I’m pleased to lend my own personal experience to help you find the best acrylic brushes, and I think (and hope) it can make a huge difference for you.
Top 4 Acrylic Paint Brushes Compared
These are my favorite acrylic paint brushes for artists. There are more picks in the overview below.
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My Pick
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Budget Pick
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Premium Natural
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Premium Synthetic
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Description: Best Synthetic Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints Paint Brush Set Mimik Hog Professional Synthetic Hog Bristle Brushes for Acrylics, Oils, Inks, Dyes, Gouaches, Watercolors, Easein & Egg Tempera - [Deluxe 20 Piece Set w/Leather Case] |
Description: Includes a roll case with magnetic closure :: Suitable for watercolour, acrylic and oil painting :: 15 different brushes: liner #3/0, round #1, round #3, round #6, filbert #2, filbert #4, filbert #9, filbert #8, flat #6, flat #8, flat #10, angled #10, wash #11, fan #4, wide 5/4” |
Description: Best Natural Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints Chungking Hog Bristle Flats & Rounds, Size (Flat) 2, 8, 14 (Round) 2, 6, 12 |
Description: Watercolor and Acrylic brush set :: Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 :: Travel kit |
Best Synthetic Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints
Paint Brush Set Mimik Hog Professional Synthetic Hog Bristle Brushes for Acrylics, Oils, Inks, Dyes, Gouaches, Watercolors, Easein & Egg Tempera - [Deluxe 20 Piece Set w/Leather Case]
Includes a roll case with magnetic closure :: Suitable for watercolour, acrylic and oil painting :: 15 different brushes: liner #3/0, round #1, round #3, round #6, filbert #2, filbert #4, filbert #9, filbert #8, flat #6, flat #8, flat #10, angled #10, wash #11, fan #4, wide 5/4”
Best Natural Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints
Chungking Hog Bristle Flats & Rounds, Size (Flat) 2, 8, 14 (Round) 2, 6, 12
Watercolor and Acrylic brush set :: Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 :: Travel kit
Table of Contents
- Overview: Best Acrylic Paint Brushes in 2023
- What about Airbrushes?
- What to Look For in Acrylic Paint Brushes
- FAQs – Acrylic Paint Brushes
Overview: Best Acrylic Paint Brushes in 2023
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Premium Natural: Escoda Clasico Series Chungking Hog Bristle
Best Natural Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints
Chungking Hog Bristle Flats & Rounds, Size (Flat) 2, 8, 14 (Round) 2, 6, 12
Yeah, this is it. The Escoda Clasico are the best brushes I’ve ever used for acrylic paint, and quite possibly my favorite overall.
If I try to explain just how wonderful these natural hair brushes are to use, I’m afraid I’ll get all embarrassingly poetic, even a little gushy.
So let me say instead that when you are using the best, the most controllable, consistent, and durable brushes, which offer the best flow, the highest level of precision, and the strongest confidence, you can drop into the creative space much more deeply and undistractedly.
That’s where the real magic happens, and that’s exactly where Escoda Clasico brushes take you.
Chinese hogs, fine Spanish craftsmanship – what more could you possibly want?
Seriously, if you do want the best of the best and don’t mind spending a bit more for the highest levels of quality, feeling, and usability and for a brush that may well last a lifetime, the Escoda Clasico series Chungking Hog Bristle brushes are it, and the best acrylics brushes on the market today.
Premium Synthetic: Escoda Ultimo Series Synthetic Squirrel
Watercolor and Acrylic brush set :: Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 :: Travel kit
But let’s say you are vegan, or opposed to using animal products for whatever reason, or suspect that you were a hog from Chungking in a previous life, and yet you still want that ultimate Escoda quality and feel.
The synthetic squirrel travel brush set has you covered.
Don’t get put off by the fact that these are called a watercolor brush set, because in fact Escoda specifies them as designed for both watercolor and acrylic paint, and I’m here to tell you that they are superb for painting with acrylics.
