Short answer
A 9 inch roller with a 3/8 inch nap cover. Choose microfiber or woven for eggshell, satin and semi-gloss, or a knit cover for flat paint. If your walls have orange peel or knockdown texture, use 1/2 inch. Benjamin Moore calls 3/8 inch “best for walls and ceilings.”
The setup
| Part | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 9 in. 5-wire cage, threaded handle | Benjamin Moore recommends a standard 9 inch roller for walls; a threaded handle takes a pole. |
| Cover nap | 3/8 in. (1/2 in. for texture) | Benjamin Moore: 3/8 in. “best for walls and ceilings”; 1/2 in. for semi-rough. |
| Cover fabric | Microfiber or woven for sheen; knit for flat | Purdy pairs glossy sheens with woven, everyday paints with knit. |
| Pole | 2 to 4 ft or 4 to 8 ft | Even pressure top to bottom, less ladder work. |
| Brush | 2 to 2-1/2 in. angled sash | For cutting in corners and edges. |
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01Most walls
A 3/8 inch microfiber cover
Best for Smooth drywall in matte, eggshell or satin
- Nap
- 3/8 in.
- Fabric
- Microfiber
- Width
- 9 in.
- Benjamin Moore says microfiber blends are designed for high capacity and smooth, consistent release.
- Holding more paint makes it easier to keep a wet edge.
-
02Higher sheen
Wooster Pro/Doo-Z or Purdy White Dove (woven)
Best for Satin and semi-gloss walls, kitchens and baths
- Nap
- 3/8 in.
- Fabric
- Woven
- Width
- 9 in.
- Woven covers leave little lint, which matters most in shinier paint.
Bob Vila’s testers found the Pro/Doo-Z gave the smoothest finish of the rollers they tried.
Source: Bob Vila, The Best Paint Rollers, tested (updated August 2025) -
03Textured walls
A 1/2 inch knit or microfiber cover
Best for Orange peel and light knockdown walls
- Nap
- 1/2 in.
- Fabric
- Knit or microfiber
- Width
- 9 in.
- Reaches the low spots a 3/8 in. cover skips.
- On a smooth wall it leaves more stipple, so do not default to it.
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04Starter
A 9 inch roller kit
Best for One room, no tools on hand
- Includes
- Frame, covers, tray
- Nap
- Usually 3/8 in.
- Width
- 9 in.
Bob Vila named the Bates Choice 11-piece kit its best value pick, though testers found the cover hard to remove from the frame.
Source: Bob Vila, The Best Paint Rollers, tested (updated August 2025)
Rolling a wall, briefly
Cut in the edges with a brush first, a section at a time. Load the roller, roll a large W about an arm’s length tall, fill it in without lifting, then lay off with light top-to-bottom strokes. Keep the edge you are working toward wet. The full method is in how to paint with a roller, and the fix for stripes is in how to avoid roller marks.
Kitchens, baths and kids’ rooms
These rooms often get satin or semi-gloss for washability. Higher sheens show texture and lint, so this is where a woven or microfiber cover earns its price over a cheap knit. If you see orange peel dimples in the finish, Benjamin Moore suggests switching to a thinner nap.
Walls with texture
Orange peel and knockdown walls need 1/2 inch; heavy texture needs 3/4 inch. See rollers for textured walls. Purdy puts walls, ceilings and paneling at 3/8 inch and lightly textured walls at 1/2 inch.
Search 4 to 8 ft extension poles
Questions people ask
What is the best nap for interior walls?
3/8 inch for smooth or lightly finished drywall, which is what Benjamin Moore and Purdy both recommend for walls. Use 1/2 inch for walls with visible texture such as orange peel or knockdown.
What is the best roller for a smooth finish on walls?
A quality 3/8 inch woven or microfiber cover, used with a wet edge. Purdy says woven fabrics leave little lint and a very smooth finish. A shorter 1/4 inch nap is smoother still, but holds less paint, so it is slower on a whole wall.
How many roller covers do I need to paint a room?
One quality cover per color is usually enough for a room if you wrap it between coats. Keep a spare in case one sheds or gets dirt in it.
Should I use an 18 inch roller on walls?
Only on big, open walls. Purdy notes that longer rollers paint more area per pass, but an 18 inch roller needs a bucket and grid, a sturdy frame and more effort, and it is awkward around windows and doors.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.