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Oil painting palette paper pads solve a problem every oil painter knows: the end-of-session scrape, the solvent-soaked rag, and the gray sludge that builds up on a wooden or glass palette. Tear off a sheet, mix on a clean coated surface, and when you are done the mess goes in the bin. The catch is that not every pad handles oil well. Thin paper buckles under linseed-heavy mixes, cheap coatings let oil soak through, and bright white sheets can throw off your color judgment. This guide compares the palette paper pads on Amazon that make sense for oil painters, including the gray-toned option many studio painters prefer.
Quick answer: For oil painters who care about judging color accurately, the Jack Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16 Paper Palette is the top pick because its neutral mid-gray sheets stop white glare from distorting your mixes. If you want the classic white pad from a trusted US mill, the Strathmore 365 Series 9 x 12 Pad is the dependable standard. For a heavier sheet that resists bleed-through with oily mixes, the Prudiut 120 gsm 9 x 12 Pad and the Somime 105 gsm 12 x 16 Pad are the thickest options here.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Jack Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16, 50 Sheets — Best overall for accurate color mixing
- Strathmore 365 Series Tape-Bound Palette Pad 9 x 12 — Best classic white palette paper
- Prudiut 120 gsm Palette Paper Pad 9 x 12 — Best heavyweight sheet for oily mixes
- Somime 12 x 16 Palette Paper Pad, 105 gsm — Best large pad with thumb hole for easel work
- Mr. Pen 12 x 16 Disposable Palette Pad — Best value large white pad
- Jack Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16, 2-Pack with Knives — Best bulk gray option
- wingpaper 9 x 12 Palette Pad, 50 Sheets — Best budget pad for students
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richeson Grey Matters 12×16 | Studio oil painters | 50 sheets, mid-gray, acid-free | Neutral gray surface for true color reading | $$ |
| Strathmore 365 9×12 | Everyday mixing | 40 sheets, 41 lb poly-coated | US-made, consistent coating | $ |
| Prudiut 120 gsm 9×12 | Heavy, oily mixes | 40 sheets, 120 gsm coated | Thickest sheet in the group | $ |
| Somime 12×16 105 gsm | Easel and plein air | 40 sheets, thumb hole, clean tear edge | Mineral coating with strong paint grip | $ |
| Mr. Pen 12×16 | Large mixing area on a budget | 40 sheets, poly-coated | Big surface at a low price | $ |
| Richeson Grey Matters 2-Pack | Buying gray in bulk | 2 x 50 sheets, 12×16, 2 plastic knives | Two pads plus mixing knives | $$ |
| wingpaper 9×12 90 gsm | Students and classes | 50 sheets, 90 gsm coated | Most sheets per pad at this size | $ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, on how well each pad suits oil painting specifically (sheet weight, coating, color and size), and on how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. Oil mixes are heavier and oilier than acrylic, so we gave extra weight to thicker, coated sheets and to surface color, which affects how you read a mixture before it hits the canvas.
- Sheet weight and coating: heavier coated paper resists buckling and oil soak-through.
- Surface color: white is standard; mid-gray is better for judging value and chroma.
- Size: 9 x 12 for small studies and travel, 12 x 16 for full palettes at the easel.
- Binding and tear: clean tear-off and a stiff backing board.
- Sheet count and value: 40 to 50 sheets per pad is the norm.
Best Oil Painting Palette Paper Pads Reviewed
1. Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette, 12 x 16, 50 Sheets — Best for Accurate Color Mixing
Most palette paper is white, and white is a problem for oil painters: a bright surface makes every mix look darker and duller than it will on a toned canvas, and glare under studio lights tires your eyes. Richeson toned the Grey Matters sheets to a neutral mid-gray so you see a mixture against a value close to the middle of your painting. The listing describes the paper as acid-free with a smooth mixing surface that provides a neutral backdrop for viewing colors.
At 12 by 16 inches with 50 sheets, the pad gives you room for a full limited palette plus mixing space and lasts a long time at one sheet per session. The paper is sold as loose-sheet style, so you can clip a sheet to a board or slip it into a palette box.
Best suited for: oil painters who tone their canvases and want to judge value and temperature accurately while mixing.
