The Best Acrylic Paints
Choosing the best acrylic paints can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with so many brands, price points, and quality levels. The truth is, there isn’t just one “perfect” paint—different brands serve different purposes depending on how you like to paint.
Best Acrylic Paints
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best acrylic paints, explain why Golden Acrylics stand out as a high-quality option, and break down the difference between student grade and artist grade paints so you can choose what works best for you.
Understanding The Difference Between Student Grade And Artist Grade Paints
Before diving into specific brands, it’s important to understand the key difference between student grade and artist grade acrylic paints.
Student grade paints are designed to be more affordable. They often contain more fillers and less pigment, which means the colours may not be as rich or vibrant. However, they are still very usable—especially for beginners, practice work, or base layers.
Artist grade paints, on the other hand, contain a higher concentration of pigment and fewer fillers. This results in stronger colour, better coverage, and a more luxurious consistency. They also tend to last longer and perform better when layering or mixing.
If you’re just starting out, student paints are a great entry point. As you grow, adding a few artist grade paints can really elevate your work.
Why Golden Is One Of The Best Acrylic Paints
When it comes to the best acrylic paints, Golden Acrylics consistently stands out as a top choice for artists.
One of the biggest reasons is the quality of the pigment. Golden paints are known for being rich, vibrant, and true to colour. They don’t rely heavily on added water or fillers, which means you’re getting pure, intense colour straight from the tube.
Another major advantage is the consistency. Golden paints have a smooth, buttery texture that feels easy to control. Whether you’re layering, blending, or adding fine details, the paint responds beautifully.
They’re also incredibly long-lasting. Many artists find that even after years, their tubes of Golden paint remain usable without drying out. That kind of longevity makes them a worthwhile investment.
The main downside is the price. Golden paints are more expensive than most other brands. Because of this, many artists use them strategically—saving them for final layers, highlights, or detailed work rather than covering large areas.
Check out this set of Golden Acrylics
If you ever see Golden paints on sale (often at places like Michaels), it’s a great opportunity to stock up.
Learn more about Golden Acrylics here on their website
Best Student Acrylic Paint Options
If you’re looking for the best acrylic paints on a budget, there are several excellent student-grade options that still perform really well.
Liquitex Basics
This is one of the most popular student-grade paints for a reason. Liquitex Basics offers a good balance between affordability and quality. The paint has a decent consistency—not too watery—and works well for base layers and general painting. It’s especially useful for stocking up on core colours like white, black, and primary shades.
This set of acrylics includes primary colours and white and black - perfect set for beginners!
This set of metallics includes pink, green, teal, purple- such pretty colours!
This set of metallics includes silver, gold and some other nice metallics too!
Rheotech Acrylic Paint
Often referred to as a budget-friendly option, Rheotech paints are great for beginners or for painting large areas. They come in larger sizes, making them ideal for backgrounds like skies, water, or grass. While the colour payoff isn’t as rich as artist grade paints, they still offer good value for the price.
These student paints are perfect for:
Practicing techniques
Blocking in large areas
Learning colour mixing
Keeping costs manageable while you build your skills
You can find this set at your local art supply store!
Mid-Range Acrylic Paint Option
Amsterdam Acrylics
Amsterdam paints sit comfortably between student grade and artist grade. They offer better pigment and consistency than basic student paints, but at a more affordable price than high-end brands like Golden.
The texture is smooth and easy to work with, and the colours are vibrant enough for both backgrounds and some detail work. If you’re ready to step up from student paints but aren’t quite ready to invest fully in artist grade, Amsterdam is a great choice.
Check out this set of paint
How To Choose The Best Acrylic Paints For Your Needs
Instead of choosing just one brand, many artists use a combination of paints to get the best results.
For example:
Use student paints like Liquitex Basics or Reeves for base layers
Use mid-range paints like Amsterdam for general painting
Use Golden paints for highlights, details, and finishing touches
This approach helps you save money while still achieving a professional-looking result.
A Simple And Practical Approach
If you’re building your paint collection, start with a few essential colours in a student-grade brand. Focus on titanium white, mars black, a blue, a red, and a yellow. These will allow you to mix a wide range of colours.
As you grow more confident, gradually add a few artist-grade paints—especially in colours you use often. This is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your work without overspending.
Affiliate Link Note:
Some of the paint supplies mentioned may be linked through affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use and find helpful in my own painting practice.
Finding the best acrylic paints doesn’t have to be complicated. With a mix of affordable basics and a few high-quality favourites, you can create beautiful, vibrant paintings while staying within your budget.