Quick answer: What is palette paper? It is a disposable mixing surface for artists: heavy paper with a waterproof coating on one side, sold in tear-off pads. Paint sits on the coated side instead of soaking in, so you can mix oils, acrylics or gouache on it and then tear the sheet away and throw it out instead of cleaning a palette. It usually comes in white or gray and in sizes such as 9 x 12 and 12 x 16 inches.
Walk into the palette section of any art store and you will find stacks of what look like sketchbooks with nothing to draw on. Those are palette paper pads. They solve one specific problem, which is cleanup, and they do it so well that many painters never wash a palette again.
This guide explains what palette paper is made of, how it differs from look-alike papers in your kitchen drawer, the types you will find, how to use palette paper properly and who it suits. For a broader look at mixing surfaces, our list of the best painting palettes for beginners compares paper pads with plastic, glass and stay-wet designs.
What Is Palette Paper Made Of?
A sheet of palette paper has two layers that matter:
- A paper base: a fairly heavy, stiff paper that gives the sheet body so it does not flop or wrinkle as easily when you press a palette knife across it.
- A coating on the top side: commonly a thin polyethylene film or a similar plastic-type layer, though some sheets use wax or other moisture-resistant finishes. This layer makes the surface smooth and non-absorbent.
The coating is the whole point. Without it, paint binders and water would sink into the fibers, colors would dull, and the paper would buckle. With it, paint behaves much as it would on glass or plastic.
Sheets are stacked into a pad and bound on one, two or all four edges with glue or tape. A cardboard back keeps the pad rigid enough to use on your lap or a table.
Palette Paper vs Look-Alike Papers
Several household and art papers look similar but behave differently. Mixing them up leads to frustration.
| Paper | Surface | Works as a palette? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palette paper | Coated, non-absorbent | Yes, made for it | Stiff, bound in pads |
| Freezer paper | Plastic-coated on one side | Often yes, shiny side up | Thinner, comes on a roll, curls |
| Wax paper | Wax coated on both sides | For short sessions | Thin, wax may mix into paint with heavy knife work |
| Parchment paper | Silicone-treated, slightly porous to water | Mainly as a stay-wet top sheet | Lets moisture through from below |
| Stay-wet membrane paper | Porous | Only inside a wet palette | Designed to wick moisture up to paint |
| Copy or drawing paper | Uncoated | No | Absorbs paint and water |
The key distinction is between coated palette paper, which blocks water, and membrane or parchment paper, which lets water pass through. The first is for open mixing; the second belongs in a stay-wet palette.
Types of Palette Paper
White palette paper
The most common type. Colors appear bright and clean against it, and it matches a white canvas or paper ground. Mixes can look slightly darker on white than they will on a toned surface.
Gray palette paper
Toned to a neutral middle gray. It helps you judge value, because colors are compared against a mid-tone instead of the brightest possible white. Many portrait and landscape painters prefer it.
Hand-held pads with a thumb hole
Shaped like a traditional oval or rectangular artist’s palette, with a hole punched through the whole stack. You hold the pad like a wooden palette at the easel, then tear off the top sheet when done.
Large studio pads
Sizes such as 12 x 16 inches and larger give room for big mixes and many colors, popular with oil painters working on large canvases.
Small travel pads
Compact pads that fit in a pochade box or sketch bag for plein air painting.
Standard Sizes
| Size | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Around 6 x 9 inches or smaller | Travel, small studies, gouache |
| 9 x 12 inches | The most common all-round size for small to medium paintings |
| 11 x 14 or 12 x 16 inches | Larger paintings and broader mixing areas |
| 16 x 20 inches and up | Studio oil painting with many colors and premixed values |
Pad counts vary widely, from about 30 sheets to 100 or more. Sheet weight and coating quality also differ between brands, which affects how much the paper curls when wet.
How to Use Palette Paper
- Check the coated side. It is smoother and shinier. A drop of water beads on the coated side and soaks into the back.
- Keep the sheet on the pad. The stack underneath gives a firm, flat surface for knife mixing and stops sliding.
- Arrange colors around the edges. Leave the center open for mixing.
- Mix with a palette knife. Press and spread to blend thoroughly. Brushes work too, but they collect more paint.
- Save good mixes before tearing. Move wet paint onto the next sheet with a knife if you want to keep it.
- Tear off from the free corner. Pull toward the binding, fold the sheet inward and throw it away.
Which Paints Work on Palette Paper?
- Oil paint: an excellent match. Oils stay workable for hours on paper, and the coating stops oil from soaking in.
- Acrylic paint: works well, though it dries faster on an open sheet. Mist and use small amounts.
- Gouache: works, and dried gouache can often be rewetted on the sheet for a while.
- Watercolor: possible, but watery washes bead and run on the flat surface. A well palette is usually easier.
- Alkyd and water-mixable oils: fine on palette paper, just as with traditional oils.
Advantages of Palette Paper
- No cleanup: tear and discard.
- Always a clean surface: no stains from previous paintings affecting how you read color.
- Light and portable: good for classes and painting outdoors.
- Smooth for knife mixing: similar feel to a hard palette.
- Low startup cost: a pad is inexpensive compared with some specialty palettes.
Disadvantages of Palette Paper
- Ongoing cost: pads need replacing, which adds up over years.
- Waste: each sheet goes in the trash, and plastic-coated paper is generally not recyclable.
