The best budget paint set for most beginners is the Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Starter Set, which includes paints, a wash, metallics, primer, a brush and a miniature. Vallejo’s Game Color Starter Value Set is the cheapest complete kit, and Games Workshop’s Space Marines Intercessors + Paints Set is the easiest way to start with Citadel paints.
Choosing your first paint set is one of the most important decisions a new Warhammer hobbyist makes, and it is also one of the most confusing. Walk into any hobby shop or scroll through any online retailer and you will be confronted with dozens of paint sets at wildly different price points, each promising to be the perfect starter solution. Some include six paints; others include fifty. How do you know which one is actually worth your money?
This guide cuts through the noise. We compare the major starter paint sets side by side, explain what colours you actually need to start painting Warhammer miniatures, and help you decide whether to invest in a big set upfront or build your collection paint by paint.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Our picks are based on manufacturer specs, the Amazon listings and what painters commonly use – we explain the reasoning for each below.
| Product | What’s in the box | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Starter Set Best Overall | 11 x 18ml + brush + miniature | $39.59 as of Nov 14, 2026 3:13 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Vallejo Game Color Starter Value Set Best Budget | 10 x 18ml + brush + miniature | $29.99 as of Nov 14, 2026 3:13 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Warhammer 40,000 Space Marines Intercessors + Paints Set Best Citadel Starter | 6 Citadel paints + 2 models | $31.45 as of Nov 14, 2026 9:18 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set Best for Fast Results | 10 x 18ml Speedpaints + brush | $44.99 as of Nov 14, 2026 9:18 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Vallejo Model Color Basic Colors USA Set Best Colour Range | 16 x 18ml paints | $46.99 as of Nov 14, 2026 3:13 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
Prices are from Amazon.com (US) at the time shown. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
The Best Budget Paint Sets for Warhammer (2026)
1. Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Starter Set – Best Overall
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Army Painter’s Fanatic Starter Set is built for people who own nothing yet: paints, metallics, wash and primer, plus a brush and a miniature to practise on. Open the box and you can start painting straight away.
Best for: Complete beginners who want everything in one box.
| Contents | 11 x 18ml Warpaints Fanatic paints |
|---|---|
| Includes | Metallics, washes and primer |
| Extras | Starter brush and a miniature |
| Bottle | 18ml dropper |
Why we like it
- Includes the wash and metallics many cheap sets leave out
- Fanatic is Army Painter’s improved formula with much better coverage than the old Warpaints
- Colours sit in Army Painter’s Flexible Colour Triad system, so expanding later is easy
- Sold directly by The Army Painter on Amazon
- Truly all-in-one
- Dropper bottles don’t dry out
- Brush and model included
- Only 11 paints – you’ll add colours for your army
- Colour names don’t match Citadel guides
2. Vallejo Game Color Starter Value Set – Best Budget
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Vallejo’s Starter Value Set is the cheapest way into Game Color: ten core colours, a detail brush, a fantasy miniature and a QR-linked tutorial that walks you through two colour schemes.
Best for: The lowest-cost complete starter kit.
| Contents | 10 x 18ml Game Color paints |
|---|---|
| Colours | White, skin, yellow, red, blue, green, brown, black, sepia, silver |
| Extras | Synthetic Detail No.1 brush, exclusive miniature |
| Guide | QR-code painting tutorial with two schemes |
Why we like it
- Covers every basic colour family plus a metallic silver
- A warm sepia tone is included alongside the core colours
- Step-by-step tutorial is ideal for first-timers
- Vallejo’s 18ml dropper bottles last far longer than pots
- Lowest price of our picks
- Brush, model and guide included
- High-coverage matt paints
- No gold – add one for trim
- The single brush is fine for detail but small for basecoats
3. Warhammer 40,000 Space Marines Intercessors + Paints Set – Best Citadel Starter
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Games Workshop’s own paint-and-model set: six Citadel Base paints, a starter brush and two Space Marine Intercessors. Every colour appears in GW’s painting guides, so you can follow along exactly.
Best for: Beginners who want to follow Games Workshop’s own guides.
| Contents | 6 Citadel Base paints + starter brush |
|---|---|
| Paints | Abaddon Black, Macragge Blue, Mournfang Brown, Leadbelcher, Retributor Armour, Corax White |
| Models | 2 multipart plastic Space Marine Intercessors |
| Assembly | Required; models supplied unpainted |
Why we like it
- Citadel names match every Games Workshop tutorial and the Citadel Colour app
- Includes silver (Leadbelcher) and gold (Retributor Armour)
- Two proper multipart Space Marines to practise on
- The cheapest way to try Citadel paints
- Real Warhammer models included
- Tutorial-friendly colours
- Good gift for a young beginner
- Only six paints and no wash – add Nuln Oil
- Sold by resellers on Amazon; flip-top pots dry out faster than droppers
4. Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Set – Best for Fast Results
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Speedpaint shades and highlights in one coat: brush it generously over a light primer and it flows into the recesses for you. For many beginners it’s the quickest route to models that look finished.
