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Oil painting has a reputation for expensive brushes, and good hog bristle or mongoose does cost money. But a beginner laying in first paintings, or an experienced painter who wants disposable brushes for underpainting and varnish, does not need them. A brush set for oil painting that is cheap but sensibly built, with synthetic bristles that hold a shape, double-crimped ferrules and sealed handles, will carry you through dozens of canvases.
Every set below is synthetic nylon, which is a trade-off worth understanding: nylon is softer than hog bristle and leaves fewer marks, but it does not push thick paint as well. We have ranked seven sets on how well their shape mix suits oil work (flats and filberts matter more than tiny rounds), their construction, and how much the listing actually tells you. The guides linked lower down cover whether any brush works for oil and how to clean them without solvent.
Quick answer: The Nicpro 12-Piece Artist Brush Set is the best cheap brush set for oil painting because it is the only budget set here with a published shape list that suits oils: flats, rounds, filberts, angles and a liner on birch handles with double-crimped aluminum ferrules. The Benicci 12-Piece Set is the close runner-up with flat, round, fan and filbert shapes, and the Dancart 24-Piece Set is the pick if you want a full range of shapes plus a roll case for very little money.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Nicpro 12PCS Artist Paint Brush Set — Best overall cheap brush set for oil
- Benicci Professional Artist Brush Set of 12 — Best for blending and backgrounds
- Dancart 24 Pcs Detail Paint Brush Set with Roll — Best shape range with storage
- Artstorys 20 Pcs Paint Brush Set — Best cheap detail rounds for oil
- Soucolor 20 Pcs Pointed Tip Brush Set — Best budget two-pack for fine work
- AROIC 10 Pcs Paint Brush Set — Best starter pack
- AROIC 100 Pcs Paint Brushes — Best bulk pack for classes and underpainting
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicpro 12PCS | All-round oil beginner set | Flat, round, filbert, angle, liner; birch | Shape list published | $ |
| Benicci 12-Piece | Blending and backgrounds | Flat, round, fan, filbert; nylon | Includes fan brush | $ |
| Dancart 24 Pcs | Full shape range | 5 flat, 5 round, 5 filbert, 4 angle, 3 fan, 2 liner | Nylon roll case | $ |
| Artstorys 20 Pcs | Detail rounds | 2 x 10; 2/0–5/8; UV-coated handles | Coated long handles | $ |
| Soucolor 20 Pcs | Fine work on a budget | 2 x 10 pointed rounds | Two packs, low cost | $ |
| AROIC 10 Pcs | First brushes | 10 assorted | Cheapest single pack | $ |
| AROIC 100 Pcs | Classes, disposable use | 10 packs of 10 | Bulk quantity | $ |
How We Chose
These rankings use the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, the fit between each set’s brush shapes and the needs of oil painting (broad flats and filberts for blocking in, a few rounds and a liner for detail), and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not painted with these brushes. Oil is harder on cheap brushes than acrylic because of solvent and stiff paint, so we favored listings that describe double-crimped ferrules and sealed handles.
Criteria:
- Shape mix: flats, filberts, angles and fans count for more than a dozen small rounds.
- Ferrule: double-crimped aluminum or nickel that will not loosen in solvent.
- Handle: lacquered, coated or sealed wood that survives soaking.
- Bristle: synthetic with stated shape retention; all sets here are nylon.
- Oil named: every pick lists oil paint as a use.
- Price per useful brush: not per brush total, since bulk packs include many sizes you will not use.
Best Cheap Brush Sets for Oil Painting Reviewed
1. Nicpro 12PCS Artist Paint Brush Set — Best for an all-round cheap oil set
Nicpro lists its shapes and sizes outright: flats in 7 and 12, rounds in 2, 5 and 9, filberts in 2, 8 and 10, angles in 4, 6 and 11, and a size 1 liner. That is a genuine oil painter’s selection, with filberts for soft edges, flats for blocking in and angles for cutting around shapes. Oil is named alongside acrylic, watercolor, gouache and tempera.
