Buying guide
The Speed Painter
Updated How we research
Battle-ready armies in a weekend. The page is split into five sections (Speed paints do the shading for you; Contrast style paints for one-coat color; Drybrush your way to highlights; Washes to finish fast; Airbrush primers for instant zenithal), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Paint Set, 10 x 18 mL Acrylic Contrast Paints incl. 1 Basecoating Brush. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Nicpro Black, Gray, White Surface Primer Airbrush Paint (8.4oz, 250 ml), Matte Finish, Ready To Spray Acrylic Primer for Plastic Models, Miniature Figures. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:The Army Painter, Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0, 24 x 18 ml. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Combo, 10 x 18 ml incl. 1 Metallic and 2 Brushes. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Speed paints do the shading for you
- The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Paint Set, 10 x 18 mL Acrylic Contrast Paints incl. 1 Basecoating BrushOur score8.6/10
- The Army Painter, Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0, 24 x 18 mlOur score8.6/10
- The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Combo, 10 x 18 ml incl. 1 Metallic and 2 BrushesOur score8.4/10
- The Army Painter, Speedpaint Marker Starter Set, 10 x 6 mlOur score7.6/10
Contrast style paints for one-coat color
- Citadel Choose-Your-Own Paint Set: Contrast and Technical Paints with Brushes and AccessoriesOur score8.2/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Colour: Contrast - Militarum GreenOur score7.9/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Contrast Paint: Guilliman Flesh (18ml)Our score7.7/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Contrast Paint: Gore-Grunta Fur (18ml)Our score7.7/10
Drybrush your way to highlights
- Citadel Colour: Dry - DawnstoneOur score7.4/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Drybrush: Ryza RustOur score7.3/10
- Citadel Paint: Dry - Etherium BlueOur score7.1/10
- Citadel Dry Paint Golgfag BrownOur score7.0/10
Washes to finish fast
- Games Workshop Citadel Colour Shade: Agrax Earthshade (18ml)Our score7.7/10
- Citadel Shade Paint: Nuln Oil (18ml)Our score7.6/10
- Games Workshop - Citadel Paint - Shade: Reikland Fleshshade (18ml)Our score7.3/10
- Games Workshop Citadel Shade Drakenhof NightshadeOur score7.0/10
Airbrush primers for instant zenithal
- Nicpro Black, Gray, White Surface Primer Airbrush Paint (8.4oz, 250 ml), Matte Finish, Ready To Spray Acrylic Primer for Plastic Models, Miniature FiguresOur score8.4/10
- Nicpro Grey Surface Primer Airbrush Paint (8.4oz, 250 ml), Matte Finish, Ready To Spray Water-Based Acrylic Primer for Plastic Models, Miniatures, FiguresOur score7.8/10
- U.S. Art Supply White Surface Primer Airbrush Paint, 8 oz - Acrylic Primer Paint, Ready-To-Spray, Water-Based Acrylic Polyurethane for Miniatures, ModelsOur score7.6/10
- U.S. Art Supply Gray Surface Primer Airbrush Paint, 8 oz - Acrylic Primer Paint, Ready-To-Spray, Water-Based Acrylic Polyurethane for Miniatures, ModelsOur score7.6/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set of 10 x 18 mL contrast-style paints with a basecoating brush.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Speedpaint 2.0 is reformulated for more even flow and less pooling
- + 10 bottles give enough range to finish a small warband quickly
- + Basecoating brush is suited to laying speed paint over broad areas
- - Only one brush, so fine detail work needs a smaller tip
- - Requires a light undercoat, which is not included in the box
#2The Army Painter Speedpaint Most Wanted Set 2.0 with 24 x 18 ml bottles: 21 popular colours, 2 metallics and a Speedpaint Medium for thinning and blending.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 21 colours plus 2 metallics cover most armies without buying single bottles
- + Includes Speedpaint Medium, so you can thin the paint without losing the one-coat effect
- + Water-based 2.0 formula is the reformulated version of the original Speedpaint
- - A 24 bottle set is a real investment if you only want to try speed painting
- - One-coat paints need a smooth, light primer underneath to look their best
#3Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Combo, 10 x 18 ml speed paints including 1 metallic and 2 brushes.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Includes a metallic speed paint, so weapons are covered from day one
- + Two brushes let you split broad coats and detail work
- + Combo bundle adds useful extras over the standard starter kit
- - Costs a bit more than the plain starter for a few extras
- - Still limited to one metallic, so trim-heavy minis need more
#4Nicpro black, gray and white surface primer set, 8.4oz (250 ml) bottles of ready to spray matte acrylic primer.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Black, gray and white allow zenithal priming in one purchase
