What Is the Nap on a Paint Roller?

The “nap” refers to the length and style of the material on a paint roller. When you buy a pack of rollers in a store for a DIY paint job, you will see that they have various lengths and other information to help you make the right decision.

What does nap mean on paint rollers?

Once you've picked either a woven or knit roller, the next characteristic you want to focus on is the nap height, which is the length of the fibers that extend from the backing and carry the paint to the wall.

Which nap holds the most paint?

The slightly longer nap will hold more paint with minimal roller marks. A quality roller cover with a 3/8″ nap is versatile enough to work with most paints on most surfaces. For medium-textured plaster and similar surfaces, use 1/2″ nap sleeves, but keep in mind that roller marks will be noticeable.