# Best Airbrush Paints for Miniatures Source: https://minipaintlab.com/best/best-airbrush-paints-minis Updated: 2026-10-20 Publisher: Mini Paint Lab. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://minipaintlab.com/how-we-research#our-score Not every acrylic sprays well. Regular hobby paints often need careful thinning before they will flow through a 0.3 mm nozzle, and getting the ratio wrong means either spidering or a clogged tip mid-session. Airbrush-ready ranges solve this with finer pigment grinds and pre-thinned formulas designed to atomize cleanly at hobby pressures. The differences between brands still matter: some cover in one coat, some shift color as they dry, and some dry so fast they build up on the needle. This guide compares the leading airbrush paint lines for miniature work, including primers-and-color hybrids, candy transparents, and metallics, so you can pick a range that matches your compressor pressure, nozzle size, and painting style. ## Picks ### 1. The Army Painter Warpaints Air Starter Set, 12 x 18 mL Pre-Thinned Acrylic Airbrush Paints, incl. 1 Metallic & 1 Grey 100 mL Primer Our score: 8.8/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) The Army Painter Warpaints Air Starter Set with 12 x 18 mL pre-thinned airbrush paints, a metallic and 100 mL grey primer. Pros: - Includes 100 mL grey primer, so priming and painting use one system - 12 pre-thinned colors spray with no additional thinning - Metallic included for weapons and trim straight away Cons: - Grey primer is less suited to bright schemes than white - Pre-thinned paints are a poor fit for brush layering Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B09BDDML9G ### 2. Vallejo Basic Colors: Acrylic 16 Airbrush Paint Set for Model & Hobby 71178, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 16) Our score: 8.6/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Vallejo Basic Colors 71178 set of 16 airbrush acrylics at 0.57 fl oz each, a broader Model Air palette for hobby spraying. Pros: - 16 airbrush colors give broad options for vehicles and armies - Airbrush-ready formula saves time measuring thinners - Consistent Model Air behavior makes results predictable Cons: - Bigger upfront cost than the smaller basic Model Air set - Some colors lean toward historical military tones Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00MZ9VERW ### 3. The Army Painter Warpaints Air Complete Set - 126 Non-Toxic Water Based Airbrush Paints for Tabletop Roleplaying and Wargames Miniature Model Painting Our score: 8.5/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 10/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) The Army Painter Warpaints Air Complete Set with 126 non-toxic water-based airbrush paints for wargames miniatures. Pros: - 126 paints cover every color need for full airbrush workflows - Non-toxic water-based formula is safe for home hobby spaces - Huge range saves repeated orders for dedicated airbrushers Cons: - Massive purchase that only suits committed airbrush painters - Storing so many bottles needs a dedicated rack or drawer Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B09BVKFD5R ### 4. Vallejo Metallic Set Model Air Paint, 17ml, Multicolor (Pack of 16) Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Metallic Set Model Air paint pack of 16 in 17ml bottles, airbrush-ready metallics for vehicles and armor. Pros: - 16 metallic tones allow realistic mixes of steel, brass and copper - Airbrush-ready metallics give smooth, even metal finishes - Great for tanks, mechs and aircraft as well as minis Cons: - Metallic flakes can clog smaller airbrush nozzles - Delicate finish needs a varnish for gaming handling Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B001G6NH1G ### 5. Vallejo - Model Air Basic Colors - Acrylic Paint Set, Pre-Thinned Airbrush-Ready Formula, 8 Basic Shades, Non-Toxic Water-Based Pigments Our score: 8.3/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Vallejo Model Air basic colors set with 8 basic shades in a pre-thinned, airbrush-ready water-based formula. Pros: - Pre-thinned paint sprays straight from the bottle with no mixing - 8 basic shades cover primers, bases and zenithal highlights - Non-toxic water-based pigments are safe for indoor airbrushing Cons: - Pre-thinned paints are too runny for most brush work - Basic colors only, so metallics and effects need other sets Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B002U5RMKE ### 6. Badger Air-Brush Company Minitaire 12-Color Paint Starter Set Our score: 7.8/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Badger Minitaire 12-color paint starter set, acrylic airbrush paints formulated specifically for miniatures and gaming. Pros: - 12 colors aimed at tabletop and fantasy miniature schemes - Formulated to spray through fine airbrushes with little thinning - Badger makes both the paint and airbrushes, so pairing is easy Cons: - Minitaire line can be harder to find than Vallejo or Army Painter - Starter range will need expansion for specific armies Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00B2J3U3W ### 7. U.S. Art Supply Airbrush Paint Set, 12 Color Transparent, 1-oz Bottles Our score: 7.3/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10) U.S. Art Supply Airbrush Paint Set holds 12 transparent water-based acrylic colors in 1 oz bottles, with airbrush cleaner and reducer included. Pros: - Twelve transparent colors in 1 oz bottles, plus airbrush cleaner and reducer, give a full set for shading and glazing. - Listed as ready to spray with no thinning needed, which saves a mixing step at the airbrush. - Water-based acrylic that the listing says meets ASTM D-4236, and it names plastic models among its uses. Cons: - Transparent colors build up in thin layers, so covering a dark primer takes several passes. - The listing is aimed at general art use and not at miniatures, so color names are not hobby-specific. Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00QIWC5H0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.