If you have a large-scale painting project coming up, you’ve probably got a list of tools in mind to help you get the job done.
But before you start rolling out the brushes and brushing up on your rollers, is there something you’ve forgotten?
One of the most important aspects of painting walls, ceilings, or any other surface in your home is to ensure that all your lines are straight and that nothing other than the surface you’re working on gets any paint on it.
Many painters rely solely on masking tape or good old fashioned practice in this area, but the easiest way to paint straight lines and keep your adjoining surfaces safe is by using a paint edger.
Because no one wants a wall full of streaky paint lines and running paint - it looks unsightly and you'll be embarrassed when you have guests over.
But which is the best? We’ve collated 5 of the best paint edgers money can currently buy to take your paint job to a professional level.
In a rush? No need to feel on edge - here’s our top choice for paint edgers below...
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These Are The Top 3 Best Paint Edgers Available
OUR TOP PICK
Wagner’s SMART Edge Paint Roller is a paint edger that has adopted all the familiar and ergonomic features of a high-quality roller, plus much more.
It’s also the paint edger that you hear a lot of praise about online.
It’s difficult to know where to begin with a paint edger that boasts so many impressive features and functions, but we’ll start with the head.
The head of the Wagner SMART Edge Paint Roller resembles that of a classic paint roller, but on a smaller scale.
The roller measures just 3 inches, so it’s ideal for getting into all of those tricky corners.
The built-in edging guides on the sides of the roller also help to ensure that it delivers crisp, straight edges time after time.
What’s really amazing about this paint edger, though, is its innovative paint-holding handle system.
The translucent handle sucks paint in through the roller head and stores it so that you don’t need to keep reapplying paint.
The handle can store up to 6 oz of paint, which, for reference, is enough to cover a whopping 96 sqft!
But that’s not all - you can even control the amount of paint dispensed with every stroke using the ergonomically-positioned thumb trigger.
So you’ll never have to deal with unruly blobs of paint or frustratingly thin coats.
Instructions for using the Wagner 0530000B are printed and clearly displayed on a label stuck to the handle, so you can inform yourself as you paint without wasting any time.
All you need to do is attach a hose and let the stream of water wash the edger from the inside out.
The Wagner SMART Edge Paint Roller delivers precision and ease-of-use on every level, making it a worthy and obvious choice for our top pick.
Pros
- Convenient 3-inch roller head which allows you to get into small spaces and tricky corners.
- Ergonomic handle design so it's practical and comfortable to use.
- Build-in edging guides for easy painting of edges.
- Paint-holding handle so the paint keeps flowing without you needing to re-apply it.
- Adjustable paint flow so you can get as much or as little as you need.
- Easy cleaning so saves you a lot of mess and time.
- Instructions printed on handle so you don't need to go find / read them mid-paint.
Cons
- The paint flow adjuster can be tricky to use at first
EDITORS CHOICE
Shur-Line’s Paint Edger Plus is one of the most highly reviewed paint edgers on the market.
At first glance, however, it might not look exactly how you’d expect.
This paint edger features a thick, straight-edged woven pad that absorbs and distributes just the right amount of paint with each application and keeps edges neat and tidy.
One of the first things you might notice about this paint edger, though, is that it doesn’t have a handle.
What’s that about? Well, it’s actually part of the edger’s incredible versatility and user-friendliness.
The edger is usable without any handle attachment using the protruding plastic piece behind the pad.
This method of using the Shur-Line Paint Edger Plus ensures proximity to the area you’re painting, which helps to facilitate better visibility and precision.
However, this edger can also be attached to extension handles and poles with the appropriate threads.
With or without a handle, this paint edger is able to execute smooth pivot or swivel movements that allow for easy, seamless adjustment without removing the edger from the surface.
This is enabled by the 2 guide wheels built into the head of the edger.
Ultimately, this is a highly practical and versatile paint edger that produces professional-quality results.
The main complaint surrounding this product is the lack of an included handle, although many users have stated that they prefer the proximity of the tool without a handle - and we agree.
Pros
- Thick, woven applicator pad for producing the exact amount of paint you need when you need it.
- Pivot and swivel action for getting into tricky corners.
- Features guide wheels allowing you to swivel and glide with ease
- Usable without handle if you need to get into smaller spaces.
- Extension handle available for distance painting or ceilings for example.
Cons
- Extension handle must be purchased separately which is a bit annoying.
BEST VALUE
The Quick Painter C800771 paint edger by HomeRight is an excellent tool for covering those pesky edges in a short amount of time.
