Starting with oil painting is easier when your first kit includes dependable colors, useful tools, and enough supplies to practice without overspending. The best beginner oil paint sets balance manageable paint quantities with practical extras such as brushes, palettes, canvases, or an easel.
We’ve compared 10 beginner-friendly options, including compact artist-grade introductions, water-mixable paints, and all-in-one kits designed to help new painters begin creating immediately.
Best 10 Beginner Oil Paint Sets Picks for 2026
Water-Mixable Starter
Winsor & Newton Artisan Beginner's Set
- Six 37ml oil-color tubes
- Thins and cleans with water
- Includes a practical foundational palette
Best For: Beginners wanting easier oil-paint cleanup
Complete Studio Kit
MEEDEN 37-Piece Oil Painting Set
- Includes paints, tools, canvases, and easel box
- Portable beechwood box organizes supplies
- Designed for studio, home, and outdoor use
Best For: Beginners wanting an all-in-one painting setup
Color Variety Pick
Winsor & Newton Winton Basic Set
- Includes 10 assorted 21ml tubes
- Lightfast, permanent, and intermixable
- High-quality colors at a moderate price
Best For: Beginners building a varied oil-paint palette
Affordable Artist Set
Daler Rowney Georgian Introductory Oils
- Ten highly mixable 22ml tubes
- Smooth, triple-milled paint texture
- Low-odor formula with 4–5 day drying claim
Best For: Students seeking an affordable, versatile palette
Best Value Color Range
- 24 oil-based colors in 12 ml tubes
- Includes a brush and palette
- Non-toxic formula with ASTM and EN71-3 compliance
Best For: Beginners seeking broad color variety for canvas or paper
Most Complete Starter Kit
- 24 oil colors plus 25 assorted brushes
- Includes a metal mixing palette
- Comes with an 8-by-10-inch canvas panel
Best For: Beginners wanting a bundled painting setup
Artist-Grade Introduction
Winsor & Newton Artists' Oil Colour Set
- Ten professional-quality 21 ml oil-color tubes
- Selected palette for traditional color mixing
- Includes essential earth, primary, green, black, and white shades
Best For: Beginners prioritizing larger tubes and artist-grade paint
Best Value Starter Paints
- 12 vibrant, mixable oil colors
- Fine, buttery pigment consistency
- AP- and ASTM-certified non-toxic formula
Best For: Beginners who already own painting tools
Best Complete Kit
VISWIN Oil Painting Kit with Easel
- Includes paints and essential painting supplies
- Portable, no-assembly beechwood easel
- Suitable for beginners, gifts, and classes
Best For: New painters who need an all-in-one setup
Best Simple Pick
PHOENIX 24-Color Oil Paint Set
- Broad 24-color selection
- Thick, creamy consistency for texture
- Lightfast formula with safety certifications
Best For: Beginners wanting more mixing and color options
Water-Mixable Starter – Winsor & Newton Artisan Beginner's Set
For beginners seeking beginner oil paint sets with simpler cleanup, this six-color Artisan set is designed to work like conventional oil color while thinning and cleaning with water. The 37ml tubes provide a focused palette for learning basic mixing and oil-paint techniques.
Best For: Beginners who want traditional oil-paint handling with water-based thinning and cleanup.
Pros:
- Water-mixable for easier thinning and cleanup.
- Includes six versatile colors, including Titanium White, French Ultramarine, and Yellow Ochre.
- 37ml tubes offer a practical amount for practice and small projects.
Cons:
- Only six colors are included, so a broader palette requires additional purchases.
- It is paint-focused and does not include brushes, surfaces, or other accessories.
This is a good choice when convenience matters more than an all-in-one setup. Its compact, focused palette makes it approachable for learning, while the water-mixable formula can reduce the cleanup barrier associated with conventional oils.