- + Ready to spray matte finish saves time mixing thinners
- + Large bottles make batch priming whole armies practical
- - Three big bottles take up shelf space for occasional users
- - Water-based primer is less tough than solvent types when handled
#5Citadel Choose-Your-Own Paint Set with Contrast and Technical paints plus brushes and accessories for speed painting.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Mix of Contrast and Technical paints covers fast bases and texture effects
- + Brushes and accessories are included, so the kit is ready to use
- + Flexible choice lets you build a set around your own army colors
- - Exact contents depend on the selection, so check what you receive
- - Official Citadel pricing is higher than rival speed paint brands
#6Citadel Contrast Militarum Green in an 18 ml pot, a water-based one-coat paint that bases, shades and highlights a model in a single application.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Bases, shades and highlights in one coat, the effect Contrast paints are known for
- + Water-based formula thins and cleans up with water
- + A single pot is the cheapest way to try Contrast before buying a set
- - One colour only, so a full army scheme needs several more pots
- - Contrast paints need a smooth light undercoat or the finish turns patchy
#7Nicpro grey surface primer airbrush paint in 8.4oz (250 ml), a ready to spray matte acrylic primer for minis.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Ready to spray formula goes straight into the airbrush cup
- + Grey primer shows detail well and suits most color schemes
- + 8.4oz bottle primes large batches of models
- - Lesser-known primer brand, so adhesion on metal is less proven
- - Needs a clean, degreased model surface for best grip
#8A single 18ml pot of Citadel Contrast Guilliman Flesh, a warm skin tone that shades faces and hands in one coat.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Warm flesh tone settles into facial detail for quick natural skin
- + One coat over light primer handles face, hands and bare arms fast
- + Popular pick for Imperial armies and human characters
- - Single color only, so you need a highlight paint for crisp faces
- - Can look blotchy on large smooth skin areas if applied too heavily
#9Citadel Contrast Gore-Grunta Fur in an 18ml pot, a rich brown for fur, leather straps and wooden hafts.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Brown tone flows into fur texture and leaves raised strands lighter
- + Very versatile for leather, wood, pelts and ork squig hide
- + Speeds up large batches of belts and pouches in a single coat
- - On smooth surfaces the effect can look streaky without thin coats
- - Only one shade, so layering tones needs other Contrast colors
#10Citadel Colour Shade Agrax Earthshade in the newer 18ml pot, the go-to all-purpose brown wash.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + All-purpose brown wash works on gold, flesh, leather and bone
- + Newer 18ml pot matches current Citadel paint range packaging
- + Thin flowing formula settles into detail with little brush work
- - Smaller volume than older pots, so heavy users may run out fast
- - Pot lids can dry out if not closed tightly between sessions
#11The Army Painter Speedpaint Marker Starter Set, ten 6 ml markers filled with the Speedpaint 2.0 one-coat formula for painting miniatures without a brush.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Ten Speedpaint 2.0 colours in marker form, so there is no brush to load or clean
- + One-coat formula shades and highlights as it settles, which suits fast army painting
- + Marker tips make it easy to control where the paint goes on small areas
- - 6 ml per marker is a third of an 18 ml bottle, so the cost per millilitre is high
- - Markers suit detail and small models better than big vehicles or terrain
#12Citadel Shade Nuln Oil in an 18ml pot, an acrylic shade paint from the Citadel range for adding shadow and depth over basecoated miniatures.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Shade paint from the Citadel range, so it sits alongside the other Citadel shades in this guide
- + Acrylic formula fits in with standard water-based miniature paints
- + 18ml pot is a small outlay for painters who want to try a single shade first
- - Listing has only two short bullets and no guidance on finish or how to apply it
- - A single 18ml color, so other tones need separate pots or a full wash set
#13U.S. Art Supply white surface primer airbrush paint in 8 oz, a ready-to-spray acrylic polyurethane for models.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Acrylic polyurethane formula levels smoothly and grips plastic well
- + White base keeps speed paints and bright colors vivid