Construction is described as high-grade nylon with paint retention and shape memory, solid brown birch handles and double-crimped aluminum ferrules, and a care card is included. Nylon is softer than hog bristle, so expect smoother strokes and less texture than a natural-bristle set, but at this price it is the best-specified option.
Best suited for: Beginners starting oil painting who want one set that covers blocking in, blending and detail.
Key features:
- 12 brushes: 2 flat, 3 round, 3 filbert, 3 angle, 1 liner
- Sizes listed: 7, 12, 2, 5, 9, 2, 8, 10, 4, 6, 11, 1
- High-grade nylon bristles
- Solid birch wood handles
- Double-crimped aluminum ferrules
- Care instruction card
Pros:
- Only set with a full published shape and size list
- Three filberts, the oil painter’s favorite shape
- Birch handles and crimped ferrules
Cons and limitations:
- Nylon is soft for heavy impasto
- Largest flat is a size 12, small for big canvases
- No fan brush
Buying consideration: Add one cheap 1-inch hardware flat for backgrounds and this set covers almost everything a beginner in oils will do.
2. Benicci Professional Artist Paint Brush Set of 12 — Best for blending and backgrounds
Benicci describes its 12-piece set as the middle ground between cheap and premium: nylon bristles that keep their shape, do not shed and hold paint evenly, with flat, round, fan and filbert shapes on ergonomic wooden handles. The listing names oil paint brushes specifically and notes customers report years of use with care.
The fan brush is the feature Nicpro lacks and is useful in oils for softening skies, blending edges and painting grass or hair. Benicci does not publish exact sizes, which costs it the top spot, but the shape mix is well suited to oil backgrounds and blending. It is sold by a family-owned brand with a money-back warranty.
Best suited for: Painters who blend a lot, landscape beginners, and anyone who wants a fan brush in a cheap set.
Key features:
- 12 brushes: flat, round, fan and filbert shapes
- High-grade nylon bristles
- Ergonomic wooden handles
- Black and bronze finish
- Listed for oil, acrylic and watercolor
- Money-back warranty
Pros:
- Includes a fan brush
- Good shape variety for oils
- Backed by a warranty
Cons and limitations:
- Sizes not published
- Ferrule material not stated
- Nylon limits texture
Buying consideration: Keep the fan brush exclusively for dry blending; once it is loaded with thick paint it loses the splayed shape that makes it useful.
3. Dancart 24 Pcs Detail Paint Brush Set — Best for the full shape range with storage
Dancart’s 24-piece set breaks down as 5 flats, 5 rounds, 5 filberts, 4 angles, 3 fans and 2 liners, which is the widest shape range on this page, and it ships in a water-resistant nylon roll that keeps brushes separated and protected. The bristles are described as soft, springy nylon with high pigment absorption.
Construction details are strong for the price: double-crimped aluminum ferrules and a waterproof lacquered wood handle with a non-slip grip. The listing names oil among acrylic, watercolor and gouache. With five filberts and three fans, this set gives an oil painter plenty of spares for color families, which matters when you are not cleaning with solvent between every mix.
Best suited for: Oil painters who want many brushes so they can dedicate one per color group, and anyone who paints away from home.
Key features:
- 24 brushes: 5 flat, 5 round, 5 filbert, 4 angle, 3 fan, 2 liner
- Soft, springy nylon bristles
- Double-crimped aluminum ferrules
- Waterproof lacquered wood handles
- Water-resistant nylon roll case
- Listed for oil, acrylic, watercolor and gouache
Pros:
- Widest shape range here
- Roll case included
- Lacquered handles resist solvent and water
Cons and limitations:
- Sizes not listed
- Soft nylon is gentle for stiff paint
- Some duplicate shapes may go unused
Buying consideration: Use the roll to sort brushes by color family during a session: warm, cool and white, so you spend less time cleaning mid-painting.
4. Artstorys Paint Brushes Set, 20 Pcs — Best for cheap detail rounds for oil
Artstorys’ two packs of ten run from 2/0 to 5/8 on 6.9 to 7.7 inch handles with a UV coating described as anti-peeling and water resistant, nickel ferrules double-crimped around anti-shedding nylon. Oil is named among the mediums. These are detail rounds, not blocking-in brushes, so think of this as the second set you buy for an oil kit.
