Best Short Paintbrushes of 2025

Corey Phillips Avatar
Corey Phillips
Last Updated: 3 Feb 2025

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Short paintbrushes are an essential tool for artists and painters who need precision and control in their work. These brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with bristles made of natural or synthetic materials. They are perfect for detailed work, such as painting intricate patterns, small objects, or hard-to-reach areas. Short paintbrushes are widely available and affordable, making them an excellent choice for artists of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, these brushes can help you achieve the desired results in your artwork.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Artway 7 Piece Nylon Paintbrush Set Cover #TOP 1
Artway 7 Piece Nylon Paintbrush Set
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Major Brushes Chubby Paint Brushes Set of 4 Cover #TOP 2
Major Brushes Chubby Paint Brushes Set of 4
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brush Set Cover #TOP 3
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brush Set
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Short Paintbrushes

Artway 7 Piece Nylon Paintbrush Set

7 Piece Synthetic Paintbrush Set
Beige
1 x 1 Set
Artway 7 Piece Nylon Paintbrush Set Cover
Artway Short Handle Nylon Paintbrush Set (x7)

The Artway Paintbrush Set is an excellent choice for artists, particularly students. This seven-piece set includes a variety of brush types, such as rounds, flats, chisels, riggers, and filberts, ensuring you have the right tool for every technique. The short handles provide better control, making it easier for you to create detailed strokes. Additionally, the tinted nylon bristles combined with a natural wood handle offer both durability and comfort during use. The set conveniently comes packaged on a card with a plastic wallet for easy storage.

What We Like
Variety of brush types
Short handles for control
Durable nylon bristles
Comfortable wood handles
Convenient storage packaging
#TOP 2

Major Brushes Chubby Paint Brushes Set of 4

6006-4C
Green
8.5 cm
Major Brushes Chubby Paint Brushes Set of 4 Cover
Major Brushes Chubby Paint Brushes Extra Short Handle Pack of 4

The Major Brushes Chubby Brushes are a fantastic set of four natural bristle paintbrushes designed with brightly coloured short handles. These brushes are easy to grip, making them the perfect choice for little hands learning to paint. With an overall length of 8.5cm and chubby handles, they provide excellent control and comfort during use. The bristle length of 4.5cm allows for smooth and even application, ensuring your painting experience is enjoyable and creative.

What We Like
Ideal for small hands
Brightly coloured handles
Natural bristle for smooth application
Easy to grip design
#TOP 3

Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brush Set

583-60
Beige, Silver
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brush Set Cover
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brushes - Assorted Pack of 60

The Major Brushes Round Brushes are an excellent choice for artists seeking quality and versatility. Made from hog bristle, these brushes offer superior spring, making them perfect for working with fluid paints. The short, clear-finished wooden handles provide a comfortable grip for extended painting sessions. Ideal for use with water, oils, or acrylic paints, this assorted pack of 60 ensures you have the right size brush for every project, with ten brushes in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 18.

What We Like
High-quality hog bristle material
Comfortable wooden handles
Suitable for various paint types
Assorted sizes for versatility

Pack of 6 Hog Bristle Flat Tip Brushes

581-6
White
One Size
Pack of 6 Hog Bristle Flat Tip Brushes Cover
Pack 6 Hog Bristle Short Handle Brush - Flat Tip - Sizes 4,6,8,10,14,18

The Hog Bristle Flat Tip Brushes come in a handy pack of six, featuring sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 18. Each brush has a flat tip and a short lacquered handle, making them easy to manoeuvre. The firm and durable hog bristles are perfect for use with various types of paints, ensuring you achieve a smooth finish. With an approximate length ranging from 17.5cm to 21cm, these brushes are designed for comfortable handling, helping you complete your painting tasks efficiently.

What We Like
Durable hog bristle material
Variety of sizes included
Flat tip for smooth application
Comfortable short handle
Easy to control and manoeuvre

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Brushes Set

5390605
Pack of 7
Pack of 7
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Brushes Set Cover
Winsor & Newton, Cotman Watercolour Synthetic Brushes, Short Handle, Pack of 7

The Cotman Watercolour Brushes offer mixed fibre widths that ensure excellent spring and superior paint loading, making them ideal for use with Cotman watercolours. The unique blend of thicker and thinner fibres provides you with both strength and improved colour carrying capacity, allowing for a more vibrant painting experience. Additionally, the high-quality nickel-plated brass ferrules help prevent corrosion and clogging, making cleaning effortless. The thoughtfully designed handles enhance balance and comfort, enabling you to paint for longer without discomfort.

