Choosing the right paintbrush for your acrylic project is just as important as choosing the right paint. There are so many different types of brushes that it’s not always easy going with the correct one. Each paintbrush is specifically designed to give you that precise detail and it can sometimes be what makes or breaks your project.
From basic paintbrushes to professional ones, I’ve compiled my favorite and top ranked paintbrushes for painting with acrylics.
Onson Basic Acrylic Paintbrush Set
This acrylic paintbrush set by Onson is one of the best basic universal sets on the market. It’s very diverse and works with many types of paint such as acrylic, watercolors, and even gouache. It’s also kid friendly and super durable. This product can be found on amazon. To check its current price and availability click here.
These handmade brushes have a no split 360 rotation, which means no paint flaking or loose hairs. They’re made from the finest material to guarantee only the best outcome for your work. This set includes 15 paint brushes, ranging from liner, to flat, filbert, angular, round, fan and comb.
Every brush’s comfortable handle will let you make the best of your painting style, skills, and speed. It also comes with a high quality nylon portable carrying case, a bonus mixing knife and a sponge!
What I love about this set is that it can be used for multiple types of paint such as acrylics, gouaches, oil paints and even watercolors. They wash super quickly too, so the cleanup is as easy as putting them in the sink and rinsing with water. Not all brushes can do the job of a 360 rotation without messing up your work.
These brushes don’t leave loose hairs or flake paint off your brush while you’re painting so you can create your masterpiece worry free. Another bonus with this set is the pop up carrying case that includes a watercolor brush pen.
Not many sets will have a pop case that lets your brushes stand up, let alone a bonus brush pen. I always recommend a carry case because it makes it that much easier to travel with your paints, as well as protect them.
User Reviews
Many buyers claim the bristles are super soft and of the highest quality, as well as super easy to clean. They love the protective carrying case and how this set includes every shape of brush you need. Some buyers claimed that these fine paintbrushes give you nice controlled strokes for beginners.
Artify 38 Piece Paintbrush Art Set
This paintbrush set by Artify is beyond amazing. To start off, the carrying itself is a canvas wrap, so you can simply fold it out and you’re ready to start painting. To view this paint set and for pricing click here.
It’s a pretty unique way of storing your paintbrushes and very convenient for traveling. Its ergonomic design is great for students who travel, or even hobbyist that travel regularly.
On top of being stylish, convenient and lightweight, it provides awesome protection for your brushes. This set’s brushes are very versatile in that they include many different brush shapes to give you everything you need for your project. Whether you’re doing large strokes or very fine detail, Artify’s paintbrush set has a brush for every precision you need.
What I love about this set is that the brushes are natural and synthetic hairs, yet they include three different types of brushes including, Hog, Pony and traditional Nylon.
The natural hairs are super durable, resistant to fraying, and can withstand the heaviest washes, meaning they keep their shape and form so you can paint those perfect lines no matter how long you’ve had them.
The cool thing about these brushes is that the handles are paint covered handles. Each individual brush is coated with lacquer which helps you keep a firm grip as you’re painting. It’s also designed with an oil plant coating so they can shimmer and remain bright for years. This set will also throw in two bonus large nylon round and flat brushes!
If you want a diverse collection of long lasting brushes then I recommend this paintbrush set. I like that it offers Hog, Pony and Nylon brushes to meet every style you have, and detail.
User Reviews
Buyers say this set contains gorgeous brushes that performed like much more expensive ones. They held paint well whether it was straight out of the tube or thinned out on the palette. A lot of reviews say that they rinsed easily and did not lose a single hair.
This set got great reviews on the roll up case as well, due it protecting the brushes, preventing them from being bent out of shape and not taking up much room.
Many customers who purchased this set commented on how high the quality of the brushes are, and that they can be used for acrylics, oil paints, watercolors and more.
VisuartPro Acrylic Paint Brush Set
This awesome paintbrush set by VisuartPro is one of my go to’s for my acrylic projects. On top of the 15 different type of brushes, it also comes with premium acrylic paints. To view the pricing for this set click here. I received this set as a gift a few months ago and I love the quality of the brushes.
It includes 15 brushes, a mixing knife, a sponge and 24 premium acrylic paint tubes. It’s the perfect set for beginners, kids, adults, and even artists. These professional artist brushes are high quality non-shed nylon that give you that precision for your work.
The bristles are double clamped with extra string ferrules. The shapes include Filbert, Round, Fan, Rake, Angular, Glaze, Flat and Comb. They are all protected in the zippered case it comes in, so you won’t have to worry about damaging your brushes.
Apart from the brushes, it’s super cool that this set comes with 24 premium acrylic paints. As I mentioned I have this paint set, and not only are the brushes amazing and are very easy to clean, but the paint is actually high quality and makes my paintings extra vibrant in color. The paint for this set is non toxic, and richly pigmented to get that maximum color and clarity.
These paints are great on canvas, wood, glass, fabric, plastic, craft foam, ceramic, terracotta and so much more! I love that these paintbrushes are very easy to clean. Once I’m done with my painting I will rinse them out with water and quickly dry them before putting them back in the case.
