The right acrylic paint set can make it easier to explore color mixing, build a reliable palette, and move between canvas, wood, paper, and other surfaces. The best choice depends on pigment quality, tube or bottle size, included accessories, and how much variety you actually need.
We’ve selected 10 acrylic paint sets for artists ranging from beginner-friendly kits with brushes and palettes to larger collections suited to frequent painting. Use the comparison and buying advice below to narrow the options by project, budget, and experience level.
Best 10 Acrylic Paint Sets for Artists Picks for 2026
Broad Palette Pick
ARTEZA 60-Color Acrylic Paint Set
- 60 colors include five metallic shades
- Creamy, high-viscosity consistency
- Suitable for canvas and mixed media
Best For: Artists wanting maximum color variety in compact tubes
Large-Tube Value
Liquitex BASICS 12-Color Acrylic Set
- Twelve 118 ml tubes provide generous volume
- High-quality pigments with strong color development
- Works across many indoor art surfaces
Best For: Artists who use core colors in larger quantities
Ready-to-Use Kit
Shuttle Art 36-Color Acrylic Set
- 36 colors include metallic gold and silver
- Comes with 12 brushes and a palette
- Suitable for many surfaces and craft projects
Best For: Beginners and crafters who need paint and basic tools together
Balanced Studio Palette
- 48 popular colors in 22 ml tubes
- Thick, creamy satin-finish paint
- Compatible with Liquitex mediums
Best For: Artists seeking broad color variety in a compact studio set
Best All-Surface Starter Kit
- 36 two-ounce colors, including gold and silver
- Includes 12 brushes for immediate use
- Non-toxic, fast-drying, multi-surface formula
Best For: Beginners and mixed-surface craft projects
Best Studio-Style Palette
Winsor & Newton Galeria 10-Color Set
- 10 60ml tubes with high-quality pigments
- Smooth, satin paint for layering and blending
- Water- and weather-resistant when dry
Best For: Artists refining technique with a compact palette
Best Beginner Color Variety
Mont Marte Signature 24-Color Set
- 24 colors in convenient 36ml tubes
- Creamy consistency with good coverage
- Suitable for canvas, wood, clay, paper, and more
Best For: Beginners and general craft painting
High-Viscosity Pick
- 24 high-pigment colors in labeled 22 ml tubes
- Thick formula builds texture and fine detail
- Water-based, non-toxic, and easy to clean
Best For: Controlled layering, texture, and mixed-media painting
Largest Color Selection
Shuttle Art 50-Color Acrylic Set
- 50 colors include fluorescent and metallic options
- Large 60 ml bottles support repeated projects
- Waterproof, fade-resistant, and non-toxic formula
Best For: High-volume painting and varied craft surfaces
Versatile Bottle Kit
Artkey 24-Color Acrylic Paint Set
- 24 colors in generous 59 ml bottles
- Smooth coverage for detail and larger areas
- Works on canvas, wood, fabric, ceramic, and more
Best For: Beginners, gifts, and multi-surface craft projects
Broad Palette Pick – ARTEZA 60-Color Acrylic Paint Set
For artists comparing acrylic paint sets for artists, the ARTEZA set stands out for its unusually broad palette. It combines 55 classic colors with five metallic shades in 22 ml tubes, giving painters plenty of options for canvas, mixed media, decorative work, and color studies.
Best For: Beginners, hobby painters, and artists who want a versatile all-around color selection with metallic accents.
Pros:
- Includes 60 colors, including gold, silver, and three pearl metallics.
- Creamy, high-viscosity paint supports blending, layering, brushwork, and palette-knife techniques.
- Works on canvas, wood, paper, and mixed media surfaces.
- AP-certified non-toxic formula with organized tube trays for easier storage.
Cons:
- The 22 ml tubes provide less paint per color than the larger 118 ml Liquitex tubes.
- The extensive color range may be more than casual painters need.
Choose this set when color variety matters more than large quantities of individual shades. Its metallic selection and manageable tube format make it a flexible studio or starter collection.
