Choosing the Right Brushes for Miniature Painting: A Practical Buying Guide

Quick answer

Buy two or three brushes instead of a giant set: a size 2 round for basecoats and most work, a size 0 or 1 for details, and a cheap flat or old brush for drybrushing and metallics. Look for synthetic fibers if you use acrylics and want low maintenance, and add a natural-hair detail brush only if you regularly paint eyes, freehands, or fine edge highlights.

A good brush won't fix a bad paint job, but the wrong brush makes every step harder. If your basecoat streaks, your edge highlights blob, or your drybrush leaves scratch marks, the brush is often the culprit—not your technique.

This guide gives you concrete decision rules for choosing miniature brushes by shape, size, and fiber. You'll learn which brushes to buy first, which to skip, and how to match a brush to the job in front of you.

Start with shape, not brand

The three shapes you'll use most are round, flat, and drybrush. A round brush has a pointed tip for controlled lines and small areas. A flat brush covers large surfaces quickly and is useful for drybrushing or painting bases and terrain. A dedicated drybrush has short, stiff bristles that hold less moisture and release paint evenly.

For most miniature painting, rounds do 90% of the work. Buy one good round in a size you can control, then add a flat or drybrush for texture. If you only paint infantry and characters, you may never need a flat brush at all.

• Round: basecoats, layers, edge highlights, details
• Flat: large areas, drybrushing, terrain, bases
• Drybrush: textured surfaces, fur, stone, quick highlights

Pick sizes for your actual models

Size numbers vary between manufacturers, so test one brush before buying a full range. As a rule, a size 2 round is the workhorse for 28–32mm miniatures. A size 0 or 1 handles eyes, straps, and fine details. A size 3 or 4 round is useful for tanks, monsters, and terrain, but it can flood small areas if you're not careful.

If you're painting a board game warband or a Blood Bowl team, start with a size 1 and a size 2. If you're painting a display piece with lots of freehand, add a size 0. Don't buy a 10-brush set just to get one good tip.

• Size 2 round: your default for most miniature painting
• Size 0–1 round: details, eyes, edge highlights
• Size 3–4 round or flat: vehicles, monsters, terrain

Synthetic vs. natural hair: honest trade-offs

Synthetic brushes are made from nylon or polyester. They resist acrylic paint, clean up easily, and cost less. They tend to curl or lose their point faster than natural hair, especially if you let paint dry in the ferrule. Natural-hair brushes, usually kolinsky sable, hold a sharper point and release paint more smoothly, but they cost more and need careful cleaning.

If you're using acrylics and painting regularly, start with synthetics. Add one natural-hair detail brush if you want crisper fine lines and are willing to care for it. If you use enamel or oil paints, check the brush label—some synthetics degrade with harsh solvents.

• Synthetic: affordable, easy to clean, good for acrylics
• Natural hair: sharper tip, smoother release, higher cost
• Keep one cheap brush for metallics and washes to protect your good tips

Match the brush to the paint and technique

Thick paints like Citadel: Zandri Dust Spray are not brush paints—they're spray primers. For brush-on work, thin your paint to a skim-milk consistency and use a round brush with a fine tip. Washes and shades flow best from a dedicated brush you don't mind staining. Drybrushing needs a stiff, dry brush with almost no moisture.

If you're painting with an airbrush, you still need a detail brush for touch-ups. Citadel: Air Typhon Ash (24Ml) is formulated for airbrush use, but you can brush it on for small corrections. Keep a separate brush for metallic paints; the flakes can contaminate your other colors.

• Use a dedicated brush for washes and metallics
• Thin acrylics before brushing to protect the tip
• Drybrush with a separate stiff brush, not your detail brush

How many brushes do you actually need?

Two or three brushes cover most painting. A size 2 round for basecoats and layers, a size 0 or 1 for details, and a cheap flat or old brush for drybrushing and metallics. If you paint a lot of terrain or vehicles, add a larger flat brush. If you paint eyes and freehands often, add a natural-hair detail brush.

Buy the best brush you can afford for the size you use most. A single high-quality size 2 will improve your painting more than a set of ten mediocre brushes. Replace brushes when they stop holding a point, not on a schedule.

• Minimum kit: size 2 round, size 0 round, one drybrush
• Add a flat brush for terrain and large models
• Upgrade your most-used size first

Decision rules for buying miniature brushes

• If you're just starting out: Buy a size 2 round synthetic and a size 0 round synthetic. Add a cheap flat brush for drybrushing. You'll cover basecoats, details, and texture without overspending.
• If you paint fine details and freehands: Add one natural-hair detail brush in size 0 or 1, and keep it clean with brush soap. Reserve it for eyes, edge highlights, and fine lines.
• If you paint vehicles or terrain: Add a large flat brush and a dedicated drybrush. Don't use your detail brush for these tasks. Match the tool to the surface; big brushes save time on large areas.
• If you use metallics and washes: Keep separate brushes for metallic paints and washes. Label them so you don't mix them up. This prevents contamination and extends the life of your good brushes.
• If you're on a tight budget: Buy one good size 2 round and one cheap size 0. Skip the full set. A single quality brush beats a set of poor ones.

Products that pair with your brushes

• Citadel: Zandri Dust Spray: This is a spray primer, not a brush-on paint, and it ships only to the United States due to distribution restrictions. Use it to prime models before brushwork; if you're outside the US, you'll need a different primer option.
• Citadel: Air Typhon Ash (24Ml): This is an airbrush-ready paint that can also be brushed on for touch-ups, and it ships only to the United States. Keep a dedicated detail brush for touch-ups and small corrections; don't use your best brush for airbrush paint if you want to preserve its tip.

Who should buy which brushes

Best for

• Beginners who need a simple, affordable starter set
• Painters who mostly use acrylics on 28–32mm miniatures
• Hobbyists who want to upgrade one brush at a time

Not for

• Painters who need only airbrush tools and no brushwork
• Collectors who never paint their models
• Anyone looking for a single brush to do every job perfectly

Choose brushes by the job, not by the size of the set. Start with a size 2 round and a size 0, add a drybrush, and upgrade to natural hair only when your painting calls for finer control. Replace brushes when they stop holding a point, and keep your best tips away from metallics and washes.