Best Paintbrushes for Wall Touch Ups + What Brush Types to Use

Nothing is more infuriating than a hole, scratch, or mark showing up on your once flawless walls. If it’s small enough, you’re probably thinking about fixing it yourself. To do so, you’ll need to make sure you have the right paintbrush for the job.

If you’re new to DIY interior painting, you might not be sure what to use. This article will help you learn all about what to look for in a touch up paintbrush for walls by covering the following:

• 8 best paintbrushes for wall touch ups
• 2 best paint rollers for wall touch ups
• What’s the best type of brush for wall touch ups
• Best way to paint wall touch ups: brush or roller
• Best way to paint wall touch ups without marks

Before we get into the best ways to touch up your walls, let’s dive into the best paintbrushes available. If you’re also going to be touching up your trim, check out our guide to the best paintbrushes for trim.

8 best paintbrushes for wall touch ups

For wall touch ups, paintbrushes are your best bet for getting a quality look. If you’re unsure where to start looking, these are our top recommendations for the best paintbrush for wall touch ups.

1. Jen Manufacturing Poly Foam Brush

Quantity: 1

Size: 1-inch

Material: Polyurethane foam

Best Feature: Versatility

The Jen Manufacturing Poly Foam Brush is perfect if you want to do some touch-ups on your wall(s). Its small size and angled design is perfect for quick fixes in small places. It's also approved for working with all paint types to give you a smooth finish.

2. Wooster Foam King Paintbrush

Quantity: 1

Size: 2-inch

Material: Polyurethane foam

Best Feature: Quality

The Wooster Foam King Paintbrush is a great option that will give you beautiful results. The foam brush has been specially designed to help you get the smoothest finish wherever you're touching up your wall. It also has a well-constructed handle to help you maintain control while painting.

3. Royal Brush Foam Brush 4-Pack

Quantity: 4

Size: 1-inch

Material: Foam

Best Feature: Affordable

This pack of Royal Brush foam brushes is perfect for those that need to do a few touch-ups on their walls. These brushes work with all paint types to help leave a well-blended finish on your walls. They're also super affordable and disposable after use.

4. Wooster Silver Tip Thin Angle Sash Paintbrush

Quantity: 1

Size: 1.5-inch

Material: CT Polyester

Best Feature: Quality

If you want to try using a regular paintbrush to touch up your walls, the Wooster Silver Tip Thin Angle Sash brush is a good option. The bristles are made with soft CT polyester, allowing you to more easily feather your wall. This brush works well with all paints and is credited for leaving little to no marks behind.

5. Pro Grade Foam Brush Set

Quantity: 48

Size: 1-inch

Material: Polyurethane foam

Best Feature: Affordable

For those who are wanting to do a lot of touch-ups over time, you'll want to consider the Pro Grade Foam Brush Set. This is a great pack that will give you many quality brushes to work with for less. The brushes are approved for use with all paints and have a well-made wooden handle for comfort.

6. Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush

Quantity: 1

Size: 1-inch

Material: Nylon-Polyester

Best Feature: Smooth finish

The Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paintbrush is a great option for wall touch-ups, especially if you're working along any edges or corners. The angled bristles are soft, allowing you to paint with a delicate touch. The size of the handle also makes it easier to remain comfortable and keep control while painting.

7. Bates Foam Brushes

Quantity: 26

Size: 1-inch

Material: Foam

Best Feature: Quality

If you're looking for a high-quality set of foam brushes, the Bates Foam Brushes might be for you. These brushes are made with absorbent foam to help you do more work in less time. They're also small enough to allow you to do touch-ups to your wall in narrow areas.

8. Harbor Freight Tools Horsehair Bristle Acid Shop Brushes

Quantity: 36

Size: 0.5-inch

Material: Horsehair

Best Feature: Comfort

If you only have minor touch-ups and want to invest in a multi-purpose product, check out the Harbor Freight Tools Horsehair Bristle Acid Shop Brushes. These artist's brushes are small enough for the tiniest fixes and the quality bristles will leave any spots you work on looking great. Each brush is also made with a long metal handle, allowing your hands to stay comfortable while you paint.

2 best paint rollers for wall touch ups

Given the size and delicacy of the project, it’s preferred to use a brush for touch ups on your walls. However, there are a few instances where a roller will work well. These are our suggestions for the top paint rollers for touching up your wall.

1. Purdy White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers

Quantity: 2

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4.5-inch length

Material: Dralon

Best Feature: Smooth finish

The Purdy White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers 2-pack is a great choice for those looking for high quality. These covers are designed to leave a smooth, lint-free finish and work with all paints. They're also great when trying to do touch-ups in hard to reach places.

2. Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover

Quantity: 1

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4-inch length

Material: Mohair polyester blend

Best Feature: Quality

If you want a roller cover that's guaranteed to work well, check out the Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover. This cover is shed-resistant and works with all paints and various other products. It also reduces the amount of fabric marks left behind.

What’s the best type of brush for wall touch ups

When touching up small holes, scratches, or marks on your walls, the best type of brush to use is an angled foam brush. The angle will help you apply the right amount of paint. Foam is also known to be really absorbent and work well with all paint types, which will help you achieve a smooth finish that blends perfectly with the rest of your wall. Artist’s brushes can also be used for tiny touch ups that will blend easily.

Best way to paint wall touch ups: brush or roller

The specifics of the wall touch ups will determine whether you should use a brush or a roller. If you’re working with a small hole or noticeable marks, a brush is your best option. Brushes will give you the most control and allow you to get the desired coverage. Foam brushes will provide a smooth finish, helping you to blend the fresh paint with the old coat. Painter’s brushes are also a great option for dabbing imperfections. Rollers will provide you with a beautiful finish, but are best for larger and/or flat touch ups, such as colour correcting.

Choose a brush if…

• You’re working with small holes, scratches, or marks.
• You’re working on the edges or corners.
• You’re focused on achieving good coverage.

Choose a roller if…

• You’re working with a large, flat touch-up.
• You’re not as concerned with full coverage.
• You want to work quickly and blend efficiently.

Best way to paint wall touch ups without marks

When touching up your walls, it’s normal to be anxious that you’ll make things worse. In order to keep your touch ups looking great, here’s how to paint wall touch ups without marks:

• Clean the walls first - Use a damp cloth to remove any dust and debris that could appear in the paint.
• Fill any holes - Use spackle to fill the holes as much as possible to help your paint apply smoothly.
• Determine the original paint - Using the same paint as originally used on the wall will help you to blend the new paint.
• Try feathering - This technique will help blend the paint with the rest of the wall without the touch-up being too noticeable.

Now that you know everything about painting touch ups on your walls, it’s time to get started. If you find yourself wanting to go the professional route instead, the City Painters are here for you. Contact us here or give us a call to get a quote for your project.