What We Like
Excellent paint loading
Durable nickel-plated ferrules
Comfortable handles
Versatile brush shapes
#TOP 6

Daler-Rowney System3 1/2in Sword Brush

D281000050
Beige
Daler-Rowney System3 1/2in Sword Brush Cover
Daler-Rowney System3 Acrylic Brush, Synthetic Hair, Short Handle, Sword, 1/2in

The Daler-Rowney Sword Brush is designed with synthetic filaments that are perfect for acrylic painting. The dark tipped bristles allow for precise control, making it easy for you to create fine details in your artwork. Its unique sword-shaped head is especially beneficial for painting long grasses, flower stems, and flowing lines. Additionally, the ergonomic short handle provides comfort during extended use, ensuring that you can paint for longer periods without discomfort.

What We Like
Durable synthetic filaments
Ergonomic short handle
Ideal for fine details
Versatile for various techniques

Daler-Rowney Graduate Synthetic Flat Wash Brush

212155100
Multicolor
One Size
Daler-Rowney Graduate Synthetic Flat Wash Brush Cover
Daler-Rowney Graduate Multi-Technique Brush, Synthetic Hair, Short Handle, Flat Wash, 1in

The Daler-Rowney Flat Wash Brush is an excellent choice for artists who work with acrylics, watercolour, and oils. Its flat head shape allows you to effortlessly apply large blocks of colour and create smooth washes. The soft synthetic filaments are designed to be both resilient and durable, ensuring longevity in your painting projects. Additionally, the ergonomic, balanced short handle provides comfort during use, making it ideal for both beginners and art students looking to enhance their skills.

What We Like
Versatile for various paint types
Ideal for large colour applications
Durable synthetic filaments
Comfortable ergonomic handle
#TOP 8

Major Brushes Hog Bristle Round Brushes Pack of 10

58314-10
Natural
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Round Brushes Pack of 10 Cover
Major Brushes Hog Bristle Short Round Brushes Size 14 Pack of 10

The Major Brushes Round Brushes are designed with a round tip and a short lacquered handle, providing you with a comfortable grip. Made from firm and durable hog bristle, these brushes are suitable for most types of paints, ensuring versatility in your projects. The split end characteristics of the bristle allow you to hold a large amount of paint, making your painting process more efficient. With a pack containing 10 size 14 brushes, you’ll have plenty of tools for your artistic needs.

What We Like
Durable hog bristle material
Comfortable short handle
Holds large paint amounts
Versatile for various paints
Cost-effective pack of 10

Silver Brush Limited 5518S Mop Paintbrush Size 20

5518S-20
White Round
Size - 20
Silver Brush Limited 5518S Mop Paintbrush Size 20 Cover
Silver Brush Limited 5518S Silver Mop White Round Paintbrush, Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolour Brush, Short Handle, Size 20

The Silver Brush 5518S Mop Brush boasts ultrasoft goat-hair bristles, making it an ideal tool for blending and softening colours in oils and acrylics. You can also create stunning backgrounds and delicate sky washes with watercolours. The premium-quality goat hair remains soft when wet, ensuring consistent performance. Its round design allows for precise, detailed work, enabling you to produce fine lines and intricate designs effortlessly. The short handle is perfect for tabletop painting, giving you better control during your artistic creations.

What We Like
Ultrasoft goat-hair bristles
Great for blending colours
Precise, detailed work
Short handle for control
#TOP 10

Daler-Rowney System3 Acrylic Short Flat Brush

D281055100
Beige
Daler-Rowney System3 Acrylic Short Flat Brush Cover
Daler-Rowney System3 Acrylic Brush, Synthetic Hair, Short Handle, Short Flat, 1in

The System3 Acrylic Short Flat Brush by Daler-Rowney is designed with dark tipped synthetic filaments, perfect for achieving precise acrylic painting results. Its flat head allows you to apply broad strokes or create fine lines using the chisel edge, giving you versatility in your artwork. The synthetic filaments retain their shape even after extensive use, ensuring you have excellent control and accuracy. Additionally, the ergonomic, balanced short handle offers great comfort, making it a pleasure to use for extended painting sessions.

What We Like
Durable synthetic filaments
Versatile flat head shape
Excellent control and accuracy
Comfortable short handle
Ideal for professionals and students
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our short paintbrush research, we found 193 short paintbrush products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 9,378 customer reviews through our big data system to write the short paintbrushes list. We found that most customers choose short paintbrushes with an average price of £6.80.

The short paintbrushes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of short paintbrushes, including Artway, Major Brushes, Neatsales, Winsor & Newton, Daler Rowney.

Written by
Corey Phillips Avatar

Corey Philips is an electrician and lighting expert. He graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering. Corey is a specialist contractor in lights. He sells and installs and recommends lights and lamp sheds, and other lights accessories. Aside from that, Corey is vast in installing and maintaining electrical appliances like air conditioners, water heaters, and the likes.