Make your next decorating job that bit easier with the perfect brush for painting trim. In today’s guide we recommend the top brushes available right now.
Because of the wide range of paintbrushes on the market, it can sometimes be difficult to find a decent paintbrush, especially if you are looking for the best paint brush for trim.
However, if you know where to look and which brands to consider, you are likely to uncover some gems.
Fortunately, we’ve done the job for you so you don’t have to.
In this guide, you’ll find the best paintbrushes for trim work and be able to compare the features and pros and cons of different brands to help you select the winner.
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Table of Contents
The Best Trim Brushes Compared
Start by looking at our top picks in the comparison table below.
These are the the three trim brushes that we recommend over all others.
Following the table you can read our full reviews.
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Model |
Details |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Our Top Pick Purdy Clearcut Series |
– Designed for precision detail – US made – Superior cutting-in capability |
|
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Budget Choice Presa Premium Brush Set |
– SRT filaments – Durable – Outstanding value |
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Great Alternative Richard Tools Series A |
– SRT filaments – Soft grip handle – Tapered tip |
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Reviews of the Best Paint Brushes for Trim
In this section you can read about our recommended brushes for trim in more detail.
Find out what makes these brushes special and deserving of a place on this list.
Overall Best Paint Brush for Trim
Purdy Clearcut Series
The Purdy Clearcut Series of angular paintbrushes are perfect for finishing precision trim detail.
As brushes go they can be considered quite expensive, but the superior performance they offer makes it an easy decision to make.
Whether you’e a handyman or homeowner looking for the best brush for trim work, you’ll find the Purdy Clearcut Series of brushes to be perfect for this type of paint job.
Handcrafted in the US, these brushes have an excellent cut-in ability and work well with all types of paint.
Designed for precision work, Purdy angular brushes will enable you to work around corners and molding with ease.
What are the drawbacks of this brush?
It’s expensive. Especially if you’re looking to buy a few different sizes.
What’s the verdict?
In our opinion, this is currently the best brush for painting trim on the market. Purdy brushes are the benchmark to which all others aspire to be.
The Budget Choice
Presa Premium Paint Brush Set
The Presa Premium brush set are an excellent budget friendly choice for trim detail.
You’ll be surprised how little this 5-piece brush set costs!
But don’t let the budget price tag turn you off. They offer a surprising amount of quality despite being so affordable.
Perfect for trim work they are also suitable for other jobs like staining, priming, and varnish.
Able to hold up to 30% more paint than competing brands, they’ll give you a more efficient use of your expensive paint too.
And most importantly, they durable and can withstand heavy-duty jobs and the most abrasive surface.
What about the downsides of this brush?
Some users have found that they can be hard to clean and others reported that they might not be good for finishing or varnish.
However, what stands out from the reviews is that they are great for trim.
What’s the verdict?
An excellent budget brush set for cutting in. Perfect for the amateur or casual decorator.
A Great Alternative
Richard Tools Series A
This round-shaped paint brush is designed for cutting-in jobs and smooth finishing. With the soft-grip handle, you get to have complete control over what you are painting.
The Richard Tools Series A is extremely versatile. Edge walls and doors, paint windows and trim, and even more.
A lot of trim work doesn’t need a flat brush and fortunately, it is rounded so you can pull it in a consistent position all through.
While you may struggle with a certain aspect of trimming like maintaining a straight line with a flat brush, a brush that is shaped in this way makes your job a lot easier. It also holds a lot of paint and can paint a clean line.
Is there any downside to this paint brush?
You might not be able to find it in big box or hardware stores.
It’s not as durable as the larger flat brushes.
What’s the verdict?
If you are looking to handle a lot of precision trim work, this will work well. It’s for the really detailed finishes that larger flat brushes just can’t cope with. A must for the regular painter!
The Best of the Rest
These are the brushes for trim painting that fell just a little bit short of being our outright recommendations.
That doesn’t mean to say they are bad brushes though, far from it!
If our leading choices don’t do it for you then take a look at these contenders.
Purdy XL
The Purdy XL Brush series come with synthetic bristles with blended Orel filaments that are versatile and usable on all paint and stains. This is why you can use them for interior and exterior jobs with all types of paints and in any environment.
They come with a unique copper ferrule with DuPont solid and around tapered Tynex that gives them an excellent paint distribution and paint lifting capacity.
The brushes are lightweight, easy to maneuver and couple that with the fact that they carry a good amount of paint, you can do your job faster.
