The best acrylic paint sets balance useful color variety and paint quantity with the surfaces and finish you plan to work on. This guide compares general-purpose sets, larger color assortments, metallic and iridescent paints, and an outdoor craft kit.
Quick Top Products
U.S. Art Supply 72 Color Acrylic Paint Set
- Includes 72 colors in 12ml tubes.
- The paints are water-based, highly pigmented, and smooth in consistency.
- A double-sided color mixing wheel is included.
Best For: Artists and students who want a wide range of colors in small tubes for mixing and varied projects.
U.S. Art Supply Professional 24 Color Outdoor Acrylic Set
- Includes 24 colors in 2oz bottles.
- The paints are intended for indoor and outdoor painting.
- Seven brushes with flat and round nylon tips are included.
Best For: Crafters painting rocks, wood, toys, and other indoor or outdoor projects who want brushes included.
U.S. Art Supply 36 Color Acrylic Paint Set
- Contains 36 colors in 12ml tubes.
- The paints are water-based and highly pigmented.
- Includes a double-sided color mixing wheel.
Best For: Beginners, students, and artists who want a broad general-purpose palette in compact tubes.
U.S. Art Supply Professional Metallic Acrylic Paint Set
- Includes 12 metallic colors in 75ml tubes.
- The paints have a high-shine finish.
- Suitable for canvas, wood, pottery, and rock surfaces.
Best For: Artists and crafters who want metallic colors in larger tubes for canvas, wood, rock, or model work.
U.S. Art Supply 36 Color Metallic Acrylic Paint Set
- Contains 36 metallic colors in 18ml tubes.
- The colors provide high-shine, pearlescent, and iridescent finishes.
- Suitable for canvas, wood, pottery, rocks, and model projects.
Best For: Artists who want a wide selection of metallic and pearlescent colors in smaller tubes.
U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Iridescent Acrylic Paint Set
- Includes 12 iridescent colors in 75ml tubes.
- The paints create shimmering, color-shifting effects.
- A double-sided color mixing wheel is included.
Best For: Artists and crafters seeking color-shifting pearl effects for canvas, paper, wood, or rocks.
U.S. Art Supply 24 Color Acrylic Paint Set
- Includes 24 colors in 12ml tubes.
- The paints are water-based and highly pigmented.
- A double-sided color mixing wheel is included.
Best For: Beginners and students who want a compact set of general acrylic colors and a mixing aid.
U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Acrylic Paint Set
- Includes 12 colors in 75ml tubes.
- The water-based acrylic paint is highly pigmented with a smooth consistency.
- The colors are intended for canvas, wood, fabric, and paper.
Best For: Artists who want a focused set of large-tube colors for canvas and mixed-surface painting.
Broadest Color Range
U.S. Art Supply 72 Color Professional Acrylic Paint Set in 12ml Tubes - Art Painting Supplies for Adults, Artists, Students, Beginners - Canvas Portrait Paintings
This set pairs 72 colors with 12ml tubes, making it the widest palette in this group. The water-based acrylics are described as highly pigmented, with a smooth consistency and covering strength.
It suits canvas, wood, fabric, and paper, as well as portraits, abstracts, and craft work. A double-sided color mixing wheel adds a learning aid for students and beginners.
The tradeoff is tube size: each tube is compact, so this assortment favors breadth of choice over larger quantities of a few core colors. Consider how often you use specialty shades before choosing a large palette.
Best For: Artists and students who want a wide range of colors in small tubes for mixing and varied projects.
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Choose this set when shade variety matters more than having large amounts of each color. Its 12ml tubes and broad assortment make it suited to exploration across canvas and craft projects.
Compared with a smaller palette, this kit offers more options in the same tube format. Before buying, consider whether you will use many distinct colors or would rather replenish a smaller core palette.
