Best Watercolor Paints

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Best Watercolor Paints

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How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paint

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned watercolor painter, the best watercolor paints can make all the difference in your next artwork project! We did the hard work for you and researched several of the best watercolor paint sets that painters at every level can enjoy. To find the best watercolor paint set for you, here are a few key features to think about to ensure you’re getting the right type of paints for your particular painting projects and budget.

Best Watercolor Paints

Type: Watercolor paints come in 2 main types: tubes and pans. Tubes are great for mixing colors and creating different textures of paint. Pans are easy for beginners and kids to use, transport easily, and are less likely to create spills.

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# of Colors: We’ll let you know how many colors come in each set, so you can find the colors you need without buying more than you need! Smaller sets are great for travel, while larger sets are great for more advanced painters!

How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paint

Brushes Included: Some of the watercolor paint sets we reviewed come with extra accessories, including brushes you can use to get started right away. We also found sets that come with brush pens, so you can try your hand at watercolor calligraphy!

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Paper Included: If you are looking for a great gift idea for a young child, budding hobbyist, or art enthusiast, we found a few kits that come with everything you need to get started – including paper that’s made especially for watercolor paints!

Best Watercolor Paints

Money Back Guarantee: Investing in art supplies can get expensive, and it can be disappointing if you don’t get exactly what you needed. Many of the brands we reviewed have money back guarantees, so you can return products if they don’t work out!

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Non-Toxic: Watercolor paints are well known for being a non-toxic option for painters, making them great for classrooms or craft nights with kids. We’ll let you know which ones are non-toxic, so you can find the best watercolor paints for you!

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Now that you know about the features to look for, let’s find the best watercolor paint set for you! We found great options for professional and expert painters to get the high quality, customizable colors they need to make beautiful pieces. There are also great budget-friendly sets to introduce your kids to the joy of watercolor paints! If you’re pressed for time, check out the Top Pick and Budget Pick now, and come back later to read about the rest!

SHINHAN Professional Paint Set

SHINHAN Professional Paint Set
Our Top Pick for the best watercolor paints for artists and hobbyists alike is this set of 30 watercolor tubes from SHINHAN! This topped our list because it comes with 30 professional-quality, highly pigmented paints that you can use to create a variety of beautiful paintings and art projects! We like that they come in clearly labeled tubes that are easy to use straight up, thin out with your favorite medium, or mix together for custom colors. They are non-toxic, making them a great gift idea for painters of all ages and ability levels. We also like that they come in a convenient box that keeps them all organized and protected. You can take these on your next trip to keep your kids busy, or use them yourself to paint the beautiful landscapes you see on your trip! They’re also fairly inexpensive for such a large set of professional paints, so grab a few as gifts for friends – or yourself!
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Crafts 4 All Watercolor Paint Set

Crafts 4 All Watercolor Paint Set
There is no need to spend a fortune on fancy watercolor paints, especially if you’re new to painting! Our Budget Pick set from Crafts 4 All comes with enough paint colors to get you started on your painting journey! This kit has 24 beautiful colors you can work with to create custom greeting cards, watercolor paintings, and more. The tubes contain highly concentrated pigments that you can thin out however you like, and you can customize the deepness of the color with more or less water. The tubes also make these paints easy to mix, too! We like that these are non-toxic, so you can also use these with small children to introduce them to the joys of watercolor paints. This kit also comes with 3 paintbrushes, so all you need to get started is some watercolor paper! We think this would make a great starter kit for your first watercolor class, or for kids who are interested in paint!
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MozArt Supplies Paint Set

MozArt Supplies Paint Set
If you’re looking for the best watercolor paints to buy for travel, consider investing in a pan set that won’t leak or spill while you’re on the road! This set of 24 colors from MozArt is perfect for taking on a train, plane, or automobile! The solid watercolor pods are vibrant and easy to use, and they won’t spill or leak in your luggage or tote bag. We like that the colors in this set are vibrant and easy to use, making them great for art students, hobbyists, and professionals who like to paint on the go. The pan cover also doubles as a palette, so you can thin and mix colors without needing to bring extra equipment. This kit also comes with a small brush that fits neatly in the pan, so you can keep everything organized and clean while you travel. The non-toxic paints are perfect for painters of all ages, and they’re perfect for school art projects!
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Jerry Q Art Travel Paint Set

Jerry Q Art Travel Paint Set
Another great option to take with you while you travel is this pocket-sized paint set from Jerry Q Art! This pan paint set comes with 24 beautiful colors you can easily customize and mix on the two small palettes that are included. We like using pan watercolors for travel because they stay solid and won’t bleed or spill in your luggage or travel bag. This kit also comes with some extra tools to help you get the most out of your compact travel kit. It has a watercolor calligraphy brush that you can use to store water or use as a paintbrush, a small calligraphy dish to hold water, and a sponge to blend or clean up any spills. Everything fits neatly in a small plastic case that fits easily in your bag – or even your back pocket! We think this is a great set of paints for all ages to enjoy a bit of time relaxing while on vacation!
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ARTEZA Watercolor Paint Set

ARTEZA Watercolor Paint Set
If you prefer using pan watercolors, and you’re looking to upgrade your kit, consider grabbing one of these sets from ARTEZA. This set comes with 36 beautiful, professional-grade watercolor pans that you can use to create beautiful artwork wherever you go. We like that the paints are non-toxic, making them a great option for your young children or art students to enjoy painting safely. The pans come in a customizable metal box, so you can move around the color pans however you like. This gives you the option to bring only the colors you need with you, and leave the rest at home. You can then use the extra space to carry extra brushes, pens, or other supplies! We also like that the paints, storage tray, and extra water brush all come in a sturdy metal box, which keeps everything organized and safe from being crushed in your bag! This is a great kit for students, hobbyists, and pros alike!
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Kedudes Watercolor Artist Set