Like Wagner’s SMART Edge Paint Roller, this paint edger features a fillable handle that can store paint for distribution on the go.
This handle holds up to 4.5 ounces, which only covers 50 ft as opposed to Wagner’s 96, but this will actually be ideal for painters with smaller surface areas to cover.
Using this paint edger, you can further minimize the time it takes to cover small areas by eliminating the need to constantly reload paint into/onto the pad.
The built-in paint flow regulator also allows you the flexibility of choosing how much paint you want to apply with each movement, so you can dictate the thickness or thinness of your coats.
However, it should be noted that this paint edger has a tendency to distribute too much paint at once, sometimes leading to wastage and drops.
The convex flocked neoprene applicator pad distributes paint evenly and, with the help of the built-in guide edges, creates straight, precise lines that are perfect for wall and ceiling edges and corners.
The pad’s bristles are very closely woven together for the most consistent possible coverage, and the rotating pad head further ensures that you won’t miss any spots.
There are several other attachments available for use with this paint edger, including a handy corner attachment.
These need to be purchased separately, however.
Pros
- Flocked neoprene applicator pad which distributes paint evenly to avoid mess or over use.
- Rotating pad head allows you to get into tight spaces and corners
- Built-in guide edges for perfect edge painting.
- Paint-fillable handle so it flows directly from the handle in perfect amounts.
- Built-in paint flow regulator to stop too much paint coming out at once
- Attachments available
Cons
- May cause wastage or drops at times so be careful with your clothes and floor.
RUNNER UP
Shur-Line’s Premium Corner Painter is the ideal paint edger for anyone looking for a quick and easy way to apply paint to corners and other small, fiddly areas without too much hassle.
This paint edger looks very much like your typical edger, and the design is simple yet highly effective.
Therefore, anyone with experience using a paint edger should get the hang of this model almost immediately.
And paint edging beginners will take to it quickly as well.
The pad itself is woven and applies paint in much smoother, more even layers than most brushes.
It’s corner-shaped so as to fit absolutely perfectly into those notoriously tricky right angles (or see the best right angle impact drivers).
This pad is also replaceable, so once you’ve used it to death, you can simply switch it out for a new one and continue to use it as before.
Meanwhile, the handle is made out of plastic and features a built-in, comfortable grip to enable hours of painless painting.
The handle also pivots for a fully ergonomic and amazingly precise corner-painting experience.
Another great feature of the handle is that it’s threaded, so it’s ready to be attached to standard extension poles if you need a longer reach.
There is a downside to this edger, however, and it’s that the tool won’t provide perfect coverage unless walls are even and set at right angles due to the way the pad is shaped.
Pros
- Simple, classic design without any nonsense.
- Threaded handle for easier grip.
- Pivoting action to get into tight spaces.
- Comfortable grip so your hand won't wear out.
- Replaceable, woven pad should you need to.
Cons
- Not suitable for uneven walls so check with a spirit level first if you can.
RUNNER UP
Sometimes, finding replacements and accessories for your paint edger can be as difficult as finding the perfect paint edger itself.
However, with Accubrush’s XT Pole Mountable Paint Edger, this problem is all but eliminated.
Using a ⅜-inch nap roller, the Accubrush paint edger is the perfect tiny size for achieving precision is the most difficult-to-reach of crevices.
You can also adjust the position of the roller for the perfect angle.
Moving your edger consistently in the perfect line can be a difficult task, but the Accubrush paint edger’s built-in guide wheels help to achieve a smooth, precise motion.
The wheels can leave gaps in your paintwork, however, so you might need to apply a second coat.
The roller is absorbent and efficient enough to distribute 5 to 8-foot lines of paint without reapplying.
What’s more, the edger comes with a smear shield that attaches to the side of the roller and prevents the paint from being dragged along the trim as you work.
The edger head can even be fitted with Accubrush edge-defining brushes, 4 of which are provided with this product.
This means you’ll always have exactly the right tool for the job, and it’ll be a while before you have to think about purchasing replacements separately.
The handle of the Accubrush paint edger is subtly shaped to fit comfortably within the contours of the user’s hand for minimal hand fatigue.
Pros
- Small ⅜-inch roller head
- Adjustable brush position
- Includes smear shield
- Built-in guide wheels
- Ergonomically shaped handle
- Compatible with Accubrush brushes
- 4 brush refills included
Cons
- Wheels leave gaps
Best Paint Edger Buying Guide
A good paint edger will see you through the trickiest of home improvement painting tasks. However, it’s very rare that 2 homes are structured exactly alike, so your ideal paint edger will need to be suited to your spatial requirements.