- + 8 oz bottle suits frequent priming at a modest spend
- - White primer reveals every missed mold line and flaw
- - Polyurethane needs full cure time before heavy handling
#14U.S. Art Supply gray surface primer in 8 oz, a ready-to-spray water-based acrylic polyurethane for miniatures.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gray gives a neutral base that works for most painting styles
- + Water-based formula cleans from the airbrush with water
- + Polyurethane content adds toughness compared with plain acrylic
- - Lesser-known in the mini community than Stynylrez or Vallejo
- - Thick coats can soften fine detail, so spray light passes
#15Citadel Colour Dry Dawnstone is a single pot of grey paint designed for dry brushing models. A neutral grey is a common highlight for stone, rubble, dark armor and terrain.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Designed specifically for dry brushing, so it is ready to load onto a drybrush straight from the pot
- + Neutral grey works over black and dark grey basecoats on stone, ruins, bases and armor edges
- + A single pot keeps the cost low when you only need one drybrush color
- - A single color, not a set, so building a range of dry paints means buying each pot separately
- - The listing has one line of detail and does not state the pot volume
#16Games Workshop Citadel Drybrush Ryza Rust, an orange Dry paint for quick rust, weathering and hot metal edges.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Instantly adds convincing rust over dark metal and armor
- + Also useful for glowing embers and heated weapon tips
- + Drybrush formula makes weathering fast and forgiving
- - Bright orange can look unrealistic if applied too heavily
- - Niche color compared with neutral drybrushes like white or bone
#17Citadel Shade Reikland Fleshshade in an 18ml pot, a flesh-tone shade formulated to flow over other layers into the recesses. A natural pick for skin and faces where a black wash would look too harsh.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Formulated to flow over other layers and settle into recesses, which defines detail in a single pass
- + Flesh-tone shade adds a second wash color to this guide for skin, faces and other warm areas
- + Designed and manufactured by Games Workshop, so it matches the rest of the Citadel Colour range
- - A single 18ml pot of one color, so a full range of washes costs more this way than a boxed set
- - Sold as a pot, not a dropper bottle, and the listing does not state whether the finish is matte or gloss
#18Citadel Dry Etherium Blue is a single pot from the Games Workshop Dry range, the paints made for drybrushing. A pale blue for highlighting blue armor, ghostly effects and cold-toned bases.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Part of the Citadel Dry range, the same drybrushing line as the other single pots in this guide
- + Light blue tone suits highlights on blue armor, spirits and ice or snow themed bases
- + A single pot is an inexpensive way to add a colored drybrush highlight to your paint rack
- - A specialist color with narrower use than a grey, brown or bone drybrush paint
- - The listing gives almost no description and does not state the pot volume
#19Citadel Dry Paint Golgfag Brown, a warm mid-brown Dry paint for fur, leather and earthy base texture.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Warm brown highlight suits fur, dirt and weathered leather
- + Brings out texture on basing sand and grass tufts
- + Thick drybrush formula works well on large monsters
- - Mid-tone brown needs a paler follow-up for crisp highlights
- - Less versatile than grey or white drybrush colors
#20Citadel Shade Drakenhof Nightshade, a dark blue shade developed to flow over other paints into the recesses of a miniature. A cool-toned alternative to black washes for blue armor, cloaks and night schemes.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Developed to flow over other paints and into cavities, defining details and recesses as it dries
- + Blue shade gives cooler shadows than a black or brown wash on blue, grey and silver areas
- + Listing states a 0.8 fl oz (24 ml) pot, a little more than the 18ml of other single shades here
- - One color in one pot, so it is a specialist addition after you already own a black and a brown wash
- - The listing text is short and does not say whether the finish dries matte or gloss
Popular right now
- The Best Miniature Carrying Cases for TransportBuying guide
- Best Texture Paints for Basing MiniaturesBuying guide
- Best Drybrushes for Miniatures and TerrainBuying guide
- The Best Magnifiers for Miniature PaintingBuying guide
- Best Miniature Paint Sets for Tabletop PaintersBuying guide
- Best Speed Paints for Fast Miniature PaintingBuying guide
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Mini Paint Lab curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.