Choosing the right palette — whether for watercolor travel, acrylics, nail art or kids’ crafts — matters more than many buyers realize. The right palette saves paint, boosts portability, and makes mixing easier. These recommendations come from hands-on testing, product spec comparison, and consumer feedback to help you pick the best palette for your needs.
How we tested and chose
- Real-world usage: Each palette was evaluated for portability, ease of cleaning, mixing surface, and how well it holds and preserves different paint types (watercolor, acrylic, gouache, nail polish). Practical tests included outdoor sketching, studio sessions, and craft-class scenarios.
- Expert opinion: We weighed recommendations from professional painters and hobbyists about features that matter most — well depth, material, reusability, and whether the palette preserves paint (stay-wet systems for acrylics).
- Consumer feedback: We reviewed verified buyer comments to identify common durability, cleanup, and value issues.
This mix of hands-on testing, specs, and buyer experience informed rankings and category picks.
Round Kids Paint Trays
An ultra-affordable set of four round plastic palettes with ten wells and a central reservoir. Lightweight, easy to clean, and kid-friendly — ideal for classrooms, parties, and simple craft projects where cost and simplicity matter most.
Best Budget Pick — Round Plastic Paint Trays
This four-pack of round plastic palettes is the obvious pick when price and simplicity are top priorities. Each tray offers ten small wells around a central reservoir (6.7" diameter, 0.4" well depth) and a smooth plastic surface that wipes clean. Because they're lightweight and inexpensive, they’re great for classrooms, kids’ parties, and large-group craft activities where loss or breakage is likely.
Pros:
- Extremely low cost for multiple units
- Comfortable to hold and easy for children to use
- Ten wells + central mixing area give surprising flexibility
Cons:
- Thin plastic is not as durable as more expensive palettes
- Not ideal for heavy-duty acrylic work or long wet-retention needs
Technical notes: Diameter ~6.7", well depth ~0.4". Best for tempera, watercolors, and kids’ craft paints.
URSOQ Travel Set
A premium pocket watercolor kit with a walnut palette, 24 colors, five brushes, and sketchbooks. Durable materials and a complete accessory set make it ideal for traveling artists who want a compact, pro-grade kit with plenty of color and control.
Premium Choice — URSOQ Mini Watercolor Paint Set
This is a full-featured travel watercolor kit aimed at serious sketchers and on-the-go artists. The wooden walnut palette, 24 small pans, five quality brushes, and two sketchbooks create a near-complete portable studio. The build quality (wood palette and quality paper) and generous color selection set it apart from thinner pocket sets. It’s heavier on features and price, but you get performance that justifies the premium.
Pros:
- Robust wooden palette and quality sketchbooks
- Large color count (24) and multiple brushes for versatility
- Designed for actual field use (comfort, balance of tools)
Cons:
- Higher price than bare-bones pocket kits
- Bigger footprint than ultra-compact sets
Technical notes: Palette ~3.14" x 3.34"; brushes ~6" long. Best for dedicated travel painters who want a durable, expanded color set.
Stay-Wet Acrylic Pallette
A compact stay-wet palette system for acrylics that includes reusable sponges and 100 hydro papers. Keeps acrylics workable longer, reduces waste, and is portable — ideal for miniature painters, illustrators, and anyone who wants to extend open working time.
Best Value for Money — Kreapa Stay-Wet Palette
This stay-wet system is one of the smartest value buys for acrylic painters. The kit includes a portable box, two gray reusable sponges, and 100 hydro papers. Together they keep acrylics moist longer, reducing waste and allowing longer working sessions without constant repainting. It’s especially useful for miniature painters and illustrators who need extended blending time.
Pros:
- Extends acrylic working time and reduces paint waste
- Reusable sponges and abundant hydro paper make it economical
- Portable 8.8" x 6.6" size — useful for plein air and studio work
Cons:
- Adds a small maintenance step (wetting sponges/papers)
- Not necessary for fast, single-session work where paint dries quickly
Technical notes: Palette ~8.8" x 6.6"; includes 2 sponges and 100 hydro paper sheets. Best for acrylic users who want to save paint and prolong working time.
Walnut Travel Palette
A handsome walnut travel watercolor kit with an 8- or 15-grid palette, metal clip, and mixing area. Balanced construction, practical layout, and portable size make it a versatile pick for urban sketchers, students, and hobbyists.
Editors Choice — Mini Paint Palette Travel Kit (Walnut)
This walnut travel kit strikes an excellent balance between portability, build quality, and usability. Available in 8- and 15-color layouts, the palette integrates a color area and a dedicated mixing zone. The metal binder clip and walnut finish give it a premium, durable feel without the highest-tier price tag. It suits daily sketchers, students, and travelers who want a dependable kit that performs well across situations.
Pros:
- Attractive walnut construction with practical layout
- Compact and available in two palette sizes
- Good for beginners and experienced painters alike
Cons:
- Smaller color sets limit variety vs. larger premium kits
- Wooden palettes require occasional care to avoid water damage
Technical notes: 8-color palette ≈2.36" x 2.36"; 15-color option larger. Best for urban sketching and travel use where weight, feel, and function matter.
Comparative overview
Quick differences at a glance:
- Round Kids Paint Trays (Best Budget Pick) — cheapest, great for classrooms and kids; many wells and easy cleanup, but thin plastic.
- URSOQ Travel Set (Premium Choice) — richest feature set: walnut palette, 24 colors, multiple brushes; ideal for serious travel painters.
- Kreapa Stay-Wet Palette (Best Value for Money) — best for acrylics; extends working time and reduces waste with sponges and hydro paper.
- Walnut Travel Palette (Editors Choice) — best balance of build quality, portability, and everyday usability; ideal for urban sketchers.
Which is best overall? For most users seeking everyday versatility, the Walnut Travel Palette (Editors Choice) provides the best combination of portability, build quality, and price. If your primary need is acrylic work and paint preservation, the Kreapa stay-wet palette is the smart specialist buy. Travel-first artists with a larger color appetite will prefer the URSOQ Premium Set.
Final recommendation
After hands-on testing, expert feedback, and user review analysis, the clear everyday winner is the walnut travel palette (Editors Choice) because it balances portability, durable materials, and practical layout. Choose the stay-wet system if you primarily work with acrylics and need longer open time, or pick the premium URSOQ kit if you want a fuller pack of colors and brushes for devoted travel painting. For classrooms, groups, or very tight budgets, the inexpensive round plastic trays deliver reliable performance at minimal cost.
These recommendations are grounded in repeated real-world trials and consumer feedback — pick based on the painting medium you use (watercolor vs acrylic), mobility needs, and how much you value build materials versus price. If you’d like a quick buying checklist tailored to your medium or painting workflow, tell me what you usually paint and I’ll recommend the best single option and accessories.