Best Paint Buckets With Handheld Options to For the Perfect Painting Job!

Discover what professional housepainters have known for years: Paint buckets can save you time and effort on your next painting project.

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Handy Paint PailVIA MERCHANT

Paint buckets (sometimes referred to as paint pails) are containers made to hold, mix and stir paint. The humble paint bucket is an invaluable paint tool that comes in many a slew of standardized sizes. They’re also available with features like holders to park paint brushes.

To paint shelves, for edging or to cover scuff marks on walls, a hand-held paint pail is a great option. If a big home renovation is in the works, a large-capacity bucket with casters makes a lot of sense. Keep a lookout for buckets with built-in spouts to keep paint from dripping onto the floor or tarps.

More efficient and easier to use than paint trays, paint buckets will help you paint like a pro.


Wooster 4 Gallon Bucket Tray Ecomm Via Acehardware

Best Overall Paint Bucket

Wooster 4-Gallon Bucket Tray

This hybrid bucket and tray is thoroughly impressive and quite versatile. It has a no-tip design and an extra-strong galvanized steel bail with comfort grip. Plus, it has a 10-inch-wide integrated roll-off area and sloped bottom to keep the paint at the front of the bucket for more efficient loading. One other thing we like is that the pail comes in a lovely forest green color.

Pros

  • Easy on and off lid stores paint for days
  • Durable polypropylene resists solvents and paint buildup
  • 9 inches tall and 13.5 inches wide
  • Can hang a full-size roller on the edge

Cons

  • Difficult to clean without a liner

On Sale
Wooster Brush Acme Deluxe Five Gallon Grid

Best Budget Paint Bucket Grid

Wooster Brush Acme Deluxe Five-Gallon Grid

A combo bucket and grid setup is an efficient, affordable and professional way to paint a wall fast. Just hang this sturdy metal screen/grid inside any 5-gallon bucket from your local hardware store, and you’ve got yourself a dynamic duo that allows you to paint in less time and with much less hassle. Dip the roller into the bucket, run it atop the wire screen until the paint is worked evenly into the roller’s nap and voilà!

Pros

  • Affordable price tag
  • Flat design fits 5-gallon buckets
  • Expanded zinc-plated steel wire with reinforced edges

Cons

  • Not galvanized

Bercom Handy Paint Pail

Most Versatile Paint Bucket

Bercom Handy Paint Pail

For edging into corners, painting wood trim or doing touch-ups, this handheld paint pail is great for such finishing tasks. A useful tool for both professional and do-it-yourself painters, the ergonomically designed coffee cup-style grip reduces hand fatigue, and the adjustable strap keeps you from dropping it. The pail can even be attached to a tool belt for hands-free use. No more hauling around heavy paint cans or wood stains!

Pros

  • Has built-in magnetic brush holder and scraper
  • Heavy-duty solvent-resistant material
  • Features an adjustable hand strap

Cons

  • Custom-fit pail must be ordered separately

Handy Roller Cup

Best Paint Bucket for Mini Rollers

Handy Roller Cup

This mini bucket is an ideal tool for paint rollers up to 6 inches wide. Use it for delicate finishing jobs on cabinets, woodwork and in tight places. This petite bucket has a built-in grid, and disposable custom liners can be purchased separately, for quick and easy cleanup.

Pros

  • Accommodates rollers up to 6 inches wide
  • Can be held or set on a flat surface
  • Has a wide stance for stability
  • An inexpensive painting accessory

Cons

  • Handle may be uncomfortable

On Sale
Purdy Dual Roll Off Five Gallon Bucket Ecomm Via Amazon

Best Paint Bucket for Teams

Purdy Dual Roll-Off 5-Gallon Bucket

With a two-sided grid pattern that allows multiple painters to access the paint, you can cover more square feet in less time. This deep and wide bucket holds up to 4 gallons of paint, and the ergonomic grip provides carrying and pouring comfort.

Pros

  • Features a two-sided grid
  • Wheel holes on the feet fit standard castors
  • Durable black polypropylene resists warping
  • Has a brush and roller rest

Cons

  • May be too large for most jobs

Paint Bucket Hook

Best Paint Bucket Accessory

Warner Swivel Pot Paint Can Hook