Oil paints and oil painting are considered at the very top of the art world – the best medium and the real choice of master oil painters and fine artists. So let’s look at which oil paint set you should get!
Top 4 Oil Paint Sets for Artists Compared
My Favorite Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 9 Colors, 37 ml tubes
Best Affordable Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 12, 37ml tubes
Best Budget Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 10x 37ml Paint Tubes
Best Premium Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 10 Colors, 40 ml tubes
Overview: Best Oil Paint Sets for Artists in 2026
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Premium Pick: Old Holland Artist Grade Oil Paint Set
Best Premium Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 10 Colors, 40 ml tubes
Old Holland’s “Introductory Set” might sound like it’s made for beginners, but the paints themselves are anything but.
These are fully professional oils; richly pigmented, beautifully textured, and incredibly responsive. The colors stay luminous even after drying, and the handling is so consistent that every brushstroke feels intentional.
While they’re certainly not the only high-end option out there, Old Holland paints have a kind of clarity and control that makes them a joy to work with. For me, this set is less of an introduction and more of a standard.
My Pick: Gamblin Artist Oil Paint Set
My Favorite Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 9 Colors, 37 ml tubes
Old Holland might have the edge in overall quality and reputation, but I keep coming back to Gamblin Artist Oil Colors. They’re just incredibly solid—rich, consistent, and beautifully balanced. The texture is smooth and responsive, the colors are both vibrant and nuanced, and they perform reliably across the board. While they may not carry the same prestige, I’ve found Gamblin oils to be more than capable of delivering professional-level results. They also offer excellent value, which makes it easier to experiment and work freely. It’s the set I use most, and the one I always recommend.
Budget Pick I: Jack Richeson Student Grade Oil Paint Set
Best Affordable Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 12, 37ml tubes
While more advanced artists might notice slightly less saturation or subtle differences in texture and handling, beginners likely won’t. What matters more is that, at this price, Jack Richeson paints are genuinely excellent—: reliable, enjoyable to use, and capable of real, satisfying results.
Especially in the 12-color set, they offer incredible value and make a great choice for students, beginners, or anyone exploring oil painting without wanting to compromise too much on quality.
Budget Pick II: Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Paint Set
Best Budget Oil Paint for Painting on Canvas
Set of 10x 37ml Paint Tubes
I’m also going to throw in a strong recommendation for the Winsor Newton Winton Starter Set.
While Jack may have the slightest edge (depending on who you ask), Winsor Newton Winton oils are the lowest-priced paints I know of, which really let you know what oil painting is, or at least can be, all about.
Premium Pick: Michael Harding Artist Grade Oil Paints in Tubes
225ml tubes :: Different colors *Image shows the color
Michael Harding Artist Oils aren’t exactly budget-friendly, especially when bought by the tube, but they’re the top choice for many professional artists for good reason.
The pigments are exceptionally pure, the colors deep and vibrant, and the texture is consistently excellent across the entire range.
They offer outstanding lightfastness and stability, making them ideal for serious fine art work, from gallery pieces to museum collections. While they may be out of reach for most beginners, there’s a reason so many experienced artists consider them the best oil paints available today.
My Pick: Bob Ross Oil Paints in Tubes
Bob Ross Landscape Oil Colors may not be quite as pricey as Michael Harding, but the quality is surprisingly close. They have a rich, flowing consistency that responds well to all kinds of techniques and gestures, whether you’re layering, blending, or going alla prima.
Personally, I enjoyed working with them, the colors are deeply saturated, reliable, and stay beautiful even after drying. While many artists swear by Michael Harding for top-tier quality (and I get it), Bob Ross oils are the ones beginner oil painters reach for most often. They deliver a professional experience at a much more accessible price, making them my pick for the best value in high-end oil paints.
Budget Pick: Mont Marte Student-Grade Oil Paints in Tubes
100ml tubes (3.4oz), Good coverage and excellent tinting strength :: Different colors
Mont Marte is my top pick for beginners, students, or anyone looking for affordable but genuinely good oil paint.
I recommend Mont Marte Premium Oil Paints at this price point. They offer surprisingly rich pigment, excellent texture, and vibrant, saturated colors that feel far beyond their cost. Whether you’re just starting out or working on a budget, these paints let you explore oils without compromise.
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How to Choose the Best Oil Paint Set
Great oil paint should feel predictable under the brush or knife, mix cleanly, and last on the canvas without yellowing or cracking. Use these criteria to pick a set that fits your style and workflow.
Grade, Pigment Load & Permanence
Artist-grade oils carry more pigment and fewer fillers—meaning stronger color, cleaner mixes, and better longevity.
- Look for: artist grade, clear pigment codes (e.g., PR108), ASTM I/II lightfastness, series numbers.
- Watch out for: vague “hue” colors without codes, low tinting strength, poor LF ratings.