Key features:
- 12 x 16 inches, 50 sheets
- Neutral mid-gray toned paper
- Acid-free
- Smooth mixing surface
- Loose-sheet style pad
Pros:
- Gray surface makes value judgments far easier than white
- Large format for a full palette
- Fifty sheets is a long supply
- Well-known art-supply brand
Cons and limitations:
- Higher price than basic white pads
- Gray can make very dark mixtures harder to see
- Loose sheets need a board or box for support
Buying consideration: If you paint on toned grounds, this is the pad to standardize on. Painters working on white canvas may prefer a white pad to match.
2. Strathmore 365 Series Tape-Bound Palette Paper Pad, 9 x 12 — Best for Classic White Palette Paper
Strathmore has made artist papers in the United States for over a century, and its 365 Series palette pad is the one many painters picture when they think of palette paper. The sheets are 41 lb poly-coated paper, tape-bound at the edge so pages tear off cleanly, with 40 sheets per 9 by 12 pad.
The listing keeps it simple: a disposable, poly-coated mixing surface made in the USA. That simplicity is the appeal. The coating is reliable, the pad fits a pochade box lid, and the price is low enough to use freely for studies and demos.
Best suited for: painters who want a known, consistent white palette paper for daily use and small-format work.
Key features:
- 9 x 12 inches, 40 sheets
- 41 lb poly-coated paper
- Tape-bound for clean tear-off
- White surface
- Manufactured in the United States
Pros:
- Consistent coating batch to batch
- Fits small palette boxes and pochade lids
- Easy to find and reorder
- Low price tier
Cons and limitations:
- 9 x 12 is tight for large palettes
- White glare under bright light
- 41 lb is lighter than the heavyweight pads here
Buying consideration: The safe default. Use it for small studies and plein air; move up to 12 x 16 for studio work.
3. Prudiut 120 gsm Palette Paper Pad, 9 x 12, 40 Sheets — Best for Heavy, Oily Mixes
Oil paint mixed with plenty of medium is the hardest thing you can ask of palette paper. Prudiut answers with 120 gsm (about 73 lb) coated sheets, the heaviest in this roundup, and a listing that specifically claims zero bleed-through for oil, acrylic and watercolor. Heavier paper also stays flat under a palette knife instead of creasing.
The smooth, non-absorbent finish is described as keeping paint workable longer, and a waterproof backing protects the table. At 9 by 12 inches with 40 sheets it matches the Strathmore footprint while adding thickness.
Best suited for: oil painters who use a lot of medium or work with a palette knife and have torn through thinner pads.
Key features:
- 9 x 12 inches, 40 sheets
- 120 gsm / 73 lb heavyweight coated paper
- Smooth, non-absorbent surface
- Waterproof backing
- Peel-off sheets
Pros:
- Thickest sheet here for oily mixtures
- Stands up to palette knife pressure
- Backing protects the work surface
- Multi-medium
Cons and limitations:
- White surface only
- Small format
- Newer brand with less track record than Strathmore or Richeson
Buying consideration: Choose this if sheet strength is your main complaint. For a bigger mixing area at similar weight, look at the Somime pad.
4. Somime 12 x 16 Palette Paper Pad, 105 gsm, 40 Sheets — Best for Easel Work with a Thumb Hole
Somime adds two features rarely seen on palette pads. The first is a built-in thumb hole so you can hold the whole pad like a traditional hand palette at the easel or outdoors. The second is a tear design that gives a straight, clean edge every time without a cutter, so you can also trim sheets smaller to reduce waste.
The paper is 105 gsm with a mineral-based coating that the listing says gives strong paint grip and prevents bleed-through. At 12 by 16 inches it is a full studio palette, and the listing names acrylics, oils, gouache and watercolor as compatible.
Best suited for: painters who mix standing at an easel or paint outdoors and want to hold the pad rather than lay it flat.
