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The hardest part of starting acrylic painting is not technique. It is the shopping list. Paint, brushes, something to paint on, a palette, a water cup, maybe an easel, and every product page claims to be artist quality. The best acrylic paint sets for beginners remove that friction: they give you enough colors to mix almost anything, brushes in useful shapes, and ideally the surfaces too, so your first painting can happen the day the box arrives.
We compared six beginner-friendly options, from a complete 68-piece kit with eight canvas panels and an easel to a budget tube set with brushes, a knife and a sponge. This guide also explains what a beginner actually needs, how to tell student-grade paint from artist-grade, and a simple first-week plan to build skills quickly.
Quick answer: The Nicpro 68-piece acrylic painting kit is the best overall starter: 24 colors, 12 brushes, 8 canvas panels, 16 sheets of painting paper, a tabletop easel, palette, knives, sponges and a brush washer. On a tight budget, the Benicci 24-color set with 12 brushes covers paint and tools. If you already have surfaces and want plenty of paint, choose the Shuttle Art 36-color bottle set.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Nicpro 68-Piece Acrylic Paint Canvas Kit — Best overall acrylic set for beginners
- Benicci 24-Color Acrylic Set with 12 Brushes — Best budget beginner set
- Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 36 Colors — Best paint volume for beginners
- LEYEDZ Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas and Easel — Best complete kit for teens and kids
- TMOL Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors with 12 Brushes — Best paint-and-brush bundle
- ESRICH 26-Piece Acrylic Starter Kit — Best low-cost trial kit
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicpro 68-Piece Kit | Everything in one box | 24 x 12 ml, 12 brushes, 8 panels, paper, easel | Most complete kit | $$ |
| Benicci 24 + 12 Brushes | Tight budgets | 24 x 12 ml, 12 brushes, knife, sponge | Low cost, tools included | $ |
| Shuttle Art 36 | More paint | 36 x 2 oz, 12 brushes, palette | Bigger bottles | $$ |
| LEYEDZ Kit | Teens and kids | 24 paints, 8 brushes, 5 panels, easel, cup | Cleaning cloth and cup | $$ |
| TMOL 24 | Paint plus brushes | 24 x 2 oz, 12 brushes | Mid-size bottles | $$ |
| ESRICH 26-Piece | Trying it out | 12 x 12 ml, 10 brushes, 2 panels, easel | Very low cost | $ |
How We Chose
We did not paint with these kits. Picks are based on Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how complete each kit is for a true beginner, how well its paint quantity and brush selection support learning, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. A KOLOR KINGDOM 24-tube set also appeared; it is similar to the Benicci set but with fewer tools, so we chose Benicci.
- Completeness: does the kit include surfaces, a palette and a water cup?
- Color range: enough colors to mix freely, including white and black.
- Brush variety: flats, rounds and a detail brush at minimum.
- Paint quantity: enough for several practice paintings.
- Safety labeling: non-toxic claims for home use.
What a Beginner Actually Needs
- Paint: 12 to 24 colors is plenty; a large white is the most important extra.
- Brushes: a 1-inch flat, a medium flat, a medium round and a small detail round.
- Surfaces: canvas panels or acrylic paper for practice, a few stretched canvases for finished pieces.
- Palette: plastic palette, paper plate or a stay-wet palette.
- Water and towels: two water cups, one for rinsing and one for clean water, plus paper towels.
- Optional: a tabletop easel, a palette knife and a spray bottle to keep paint moist.
If you are brand new, our guide to acrylic painting for absolute beginners walks through setup and first strokes.
Best Acrylic Paint Sets for Beginners Reviewed
1. Nicpro 68-Piece Acrylic Paint Canvas Set — Best for an everything-in-one-box start
Nicpro’s kit is the closest thing to a ready-made studio. It includes 24 acrylic colors in 12 ml tubes, 12 synthetic brushes in different shapes and sizes, 8 cotton canvas panels at 8×10 inches, 16 sheets of 8×10 acrylic painting paper, a foldable tabletop easel, a plastic palette, a collapsible silicone brush washer, 2 palette knives, 2 painting sponges and a color wheel.
The listing describes the paint as having a buttery consistency for easy mixing. For a beginner, the most valuable parts are the 24 practice surfaces: paper for quick studies and canvas panels for paintings you want to keep. Twelve-milliliter tubes are small, so expect to buy a larger white soon.
Best suited for: Adult beginners who want to start painting immediately without assembling supplies piece by piece.
