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11 Best Roller for Painting Cabinets in 2023: Must Read It

So you want to paint the cabinets in your house? The best tool to use is a paint roller.

Unfortunately, the task of finding the best roller for painting cabinets can be tiresome with the variety of options available. You can choose the ideal roller for painting cabinets with the help of this article.

  • 1. Best Roller for Trim: FoamPRO 92 Roller
  • 2. Best Mini Roller Set: FoamPRO 176-10 Foam Paint Roller
  • 3. Best Professional-Grade Paint Roller Set” Bates Choice 11-Piece Home Painting Supplies
  • 4. Best Foam Roller Covers and Frame: NANJA Roller Frame with 4-Inch Mini Paint Foam Roller Cover Refills
  • 5. Best Multipurpose Kit: Magimate Paint Roller Kit
  • 6. Best Roller and Brush for Chalk Paint: POOVI Tool Trio with Paint Brush, Roller, Sponge
  • 7. Best Rollers for a Smooth Paint Finish: Shur-Line 4-Inch Mini Paint Roller Cover Refills
  • 8. Best Foam Rollers: FoamPRO 185 Foam Paint Brush Refills
  • 9. Best Mini Rollers for a Flat Surface: Purdy Jumbo Mini Parrot Roller Replacements
  • 10. Best Rollers for Latex Paint: Work Tools International 51012 Paint Roller Cover
  • 11. Another High-quality Option: Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover

The best paint rollers for painting cabinets are reviewed below; read on to learn more!

Best Roller for Painting Cabinets

1. Best Roller for Trim: FoamPRO 92 Roller

FoamPRO 92 Roller

Foam rollers are great for smooth surfaces and this set of foam rollers from FoamPRO is doubly impressive thanks to their compact size. They can fit into smaller indents and grooves and glide across trim and panels that are only three inches wide.

Customers who have extended the life of the roller and tray claim that they can even be kept for one or two days in a bag in the refrigerator.

Despite their small size, they have a finish that is more than acceptable. As one reviewer noted: “It was a favorite to paint the numerous cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms because there were no roller marks.

2. Best Mini Roller Set: FoamPRO 176-10 Foam Paint Roller

FoamPRO 176-10 Foam Paint Roller

With the smooth finish and no lint left behind, these six-inch foam rollers can glide over cabinet doors. But they’re not only good for the classic can of paint, they can handle urethanes, stains, and varnishes, too.

These require a thin roller frame, but it is beneficial to buy one that is a few sizes smaller than the standard cage frame.

Each fine finisher mini roller and its corresponding holder allows you to paint cabinet doors, ledges, trim, and interiors. Additionally, they can be reused multiple times if properly rinsed and cared for.

3. Best Professional-Grade Paint Roller Set: Bates Choice 11-Piece Home Painting Supplies

Bates Choice 11-Piece Home Painting Supplies

Bates Choice’s roller kit has earned the number one bestseller title from More than 5,300 perfect ratings on Amazon. The 11 accessories, which are neatly stored in a paint tray, include foam brushes, roller frames, and synthetic fabric roller covers that are suitable for covering cabinets anywhere in the house.

Another person remarked that they are also better than other brands in terms of comfort. They wrote, “The ergonomic fit was better on this kit, which meant I had less hand strain when painting. For me, that was its best feature.”

4. Best Foam Roller Covers and Frame: NANJA Roller Frame With 4-Inch Mini Paint Foam Roller Cover Refills

Without being placed on a roller frame, foam rollers can’t travel very far. This one from NANJA possesses nine four-inch foam rollers that are perfect for painting cabinets, a rolling frame, and a paint tray. Once a roller cover is put on, they leave a finish that is free of fuzz and lint and give cabinets an impeccable texture.

These foam cover rollers can safely be used with materials like varnish, shellac, and even waterproofing lacquers. Shoppers noted these are “excellent for painting cabinets.” Others praised them for their superior building quality.