Key features:
- 12 x 16 inches, 40 sheets
- 105 gsm paper with mineral-based coating
- Built-in thumb hole
- Straight clean-tear edge
- Works with oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor
Pros:
- Thumb hole turns the pad into a hand palette
- Large mixing area
- Heavier than standard 41 lb pads
- Clean tears reduce ragged edges
Cons and limitations:
- White surface
- Thumb hole takes a little mixing space
- Mid-price for a white pad
Buying consideration: A strong choice for plein air oil painters. In the studio, the Richeson gray pad still wins on color judgment.
5. Mr. Pen Disposable Palette Paper Pad, 12 x 16, 40 Sheets — Best for Value Large White Pad
Mr. Pen offers the full 12 by 16 inch format at one of the lowest prices in the category. The sheets are poly-coated and described as thick enough not to tear during use, with a smooth glossy surface that keeps acrylic, oil, gouache and watercolor from seeping through.
The listing positions it for beginners through professionals and for classroom use, which fits: a big, cheap, clean mixing surface is what a teaching studio burns through fastest. For home painters, the size means fewer sheet changes mid-painting.
Best suited for: painters and teachers who want a large white mixing area at the lowest cost per sheet.
Key features:
- 12 x 16 inches, 40 sheets
- Poly-coated glossy sheets
- Works with brush, spatula or knife
- Suitable for oil, acrylic, gouache, casein and watercolor
- Tear-off pad
Pros:
- Large format at a low price
- Glossy coating resists seep-through
- Good for classes and demos
- Readily available
Cons and limitations:
- Lighter paper than the heavyweight pads
- White surface
- Less brand history than Strathmore
Buying consideration: Buy this for volume use. If you mix with heavy medium, the Prudiut or Somime sheets hold up better.
6. Jack Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16, 2-Pack with Palette Knives — Best for Buying Gray in Bulk
This bundle doubles up the Grey Matters pad and adds two plastic palette knives. The listing describes the same acid-free, midtone-gray, seep-resistant paper, 50 sheets per pad at 12 by 16 inches, for use with oil, acrylic, casein and gouache. Two pads is roughly a hundred sessions of mixing, so this is the economical way to commit to gray.
The included knives are plastic rather than steel, fine for scraping and mixing on paper but not a substitute for a good steel palette knife. Think of them as a bonus rather than a reason to buy.
Best suited for: oil painters who have already decided gray palette paper suits them and want to stock up.
Key features:
- 2 pads x 50 sheets, 12 x 16 inches
- Midtone gray, acid-free
- Seep-resistant coating
- Includes 2 plastic palette knives
- For oil, acrylic, casein, gouache
Pros:
- Lower cost per sheet than a single pad
- Same color-judgment benefit as the single pad
- Knives useful for students
- Long supply
Cons and limitations:
- Plastic knives are basic
- Larger up-front spend
- Gray is not for everyone
Buying consideration: Try the single Grey Matters pad first; if it suits your eye, this two-pack is the way to reorder.
7. wingpaper 9 x 12 Palette Paper Pad, 90 gsm, 50 Sheets — Best for Students and Classes
wingpaper packs 50 sheets of 90 gsm coated paper into a 9 by 12 pad, ten more sheets than most pads this size. The listing describes a smooth, low-absorbency surface that keeps paint from soaking through and tear-off pages for quick cleanup, and pitches it at beginners, workshops and classroom practice.
90 gsm sits between the Strathmore 41 lb standard and the heavyweight pads, so it handles ordinary oil mixing well while staying inexpensive. The format fits a desk easel, tote or travel kit.
Best suited for: students, workshop attendees and anyone who wants the most sheets per dollar in a small pad.
Key features:
- 9 x 12 inches, 50 sheets
- 90 gsm coated paper
- Low-absorbency smooth surface
- Tear-off pages
- For oil, acrylic and watercolor
Pros:
- Most sheets at this size
- Budget price tier
- Portable
- Adequate weight for everyday oil mixing
Cons and limitations:
- White surface
- Thinner than the 105 and 120 gsm options
- Small for a full palette
Buying consideration: A sensible classroom buy. Serious oil painters will want either the gray Richeson or a heavier sheet.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Oil Painting Palette Paper Pads
Sheet weight for oil
Oil paint plus medium is heavier and more penetrating than acrylic. Standard 41 lb (around 90 gsm) coated paper works for most mixing, but if you use a lot of linseed or stand oil, or lean hard on a palette knife, move up to 105 to 120 gsm. Heavier sheets also stay flat instead of curling at the edges as the session goes on.
