# Best Airbrush Thinners for Miniature Paints Source: https://minipaintlab.com/best/best-airbrush-thinners Updated: 2026-09-14 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 Thinner is the least glamorous bottle on your bench and one of the most important. The right thinner turns a stubborn hobby acrylic into a smooth-spraying mix, slows tip dry so you are not wiping the needle every two minutes, and keeps pigment bound so your coats do not turn grainy. Water alone breaks down acrylic binder if you push it too far, which is why dedicated thinners include binder, flow improver, and drying retarder in balanced amounts. In this guide we compare thinners from the major paint brands along with flow improvers and retarder mediums, explain which combinations work across brands, and give you starting ratios for basecoats, glazes, and fine line work. ## Picks ### 1. Vallejo - Airbrush Thinner for Acrylic Paints 200 ml (6.76 fl.oz.) 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 Airbrush Thinner for acrylic paints in 200 ml (6.76 fl.oz.), a dedicated thinner for smooth airbrush spraying. Pros: - Designed to thin Vallejo and similar acrylics without breaking binder - 200 ml bottle lasts a long time for regular airbrush use - Reduces tip dry and splatter compared with thinning with water Cons: - Overthinning still causes runs, so ratios need testing - Best matched to Vallejo paints, results vary on other brands Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B002X6DTHK ### 2. Vallejo - Airbrush Flow Improver for Acrylic Paints 60 ml (2.02 fl.oz.) Our score: 8.1/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver for acrylic paints in 60 ml (2.02 fl.oz.), an additive that slows drying at the nozzle. Pros: - Slows paint drying so the airbrush tip clogs less often - Improves flow for smoother gradients and fine lines - Small doses mean a 60 ml bottle goes a long way Cons: - Too much flow improver can leave a tacky or slow-drying finish - An additive, not a thinner, so you may still need both Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00QD780FQ ### 3. Tamiya TAM81040 Acrylic/Poly X-20A Thinner 250ml Our score: 7.7/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Tamiya TAM81040 Acrylic/Poly X-20A Thinner in a 250ml bottle, the bulk size of Tamiya's standard acrylic thinner. Pros: - 250ml bottle is far better value than repeated small bottles - Matches Tamiya acrylic chemistry for smooth, fast-drying airbrush coats - Also useful for cleaning Tamiya paint out of airbrush parts Cons: - Alcohol content gives off fumes that need airflow in the room - Less suited to thinning water-based hobby ranges like Vallejo Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0CLQLFPXK ### 4. Tamiya America, Inc Acrylic/Poly Thinner X-20A 46ml, TAM81030 Our score: 7.5/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Tamiya Acrylic/Poly Thinner X-20A in 46ml (TAM81030), the matching thinner for Tamiya acrylic model paints. Pros: - Formulated specifically for Tamiya acrylics and airbrushing them - Alcohol-based thinner helps Tamiya paint dry quickly and evenly - Widely available and trusted across the scale model community Cons: - Not a good match for Vallejo or Army Painter water-based paints - Stronger odor than water-based thinners, so ventilate the room Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0000WRZ3I ### 5. Createx Airbrush Paint, 4011 Reducer, 8 Oz (4011-08) Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) Createx 4011 airbrush paint reducer in 8 Oz (4011-08), a reducer made to thin Createx colors for better spraying. Pros: - Designed to match Createx paint chemistry for reliable thinning - 8 Oz bottle is a sensible size for regular hobby spraying - Helps reduce clogging when working with fine nozzles Cons: - Tuned for Createx rather than typical miniature paint brands - Thinning ratios need testing to avoid watery coverage Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B071JZF3C2 ### 6. Createx Colors 4012 High Performance Reducer 16oz. Size Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) Createx Colors 4012 High Performance Reducer in a 16oz size, a stronger reducer for fine detail airbrush work. Pros: - High performance formula aids atomization for crisp detail lines - 16oz size is economical for frequent airbrush users - Also helps flush and clean dried paint from airbrush parts Cons: - Stronger formula calls for good ventilation while spraying - Large bottle is more than most mini painters will use Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00CIEANB2 ### 7. Createx Colors 4012 High Performance Reducer 8oz. Size Our score: 7.0/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) Createx Colors 4012 High Performance Reducer in an 8oz size, a smaller bottle of the brand's detail-focused reducer. Pros: - 8oz size lets you try the high performance reducer cheaply - Improves flow of Createx and similar water-based paints - Suits fine airbrush lines and freehand detail work Cons: - Designed around Createx paints, not hobby-specific acrylic ranges - Proper dilution ratios take some trial and error Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B00CIEA808 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.