7 Best Brushes for Staining Wood (Tested & Reviewed 2023)
Staining your wood projects is a vital step that can make or break your project. By staining it correctly, you’ll add protection and give it the look you want.
I’ve been using wood stains on my projects for years, but there’s one aspect many woodworkers overlook – finding the right brush!
In this post, I’ll rate several different brushes so you can find the absolute best brush for staining wood for any project. Let’s dig in!
In a hurry? The best brush for staining wood is the Purdy Ox-Hair Brush because of how well it penetrates wood and leaves an even coat of stain.
Best Brushes for Staining Wood
- #1 Best Overall – Purdy Ox-Hair Brush
- Best Brush for Staining Decks – Wooster 4″ Stain Brush
- Best Brush for Staining Fences – Wooster Brush 4″ Paintbrush Softip
- Best Angle Brush – Wooster Angle Sash Paintbrush
- Best Value – Pro Grade Paint Brushes
- Best Foam Brush – Wooster Foam King Paintbrush
1. Purdy Ox-Hair Series Brush – #1 Best Overall
- PURDY OX HAIR PAINT BRUSHES – Purdy Ox Hair paintbrushes are made with the softest natural bristles in our…
- DESIGNED FOR OIL-BASED PRODUCTS – These ox hair- and white bristle-blended painting tools are designed to hold…
- EXTRA SOFT BRISTLES – The moisture-wicking alderwood handles are lightweight and durable, helping you make…
Purdy is well known for making some of the best brushes on the market, and their Ox-Hair brush is one of the best.
This natural bristle brush provides tremendous coverage and works well with both oil based and water based stains.
It comes in several sizes depending on the surface you’re staining, and it’s also very comfortable so you won’t deal with a strain in your hands when staining wood. Sign me up!
Applying stain with this brush was easy and you can easily clean it once you’re finished so it can last.
What I Liked:
- Terrific coverage thanks to the natural bristle construction, meaning less coats of stain
- Can handle all sorts of paints, stains, and polyurethane making it one of the most versatile brushes you can find
- Very high quality brush that can last for decades if taken care of
What I Didn’t Like:
- More expensive than other wood stain brushes
- Sheds a normal amount of bristles when compared to similar brushes
My Thoughts:
Overall, this 3″ Purdy Ox-Hair Brush is one of the best brushes for staining wood that you can find. It’s a versatile brush that provides excellent coverage and can last for years if well maintained. Brush marks were difficult to find because of the natural bristles – which is a huge plus. It’s perfect for all staining projects and yields professional quality results. My only gripe is the price, but it’s one of the highest quality brushes you’ll find – so highly recommend it.
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2. Minwax Polycrylic Wood Stain Brush – Best for Water Based Wood Stains
- WOOD STAIN BRUSH – This 2” wood staining brush is a fine craft, blend of nylon and polyester designed for…
- SMOOTH, EVEN FINISH – The soft application design and synthetic bristles promote a smooth finish of wood…
- USE WITH – This 2” wood stain brush is for use for quart size cans of water-based stains and finishes….
If you’re working with a water based stain, this Minwax Polyacrylic Brush is a great option. The quality is just a hair below the Purdy Ox-Hair brush above (pun intended) – but I found this brush works well with any water based stain.
This is one of the best synthetic brushes you can buy and it works great for staining wood projects both small and large.
What I Liked:
- Provides great coverage without brush marks
- Bristles don’t shed as much as some natural bristle brushes
- Pretty good value for the price
- Comes in several size options depending on your needs
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not as versatile as other brushes, it’s best for water based stains
My Thoughts:
This Minwax Polyacrylic Brush is an amazing brush for all water based stains. While it will still work with oil based stains, I found that it didn’t do quite as good of a job with these wood stains. It’s a great value stain brush for the money, and although it’s a synthetic bristle brush – brush marks were hard to spot. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a great wood stain brush and typically use water based stains – this is the brush for you.
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3. Wooster Angle Sash Paintbrush – Best for Tight Spaces & Small Projects
- Silver tip, 2-1/2″, angle Sash, paint Brush, white & Silver chisel trim polyester, very soft formulation,…
- Adds extra shine to your product
- Satin ferrule
If you’re looking to stain smaller wood projects, this Wooster Angle Sash Brush is a great choice. The angled tip allows you to reach tighter spaces and is more accurate than a flat tip brush – which might be required for some projects.
This is a synthetic bristle brush that’s great to stain wood projects of any kind. It’s also super easy to clean and can last for years if maintained properly.
