Best Paint Rollers for Interior Doors + How to Use Them

One thing that can have a big impact on the look of your home is your interior doors. Although we see them more as functional, the way our interior doors look can make or break the style of a room. If your interior doors are starting to show their age, it might be time to freshen them up.

Painting your interior doors with a roller brush is a great way to get beautiful results fast, but not all paint rollers were created equal. This article will help you find the best roller for painting interior doors by covering the following:

• 10 best paint rollers for interior doors
• What’s the best type of roller for painting interior doors?
• Best way to paint interior doors: roller, brush, or spray?
• Best way to paint interior doors with a roller brush

Before we get into the best ways to paint interior doors, let’s dive into some choices for the best paint roller for interior doors. If you’re also planning to work on your drywall, check out our guide for the best paintbrushes for drywall.

10 best paint rollers for interior doors

There are many paint rollers available, but only some will work best with the doors in your home. Here are our recommendations for the best paint rollers for interior doors.

1. FoamPRO Finest Finish Mini Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: 4-inch length

Material: Super-fine foam

Best Feature: Smooth finish

If you’re working with a super smooth door, opt for the FoamPRO Finest Finish Mini Roller. The roller cover is made with a super-fine foam that applies even and beautiful coverage. It works well with a variety of materials.

2. Wooster Super/Fab Roller Cover

Quantity: 1

Size: ⅜-inch nap, 4-inch length

Material: Proprietary golden yellow fabric

Best Feature: Coverage

For interior doors with rough surfaces, the Wooster Super/Fab Roller Cover is a great option. This roller cover is made of a quality material that gives you full coverage and resists matting. It works well with all flat and satin paints, stains, and waterproofing.

3. Purdy White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers

Quantity: 2

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4.5-inch length

Material: Woven Dralon fabric

Best Feature: Versatility

This 2-pack of Purdy White Dove Jumbo Mini Roller Covers is great for working on smooth interior doors. The rollers cover are made of a versatile Dralon fabric that prevents lint and provides a smooth finish. They’re a great size for interior doors and work well with all paints.

4. Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover

Quantity: 1

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4-inch length

Material: Mohair and polyester

Best Feature: Durability

If you want a roller with a soft touch that’s also durable, you need the Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover. This roller cover blends mohair with polyester to give you smooth coverage without any shedding. It works well on smooth interior doors with a variety of materials.

5. Purdy Parrot Jumbo Mini Roller Covers

Quantity: 2

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4.5-inch length

Material: Woven Mohair

Best Feature: Quality

For a beautiful finish on your doors, this 2-pack of Purdy Parrot Jumbo Mini Roller Covers is for you. The covers are made of mohair to give very smooth surfaces a glass-like finish. They work well with latex and oil-based paints.

6. Bestt Liebco Tru-Pro Roller Cover

Quantity: 1

Size: ¼-inch nap, 4-inch length

Material: Woven fabric

Best Feature: Smooth finish

The Bestt Liebco Tru-Pro Roller Cover is a high-quality option for painting smooth interior doors. It’s made of shed-resistant fabric that provides full coverage. It can be used with all paints and stains.

7. Wooster Super Doo-Z Roller Cover

Quantity: 1

Size: ⅜-inch nap, 7-inch length

Material: White fabric

Best Feature: Durability

If you’re working with a door that has medium texture, try the Wooster Super Doo-Z Roller Cover. This roller cover helps reduce dripping, prevent shedding, and applies a full coverage. It’s durable and works well with a variety of paints and other materials.

8. FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller

Quantity: 1

Size: 6-inch length

Material: High-density foam

Best Feature: Smooth finish

For those preferring to work with a small foam roller, opt for the FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller. It applies paint smoothly with a lint-free finish. It also works well with a variety of materials on doors and more.

9. Bestt Liebco Master Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit

Quantity: 2

Size: 4-inch length

Material: High-density foam

Best Feature: All-in-one kit

The Bestt Liebco Master Foam 4 Piece Mini Roller Kit is an affordable option for those who are DIY painting for the first time. This kit comes with 2 foam mini roller covers that will give your doors a smooth finish. It’s lint free and works with all paints except for shellac.

10. FoamPRO No Lint Foam Paint Roller Covers

Quantity: 2

Size: 3/16-inch nap, 7-inch length

Material: Foam

Best Feature: Smooth finish

Another option from FoamPRO is the No Lint Foam Paint Roller Covers. These roller covers are great at holding and releasing paint, and they’ll give you a smooth finish with no lint left behind. They were great with various materials.