I would definitely recommend this set, whether you’re a student, professional or even if it’s just a hobby, you need to have this set in your collection.
User Reviews
As an owner of this set, I can say for myself how amazing this set is. It’s durable and the brushes are of the highest nylon quality. I definitely have my favorite brushes from this set. This set got very high reviews due to its high quality brushes and premium paint set.
Many customers report the brushes as being durable, easy to clean, great precision, comfortable to use, no loose hairs, and overall artist grade brushes.
Many beginners as well as professionals have used this set and have nothing but great things to say about it. It’s definitely one of the best.
Mont Marte Premium Paint Brush Set
This set is unique because they have a diverse number of brushes, 15 to be exact! It comes with a liner brush #3/0, round brush #1, round brush #3, round brush #6, filbert brush #2, filbert brush #4, filbert brush #9, filbert brush #8, flat brush #6, flat brush #8, flat brush#10, angled brush #10, wash brush #11, fan brush #4, and a wide brush 5/4. Click here to view pricing and more info on Amazon.
The premium quality brushes comes with a magnetic closure roll that keeps your brushes protected, and makes transporting them easy and convenient. This set works great with acrylic paint, watercolor, oil, gouache and tempera painting.
These brushes are made from hog bristle and taklon of the highest quality. Not all sets come with a wide flat brush, and I think it’s important for every artists to have that in their set.
I definitely recommend this set, especially if you prefer hog bristle paintbrushes.
User Reviews
Mostly everyone who purchased this set was beyond happy with it. Customers stated they love how sturdy the brush is, and how easy to clean it is.
Artegria Detail Paint Brush Set
This set is specifically designed for detail painting or miniatures. It comes with 17 fine tip brushes that range in size from 4/0 all the way to 4. Click here to view the pricing and availability from Amazon.
This set includes a Dagger Stripper of 1/4″, and is highly praised by the pros for creating extra fine long lines and special effects. This special handle ensures better control and produces less hand fatigue than a standard round handle.
I love the solid cylinder container it comes in, the travel bag and little guide you get. It also comes with a super useful Bonus E-book with tips and tricks for all your painting needs.
Alot of artists use this set when they’re painting figurines such as Warhammer 40k, Dungeons & Dragons, Gundam, Star Wars, etc. It’s perfect for scale models (1/35 scale, cars, trains, airplanes), dolls, stones, ceramics; nail art, face- and bodypainting (kids’ birthdays, party makeup), brush lettering, illustrations, paint by numbers, etc.
As you can see, because these brushes are for detail, there’s an endless amount of things they can be used for. I think every artists needs this set in their collection.
Here are some specs and brush sizes that come with the set:
Liner: 4/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1
Round: 4/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1, 2, 4
Flat: 0, 1
Spot: 0, 1
Dagger Striper: 1/4”
Velvet Travel Bag
Mini Guide
Hair: nylon (no shedding, no splitting)
Ferrule: copper (prevents corrosion), double crimp
Handle: light-weight varnish coated wood
Use: acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache
How Long Can I Expect Acrylic Paintbrushes to Last?
Acrylic paintbrushes can last years if properly taken care of. I’ve had one of my sets for over 4 years and all the brushes are still in good condition. I make sure to rinse them after every use.
To get the most out of your brushes, always rinse them thoroughly with water and clean the entire brush to prevent paint from drying.
Here are three mistakes all-too-common among painters that will ruin your brush:
- Letting the paint dry on the brush: There’s no better way to ruin your paint brush than by letting paint dry on it. The bristles will become thick and unusable.
- Letting your brushes soak TOO long: This is the opposite of letting paint cake on your brush — bristles become weightless and stringy if you let them soak too long.
- Not cleaning your brush thoroughly: If even a little paint sticks to your brush, you’re in serious trouble. Try using a little paint thinner to address the paint issue.
What Are the Most Common Paintbrush Styles?
There are 6 types of paint brushes that are used with acrylics. To help you familiarize yourself and choose your style, here are some of the most common paintbrushes:
Flat brushes are shaped in a rectangle with long or medium-sized bristles. They are intended for long strokes, usually as a base of paint.
Bright brushes are similar to flat brushes, but they have shorter bristles. You use them for shorter strokes, while the flat brush has longer strokes.
Filbert brushes combine the best of round and flat brushes. They are shaped like rectangles, but they’re very skinny at the base of the bristle, expanding outwards.
Fan brushes spread out in a 90 degree direction, offering more coverage than a filbert. They can be used to create beautiful bushes.
Angular flat brushes allow for greater rotation. The tip of the bristles is angled down for unique shading. Sweeping curves are fun to make with this brush!
Detail round brushes are round and short! They have closely compact bristles and are ideal for finer motions.
Final Thoughts
As an owner of the Onson and VisuartPRO paint set, I can say they are my top picks for acrylic paintbrushes. Out of all my brushes, my top favorites are within these two sets. I recommend all of these paint sets whether you are a beginner, paint as a hobby or an artist. You will not be disappointed in the fine quality of all these paintbrushes. I know I love them, and make my paintings awesome!
