Best Paintbrushes for Drywall: Top 9 + Best Types of Brushes

A common material used in our homes is drywall. At one point or another, it’s likely that you’ll have a drywall surface that needs a coat of paint. If you’re thinking of painting it yourself, you’ll need to know the best tips and tools for painting drywall.

Painting drywall requires that you have the right paint tools for the job, and that you know how to properly use them. This article will help you find the best paintbrush for drywall by covering the following:

• 9 best paintbrushes for drywall
• What’s the best type of brush for drywall?
• Best way to paint drywall: brush, roller, or spray?
• Best way to paint drywall without marks

Before we get into the best ways to paint drywall, let’s dive into your options for paintbrushes for drywall. If you’re working with a latex base, make sure to check out our guide to the best paintbrushes for latex paint.

9 best paintbrushes for drywall

To get the best results on your drywall, you want to make sure you’re using the best paint tools. Here are some of the best paintbrushes for drywall, as well as rollers and sprayers.

1. Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 2-inch

Material: Nylon-Polyester

Best Feature: Short handle

If you plan to paint corners or the edges of your drywall, a great option is the Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush. This popular brush is designed with a short, flexible handle that allows you to maintain comfort while painting in tight spaces. The bristles are also high-quality, offering smooth coverage wherever this brush is used.

2. Purdy White Dove Roller Cover

Type: Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: ⅜-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Woven Dralon

Best Feature: Quality

For those rolling paint on the smoothest drywall, opt for the Purdy White Dove Roller Cover. This roller cover is made with quality fabric to give you a smooth, lint-free finish. It can be used with all paint types.

3. HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer

Type: Spray

Quantity: 1

Size: 1.41 kg

Best Feature: Easy to use

If you’re looking for a more affordable sprayer, the HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer is a great choice. This sprayer is designed to be beginner-friendly, helping you get your desired finish without any stress. It works with all types of paints and materials, and it’s super lightweight.

4. Purdy XL Swan Flat Wall Brush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 2.5-inch

Material: Nylon-Polyester

Best Feature: Versatility

The Purdy XL Swan Flat Wall Brush is great for a variety of projects, including drywall. This brush is designed with top quality bristles to give you an ideal finish. It works well with all types of paints and in many different environments.

5. Purdy Marathon Roller Cover

Type: Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: ½-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Nylon-Polyester

Best Feature: Smooth finish

If your drywall has some texture, try using the Purdy Marathon Roller Cover. This cover is designed to help you roll paint for a super smooth finish with minimal lint left behind. It easily picks up and releases paint to help you complete your projects faster.

6. Wagner SprayTech Control Spray Max HVLP Paint or Stain Sprayer

Type: Spray

Quantity: 1

Size: 5.08 kg

Best Feature: Versatility

The Wagner SprayTech Control Spray Max HVLP Paint or Stain Sprayer is a great option for a variety of projects. It’s designed to work well with many different materials and on different surfaces. The HVLP technology will help you get a super smooth finish in less time.

7. Purdy Pro-Extra Swan Wall Brush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 4-inch

Material: Nylon/Chinex/Polyester blend

Best Feature: Smooth application

For those looking to paint more in less time, the Purdy Pro-Extra Swan Wall Brush will help you out. This version of the brush is made with stiff bristles, allowing you to paint smooth lines with all types of paint. It also holds more paint, so you can get full coverage faster.

8. Wooster Super/Fab Roller Cover

Type: Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: ½-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Proprietary golden yellow fabric

Best Feature: Coverage

The Wooster Super/Fab Roller Cover is another great choice for anyone painting drywall that has a bit of texture. This quality roller cover is designed to resist matting and give you smooth coverage. It’s incredibly durable and can be used with flat or satin paints.

9. Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer

Type: Spray

Quantity: 1

Size: 6.8 kg

Best Feature: Controllability

For a sprayer that gives you control of your paint flow, invest in the Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer. It’s designed to allow you to adjust the pressure, helping you get the perfect amount of coverage on your drywall. It also has the ability to let you spray paint directly from the bucket.

What’s the best type of brush for drywall?

When choosing a brush for painting drywall, you want to make sure you’re choosing from the most compatible options for your project. Follow these guidelines to help you select the best type of brush for drywall.

What’s the best paintbrush material for drywall?

