As an artist, I’ve learned that good acrylic paint makes all the difference. Early on, I used whatever I could find, but quickly realized that not all paints are created equal. In this post, I’ll share my top picks for the best acrylic paints, based on years of hands-on experience, great whether you’re just starting out or painting professionally.
Overview: Best Acrylic Paint for Artists in 2026
Best Professional Grade Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
The basic acrylic painting experience and an affordable introduction to Golden quality
Best Student Grade Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Best Budget Heavy Body Acrylic Paint Set
Best Liquid Acrylic Paint
Set of 12, 1.0 oz bottles with droppers and mixing palette
Best Value Liquid Acrylic Paint
Semi-Matte Finish, 12 Colors, Suitable for Canvas, Wood, Fabric, Leather, Cardboard, Paper, MDF and Crafts
Best Huge Acrylic Paint Starter Set with Tons and Tons of Fun Colors
With Storage Box, Rich Pigments, Non Fading, Non Toxic Metallic Paints for Artist & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Canvas Painting
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My Pick: Golden Heavy Body Professional Acrylic Paint
Best Professional Grade Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
The basic acrylic painting experience and an affordable introduction to Golden quality
Thick acrylic paint with superior pigment in classic colors, great out of the tube and supremely mixable
Not technically a heavy body paint, Golden’s open acrylic is a wonderful slow-drying paint for an almost oil painting type of experience, perfect for open-air and portraiture
My top pick for professional heavy body acrylics is no surprise: Golden Professional Acrylics. They’re the most recommended for a reason.
With a rich, buttery texture, excellent mixability, and superb permanence, they deliver consistently stunning results. The colors are vibrant, wet or dry, and the quality is flawless, batch after batch.
Yes, they’re pricey, but for what you get, Golden paints are a true value, and easily the best pro-grade acrylics available today.
Student Grade Heavy Body Acrylic Paint Set: Liquitex BASICS
Best Student Grade Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Liquitex Basics may be a student line, but the quality comes impressively close to their pro range.
With a thick, buttery consistency, rich pigment, and excellent flow, they offer great color, control, and permanence—at a fraction of the price.
Affordable, reliable, and high-performing, they’re my top pick for best heavy body acrylics for students.
Best Value Heavy Body Acrylic Paint: Daler-Rowney System 3 Acrylic Paint
Best Budget Heavy Body Acrylic Paint Set
Daler-Rowney System 3 acrylics aren’t the cheapest, but they’re easily the best value I’ve found in any acrylic paint set.
They offer great consistency, beautiful color, and smooth, precise flow, good enough for any level of artist. I use them regularly and love how they perform.
My Pick for Fluid Acrylic Paint: Dr. Ph. Martin’s Spectralite
Best Liquid Acrylic Paint
Set of 12, 1.0 oz bottles with droppers and mixing palette
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Spectralite Liquid Acrylics are a bit of a hidden gem, professional-grade fluid acrylics that more artists should know about.
They’re pigment-based, archival, lightfast, waterproof, and an absolute joy to use. With vivid, consistent color and top-tier quality, they’re quickly becoming a favorite.
Best Value Fluid Acrylic Paint: Mont Marte Signature Acrylics=
Best Value Liquid Acrylic Paint
Semi-Matte Finish, 12 Colors, Suitable for Canvas, Wood, Fabric, Leather, Cardboard, Paper, MDF and Crafts
If you want value without limits, the Mont Marte Signature Acrylic Paint Set delivers, 12 large 16.9 oz bottles of richly pigmented paint that’s somewhere between fluid and heavy body.
The creamy texture, strong color, and matte finish make them more versatile and enjoyable than many pricier alternatives.
Best Budget Acrylic Paint Set: Arteza Acrylic Paint
Best Huge Acrylic Paint Starter Set with Tons and Tons of Fun Colors
With Storage Box, Rich Pigments, Non Fading, Non Toxic Metallic Paints for Artist & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Canvas Painting
While pro paints offer more intensity and permanence, these perform incredibly well, smooth, vibrant, and fun to use. With 60 colors, it’s perfect for practice, play, and endless creative experiments.
Recommendations for the Best Acrylic Gouache Paint
Acrylic Gouache
Splendid paints with superior colors, finish and usability, and a real delight to use!
