Best Brushes for Warhammer Painting (2026)

A good brush is the most important tool in your painting arsenal. While paint quality matters, even the best paint in the world will produce poor results through a bad brush. Conversely, a quality brush with a sharp point and good spring can elevate your painting dramatically. This guide covers everything you need to know about choosing, using, and maintaining brushes for Warhammer miniature painting — from budget-friendly options to professional-grade tools.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

Our picks are based on manufacturer specs, the Amazon listings and what painters commonly use – we explain the reasoning for each below.

	Product	Type	Price
	Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable, Round #1 Best Overall	Kolinsky sable, size 1	$26.89 as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST	Buy on Amazon
	Golden Maple Kolinsky Sable Miniature Brushes (00, 0, 1) Best Budget Sable	Kolinsky sable, 3 sizes	$29.99 as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST	Buy on Amazon
	Army Painter Hobby Starter Brush Set Best for Beginners	3 brushes (standard, detail, drybrush)	$21.59 as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST	Buy on Amazon
	Army Painter Wargames Mega Brush Set Best Value Set	10 brushes incl. 1 sable	$49.99 as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST	Buy on Amazon
	Army Painter Masterclass Drybrush Set Best Drybrushes	3 goat-hair drybrushes	$24.40 as of Nov 14, 2026 10:33 PM PST	Buy on Amazon
	“The Masters” Brush Cleaner and Preserver (1 oz) Best Brush Care	Brush soap, 1 oz	$8.68 as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST	Buy on Amazon

Prices are from Amazon.com (US) at the time shown. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.

The Best Brushes for Warhammer Miniatures (2026)

1. Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable, Round #1 – Best Overall

Best Overall

$26.89 (as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST)

Price details

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The Series 7 is the most famous brush in miniature painting. Winsor & Newton highlights three things – a crisp point that holds during use, snap and spring, and even flow from a well-filled belly – and those are exactly what you want for layering and edge highlights.

Best for: One premium brush that does almost everything.

2. Golden Maple Kolinsky Sable Miniature Brushes (00, 0, 1) – Best Budget Sable

Best Budget Sable

$29.99 (as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST)

Price details

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Golden Maple’s three-brush set gives you sizes 00, 0 and 1 in kolinsky sable for less than one top-tier brush. It’s a sensible way to find out whether sable suits you.

Best for: Trying sable without paying for a Series 7.

3. Army Painter Hobby Starter Brush Set – Best for Beginners

Best for Beginners

$21.59 (as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST)

Price details

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Army Painter’s Hobby Starter set covers every stage of a beginner’s model: a standard brush for basecoats, an ultra-fine detail brush for eyes and rivets, and a flat-topped drybrush for quick highlights.

Best for: New painters who need the three basic brushes.

4. Army Painter Wargames Mega Brush Set – Best Value Set

Best Value Set

$49.99 (as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST)

Price details

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Ten brushes, from large basecoat and drybrushes down to an extremely fine detail tip, plus Army Painter’s Masterclass kolinsky sable brush thrown in. It’s the easiest way to have the right brush for every job.

Best for: Kitting out a full hobby desk in one go.

5. Army Painter Masterclass Drybrush Set – Best Drybrushes

Best Drybrushes

$24.40 (as of Nov 14, 2026 10:33 PM PST)

Price details

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Soft, dome-tipped drybrushes are what made Artis Opus’s Series D famous, and Army Painter’s Masterclass set brings the same idea in three sizes. The rounded goat-hair tip gives a gentle, refined result even when you drybrush hard.

Best for: Smooth, subtle drybrushing on anything from infantry to terrain.

6. “The Masters” Brush Cleaner and Preserver (1 oz) – Best Brush Care

Best Brush Care

$8.68 (as of Nov 14, 2026 12:21 PM PST)

Price details

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“The Masters” is the standard brush soap in miniature painting. General Pencil says it cleans and conditions in one step, works on acrylics, and won’t harm sable – and it can even lift old dried paint if left on the brush for a few hours.