The coated handles matter more for oil than acrylic because brushes sit in solvent or oil during cleaning, which lifts cheap paint finishes. The listing’s care note to clean immediately and store tips up applies doubly to oils.
Best suited for: Oil painters who need a stock of fine rounds for details, signatures and glazing small areas.
Key features:
- 20 brushes in 2 packs of 10
- Sizes 5/8, 8, 6, 4, 5, 3, 2, 2, 1, 2/0
- UV-coated wood handles, 6.9 to 7.7 inches
- Double-crimped nickel ferrules
- Anti-shedding nylon
- Oil named among uses
Pros:
- Coated handles stand up to cleaning
- Published size run
- Two packs for light and dark colors
Cons and limitations:
- Rounds only, no flats or filberts
- Not a complete oil set on its own
- Small sizes
Buying consideration: Pair this with Nicpro or Benicci; the Artstorys rounds handle the details the larger shapes cannot.
5. Soucolor Acrylic Paint Brushes Set, 20 Pcs Pointed Tip — Best for fine work on a budget
Soucolor’s 20 pointed-tip brushes in 10 sizes come with nickel ferrules and blue wooden handles, and the listing names oil alongside acrylic, watercolor and gouache. The bristles are described as soft and strong, returning to shape after cleaning without shedding.
Like Artstorys, this is a detail set. The listing does not publish sizes or handle length and the handles are painted rather than coated, so expect them to need gentler treatment during solvent cleaning. For the price of a single mid-range brush you get 20 spares, which is the argument for it.
Best suited for: Budget-minded painters who want disposable detail rounds for oil underpainting and small work.
Key features:
- 20 brushes in 10 sizes, two packs
- Pointed tips
- Nickel ferrules
- Blue wooden handles
- Listed for oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache
Pros:
- Very low cost
- Two packs
- Soft bristles for smooth detail
Cons and limitations:
- Sizes not listed
- Painted handles may peel in solvent
- No large shapes
Buying consideration: Wipe brushes on a rag before cleaning and keep the handles out of the solvent jar; that alone doubles the life of a painted handle.
6. AROIC 10 Pcs Paint Brushes Set — Best for a first pack of brushes
AROIC’s single pack of ten assorted brushes is the cheapest entry here, with anti-shedding bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrules and solid wood handles. Oil is named with watercolor, gouache and acrylic, and the listing recommends warm soapy water for cleaning, which for oils means wiping excess paint first and using a brush soap.
Ten brushes in assorted shapes are enough for a first oil study or two. The listing does not detail which shapes you get, so this is a buy-and-see pack rather than a planned kit.
Best suited for: Absolute beginners who want to try oil painting for the price of a coffee before investing in a real set.
Key features:
- 10 brushes, assorted shapes and sizes
- Anti-shedding bristles
- Anti-rust nickel ferrules
- Solid wood handles
- Listed for oil and other mediums
Pros:
- Cheapest option
- Enough variety to start
- Light and compact
Cons and limitations:
- Shapes and sizes unspecified
- Single pack
- Minimal construction detail
Buying consideration: Treat these as practice brushes for learning to clean and care for oil tools before you buy anything better.
7. AROIC 100 Pcs Paint Brushes — Best for classes and disposable underpainting
The 100-piece AROIC pack is ten of the 10-brush sets above, with the same anti-shedding bristles, nickel ferrules and wood handles. It exists for classrooms, workshops and painters who treat brushes as consumables for toning canvases, underpainting and applying mediums.
For an oil painter it makes sense in one scenario: you run a class, or you want a drawer of brushes you can throw away rather than clean with solvent. For a solo painter, 100 brushes of unspecified shape is clutter.
Best suited for: Teachers, community art groups and painters who want disposable brushes for underpainting and varnish.