Complete Studio Kit – MEEDEN 37-Piece Oil Painting Set
Among beginner oil paint sets, this MEEDEN kit stands out for including paints, tools, surfaces, and a portable easel box in one package. It is designed for learners who want to begin painting without assembling supplies separately.
Best For: Beginners, hobbyists, and gift buyers seeking a broad, portable oil-painting setup.
Pros:
- Includes 13 oil paints, brushes, palette knives, palettes, canvases, and cleaning accessories.
- Solid European beechwood sketch easel box has organized compartments and holds canvases from 12 to 28½ inches.
- Suitable for indoor practice, outdoor sketching, studio work, and travel.
- Gift-ready presentation and a stated 365-day warranty.
Cons:
- At 5 kg, it is considerably less convenient to carry than a paint-only set.
- The large accessory assortment may be more than a beginner needs for basic practice.
This is the most comprehensive option in the group for someone starting from scratch. The included easel box and supplies add convenience and flexibility, though the larger format makes it better suited to buyers who value completeness over minimal storage.
Color Variety Pick – Winsor & Newton Winton Basic Set
This Winton set is a practical choice among beginner oil paint sets for artists who want ten individually formulated colors in convenient 21ml tubes. Its lightfast, permanent, and intermixable colors provide more palette variety than a smaller starter set.
Best For: Beginners and students who want a straightforward, color-focused introduction to oil painting.
Pros:
- Provides 10 assorted oil colors for broader mixing practice.
- Colors are lightfast, permanent, and intermixable with other brands.
- Convenient 21ml tubes are easy to store and use.
- Offers high-quality oil colors at a moderate price point.
Cons:
- Smaller 21ml tubes contain less paint than the 37ml Artisan tubes.
- The set does not include brushes, canvases, or other painting accessories.
Choose this set if palette variety is your priority. It gives beginners more colors to explore while keeping the purchase focused on paint, making it a useful foundation for students who already have—or plan to buy—the remaining tools.
Affordable Artist Set – Daler Rowney Georgian Introductory Oils
For shoppers comparing beginner oil paint sets, this Daler Rowney Georgian selection offers ten 22ml artist-quality colors with a smooth, buttery texture. The triple-milled paints are made for canvas or paper and support brush, knife, and oil-medium techniques.
Best For: Beginners, students, and artists seeking an affordable introductory palette with a quicker stated drying time.
Pros:
- Includes 10 highly mixable 22ml paint tubes.
- Triple-milled paint offers a smooth texture and consistent color.
- Low-odor formula supports a more comfortable painting experience.
- Stated drying time is 4–5 days, depending on the color.
Cons:
- Paint-only set does not include brushes, surfaces, or other accessories.
- The set is not waterproof, according to the supplied specifications.
This set balances palette flexibility and affordability for learners who want artist-quality oil colors without a large accessory kit. Its compatibility with canvas and paper, plus support for multiple application techniques, makes it a versatile starting point.
Best Value Color Range – Ohuhu 24-Color Oil Paint Set
For shoppers comparing beginner oil paint sets, the Ohuhu 24-color kit offers a broad palette in portable 12 ml tubes. It covers common landscape, portrait, and abstract colors while keeping the setup relatively simple with an included brush and palette.
Best For: Beginners who want many colors for canvas or paper projects, including travel and outdoor painting.
Pros:
- Includes 24 oil-based colors, from primary shades and earth tones to blues, greens, and skin-tone colors.
- Each tube contains 12 ml of richly pigmented paint.
- Paints are described as non-toxic and conform to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 (CE).
- Includes a brush and palette, with a listed dry time of about 24 hours.
Cons:
- The set does not include a canvas or other painting surface.
- The paints are not water-resistant.
- The included tubes are smaller than the 21 ml tubes in some professional sets.
Its large color selection and safety certifications make this a practical starting point for beginners who want to experiment without immediately buying individual colors. Choose it if variety and portability matter more than larger tube sizes or premium artist-grade positioning.
