Best Roller for Smooth Finish on Cabinets

If you’re looking for the smoothest possible finish on your cabinets, just skill alone won’t achieve it—you need the right tools to complement your skill and techniques.

Just as good paint is important, a good roller will make all the difference between a clean, smooth paint job and a messy, uneven, error-riddled one.

If you’re on the hunt for the best roller for a smooth finish on your cabinets, look no further. After going through scores of rollers, we’ve finally found one of the best the market has to offer for a smooth finish!

Read on to know what our top smooth-finish roller pick is.

Shur-Line Mini Paint Rollers

Constructed with foam and designed to have the smoothest, most seamless edges ever, these paint rollers, though mini, are a cut above the rest.

Best Roller for Smooth Finish on Cabinets


With these, you can achieve sprayer-like smoothness at a fraction of the cost, with better control and lesser hassle thrown in.

Whichever coat you’re on, the Shur-Line Mini Paint Rollers will get the job efficiently done sans any smearing or streaking.

Pros
  • Easy to maneuver and handle.
  • Can easily fit into a four-gallon paint can, given their four-inch width.
  • Wall/surface corners are easy to reach as the foam extends all the way to either end.
  • High-quality foam with a superb paint-absorption capacity that ensures even distribution and keeps you going for longer without having to refuel; this also enables a smoother and more consistent finish.
  • Easy to replace fillers on the brush; takes a few seconds only.
Cons
  • You may still need to finish off with a brush as foam can’t get through pores.
  • May be too small for larger cabinets.

What to Look For in a Roller

There are some factors to consider that apply to all rollers, regardless of type, that should be kept in mind before making a purchase.

Type of Paint

What type of paint you’re going to use on your cabinets is going to dictate the type of roller you buy.

Best Roller for Smooth Finish on Cabinets

For example, for latex and oil-based paints, nylon and polyester rollers will do just fine, as will foam rollers.

Roller Material

Though your choice of roller material is going to be influenced by the type of paint, it’s also going to be influenced by the material itself, due to the thickness or thinness of the nap, the pile height, and other features.

Size of the Roller

Most kitchen cabinets warrant small paint rollers. These are sufficient to cover ground and also get to any tricky corners. Four and six-inch rollers are perfect unless you have long or extra-wide cabinets, in which case, you’ll obviously require bigger rollers.

Best Roller for Smooth Finish on Cabinets

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Get the Smoothest Finish with a Roller?

For the smoothest finish, run the roller up and down the full height of the cabin, starting from one end and trying as much as possible not to overlap strokes. Additionally, ensure the roller is always half-loaded with paint and not dry.

Why Do My Cabinets Feel Rough after Painting?

Roughness can be caused by uneven painting, an improperly cleaned surface, or dust settling on the surface during the painting process. You can get rid of this by sanding the surface with fine-grit sandpaper once it’s fully dry and before the next coat is applied.

Why Am I Getting Roller Marks When I Paint?

Roller marks can occur when you apply a second coat before the primary coat has dried completely.