10 Best Paintbrushes for Staining Your Fence + Stain Without Marks

Wooden fences can be a pretty big deal. In addition to offering protection and privacy, a wooden fence can also add to the look of your home. And whether your fence is new or aging, applying stain to it will give it that fresh, beautiful look you desire.

If you’re thinking of applying a stain yourself, it’s important to find the right tools for the job. This article will help you determine the best paintbrush for staining your fence by covering the following:

• 10 best paintbrushes for staining a fence
• What’s the best type of paintbrush for a wood fence?
• Best way to stain a fence: brush, roller, or spray?
• Best way to stain a fence without marks

Before we get into what to use for your fence, let’s have a look at some options for the best paintbrush for staining a fence. If you’re interested in exploring roller brushes, consider checking out our guide to using roller brushes.

10 best paintbrushes for staining a fence

There are many options when it comes to looking for the best paintbrush for staining a fence. So you want to make sure you use one suited to giving you the best results. These are our recommendations for the best paintbrushes for staining a fence.

1. Wooster Bravo Stainer

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 4-inch

Material: White bristle and polyester blend

Best Feature: Versatility

The Wooster Bravo Stainer brush is a great option for staining your fence. Its blended bristles are perfect for applying various types of stains and getting beautiful coverage. It also allows you to attach an extension pole to it for working with high fences.

2. Linzer Stain Waterproofing Brush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 4-inch

Material: Polyester

Best Feature: Quality

Another great option for a staining brush is the Linzer Stain Waterproofing Brush. This brush is designed specifically for staining and waterproofing, so your fence will get the quality finish you desire. It also has a handle designed for maximum comfort.

3. Graco Magnum X5 Electric TrueAirless Sprayer

Type: Sprayer

Quantity: 1

Size: 6.8 kg

Best Feature: Easy to use

For full coverage in less time, check out the Graco Magnum X5 Electric TrueAirless Sprayer. It allows you to easily adjust the paint flow, so you can get a clean finish regardless of how big or small your project is. This sprayer is also designed to allow you to spray paint directly from the bucket.

4. Wooster Lambswool/100 Roller Cover

Type: Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: ½-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Natural lambswool

Best Feature: Quality

If you’d prefer to use a roller on your fence, the Wooster Lambswool/100 Roller Cover is a great choice. It works well with all stains to give your fence consistent coverage. It’s also super durable, so it can be used multiple times.

5. KingOrigin Heavy Duty Professional Stain Brush 3-Pack

Type: Brushes

Quantity: 3

Size: 4-inch to 6-inch

Material: Polyester

Best Feature: Quality

For those looking for multiple brushes, this KingOrigin Heavy Duty Professional Stain Brush pack is a great choice. The brushes in the set are 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches in length. Plus, all three are thick, helping you stain more fence faster. They also have comfortable handles that allow for extension poles.

6. Purdy White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers

Type: Rollers

Quantity: 2

Size: ⅜-inch nap, 4-inch length

Material: Woven Dralon

Best Feature: Smooth finish

For those wanting a roller for touch-ups of their fence, this set of Wooster White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers is the perfect choice. The Woven Dralon fabric is perfect for giving your fence a smooth, lint-free finish. It also works well with a variety of paints and stains.

7. Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 2-inch

Material: Nylon-polyester blend

Best Feature: Short handle

If your fence requires some touch-ups or detail work, the Wooster Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush is the perfect choice for a paintbrush to use on a wood fence. The brush’s nylon-polyester bristles are great for providing a smooth finish for both paints and stains. Its short, flexible handle is also ideal for painting in tight or hard-to-reach areas.

8. Wagner SprayTech Control Spray Max HVLP

Type: Sprayer

Quantity: 1

Size: 5.08 kg

Best Feature: Multi-usage

The Wagner SprayTech Control Spray Max HVLP sprayer is a great lightweight option for those wanting to stain their fence. This sprayer is easy to use and allows for good control over the amount of stain used. It’s great for helping give your fence a beautiful finish quickly.

