The 10 Best Paint Brushes as of June 2026

How we ranked these paint brushes

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each paint brush does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#	Paint Brushes	Score	Best for	Type	Approx price	Amazon links
1	Purdy XL Series	9.0	Best overall	Synthetic	£15	View Price
2	Harris Ultimate	8.8	Best UK value	Synthetic	£12 (set)	View Price
3	Hamilton Perfection	8.8	Best for fine finish	Natural/synthetic	£18	View Price
4	Purdy Clearcut Glide	8.7	Best for crisp edges	Synthetic	£16	View Price
5	Wooster Shortcut Angle	8.6	Best for cutting in	Synthetic	£9	View Price
6	Axus Décor Fine Tip	8.5	Best for trade detail	Synthetic	£12	View Price
7	Harris Seriously Good	8.4	Best budget set	Synthetic	£8 (set)	View Price
8	Coral Paint Brushes	8.2	Best for emulsion	Synthetic	£7 (set)	View Price
9	ProDec Brushes	8.2	Best trade value	Synthetic	£10 (set)	View Price
10	Amazon Basics Brush Set	7.9	Best ultra-budget	Synthetic	£6 (set)	View Price

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The full ranking

Best overall

Purdy XL Series

9.0Our number one pick.

Purdy's XL brushes are a decorator's favourite, with a tapered synthetic blend that holds plenty of paint and lays a smooth, brush-mark-free finish for water- and oil-based paints. They are pricier than DIY brushes, but the finish and longevity are excellent.

Finish: 9.4Build: 9.2Cleanup: 8.8Value: 8.8

Pros

Smooth brush-mark-free finish
Holds lots of paint
Durable and reusable

Cons

Pricier than DIY brushes
Needs proper cleaning

Check price on Amazon≈ £15

Best UK value

Harris Ultimate

8.8A superb runner-up.

Harris Ultimate brushes offer no-loss bristles and a clean, smooth finish at a great price, a UK decorating staple sold in handy sets. They are not quite Purdy-smooth, but the value and performance are excellent.

Finish: 9.0Build: 8.8Cleanup: 8.8Value: 9.2

Pros

No-loss bristles
Smooth finish
Great-value sets

Cons

Slightly less refined than Purdy
Handles vary by set

Check price on Amazon≈ £12 (set)

Best for fine finish

Hamilton Perfection

8.8Rounds out our top three.

Hamilton's Perfection brushes use premium filaments for an exceptionally fine, smooth finish on woodwork and trim, a choice for those chasing a flawless result. They are pricey, but the finish on gloss and eggshell is superb.

Finish: 9.4Build: 9.0Cleanup: 8.6Value: 8.4

Pros

Flawless fine finish
Great on woodwork
Premium filaments

Cons

Pricey
Best for detail work

Check price on Amazon≈ £18

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Best for crisp edges

Purdy Clearcut Glide

8.7A standout in the upper half.

Purdy's Clearcut Glide angled brush gives razor-sharp lines when cutting in, with stiff, precise bristles and quality build. It is pricier, but for crisp edges and corners it is superb.

Finish: 9.0Build: 9.0Cleanup: 8.6Value: 8.6

Pros

Razor-sharp cut-in lines
Precise stiff bristles
Quality build

Cons

Pricey
Specialised

Check price on Amazon≈ £16

Best for cutting in

Wooster Shortcut Angle

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Wooster's Shortcut is a short-handled angled brush that's brilliant for precise cutting in around edges, ceilings and trim, with great control and a soft grip. It is small and specialised, but for neat edges it is excellent value.

Finish: 8.8Build: 8.6Cleanup: 8.8Value: 9.2

Pros

Great control for cutting in
Comfortable short handle
Affordable

Cons

Small and specialised
Not for big areas

Check price on Amazon≈ £9

Best for trade detail

Axus Décor Fine Tip

8.5Great value in the middle of the pack.

Axus Décor's fine-tip brushes are popular with trade decorators for neat trim and detail work, with quality filaments and tidy results. They are detail-focused and pricier, but lovely for woodwork.

Finish: 8.8Build: 8.6Cleanup: 8.6Value: 8.6

Pros

Neat trim and detail
Quality filaments
Trade favourite

Cons

Detail-focused
Pricier

Check price on Amazon≈ £12

Best budget set

Harris Seriously Good

8.4A dependable pick if the price is right.

Harris's Seriously Good range offers dependable everyday brushes with low bristle loss in affordable multi-packs, ideal for general DIY decorating. They are basic next to premium brushes, but reliable and great value.

Finish: 8.4Build: 8.2Cleanup: 8.6Value: 9.2

Pros

Affordable multi-packs
Low bristle loss
Reliable everyday

Cons

Basic finish
Lighter build

Check price on Amazon≈ £8 (set)

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Best for emulsion

Coral Paint Brushes

8.2Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Coral's brushes are a cheap, cheerful set fine for emulsion and general wall painting, with decent paint pickup. They are basic and can shed early on, but for big emulsion jobs on a budget they are good value.

Finish: 8.2Build: 8.0Cleanup: 8.4Value: 9.0

Pros

Cheap for big jobs
Decent paint pickup
Handy set

Cons

Can shed early
Basic finish

Check price on Amazon≈ £7 (set)

Best trade value

ProDec Brushes

8.2A budget-friendly option worth a look.

ProDec's brushes offer trade-oriented quality at value prices, with good paint hold and durability for general decorating. They are plainer and less refined than Purdy, but dependable and good value in bulk.

Finish: 8.2Build: 8.4Cleanup: 8.4Value: 9.0

Pros

Trade value sets
Good paint hold
Durable

Cons

Less refined
Plain handles

Check price on Amazon≈ £10 (set)

Best ultra-budget

Amazon Basics Brush Set

7.9Rounds out our top ten.

Amazon Basics brush sets cover the basics for occasional decorating and touch-ups very cheaply, fine for small jobs. They shed more and the finish is basic, but for the price they do the job.

Finish: 7.8Build: 7.6Cleanup: 8.2Value: 9.0

Pros

Very cheap set
Fine for touch-ups
Several sizes

Cons

Shed more
Basic finish

Check price on Amazon≈ £6 (set)

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Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the paint brushes in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Purdy XL Series, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Harris Ultimate and Hamilton Perfection are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best paint brushes without overthinking it, the Purdy XL Series is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £15

Our top picks at a glance

Purdy XL Series

Harris Ultimate

Hamilton Perfection

How we ranked these paint brushes

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Purdy XL Series

Pros

Cons

Harris Ultimate

Pros

Cons

Hamilton Perfection

Pros

Cons

Purdy Clearcut Glide

Pros

Cons

Wooster Shortcut Angle

Pros

Cons

Axus Décor Fine Tip

Pros

Cons

Harris Seriously Good

Pros

Cons

Coral Paint Brushes

Pros

Cons

ProDec Brushes

Pros

Cons

Amazon Basics Brush Set

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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