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.
TL;DR Acrylic Paint Brushes Compared
These are my favorite acrylic paint brushes for artists. There are more picks in the overview below.
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
Round 6, Filbert 6, Flat 6, Bright 8, Fan 3
Overview: Best Acrylic Paint Brushes in 2026
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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
The Escoda Clasico brushes are hands down the best I’ve used for acrylics, possibly my favorite overall. Made with Chinese hog bristle and crafted in Spain, they offer exceptional control, flow, and precision, helping you focus and get into the creative zone. If you want top-tier quality and a brush that could last a lifetime, these are the best acrylic brushes you can buy.
Premium Synthetic: Escoda Chromos Series Synthetic Squirrel
Watercolor and Acrylic brush set :: Sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
If you’re vegan or avoiding animal products, the Escoda Chromos synthetic squirrel travel brushes are a perfect choice. Though labeled for watercolor, they’re designed for both watercolor and acrylics, and they perform beautifully with acrylic paint.
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]
The Creative Mark synthetic hog bristle brushes are durable, consistent, and hold their shape over time. They offer a smooth, predictable flow with various paints, and feel balanced and premium in hand.
The 20-piece set includes all essential shapes and sizes, making it great for both beginners and long-term use, and it comes in a handy carrying case.
Budget Pick: Winsor & Newton Winton Paint Brushes
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
Winsor & Newton makes some of my favorite brushes, and they offer excellent starter sets at different price points. The Winton set features natural hog bristles, long handles, and superb flow and shape retention, a top-tier option beloved by many artists. It includes five brushes in a mix of flat, round, and filbert tips.
The Foundation set is the best budget synthetic option, with six essential brushes (round, flat, filbert) for learning or advanced acrylic work. All three sets deliver great quality and value, making them my top choices for acrylic brushes at their respective price levels.
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”
For a super-budget option, the Mont Marte 15-piece set stands out from the crowd. While most cheap brush sets feel as low-quality as their price, these are surprisingly good, offering consistent bristles, solid shapes, and a comfortable feel in hand.
They’re not premium brushes, but they won’t hold you back, whether you’re a beginner, student, or even a more experienced artist. The flow and control are far better than expected at this price.
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
No matter what brushes you normally use, a set of large, cheap flat brushes is essential for covering big areas, texturing, and dry brush work. The US Art Supply synthetic flat brush set (1″, 2″, and 3″) is the best basic option, smooth flow, low shedding, and solid build at a low price.
If you’re ready to upgrade, the Princeton Aspen offers superior control, smoother finishes, and a better feel overall, ideal for fine artists, crafters, or anyone wanting more precision in large-scale work.
What to Look For in Acrylic Paint Brushes
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Acrylics can be thick, fast-drying, and abrasive on brushes. Choose tools that match your paint’s body (heavy/soft/fluid) and your surface (canvas/panel/paper), then check spring, edge, and durability.
Bristle Type & Feel (Best First)
- Synthetic (PBT/Taklon, “synthetic bristle”) – the acrylic workhorse.
- Pros: resilient in water, good spring/snap, keeps shape, easy cleanup.
- Use for: everything from blocking-in to glazing.
- Hog/bristle (natural) – stiff, textured marks, great for impasto/scumbling.
- Caveat: prolonged water exposure → splay, lost flags; not ideal for thin, watery layers.
Match to Paint Viscosity
- Heavy body/gel mediums: stiffer synthetics or hog; flats/brights/filberts hold edges.
- Soft body/fluids & glazing: softer tapered synthetics; rounds/mops for smooth blends.
- High-flow/ink: small liners/riggers with good snap for detail.
Shape & What It’s For
- Flat: crisp edges, planes, tapers.
- Bright (short flat): punchy, controlled strokes with thick paint.
- Filbert: soft-edged shapes; most versatile.
- Round: drawing, detail, signatures.
- Angle: cutting along forms, foliage, lettering.
- Fan/mop: soft blends, subtle textures (use lightly with acrylics to avoid lifting).
Spring, Snap & Edge Quality
- Look for: quick rebound (spring), clean chisel edge or sharp point, no splaying when pressed.
- Red flags: frayed tips out of the sleeve, split ends that won’t align, mushy response.
Ferrule, Handle & Build
- Ferrule: seamless nickel/brass, tight double crimp, straight alignment.
- Handle: long for easel work, short for tabletop; solvent-resistant finish, light taper for grip.
- Balance: shouldn’t nose-dive; slight rear bias reduces wrist fatigue.
Size Strategy
- Work as large as you can without losing control; it cleans up your brushwork.
- Keep 2–3 sizes per shape you use most (e.g., filbert 4/8/12, flat 6/10/14).
Durability & Cleanup (Acrylic-Specific)
- Habits: wipe excess to a rag, rinse often, never let paint dry in the ferrule.
- Wash with brush soap, reshape, dry flat or hair-up; don’t soak standing in water.
- For dried acrylic on steel ferrules: gentle razor scrape on a palette, not on hairs.
Surface & Ground Match
- Rough canvas/impasto: stiffer hairs (synthetic bristle/hog) hold up and leave lively texture.
- Smooth panels/glazing: softer synthetics for even films and clean edges.
Value: Sets vs. Open Stock
- Open stock replaces workhorses without rebuying sizes you never touch.
- Starter sets are fine—avoid bundles full of tiny rounds.
Environmental & Studio Care
- Don’t pour acrylic sludge down drains. Wipe to a rag, then rinse.
- Keep rinse jars swapped before they become paint soup (it coats hairs).
2-Minute Store (or At-Home) Tests
- Edge test: load a flat; pull a 20 cm line—edge should stay crisp, no hair tracks.
- Spring test: press and release—tip snaps back to center, no permanent splay.
- Shedding check: paint a solid block—no loose hairs left behind.
- Glaze pass: with thinned paint, a filbert should make a smooth, streak-free film in 2–3 strokes.
Lean, Effective Starter Set
- Filberts: sizes 4, 8, 12 (all-purpose).
- Flats/Brights: 6, 10 (block-ins, thick paint control).
- Round: 2 (detail).
- Angle: ½″ (edges, foliage).
- (Optional) Soft mop for final blends + a palette knife to spare your brushes when mixing heavy gels.
Choose by bristle type, viscosity match, and spring/edge quality first—then fill in shapes and sizes you actually use. If a brush keeps its edge and snaps back, it’ll keep up with acrylics.
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 »