What’s the best type of roller for painting interior doors?

To find the best roller for interior doors, it’s important to know what characteristics to look for in a paint roller. Follow this guide to narrow down your options and find the right roller for your interior doors.

Choosing the right paint roller design and grip

The way your paint roller functions is key to the quality of your work. Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing a frame/handle to use with your roller when painting your interior doors:

• Compatible: If you need to purchase a frame separately from your roller cover, make sure it’s one that fits your cover of choice.
• Ball bearing: When built into your roller frame, your roller will work more efficiently and be less prone to slip-ups and mistakes.
• Ergonomic: Handles with a grip designed for comfort will keep your hands relaxed and keep you painting longer.

Choosing the right paint roller length

Smaller sizes tend to work best when working on doors. These are your top choices when painting interior doors:

• 4-inch: Mini size for painting small/thin sections. Great for panelled doors.
• 6-inch: Ideal for average door projects.
• 7-inch: Great choice for doors with a bit more surface to cover.

Choosing the right paint roller cover material for your project

Different materials work their best with certain paints and surfaces. Here are the paint cover materials you’re likely to choose for painting your interior doors:

• Microfiber: Synthetic fabric that gives light to medium surfaces a smooth finish.
• Foam: Great absorbency and release abilities; works well with paints and stains.
• Polyester: Synthetic material that adds durability to any material it’s blended with; helps apply latex-based paints smoothly.

Choosing the right paint roller nap (thickness) for your surface

Different types of surfaces will require that your roller have the appropriate nap. These are the paint roller naps you’re likely to consider when painting interior doors:

• 3/16-inch: Extremely thin for very smooth surfaces; seen in foam roller covers.
• ¼-inch: Smaller nap for smooth surfaces, such as wood and metal.
• ⅜-inch: Thicker nap for surfaces with medium texture.

Best way to paint interior doors: roller, brush, or spray?

If you’ve been wondering whether to paint interior doors with a brush or roller, you might be surprised to know that you should actually use both. Rollers are ideal for painting the main surfaces of the door, since this will speed up the process and make things easier. However, you should still use an angled paintbrush to cut in the edges of the door. You can also use a brush for painting tiny areas and quick touch-ups.

Paint sprayers are a great option if you want to greatly speed up the painting process and do more with less effort, especially if you have many different projects you’re working on. However, sprayers do cost quite a bit of many and can be messy.

Choose a roller if…

• You’re painting the main surface(s) of the door.
• You want to speed up the process.
• You want a smooth, even coverage with less effort.

Choose a brush if…

• You’re cutting in the edges of the door.
• You’re working on a door with thin/small sections.
• You need to do minor touch-ups.

Choose a spray if…

• You want to paint a lot in less time.
• You have the money to spend.
• You’re not afraid to make a mess.

Best way to paint interior doors with a roller brush

For those painting with a roller brush for the first time, you’re going to want to make sure you get quality results for the time and effort you put in. Follow these tips to make the most of painting your interior doors with a roller brush:

• Remove the door from its hinges – This is optional but removing the door and laying it down flat allows you to paint more consistently. You can also remove the door handle and any other accessories during this step.
• Sand away the old – Use sandpaper to remove the old paint from the surface. This will help the new paint look and stick to the door better.
• Clean the surface – Use a damp cloth to remove any dirt and debris that could appear in your paint.
• Protect the area – If you didn’t remove the door, use painter’s tape and sheets to protect the surrounding trim, door handles, door accessories, walls, and floor.
• Repair any damage – If there’s damage, spackle any holes and caulk any cracks to avoid ruining your paint afterwards.
• Apply primer – Coat the door in primer to help your paint stick and better protect your door.
• Use only what you need – Use a paint tray or screen to remove excess paint from your roller before you paint. This will help you avoid unnecessary blotches, dripping, or uneven coverage.
• Follow the grain – Paint in the direction of the grain to avoid brush marks from appearing.
• Perfect your technique – Paint in long strokes and use the M technique to give your door the most even coverage.
• Sand between coats – Wait for the paint to dry, then lightly sand the surface to remove any marks or spots and make the surface look even smoother.

Now that you know everything about using the best rollers to paint interior doors, it’s time to get started. If you think you’d prefer to hire a professional, the City Painters are here to help. Contact us here or give us a call for a free quote.