White or gray surface
White palette paper matches a white canvas and shows dark mixtures clearly, but it exaggerates how dark your mixes look against a toned ground and causes glare under lights. Mid-gray paper, like Richeson Grey Matters, gives a neutral reference closer to the average value of a painting, which makes temperature and chroma easier to judge. Many oil painters switch to gray and never go back.
Pad size
A 9 by 12 pad suits a limited palette, small studies and travel boxes. A 12 by 16 pad gives room for a dozen colors along one edge and generous mixing space, which reduces the muddy overlaps that happen when mixes crowd each other. If you paint larger than 16 by 20, go 12 by 16.
Coating and bleed-through
Poly or mineral coatings keep oil on the surface instead of soaking into the fiber. Soaked paper wicks medium out of your mixtures, making them drier and stiffer over a session. Look for listings that specifically mention oil and seep resistance.
Binding and tear-off
Tape-bound and glue-bound pads should release a sheet cleanly without ripping the next one. A stiff backing board doubles as support, and a thumb hole, where offered, lets you hold the pad like a traditional palette.
Keeping mixes alive between sessions
Palette paper is disposable, but your mixes need not be. Cover the sheet with plastic wrap or slide it into a sealed palette box overnight to slow skinning. For multi-day work, many painters scrape saved piles onto a fresh sheet rather than keep an oily, half-used page.
Disposal
Oil-soaked paper and rags can self-heat as the oil oxidizes. Let used sheets dry flat or store them in a lidded metal container with water before disposal, especially if you use fast-drying mediums.
Related Reading on PaintingProGuide
Palette paper handles mixing; your mediums still need a home, so see how to use a palette cup for oil painting. For workflow tips specific to tear-off sheets, read how to use a paper tear-off palette, and finish the session right with how to clean palette cups after oil painting.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using uncoated sketch or drawing paper as a palette, which wicks oil out of the paint within minutes.
- Buying 9 x 12 for a full palette and ending up with mixes crowding and contaminating each other.
- Judging color on bright white paper and finding every passage too light once it hits a toned canvas.
- Throwing oily sheets straight in a bin without letting them dry.
- Tearing sheets from the wrong edge and shredding the next page.
- Leaving a used sheet exposed overnight and expecting the piles to stay workable.
FAQs
Can you use palette paper for oil paint?
Yes. Coated palette paper is designed for oil as well as acrylic. Choose a poly- or mineral-coated pad, preferably 90 gsm or heavier, so medium does not soak through or wick out of your mixtures.
Is gray palette paper better than white for oil painting?
For many oil painters, yes. A neutral mid-gray surface lets you judge value and temperature against something closer to the average of your painting, and reduces glare. White paper is still useful if you paint on white grounds.
What size palette paper pad should I buy?
Use 9 x 12 inches for small studies, limited palettes and travel. Choose 12 x 16 inches for studio work where you lay out a full palette and need clear mixing space.
How many sheets do I use per painting?
Usually one sheet per session. For multi-session paintings, cover the sheet with plastic wrap or transfer saved mixes to a fresh sheet rather than working on a crowded, oily page.
Does oil paint soak through palette paper?
It should not with a proper coated pad. Heavier sheets such as 105 to 120 gsm offer the most resistance when you use plenty of medium. Uncoated paper will absorb oil quickly.
How should I dispose of oily palette paper?
Let sheets dry flat before discarding, or store them in a lidded metal container with water. Oil-soaked paper can heat up as the oil cures, so avoid piling it in a closed plastic bin.
Final Recommendation
Studio oil painters who tone their canvases should buy the Jack Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16 pad, and reorder with the two-pack once it proves itself. Painters who prefer white should take the Strathmore 365 for small work or the Mr. Pen 12 x 16 for a bigger area. If you mix with heavy medium or a knife, the Prudiut 120 gsm pad is the sturdiest sheet here, and plein air painters will appreciate the Somime pad’s thumb hole. Students and classes can run on the wingpaper 50-sheet pad without sacrificing much.
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