Large-Tube Value – Liquitex BASICS 12-Color Acrylic Set
This Liquitex BASICS set is a practical option among acrylic paint sets for artists who use substantial amounts of paint. The twelve 118 ml tubes offer more volume per color, while Liquitex pigments provide dependable color development for painting on canvas, paper, board, wood, fabric, and other surfaces.
Best For: Students, working hobbyists, and artists who prefer larger tubes of core colors.
Pros:
- Includes twelve generous 118 ml (4 oz) tubes.
- Uses high-quality pigments processed for color strength, brightness, and dispersion.
- Can be adjusted for undertones, tints, and shades with mediums.
- Dries quickly and cleans up with water while wet.
Cons:
- Only twelve colors are included, so artists may need to mix more or buy additional shades.
- The student-quality formula is not positioned as Liquitex’s professional range.
- It is not water-resistant after drying according to the supplied details.
This is a strong choice when paint quantity and a trusted acrylic brand are priorities. It offers economical, versatile paint for artists comfortable building a palette from fewer core colors.
Ready-to-Use Kit – Shuttle Art 36-Color Acrylic Set
Shuttle Art offers one of the more complete acrylic paint sets for artists who want supplies ready to use immediately. Along with 36 pigmented colors in 60 ml bottles, the kit includes twelve brushes and a palette, making it suitable for canvas, rocks, ceramics, wood, fabric, glass, and other craft surfaces.
Best For: Beginners, families, students, and artists seeking a broad, multi-surface starter kit.
Pros:
- Provides 36 colors, including metallic gold and silver.
- Includes twelve brushes and one palette for immediate setup.
- Paint is described as easy to blend, mix, and layer with rich coverage.
- Water-based, non-toxic, acid-free formula is easy to clean before drying.
Cons:
- Bottle packaging may be less precise for artists accustomed to tube dispensing.
- Drying time is listed at about one hour, longer than some quick-drying acrylic options.
- The included accessories may be basic for advanced artists with established tools.
For an accessible all-in-one kit, this set covers both painting and basic equipment needs. Its surface versatility makes it especially useful for craft projects and beginners experimenting beyond canvas.
Balanced Studio Palette – Liquitex BASICS 48-Color Set
The 48-color Liquitex BASICS set balances palette variety with a compact 22 ml tube format. For artists evaluating acrylic paint sets for artists, it offers an assortment of popular colors, a thick creamy consistency, and compatibility with Liquitex Professional colors and mediums.
Best For: Artists who want broad color coverage, satin-finish paint, and a recognizable student-grade acrylic system.
Pros:
- Includes 48 intermixable colors in 22 ml tubes.
- Thick, creamy paint has a satin finish and good pigment load.
- Works on wood, ceramic, paper, metal, stone, fabric, and styrofoam.
- Can be adjusted for undertones, tints, and shades with mediums.
Cons:
- The smaller tubes may run out faster for large-scale work.
- It is student-quality rather than Liquitex’s professional acrylic line.
- The paint is listed as water-resistant rather than waterproof.
This set is a sensible middle ground for artists who want more color choice than a basic dozen-color kit without moving to very large tubes. Its compatibility with Liquitex mediums also leaves room to expand techniques later.
Best All-Surface Starter Kit – Caliart 36-Color Acrylic Set
For artists who want broad color coverage and supplies ready to use, this Caliart set is a versatile pick among acrylic paint sets for artists. It includes 36 two-ounce bottles, metallic gold and silver, and 12 brushes for canvas, wood, rocks, fabric, ceramics, and more.
Best For: Beginners, hobbyists, and artists who want a large color range for mixed-surface projects.
Pros:
- Includes 36 colors in relatively generous 2-ounce bottles.
- Comes with 12 brushes, so painting can begin immediately.
- Water-based, non-toxic, acid-free formula is easy to clean with soap and water before drying.
- Fast-drying, waterproof, fade-resistant paint supports layering and indoor or outdoor projects.
Cons:
- The broad craft-oriented surface range may be more than needed for a focused studio palette.
