without having to adjust your painting technique to get even coverage. This Zibra paint brush will give you crisp and uniform coverage every time.
The Zibra angle sash brush features an hour glass handle to make it easier to grip. This makes the paint brush more ergonomic. It will be less likely to cause cramp or strain when used for long periods of time.
The paint brush itself features top quality bristles for smoother application, too. This will mean a less streaky finish once the paint has dried. The paint brush has been constructed for long lasting durability.
The Zibra paint brush is well worth the investment, as it will last you twice as long as inferior cheaper brushes made from poor quality materials.
PROS
- Angled brush – perfect for painting baseboards and trim
- Hourglass handle – ergonomic design that’s easier to grip
- Durable – manufactured using high quality materials
CONS
- Pricey – pricier if you opt to buy more than one brush in the set
Purdy XL Series Glide Angular Paint Brush
The Purdy XL Series glide angular paint brush is the ideal choice if you want to pick a quality brush. This brush has been manufactured by a trusted brand and has been handcrafted in the USA.
This particular brush is 3 inches, and is angled to achieve better coverage. Its angled design makes it a great fit for painting baseboards, trim, and many more.
A great feature of this paint brush is that it’s suitable for use with all paints. You won’t have to check before you use it to see if the paint will ruin the brush.
This brush will be able to effortlessly apply paint to your baseboards and leave you with a beautiful smooth surface. The medium stiff bristles have been packed together using a round edged brushed copper ferrule to help with bristle retention.
This particular Purdy brush features a long wooden handle. The wood handle is easier to grip when you’re painting. This means you’re less likely to experience cramp when you need to use it for long periods of time.
PROS
- Quality materials – constructed by a trusted company and made in America
- All paints – suitable for use with all paints
- Ergonomic – features long wooden handle that’s easier to grip
CONS
- Pricey – more expensive than competitive brushes
Pro Grade Paint Brushes
If you want to get the best value for your money, the Pro Grade paint brushes are the ideal choice for you. This particular multipack includes 5 great brushes for you to use to paint your baseboards.
All of the brushes included are angled to give you better coverage for this often awkward to paint surface. The brush sizes included in this set are 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, and 3 inches.
These particular paint brushes make use of a thick, high quality synthetic filament. These filaments have been designed to help you hold more paint on the brush.
This means less time spent dipping in the paint pot in between strokes. Great if you want to save on time when painting your baseboards. These paint brushes are also great for use with all types of paint and stains.
The handles have been manufactured using solid wood to make them easier to grip when painting. These longer handles work to give you better control when painting, as well as being more comfortable.
PROS
- Multipack – get 5 great angled brushes in varying sizes
- Synthetic filaments – capable of holding more paint on the brushes
- All paints and stains – suitable for use with all types of paint and stains
CONS
- Long handles – may be awkward to reach smaller, tighter spaces
Buyer's Guide
Trying to find the best paint brushes for baseboards can be tricky. While some people may be tempted to use a roller for ease, it won’t give you the same beautiful finish that painting by hand with a brush will.
However, when using the wrong type of brush and paint, you could cause more visible brush strokes. The key to a smooth paint job is in using the right tools for the job.
While it may be tempting to opt for the first paint brush that you stumble across, hold fire. You will need to ensure that your chosen paint brushes are right for painting baseboards.
We’ve put together all of the points you will need to consider below in our handy buyer’s guide. As long as your chosen paint brushes are able to cover the below points, you can rest assured that they will be perfect for your DIY jobs.
Take a look at everything you will need to know about paint brushes for baseboards below.
Angled
One of the most important factors to remember when choosing the best paint brushes for baseboards is that they need to be angled. This is because baseboards are often tricky to paint, and some even feature curved aspects that will be difficult to paint with a roller or flat brush.
An angled brush allows you to get smoother coverage over the whole area without having to go back over it with a smaller brush to cover the harder to reach areas.
Bristles
Another factor to consider is your paint brush’s bristles. The harder and stiffer the bristles, the more likely your paint brush will be to leave noticeable brush strokes. You should opt for a paint brush that comes with softer bristles if you can, as this will give you the smoother coverage that you’re after.