- Paint drying: acrylic dries quickly on an open sheet.
- Curling: sheets can cockle with lots of water or heavy misting.
- Tearing risk: aggressive knife scraping can sometimes break through thin coatings.
How Pads Are Bound and Why It Matters
The binding decides how the pad behaves while you work. Pads glued along a single edge are the easiest to tear, but the free edges can lift when you press a knife near them. Pads bound on two edges stay flatter. Pads sealed on all four edges, sometimes called blocks, keep the top sheet the flattest of all; they usually have a small unglued gap where you slide a knife in to release the sheet.
Thumb-hole pads add another factor: the hole is cut through every sheet, so the pad can be held like a classic palette. They are handy at the easel, but the weight of the whole stack sits on your arm, so smaller sizes tend to be more comfortable for long sessions.
Palette Paper Troubleshooting
The sheet curls or ripples
Water reaching the uncoated edges, or very wet mixes, can make paper cockle. Keep the sheet attached to the pad, use less water and tape loose corners down.
Paint beads up instead of spreading
Thin, watery paint can bead on the slick coating, much like water on a waxed car. Mix with less water, or thin with a medium instead, so the paint holds together.
The knife scratches through
Hard scraping with a sharp-edged knife can occasionally break a thin coating, and paint then soaks into the fibers beneath. Use the flat of the blade rather than the edge when mixing, and press with moderate rather than heavy force.
Paint shows through on the next sheet
This usually means the sheet was used upside down, the coating was damaged, or very thin, solvent-heavy paint seeped through at an edge. Use the coated side and avoid flooding the sheet with solvent.
Palette Paper Cost Over Time
A single pad is inexpensive, but the cost repeats. Someone painting a few times a week and using one sheet per session can go through a pad of 40 to 50 sheets in a few months. Over years, that adds up to more than the price of a reusable glass or plastic palette.
Many painters split the difference: they use palette paper for travel, classes and color tests, and a reusable palette for regular studio sessions. That keeps the convenience where it helps most while cutting waste and ongoing spending.
Storing Palette Paper Pads
Keep pads flat and dry, away from heat and direct sun, which can soften some coatings or make the paper brittle over time. Close the cover over the top sheet when not in use so dust and stray paint stay off. If you carry a pad with wet paint, slip it into a large zip bag or keep it face up in a flat box.
Who Should Use Palette Paper?
| Painter | Good fit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners trying oils or acrylics | Yes | Simple, cheap to start, no cleanup chores |
| Students in classes | Yes | Quick to set up and pack away |
| Plein air painters | Yes | Light and tidy to carry |
| Slow acrylic painters | Partly | Paint dries; a stay-wet palette may suit better |
| Watercolorists | Rarely | Washes need wells |
| Painters avoiding waste | Less so | A glass or plastic palette is reusable |
Tips for Getting the Most From Palette Paper
- Use gray paper if you paint on a toned ground and want truer value judgments.
- Tape the corners down if the sheet starts to curl.
- With oils, cover the sheet with plastic wrap between sessions to keep paint fresh for longer.
- Keep a small piece of the same paper to test colors before committing them to the canvas.
- Use the cardboard cover as a lid when transporting the pad, keeping wet paint off your bag.
Palette Paper vs a Reusable Palette at a Glance
| Factor | Palette paper | Reusable palette (glass, plastic, wood) |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanup | Tear off and discard | Wash, scrape or wipe |
| Upfront cost | Low | Low to moderate |
| Long-term cost | Ongoing pad purchases | Usually a one-time purchase |
| Surface condition | Fresh every session | Plastic may stain; glass stays clear |
| Waste | A sheet per session | Minimal |
| Portability | Very light | Varies; glass is heavy |
Neither option is better for everyone. The right choice depends on how often you paint, where you paint and how much you mind cleanup.
Is Palette Paper Safe to Throw Away?
Used sheets go in household trash. Fold them so wet paint is on the inside. With oils, sheets carrying a lot of drying oil should be handled with the same care as oily rags; spreading them flat to dry fully before disposal is a cautious approach, since drying oils give off heat as they cure. Check local rules for disposing of art materials.
FAQs
What is palette paper made of?
It is heavy paper with a waterproof coating on one side, often a polyethylene film or similar moisture-resistant layer, bound into tear-off pads.
How to use palette paper?
Place paint on the coated side, mix with a knife or brush, and tear off the sheet when you are finished. Keep the sheet on the pad while you work for a firm surface.
Is palette paper the same as wax paper?
No. Wax paper is thinner and coated with wax on both sides. It can work as a quick substitute, but palette paper is stiffer and designed for paint mixing.
Can you use palette paper for acrylics?
Yes. It works well, though acrylics dry faster on an open sheet. Mist the paint and put out small amounts.
Is gray or white palette paper better?
Gray makes value judgments easier on toned grounds. White matches white canvases and shows color brightness clearly. Many painters keep both.
Can palette paper be used in a stay-wet palette?
Not as the top layer. The coating blocks water. Stay-wet palettes need porous membrane or parchment paper.
Final Thoughts
Palette paper is coated, disposable mixing paper that trades a small ongoing cost for zero cleanup. It shines with oils and short acrylic sessions, and it is an easy choice for classes and outdoor work. If you are deciding whether paper or a reusable palette makes more sense for you, our guide to the top palettes for new painters lays out the options by medium.