Binder (Oil Type) & Yellowing
The drying oil affects color stability and drying speed.
- Linseed: strongest film, fastest of common oils, can yellow in pales.
- Safflower/Poppy: less yellowing in lights, slower drying, weaker film.
- Walnut: balanced handling, moderate yellowing, pleasant flow.
- Tip: prefer linseed for most colors, safflower/poppy only for very light hues.
Consistency & Handling (Short vs. Long Oil)
Body determines how paint lays down.
- Short/buttery: holds impasto, crisp brushmarks.
- Long/stringy: smooth, ideal for flowing blends and glazing.
- Quick check: knife a small ridge—does it slump (long) or stand (short)?
Drying Time & Workflow
Drying varies by pigment and oil; plan layers accordingly.
- Look for: brand charts for relative drying, availability of alkyd (fast-dry) options.
- Practice: fat over lean (more oil each layer), avoid rushing varnish, let underlayers cure.
Opacity, Transparency & Finish
Build a palette that supports both coverage and glow.
- Opaque: earths, cadmiums—great for coverage and scumbling.
- Transparent: quinacridones, phthalos—best for glazing and depth.
- Finish: expect a natural satin-gloss; matte can indicate absorbent ground or under-oiled mixes.
White & Black Choices (Critical Picks)
Your white determines mixing behavior.
- Titanium White (PW6): strongest tinting, opaque, can chalk mixes if overused.
- Lead/Cremnitz (PW1): ropey, non-chalky tints, strong film (toxicity care required).
- Avoid heavy Zinc (PW4) as a main white layer—brittle in thick films.
- Blacks: Ivory (slow drying, cool), Mars (faster, opaque, neutral-warm).
Color Range & Palette Design
A smart small set beats a giant one full of duplicates.
- Look for: warm/cool primaries, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, a deep blue, a green or mixable pair, Titanium (plus optional Lead) White.
- Watch out for: too many near-identical reds/blues; missing earths or neutrals.
Ground & Medium Compatibility
Your surface and mediums shape results as much as paint.
- Grounds: acrylic-gessoed canvas/panel (convenient), oil-primed linen (lux feel, slower absorbency).
- Mediums: OMS + stand/linseed, alkyd for speed, solvent-free gel/oil if avoiding solvent.
- Watch out for: overly absorbent grounds causing “sinking in” (dull patches).
Open Stock, Tube Size & Value
You’ll replace favorites—make sure you can.
- Look for: open stock tubes, common sizes (37–40 ml; 150–200 ml for white), clear price per ml.
- Watch out for: sets with tiny tubes of colors you’ll burn through (white, earths).
Safety, Ventilation & Cleanup
Mind solvents and heavy-metal pigments.
- Look for: clear safety data, low-odor OMS or solvent-free workflows, nitrile gloves for cadmium/cobalt/lead.
- Watch out for: rags piled in a bin—store in a sealed metal container (fire risk), sink disposal of sludge.
Labeling, Consistency & Quality Control
Good labeling saves headaches.
- Look for: pigment code, binder oil, LF rating, series, batch info.
- Watch out for: separation, excessive oil bleed, or gritty particles in fresh tubes.
5-Minute In-Store (or At-Home) Paint Test
- Masstone & Undertone: swipe a full-strength stroke, then wipe thin—check clarity and richness.
- Tinting Strength: make a 1:10 tint with Titanium White—aim for power without chalkiness.
- Brush/Knife Feel: lay a small impasto ridge; does it hold? Smooth with a medium for glaze—does it level?
- Drying Baseline: note touch-dry next day with a tiny swatch (varies by color/oil).
Use these checkpoints and you’ll land an oil set that matches how you actually paint—whether that’s thick, textural alla prima, or carefully glazed, solvent-free studio work.
I hope my guide helped you to get your new oil paint set, and you will have a lot of fun painting amazing artwork!
Other articles in the Artists Kits & Sets series:
- Artist’s Guide to Oil Painting for Beginners
- Essential Oil Painting Supplies for Artists
- Choosing the Best Oil Paint Brushes
- Choosing the Best Oil Paint Palette
- Choosing the Best Canvas for Oil Painting
- Best Palette Knives and Pallete Knife Set
- Best Easels for Painting
- Best Oil Pastels for Artists
- Best Professional Artist Kits
- Best Supplies for Travel Art Kit
- Best Gouache Paint Sets
Other articles in the Watercolor, Acrylic, Gouache, and Oils series:
- Best Watercolor Sketchbook
- Best Watercolor Pencils
- Best Watercolor Paints
- Best Watercolor Paper
- Best Watercolor Brushes
- Best Acrylic Paint Brushes for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paint for Artists
- Best Acrylic Paper and Canvas for Artists
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 »