And also, don’t worry too much about the “travel brush” bit – yes, they are a permanent part of my outdoor and travel art kit, but I use them just as much in the studio, and lots of artists greatly prefer using shorter handles like these.
Whatever they’re called, the Escoda Ultimo series has an incredible feeling, an unsurpassed flow of paint from the bristles, truly first-rate handmade quality and consistency, even over years and years, that will make them among your most loved and trusted art tools.
They are just that for me and my clear choice for the best synthetic acrylic brushes.
My Pick: Creative Mark Synthetic Hog Bristle
Best Synthetic Fiber Paint Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Paints
Paint Brush Set Mimik Hog Professional Synthetic Hog Bristle Brushes for Acrylics, Oils, Inks, Dyes, Gouaches, Watercolors, Easein & Egg Tempera - [Deluxe 20 Piece Set w/Leather Case]
A durable and consistent paintbrush, the Creative Mark synthetic hog bristle maintains its shape over the long haul.
It offers great value but a more consistent process and reliable results from session to session, even from year to year.
But, more importantly, these brushes just feel great. Wonderful presence and balance in hand, smooth, precise, and predictable flow with thick and thin paint (not to mention different kinds of paint), and an overall premium fit and finish, all make this Creative Mark brushes a joy to use.
The 20-piece brush set comes with all the basic shapes and sizes you will need – not just for starting out, but even for the long term – and comes in a nice carrying case.
They are not the cheapest, but still a great value considering their quality and performance, and one of the best paint brush sets for acrylic paints on the market today.
Budget Pick: Winsor & Newton Winton Paint Brushes
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Long Handle (5)
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Long Handle (5)
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Long Handle (6)
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Short Handle (6)
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Description: Round 6, Filbert 6, Flat 6, Bright 8, Fan 3 |
Description: Round 8, Flat 8, Filbert 8, Bright 8, Fan 5 |
Description: Round 3 and 6, filbert 3 and 6, flat 10 and 14 |
Description: Round 3 and 6, filbert 3 and 6, flat 10 and 14 |
Round 6, Filbert 6, Flat 6, Bright 8, Fan 3
Round 8, Flat 8, Filbert 8, Bright 8, Fan 5
Round 3 and 6, filbert 3 and 6, flat 10 and 14
Round 3 and 6, filbert 3 and 6, flat 10 and 14
Another of my favorite brush makers is Winsor and Newton, and here I will recommend and briefly describe four of their best small starter sets.
The Winton set has fine natural hair brushes with hog bristles and splendid flow, control, and long-term shape retention.
They are beautifully made long, handled natural hair brushes that will fully satisfy any artist on any level. They are among the most beloved and highly recommended brushes in the art world.
They come in a set of five, with a nice selection of flat, round, and filbert tips.
This set offers five round and flat brushes with short handles, and the mixed natural hair brushes fibers transfer paint to paper with wonderful flow and predictability. They are not at the level of the Winton but are, in my book, the best brushes for acrylics at their price level.
The Foundation set is surely the best value and starter set of synthetic bristle acrylic brushes for somebody on a budget.
With six perfect shapes – 2x round brush, 2x flat brush and 2x filbert brush – the Winsor & Newton set has the basics for learning acrylics or advanced work and is almost absurdly cheap. I’ll include links below for both long-handle and short-handle sets.
Three great basic sets of acrylic paint brushes at three different price levels, all of these sets are of substantial quality and will last and perform for many years.
They will offer three levels of performance, control, precision, and flow, but each is the best in all of these regards for their prospective price point, and all are my choice as the best value paint brushes for acrylics on the market today.
Bargain: Mont Marte Paint Brush Set
Includes a roll case with magnetic closure :: Suitable for watercolour, acrylic and oil painting :: 15 different brushes: liner #3/0, round #1, round #3, round #6, filbert #2, filbert #4, filbert #9, filbert #8, flat #6, flat #8, flat #10, angled #10, wash #11, fan #4, wide 5/4”
And for the super-budget entry in our buyer’s guide to the best acrylic paint brushes, I proudly present the Mont Marte 15-piece set.
