You need far less to start painting miniatures than the hobby's mountain of products suggests. Here is the genuine essentials list, plus the few extras that are worth buying early - and what you can safely skip for now.
The essentials
- Paints - a starter set is the cheapest way in. You want a handful of base colours, a metallic, and at least one wash. We rank every paint set by value; for which brand suits you, see the best paint for miniatures.
- Brushes - one decent size 1 brush, one detail brush, and a cheap old brush for drybrushing. See the best brushes for miniatures.
- Primer - a spray or brush-on primer so paint actually sticks. Black, white or grey; white or zenithal is best for contrast paints.
- A wash / shade - the single most transformational pot you'll own.
- Water pot and palette - two pots (clean and dirty) and something to thin paint on.
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Worth buying early
- A wet palette - keeps paint workable and improves everything. See the wet palette guide.
- Contrast / speedpaints - a fast track to finished models. See best contrast paints.
- Brush soap - makes good brushes last years.
Sealed wet palette with sponge and hydration paper
Green Stuff World
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
Skip for now
- Airbrushes, huge paint collections, expensive sable brushes, and pigment/weathering sets. They're great later, but none are needed to start - and a beginner's money is better spent on a wet palette and one good brush.
Next step
Got your kit? Read how to start painting miniatures for the step-by-step first-model walkthrough, then pick a scheme with the scheme generator.
Shop starter kits
An all-in-one starter kit covers most of the essentials in a single buy.
Warhammer 40,000: Paints + Tools Set
Not sold in Canada
None of our Canadian partners sell this.
$24.00 in the US at eBay
Buy in the US at eBayPriced in USD · international delivery and any import duty are on top
Vallejo Game Color Starter Kit (16 Paints)
Not sold in Canada
None of our Canadian partners sell this.
£48.99 in the UK at Amazon (UK)
Buy in the UK at Amazon (UK)Priced in GBP · international delivery and any import duty are on top
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