They have a special ability to spread the paint evenly and precisely without streak marks (streak marks are common in cheaper brushes). In addition, they allow for controlled and precise lines.
And while they work great for trim work you can also use them for cutting in corners and flat horizontal surfaces.
The brushes are available in either angular or flat styles. If you are looking to do trim work and cutting in walls and ceilings, the angular design is the best option for you.
The bristles on the brushes are made from synthetic and because they retain stiffness quite well, you can use them in both hot and humid conditions in the outdoor space. They are very soft so that they leave no paint strokes are clean up easily.
The handle also comes in different styles such as short – which is ergonomically designed for painting in tight areas- and long – which is suitable for smooth edges.
Anything Else I Need to Know?
Some people might fault Purdy Brushes for being expensive. But when your project requires premium paint brushes, you can’t just go to whatever store and get the cheapest.
This will tell with the outcome of your project.
Most cheap brushes either leave streak marks, lose brush hair into the paint or just plainly run too fast for a decent painting job.
The Purdy XL series are very popular with painters, are well trusted by professionals and are able to hold up very well. This is why I consider them to be the best Purdy paint brush for trim (alongside the Purdy Clearcut Series).
Aside from painting trim, they are also very good for painting furniture and since there are different sizes in the pack, it’s easy to get the right one for the job.
The Final Verdict
If you are starting out with painting trim or just want to buy multiple sets, then I highly recommend this set for you.
There are three different sizes in the pack that should fit your needs. And the company carries other sizes should you not find the right size for your job.
Corona Excalibur Chinex
The Corona Excalibur Paint Brush is made in the USA and is of excellent quality.
Because it is a 2″ angled brush, it is excellent for trim work as well as painting doors and windows as it can easily get into corners quite easily.
The brush comes with a standard cardboard paper cover and the bristles also have very good paint release ability as the paint can go off the brush completely and unto the surface.
What’s more, the bristles are capable of leaving a smooth, blended finish, which is important for any trim work.
There is a handy taper at the tip of the brush that makes it easier to direct it in painting straight and smooth lines. It is moderately stiff and can hold up thick paint. So if you are planning to engage in projects outside your trim work, you should look at this brush.
What Do I Like About it?
The feature I like most about this brush is that it cleans up relatively fast.
Compared to other models in this class, you can wash off the paint from the bristles completely by just placing it under a running water. Or if you want, you can clean it with mineral spirits, which is also easy.
In fact, in some regards it is better than a Purdy premium paint because it can achieve a sharp straight edge without taping, which makes painting even more fun.
In some ways I consider this to be the best type of paint brush for trim work.
But there’s more.
It is an all-purpose paintbrush, meaning that you can use it for all paints and places. Whether you are looking to use it for oil based primer or stain, you’ll find that it’s adequate for your needs.
Another plus going for this brush is its shape, which allows it to go around the edges of windows and doors, making it the best for flat surfaces.
The handle is also shorter and thicker, which keeps it steady in the hand when gripped.
If you are looking for a premium quality brush that’s available for a decent price, this is it. Cleanup is not stressful like what you get from other brands, which I like because it saves time.
What is the downside to buying this?
It is a bit expensive. But since it delivers a good quality result especially for trim work, the investment will be well worth it.
It is better not to paint trim with cheap quality brushes, and considering the quality you get from using this, you’ll be better off than going with a cheaper product.
And sometimes, it can take a bit of time to completely clean out but you can speed up the process by using a wire brush to remove residue.
What’s my verdict?
If you are a DIY homeowner who likes painting without dripping or drags on wood trim, then this is for you. You’ll like this brush because it can produce consistent results for years when properly maintained.
With this paint brush, you should be conquering trim work in no time.
Jen Sponge Brush
This is a high-quality foam paint brush. They are made in the USA by Jen Manufacturing USA. They are available in a pack of 48 pieces and for a fraction of what you get in big box stores.
I consider them to be the best foam paint brush for trim.
They are ideal for quick paint projects and are great to have around the house, especially if you are an enthusiastic DIYer with a painting zest.
Are they durable?
Yes, and they don’t fall apart like other cheap ones. You can use the brush for oil paints, solvent based polyurethane, stains, and varnishes. Fortunately, they don’t leave brush marks and wear nicely.
The advantage this paint brush for trim has over others is that they hold paint longer especially if you want to apply grout sealant or contact adhesive.