Outdoor Craft Projects
U.S. Art Supply Professional 24 Color Outdoor Acrylic Paint Set, 2oz Bottles, with 7 Brush Kit - Vivid Colors for Painting Canvas, Rocks, Wood Crafts, Toys
This 24-color set stands out for outdoor craft use and its included brush kit. It comes in 2oz bottles and includes seven nylon brushes with flat and round tips.
The water-based paints are described as weather-resistant and suitable for canvas, rocks, wood, and toys. That combination gives crafters more paint per color than small-tube assortments, plus basic brushes for varied strokes.
The key distinction is the outdoor focus; artists looking mainly for a specialty finish or a very broad palette may prefer another set here. Check that the surfaces and finish you have in mind match the paint's intended craft use.
Best For: Crafters painting rocks, wood, toys, and other indoor or outdoor projects who want brushes included.
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Pick this option for crafts that span indoor and outdoor settings, especially when brushes are useful alongside the paint. It has 24 colors in 2oz bottles and a seven-piece brush kit.
Its outdoor craft emphasis is distinct from the smaller-tube general palettes and metallic or iridescent sets. Check the intended surface and conditions for your project; the supplied details do not establish how a particular finished item will hold up in every environment.
General Palette with Fine Color Choices
U.S. Art Supply 36 Color Professional Acrylic Paint Set in 12ml Tubes - Art Painting Supplies for Adults, Artists, Students, Beginners - Canvas Portrait Paintings
This 36-color set provides a broad palette in a compact tube format. Its 12ml tubes hold water-based acrylic paint described as highly pigmented, smooth, and covering.
The set is suited to canvas, wood, fabric, paper, portraits, abstracts, landscapes, and scenery. A double-sided color mixing wheel is included, which can help students and beginners explore color terminology and mixing.
Since the tubes are small, the palette is better suited to variety than to projects that consume large amounts of a few colors. Consider the scale of your work before deciding whether this set fits your needs.
Best For: Beginners, students, and artists who want a broad general-purpose palette in compact tubes.
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Choose this set if you want a broad color selection in a compact tube format. It covers common painting and craft surfaces and includes a mixing wheel.
Before buying, weigh color variety against how quickly you use core colors; this set's small tubes may be less convenient when a project calls for frequent use of one shade.
Large-Tube Metallic Finish
U.S. Art Supply Professional Metallic Acrylic Paint Set - 12 Rich Metallic Colors, 75ml Tubes - Craft Paint for Canvas, Wood, Rock, Model Painting
This set focuses on metallic finishes rather than a standard palette. It contains 12 colors in 75ml tubes, with a smooth, water-based formula and a high-shine finish.
The paints are intended for canvas, wood, pottery, rocks, and detailed model work. The larger tubes may suit projects that use metallic shades repeatedly, while the limited metallic range makes this a focused companion to general acrylic colors rather than a complete everyday palette.
If you need many conventional shades, consider a general set alongside it. Check which metallic colors are included and whether the finish suits the look you want.
Best For: Artists and crafters who want metallic colors in larger tubes for canvas, wood, rock, or model work.
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Select this set when metallic paint is central to the project and larger tubes are useful. Its 12-color selection has a high-shine finish and works across several craft surfaces.
It is a specialized metallic option, so it may not cover everyday color needs on its own. Check the included shades and plan whether you need conventional acrylic colors separately.
36 Metallic Shades in Compact Tubes
U.S. Art Supply 36-Color Metallic Acrylic Paint Set - 18ml Tubes - Acrylic Paint for Canvas Painting, Wood Crafts & Rock Painting - Color Mixing Wheel
This set offers 36 metallic colors in 18ml tubes, emphasizing high-shine, pearlescent, and iridescent effects. It is intended for canvas, wood, pottery, rocks, outdoor crafts, and detailed model work.
The compact tubes provide a range of metallic shades for projects where reflective finishes matter. For a conventional palette, pair it with general-purpose acrylic colors or choose a non-metallic set.
Check whether the metallic shades match the surfaces and effects planned for your work.
Best For: Artists who want a wide selection of metallic and pearlescent colors in smaller tubes.
