Nothing is more infuriating than a hole, scratch, or mark showing up on your once flawless walls. But if it’s small enough, you’ll probably think about fixing it yourself. To do so, you need to make sure you’ll have the right paint brush for the job.
If you’re new to D.I.Y. interior painting, you might not be sure what to use. So this article will help you learn all about what to look for in a touch-up paint brush for walls by covering the following:
- 8 best paint brushes 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 paint brushes available. Also, if you’re going to be touching up your trim, check out our guide to the best paint brushes for trim.
8 best paint brushes for wall touch-ups
For wall touch-ups, paint brushes 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 paint brush for wall touch-ups.
1. Jen Manufacturing Poly Foam Brush
(Image credit: Amazon.ca)
Price: $7.08
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 Paint Brush
(Image credit: Amazon.ca)
Price: $7.21
Quantity: 1
Size: 2-inch
Material: Polyurethane foam
Best Feature: Quality
The Wooster Foam King Paint Brush 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
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Price: $5.81
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 very affordable, and disposable after use.
4. Wooster Silver Tip Thin Angle Sash Paint Brush
(Image credit: Amazon.ca)
Price: $7.56
Quantity: 1
Size: 1.5-inch
Material: C.T. polyester
Best Feature: Quality
If you want to try using a regular paint brush to touch up your walls, the Wooster Silver Tip Thin Angle Sash brush is a good option. The bristles are made with soft C.T. polyester, allowing you to more easily feather your wall. This brush works well with all paints, and often leaves few to no marks behind.
5. Pro Grade Foam Brush Set
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Price: $21.52
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 Paint Brush
(Image credit: Amazon.ca)
Price: $7.66
Quantity: 1
Size: 1-inch
Material: Nylon-polyester blend
Best Feature: Smooth finish
The Wooster Softip Angle Sash Paint Brush 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
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Price: $32.37
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
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Price: $32.08
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
It’s preferrable to use a brush for touch-ups on your walls, as you’re working with small areas where you need to pay attention to detail. 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
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Price: $8.20
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 work with all paints to leave a smooth, lint-free finish. They’re also great when trying to do touch-ups in hard-to-reach places.
2. Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover
(Image credit: Amazon.ca)
Price: $9.16
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 works with all paints and various other painting products. It’s also designed to be shed-resistant and reduce the number 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 really absorbent, and works well with all paint types. This will help you achieve a smooth finish that blends in perfectly with the rest of your wall. Artist’s brushes can also be used for tiny touch-ups that will blend in 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. One example is if you’re trying to do colour correcting.
Choose a brush if…
- You’re trying to repair small holes, scratches, or marks.
- You’re working along the edges or corners of the wall.
- Your priority is covering imperfections as well as you can.
Choose a roller if…
- You’re planning a large, flat touch-up.
- You’re not as concerned with fully covering imperfections.
- 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 are some tips for 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 holes as fully as possible. This will help your paint apply smoothly.
- Determine the original paint – Using the same paint as what was originally used on the wall will help you to blend the new paint in more easily.
- 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’re in the know 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.