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Best Empty Watercolor Palette

Build a custom palette with the colors you actually use. Empty palettes let you fill any combination of brands, pigments, and colors — here are the best ones to fill.

By Sarah Mitchell·Updated April 2026·3 palettes tested
#1 Best Overall

Mijello Mission Gold Airtight 33-Well

starstarstarstarstar4.7/5· 33 wells · ceramic glazed
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The palette I've used as my main studio setup for three years. Fill the wells with tube paint, seal it, and come back a week later to paint — the moist paint rewets in one stroke. The airtight design pays for itself in paint savings.

Pros

  • check_circleAirtight seal keeps tube paint moist for weeks
  • check_circleCeramic glazed surface — no bead-up
  • check_circleDeep wells hold a full tube squeeze
  • check_circleSeparate mixing and pan sections

Cons

  • cancelLarge footprint — this is a studio palette
  • cancelSeal can stick if paint dries on the rim — clean after each session
#2 Best for Travel

Escoda Empty Travel Palette 20 Half-Pan

starstarstarstarstar4.6/5· 20 half-pan slots · metal
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The best travel-sized empty palette I've tested. The magnetic bottom holds half pans firmly even when the tin is upside down in a bag. Fill with your preferred brand and colors — I run Holbein and Daniel Smith in mine.

Pros

  • check_circleMagnetic half-pan retention — no sliding
  • check_circleMetal tin with reliable snap closure
  • check_circleCompact for a 20-pan palette
  • check_circleLarge mixing lid — rare in this size

Cons

  • cancelNon-ceramic surface — some bead-up on certain colors
  • cancelHalf pans must be purchased separately
#3 Best Budget

Meeden Empty Watercolor Palette 48-Well

starstarstarstarstar4.4/5· 48 wells · plastic
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For painters who want maximum well count at a low price. The plastic surface is manageable with a quick dish-soap treatment. I use one of these as a second palette for earths and neutrals — works fine for that purpose.

Pros

  • check_circleVery affordable for the well count
  • check_circleLarge flat mixing area on the lid
  • check_circleFolds flat, lightweight
  • check_circleMagnetic closure

Cons

  • cancelPlastic surface — treat wells with dish soap before first use to reduce bead-up
  • cancelLid latches wear after 2+ years

Not sure which colors to fill it with?

See the 12 pigments I'd pick if starting over — including the two most beginners skip.

Best Colors for a First Palette arrow_forward

Common Questions

Is it better to use tube paint or half pans in an empty palette?+
Tube paint squeezed into wells gives you more paint per dollar and the option to fill the exact wells you want. Half pans are neater (no squeeze, no spill) and ideal for travel palettes where you want pre-defined colors. I use tube paint in studio palettes and half pans in travel kits.
How do I fill an empty palette with tube paint?+
Squeeze paint into wells, filling about 80% to allow for drying shrinkage. Let dry 24–48 hours with the lid open. Some colors (M. Graham, due to honey binder) stay slightly tacky — this is normal and doesn't affect performance. After drying, the paint rewets and behaves identically to factory pans.
Do I need to treat a plastic palette before using it?+
Yes — plastic surfaces cause paint to bead up. Apply a drop of dish soap to each well, spread with a finger, and rinse with water. Do this twice. The residue cuts surface tension enough to stop bead-up on most colors. Phthalo Blue will still bead on plastic regardless — use a ceramic palette if you work heavily with it.
How do I keep half pans from sliding in an empty palette?+
Buy a palette with a magnetic base (like the Escoda) and use magnetic half pans — they lock in place. Without a magnetic base, use a thin strip of mounting tape under each pan. Double-sided foam tape also works and is reversible if you want to swap colors.

Related

arrow_forwardBest Ceramic Palettesarrow_forwardBest Colors to Fill Witharrow_forwardHow to Arrange Your Color Layoutarrow_forwardDIY Palette — Build From Scratch