It will also need to be user-friendly for the best results. Read on to find out what you should be looking for in your new paint edger:
Head
The head of your paint edger will be responsible for the task of actually distributing the paint onto your surface in the right quantities and area.
So, it goes without saying that the head of your edger is probably the first and most important feature to take into consideration.
Most paint edgers will have 1 of 2 kinds of heads: a pad or a roller. Pad heads have a flat applicator surface for applying square or rectangular swathes of paint with perfectly straight edges.
Roller heads will look much like the heads found on typical paint rollers, except that they’ll usually have extra edge guides (plastic edges or caps) on the sides of the roller to ensure precision.
Now, square or rectangular paint edges have a reputation for generally being more precise than rollers. This isn’t necessarily true in all cases, though.
With well-designed edging guards, a roller edger can be just as precise as a pad edger, with the added benefit of covering more square footage in a faster timeframe.
When we say ‘well-designed edging guards’, we mean guards that aren’t so thick as to leave big gaps in your painting, but also not too thin, or they won’t provide effective protection.
With all that being said, if you only have a small area/a few edges to paint, a pad edger may be your best option for the price because you can afford to spend a little extra time achieving full coverage.
If you have a lot to do in a short space of time, however, we’d recommend a roller edger - just keep an eye on the edge guards when you first get started.
Ideally, the smaller the head, the better, because it’ll be much easier to work your way into tight spaces.
Rollers and pads shouldn’t normally be larger than 3 inches, and in many cases, they come in much smaller sizes to ensure precision.
Moreover, a convex shape on a pad will help to ensure that full contact can be made between the pad and the surface when pressure is applied.
Pad/Roller
The actual material of the pad or roller on your edger merits consideration because this factor will impact your paint coverage.
Tightly woven fibers are best for achieving full coverage because there isn’t so much space between fibers for the paint to hide away in.
Of all the materials and fabrics out there, neoprene is possibly the most well suited to paint edger pads and rollers. This is because it’s highly durable with a good level of resistance to just about anything, from chemicals to water and heat.
Handle
Painting straight, precise edges can be tricky enough in itself, even with a high-quality paint edger.
The last thing you want when you’re trying to concentrate is hand cramps and wrist strain. That’s why an ergonomic, user-friendly handle is such a key component of paint edgers.
A handle that allows for pivot action is desirable.
Not only will this movement allow for more effective spatial coverage, but it will also relieve strain in your wrists and hands by executing potentially uncomfortable movements for you.
Most paint edgers, including their handles, are made mostly of plastic. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable to grip onto.
Ergonomic shaping according to human hand contours as well as grip pads can help your edger to sit comfortably against your palm for minimal discomfort, allowing you to perform your painting tasks to the best of your ability.
Any triggers for paint dispensing or absorption should be positioned towards the top of the handle, where they can be easily reached with the thumb for reduced strain.
Additional Features
If you’re worried about being able to maintain a consistently straight line while painting with your edger, we recommend choosing an edger with built-in guide wheels.
These wheels will help you to stay on course while you’re painting, ensuring that the edger can perform to its full potential. However, be aware that wheels often leave marks in paintwork, so you may need to apply a second coat.
Smearing is a common problem in edge painting, caused by a buildup of paint on the side of a pad or roller. To prevent this, consider investing in a paint edger that comes with a smear shield.
This is essentially a plastic component that fits onto the side of the edger closest to the trim and keeps excess paint contained.
Finally, if you’re already envisioning the hassle of having to find replacement parts for your edger, don’t worry! There are edger models available that come with replacement brushes included, so you’ll be set for a while!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use my paint edger?
The first thing you might want to do is tape off the edges where your target surface meets other surfaces. You may also want to lay some plastic sheeting over the floor in case of droplets.
Of course, an edger tool should greatly reduce the mess caused by painting walls and ceilings, but it’s always best to be safe.
Once you’re ready to start painting, you can dip your edger into your paint. If you have an edger with a paint-holding handle, draw the paint into the handle using the trigger.
Make sure not to over soak your pad with paint to avoid making a mess.
Start your painting a reasonable distance away from the edge of the wall. This is to ensure that any excess paint isn’t applied directly into the edges or corners.
Move your edger in a smooth, unbroken line in the direction of the edge, paying attention to how much paint is being distributed.
When you reach the edge, gently press the edger into the crease. Take care not to apply too much force, or you might use more paint than intended.
Repeat this process until you’ve covered your desired area.
Last update on 2025-02-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API