There are lots and lots of cheap, cheaper, and cheapest paint brush sets out there, and honestly, most of them feel and work as cheap as they cost, which can cost you plenty in the long run.
The Mont Marte paint brushes are different, though.
While I would never claim they are as good as handmade premium fine art brushes, they are astonishingly good for their low price.
They will never hold you back – whether you’re learning, just trying out acrylics, or already experienced and working at a higher level.
In fact, given their excellent and consistent bristles and shapes, their feel in hand, and the flow and control they offer, these are not just great brushes for a beginner or a student, but a good general wide-range set for any artist, at any level, to have on hand.
An easy choice for the best super-budget paint brushes for painting with acrylics, and a surprisingly high-quality big set – versatile, reliable, long-lasting, and nice to use.
Large Size: US Art Supply Large Brushes Set
3 Pack of Variety Size Synthetic Bristle Paint, Chip and Utility Paint Brushes for Paint, Stains, Varnishes, Glues, and Gesso
Regardless of what brand, size, or brush types you use for acrylic paints, you will want a set of big, cheap flat brushes for covering canvases, laying down large areas of paint, texturing, dry brush work, and lots of other uses. And you can paint the house with them. It would take a long time, but you could.
And the best basic set, with a smooth flow, good shape retention and low shedding, nice handles, and quality build are the US Art Supply synthetic bristle flat brushes.
This variety pack gives you exactly what you will need – a 1-inch, a 2-inch, and a 3-inch – and is great.
But, if you want the next level, and don’t mind spending more, a premium large flat brush like the Princeton Aspen will give better results in every way – more even colors and consistent finish on large areas, better effect with a dry brush and texturing, better flow and feeling overall.
A superior brush is the best choice for the discerning commercial, fine artist, or crafter.
What about Airbrushes?
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We may not consider including airbrushes in an artists’ guide for the best brushes for acrylic painting, but they are brushes, too – I mean, it’s right there in the name.
Besides, one of the most powerful, effective, and outright fun ways to use acrylic paints is with an airbrush.
Even higher-level fine and commercial artists use an airbrush regularly and for all kinds of jobs, and crafters know how great it is to have a good quality airbrush on hand.
This is not a detailed buyer’s guide on the best airbrushes available today, but nonetheless, I would like to recommend three wonderful airbrushes at three different price levels.
I would also recommend that if you haven’t used an airbrush before, or haven’t even considered getting one as a part of your artistic toolbox, get spraying – a whole world will open up before you, and you will (literally) have a blast!
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Value Pick
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Popular
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Premium
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Description: Dual Fan Air Compressor Professional Airbrushing System Kit with 3 Airbrushes, Gravity and Siphon Feed - 6 Primary Opaque Colors Acrylic Paint Artist Set - How to Guide |
Description: Next level in precision, control and even, predictable flow, and one of the most highly regarded and popular airbrushes on the market today. Requires a compressor, like the highly regarded Master Airbrush TC-40T |
Description: A superior airbrush package with everything you need (including compressor), offering superb control and consistency and exceptional build quality and long term reliability. |
Dual Fan Air Compressor Professional Airbrushing System Kit with 3 Airbrushes, Gravity and Siphon Feed - 6 Primary Opaque Colors Acrylic Paint Artist Set - How to Guide
Next level in precision, control and even, predictable flow, and one of the most highly regarded and popular airbrushes on the market today.
Requires a compressor, like the highly regarded Master Airbrush TC-40T
A superior airbrush package with everything you need (including compressor), offering superb control and consistency and exceptional build quality and long term reliability.
What to Look For in Acrylic Paint Brushes
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This is the third article in my series on painting with acrylics. The first focuses on the best acrylic paints, and the second on the best paper and canvas to use with acrylics.
And now, we look at the best acrylic paint brushes on the market today. In a way, this might feel like the most important of the three articles.
It is important to have the best paint you can afford and great material to lay the paint down on, but the brush is different in that a painter develops a kind of intimate and direct relationship with the paintbrush.
