A booklist says “1 x paint brush, No. 16”, while the shelf has brushes labelled from 2 to 24, in several shapes and from different brands. The packaging may not explain what the number indicates, and two brushes carrying the same number can look different side by side. This can make choosing the right paint brush for an Australian school art list confusing.

This guide explains what paint brush size numbers mean, with a specific focus on No. 16 and No. 22, two sizes that may appear on Australian school booklists. It is part of our classroom art supplies guide.

Quick answer

Paint brush numbers indicate relative size, not an exact measurement. A higher number means a larger brush, and a lower number means a smaller, finer brush. A No. 16 is a solid mid-range size suited to general classroom painting, while a No. 22 is noticeably broader and suited to covering larger areas. There is no single international standard, so a No. 16 from one brand can differ slightly from a No. 16 from another. If your school booklist specifies a brush number, buying that number, rather than guessing from appearance, is the safest approach.

Why Brush Numbers Confuse So Many Parents

Most stationery and clothing sizing has at least some consistency across brands. Paint brush numbering does not. According to Jackson's Art, a respected UK art supply retailer, artists' brushes are given numbered sizes, but there is no exact standard for their physical dimensions, and the number is meant to order brushes by relative size rather than represent a precise measurement.

This means a number printed on a brush handle tells you roughly where it sits compared to other brushes in the same range, but not an exact width in millimetres that applies universally. For a parent buying a single brush off a booklist, this ambiguity is the root of most of the confusion.

How the Numbering System Actually Works

Despite the lack of a strict international standard, most brush ranges follow a broadly similar pattern.

• Smaller brushes typically increase one number at a time: 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on.
• Larger brushes, generally from around size 10 upward, often increase in steps of two: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24.

Jackson’s Art notes that many brush ranges use single-number steps for smaller sizes and increments of two at larger sizes. This is a common pattern rather than a universal rule, so check the sizing system used by the specific brand or range.

A general size range, broadly consistent across manufacturers, looks like this:

Key note: These ranges are a general guide, not an exact rule. The same number can sit in a slightly different place on this scale depending on the brand and the brush shape.

What No. 16 and No. 22 Mean in Practice

When an Australian school booklist specifies a No. 16 or No. 22 paint brush, understanding the difference helps parents choose the appropriate size for the required classroom activities.

No. 16

A No. 16 brush sits in the medium-large range. It suits general classroom painting well, offering enough width to cover a reasonable area without sacrificing too much control for shapes, outlines and moderate detail. This makes it a practical, flexible choice for most everyday painting tasks a primary or early secondary student encounters.

No. 22

A No. 22 brush is noticeably broader. Within the same brush range and shape, a No. 22 is generally larger than a No. 16. It is usually more suitable for broad strokes, backgrounds and larger painted areas, while a No. 16 offers a balance between coverage and control. Exact bristle dimensions depend on the manufacturer and brush shape.

Our EXP 577 No. 16 Paint Brushes and EXP Paint Brushes No. 22 are both sold in packs of 12, which suits either a classroom set or a family stocking up for more than one child.

Brush Shapes, and How Shape Changes the Job

Size is only part of the picture. Shape also determines how a brush performs, even at the same number.

A brush measurement chart from Jerry’s Artarama illustrates how a No. 16 round, bright and filbert brush can have different bristle widths and lengths. This shows why brush shape and product range matter alongside the number. If your booklist specifies both a number and a shape, match both details.

Why the Same Number Can Vary Between Brands

A recurring theme across brush manufacturers and retailers is that there is no enforced international sizing standard. One supplier's description of the issue notes that a size 10 brush from one well-known brand will not necessarily match a size 10 from another, in the same way that clothing sizes vary between labels.

This matters practically in two ways:

• When replacing a worn brush: Check the original product range and compare the listed dimensions where available. Buying from the same range may help you find a closer match, but the brand name alone does not guarantee identical sizing.
• When a booklist does not name a brand: Choose a brush carrying the specified number. If the shape or intended use is unclear, check with the school rather than guessing from appearance alone.

Matching Brush Size to the Task

Beyond following a specific booklist number, understanding what each size range suits helps with any future purchases.