“Quality rollers products quality outcome—always use foam,” wrote one person, who has been painting for 50 years. “You can use inexpensive paint and still achieve excellent results if you use a good roller. Make use of a cheap roller because even expensive paint produces subpar results.”

5. Best Multipurpose Kit: Magimate Paint Roller Kit

Magimate Paint Roller Kit

Another great paint kit to consider when there’s a kitchen cabinet project in the works is this one from Like many others, Magimate includes paint rollers, brushes, and a tray, but this one also includes painters tape and a reusable stir stick.

Additionally, this set has 1,200 five-star reviews and an Amazon’s Choice badge. These tools are useful for projects throughout the house, but reviewers particularly liked having them for cabinets.

“The roller handle is very comfortable and doesn’t cause my hand to cramp like others I’ve used before,” wrote one person. “The rolled pads enable quick and even paint application.”

6. Best Roller and Brush for Chalk Paint: POOVI Tool Trio With Paint Brush, Roller, Sponge

POOVI Tool Trio With Paint Brush, Roller, Sponge

When painting cabinets, rollers can occasionally only accomplish so much. For maximum coverage, this foam roller also includes a paintbrush and a round sponge applicator. An extra paint tray that can be reused is also included.

This set is a helpful addition to have when it comes to chalk paint, wax, and lacquers of similar consistencies. When applying the final sealing coat to a cabinet or other item with chalk-finish paint, a round brush is frequently the preferred tool.

An appropriate brush and a roller for additional paint needs are included in this kit, which is prepared and ready to use.

7. Best Rollers for a Smooth Paint Finish: Shur-Line 4-Inch Mini Paint Roller Cover Refills

Anyone searching for the smooth finish of a paint sprayer with less hassle and more control will be pleased with these Shur-Line rollers. They distinguish themselves from the competition by being made of foam and having edges that are smooth and non-abrupt.

They easily apply the first coat, the last coat, and additional coats (if necessary), and they won’t streak or smear.

“This style of roller was recommended for painting kitchen cabinets with the nice self-leveling paints,” wrote a customer. “The doors and frames looked smooth and slick thanks to the high-end satin finish cabinet paint I had used.” A brush or smaller roller, they suggested, may be useful because indentations and recesses are simple to overlook.

8. Best Foam Rollers: FoamPRO 185 Foam Paint Brush Refills

FoamPRO 185 Foam Paint Brush Refills

Another top selection from FoamPRO is its mini roller set. When painting cabinet doors, a quality foam roller is a necessity, and this set, which costs reasonably and includes two pint-sized models, has both.

Any smooth surface it encounters is meandered across, leaving only an equally smooth coat and no fuzz behind.

One reviewer said it was the “densest (smoothest finish) foam roller I’ve found” and used it in tandem with one of the Whizz foam rollers. “This one lays down the smoother coat, but the Whizz has the option of a shape that allows you to get right up against the angles. I’ve had 15 raised panel doors that needed to be painted, and by the time I realized what a hassle painting them would be rather than spraying them would be, it was too late for the latter.”

9. Best Mini Rollers for a Flat Surface: Purdy Jumbo Mini Parrot Roller Replacements

A smooth paint finish is within reach when these woven mohair paint rollers are involved. The natural fiber combination grips paint and distributes it evenly on impact, which is especially useful when using oil-based paint.

Painters can depend on getting a high-quality roller that won’t shed and can use the same paint roller repeatedly if it is cleaned properly. They’re 4.5 inches, so painting cabinets is practically made for them.

“didn’t leave any traces of a stroke!” wrote one pleased reviewer who used them for the ones in their kitchen. Another added that their cabinets came out “flawless” thanks to these special rollers.

10. Best Rollers for Latex Paint: Work Tools International 51012 Paint Roller Cover

Work Tools International 51012 Paint Roller Cover

Velour is not a material that is frequently mentioned among the available options for rollers. But the velvety fabric on this two-pack from The smooth finish it can produce is exemplified by Work Tools.

