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Home » Favorite Finds » The Best Paint Rollers for Cabinets

The Best Paint Rollers for Cabinets

March 16, 2022 | By Jenna Sue Favorite Finds

Before painting our kitchen cabinets by hand, I went on a mission to find the very best paint rollers to get the smoothest, most professional finish. Today I’m excited to share the results of my experiment!

the best paint rollers for cabinets test

I did the research, analyzed the reviews, and polled my audience to narrow down the Top 5 Paint Rollers for a head-to-head showdown. Here are the contenders:

  1. Whizz Velour
  2. Sherwin Williams Mohair
  3. Purdy White Dove
  4. Whizz Concave Foam
  5. Wooster Microplush Microfiber

Five different types of rollers, with tons of recommendations and raving reviews.

Table of Contents

  • The best paint for cabinets
  • Painting cabinet doors by hand
  • Contender #1: Whizz Velour
  • Contender #2: Sherwin Williams Mohair
  • Contender #3: Purdy White Dove
  • Contender #4: Whizz Concave Foam
  • Contender #5: Wooster MicroPlush
  • The Verdict
  • Cabinet Painting Tips & Tricks

The best paint for cabinets

Before we see how they each performed, I must emphasize the importance of choosing the right paint. The paint you choose will ultimately determine the quality and longevity of your finish. I used Benjamin Moore Advance, specifically designed for cabinets and used by professionals (you can see more in my guide to painting cabinets like a pro).

the best paint for cabinets
I chose the color October Mist, in a satin finish

The Advance paint is self-leveling, so it evens out as it dries, resulting in a smoother finish. I knew from experience that the paint roller also makes a difference though, and was eager to find a winner!

Painting cabinet doors by hand

While a high quality sprayer will give you the smoothest finish in the shortest amount of time, not everyone can or wants to go that route. It is still possible to get great results painting by hand! Here are the steps to follow:

How to paint cabinet doors by hand:

  1. Clean doors

    Use compressed air and/or a tack cloth to thoroughly remove all dust.

  2. Pre-wet your roller

    This step is optional, but pre-wetting can ‘prime’ your roller, allowing it to soak up and apply the paint more evenly. Make sure it is only slightly damp (not wet!)

  3. Apply first coat

    Apply an even coat of paint, covering the surface entirely and making sure to smooth out any brush or roller marks.

  4. Lightly sand

    After the paint has sufficiently dried, use a fine sanding block to gently smooth down any debris/imperfections

  5. Clean

    Remove sanding debris with compressed air and/or a tack cloth.

  6. Apply a final coat

    Brush/roll on your final coat, making sure to cover the surface completely

Contender #1: Whizz Velour

whizz velour paint roller

This roller had great coverage, and was easy to maneuver.

painting cabinet doors with whizz velour paint roller

There was a light stippling (orange peel) texture, as you’d expect from a woven material. There was some light shedding (a few stray fibers) but the end result was very even, with no visible roller marks.

Contender #2: Sherwin Williams Mohair

sherwin williams mohair paint roller

The mohair roller felt nearly identical to the velour—great coverage, similar light stippled texture.

painting cabinet doors with a mohair paint roller

After the second coat dried, I noticed there were quite a few stray fibers, but the overall finish was even and streak-free.

Contender #3: Purdy White Dove

purdy white dove paint roller

This roller was thicker and larger, and soaked up a lot more paint.

painting cabinet doors with purdy white dove paint roller

That’s useful for painting larger surfaces, but it left noticeable roller marks after drying.

Contender #4: Whizz Concave Foam

whizz concave foam paint roller

The foam rolled on a thin layer of paint and didn’t cover completely. The concave tip was nice to get into detailed areas.

applying paint on a cabinet with a foam roller brush

With such a thin layer, there was minimal stippling and a very smooth finish with no roller marks. I did have to apply a third layer of paint, and would skip pre-wetting this roller next time.

Contender #5: Wooster MicroPlush

wooster microplush microfiber roller

Similar to the White Dove, this roller soaked up a lot of paint and provided great coverage.

applying paint with a wooster microplush microfiber roller

The shedding was minimal, but the sheen had a speckled effect once it dried.

The Verdict

And the best paint roller is…

It’s a tie!

Overall, the foam roller provided the smoothest finish, but having to apply three coats is a bummer. The velour roller finish is *almost* as good, with minimal shedding, and covers in two coats.

Here are the rankings:

Winner: Whizz Velour

Pros: Great coverage, even finish with no roller marks / Cons: Slight shedding

Winner: Whizz Concave Foam

Pros: Smoothest finish, no shedding, no roller marks / Cons: Poor coverage

#3: Sherwin Williams Mohair

Pros: Great coverage, even finish with no roller marks / Cons: Shed the most

#4: Wooster Microplush

Pros: Great coverage / Cons: Sheen had a stippled effect

#5: Purdy White Dove

Pros: Great coverage / Cons: Left roller marks

I will say—I don’t think any of these are bad options, and you really have to study them in the right light to notice the differences. Here’s how the “worst” roller turned out, which is still pretty dang good:

painting cabinet doors by hand

I credit these results to using a quality cabinet paint, and am curious to try this experiment again with a different type of paint. I’ve had very different results with wall paint (poor results with foam rollers and great results with White Dove) so it’s interesting to see the difference in this experiment. I also encourage you to do your own experiments at home, as everyone seems to have a different preference.