Key features:
- 24 colors in 12 ml tubes
- 12 nylon brushes
- 8 canvas panels (8×10) and 16 painting paper sheets
- Tabletop easel, palette, brush washer
- 2 palette knives, 2 sponges, color wheel
Pros:
- Most complete kit reviewed
- Plenty of practice surfaces
- Includes knives and sponges for texture
Cons and limitations:
- Small tubes run out quickly
- Easel is tabletop size only
- Student-grade paint
Buying consideration: Use the paper sheets for color mixing and studies, and save the canvas panels for paintings you plan to finish.
2. Benicci 24-Color Acrylic Paint Set with 12 Brushes — Best for a tight budget
Benicci’s set includes 24 colors in 12 ml tubes, 12 non-shed nylon brushes, a mixing knife and an art sponge. The listing describes quick-drying, non-toxic paint with a gloss finish and offers a 365-day replacement or refund guarantee.
It lacks surfaces and a palette, but you can practice on heavy paper or inexpensive canvas boards and use a plate as a palette. For the price, the tool selection is generous.
Best suited for: Budget-conscious beginners, students and gift buyers.
Key features:
- 24 colors in 12 ml tubes
- 12 nylon brushes
- Mixing knife and sponge
- Gloss finish
- 365-day guarantee listed
Pros:
- Lowest price for a complete paint-and-tools set
- Knife and sponge included
- Seller guarantee
Cons and limitations:
- No canvases or palette
- Small tubes
- Gloss finish
Buying consideration: Add a pack of canvas boards and a large tube of white to turn this into a full starter kit.
3. Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 36 Colors — Best for more paint for regular practice
Beginners who paint often run out of small tubes quickly. Shuttle Art’s 36 colors come in 2 oz (60 ml) bottles, five times the volume of a 12 ml tube, along with 12 brushes and a palette. Metallic gold and silver are included.
The listing describes creamy paint that blends and layers easily, a gloss finish and ASTM D4236 conformance. With this much paint, you can practice freely without worrying about wasting it, which is a big psychological advantage when you are learning.
Best suited for: Beginners who already have surfaces and want plenty of paint to practice with.
Key features:
- 36 colors in 2 oz bottles
- 12 brushes and palette
- Metallic gold and silver
- Gloss finish
- ASTM D4236
Pros:
- Much more paint than tube kits
- Large palette of premixed colors
- Brushes included
Cons and limitations:
- No canvases included
- Many convenience colors can discourage mixing practice
- Bottles take more space
Buying consideration: Challenge yourself to paint with only five colors from the set for your first few paintings; it teaches mixing fast.
4. LEYEDZ Acrylic Paint Set with Canvas and Easel — Best for teens and kids starting out
LEYEDZ includes 24 acrylic paints, 8 brushes, 5 canvas panels, a tabletop easel, a palette, a wash cup and a cleaning cloth. The listing describes smooth-mixing, fast-drying paints that perform well on canvas, and kid-safe, lightweight materials.
The inclusion of a wash cup and cloth is practical for younger painters, who often forget water and towels. Five canvas panels give a few finished paintings before you need more surfaces.
Best suited for: Teens, older kids and young adults getting their first painting kit.
Key features:
- 24 acrylic paints
- 8 brushes
- 5 canvas panels
- Tabletop easel and palette
- Wash cup and cleaning cloth
Pros:
- Complete for a first session
- Cleanup tools included
- Good gift option
Cons and limitations:
- Paint size not specified in listing
- Fewer brushes than some kits
- Limited canvas count
Buying consideration: Check the tube size on the product page before buying if you plan to paint larger than 8×10.
5. TMOL Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors with 12 Brushes — Best for a paint-and-brush bundle
TMOL pairs 24 colors in 2 oz bottles with 12 brushes. The listing positions it from beginner to professional, with paint that glides smoothly, dries quickly and conforms to ASTM D4236.
Two-ounce bottles hit a sensible middle ground for beginners: enough paint to practice freely, but a compact box. You will need to supply canvases or paper and a palette.
Best suited for: Beginners who want more paint than tube kits offer, with brushes included.
Key features:
- 24 colors in 2 oz bottles
- 12 brushes
- ASTM D4236
- Fade-resistant claim
Pros:
- Good paint volume
- Brushes included
- Compact
Cons and limitations:
- No surfaces or palette
- Finish not clearly specified
- No metallics
Buying consideration: Pick up a pad of acrylic paper; it is the cheapest way to practice daily.
6. ESRICH 26-Piece Acrylic Starter Kit — Best for a low-cost trial
ESRICH’s kit includes 12 colors in 12 ml tubes, 10 brushes in square, fan and round shapes, a mixing plate, two 6×8-inch canvas panels and a 9-inch tabletop easel. It is the cheapest complete option here.
It is a good way to discover whether you enjoy acrylic painting before spending more. The fan brush is a nice touch for grass, trees and texture.
