The 5 Best Chalk Paint Brushes (2024)

Hey there! I’ve been using chalk paint for over 15 years now. It’s one of the things that I know more than anything. One thing is for sure… you need to get the right brush to make the final chalk paint projects come out right.

If you’re short on time I’ll go ahead and give you my favorite brush so you can go pick it up and then I’ll give you the top 5.

The best chalk paintbrush for most projects is the Country Chic Chalk Paint Brush.

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This chalk paintbrush is great because it’s so versatile and very high quality. It leaves the least amount of brush strokes possible. The cost for this is on the higher side but it’s not the most expensive. You know what they say – you get what you pay for. This brush will last you for years to come and for many other chalk paint projects.

Top 5 Best Paint Brushes For Chalk Paint

In a hurry? I’ll give you the top 5 that you can investigate for yourself.

1. Country Chic Chalk Paint Brush
2. Modern Art Supplies Set
3. Bristello Set
4. FolkArt Home Decor Chalk and Wax Brushes
5. Brossum 2 in 1

Should You Use A Different Brush For Chalk Paint?

Yes. In short, you should get the right kind of brush to make sure you get the best end results for your home projects.

Refinishing furniture and home accents with chalk paint is one of the most popular home decorating trends right now.

If you’ve read other articles on this website, you know that there is a large variety of chalk paint brands on the market, with a large selection of colors and price points. You want to make sure you’re selecting the best chalk paint for the project.

When you’re choosing your materials for a chalk paint project, selecting your brushes is just as important as choosing your paint.

Using the best brush for your chalk-painted piece will ensure you get the best possible results on your finished project. 

What To Look For In A Brush For Chalk Paint

Chalk paint is a bit different from oil-based or latex paints. It’s a thicker texture, and in order to get that lovely matte finish it needs to be applied evenly and smoothly. Also, chalk paint is very similar to milk paint. I wrote a whole post about the difference between chalk paint vs milk paint.

Not all paintbrushes will give the best results. The best brushes for chalk paint should have a few key features.

Whether you choose a brush with synthetic or natural bristles, you want to make sure to use a brush with dense, stiff bristles. Soft bristles won’t hold up to the thick texture of most chalk-style paints.

A brush with a sturdy, wooden handle will make it easier to spread the paint evenly. If the handle has a little bit of a curved shape, it will feel more comfortable in your hand.

When painting a large piece of furniture, using a comfortable brush will reduce any strain on your hands or wrist.

Look for a brush with a stainless steel or nickel-plated ferrule. The ferrule is the metal piece that connects the bristles to the handle on a paintbrush.

Stainless steel is the best choice, as it is strong and resistant to corrosion or contamination. The strength of stainless steel helps to hold the bristles securely enough that the brush shouldn’t shed very much, if at all. 

Nickel-plated steel is another good choice for a brush ferrule. The nickel plating is still corrosion-resistant, but it’s not quite as sturdy as stainless steel.

You’ll have to be careful that the edges of the ferrule don’t become bent.

The final consideration when choosing a brush for your chalk painting project is the size and shape. You don’t want to use too large a brush for smaller projects, or for painting smaller areas.

Round or wide brushes are great for large, flat areas. Smaller, oval-shaped brushes are a good choice to paint smaller items or to paint corners or tight areas. 

Types Of Brushes For Chalk Paint for Furniture & Projects

Now that we’ve outlined some of the key features to look for in a good quality paintbrush for chalk-style paints, below are some details on the different types of brushes available.

Synthetic brushes

Synthetic brushes have bristles that are made of nylon, polyester, or a   combination of the two. These brushes work well with the thicker texture of chalk paint.

They easily give a smooth finish with little to no visible brush strokes. Another benefit of synthetic brushes is that they clean up easily and keep their shape.

Natural Brushes

Natural paintbrushes have bristles that are made of animal hair or bristles.     Most commonly, they are made from boar, ox, or goat hairs. The natural bristles hold a larger quantity of paint, so you won’t have to reload your brush quite as often.

 The downside to using a natural bristle brush is that they tend to shed, especially during the first use. Be sure to look for brushes that are described as “low shedding”.

Another disadvantage is that when using water-based paints (like chalk paint) on natural bristles, the brush can lose its shape. The natural bristles sometimes soak up more of the paint and swell, leading to the bristles spreading and not staying dense.

Oval Brushes

Oval brushes are great for painting narrow spaces or trim. The dense bristles provide excellent coverage and make it easy to achieve a perfectly smooth appearance. The bristles on oval brushes usually have a “domed” surface. This gives you better control when painting over carved or textured surfaces, or in narrow spaces.

Flat Brushes

Flat brushes typically can be found in two varieties: the “paddle-shaped”   brushes with a wooden handle, and “wide chip” brushes with a broad piece of wood for the handle.

Either style has a wide group of bristles, with a flat brush edge. These brushes hold a large quantity of paint and are great for covering wide smooth surfaces. These especially work great when using chalk paint on glass.

A flat brush makes it easy to achieve a perfectly smooth finish free of brush strokes or streaks.