And so having a poor-quality brush that frustrates or interrupts creativity can be especially disturbing, while finding just the right brush can be immeasurably gratifying.
I try to answer these specific questions and more:
- What are the best brushes for acrylic paints?
- Who makes the best acrylic paint brushes?
- What are the best acrylic paint brush sets?
- What are the best-value acrylic brushes?
We often have to get into long, complex discussions about all of the features, factors, and qualities that are best for a specific type of art tool.
In the case of acrylic paint brushes, it is straightforward.
Flow, Precision, and Consistency
More than anything else, you want a brush that feels good in the hand and lays the paint down with flow, precision, and consistency.
If there’s a tiny hitch here, it is that I can’t necessarily tell you exactly what makes one brush better in these all-important areas of usability and feel.
But I can, and will, tell you the brushes I love using.
For example, many will say that synthetic is the way to go, and most of my recommendations are for synthetic bristles, but the best brushes I’ve ever used for acrylic painting are good old hogs bristles.
Longevity
You want a brush that will retain its shape, and will not fall apart, break, rust, or corrode.
There’s little worse than really falling in love with a brush only to find, sooner or later, that the bristles have turned into a frizzy mess, the ferrule (the metal band) is loose or corroded, or the handle – perhaps, admittedly, due to over-rambunctious stroke-work – is split or broken.
Brush Shapes
You also want to get a few basic shapes of bristle tips for different types of work. You can simply get a good brush set, which will have all or most of them, but make sure you end up with:
- Round Brushes – the most versatile overall
- Flat Brushes – good for large areas, sharp lines, and solid colors
- Filbert Brushes – a flat/round hybrid, also versatile and especially good for blending
- Fine Tip or Rigging Brushes – for fine detail, thin lines, and texture work
- Fan Brush – also great for blending and can be used for fine lines and textures as well as dry brushwork
I would also get a brush set of basic large synthetic brushes of the “paint the house” variety for laying down larger areas of color.
How Can You Find the Best Brushes for Acrylic Painting?
So basically, I’ve told you that the best acrylic paint brushes available today are the ones that are made well and that paint well.
I think it is safe to say that you might have been able to figure out that much by yourself. And I’ve also said that I can’t tell you what makes one brush great and another brush not so great. I’m a veritable gold mine of helpful information, aren’t I?
These are the best I know for usability, flow, precision, control, durability, and overall experience, these are the best I know, and I am sure you would be happy with any of them.
After all, if I had to choose between you coming away from this with useful facts or with a bunch of wonderful acrylic paint brushes, well…
I list my choices above from most to least expensive, but please remember that I recommend all these brushes and brush sets.
If you are on a budget, you will be pleased and well served by even the least expensive options.
The higher-priced brushes, though – at least among my recommendations – will last longer and maintain their shape better, so if you can afford a little more, they are certainly worth it.
FAQs – Acrylic Paint Brushes
If you are starting out, I’d recommend the Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush set with 15 brushes of all important sizes allowing you to practice and experiment with acrylics.
I find the Escoda Clasico Series the best paint brushes for acrylics and oils. I think they are the most controllable, consistent, and durable brushes.
This depends on what you are trying to achieve – finer details or broader strokes. As a rule of thumb, you will achieve a lot with a size 8 acrylic paint brush.
I hope my guide helped you to get your new acrylic paint brushes, and you will have a lot of fun painting and creating those amazing artworks!
Visit my blog – Art Side of Life – for tons of other inspiring ideas, resources, articles, buyer’s guides, and much more!
Other articles in the Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, and Oils series:
- Best Acrylic Paint for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paper and Canvas for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paint Pens for Arts and Crafts
- Best Watercolor Sketchbook
- Best Watercolor Pencils
- Best Watercolor Paints
- Best Watercolor Paper
- Best Watercolor Brushes
- Best Oil Paints and Oil Paint Set
- Best Palette Knives and Pallete Knife Set
- Best Gouache Paint Sets
- Best Easels for Painting
Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