Best for: Making every brush on this list last longer.

Understanding Brush Types

Different painting tasks require different brush types. Here are the main categories you will encounter:

Detail / Fine Brushes (Size 0, 00, 000)

Small, fine-pointed brushes for painting eyes, insignia, gemstones, tiny details, and precision work. These brushes have a very small paint reservoir, which means you need to reload them frequently. They are essential for finishing touches but should not be used for general painting — a larger brush with a good point actually provides more precision because it holds more paint and does not dry out as fast.

Standard / Layer Brushes (Size 1, 2)

These are your workhorse brushes. A size 1 or size 2 brush with a good point handles 80% of miniature painting work — basecoating small areas, layering, highlighting, and even fine detail work. Many professional painters use a single size 2 brush for almost everything. The key is a sharp point and a good belly (paint reservoir).

Basecoat Brushes (Size 3, 4, or flat brushes)

Larger brushes for covering large surfaces quickly. Flat brushes are excellent for painting large, flat areas like vehicle panels or shields. Round basecoat brushes hold lots of paint and cover infantry-sized models efficiently.

Drybrushes

Flat, stiff-bristled brushes with bristles cut straight across, designed for the drybrushing technique. They come in various sizes for different model scales. Good drybrushes should have firm but not scratchy bristles and a flat, even profile.

Wash Brushes

Medium to large brushes with a good point and excellent paint capacity, used for applying shade paints. The ideal wash brush holds lots of liquid wash and allows you to guide it into recesses with the tip. An old, slightly worn standard brush often works perfectly for washes.

Brush Materials — Synthetic vs Kolinsky Sable

Synthetic Brushes

Synthetic brushes are made from nylon or taklon fibres. They are the most affordable option and the most commonly available. Modern synthetic brushes have improved dramatically in quality and are perfectly adequate for most painting tasks.

Pros: Affordable, widely available, cruelty-free, durable, good for beginners, excellent for basecoating and washing, easy to replace.

Cons: Lose their point faster than natural hair, do not hold as much paint in the belly, tip can curl or splay with use, less springy than sable.

Kolinsky Sable

Kolinsky sable brushes are made from the tail hair of the kolinsky (the Siberian weasel). They are the gold standard for miniature painting and are what professional and competitive painters typically use. The natural fibres have microscopic scales that hold paint exceptionally well, and the hair has a natural spring that brings the brush back to a sharp point.

Pros: Superior point retention, excellent paint-holding capacity (the “belly”), natural spring and snap, longer lifespan with proper care, smoother paint application.

Cons: Significantly more expensive, require careful maintenance, availability of top-tier brands can be limited, not cruelty-free.

How to Choose a Brush for Miniatures

The point matters more than the size. A size 1 or 2 with a sharp point and a good belly does more than a tiny 000 that runs dry in seconds. Buy one quality round for most of your work.

Sable for detail, synthetic for abuse. Kolinsky sable keeps its point and holds more paint; synthetics are cheaper and better for metallics, washes and anything rough on bristles.

Drybrushes are their own thing. Soft, dome-shaped drybrushes give smoother results than stiff flat ones – see our drybrushing tutorial for the technique.

Budget for brush soap. A tub of brush cleaner costs less than one sable brush and makes every brush last longer.

Brush Brands Compared

Not every good brush is easy to buy on Amazon, so here’s how the main brands compare – including Citadel, Artis Opus and Raphael, which are best bought from hobby stores or the makers directly.

Citadel Brushes (Games Workshop)

Citadel offers a complete range of brushes designed for Warhammer painting. Their STC range includes synthetic and blended (synthetic/natural) options at moderate prices.

