# Best Miniature Paint Sets for Tabletop Painters Source: https://minipaintlab.com/best/best-miniature-paint-sets Updated: 2026-10-02 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 A miniature paint set bundles a curated range of acrylic colors formulated for small-scale models, giving you a working palette without buying dozens of individual bottles. For tabletop miniature painters starting a Warhammer army, a D&D party, or a board game overhaul, a good starter set removes the guesswork of matching primers, base colors, and highlights. When comparing sets, look at pigment density and coverage, whether the paints come in dropper bottles or open pots, how many usable midtones and highlights are included, and whether the range expands with matching singles later. A balanced set with strong primaries, earth tones, and a metallic or two will carry you through most projects. ## Picks ### 1. The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic: Starter Set, 11 x 18 mL Acrylic Paints, incl. Metallics, Wash, Brush-On Primer, 1 Miniature & 1 Brush Our score: 9.2/10 (Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Army Painter's Warpaints Fanatic starter with 11 acrylics, metallics, a wash, brush-on primer, a miniature and a brush. Pros: - Includes primer, wash and metallics, so the full base-shade-highlight workflow is covered - Bundled miniature gives a practice model before you touch your real army - Fanatic line is a newer, higher-pigment formula than older Warpaints bottles Cons: - Only one brush, which will wear quickly if used for priming and detail - 11 bottles still means buying more colors for a specific army scheme Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0CVGQ7BZD ### 2. Vallejo - Game Color Introduction Set, 16 Bottles x 0.60 fl oz 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 Game Color Introduction Set, 16 x 18 ml dropper bottles including metallics, an acrylic range developed for brush painting miniatures. Pros: - Sixteen bottles with precision eyedropper caps make it easy to dose paint onto a palette - Balanced palette that includes metallic colours for weapons and armour - Developed mainly for brush painting, with self-leveling paint that blends smoothly Cons: - No brush, wash or primer in the box, so those are extra purchases - Sixteen colours still leave gaps that need mixing or single bottles later Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B000PHCTRK ### 3. Reaper Miniatures 08906 Learn to Paint Kit Core Skills, Master Series Paint Box Set Our score: 8.4/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Reaper's Learn to Paint Kit: Core Skills, a guided box set that teaches layering and shading with Master Series paints. Pros: - Structured lessons walk beginners through core techniques step by step - Includes paints, brushes and practice figures chosen to match the lessons - Great for self-taught painters who want a clear learning path Cons: - Colors are chosen for the lessons, not for any particular army scheme - Experienced painters will find the guided content too basic Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B07F9K41NZ ### 4. Vallejo - Basic Colors USA Acrylic Paint Set | Model Color | 16 Bottles x 18 ml Our score: 8.2/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10) Vallejo Model Color basic set of 16 dropper bottles, a broad foundation palette for painters who mix their own shades. Pros: - 16 bottles give more color variety than most entry sets at this level - Model Color is a thin, matte, highly mixable formula favored by historical painters - Dropper bottles make it easy to repeat mixes drop by drop Cons: - Thinner consistency can need a couple of coats over dark primer - No brush, primer or wash included, so beginners need separate tools Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B009162PWU ### 5. The Army Painter, GameMaster Adventure Starter Set, 15 x 18 ml Our score: 8.0/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) The Army Painter GameMaster Adventure Starter Set with 15 x 18 ml paints: 10 colours, 2 effect paints, 2 metallics and a wash, aimed at RPG miniatures. Pros: - Fifteen bottles including metallics, effects and a wash cover a full first paint job - Designed for beginners painting role-playing game miniatures - 18 ml dropper bottles match the rest of The Army Painter range for later top-ups Cons: - Costs more than the smallest ten-paint starter sets - Colour choice leans toward fantasy adventurers, less toward sci-fi armies Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0DDH24SRM ### 6. AK Interactive 3G Acrylics Basic Starter Set - AK11775 (14 x 17ml) Our score: 8.0/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) AK Interactive 3G Acrylics basic starter set of 14 bottles at 17ml, a modern third-generation formula for miniatures. Pros: - 14 colors in one box give a well-rounded palette for a first project - 3G formula is designed to brush smoothly and airbrush when thinned - Dropper bottles help control how much paint lands on the palette Cons: - AK color names are less familiar than Citadel if following army guides - No brush or primer included, so extra kit is still required Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0BTHV3NZD ### 7. Monument Hobbies PRO Acryl 22ml Acrylic Paint Set - Expansion Set 1 Our score: 7.7/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10) Monument Hobbies PRO Acryl Expansion Set 1 in 22ml bottles, extra high-pigment colors for painters who already own the basics. Pros: - PRO Acryl is dense and opaque, so coverage over dark primer is quick - Larger 22ml bottles last longer than the usual hobby paint size - Expansion colors fill gaps a basic starter palette leaves out Cons: - Designed as an add-on, so it is not a complete kit for a total beginner - Strong pigment can look chalky if not thinned properly for layering Details: https://minipaintlab.com/product/B0BNFGMTZC As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.