• Small brushes (000 to 6) suit fine detail, small areas and precise line work.
• Medium brushes (8 to 12) suit general-purpose painting across most everyday classroom tasks.
• Medium-large brushes (14 to 18), including a No. 16, balance reasonable coverage with still-manageable control.
• Large brushes (20 and above), including a No. 22, suit backgrounds, large painted areas and tasks where broad, quick coverage matters more than fine detail.

For younger students still developing fine motor control, a slightly larger brush can actually be easier to manage than a very small one, since broad strokes are more forgiving than detailed linework. Our guide to crayons vs oil pastels vs textas covers a similar age-and-control consideration for other drawing and colouring tools.

What School Booklists Usually Mean by a Brush Number

School paint brush requirements vary by school, year level and art subject. Some booklists specify one brush size for general painting, while others request several sizes or a particular brush shape. Always use your school's booklist as the main guide rather than assuming a particular size is standard across Australian schools. If an item is unclear, check with the school before ordering.

Key note: If your booklist gives a brush number but does not specify a shape, a round brush can be a versatile option for general painting. However, check with the school if you are unsure what the activity requires.

Our guide to art supplies for primary vs high school covers how brush requirements and other art supply needs shift as students move through different stages of schooling.

Caring for Brushes So the Size Lasts

A brush's effective size and performance degrade with poor care, regardless of its original size. Bristles that fray, split or lose their shape no longer perform the way a fresh brush of the same size would.

• Rinse brushes thoroughly after each use, removing all paint from the base of the bristles near the ferrule.
• Reshape bristles gently while damp, rather than leaving them splayed to dry.
• Store brushes upright or flat, not resting on their bristle tips, which can bend and distort the shape over time.
• Avoid leaving a brush standing in water for extended periods, since this can loosen the glue holding the bristles in place.

Our full guide on making classroom art supplies last a whole year expands on these care habits across brushes and other art materials.

Paint Brush Options at School Stationery Supplies

The products below are available through our Art & Craft collection. Confirm current stock on each product page before ordering.

Both are sold in multi-packs, which suits a classroom teacher ordering for a group, or a family buying for more than one child across the school year.

Common Mistakes When Buying a Paint Brush

• Choosing a brush based on appearance rather than the number on the booklist. Size perception varies by shape and bristle fullness.
• Assuming a No. 16 from any brand will match a previous No. 16 exactly. Numbering is not standardised across manufacturers.
• Ignoring brush shape when the booklist specifies one. A round and a flat brush at the same number perform very differently.
• Buying only one brush size when a task genuinely needs a range. Some secondary art tasks benefit from both a detail brush and a broader one.
• Letting a good brush degrade through poor care. A worn brush no longer performs like its original size, regardless of the number printed on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the number on a paint brush mean?

The number indicates relative size, with higher numbers meaning larger brushes. It is not a precise, standardised measurement, and the same number can vary slightly between brands.

Is a No. 16 or No. 22 paint brush bigger?

A No. 22 is bigger than a No. 16. No. 16 suits general, moderate-detail classroom painting, while No. 22 is broader and suited to covering larger areas quickly.

Why do paint brush numbers skip some sizes at the larger end?

Many brush ranges use increments of two for larger sizes, such as 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. However, numbering systems vary between manufacturers, so the sequence is not universal. Check the specific brand or product range when selecting a brush.

Does brush shape matter as much as the number?

Yes. A round, flat, filbert or bright brush at the same number performs differently. If your booklist specifies a shape, match it alongside the number.

Will a No. 16 brush from any brand be the same size?

Not necessarily. Brush numbering is not standardised across manufacturers, so a No. 16 from one brand can differ slightly from another brand's No. 16. If matching an existing brush exactly matters, staying with the same brand is the more reliable approach.

Buying the Right Brush With Confidence

Paint brush numbers indicate relative size rather than exact measurements. A No. 16 offers a useful balance of coverage and control, while a No. 22 is generally better suited to larger painted areas. Always match the size and shape specified on your school's booklist where possible.

For help choosing other classroom art materials, read our classroom art supplies guide. You can also browse our Art & Craft collection to find suitable supplies for school.

About the Author: 

The School Stationery Supplies Team publishes practical buying guides for Australian students, parents and teachers. Visit School Stationery Supplies for notebooks, paper, pens and school essentials.

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