• Quality: Decent but not exceptional. The synthetic brushes are adequate for beginners.
• Price: Mid-range
• Best product: Citadel drybrushes are genuinely good and worth buying. Their Medium Base brush is a solid workhorse.
• Verdict: Fine for starting out, but you will likely want to upgrade to better brushes as your skills improve.

Artis Opus — Series S and Series D

Artis Opus is a brush brand designed specifically for miniature painters, developed through a successful Kickstarter campaign. They produce kolinsky sable detail brushes (Series S) and exceptional drybrushes (Series D).

• Quality: Excellent. The Series S sable brushes have great points and belly. The Series D drybrushes are widely considered the best drybrushes available.
• Price: Premium
• Best product: Series D drybrushes. They produce incredibly smooth, controlled drybrush effects that are a significant upgrade over standard drybrushes.
• Verdict: The drybrushes are worth every penny. The detail brushes are very good but face stiff competition from Winsor & Newton and Raphael.

Winsor & Newton Series 7

The Winsor & Newton Series 7 is the most famous miniature painting brush in the world. These kolinsky sable brushes have been the go-to choice for professional miniature painters for decades. Winsor & Newton traces the range back to 1866, when it was commissioned to make the finest watercolour brushes for Queen Victoria, and the brushes are still hand-made in England.

• Quality: Outstanding. Legendary point retention, excellent belly, beautiful spring and snap. A well-maintained Series 7 can last for years.
• Price: Premium – one of the most expensive brushes per size
• Best product: The size 1 and size 2 are the most popular. Many painters use a Series 7 size 1 for 90% of their painting.
• Verdict: The gold standard. If you buy one premium brush, make it a Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 1. You will immediately feel the difference.

Army Painter Brushes

Army Painter produces a range of affordable synthetic and blended brushes. Their Wargamer series covers all the standard brush types at budget-friendly prices.

• Quality: Acceptable to good. The Regiment brush (basecoat) and Insane Detail brush are their best products. Some brushes in the range can lose their point quickly.
• Price: Budget
• Best product: The Regiment brush is a solid, affordable basecoat brush. Their drybrushes are decent for the price.
• Verdict: Great for beginners on a budget. These are the brushes to start with before investing in premium options.

Raphael 8404

The Raphael 8404 is a French-made kolinsky sable brush that has become increasingly popular among miniature painters as an alternative to the Winsor & Newton Series 7. Many painters argue it is actually superior, offering a larger belly with equally good point retention.

• Quality: Outstanding. Exceptional belly size (holds more paint than almost any competitor), excellent point, good spring.
• Price: Premium
• Best product: The size 1 and size 2 are both exceptional. The larger belly means less frequent paint reloading.
• Verdict: Many experienced painters consider the Raphael 8404 the best miniature painting brush available. It is a worthy rival to the Series 7 and some painters prefer it.

Brush Comparison Table

Budget-Friendly Brush Options

If premium brushes are outside your budget, here are some affordable alternatives that punch above their weight:

• Rosemary & Co Series 33: Affordable kolinsky sable brushes from a UK manufacturer. Excellent quality for the price.
• Da Vinci Maestro Series 10: German-made kolinsky sable at mid-range prices. Very good quality.
• Hobby Mio brushes: Budget-friendly synthetic brushes that have gained a following in the community.
• Cheap makeup brushes: For drybrushing specifically, cheap blush and eyeshadow brushes from a pound shop work surprisingly well.

How to Care for Your Brushes

Proper brush care is the difference between a brush that lasts for months and one that lasts for years. Follow these practices to get the most life from your investment:

During Painting

• Never let paint dry in the ferrule: The ferrule is the metal part that holds the bristles. If paint dries up inside the ferrule, it splays the bristles apart and ruins the point permanently. Rinse your brush frequently.
• Never leave brushes standing in water: This bends the bristles and loosens the glue holding them in the ferrule. Rest brushes horizontally or point-down in a brush stand.
• Do not use your good brushes for metallic paints: Metallic paints contain metal particles that are abrasive and accelerate brush wear. Use a dedicated “metallic brush” — a cheaper brush reserved for metallics.
• Do not dip past the belly: When loading paint, only dip the front third of the bristles. Paint should never reach the ferrule.