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Choose this set when variety of metallic effects matters. The 36 shades include silver, gold, and copper tones, with pearlescent and iridescent finishes.
Its 18ml tubes offer a compact format. Consider how many colors you will use and how much paint each project requires; the format gives breadth across metallic shades.
Color-Shifting Iridescent Effects
U.S. Art Supply 12-Color Iridescent Acrylic Paint Set Large 75ml Tubes - Luminescent, Chameleon, Color-Shifting Pearl Colors, Crafting Paints - Iridescent Paint Acrylics for Canvas, Wood, Rock, Paper
This 12-color set is built around iridescent effects, including colors that shift between hues. Each paint comes in an extra-large 75ml tube and has a water-based formula with a smooth consistency and covering strength.
It is suited to canvas, wood, fabric, paper, and rocks. The set also includes a double-sided color mixing wheel.
Compared with a general acrylic palette, its color range is specialized, so it works best when shimmer and color shift are part of the planned result. Check the named shades to see whether their color transitions fit your project.
Best For: Artists and crafters seeking color-shifting pearl effects for canvas, paper, wood, or rocks.
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This is a strong fit for work that depends on shimmering or color-shifting paint. Its 12 shades come in 75ml tubes, and the mixing wheel offers a useful extra for learning or experimenting.
The range is less suited to replacing a conventional palette because its colors are all iridescent. Check the named color transitions against your design, especially if you need standard opaque shades for most of the work.
Compact Everyday Palette
U.S. Art Supply 24 Color Professional Acrylic Paint Set in 12ml Tubes - Art Painting Supplies for Adults, Artists, Students, Beginners - Canvas Portrait Paintings
This 24-color set covers familiar painting and craft uses in compact 12ml tubes. The water-based acrylics are described as highly pigmented, smooth, and covering, with intended use on canvas, wood, fabric, paper, and other art media.
It includes a double-sided color mixing wheel for exploring color terminology and theory. The smaller palette can be a practical starting point for students or artists who prefer a manageable selection.
If you routinely need many distinct shades, consider whether a broader assortment would suit your work. Consider your likely color use before choosing a palette.
Best For: Beginners and students who want a compact set of general acrylic colors and a mixing aid.
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Choose this option for a manageable general palette with a mixing aid. It suits common art and craft surfaces and offers a focused assortment.
The 12ml tubes favor color exploration and modest projects over repeated high-volume use of a few shades. Before buying, decide whether this palette is enough for your work or whether you would benefit from a wider assortment.
Core Colors in Large Tubes
U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Set of Acrylic Oil Paint 75ml Tubes - High Opacity, Strong Tinting Strength, Oil Paints for Canvas Painting, Wood & Media
This 12-color set uses 75ml tubes and focuses on a core group of vivid acrylic shades. The water-based paint is described as highly pigmented, smooth, and strong in coverage.
It is intended for canvas, wood, fabric, paper, and other art media, with colors suited to portraits, abstracts, landscapes, and scenery. The larger tubes may be useful when you rely on a smaller group of colors.
With a focused palette, color mixing will play a larger role. Review the listed colors to make sure the core selection fits your projects.
Best For: Artists who want a focused set of large-tube colors for canvas and mixed-surface painting.
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Pick this set if you prefer larger tubes and expect to build many shades from a focused palette. It provides 75ml per color and suits several common surfaces.
The tradeoff is a focused color selection. Confirm that the included core shades align with your work and that mixing colors is part of your approach.
How to Choose Acrylic Paint Sets
How We Picked Acrylic Paint Sets
We selected products that contain acrylic paint intended for painting or crafts, then organized them by the decisions a buyer is likely to make: palette breadth, tube or bottle quantity, intended surfaces, and specialty finish. The roundup includes general-purpose colors in 12ml tubes, larger 75ml tubes, and 2oz bottles, as well as metallic and iridescent sets.
A craft kit with brushes also earns a place because its outdoor focus and included tools make it useful for a distinct project type.