Kedudes Watercolor Artist Set
This next set of watercolors is a great gift idea for children, crafting enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a spark of creativity! We think this is a wonderful gift for a new painter because it comes with plenty of tools and paints to get started – just pick up a pad of watercolor paper, and you’re set! It comes with 36 watercolor cakes in a variety of bright, saturated colors you can use to create your next masterpiece or encourage kids to try their hand at painting. We like using solid cakes with kids because they’re less messy and they store well after you’re done. This set also comes with 12 paintbrushes you can use with watercolors and acrylic paints, which is a great value for the price! Since this kit is relatively inexpensive, you could easily buy one for each kid in your family, or grab a bunch for friends to do a fun painting night with wine and snacks!
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Artists Loft Watercolor Pan Set

Artists Loft Watercolor Pan Set
Looking for an inexpensive set of watercolors for your little ones, or to stock up on for your art classroom? This pan set from Artists Loft is perfect for beginner painters because it’s cheap, easy to use, and comes with a whopping 36 colors to choose from! Pan watercolors are great for art classrooms because they are less messy to use, a piece of cake to clean up, and they store easily when class is over. Just close the lid, stack them up in a box, and they’re ready for the next day! We like that this set comes with 36 colors that are saturated and easy to thin out with just a little water. You can easily teach students about watercolor paints while giving them the freedom to create beautiful pieces with tons of color! Each kit also comes with a small brush to get started, making this a great gift idea for young children or beginner painters, too!
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AEM Hi Arts Watercolor Paints

AEM Hi Arts Watercolor Paints
Another great gift idea for avid crafters and children is this complete watercolor set from AEM that has everything you need to get started on your next watercolor project! This kit comes with 24 tubes of concentrated watercolor paint that you can easily thin out to the consistency you want, or mix them on the palette that comes with the kit for a truly custom piece of art! Each paint color is bright, highly pigmented, and non-toxic, making these perfect for art students, hobbyists, and even professional painters. We like that this kit comes with all the accessories you need, including a palette, 3 watercolor brushes, and even a packet of watercolor paper! Another reason we chose this kit is that AEM has committed to donating one watercolor kit to an art therapy organization for each one you purchase. You can feel great knowing that your purchase is helping someone else in need of a little extra love and care!
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Bianyo Professional Watercolor Paints

Another option if you’re looking for a complete kit to give or get is this beautiful set from Bianyo. It comes with all the accessories you need to start learning how to use watercolors! The kit has 30 watercolor cakes in a variety of vibrant colors that you can thin out easily with water, and they dry quickly for easy storage when you’re done using them. We also like that this kit comes with a small paintbrush and an extra water brush you can use to store water while you travel, or use it to try your hand at calligraphy writing! It also comes a packet of 8 pieces of watercolor paper, so you can create your first piece of artwork right away – no need to run to the art supply store for extra paper. Everything is packed neatly in a beautiful gift box, and we think this is a wonderful gift idea for friends, family, and for yourself too!
Another option if you’re looking for a complete kit to give or get is this beautiful set from Bianyo. It comes with all the accessories you need to start learning how to use watercolors! The kit has 30 watercolor cakes in a variety of vibrant colors that you can thin out easily with water, and they dry quickly for easy storage when you’re done using them. We also like that this kit comes with a small paintbrush and an extra water brush you can use to store water while you travel, or use it to try your hand at calligraphy writing! It also comes a packet of 8 pieces of watercolor paper, so you can create your first piece of artwork right away – no need to run to the art supply store for extra paper. Everything is packed neatly in a beautiful gift box, and we think this is a wonderful gift idea for friends, family, and for yourself too!
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Madisi Watercolor Paint Set

Our last review is from Madisi, a professional-grade set of watercolor paints that crafters, art students, children, and professionals of all ages and ability levels will enjoy! This kit comes with 24 large, high-quality tubes of concentrated watercolor paint that you can use with your favorite palette to dilute and mix however you want. The colors available are beautiful, vibrant, and easy to mix – no chalkiness or cloudiness! They are also sun-proof, so you can feel confident that your artwork won’t fade once you hang it up in your home! We like that they’re non-toxic, making them great for use with children, or just to make sure the paints you use for your professional work are safe to work with every day. This kit is also a pretty good value, so you could easily pick up a few sets for your favorite art students, friends, and even grab one for yourself to try your hand at painting with watercolors!
Our last review is from Madisi, a professional-grade set of watercolor paints that crafters, art students, children, and professionals of all ages and ability levels will enjoy! This kit comes with 24 large, high-quality tubes of concentrated watercolor paint that you can use with your favorite palette to dilute and mix however you want. The colors available are beautiful, vibrant, and easy to mix – no chalkiness or cloudiness! They are also sun-proof, so you can feel confident that your artwork won’t fade once you hang it up in your home! We like that they’re non-toxic, making them great for use with children, or just to make sure the paints you use for your professional work are safe to work with every day. This kit is also a pretty good value, so you could easily pick up a few sets for your favorite art students, friends, and even grab one for yourself to try your hand at painting with watercolors!
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Kimberly Graf

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Kimberly Graf is a researcher and writer for GeekWrapped.com. She covers kitchen, cooking, and home products.

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Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

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TOP PICK

SHINHAN Professional Paint Set

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