After Painting

• Rinse thoroughly: Rinse all paint from the brush in clean water. Gently work the bristles with your fingers to release any paint trapped near the ferrule.
• Use brush soap: Invest in brush soap or brush cleaner — “The Masters” Brush Cleaner & Preserver is the standard choice. Wet the brush, swirl it in the soap, work the soap through the bristles with your fingers, rinse, and repeat until the water runs clear.
• Reshape and dry: After cleaning, reshape the bristles to a point with your fingers and lay the brush flat to dry. Some painters use the brush soap to form a protective point that holds the brush’s shape until the next use.

Recommended Starter Brush Sets

If you are starting from scratch, here is what to buy at different budget levels:

Budget Starter

• Army Painter Wargamer Regiment brush (basecoating)
• Army Painter Wargamer Character brush (detail)
• Any cheap drybrush

Mid-Range Starter

• Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 1 (your do-everything brush)
• Citadel Medium Base brush (basecoating)
• Citadel Medium Drybrush
• A pot of “The Masters” Brush Cleaner

Premium Starter

• Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 0 and size 1 (or Raphael 8404 equivalents)
• Artis Opus Series D drybrush set (small and medium)
• Citadel Medium Base brush (do not need premium for basecoating)
• A cheap synthetic brush for metallics
• “The Masters” Brush Cleaner & Preserver

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best brush for miniature painting?

A Winsor & Newton Series 7 size 1 or a Raphael 8404 size 1. Either of these brushes can handle nearly every painting task from basecoating infantry to fine detail work, thanks to their excellent point and generous belly.

Are expensive brushes worth it?

Yes, if you care for them properly. A Winsor & Newton Series 7 that lasts two years is better value than a cheap synthetic brush you replace every two months, even though it costs several times as much up front. The improvement in painting experience is also significant — better point retention and paint flow make every brushstroke easier and more precise.

How often should I replace brushes?

With proper care, a quality sable brush can last 1-2 years of regular use. Replace a brush when it no longer holds a point despite cleaning, when bristles are permanently splayed, or when it no longer holds enough paint. Synthetic brushes typically need replacing more frequently — every 2-4 months of regular use.

Do I need separate brushes for different paint types?

At minimum, keep separate brushes for: regular painting, metallic paints, drybrushing, and applying wash/shade paints. Using a single brush for everything will wear it out much faster and compromise your results.

What brush should I use for edge highlighting?

Many painters prefer a size 0 or size 1 with a good point. The trick is not the brush size but the technique — use the side of the brush rather than the tip, running it along the edge of the armour plate. A larger brush with a good point actually gives you more control than a tiny detail brush.

Are there good vegan or cruelty-free brush alternatives?

Yes. Modern synthetic brushes have improved significantly. The Monument Hobbies Pro Synthetic brush range and the Broken Toad Fugazi series are highly regarded synthetic options that approach sable performance. They will not quite match a top-tier sable for point retention, but they are excellent brushes in their own right.

For more painting guidance, check out our paint comparison guide, drybrushing tutorial, and beginner painting guide.

How do I fix a brush with a bent or splayed tip?

Dip the bristles briefly in hot, not boiling, water, then work in some brush soap such as The Masters and shape the tip to a point with your fingers. Leave the soap to dry on the brush overnight, then rinse it out before painting. This rescues many synthetic and sable brushes, though a tip with broken hairs or paint dried into the ferrule may be past saving.

Why does my brush keep losing its point?

Usually because paint has crept up into the ferrule, where it dries and forces the bristles apart. Only load the front half of the bristles, rinse often while painting, and never leave a brush standing tip-down in your water pot. Cleaning with brush soap after each session and keeping the protective cap on also helps a brush hold its point for much longer.

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