The Best Paint Edgers to Get Professional Results for Any DIY Project

Create a perfectly painted edge with The Shur-Line Paint Edger Pro

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Best and Worst Paint Edgers

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

If you want the most professional results possible when tackling a DIY paint job, you’ll want a paint edger, which allows you to create precise, clean lines along the edges of trim, doors, ceilings, and baseboards without having to use painter’s tape or a cutting-in technique.

We evaluated paint edgers based on smoothness of performance, ease of use, and durability.

Here are the best paint edgers for a wide variety of needs.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Shur-Line Paint Edger Pro with 2 Pad Refills

4.7
Shur-Line Paint Edger Pro with 2 Pad Refills

Amazon

What We Like
  • Flip-up wheels stay clean when reloading with paint

  • Single-touch pad ejection

  • Swiveling handle

What We Don't Like
  • Not for heavily textured surfaces

  • Few complaints of wobbling on extension pole

One of the biggest annoyances when using a paint edger is dipping the pad into the paint tray and getting paint onto the edger’s wheels, which then track paint onto the wall and spoil your perfect edge. To the rescue: The ingenious and yet simple design of the Shur-Line Paint Edger Pro, which lets you flip the wheels up and out of the way when it’s time to reload the 4-3/4 x 3-3/4 inch replaceable pad with paint. You'll appreciate the clean, neat edges you can create with this handy tool.

Add to that the smoothly rolling wheels, the single-touch pad ejection feature–no more paint on your fingers–the swiveling handle that attaches to any standard paint extension pole, the ergonomic design that’s easy on your hands, and the soft pad that lays down paint without lint or brushstrokes, and you have a paint edger that helps even a beginner paint around trim, baseboards, and other obstacles like a pro. Use it with just about any type of paint or stain.

Price at time of publish: $10

Pad or Roller: Pad | Extension Pole Adapter: Yes | For heavily textured surfaces: No

What Our Experts Say

“Always purchase the best brushes and paint that you can afford. It will make a huge difference in your results.” David Mason, interior designer and the owner of The Knobs Company

Best for Ceilings

Shur-Line Edger Plus Premium Paint Edger

Shur-Line Edger Plus Premium Paint Edger

Amazon

What We Like
  • Woven pad applies paint evenly

  • Wheels glide smoothly

  • Pivots and swivels to reach corners

What We Don't Like
  • Not for heavily textured surfaces or popcorn ceilings

  • Some users complain it's hard not to get paint on the wheels

Painting the ceiling can be challenging, but with the Shur-Line Edger Plus Premium and your favorite sturdy paint extension pole, you can quickly and easily get perfectly cut lines around the edges—no more frustrating spots of paint on the walls. The smoothly rolling wheels won’t catch or skip, and the woven pad applies paint evenly on smooth or lightly textured ceilings. Once attached to your extension pole, the edger easily pivots or swivels as needed, making it a breeze to work your way around air vents or lighting fixtures. The 6-1/2 x 5-3/4 inch replaceable pad is large enough to get the job done quickly, which means a lot less strain on your arms, neck, and shoulders from working overhead.

Price at time of publish: $9

Pad or Roller: Pad | Extension Pole Adapter: Yes | For heavily textured surfaces: No

Best for High Walls

Wagner Smart Edge Paint Roller

Wagner Smart Edge Paint Roller

Amazon

What We Like
  • Removes need for paint pan on ladder

  • Handles textured walls well

  • Adjustable roller arm for any position

What We Don't Like
  • Definite learning curve to using the device

  • If roller overloads with paint, it will drip

Painting high walls presents a predicament: You either need to balance your paint pan on your ladder, or you need to step down to reload the roller or brush with paint every time it runs dry. However, the Wagner Smart Edge Roller eliminates both scenarios, and instead, holds up to six ounces of paint right in the handle, letting you cover up to 96 feet before needing a refill. That means you can work with fewer interruptions, all while creating smooth, perfect lines along the tops of walls, over windows, around trim, or even in hard-to-reach spots over doorways with the 3 x 3/8 inch roller’s built-in edging guides. And once you finish the project, the roller is washable and reusable, so it will be ready the next time you need to paint.