- Paint is described as matte and metallic, rather than offering a single uniform finish.
This is a practical value-oriented kit when variety and included accessories matter most. Its combination of colors, brushes, and multi-surface compatibility makes it especially useful for exploratory painting and DIY decoration.
Best Studio-Style Palette – Winsor & Newton Galeria 10-Color Set
Artists seeking a more focused palette may prefer this Winsor & Newton Galeria set. It provides 10 60ml tubes with balanced pigments, smooth flow, a satin finish, and colors selected for blending, layering, and bold brushwork.
Best For: Artists moving toward professional materials who value controlled mixing and a compact studio palette.
Pros:
- Uses high-quality pigments with strong tinting strength and bright, stable colors.
- Smooth consistency and excellent coverage suit layering, blending, and expressive brushwork.
- Includes useful foundational colors such as Titanium White, Mars Black, Yellow Ochre, and Burnt Sienna.
- Dry paint is described as water- and weather-resistant with excellent lightfastness and permanence.
Cons:
- With 10 colors, it offers less immediate variety than larger beginner sets.
- No brushes or other painting accessories are listed in the set contents.
- The supplied details identify it as water-resistant rather than fully waterproof.
This set is a strong choice for a streamlined palette and more deliberate color mixing. Its satin finish, pigment quality, and permanence make it better suited to artists refining technique than to shoppers prioritizing maximum color count.
Best Beginner Color Variety – Mont Marte Signature 24-Color Set
This Mont Marte kit is a straightforward option for beginners comparing acrylic paint sets for artists. It supplies 24 colors in 36ml tubes, including gold and silver, with a creamy consistency for canvas, wood, cardboard, paper, air-dried clay, and other craft surfaces.
Best For: New painters, classroom-style projects, and artists experimenting across common craft surfaces.
Pros:
- Provides 24 colors, including useful earth tones, bright hues, gold, and silver.
- Creamy consistency and good coverage are approachable for beginners.
- Works across canvas, wood, leather, paper, cardboard, plaster, and air-dried clay.
- Non-toxic paint dries to a semi-matte finish.
Cons:
- The 36ml tubes contain less paint per color than larger-volume sets.
- Brushes are not listed among the included components.
- The supplied details describe it as water-resistant rather than waterproof.
Mont Marte emphasizes accessible color variety and broad craft compatibility rather than specialized studio performance. It is a sensible starter set if you already have brushes and want multiple colors for practice and creative projects.
High-Viscosity Pick – ARTEZA 24-Color Acrylic Set
For artists comparing acrylic paint sets for artists, this ARTEZA kit offers 24 high-pigment colors in easy-squeeze 22 ml tubes. Its thick consistency is suited to layering, texture-building, blending, and detailed work on canvas, wood, paper, and other craft surfaces.
Best For: Artists who want a compact, high-viscosity set for painting, mixed media, and controlled brush or palette-knife work.
Pros:
- 24 rich, vibrant colors with labeled pigment and lightfastness information.
- Thick, smooth formula supports texture, layering, and fine details.
- Water-based, AP-certified non-toxic paint cleans up with soap and water.
- Secure screw caps and 22 ml tubes help keep paint fresh.
Cons:
- The 22 ml tubes provide less paint per color than larger bottle sets.
- The high-viscosity formula may be less convenient when broad, fluid coverage is preferred.
Choose this set when pigment information, texture control, and a manageable tube format matter more than maximum volume. It is a versatile option for hobbyists through professional artists.
Largest Color Selection – Shuttle Art 50-Color Acrylic Set
Among acrylic paint sets for artists, this Shuttle Art collection stands out for its 50-color range and generous 60 ml bottles. The water-based, creamy paint is designed for mixing, layering, and use across canvas, rocks, wood, ceramic, fabric, glass, leather, and other surfaces.
Best For: Artists, crafters, students, and families who want many colors and larger bottles for varied projects.
Pros:
- Includes 50 colors, including fluorescent and metallic shades.