Latex paint is best for drywall surfaces, so it’s important to work with a brush material that will properly absorb and release the paint. Here are the best brush materials to use for drywall:

• Nylon bristles: Super durable material that helps brushes maintain their shape.
• Polyester bristles: Able to maintain stiffness and apply paint smoothly.
• Nylon-polyester blend: Combines nylon’s durability with polyester’s stiffness to create a high-quality brush.
• Microfiber roller cover: Synthetic fabric that works well with the common texture of drywall.

What’s the best paintbrush size for drywall?

The size of your brush is dependent on the type of project you’re working on. These are the brush sizes you’re likely to use for drywall:

• 2-inch to 3-inch brush: Smaller sizes for cutting-in or painting edges and corners.
• 4-inch to 5-inch brush: Bigger brushes for large, flat surfaces.
• 4-inch mini roller: Ideal for rolling paint onto smaller surfaces.
• 9-inch roller: Average roller length used to speed up most projects.
• 18-inch roller: Professional size for large workloads.
• ⅜-inch roller nap: Thinner material for painting surfaces with minimal texture.
• ½-inch roller nap: Rollers with medium thickness for medium amounts of texture.
• ¾-inch roller nap: Thicker material for painting surfaces with rough texture.

What’s the best paintbrush style for drywall?

When working with drywall, the style of paintbrush you use is also dependent on your specific project. These are the common brush styles you’re likely to consider for your drywall project:

• Thin angle sash: Thin, slanted bristles to help paint within edges and corners.
• Angle sash: Slanted bristles that are ideal for cutting in.
• Flat sash: Bristles with a straight across cut, perfect for painting flat surfaces.
• Trim: A version of a flat brush that is ideal for large, flat surfaces.
• Wall: Thick, flat brush for painting larger projects.

What’s the best paintbrush end type for drywall?

The end type of a brush can affect how well paint is applied to your drywall. Here are the common brush end types you’re likely to encounter:

• Angled brush: Bristles are cut on an angle to make painting thinner surfaces easier.
• Chisel trim brush: Bristles are slanted to keep lines straight in corners and edges.
• Square trim brush: Bristles are given a square shape to assist in painting flat areas.
• Round-ended rollers: Roller covers have rounded ends to help rollers get closer to edges and avoid overlapping lines.

When to use a stippling brush for drywall

One last type of brush you might want to use on drywall is a stippling brush. Stippling brushes are used to create textured surfaces. This is done using a technique called “pouncing” where the brush’s bristles are pushed into a wet joint compound and pulled away quickly across the entirety of the surface. Although commonly used on ceilings, you can also use a stippling brush for drywall.

Best way to paint drywall: brush, roller, or spray?

Whether to use a brush, roller, or spray on your drywall depends on your specific project and your own personal preferences. You will more than likely need to use both a brush and a roller if you’re working on walls and/or ceilings. Working on larger projects requires that you use a brush for cutting in and to paint the corners and edges, then a roller to paint the main surface.

Sprayers are a great option if you want to cover more surface in less time. However, they can be a big financial investment, and are known to make a bit of a mess while using.

Choose a brush if…

• You’re cutting in a large surface.
• You’re painting corners and edges.
• You’re touching up a small area.

Choose a stippling brush if…

• You want to add texture to your ceiling.
• You want to add texture to your drywall.
• You’re repairing a previously stippled surface.

Choose a roller if…

• You’re painting a large, flat surface.
• You want to paint more in less time.
• You want to be safer when painting higher surfaces.

Choose a spray if…

• You want to speed up the painting process.
• You have the money to spend.
• You are prepared to protect the surrounding area and clean up afterwards.

Best way to paint drywall without marks

If you’re painting drywall on your own for the first time, you’re likely concerned with how it will turn out. Follow these tips to help you paint drywall without marks:

• Work on a clean surface – Make sure the drywall is free of dirt and debris that could get stuck in your paint. If not, wipe the surface and let dry before beginning.
• Complete your repairs – If you need to fill any holes or cracks, do this before painting. Otherwise you’ll need to repaint in the future.
• Use clean tools – To properly apply paint and keep old paint chips from appearing in your paint, make sure to clean your brushes with soap and water in between use.
• Apply a primer – Using a primer before your paint helps create a smooth appearance and ensures an easier application of your paint.
• Use only what you need – Too much paint can result in blotches, dripping, and uneven coverage. Only dip ⅓ of your brush’s bristles into the paint and use a paint tray or screen to remove excess paint from rollers.
• Use the right techniques – Keep coverage even by following common painting rules, including painting in the same direction and rolling using the “M” technique.

Now that you know everything about how to paint drywall, it’s time to get painting. If you think you’d like to hire a professional instead, the City Painters are here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a quote.