Most Complete Starter Kit – XXL 24-Color Oil Paint Set
Among beginner oil paint sets, this XXL kit stands out for including the main painting accessories alongside its 24 oil colors. It is designed as a bundled starting point, with brushes, a metal mixing palette, and an 8-by-10-inch stretched canvas panel.
Best For: New painters who want one package for color mixing, brush practice, and an initial canvas project.
Pros:
- Includes 24 assorted 12 ml oil paint tubes covering primary colors, earth tones, blues, greens, and skin tones.
- Provides 25 brushes in bristle, nylon, and foam styles for coverage, blending, and detail work.
- Includes a metal palette for mixing colors.
- Comes with an 8-by-10-inch stretched canvas panel.
Cons:
- The assorted brush materials and styles may require beginners to learn which tools suit each technique.
- The kit provides only one 8-by-10-inch canvas panel.
- The supplied notes do not specify drying time, pigment details, or tube color names.
This is a convenient choice when assembling supplies piece by piece feels overwhelming. Its 51-piece configuration gives beginners tools for immediate practice, though painters seeking detailed pigment or performance information may prefer a more specifically documented set.
Artist-Grade Introduction – Winsor & Newton Artists' Oil Colour Set
For beginners who want to start with a professional-quality oil brand, this introductory set offers ten 21 ml tubes made with selected pigments. The palette includes core warm, cool, earth, green, black, and white colors for learning mixing and traditional oil-paint techniques.
Best For: Beginners who prefer fewer, larger tubes and want an introduction to professional-quality traditional oil colors.
Pros:
- Contains ten 21 ml tubes, providing larger quantities than many 12 ml starter kits.
- Uses professional-quality traditional oil color made from selected pigments.
- Includes useful mixing colors such as Winsor Yellow, Crimson Alizarine, Winsor Blue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, and Titanium White.
- Has a listed dry time of about 24 hours.
Cons:
- Includes only ten colors, so beginners may need to mix more shades or purchase additional tubes.
- No brushes, palette, or canvas are listed among the included components.
- The supplied notes state that actual contents may vary.
This set is a stronger fit for learners prioritizing paint quality and generous tube sizes over an all-in-one accessory bundle. Plan to provide your own brushes, palette, and painting surface, and verify the included colors before purchase.
Best Value Starter Paints – MEEDEN 12-Color Oil Paint Set
For shoppers comparing beginner oil paint sets, the MEEDEN 12-color pack is a focused option for learning color mixing and practicing core oil techniques. Its finely ground pigments are designed for a buttery consistency, clear blends, and a glossy traditional finish.
Best For: Beginners and hobbyists who already have brushes, surfaces, and other painting supplies.
Pros:
- Includes 12 vibrant, highly mixable oil colors.
- Suitable for wet-into-wet, layered painting, and glazing.
- AP- and ASTM D-4236-certified non-toxic formula.
- Fine pigment grinding supports a smooth, buttery consistency.
Cons:
- Paint-only set does not include brushes, canvas, palette, or easel.
- Each tube contains 22 ml, so frequent painters may want larger quantities.
This is a practical choice when paint quality and color-mixing practice matter more than a bundled accessory kit. Choose it if you already own the basic tools needed to begin.
Best Complete Kit – VISWIN Oil Painting Kit with Easel
If you want beginner oil paint sets with the main supplies included, this VISWIN kit is built for starting immediately. It combines 12 oil colors with a tabletop easel, canvas materials, brushes, a palette, a palette knife, and an oil paper pad.
Best For: New painters, gift buyers, classrooms, and anyone who needs an all-in-one setup.
Pros:
- Includes paints, easel, stretched canvas, canvas panels, brushes, paper, palette, and palette knife.
- Beechwood tabletop easel requires no assembly and is portable.
- Paints are described as non-toxic, vibrant, blendable, and compliant with ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards.
- Includes supplies for both detailed work and broader brushstrokes.
Cons:
- The 12-color selection is smaller than some dedicated paint sets.
