6 Best Watercolor Paint Set under $100 (November 2026)

Walk into any art aisle and watercolor sets look like a wall of tins in every size, from tiny pocket palettes to boxes with a hundred little pans. The choice gets harder once you realize that the number of colors tells you very little about how a set paints. Paper, pigment load and brush quality shape the result more than a big count, which is why the keyword “best watercolor paint set under 100 dollars” appeals to beginners, hobbyists and journalers who want something dependable without moving into professional-grade tubes.

This guide compares six sets across three formats: dry pans in travel tins, brush-pen kits and traditional tubes. Judgments rest on what each title states, such as color count, pan or tube format, included brushes, paper and case design. Where a title is cut off, confirm on the listing. Nothing here claims how a pigment behaves on paper, because that varies with the paper and technique, and no title shows a swatch. In 2026 listings, the safest way to compare is by format and what is in the box.

Quick Picks

ARTISTRO 50 Colors Watercolor Paint Set with Palette & Brush Pens | Portable Paint Art Kit, Travel Water Color Set, For Adults, & Professionals, Art & Painting Supplies, Gift Ideas

One of the home & furniture options compared in this guide.

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Grabie 50 Color Watercolor Paint Set with Brush Pens | High Pigment Paints, Blendable Colors, Portable Travel Case, Painting, Sketching, Illustration, Beginner And Hobby Artists

One of the home & furniture options compared in this guide.

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48 Colors Washable Watercolor Paint Set, with 3 Brushes Pen | watercolor palette, Non-toxic Water Color Paints Sets for Kids, Adults Artists Students Beginner,Travel Watercolor Set

One of the home & furniture options compared in this guide.

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ARTISTRO 50 Watercolor Paint Set, Sunrise Set, Palette & Brushes | Travel Watercolor Paint Kit, Portable Water Color Set for Adults & Beginners, Art & Painting Supplies, Gift Idea

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Artecho 100 Colors Watercolor Paint Set with Metallics, Portable Tin Case | 51 Classic, 35 Metallic, 4 Fluorescent & 10 Macaron/Candy Colors; Watercolor Paper and Brushes for On-the-Go Painting

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ARTISTRO 100 Watercolor Paint Set with Palette & Brushes for Adults | Travel Watercolor Paint Kit, Portable Water Color Set for Adults & Beginners, Art & Painting Supplies, Gift Idea

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How to Choose

Pans, tubes or pens

Dry pans are the easiest to carry and the quickest to set up: wet the brush and paint. Tubes hold moist paint that you squeeze into a palette, which gives you stronger color from a fresh squeeze and lets you mix large washes. Brush pens, listed with several sets here, have a water reservoir and make travel sketching simpler. If you paint at a desk, tubes give richer mixes; if you paint on a bus or in a park, pans and pens win on convenience.

Color count versus useful range

A set with 100 colors is not twice as useful as one with 48. Most painters mix from a core group of warm and cool primaries, adding a few earth tones. Large sets add metallics, fluorescents and candy shades that look fun in a tin but rarely become daily colors. If you are learning, 20 to 36 well-chosen colors teach mixing better than a hundred decorative pans. Count the colors you would use, not the total printed on the box.

Pigment quality and the artist grade question

Titles use words such as high pigment, blendable and fine art pigments. These are maker claims, not measurements. The Winsor and Newton Cotman title states fine art pigments and an introductory student-level line, while the other sets lean on color count. Cheap sets can still serve a beginner, but expect to rely on good paper and a clean water supply. Cotton or heavier watercolor paper, rather than thin sketch paper, changes the outcome more than an upgrade in paint.

What comes in the box

Check for brushes, a palette and paper. The Nicpro title lists ten brushes and 25 sheets of watercolor paper, which turns it into a complete starter kit. Others include three brushes or brush pens. Water-brush pens are handy but limited in size, and their tips can fray if they are scrubbed hard on rough paper. A tin case keeps pans clean and closes for travel. A sturdy mixing palette matters if you choose tubes, because small wells cannot hold a wash.

The 6 Best Options

ARTISTRO 50 Colors Watercolor Paint Set

ARTISTRO offers a portable art kit with 50 colors, a palette and brush pens for travel sketching. The title speaks to adults and professionals, with a case that supports painting on the go. That combination suits someone who wants a lot of color options in a bag and a quick way to apply them without carrying a water jar. Because the pens hold their own water, a quick sketch on a park bench needs only the kit, a pad and a napkin to dab the tip.

• 50 colors with a palette and brush pens in one kit.
• Portable design is stated in the title.
• Trade-off: brush pens limit brush size for broad washes.

Skip it if you want tube paints or large-brush work. Confirm what the pens and palette include on the listing, and look for how many pens come in the box and whether the tips can be replaced.

Grabie 50 Color Watercolor Paint Set

Grabie lists 50 colors with brush pens, high pigment paints, blendable colors and a portable travel case, aimed at painting, sketching and illustration. The pairing of pens and a case makes it a practical travel kit, and the title emphasizes blending, which suits layered washes and soft gradients. Illustrators who build up a sketch in stages, from pale base layers to darker accents, tend to value that kind of smooth transition between shades.