What I Liked:
- Angled brush allows for more precise coverage
- Was comfortable and felt extremely high quality
What I Didn’t Like:
- Bristles fell out with heavier strokes
My Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a brush that’s great in tight areas, I definitely recommend this Wooster Brush. It’s one of the best synthetic bristle brushes on the market that’s comfortable and provided an even coat of stain across the entire surface of the wood. The one downfall with this brush was that the bristles did shed when pushing down heavier. Despite that, it’s still one of the best brushes for wood stain and I’d recommend it for smaller projects.
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4. Wooster Bravo Stainer Brush – Best for Staining Wood Decks
- Excellent results with all oil-based stains sealers wood toners
- White China bristle with square construction
- Nickel-plated steel ferrule
If you’re looking for the best brush for staining wood decks – this 4″ Wooster Bravo brush is the perfect choice.
It has firmer bristles that make it more durable when staining a wood deck compared to traditional brushes. It’s also slightly larger than the other brushes I’ve mentioned at 4″ wide. This makes staining your deck quicker and if time is money, a larger brush is certainly worth it. If you have larger deck boards, you can opt for an even larger version of the brush such as the 4 3/4 or 5 1/2″ brushes.
This brush did a good job of providing a thick coat of stain, but it’s not as great for more detailed work.
If you’re looking for a deck stain, I highly recommend these deck stains!
What I Liked:
- Larger brush that makes staining decks and large projects much faster
- Firmer bristles that can withstand more pressure and doesn’t shed as much
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not good for smaller projects because of its size
- Doesn’t penetrate tight cracks in wood because of the firmness of the bristles
My Thoughts:
If you’re planning to stain your deck, this Wooster Bravo Brush is the brush for you. It’s suitable for both water and oil based stains and thanks to its size, you can finish your job much quicker than you could with other brushes. The bristles are extremely firm, which is helpful when staining a deck and they don’t shed nearly as much. I can’t recommend this brush enough when it comes to larger wood projects like decks.
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5. Wooster Brush 4″ Paintbrush Softip – Best Brush for Staining Wood Fence
- Soft brush tips provide a smooth and even finish with all latex and oil-based paints
- White nylon and gold polyester with chisel trim
- Brass-plated steel ferrule
If you’re looking to stain a wooden fence, this Wooster 4″ Softip Brush is the best choice for you. It’s similar to the brush above, but there are a few differences that make it better suited for fences.
Firstly, the soft, synthetic bristles are better at penetrating wood fences compared to the firmer bristles of the brush above. Second, this staining brush is super comfortable thanks to the large plastic handle compared to the wood handle of the brush above.
Both of these brushes are on the larger side, however. They come in sizes greater than 4″ – which is perfect for larger projects like fences and decks.
What I Liked:
- Soft tips allows the brush to easily coat old wood
- Larger brush makes the job faster
- Plastic handle was very comfortable
What I Didn’t Like:
- More streaking and brush marks than other brushes
- Bristles shed a decent amount
My Thoughts:
If you’re looking for the best brush for staining fences, this 4″ Wooster Brush is the best option. With it’s soft bristles, it can easily penetrate all of the crevices that a wood fence brings. It’s also on the larger side, which makes it faster to apply stain on your fence so you don’t have to spend all day staining. Overall, I highly recommend this brush for large projects like fences.
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6. Wooster Brush Foam King Paintbrush
- High-quality made in USA brushes for all paints as well as varnishes and stains
- Thick polyurethane foam for the smoothest no-brush marks finish
- White plastic handle with built-in stiffener blade for consistent flex and neat results
If you specifically want a foam brush, this Wooster Foam King Brush is a solid choice for staining wood. While I personally don’t love using foam brushes for applying stain, some people do!
This is a small brush that’s also one of the best brushes for applying polyurethane, so it’s hard to go wrong if you’re looking for a foam option.
It’s also priced affordably, so you can purchase a few of them to keep around as they don’t last as long as other types of brushes.
What I Liked:
- Extremely affordable
- Can be used on paints, stains, and polyurethane
- Didn’t have to worry about bristles falling out and causing streaking
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not as durable as other brushes
- Single size, so it might not work for every project
My Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a foam brush to apply polyurethane, this Wooster Foam King Paint Brush is the right brush for you. It’s extremely affordable and it provided a very even coat of polyurethane that’s hard to beat. It’s also nice not having to deal with bristles falling out because it’s a foam brush. The only downsides are that it comes in a single size, and it’s not very durable. The foam breaks down and needs to be replaced every few applications.
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7. Pro Grade Paint Brushes – Best Budget Brush
- Paint Brush Set Includes 1 Ea of 1″ Flat, 1-1/2″ Angle, 2″ Stubby Angle, 2″ Flat & 2-1/2″ Angle
- Paint Brushes For Interior Or Exterior Projects. Use Angle Sash Paint Brush For Cutting Crisp Lines.