They are very sturdy and works great as a disposable brush.
These Jen Poly Foam Brushes are considered one of the top paint brushes for trim and doors because they are easy to clean and well made.
What do I like about this paint brush?
If you are looking for brushes for quick touch-ups without any cleanup process, then these are great for you. I also like that they are well made and sturdy compared to other craft foam brushes on the market.
Even though they are disposable, a good trick for using them for an extended period of time is to keep them wet and fresh in a Ziploc bag or similar.
What are the things I don’t like?
They are not very big compared to others I’ve seen – about 1 1/2″ wide.
If you are looking for larger brushes for your trim work, you may want to look at other brands that have bigger sizes.
Who is this recommended for?
They are recommended for artists and painters looking for a more sturdy brush to paint their works.
Whether you are refinishing furniture, painting trim, or handling small woodworking projects, these are good paint brushes for you.
Enjoy a finished product like it was sprayed, and for the quantity in the set, they are well priced.
Zibra Grip-n-Glide
This is a 1″ square paint brush that excels in trim work where a straight brush falls short. It is able to hold substantial material in each dip so you can save time on your painting projects.
Also, the bristles are stiff but soft and very fine which offers little to no paint dripping. It has a long-lasting ability and offers ultra smooth paint release.
The brush is designed in such a way that it’s easy to guide it in a straight line and you don’t have to go over each area more than one time since the paint spreads out thickly and evenly.
This makes free-hand trimming easier and you don’t have to worry about stray bristles getting into the paint.
Most importantly, if you have issues with your grip or experience hand numbness when painting, you need something that it is easy to grip.
Fortunately, the brush lends itself to easy grasping for an extended period of time.
Who is this for?
If you are a beginner looking to tackle fine trim and paint good borders, this square paint brush will give you an edge.
The Zibra Grip-n-Glide allows you to carry a significant portion of paint to detail and is better than larger paint brushes because it helps you minimize mistakes.
The shape of the brush makes it versatile as it lends itself to any number of uses such as painting moldings and other trim work.
Thanks to the round, solid, tapered brush tips, you can now get a smooth, crisp, uniform coverage with no streak on the surface.
In addition, it features the Hourglass handle that not only provides comfort but also multiple grips like rolling, flipping, spinning.
What are the downsides of this brush?
The downside is that the handle gets dry and might become uncomfortable to hold and it can be a bit difficult to clean because of the thickness of the bristles.
However, if you can practice cleaning it immediately after each use, you shouldn’t have any problem. Take good care of it and it will serve you for many more projects.
Magnolia Brush
This paint brush is 2″ or 1 1/2 wide. You choose either of these depending on the type of job you want to do. Since you are looking for the perfect paint brush for trim, I recommend you buy the 2″ wide brush.
The handle is wooden, exactly the same you’d find in hardware stores (even though those are more expensive).
How’s the construction of the brush?
This brush is thin and soft, which makes them a better option for one-time projects. Because they are throwaway brushes and shed easily, they may not be ideal for heavy-duty jobs like painting glass.
But for trim, rough work, priming, quick stain or a light paint job, they are great.
This comes in a pack and in each pack are 24 brushes. This means after you buy them, you now have an army of paint brushes you can use for light painting jobs.
They are relatively short and works well on thick products. They are also cheap enough that you can toss them after using them instead of cleaning.
What’s should you watch out for?
The fact that the brush is very soft, you may experience a small amount of bristle loss.
I recommend that you throw them away when you are done. This is since brushes like this can turn a nightmare when you want to clean them after staining.
Aside from trim work or applying paint stripper, don’t use them for substantial painting jobs like house painting. You could use them for smaller craft projects too.
Hiltex 00308
This Hiltex trim brush comes in different width. This include 1″, 1-1/2″, 2″ and 3″ types. And each brush is built with Terylene bristles with feathered ends.
This will give you paint holding capacity that is very useful when you are doing trim work.
So,
If you are looking for a paintbrush to do simple trim painting, this is an inexpensive option to look at.
While they do a decent job for the price, if you are uptight about your painting, you may want to look at the Purdy options on this list for your trim work.
When you do edges with it, it easily slides under the surface so that you get a decent edge. The bristles come to a fine point at the tip and are not as thin as other models, which helps them hold together nicely.
What are downsides to this product?
Like other cheap paint brushes out there, you may see occasional bristle fall out into paint or varnish. Most of the time, this bristle loss won’t be an issue.