- A tabletop easel may be less suitable for large-format painting.
This kit offers the easiest entry point for someone starting from scratch because it reduces the need to purchase accessories separately. It is also a convenient giftable option for casual practice and painting activities.
Best Simple Pick – PHOENIX 24-Color Oil Paint Set
Among beginner oil paint sets, the PHOENIX 24-color pack stands out for its broader palette and thick, creamy consistency. The range covers whites, yellows, reds, blues, greens, earth tones, and black, giving learners more options for mixing and direct application.
Best For: Beginners and developing artists who want more color choices for canvas, wood panels, or oil paper.
Pros:
- Provides 24 colors in 12 ml tubes for a broad starting palette.
- Thick consistency can create texture or be blended with medium.
- Finely ground pigments offer smooth application and strong tinting strength.
- Described as lightfast, with EN 71 and ASTM-4236 certifications.
Cons:
- Smaller 12 ml tubes contain less paint than MEEDEN’s 22 ml tubes.
- Does not include brushes, canvas, easel, or other accessories.
- The set is not water-resistant and dries slowly, as expected of oil paint.
Choose PHOENIX when color variety is your priority and you are comfortable assembling the rest of your kit separately. Its thick paint is useful for experimenting with texture, layering, and traditional oil-painting techniques.
How We Picked These Beginner Oil Paint Sets
We evaluated each set for the qualities that matter most to new oil painters: paint quantity and variety, color usefulness, included accessories, ease of setup, portability, safety information, and overall value. We also considered whether a kit suits structured practice or offers enough equipment for a complete first project.
Because “complete” can mean different things, the selection includes paint-only introductions as well as kits with brushes, palettes, canvases, palette knives, storage cases, or tabletop easels. Always check the current package contents before buying, since manufacturers may change colors or accessories.
Quick Comparison
| Best For | Look For | Typical Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Learning color mixing | Six to ten well-chosen colors | Less clutter and easier palette control |
| Maximum color variety | 24-color sets | More ready-made hues for experimentation |
| Starting immediately | All-in-one kits | Brushes, canvas, palette, and tools included |
| Low-odor cleanup | Water-mixable oil paint | Can be cleaned with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions |
| Portable painting | Storage box or compact accessories | Supplies stay organized between sessions |
Key Buying Factors for Beginner Oil Paint Sets
Paint Quantity and Pigment Range
Smaller tubes reduce initial cost and help beginners test the medium, while larger tubes offer better value for frequent practice. A modest palette can be more educational than dozens of premixed colors because it encourages color mixing. Look for a useful mix of warm and cool primaries, white, and earth tones.
Traditional or Water-Mixable Formula
Traditional oil paints typically require a solvent or specialized cleaner for brushes and surfaces. Water-mixable oils are a practical choice for classrooms, apartments, and painters who want simpler cleanup, but their handling and mixing characteristics can differ from conventional oils.
What the Kit Includes
An all-in-one set is convenient if you need everything at once, but included accessories may be basic. Check the brush sizes, palette type, canvas dimensions, easel stability, and whether mediums, solvent, or cleaning supplies are actually included.
Safety and Workspace Needs
Oil painting still requires ventilation, careful rag disposal, and protection for clothing and surfaces. Review the label and manufacturer guidance, especially for products described as non-toxic; that claim does not eliminate the need for responsible handling.
Who Should Buy Which Beginner Oil Paint Sets?
Choose a compact six- or ten-tube set if you want to learn mixing fundamentals or already own brushes and a palette. Select a 24-color set if variety matters more than building a limited working palette. An all-in-one kit is best for a complete beginner who wants to start painting immediately without sourcing separate equipment.
For shared spaces or easier cleanup, a water-mixable set is worth prioritizing. If you expect to paint regularly, compare tube sizes and pigment quality rather than choosing solely by the number of colors. The best Beginner Oil Paint Sets are the ones that match your workspace, learning style, and willingness to add supplies over time.