9. Linzer Satin and Stain Block Brush

Type: Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 5-inch

Material: Polyester and bristle filament blend

Best Feature: Coverage

Also from Linzer, the Satin and Stain Block Brush is one of the best fence paintbrushes. The design of the brush is perfect for providing great coverage on exterior wood projects. It also has a comfortable handle that also allows for an extension pole to be connected.

10. Wooster Golden Flo Roller Cover

Type: Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: ¾-inch nap, 9-inch length

Material: Yellow fabric

Best Feature: Coverage

The Wooster Golden Flo Roller Cover is a great option for staining fences. The cover is designed to give you full, smooth coverage in less time. The quality fabric can be used with a variety of paints and stains, and is resistant to matting.

What’s the best type of paintbrush for a wood fence?

Whether you want to stain your fence with a brush, roller, or spray, you need to know what characteristics to look for. These are the things you should consider when shopping for your staining tools of choice:

• Size — A brush size of 4 to 5 inches is ideal for the average fence. Rollers should be 9 inches long for the main surface, and 4 inches long for smaller posts and surfaces.
• Material — For brushes, stiffer bristles made of synthetic materials will help you apply stain best. If you’re using a roller, natural and fabric naps suited for the texture of your fence will work best. Foam brushes and rollers are also great options.
• Nap — For rollers, the nap you should opt for depends on the texture of your fence. Naps between ⅜ and ½ inches are best for minimal to no texture, while ¾-inch or thicker naps should be used for rough fences.
• Pressure — If you want to use a sprayer, opt for one that is high volume, low pressure (H.V.L.P.). This will ensure you achieve even coverage across your fence.
• Mobility — Since you’ll be moving around quite a bit, make sure the tools you use (especially if one of them is a sprayer) are comfortable to hold and easy to move with you as you stain your fence.

Best way to stain a fence: brush, roller, or spray?

Whether you should use a brush, roller, or spray for staining your fence depends on your specific project. Using a paintbrush is the ideal choice if your main concern is achieving full, quality coverage. It’s also the best choice if you’re working with smaller surface areas or just doing a few touch-ups.

Rollers and sprayers are both great options if you want to speed up the process. Using a roller will help you focus more on getting the right amount of coverage. Using a sprayer, meanwhile, is definitely the quickest and most comfortable way to stain your fence. However, it is also the most expensive option, so it should only be used if you plan to invest in one to use on multiple projects.

Choose a brush if…

• Your top priority is perfect coverage.
• You’re working on touch-ups or a relatively small section of your fence.
• You don’t mind spending more time staining.

Choose a roller if…

• You want to speed up the process.
• You’re working on a larger project.
• You want to ensure good coverage.

Choose a sprayer if…

• You want the job done fast.
• You’re planning to buy or rent one for use on multiple projects.
• You don’t mind doing extra work before and after the job to minimize and clean up messes (respectively).

Best way to stain a fence without marks

If you’re staining your fence for the first time, you might be concerned with how everything will turn out. In order to help your fence look its best, follow these tips:

• Check the weather — Being outside, you want to make sure you aren’t going to stain your fence in rain or humidity. Make sure to allow for enough time so that you can complete your project and allow it to dry in ideal weather conditions.
• Clean your fence — Use soap and water to remove any dirt and debris, including mold and algae. This will prevent anything from showing up in, or even damaging, your stain.
• Clear the surrounding area — Remove anything that could get in the way while you’re staining your fence. This includes cutting the grass if it’s too long.
• Do repairs first — If any part of your fence needs to be fixed or sanded, this should be done before you begin staining. Staining broken fence parts could result in some slip-ups, and trying to repair them after you’re done staining may leave scuff marks.
• Only use as much stain as you need — Apply only a necessary amount of stain to your brush/roller. This will help you avoid blotches and keep coverage even.
• Use the proper techniques with your brushes — Paintbrushes should be held at an angle while staining, while rollers should be used to apply stain in an up-and-down motion.

Now that you’re prepped and ready for staining your fence, it’s time to get started. If you think you might prefer to go the professional route instead, the City Painters are here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a quote.