Additionally, each little six-inch mini roller is nimble and can easily paint cabinets with eggshell, glossy, and semi-gloss enamel paints.

“This roller creates a furniture type finish with paint,” described a reviewer. “It produces a finish that is nearly as smooth as one produced by a paint sprayer gun and never leaves any fuzz. If you want a high-end finish, the price is higher than that of most rollers, but it’s worth it.”

11. Another High-quality Option: Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover

Another excellent option for high-quality cabinets is the Wooster Mohair Blend Roller Cover. The roller cover’s mohair and polyester blend keeps it sturdy while also enhancing its ability to offer excellent coverage.

It works well with a wide range of materials and is shed-resistant.

Best Roller for Painting Cabinets: Buying Guide

Best Roller for Painting Cabinets

There are a few things to consider when searching for a roller to paint your cabinets.

Material

There are many different types of materials for paint rollers. These frequently consist of foam, nylon, polyester, mohair, woven dralon fabric, or other materials mixed together to create a blend that allows for the painting of a variety of surface textures while always producing a smooth finish. Another common option is a microfiber roller.

Additionally, think about the pile height and whether a thick or thin nap is required. As they can soak up more paint and cover a surface with an uneven textured finish, thick nap rollers with a high density foam work best on rougher surfaces.

As an illustration, a surface with an orange peel texture would call for a roller designed specifically for orange peel and with a nap at least ½ inch thick. Because it won’t oversaturate them with paint, smooth surfaces benefit greatly from a thin nap.

Size

Smaller paint rollers are typically better for the job unless the cabinets in question are exceptionally wide or long. For example, kitchen cabinets have less surface area and can use a four- or six-inch roller. A roller that is too large runs the risk of spilling extra paint or unintentionally coating an unintended surface. Of course, a large roller is required if the cabinets are larger than average.

Along with a good paint tray, it’s a good idea to keep a few paintbrushes of various sizes on hand to assist rollers in their work and clean up any divots they gloss over.

Paint Type

The type of paint applied to cabinets can also be used to determine the appropriate material for a roller. As a general rule, look at the paint can or do some research to find out what materials and brushes are required for that specific type of paint.

Foam rollers work well with oil-based or high-gloss latex paints, while nylon and polyester are great for latex and oil-based paints. Mohair can be finished with various types of finishes, including oil- and water-based paint.

How to Assemble Your Paint Roller

The roller consists of two parts: the roller frame and the roller cover (which resembles a paper towel tube without any contents).

Push the roller cover until it snaps into place by placing one end of it against the open end of the roller frame.

Once put together, the frame’s inherent tension will press against the roller cover, keeping it firmly in place.

Pulling the roller cover away from the frame while squeezing it will allow you to remove it.

Also Read: How To Paint Oak Cabinets?

Final Thoughts on Best Roller for Painting Cabinets

For a smooth and uniform finish on your cabinets, paint rollers are a great choice.

A successful project’s foundation includes selecting the appropriate type of paint roller for cabinets.

Though it’s clear that every roller set on the list will provide a smooth finish, Work Tools‘ velour rollers are a unique option and perfect for latex paint. The roller cover and frame combo from NANJA on the other hand is great for painters and DIYers looking for a good, durable set.

We sincerely hope that our evaluation of the top roller for painting cabinets was useful.

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FAQs

What Kind of Roller Should I Use to Paint Cabinets?

A small 4″ foam roller is best for painting cabinets.

Can You Paint Cabinets Without Sanding?

No, I’m just going to say it. Your cabinet is covered in a protective layer. As a result, the paint won’t adhere properly. Sanding it off is a MUST. I promise that sanding is not that bad.

How Do You Get the Smoothest Finish When Painting Cabinets?

Before your final coat of paint, gently sand your cabinets using 300-400 grit sandpaper.