Price at time of publish: $22

Pad or Roller: Roller | Extension Pole Adapter: No | For heavily textured surfaces: Yes

What Our Experts Say

“Stir your paint rather than shake it. I always begin stirring at least one day before painting. I allow it to sit overnight, and then stir again in the morning.” David Mason, interior designer and the owner of The Knobs Company

Best Budget

Whizz Painter Edger

Whizz Painter Edger

Whizz

What We Like
  • Reasonable price

  • Large size of pad

What We Don't Like
  • Can't use with extension pole

  • Some complaints of wheels sticking

  • Small handle

Sometimes, all you need is an inexpensive paint edger for a small painting project or to touch up scuffs or other damage on an already painted wall. For those times, the Whizz Painter Edger is inexpensive enough to toss without regrets once the job is finished–although the pads are replaceable if you want to keep the edger for future use–yet it still applies paint smoothly and quickly, leaving no lint or track marks behind. At 3-1/2 x 7-5/8 inches, this edger is larger than most, so you can cover a lot of wall without spending a lot of time. On the downside, you cannot attach an extension pole to the edger, and the small handle is not as easily or comfortably grasped as the handle of other paint edgers featured here.  

Price at time of publish: $5

Pad or Roller: Pad | Extension Pole Adapter: No | For heavily textured surfaces: No

Best for Corners

Shur-Line Premium Corner Painter

Shur-Line Premium Corner Painter

Amazon

What We Like
  • Makes painting corners easy

  • Extension pole adapter

What We Don't Like
  • Only useful for corners

If you’ve ever painted a room, you know one of the biggest challenges is getting full, even coverage in the corners. Regular paint brushes and rollers tend to either miss spots or deposit paint unevenly in a corner’s tight confines, which leaves your paint job looking sloppy and unprofessional. Luckily, there’s a solution: The Shur-Line Premium Corner Painter. Instead of the usual rectangle, this ingenious device has a V-shaped head with just enough swivel to easily reach into corners and lay a smooth, neat application of paint without seamlines, gaps, or drips. Attach an extension pole to reach corners way up high or grasp the ergonomic handle when working down low. The edger takes regular 4-3/4 x 3-3/4 inch Shur-Line refill pads, so you can use it over and over again.

Price at time of publish: $10

Pad or Roller: Pad | Extension Pole Adapter: Yes | For heavily textured surfaces: No

What Our Experts Say

“When rolling paint on a wall, you should always start in the top left corner and roll down, and then roll up from that same corner. This will help to eliminate any ridges and bumps.” David Mason, interior designer and the owner of The Knobs Company

Best Roller

Accubrush MX Paint Edger Jumbo Kit

Accubrush MX Paint Edger Jumbo Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • Roller lets you work quickly

  • Works on textured surfaces

What We Don't Like
  • No extension pole adapter

  • Somewhat expensive

Most paint edgers are flat rectangular pads, which do a fine job, but require slow and careful work. Some painters, however, are in a hurry. If you are one of them, it’s hard to beat the Accubrush MX for creating perfect edges while still keeping up a quick pace. This handy device has a 4 x 2 inch poly-blend roller with a 3/8-inch nap that evenly covers both flat and textured surfaces. But the real secret is in the combination of the plastic side guard and tiny underlying brush that lets the roller glide right along the edges of corners, ceilings, baseboards, and trim without the need for protective painter’s tape, and without smudging paint where you don’t want it to go. Instead, you’ll get a perfect line of paint that would make even a professional proud. The rollers are washable and reusable.

Price at time of publish: $45

Pad or Roller: Roller | Extension Pole Adapter: No | For heavily textured surfaces: Yes

Best for High Ceilings

Mr. LongArm Trim Smart Paint Edger

Mr. LongArm Trim Smart Paint Edger

Amazon

What We Like
  • Extra wheel means no lifting pad to change direction

  • Extension pole adapter

  • Works on lightly textured surfaces

What We Don't Like
  • Not good for popcorn or heavily textured surfaces

If your ceilings are exceptionally high, you’ll still need to use a stepladder, but with the Mr. LongArm Trim Smart Edger and your choice of paint extension pole, even high ceilings get the perfectly edged lines they deserve. Unlike most edgers, which only have two horizontally aligned wheels, this edger has an additional wheel placed vertically, so you can change directions without having to lift the edger off the painted surface–a major plus when working on a ceiling high above your head. The flocked foam 4-3/4 x 3-1/2 inch pads glide over smooth or lightly textured surfaces and are easy to replace once your project is finished.