- 60 ml bottles provide substantially more paint per color for repeated projects.
- Creamy texture offers easy mixing, layering, and broad surface coverage.
- Waterproof, fade-resistant, non-toxic, and certified to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3.
Cons:
- The large 50-color collection takes up more storage space.
- Its listed dry time is up to four hours, so drying may require planning.
This is the practical choice when color variety and quantity are priorities. Its broad surface compatibility also makes it useful for both traditional artwork and hands-on crafts.
Versatile Bottle Kit – Artkey 24-Color Acrylic Paint Set
This Artkey kit is a flexible option among acrylic paint sets for artists, combining 24 colors with 59 ml bottles. The butter-like, quick-drying paint is made for smooth coverage and detail work on canvas, wood, fabric, rocks, leather, ceramic, glass, and more.
Best For: Beginners, gift shoppers, and artists seeking a sizable, multi-surface acrylic kit in bottles.
Pros:
- 24 vibrant colors offer strong coverage for large areas and fine details.
- 59 ml bottles provide ample paint for art and craft projects.
- Paint mixes easily, dries quickly, and is described as long-lasting and fade-resistant.
- Water-based, non-toxic formula cleans up with soap and water.
Cons:
- It offers fewer colors than the 50-color Shuttle Art set.
- The kit is intended for ages 12 and up.
Artkey balances bottle size, surface versatility, and ease of use in a giftable package. It is a strong all-purpose choice when you want more paint than small tubes without committing to a 50-color collection.
How We Picked the Best Acrylic Paint Sets for Artists
We compared these sets by looking at color count, paint volume, packaging, stated pigment richness, consistency, included accessories, and intended audience. We also considered whether a kit is better suited to learning, casual crafting, classroom use, or more demanding studio work. A larger set is not automatically better: useful color selection and dependable handling often matter more than the number printed on the box.
Quick Comparison
The collection includes compact 24-color and 36-color kits, broad 48- and 60-color assortments, and smaller professional-leaning sets with larger tubes. Sets with 22 ml tubes generally offer more shades in a compact format, while 2 oz or 60 ml bottles provide more paint per color for larger projects. Kits that include brushes or palettes can be convenient for beginners, but experienced painters may prefer to choose their own tools.
Key Buying Factors for Acrylic Paint Sets for Artists
Color Range and Mixing
Look for a balanced selection of primary, secondary, neutral, and earth tones. Extra colors are convenient, but learning to mix from a smaller, well-chosen palette can produce more controlled results. Check whether the set includes useful white and black quantities, since these are often used heavily.
Paint Volume and Consistency
Tube size matters when comparing value. Smaller tubes are practical for sampling many colors, while larger bottles or tubes make more sense for canvas work, repeated practice, classrooms, and high-coverage projects. High-viscosity formulas typically retain brush or knife texture; thinner formulas may spread more easily.
Lightfastness and Intended Use
For artwork intended to last, review the manufacturer’s pigment and lightfastness information rather than relying only on color count. Craft-oriented sets can be excellent for practice and decorative projects, but artists selling or displaying finished work may want a line with clearer professional color specifications.
Accessories and Surface Compatibility
Brushes and palettes add convenience, especially for new painters, but their quality varies. Confirm that the paint suits your intended surfaces, such as canvas, wood, paper, or air-dried clay, and follow drying and cleanup instructions. Acrylics are water-based while wet, but they can become difficult to remove once dry.
Who Should Buy Which Acrylic Paint Sets for Artists?
Beginners and gift buyers: Choose a balanced kit with brushes, a palette, and enough colors to start experimenting without buying extra supplies.
Artists building a broad palette: A 48- or 60-color set offers more ready-to-use shades and can reduce the need for frequent mixing.
Frequent painters and larger projects: Prioritize larger 59–60 ml containers or 118 ml tubes so staple colors do not run out quickly.
Developing or professional artists: Favor consistent handling, dependable pigment information, and refillable color lines over the largest accessory bundle. This makes it easier to replace individual colors and maintain a repeatable palette.