Miniature painting supplies, independently researched
The right tools for your
best work yet.
Researched picks for the paints, brushes, airbrushes, primers, and basing supplies that hobbyist painters actually rely on, ranked on specs and painter reports. No paid placements, no brand bias.
Independent research / Updated regularly / No paid placements
Currently on the bench
No. 01 CategoryBest Miniature Paints
Price$28-$38
Best forBeginners building their first palette and painters switching from pots to dropper bottles.
Vallejo Game Color 16-Bottle Starter Set
The best beginner paint set in the hobby, practical dropper bottles and a full colour range at a reasonable price.
Check price →How we research → We judge every product on how it is documented to behave on textured resin and plastic rather than on a swatch card, working from manufacturer specifications, published range comparisons, and the reports of painters who have worked through a full range.
Painting supplies
Seven categories of miniature painting supplies, reviewed and ranked independently.
All rankingsLatest guides
From the archive
Beginner Miniature Painting: The Starter Kit Guide
What to buy first when starting miniature painting, from paints and brushes to primer and a wet palette, without wasting money on gear you do not need yet.
Setting Up an Airbrush for Miniature Painting
How to choose, set up, and start using an airbrush for miniature painting, from picking the right nozzle size to thinning paints and cleaning between colours.
How to Paint Miniature Bases: A Step-by-Step Guide
A complete walkthrough of miniature basing from texture paste application through final tufts and varnish, with material recommendations for natural earth, snow, and water effects.
Why us
Why painters trust BrushBench
Paint performance
Coverage, flow, reactivation in a wet palette, and documented compatibility with common varnishes and contrast mediums, drawn from maker specifications and painter reports.
Brush quality and retention
Reported point retention past twenty-plus sessions, belly fullness for ink loading, and the snap-back difference between synthetic and sable, taken from maker specifications and long-term owner reports.
Airbrush fit and finish
Published needle and nozzle sizing against the 0.2 to 0.3mm range that detail work needs, rated compressor noise and psi stability, and how easily owners report cleaning the unit with standard airbrush cleaner.