10 Best Oil Paints in 2026

An all-in-one starter package that prioritizes color range and learning support over tube size, this set arrives with 24 tubes of 12ml oil paint, a guide booklet, a tutorial leaflet, and a tester sheet inside a presentation box. The included tutorials cover techniques like impasto, sgraffito, sponging, and flat brushing, so beginners can start exploring those methods immediately. Reviewers note the box keeps everything organized for storage or travel, making it a practical grab-and-go kit for artists who want variety and instructional help rather than large individual tubes.

Tube volume is the main trade-off here. At 12ml each, these paints will run out faster than the 37ml or 50ml tubes found in sets like the Winsor & Newton Winton or Paul Rubens, so heavy painters or those working on large canvases may need to restock sooner. The set also leaves out brushes and palette knives, meaning you will need to buy those separately before your first session. For the beginner or intermediate artist who values a wide color selection and guided instruction over maximum paint quantity, this is a thoughtful, well-rounded introduction to oil painting.

Eighty-two pieces in one box means you can start painting the moment you open it. The beechwood easel folds into a portable box with a built-in storage drawer, so brushes, paints, and canvases stay organized and ready. The 24 oil colors come pre-milled with linseed oil for a buttery consistency that works straight from the tube, and they dry evenly in about ten days. That makes this kit ideal for beginners who want a complete studio in a carry handle, or for experienced artists who need a reliable travel setup without hunting for missing supplies.

The trade-off is that the easel is compact, so it holds canvases up to 21 inches but won’t handle large-scale work. Drying time is about ten days, which is typical for traditional oil paints. If you prefer quick layering or work in a small space, that wait might feel long. Still, for the sheer value of getting a quality easel, 24 paints, brushes, knives, and canvases all at once, this kit is hard to beat for someone building their first serious oil painting setup.

Eight 37ml tubes of Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour give you a focused palette of titanium white, cadmium lemon hue, cadmium yellow hue, vermilion hue, dioxazine purple, French ultramarine, viridian hue, and burnt umber. That means you can mix a wide range of hues without owning dozens of tubes, making this set ideal for someone learning color theory or painting on a budget. The set also includes a 75ml bottle of Liquin to speed drying time and a 75ml bottle of Sansodor for low-odor thinning. Two hog brushes, a metal palette knife, a cloth, and a double godet are packed in a beech wood box with a Winsor & Newton stitch logo, so you have a complete kit for getting started.

Having only eight colors means you will need to mix more than a larger set would require. The hog brushes are both size 2, which may limit stroke variety compared to sets that include multiple sizes. For a beginner who wants a complete, portable studio without buying extras, this kit delivers trusted performance from a major brand.

Twelve 40ml artist-quality oil paint tubes come in a genuine wood dove-tailed box with a leather handle, so the set packs securely for travel or storage. A wooden palette and an embroidered Sennelier soft cloth are included, giving you a ready-to-use painting surface and a clean-up cloth right out of the box. This arrangement suits painters who want a complete, portable kit without hunting for extra accessories.

The 12-tube selection means fewer colors than some larger sets. For example, Castle Art Supplies offers 24 tubes, though each is 12ml. Artists who prefer a wide range of ready-to-use colors may find the 12-tube limit requires more mixing. However, the genuine wood box and leather handle provide a durable, portable case that protects the paints during travel.

Twenty 50ml tubes give you enough paint to work on multiple projects without frequent refills. The thick, creamy formula lets you build texture directly on canvas or blend with medium for smoother effects, while the excellent lightfastness means your work stays vibrant for decades. This set is crafted for beginners and amateurs who want to learn color mixing and try new methods at a comfortable pace, backed by safety certifications that make it suitable for group painting sessions.

The PHOENIX Studio Oil Paint Set gives you 20 tubes of 50ml paint, which is more volume than the 8 x 37ml tubes in the Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour Set. But that Winsor & Newton set includes a wooden box, brushes, knife, cloth, and medium. So if you already own brushes and a palette and want a large supply of paint to work through, this set is a straightforward way to get that.

Cleaning up with plain water instead of harsh solvents changes where and how you can paint. The color depth, lightfastness, opacity, and transparency match traditional oils, so you get the rich blending and slow drying time oil painters expect without the fumes. That makes it a natural fit for artists who share a studio, paint at home with kids or pets nearby, or simply want to skip the turpentine smell. The 10-tube kit includes Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Deep Hue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue Hue, French Ultramarine, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, and Titanium White, covering a range of colors for mixing.

Starting with just 10 colors in 37ml tubes is a modest beginning compared to the 20-color, 50ml sets from Paul Rubens or PHOENIX. If you work large or burn through paint fast, you may need to replenish tubes sooner. And while the cadmium hues are labeled as ‘hue’ versions, purists who want genuine pigment will need to buy individual tubes. Still, for anyone wanting the feel of oil paint with the convenience of acrylic cleanup, this set offers a solvent-free option.

It’s a strong fit for artists who value rich coverage and smooth blending, especially if you paint landscapes, portraits, or still lifes and want colors that stay vivid without fading over time.

A 7-14 day drying time is standard for traditional oil paints, but it is slower than water-mixable options like Winsor & Newton Artisan. If you prefer fast layering or work in a humid space, that wait might test your patience. Compared to the Castle Art Supplies set, which offers 24 smaller 12ml tubes, Paul Rubens gives you more paint per color but fewer total shades, so you get better value for volume, but less variety right out of the box.

Forty unique colors, including metallic gold and silver, give this set a palette that can handle nearly any project without constant mixing. The two extra white tubes are a thoughtful touch for artists who work with tints or highlights, saving you from running out mid-stroke. This is a strong choice for beginners and students who want to explore a wide range of hues without investing in individual tubes right away. The creamy, thick consistency blends smoothly on canvas, and the ASTM D-4236 certification means it’s safe for classroom or home use.

Tube size is a key difference here. At 18ml each, these are smaller than what you get with the Paul Rubens or PHOENIX Studio sets, which offer 50ml tubes. That matters if you paint large canvases or use heavy amounts of a single color.

Forty-eight colors in one set means you can mix nearly any hue without buying extra tubes. Each 12ml tube delivers a high-sheen, glossy finish, and the lightfast pigments are fade-resistant, helping your art last. That combination of range and permanence makes this kit a strong fit for artists who want artist-grade results without assembling a dozen separate purchases.

Tube size stands out as a consideration. At 12ml each, these are noticeably smaller than the 37ml or 50ml tubes you get with sets like the Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colour Set. If you paint large canvases or use heavy impasto, you will run through colors faster. But for studio practice, studies, or smaller works, the sheer color selection and fade-resistant quality justify the smaller volume.

This set gives you 24 colors in 22ml tubes with a particle size under 35 microns, so the paint blends smoothly and keeps its clarity even when you mix more than three shades. The non-toxic, solvent-free formula means no harsh fumes, which is a real plus if you’re painting indoors or sharing a studio. It’s a straightforward way to start oil painting without a big investment in color variety.

The 22ml tubes are smaller than some competitors’ offerings, for example, the Paul Rubens set comes in 50ml tubes, so you may find yourself replacing white or other frequently used colors sooner. There are no brushes, canvas, or medium included, so you’ll need to buy those separately. For the price, though, you get a usable palette and paint that behaves predictably, letting you focus on technique.