Key features:
- 100 brushes: 10 packs of 10
- Anti-shedding bristles
- Anti-rust nickel ferrules
- Solid wood handles
- Listed for oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache
Pros:
- Lowest cost per brush
- Enough for a whole class
- Disposable without guilt
Cons and limitations:
- Shapes and sizes unspecified
- Far more than one painter needs
- Quality consistent with the price
Buying consideration: Dedicate a handful to varnish and medium only; cheap brushes that never touch pigment make clean varnish brushes.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Cheap Brush Set for Oil Painting
Shapes first, count second
Oil painting is mostly done with flats, filberts and a few rounds. A 12-piece set with three filberts (Nicpro) beats a 20-piece set of tiny rounds for blocking in a canvas. Buy the shape mix you need and add detail rounds separately.
Synthetic versus natural bristle
All seven sets here are nylon. Synthetic brushes are fine for thinned oil, glazing and smooth blending, and they tolerate soap-and-water cleaning. For thick impasto and visible brush texture, hog bristle is better, and a single cheap hog flat is a worthwhile addition. Our guide on whether you can use any brushes for oil painting covers the differences in depth.
Ferrules and solvent
Solvent and oil loosen weak glue. Look for double-crimped ferrules (Nicpro, Dancart, Artstorys) and keep ferrules out of the solvent jar; dip only the bristles.
Handle finish
Lacquered or UV-coated handles (Dancart, Artstorys) survive oil cleanup far better than plain painted wood. If you buy painted handles, wipe them dry after every session.
Size for your canvas
The largest brush in most cheap sets is a size 12 flat or a 5/8 round, suitable for canvases up to about 16 x 20. Beyond that, add a 1-inch flat. Our guide to what size brush to use for detail work explains the numbering.
Cleaning without solvent
Cheap synthetics clean well with oil-and-soap methods that skip turpentine entirely. See how to remove oil paint from brushes for the step-by-step.
When to upgrade
Once you know which three or four brushes you reach for every session, replace those with better ones. Many painters ask whether mid-range brands are worth it; our look at whether Princeton brushes are good for oil painting is a sensible next read.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying all rounds. Oil painting needs flats and filberts. Check the shape list.
- Soaking handles in solvent. Paint peels and ferrules loosen. Dip bristles only.
- Leaving oil in the brush overnight. Wipe, clean with soap and oil, and reshape before the paint sets.
- Expecting nylon to behave like hog bristle. Synthetics are softer; add one natural flat for texture.
- Using one brush for every color. Cheap sets give you spares; use them to avoid muddy mixing.
- Varnishing with a used brush. Reserve a few brushes that never touch pigment.
FAQs
Can cheap nylon brushes be used for oil painting?
Yes. Synthetic nylon works well for thinned oil, glazing and smooth blending, and every set here lists oil as a compatible medium. For heavy impasto and visible texture, a natural hog bristle flat is a useful addition.
What brush shapes do I need to start oil painting?
A couple of flats, two or three filberts, one or two rounds and a liner. The Nicpro 12-piece set covers exactly that, and Benicci and Dancart add fan brushes for blending.
How do I clean cheap brushes after oil painting?
Wipe excess paint on a rag, work the bristles in a little vegetable or safflower oil, then wash with brush soap and warm water. Keep handles and ferrules out of solvent. Our linked guide gives the full method.
Is a 24-piece or 100-piece set better value?
Only if you need the quantity. Dancart’s 24 pieces give a wide shape range for one painter; the AROIC 100-piece pack is for classes or disposable use. A focused 12-piece set is better value for most beginners.
Do I need long or short handles for oil?
Long handles let you stand back from an easel, which suits oil painting. Artstorys lists 6.9 to 7.7 inch handles; most other budget sets are shorter. Either works at a tabletop.
Why do cheap brush handles peel?
Painted wood swells and the paint lifts when soaked in water or solvent. Lacquered or UV-coated handles like Dancart’s and Artstorys’ resist this; wiping handles dry after each session helps any brush.
Final Recommendation
Start with the Nicpro 12-piece set; it is the only cheap set here with a published shape list built for oil. If blending skies and soft edges is your focus, the Benicci set with its fan brush is the better fit, and the Dancart 24-piece gives you the most shapes and a roll case for painting away from home. Add Artstorys or Soucolor rounds for detail, use the AROIC 10-piece to test the water, and leave the 100-piece pack to teachers and painters who want disposable brushes for underpainting and varnish.