You should also consider whether you would prefer natural or synthetic bristles. Synthetic bristles will be able to be used with a greater variety of paint than natural bristles.
However, natural bristles are best used with oil based paints as well as the majority of wood stains. It’s also worth bearing in mind that synthetic bristles are often able to hold more paint on the brush, too. This means your paint job can take less time, and will save you money in the long run.
Type of paint
Of course the most important thing to consider is what your preferred type of paint is. The type of paint you use will be crucial for achieving that smoother finish.
The right paint combined with the right brush will be able to get the best results possible, instead of leaving you staring at your baseboards in despair. You will also need to ensure that your preferred choice of paint is suitable for your preferred choice of brush.
Similar to our point above about bristles, you will need to select the paint brush that’s suitable for use with your paint of choice. There’s no point in buying a paint brush that comes with natural bristles if you’ve opted for a latex or water based paint that you can’t use it with.
Ensure that your chosen brush will be ideal for your preferred paint before you commit to buying it.
Ergonomic
If you plan on painting your baseboards or other areas of your DIY project over long periods of time, we highly recommend opting for a brush that features an ergonomic design. This basically means that it will be easier and more comfortable to hold over long periods of time.
Choosing a paint brush that has an awkward shaped handle will be harder to grip. This could then cause cramp or strain in your hand, and in turn cause you more problems if you paint with them regularly.
You should opt for a paint brush that is more comfortable to hold over long periods of time, as it will mean you can get the job done quicker rather than constantly stop to give your hand a break.
Number of brushes
One factor to consider is how many brushes you need. If you want better value for money, or need more than one brush for your family and friends to help you with your painting job, you should opt for a product that offers multiple brushes.
The more brushes the manufacturer is able to offer for the price of one, the better. This means you will have a great set of brushes that you can use over the years.
If your brush breaks over time, it will mean you have more brushes to replace it with instead of having to spend more money.
Durable
Another factor to consider is how durable your chosen paint brushes are. The more durable they are, the longer they will last you. This will also be determined by the quality of the materials used in construction.
Take a look at the handle of your chosen paint brush. What materials have been used to make this? Plastic or wood?
Next you should take a look at the ferrule that’s used for the paint brushes. This is the metal collar that helps keep the bristles or filaments tightly packed together.
A good quality ferrule will keep them tightly packed, helping with bristle retention. A ferrule of lesser quality won’t keep the bristles as tightly packed. This will mean they can fall out over time, especially when you’re painting, and this can affect the overall finish of your paint job.
You should also consider the quality of bristles used for the paint brush. If you’ve opted for natural bristles, what animal have they come from?
What qualities is this natural bristle able to offer your painting? If you’ve opted for synthetic bristles, which bristles have the manufacturer used? What qualities do these offer?
Easy to clean
You should also consider how easy to clean your chosen brushes are. Once you’ve finished painting, you should ensure that you clean your brushes thoroughly after use so that they last you for longer.
You should also consider how you will protect the brushes when they’re not in use. Does your new paint brush come with a cover to keep it protected? If your chosen paint brush doesn’t come with a protective cover, this may be something that you need to buy yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best paint brush to use for baseboards?
The best paint brushes to use for baseboards are:
- Wooster Angle Sash Paint Brush
- Bates Paint Brushes
- Zibra Grip-n-Glide 2-Inch Angle Sash Paint Brush
- Purdy XL Series Glide Angular Paint Brush
- Pro Grade Paint Brushes
Should you paint baseboards with a brush or roller?
You can use both a paint brush or a roller for painting baseboards. However, it’s worth remembering that if your baseboards have curved edges or aren’t entirely flat, you will have to use a paint brush to get to these harder to reach areas.
An angled brush will be best used for these areas of your baseboard.
How do you paint baseboards without leaving brush marks?
The trick to painting baseboards without leaving brush marks will be entirely down to choosing the right paint and paint brush for the job.
You should buy a good quality paint brush, as we’ve gone into more detail about above. Softer bristles are ideal, as the stiffer the bristles, the more brush strokes you’re likely to see. You can learn more about how to paint without leaving brush strokes in our easy guide.