Best suited for: Anyone curious about painting who wants the smallest possible investment.
Key features:
- 12 colors in 12 ml tubes
- 10 brushes including fan
- 2 canvas panels (6×8)
- 9-inch tabletop easel
- Mixing plate
Pros:
- Lowest cost complete kit
- Includes surfaces and easel
- Fan brush for texture
Cons and limitations:
- Only 12 colors
- Two small panels
- Basic quality
Buying consideration: If you enjoy it, upgrade to a larger paint set and keep these brushes for texture and practice.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Acrylic Paint Sets for Beginners
Kit or paint-only set
Complete kits with surfaces and an easel are best if you own nothing. Paint-only sets are better value if you already have brushes and canvases.
Tube size
Twelve-milliliter tubes are fine for learning on small surfaces. If you paint often or work larger than 11×14, choose 2 oz bottles or buy extra white.
Number of colors
Twelve colors is enough to learn mixing. Twenty-four adds convenience. More than that is nice but not necessary for a beginner.
Student vs artist grade
Beginner sets are student or craft grade, with less pigment. That is fine for learning. When you are ready to upgrade, our Golden acrylics review explains what artist-grade paint adds.
Brushes that matter
Look for at least one large flat, one medium round and one small detail brush. Synthetic nylon brushes clean easily and suit acrylic.
Surfaces
Canvas panels and acrylic paper are the best value for practice. Stretched canvas is nice for finished work.
Setting Up a Small Painting Corner
You do not need a studio to paint with acrylics. A corner of a kitchen table works if you protect it with a plastic tablecloth or a sheet of cardboard and keep everything within arm’s reach. Put your palette on your dominant-hand side, water cups just beyond it, and paper towels where you can grab them without crossing over wet paint. Natural daylight from a side window is ideal; at night, a neutral daylight bulb shows colors more accurately than a warm lamp.
Keep supplies in one box or bin so setup takes a minute rather than twenty, because the easier it is to start, the more often you will paint. Store finished panels flat or upright between sheets of paper, and keep tubes and bottles capped and upright. A small spray bottle of water lets you mist the palette so paint stays usable for the whole session.
Your First Week With Acrylics
- Day 1, color mixing: mix a color wheel and a tint and shade ladder for one color.
- Day 2, brush control: fill a page with lines, dots and strokes using each brush.
- Day 3, blending: paint a sky gradient from dark to light on paper.
- Day 4, simple still life: paint a single apple or mug from life.
- Day 5, landscape: sky, distant hills and foreground on a canvas panel.
- Day 6, composition: plan a painting with thumbnails before starting.
- Day 7, finish and varnish: complete one piece and seal it.
Need subjects? Browse our simple acrylic painting ideas for beginners, and read acrylic painting composition tips for beginners before your day six painting. When a piece is done, our guide on how to finish an acrylic painting covers varnish and display. Curious about mixing media? See can you use gouache and acrylic together.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying too many colors: mixing teaches more than premixed shades.
- Using too much water: it weakens acrylic; use a little or add medium.
- Letting paint dry on brushes: rinse often and wash after each session.
- Starting with large canvases: small panels build confidence faster.
- Skipping white: buy a large white; you will use more than any other color.
- Expecting perfect first paintings: practice pieces are part of the process.
FAQs
What is the best acrylic paint set for a complete beginner?
A complete kit with paint, brushes, canvas panels and a palette, such as the Nicpro 68-piece set, is easiest. If you already have supplies, a 24 to 36-color paint set is enough.
How many colors should a beginner acrylic set have?
Twelve to 24 colors is ideal. You can mix nearly any color from a few primaries plus white and black, which is a valuable skill to learn early.
Is student-grade acrylic paint okay for beginners?
Yes. Student-grade paint is affordable and perfect for learning. Upgrade key colors to artist grade once you paint regularly.
What surface should beginners paint on?
Canvas panels and acrylic paper are inexpensive and easy to store. Stretched canvas is better for finished pieces you want to hang.
Do beginners need an easel?
Not necessarily. A tabletop easel helps with posture and perspective, but many beginners paint flat on a table.
How do I keep acrylic paint from drying on the palette?
Put out small amounts, mist the paint lightly with water, or use a stay-wet palette that keeps paint moist under a lid.
Final Recommendation
For a true beginner with no supplies, the Nicpro 68-piece kit is the best starting point; it includes paint, brushes, surfaces and an easel. Benicci is the budget pick if you can source paper and a palette. Choose Shuttle Art for more paint once you know you enjoy it, LEYEDZ as a complete gift kit for teens and kids, TMOL as a paint-and-brush bundle, and ESRICH if you simply want to try acrylics for very little.