If flat brushes are your brush of choice, it’s a good idea to buy them in different sizes to make it easier to paint smaller areas.

Round Brushes

Round brushes are the brush of choice for many crafters who do a lot of chalk paint projects. The rounded shape with densely packed bristles makes it especially easy to control how and where you apply your paint.

These brushes will easily give you a flawless finish with minimal effort.

They’re comfortable to hold, and smaller sizes are perfect for painting over carved or textured areas.

Using a round brush effectively takes a little bit of getting used to, but they are a popular choice for chalk painting with good reason. They hold a large load of paint, so you can spread more paint at one time over an area.

This is the secret to how a round brush always produces those amazingly smooth finishes with no streaks or visible brush strokes.

How Much Are Chalk Paint Brushes?

Brushes for chalk paint can vary in price from around $9 up to $35, depending on the size, the material it’s made of, and the brand name.

There are so many varieties of brushes available, it can be overwhelming to choose one. 

Here are some recommendations on good quality chalk paint brushes.

As with any craft tool or supply you’re considering buying, it’s a good idea to read customer reviews to see what ordinary people think of the product. 

Synthetic Brush – Chalk Paint Oval Brush, by Country Chic

Country Chic brand makes a variety of chalk-style paints and brushes at reasonable prices. This one retails for $21.95 to $26.95, depending on which size you buy. This oval brush with synthetic bristles is ideal for chalk paints. It comes in two sizes, so you can use it on smaller areas as well as large pieces.

Pros:

•  Densely packed bristles hold a lot of paint, enabling you to get smooth coverage.
•  The curved handle is easy to hold and control.
•  Advertised as “non-shedding”, and user reviews back up that claim.

Cons:

•  It’s priced a little bit higher than other similar brushes.
•  The largest size available is two inches wide. A larger option would be nice for big projects.
•  Because the bristles are so dense, it takes a little more effort to clean.

Natural Brush – Professional Chalk Paint & Wax Premium Brush Set

Modern Arts is a small company that makes quality paint brushes and accessories at affordable prices. This three-piece set sells at a very reasonable price of $19.97.  They are suitable to use with both chalk paint and wax finishes.

Pros:

•  The wooden handles are lightweight and ergonomically designed to reduce strain on your wrists while painting.
•  The round brush can be loaded with a good amount of paint to make the job go more quickly
•  This is a great price for three different-sized brushes at a price similar to what you might pay for one brush of another brand.

Cons:

•  Some user reviews mention that there is some shedding. This isn’t unusual for any brush with natural bristles.
•  Natural bristles can be harder to clean.

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Oval Brush – Oval Brush for Chalk Paint by Bristello

Bristello brand brushes are known for being some of the best available for any water-based paints. Their synthetic bristles hold their shape better than other brands and are easy to clean.

This brush is a bit more expensive at a price of $24.95, but these brushes are impressively durable.

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Pros:

• The bristles are specially treated and dyed for easy clean-up and shape retention.
• Designed by a professional painter
• No shedding
• This brush applies chalk paint with no brush marks or streaks.

Cons:

•  The handle is straight and thin, so it might not be as comfortable as curved wood handles.
•  It’s a pricier brush, but this brand is known for its quality.

Flat Brush – FolkArt Home Decor Wide Brush

FolkArt makes a variety of home decor paints and brushes at budget-friendly prices. This four-inch wide “chip style” flat brush is great for applying chalk paint to large surfaces. Priced at $14.00, it’s an affordable specialty brush.

Pros:

•  The broad handle makes it easier to control the brush; perfect for smooth application and blending different colors of paint.
•  Nylon bristles clean up easily with mild soap and water.
•  Wide surface makes large painting projects go quickly.
•  It’s a decent brush at a budget-friendly price.

Cons:

• The broad handle might not be as comfortable as an ergonomically designed handle.
• Some user reviews mention that this brush has a tendency to shed when first used.

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Round Brush – Brossum Large 2-in-1 Round Paint and Wax Brush

Brossum Brushes were designed to be an affordable alternative to expensive chalk paint brushes made by designer companies. The results are budget-friendly brushes that give results comparable to many of the pricier options. This round brush is priced at only $12.50 and is perfect for achieving a flawlessly smooth finish with any chalk style paint.

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Pros:

•  The natural bristles are attached with “ridiculously high-grade epoxy glue” for maximum retention and minimum shedding.
•  The comfortable curved handle has an attached cord to hang the brush after washing. This will help the bristles maintain their shape.
•  This brush can be used with chalk paint or wax sealants.

Cons:

•  While it sheds much less than other natural brushes, some minimal shedding might occur with the first use.
•  Some user reviews mention the bristles have a slight smell when wet.

Wrapping This Up

When choosing a chalk paint brush it’s best to get one that’s specific for chalk paint. It’s also a good idea to get the best quality brush that’ll last you a while and make your projects come out great.

As you’ve read, you should also make sure to get a paintbrush that’s specific for chalk paint.

If there are any questions leave a comment and I’ll do my best to get back to you!

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