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Paint rollers, covers and frames

20 popular roller covers, mini roller kits, frames and extension poles from Wooster, Purdy and more.

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Popular paint rollers, covers and frames

01

Guides

Choosing a roller, matching it to the surface, and the techniques that make the finish.

Choose a roller

Choose a roller Nap size guide and chart Choose a roller Types of paint rollers Choose a roller Best paint roller covers Choose a roller Foam vs microfiber rollers Choose a roller Roller frames and extension poles Choose a roller Mini paint rollers Choose a roller Textured and pattern rollers

By surface

By surface Best roller for walls By surface Best roller for ceilings By surface Best roller for cabinets and trim By surface Rollers for textured surfaces By surface Exterior and stucco rollers

How-to

How-to How to paint with a roller How-to How to avoid roller marks How-to How to clean a paint roller How-to Roller tray vs bucket grid How-to Paint brush vs roller

Tools

Tools Roller picker

02

The short version

For most interior walls you want a 9 inch frame with a 3/8 inch nap cover. Go shorter and woven for cabinets, trim and gloss; go longer for texture, stucco and brick. Three choices decide how a roller job turns out.

  1. Nap follows texture

    The rougher the surface, the longer the nap. 3/8 inch for smooth walls, 1/2 inch for light texture, 3/4 inch for stucco and popcorn, 1 inch and up for brick and block. Nap guide.

  2. Cover follows sheen

    Glossy paint shows every stipple and fiber, so pair it with a woven, microfiber or foam cover. Flat paint hides texture, so a faster knit cover is fine. Foam vs microfiber.

  3. Keep a wet edge

    Most roller marks are lap marks: fresh paint rolled over paint that has started to dry. Work in sections, roll from wet into dry, and break only at corners. Avoid roller marks.

03

Nap chart: which nap for which surface

Drawn from the nap guidance Benjamin Moore, Purdy and Sherwin-Williams publish. Pick a surface to highlight its nap.

Show the nap for

  1. 1/4 in. and under

    smooth

    Very smooth: metal doors, trim, cabinet doors, plaster, smooth drywall

    Paint Semi-gloss, gloss and enamels; also primers on smooth work

    Cover Woven (microfiber, mohair) or high-density foam

    Search 1/4" nap covers on Amazon

  2. 3/8 in.

    semi-smooth

    Smooth to semi-smooth: most interior walls and flat ceilings, paneling

    Paint Flat, matte, eggshell and satin wall paint

    Cover Microfiber, woven, or knit polyester for latex

    Search 3/8" nap covers on Amazon

  3. 1/2 in.

    semi-rough

    Semi-rough: lightly textured walls and ceilings, rough wood, decks, concrete

    Paint Flat to satin; thicker coatings

    Cover Knit polyester or microfiber

    Search 1/2" nap covers on Amazon

  4. 3/4 in.

    rough

    Rough: textured ceilings, stucco, masonry

    Paint Flat and low sheen; masonry and elastomeric coatings

    Cover Knit polyester or a poly and wool blend

    Search 3/4" nap covers on Amazon

  5. 1 in. to 1-1/4 in.

    very rough

    Very rough: brick, concrete block, cinder block, fences

    Paint Masonry paint and heavy exterior coatings

    Cover Thick knit polyester

    Search 1"+ nap covers on Amazon

Pile lengths in the bars are drawn at actual size in CSS inches, so they are close on most screens but not exact. Cross-sections are scaled up to show the difference.

04

Which roller do I need?

Three taps: surface, sheen and texture. You get a nap, a cover material, a width and two things to look at, with the reason for each.

1 What are you painting?
2 Paint sheen
3 Surface texture

Your roller

05

Cover materials at a glance

Purdy and Benjamin Moore split covers into woven (smoother, less lint) and knit (more paint, faster, a little stipple). Sherwin-Williams adds the paint rule: synthetic for latex, natural fibers for oil.

Roller cover materials at a glance

MaterialBuildBest forWatch for
MicrofiberWoven or knit blendSmooth walls, ceilings, cabinets; most sheensCan shed if cheap; de-lint before use
Woven syntheticWovenSemi-gloss and gloss, trim, doors; lowest lintHolds less paint than knit
Knit polyester or nylonKnitFlat and eggshell walls, texture, fast coverageLeaves more stipple
FoamMolded foamCabinets, doors, furniture, smooth enamelNo reach into texture; can bubble if rolled fast
MohairNatural, wovenOil-based enamels and gloss on smooth surfacesNatural fibers can mat with latex (Sherwin-Williams)
Lambswool or sheepskinNatural, knitOil-based paint on wallsWater in latex can swell and mat it
Poly and wool blendBlendAll paints; extra pickup with longer lifeUsually a pricier cover

Shopping covers? Start with the best roller covers by job.

06

The kit for one room

What a typical bedroom repaint needs, and nothing more. Each button opens an Amazon search so you can compare current options.

  • 9 inch frame

    A sturdy 5-wire frame with a threaded handle so a pole screws on.

    Search Amazon

  • 3/8 inch cover

    Microfiber or knit for smooth walls in flat to satin.

    Search Amazon

  • Extension pole

    4 to 8 ft covers most walls and standard ceilings from the floor.

    Search Amazon

  • Tray or grid

    A deep-well tray for one room; a bucket grid for big jobs.

    Search Amazon

  • Angled brush

    A 2 to 2-1/2 inch angled sash brush for cutting in.

    Search Amazon

  • 5-in-1 tool

    Scrapes paint back into the can and cleans the cover.

    Search Amazon

07

Questions people ask

What size paint roller do I need for walls?

A 9 inch roller with a 3/8 inch nap suits most smooth interior walls. Benjamin Moore calls 3/8 inch “best for walls and ceilings”. Step up to 1/2 inch for lightly textured walls, and use a 4 inch mini roller for narrow spots.

What does nap mean on a roller?

Nap (or pile) is the length of the fibers on the roller cover. Short naps leave a smoother finish on smooth surfaces; long naps hold more paint and reach into texture. Paint makers agree: the more texture the surface has, the thicker the nap should be.

Which roller gives the smoothest finish?

A short nap (1/4 inch or less) woven or microfiber cover, or a high-density foam roller, on a smooth surface. Purdy says woven fabrics leave little lint and a very smooth finish, which is why they pair well with semi-gloss and gloss.

Are expensive roller covers worth it?

Often, yes, for visible walls. Benjamin Moore says cheaper rollers tend to shed fibers and break down after repeated washing, and suggests looking for beveled edges, no visible seams, a plastic core and bounce-back when squeezed.

Should I use a roller or a brush?

Use both. Cut in corners, edges and trim with a brush, then roll the open areas while the brushed edge is still wet. A roller is much faster on large flat areas and leaves a more even texture than a brush.

How much paint does one roller cover?

Coverage depends on the paint, not the roller. Sherwin-Williams’ calculator uses about 350 to 400 square feet per gallon; the label on your can is the number to trust. Rough surfaces and thick naps use more.

Sources: Benjamin Moore, Purdy, Sherwin-Williams, Sherwin-Williams paint calculator.