However, if you are doing some work like re-staining a table (where you have to be uniform all across), it may not pay off well if so you may need high-quality brushes.
Verdict
The Hiltex 00308 set is a decent paint brush for trim.
If you are looking for a higher quality trim paint brush and you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, you should look at one of the Purdy brushes.
Proform Contractor
The Proform Contractor Angle Sash Brush is an angled brush that works well when you are trying to reach corners.
It is stiff, thick, and comes at half price of competing models. If you are looking for incredible straight cut without tape, then you need to buy this.
It is able to hold the heavy paints of today and comes with a flat edge that allows you to trim and cut in like a pro.
The angled sash makes it easy to perfectly cut into square and tight corners without using the painter’s tape.
Remember when you are painting, it is important to have the right tool and if this gives you that precise line you are looking for in your trim work then it’s a great option.
Applying Paint to Varnish Trim
One of the troublesome and problematic situations you’re most likely to run into at some point is applying paint to varnish trim.
The trim might be a baseboard around your windows or doors or it might even be a crown molding.
The main thing you have to do is since it’s been varnished, proper surface preparation so the primer and the paint will stick to it. Your best friend is a good painter’s tape.
So, here’s what to do:
The first thing you want to do is to mask off both the floor and the wall and the easiest way to do that is this:
If you have a carpet to lay down the tape and then gently tuck it under the baseboard work in small sections. It’s easier to do it that way if you have wood floors.
You’re just going to use masking tape and put it directly on the floor and then seal the edge very well. You also want to protect your walls because you are going to be washing the baseboard and sanding it again.
Work in 24″ lengths or so so that it’s easier to handle. Get it well-positioned and then once you have it right where you want it, press it in place with your fingers and then use a painters tool or putty knife to very firmly press it in place in order to get a clean edge.
Once you have the edge of your flooring protected, then put down a tape to protect the rest of your carpeting or flooring from other possible spills.
If you feel more secure about it, you can actually do another layer of masking or painters tape in order to hold this in a place where you’ve got a baseboard.
Related:Best Paint Brush for Baseboards
Now:
If you have residue built upon it, you can take some TSP or a TSP substitute and scrub the molding very well.
Since you have your masking in place, you may want to be liberal in applying detergent to the nooks and crannies. When you are done with this, you are going to want to rinse it with clean water and then make sure it’s dry.
Next step is to sand it.
You’re doing this for a couple of reasons:
- First of all, it’s a way of getting rid of drips or drops from other painters or paint that might be in the finish itself.
- The other thing is to give a little rough surface so that the primer that you put on next has a good surface to cling to for large flat areas. Just use a flat sanding box with some fine sandpaper in areas that are more curved.
With a piece of towel or dowel wrap your sandpaper around that to get into the recesses make a crease in the sandpaper to get the little cracks and crevices where other pieces won’t fit.
Use a few mineral spirits.
It’s safe on all clear finishes, dampen a rag and then use that to get up the residue. What you want is a nice even layer of primer you want to go with the grain.
If you want nice even strokes, use a slightly loaded brush get into the crevices first do the rounded part next get the top done and then finish with the widest surface last.
Also Read:Painting Your Firearms
The last thing left to do is to paint.
Get your paintbrush lightly loaded and give it a few taps to get rid of the excess paint and then bring it over your baseboard and paint away.
Again a lot of people like to do the little crevices and curved parts first and that way you can finish up with long broad strokes to finish up the rest of it and even out the things you’ve done before.
Resources:
Tips for Painting Trim
Use a good quality paint brush. When you are dripping your paintbrush into the paint, don’t get the paint all the way up onto the silver part of the brush. That helps keep it from getting on your hands. You want to keep the paint to about half way to the bristles.
Another thing is to paint your trims before they’re installed whenever possible. Some trims even come pre-primed so you can just give them a quick touch-up if needed.
After installation lay the paint on and smooth even strokes making sure you listen to your paint. If your brush strokes are sounding a little scratchy, you don’t have enough paint on the brush.
Move down to a new area and lay more paint on your final stroke in the new area should blend back into the previously painted area. Feathering out the stroke keep painting and blending in this manner until the trim piece is completely painted.
When painting a room, paint the door trims first. You don’t have to be so careful not to get paint on the wall when you are cutting in. That narrow edge of the door trim then you can easily cut in the wall color next to the trim since you are painting on a flat surface.
With the right paint brush for trim, you should now be able to paint trim like a pro.