The primer set is excluded because it is designed to prepare surfaces before painting, rather than supply a standard palette of colors for artwork. The selected products therefore cover everyday painting, learning color mixing, outdoor crafts, and reflective finishes without treating those different jobs as interchangeable.
Check each set's stated surfaces and finish against the work you plan to do.
Comparing Acrylic Paint Sets
Start with how much color variety you need. The 72-color, 36-color, and 24-color sets use 12ml tubes, so the main difference among them is palette breadth.
The 12-color 75ml set trades shade count for larger quantities per color. The outdoor 24-color kit uses 2oz bottles and includes seven brushes, making it a different choice for craft projects.
Special finishes narrow the choice further. The 12-color iridescent set uses 75ml tubes for color-shifting effects, while the metallic sets offer either 12 colors in 75ml tubes or 36 colors in 18ml tubes.
If your project needs both standard and reflective colors, a specialty set may complement a general palette rather than replace it. The comparison table below summarizes the included sets.
| Product | Standout features | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Art Supply 72 Color Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Artists and students who want a wide range of colors in small tubes for mixing and varied projects. |
| U.S. Art Supply Professional 24 Color Outdoor Acrylic SetCheck Price |
| Crafters painting rocks, wood, toys, and other indoor or outdoor projects who want brushes included. |
| U.S. Art Supply 36 Color Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Beginners, students, and artists who want a broad general-purpose palette in compact tubes. |
| U.S. Art Supply Professional Metallic Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Artists and crafters who want metallic colors in larger tubes for canvas, wood, rock, or model work. |
| U.S. Art Supply 36 Color Metallic Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Artists who want a wide selection of metallic and pearlescent colors in smaller tubes. |
| U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Iridescent Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Artists and crafters seeking color-shifting pearl effects for canvas, paper, wood, or rocks. |
| U.S. Art Supply 24 Color Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Beginners and students who want a compact set of general acrylic colors and a mixing aid. |
| U.S. Art Supply 12 Color Acrylic Paint SetCheck Price |
| Artists who want a focused set of large-tube colors for canvas and mixed-surface painting. |
Choosing Paint for Canvas and Mixed-Media Work
For canvas, portraits, abstracts, and landscapes, compare the general-purpose sets by palette size and tube format. The 24-color set keeps the selection manageable; the 36-color set adds more options; and the 72-color set maximizes shade variety among the compact-tube choices.
The 12-color set has 75ml tubes and can suit artists who prefer to mix colors from a smaller group.
Surface range matters for crafts as well as painting. Several sets are intended for wood, fabric, and paper, while the iridescent paints also mention rocks and the metallic sets include pottery among their uses.
Match the product's intended surfaces to your project, and remember that a specialty finish changes the visual result as well as the color range.
Metallic and Iridescent Acrylic Effects
Metallic and iridescent paints serve different visual goals. The metallic sets emphasize high-shine finishes and include silver, gold, and copper tones in the 36-color option.
The iridescent set focuses on shimmering color shifts, with named transitions such as blue to gold and peachy gold to pink. Choose based on the effect you want rather than color count alone.
Tube size also shapes the decision. The 12-color metallic set and 12-color iridescent set use 75ml tubes, while the 36-color metallic set uses 18ml tubes.
That tradeoff gives you a choice between fewer shades with more paint per color or more metallic options in smaller tubes. A general-purpose acrylic palette may still be needed for conventional colors.
Who Should Buy Which Acrylic Paint Set?
Beginners and students who want a broad conventional palette can compare the 24- and 36-color 12ml sets, both of which include a color mixing wheel. Artists seeking more shades can move to the 72-color version, while those who use fewer core colors may prefer the 12-color 75ml set.
For outdoor crafts and varied brushwork, the 24-color bottle set includes seven brushes and is intended for indoor and outdoor painting. For shimmer, choose between the color-shifting iridescent set and the high-shine metallic options.
Think through the surface, finish, and quantity you need per shade before settling on a set.