Cabinet Painting Tips & Tricks

  1. Paint quality matters: Make sure to use a quality paint specifically designed for cabinets (I love BM Advance and SW Urethane Enamel).
  2. De-fuzz your roller: To help prevent shedding, use painters tape to remove any loose fibers before painting.
  3. Try pre-wetting your roller: A slightly damp roller may help prime the roller, allowing it to soak up and apply the paint more evenly.
  4. Paint in an enclosed area: Make sure your painting zone is protected from a breeze that can blow in dust/dirt as the paint is drying.
  5. Sand between coats: Use a fine (220 grit) sanding block to gently smooth down any raised texture or imperfections before applying the next coat.
  6. Pay attention to re-coat and cure time: Paint takes a long time to cure and harden—don’t rush the process! BM Advance instructs to wait 16 hours in between coats, and minimum 5-7 days before installation.
reviewing the best paint rollers for cabinets

I hope this review is helpful and you learned something new! Do you have a go-to paint roller that isn’t on this list? I’m always up for testing out more and improving my technique/process!

Follow along on my Instagram stories to see how these cabinets turn out 🙂

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Mother's Day Gift Guide
How to layer bedding like a pro
Budget Vanity Lighting Roundup
Previous Post: « Favorite faux spring flowers and branches
Next Post: Black wood fence and DIY arbor reveal »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb says

    March 28, 2022 at 8:02 am

    I’ve been following your blog for a number of years now. Love your work and your blog!! Thank you for this post!! I was just starting a cabinet painting project, invested in a good paint (SW Emerald alkyd enamel) and was having a hard time getting a smooth finish. I’d been experimenting for about a week (working with SW on a resolve) when you posted this info, so grateful! And the winner is the Whizz velour roller! It has solved the problem.

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 30, 2022 at 9:23 am

      Amazing, I’m so glad this post was timely and helpful! Curious to know which roller you were using that was giving you trouble?

      Reply
  2. Robyn says

    March 17, 2022 at 11:11 pm

    I painted new doors as we moved into a newly built home 2 1/2 years ago after painting my floor boards with a semi gloss. Used a foam roller and the doors streaked. Why???

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 21, 2022 at 11:12 am

      Those white high density foam rollers tend to do that! This concave foam is very different. I’ll never use the white foam again.

      Reply
  3. Jes says

    March 17, 2022 at 12:22 pm

    Interesting post! I love the sherwin Williams 3/16” velour roller (contractor series)! Would be interested to see how they compare with the whiz!

    Reply
  4. Eleanor Pella says

    March 17, 2022 at 10:07 am

    Thank you for doing the research &!testing!

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 21, 2022 at 11:11 am

      It was my pleasure!

      Reply
  5. Stephanie Eisenstein says

    March 16, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    This was so helpful! I’m going to be painting my bathroom cabinets soon and I’m definitely going to use one of your winners. Thanks for such great info!

    Reply
  6. Michele M. says

    March 16, 2022 at 10:33 pm

    Thank you, Jenna! This was so informative. Excellent job.

    Also – what is that gorgeous color you used? I am in love with that color choice!!!!!

    Reply
  7. Christine says

    March 16, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    Thank you so much for conducting this experiment! I’m just about to paint cabinets and I’ve had a hard time finding a roller that I liked when I was painting my interior doors so now I’m going try out your top two recommendations! Love that color you chose as well.

    Reply
  8. Carly says

    March 16, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    That was a great blog post! So glad to learn your personal advise as I am getting ready to do some wood furniture. I had read awhile ago an article by a professional painter of cabinets (teaches classes to DIY’ers ), remodels kitchens etc. Her recommendation on the rollers was Whizz Velour as the only roller cover they use. So you just confirmed that as well. Love the paint color you used!

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      The velour has been recommended so many times, and for a good reason! I’m glad this post was helpful Carly!

      Reply
  9. Kristin says

    March 16, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    Thank you for always doing the legwork for us!

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      My pleasure — this was a lot of fun!

      Reply
  10. SH says

    March 16, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    One of the most useful and practical posts out there. Full of good tips and techniques. Saving this post as a primary resource. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      I’m so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for letting me know 🙂

      Reply
  11. Lilah says

    March 16, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    Thank you so much!! Do you recommend a primer?

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      Yes, always on cabinets/furniture! These cabinet doors came pre-primed so that saved a lot of time.

      Reply
      • Lilah says

        March 16, 2022 at 11:05 pm

        Thank you so much!! Great post, and soooo helpful!!

        Reply
  12. Taylor says

    March 16, 2022 at 12:06 pm

    This is fantastic! Getting ready to paint kitchen cabinets, so this couldn’t have come at a better time:D

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:07 pm

      Perfect! I hope you found this post helpful 🙂

      Reply
  13. Claudia says

    March 16, 2022 at 11:25 am

    Thank you for all the good information. I am going to be painting my kitchen cabinets very soon and your experiment helps out a lot! Do you mind sharing the color you are using for your cabinets? I really love that color! You have inspire me to take that leap and try to do it on my own, wish me luck! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:07 pm

      So glad to hear that, Claudia! The color is BM October Mist.

      Reply
  14. Loan says

    March 16, 2022 at 11:19 am

    Hi Jenna! I’m starting my first painting of furniture piece and am excited I saw this before I begin. I’m hoping it’ll translate to furniture too. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:08 pm

      Perfect! Yes it should, though with furniture I’d also look into sealing it for added protection.

      Reply
  15. Gina says

    March 16, 2022 at 11:00 am

    Thank you for sharing!! I’m getting ready to paint my bathroom vanity and this will help tremendously!! 😁

    Reply
    • Jenna Sue says

      March 16, 2022 at 9:09 pm

      Awesome, I hope this helps Gina!

      Reply
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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Jenna and I’ve been designing and DIY’ing my way through homes since 2008. Join me as I learn, share my experience, and hopefully encourage/inspire you along the way!

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