• Blendable colors and high pigment are both claimed.
• A travel case keeps the kit organized.
• Trade-off: the claims come from the maker and are not measured.

Skip it if you want a classic tube set with a mixing palette. Confirm brush pen details on the listing, including the number of pens and whether the case has a tray that holds them in place while you travel.

Artecho 100 Colors Watercolor Set with Metallics

Artecho takes variety to the extreme. The title lists 100 colors in a tin: 51 classic, 35 metallic, 4 fluorescent and 10 macaron or candy shades. That mix suits a crafter or lettering artist who likes shimmer for cards, journal pages and decorative work, and who wants a portable tin to hold it all. A tin with this many pans also works as a gift for a friend who enjoys journaling or hand lettering, since a shimmer shade is a quick way to make a page stand out.

• The color breakdown is clearly listed in the title.
• A portable tin case holds the pans.
• Trade-off: only 51 of the 100 are classic colors.

Skip it if you want a compact learner set built around core colors. Confirm what brushes come with it on the listing, and check how the pans are arranged so you can find the classic colors quickly.

Nicpro 36 Colors Watercolor Paint Tubes Set

Nicpro is the tube-based kit. The title lists 36 tubes of 12ml, ten paint brushes and 25 sheets of watercolor paper, aimed at adults, kids and hobby artists. Because it bundles paint, brushes and paper, it is the closest thing here to a ready-to-paint kit, and the tube format makes mixing larger washes easier. A parent or teacher could use one kit for a whole afternoon of painting at the table, since the paper and brushes are already in the box and nothing else needs to be bought.

• Paint, brushes and paper are all included.
• 12ml tubes support larger mixes.
• Trade-off: tubes need a palette, which the title does not mention.

Skip it if you want a pocket-sized set. Confirm whether a palette is included on the listing, and consider buying a ceramic plate or a muffin tin if it is not.

Winsor and Newton Cotman 20 Colors

This set stands out because of the maker. The title lists 20 colors in 5ml tubes, described as introductory watercolor made with fine art pigments and suited to beginners. Twenty colors is enough to learn mixing without being overwhelmed, and the brand name offers a recognizable reference for replacement tubes. Painters who outgrow the set can buy single colors later rather than replacing the whole box, which is a gentle way to build a personal palette over time.

• 20 colors keeps the learning curve gentle.
• Fine art pigments are named in the title.
• Trade-off: it has fewer colors and smaller tubes than the others.

Skip it if you want a big palette or a travel tin. Confirm whether brushes or palette are included on the listing, and plan to buy a pad of watercolor paper alongside it.

Artecho 48 Colors Watercolor Pan Set

This Artecho set is a washable pan collection with three brushes. The title lists 48 colors, a travel-friendly portable design, and suggested uses such as card making, illustrations and painting. It is a handy pick for someone who likes to paint small pieces at a kitchen table, then put everything away in a single case. The washable wording suggests the paints are meant to rinse out of a brush and off surfaces easily, though you should confirm that on the listing and protect clothing regardless.

• Pans are ready to use with a wet brush.
• Three brushes come with the set.
• Trade-off: three brushes cover limited sizes and shapes.

Skip it if you want tube paints or a large brush set. Confirm the pan size on the listing, since small pans can feel tight for a wide brush, and check whether the three brushes include a round and a flat shape.

Which One Fits Your Situation

You paint outdoors or while traveling

The Grabie 50 or ARTISTRO 50 pairs brush pens with a case, which cuts the gear you carry. Add a small pad of watercolor paper and a pencil, and the whole painting setup fits in a coat pocket or a small bag.

You want a complete starter kit

The Nicpro 36 Tubes includes brushes and paper, so you can begin without buying extras. It also suits a family table where several people want to paint at once and need enough brushes to share.

You want to learn color mixing

The Winsor and Newton Cotman 20 teaches mixing from a smaller range of fine art pigments, which keeps choices manageable. Pair it with a pad of proper watercolor paper and a couple of brushes you already own.

You make cards and decorative pages

The Artecho 100 with metallics or the Artecho 48 pan set suit paper crafts, with the 100 adding shimmer.

Common Mistakes

• Buying on color count and ignoring the format, pan, tube or pen.
• Using thin sketch paper that buckles under water.
• Skipping a clean water jar and a rag, which muddies colors quickly.
• Expecting metallic and fluorescent shades to mix like standard colors.
• Leaving pans wet in a closed tin, which can lead to mold.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a bigger set better for beginners?

Not necessarily. A smaller set teaches mixing, while a huge one can overwhelm. Choose the format first, then the count, and treat extra shades as a bonus rather than a reason to buy.

Do I need special paper?

Yes, watercolor paper handles water far better than regular sketch paper and changes the results more than the paints do.

Are brush pens enough?

They are great for travel and detail, but a few real brushes give you range for washes and fine lines.

Can children use these?

Some titles say washable or non-toxic, but check the labels on the listing and supervise young painters. Keep paints away from mouths and wash hands after each session.