We evaluated paint rollers for durability, ease of use, and versatility. Our top choice is the Stanley Premium Paint Kit, an 8-piece kit that includes everything but the paint. Here are our favorite paint rollers. If you’ve never tackled a DIY painting project before, you might not be sure of what you’ll need, and you might not want to spend too much. With the Stanley Premium Paint Kit, you get one 9-inch roller frame, two 9-inch roller covers, one 3-inch roller frame with accompanying cover, one 2-inch trim paintbrush, one metal paint tray, and one plastic liner for that tray—all at a remarkably reasonable price. Just add your paint and some drop cloths, and you are ready to tackle your painting project, whether that’s to refresh the color in your bedroom, add an accent wall to the living room, add color to the bathroom walls, or decorate your child’s room in their favorite color. All three of the included roller covers are high-capacity polyester with a 3/8-inch nap. That’s ideal for just about any interior or exterior painting job, as long as the surface to be painted is fairly smooth or only lightly textured. These aren’t the best choice if you are looking to paint brick, stone, or very rough wood, however. The trim paintbrush has polyester bristles for smooth application of any type of paint. With this handy set, you’ll achieve smooth, professional-looking results on your DIY painting project, and best of all, you can tackle an entire room without having to purchase additional rollers.
The set includes a 9-inch roller frame and two 9-inch synthetic covers with a 1/2-inch nap, a 4-inch roller frame with two 4-inch synthetic covers with 1/2-inch nap, one 2.5-inch angled sash brush for painting trim, one 2-inch high-density foam paint brush for touch-ups or tight spots, a metal paint tray, a paint-can opener, and a wooden paint stirrer. The roller frames rotate smoothly, making it easy to lay down a coat of paint quickly and evenly. The roller covers pick up a lot of paint, and then apply it smoothly, letting you achieve professional looking results in just one or two coats of paint. And the angled brush and foam brush are perfect for those final touch-ups, corners, or tight spots where a roller just can’t go. All of the included components wash up easily so you can use them over and over again. The thicker-than-average handle has recently been redesigned so it is more comfortable to hold. It features a thumb groove to comfortably grip the handle along the non-slip, polypropylene surface. When using an extension rod, the roller will also resist twisting thanks to an additional, solid rim at the very bottom of the grip. Finally, the roller itself has five separate sturdy metal wires to keep the roller cover true and round as you paint. This ingenious 9-inch roller has a plastic “shield” that wraps around the back of the roller cover, allowing you to freely load the roller with paint as needed, yet helping to catch any paint spray that flies off the roller while you work. The device comes with a general-purpose cover with a ⅜-inch nap, and the roller handle is threaded for use on an extension rod. While you certainly can wash the roller covers for use in future projects, you might be tempted to treat them as disposables, thanks to the low price. This tiny roller is perfect for painting trim, moldings, door frames, or any tight stretch of wall. It’s also ideal for painting fence posts, furniture, crafts, or other oddly shaped but not too large items. The foam glides very easily over any type of smooth surface, including drywall, wood, and metal. While it’s possible to clean the roller for use on future projects, you might choose to toss it once the job is done, as it’s very reasonably priced. The roller frame is made from heavy-duty metal and fiberglass to resist twisting and distorting as you work, and has internal bearings to make the rotation of the frame smooth and consistent. A threaded lock on the bottom of the frame lets you attach an extension pole for tackling ceilings or high walls. Overall, this is a high quality roller that will last you for many years if cared for properly. The device comes with one 9-inch roller cover with a 3/8-inch nap that’s suited to both latex and oil-based paints. The auto-feed control—you control the speed with a button on the handle—keeps paint flowing to the roller without drips, and the roller lays down paint smoothly and evenly on smooth to lightly textured surfaces. The included 16-foot hose lets you maneuver easily around a 32-foot work area, but if you need even more reach, the roller is threaded to accept a standard extension pole. Once the job is done, cleanup is quick and easy, as well. For more detailed painting without sacrificing the smooth finish of a roller, you can get mini paint rollers in a variety of lengths, including 2-inch, 3-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch. These smaller rollers are a good choice for painting trim, doors, doorframes, and narrow walls. Alternatively, you could use an oversize roller—you’ll find sizes ranging from 12 inches to 18 inches—to quickly and effectively paint very large walls and ceilings, though you will likely have some issues with tight corners and trim due to the size of the roller.
Fabric
The fabric cover that slides onto a paint roller can be referred to as a paint-roller cover or sleeve. When selecting a paint roller for a painting project, it’s necessary to also take the roller sleeve into consideration in order to choose the right fabric for the paint. Roller covers can either be made of woven or knit synthetic material, lambswool, or foam. The woven or knit synthetic materials are typically used for interior painting because they produce a smooth coat on walls and ceilings, and they don’t shed as much as natural materials like lambswool. While you can use either woven or knit covers for most jobs, as a general rule, knit covers are best for flat or eggshell paint finishes, while woven covers are best for glossier finishes. However, when you are working with oil-based paints or glossy coating, it’s beneficial to use a lambswool roller cover to get the most even results. Consider using foam rollers to apply varnishes and polyurethane solutions to woodworking projects, although foam is also good for applying very smooth coats of paint to equally smooth surfaces.
Nap
The nap of a paint roller can also be referred to as the pile height, and it’s a term that indicates the thickness of the roller sleeve material. This may not seem important, but the thicker the nap, the more effective the paint roller is at applying paint to rough or uneven surfaces, and the more paint it can hold. Most paint roller sleeves for interior use have a nap or pile height of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch. These rollers are best suited for painting interior walls, ceilings, and trim with smooth to lightly textured surfaces. If you need to paint the exterior of the home, want to apply a new coat of stain to the deck or fence, or are tackling a painting job on brick, stone, or other heavily textured surfaces, then you’ll want a paint roller sleeve with a thicker nap. A 3/4-inch to 1-inch nap is good for stucco, while 1-1/4-inch to 1-1/2-inch naps are ideal for brick, cinder blocks, stone, and similar surfaces. Keep in mind that thicker naps are best suited to rough surfaces, as they will create an uneven finish on a smooth surface.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. For this roundup, she considered dozens of paint rollers, evaluating each for effectiveness, ease of use, and feedback from customers. She also received advice and recommendations from Matt Kunz, President of Five Star Painting and Lisa Rickert, CEO and Creative Director at Jolie Home. Clean the roller sleeve by putting it into a bucket of warm, soapy water and gently massaging the fibers with your hands. After washing the roller, rinse it to remove any remaining soap or paint from the fibers, then make sure to dry the roller sleeve to prevent the fibers from clumping together. If you are still uncertain, there are more detailed instructions available for how to clean a paint roller. Alternatively, grip the roller in one hand and wrap your other hand in a plastic bag. Use the hand that is protected by the plastic to grab the roller sleeve and simply pull it off the roller. Just make sure that most of the paint has been removed from the roller sleeve before attempting to pull it off the roller, otherwise excess paint could drip or splatter. Timothy Dale, a home improvement expert specializing in a number of topics, including plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, provided additional research for this article.