- Professional Results On Walls, Trim, Cabinets, Doors, Fences, Decks, Touch Ups, Arts And Crafts.
If you’re looking for a solid brush for staining wood on a budget, this set of Pro Grade Paint Brushes is a solid pick. Despite their low price, this brush set did a great job of providing an even coverage of stain.
Another benefit of this choice is that you get a set if different sized brushes that are extremely versatile. Whether you need to paint, stain, or add a varnish to your projects – these brushes will get the job done.
They work with all types of paints and stains, making them versatile and great for all sorts of interior and exterior projects.
What I Liked:
- Extremely good value for the money
- Comes with several sizes for a variety of projects
What I Didn’t Like:
- Slightly more streaking and brush strokes than other options
- Didn’t feel as durable as others
My Thoughts:
Overall, if you don’t want to spend a ton of money – these Pro Grade Paint Brushes are a solid choice that will get the job done. While they aren’t nearly as quality as some of the other brushes I’ve listed so far, they did a surprisingly good job. You can use the smaller brush in tight spaces and utilize the larger brushes for some of your larger staining jobs. This brush set is worth the money and is great to apply stain or paint on virtually any project.
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What Makes the Best Brush for Staining Wood
Durability
Some brushes can be expensive, so having a brush that can withstand years of staining is important. Some high quality brushes can last for decades if they’re cleaned and maintained properly.
Additionally, you want to opt for a brush that doesn’t easily shed bristles as this can cause it to deteriorate quickly.
Type of Bristles
There are a couple of types of bristles that most staining brushes use: natural and synthetic bristles.
But which is better?
Unfortunately, there isn’t always one right answer. While natural bristle brushes are better at preventing streaking, they can shed more easily and come with a higher price. Synthetic bristle brushes can be more durable, but sometimes they aren’t great in terms of shedding and streaking.
There’s also foam brushes. These are different than the others because there are no bristles at all, so you don’t have to worry about them shedding. However, these can be difficult to clean and are tougher to get a smooth finish on older woods with cracks and gaps.
Size and Shape
The size and shape of your stain brush is another important consideration.
For example, if you’re staining a wood deck, you’re going to want a larger brush that gets the job done faster. However, if you’re working on a more intricate project, you might opt for a smaller brush with an angled tip so you can reach the hard to reach areas.
Most brushes will come in several sizes, with most offering a 2″ to 3″ option. However, larger brushes can be over 6″ wide for faster staining.
Price
There’s a pretty large discrepancy in prices between a high quality stain brush and a basic brush. Depending on your budget, some brushes may be better suited for you than others. For example, the Purdy Ox-Hair brush is a great brush that will last for years, but it’s also one of the more expensive options. If price is of concern, option for the Minwax Polyacrylic brush or the set of Pro Grade Brushes is your best bet.
FAQs
What kind of brush do you use to stain wood?
The best brushes for staining wood and achieving a smooth finish is either a natural or synthetic bristle brush. These can penetrate the wood and provide even coverage without brush strokes. They work with most oil and water based stains and they can work with other substances, making them even more versatile.
How to Stain Wood
To apply stain correctly, there are a few things you’ll want to do to ensure even coverage.
Prep the Surface
First, you’ll want to prep the surface of the wood for stain. This means you’ll want to remove any dust or debris that’s on the surface as this can prevent the stain from penetrating the wood.
Stir the Stain
Stirring the stain before applying it is another critical step to ensure you get the right color and coverage. Because wood stain will settle over time, it’s important to stir it well before applying it.
TIP: Don’t shake the stain! Shaking it can cause it to bubble and it doesn’t mix it as well.
Apply Evenly
When applying stain, try to stick to long brush strokes that follow the grain of the wood. If you notice any uneven areas, try to go over them again for a smooth finish.
Wipe Away Excess Stain
Once you’ve applied the stain, use a clean rag to wipe away any excess stain on the surface. This will help to ensure a consistent color and removes any drips or runs.
Allow it to Dry
Finally, let the stain dry. Depending on the type of stain you’re using, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 days to completely dry.
Check out the video below for more help with staining wood!
Final Thoughts
The best brush for staining wood is hands down the Purdy Ox-Hair Brush. This is an extremely high quality brush that features natural bristles for a smooth finish.
If you’re looking for for a larger brush that’s best for staining a deck or fence – the 4″ Wooster Bravo Stainer Brush is your best bet.
Finally, if you want the best budget friendly brush for staining wood, go with these Pro Grade Paint Brushes.