Price at time of publish: $23

Pad or Roller: Pad | Extension Pole Adapter: Yes | For heavily textured surfaces: No

What Our Experts Say

“Never wash your paintbrushes in the sink, as this can dull them. Always use a brush comb to pull out the dried paint, and then wash the brush in a bucket of warm, soapy water. Once you have washed them all, rinse them well, and then wash for a second time in clear water. Make sure you shake them out well, and then hang them to dry.” David Mason, interior designer and the owner of The Knobs Company

Best for Textured Walls

Emery Edgers Paint Brush Edging Tool

Emery Edgers Paint Brush Edging Tool

Amazon

What We Like
  • No paint gap between edger and trim

  • Handles even popcorn ceilings

What We Don't Like
  • Some complaints about brush quality

  • Few complaints of difficulty assembling edger

It can be tough getting a clean, straight line on a textured wall. Some foam pad edgers don’t glide smoothly over heavy texture, leaving bare spots that mar your project’s appearance. But missed spots and skips won’t be a problem when you use the Emery Edger Paint Brush Edging Tool, even on heavily textured surfaces. Unlike most paint edgers, this one isn’t a wheeled pad or roller. Instead, it’s a traditional 1-1/5 inch nylon-bristle paintbrush with an attached plastic two-piece edge guard that creates precise lines around doors, windows, trim, and other obstacles. A foam pad between the two halves of the plastic guard keeps paint flowing smoothly over the brush bristles, even on rough surfaces, textured walls, or popcorn ceilings. While you’ll need to replace the pad, you can easily clean the paintbrush and plastic guard for use on future projects.

Price at time of publish: $12

Pad or Roller: N/A | Extension Pole Adapter: No | For heavily textured surfaces: Yes

Final Verdict

The Shur-Line Paint Edger Pro (view at Amazon) solves the annoying problem of wheels tracked with paint by letting you flip the wheels out of the way while dipping the pad into your paint tray. That, along with its smooth performance and mess-free pad ejection feature make it our top choice. But if you’re painting a room with high walls, you might prefer the Wagner Smart Edge Paint Roller (view at Amazon), which holds paint right in the handle, eliminating the need to climb up and down your ladder every time you need more paint.

What to Look for in a Paint Edger

Pad or Roller

There are two basic types of paint edger: those with pads and those with rollers. Paint edgers with pads basically smear on the paint; the pads are fabric with a bit of texture, so you dip the pad into the paint and then slide it across the wall.

Paint edgers with rollers are much like full-size paint rollers; a flocked roller rotates as you move it across the wall. As a general rule, pads are less expensive than rollers, but pads are likelier to leave lines in the fresh paint.

Ease of Movement

Ideally, your paint edger glides along the wall without catching or dragging. Some have small wheels to make movement very easy, but you’ll need to take care not to get sloppy with your work.

Extension Pole Adapter

Most—but not all—paint edgers have an attachment point for an extension pole. If you’ll be working up high on the walls or ceiling, this is a must-have, so be sure to check the specifications before purchasing your edger.

Size and Shape

Most paint edgers are fairly small, but some are larger than others. If you’ll be working in tight corners or on a small stretch of wall, a correspondingly small paint edger is your best choice. If you have lots of wall to cover, however, a larger edger will shorten your work time. And while most paint edgers are rectangular, you’ll find triangular edgers for tackling corners.

Why Trust the Spruce?

This article was written by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. She's a big fan of paint edgers, having used many of them during numerous interior painting projects.

Ullman also received advice and recommendations from David Mason, interior designer and the owner of The Knobs Company.

FAQ
  • How do you use a paint edger?

    Using a paint edger is similar to using a paintbrush or roller. To achieve the best results with a paint edger, don't overload the edger or wheels with paint. These errors will lead to smears instead of clean edges.

  • How do you clean a paint edger?

    To clean a paint edger, start by rinsing the edger pad and holder with clean water, and squeeze the pad to release paint. Rinse again before working a couple of drops of liquid dishwashing soap into the pad. Rinse again and allow it to air dry.

  • How long does a paint edger last?

    The cheapest paint edgers are disposable, but paint edgers with replaceable pads can last through multiple paint jobs if cleaned thoroughly between uses. Once the pad becomes frayed, loaded with dry paint, or worn, you’ll need to replace it.