Acrylic Gouache
Surprisingly consistent and high quality colors, wet and dry, and quite long lasting and durable - best value!
The same quality you’d expect from any Liquitex product, including really beautiful colors and consistent, attractive finish when dry.
How Should You Choose the Best Acrylic Paint?
Great acrylics should cover well, mix cleanly, and dry to a reliable film that matches how you paint (impasto, glazing, mixed media). Use these criteria to pick the right line and viscosity.
Grade, Pigment Load & Lightfastness
Artist grade = more pigment, fewer fillers, cleaner mixes.
- Look for: clear pigment codes (PR108, PB29), ASTM I/II lightfastness, strong tinting strength.
- Watch out for: vague “hue” colors with no codes, weak or chalky tints.
Viscosity & Body (Handling Feel)
Match paint body to your mark-making.
- Heavy body: thick, holds knife/brush texture; best for impasto.
- Soft body: creamy, good for general painting and smooth blends.
- Fluid/High-flow: ink-like for glazing, detail, pouring, airbrush.
- Open/slow-dry lines: longer working time for blending and large areas.
Opacity, Transparency & Finish
Controls coverage, glazing, and final look.
- Opaque: faster coverage, solid flats.
- Transparent/semi: luminous glazes and depth.
- Finish: matte vs satin vs gloss varies by brand and color, keep it consistent with mediums/varnish.
Drying Time, Color Shift & Film Quality
Acrylics dry fast and can shift slightly darker.
- Look for: predictable set time, minimal value shift, flexible, non-tacky film.
- Watch out for: surface tack on humid days, underbound “draggy” paint, or brittle films on flimsy grounds.
Mixing Behavior & Solvent/Medium Ecosystem
You’ll shape feel and finish with mediums, not solvents.
- Look for: a brand with compatible gels, fluids, retarders, and pouring mediums.
- Watch out for: over-thinning with water (can weaken the film). Use medium to extend.
Surface & Ground Compatibility
Support affects absorption and color.
- Canvas/panel: use quality acrylic gesso (2–3 coats) for tooth and adhesion.
- Mixed media: acrylics bond well over most acrylic grounds; be cautious over oily or waxy surfaces.
Labeling, Consistency & Quality Control
Good labels prevent surprises.
- Look for: pigment code, opacity icon, LF rating, series number, batch reliability.
- Watch out for: separation, gummy strings, or grain in fresh tubes.
Color Range & Palette Design
A tight palette beats a giant set of duplicates.
- Core: warm/cool yellow, red, blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, plus a deep neutral (Payne’s/Black).
- Add convenience greens/violets only if they truly save time.
Packaging, Tube Size & Value
Buy sizes based on usage.
- Whites & workhorses: larger tubs (120–500 ml).
- Accents/strong tinters: small tubes.
- Compare: price per ml, and confirm open stock availability.
Safety, Ventilation & Cleanup
Acrylics are waterborne but still need care.
- Look for: AP non-toxic where needed; minimal odor.
- Habits: keep paint off drains (wipe to rag, then wash), ventilate with sprays/airbrushing.
3-Minute Paint Test (Store or At Home)
- Coverage: paint a solid 2×2″ block—should cover evenly without pitting.
- Tinting: mix 1:10 with Titanium White—should stay clean, not chalky.
- Glaze: thin with gloss medium over a dry swatch—should be transparent and even.
- Knife ridge: pull a small impasto—should hold shape without collapsing.
Quick Picks by Workflow
- Impasto & texture: heavy body + gels (gloss or matte).
- Smooth realism & blending: soft body or open acrylics.
- Glazing, line work, pouring: fluid/high-flow + matching mediums.
Choose the grade, viscosity, and medium system that match your strokes and drying needs—then build a small, reliable palette you can replace color-by-color.
Other articles in the Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, and Oil Paints series:
- Best Acrylic Paint Brushes for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paper and Canvas for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paint Pens for Arts and Crafts
- Best Watercolor Sketchbook
- Best Watercolor Pencils
- Best Watercolor Paints
- Best Watercolor Paper
- Best Watercolor Brushes
- Best Oil Paints and Oil Paint Set
- Best Oil Pastels for Artists
- Best Palette Knives and Pallete Knife Set
- Best Easels for Painting
- Best Gouache Paint Sets
Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