Best for: Beginners who want a painted army quickly.
| Contents | 9 Speedpaint colours + 1 Speedpaint Metallic |
|---|---|
| Extras | Basecoat brush |
| Bottle | 18ml dropper with two steel mixing balls |
| Use over | Light-coloured primer |
Why we like it
- One coat replaces basecoat, wash and highlight
- Very forgiving – ideal for nervous first-timers
- Includes a metallic and a basecoat brush
- Mixing balls in every bottle make shaking easy
- Fastest results of our picks
- Great for batch painting
- Brush included
- Needs a white or light grey primer
- Less control than standard paints for fine highlights
5. Vallejo Model Color Basic Colors USA Set – Best Colour Range
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Sixteen Vallejo Model Color paints chosen around the palettes of top North American painters, according to Vallejo. You get a full spread of primaries and earth tones, plus silver and gold.
Best for: Painters who want lots of colours and good quality.
| Contents | 16 x 18ml Model Color paints |
|---|---|
| Includes | Silver and Gold |
| Bottle | 18ml eyedropper |
| Finish | Durable matt |
| Extras | User’s guide |
Why we like it
- Model Color is a favourite with experienced painters for its smooth, opaque finish
- Includes both silver and gold, so trim and weapons are covered
- Big range for mixing your own shades
- Works with brush or airbrush
- Most colours of our picks
- Excellent paint quality
- Dropper bottles
- No washes – add a shade separately
- No brush or model; names don’t match Citadel guides
What Colours Do You Actually Need to Start?
Before we compare specific sets, let us establish what you actually need. A beginner painter can get started with surprisingly few paints. The absolute minimum is around 8-12 colours, covering the following categories.
A black: For basecoating dark areas, metal weapons, and general shading. Abaddon Black (Citadel), Matt Black (Army Painter), or Black (Vallejo).
A white: For mixing, lightening colours, and painting white details. White Scar (Citadel), Matt White (Army Painter), or White (Vallejo).
A red: For cloaks, blood effects, red armour, and details. Mephiston Red or Khorne Red (Citadel).
A blue: For cloth, gems, power weapons, and Ultramarines. Macragge Blue or Kantor Blue (Citadel).
A green: For Ork skin, vegetation, cloaks, and gems. Warpstone Glow or Caliban Green (Citadel).
A yellow: For gold details, warning stripes, and highlights. Averland Sunset or Yriel Yellow (Citadel).
A brown: For leather, wood, earth, and fur. Rhinox Hide or Mournfang Brown (Citadel).
A flesh tone: For skin on human models. Bugman’s Glow or Kislev Flesh (Citadel).
A metallic silver: For weapons, armour, and metallic details. Leadbelcher (Citadel).
A metallic gold: For trim, decorations, and details. Retributor Armour (Citadel).
A wash/shade: For adding depth and definition. Nuln Oil and/or Agrax Earthshade (Citadel) are the two most universally useful.
If a paint set covers these basics, it will get you started on virtually any Warhammer army. Additional colours are nice to have but not essential — you can mix colours to create almost anything you need from this basic palette.
How to Choose a Budget Paint Set
Check for a wash and a metallic. A shade such as Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade (or the Fanatic and Game Color equivalents) does more for a beginner’s models than any other paint, and almost every army needs silver or gold. Sets without them will need a top-up straight away.
A brush and a miniature are a real bonus. Several starter sets include both, which means you can start painting the day the box arrives.
Citadel or not? If you want to follow Games Workshop’s painting guides step by step, Citadel paints make it easiest. On Amazon, Citadel sets are sold by resellers, so compare with your local Games Workshop or game store before buying.
Ready for more? Once you know you’re sticking with the hobby, bigger sets give better value per bottle – see our best paints for Warhammer guide.
Should You Buy a Set or Build Your Collection Paint by Paint?
This is the eternal debate, and the right answer depends on your situation.
Buy a set if: You are a complete beginner with no paints at all. Sets provide a curated starting point that eliminates the paralysis of choosing individual colours. The cost per paint in a set is almost always lower than buying the same paints individually. And having a broad selection of colours from day one gives you more flexibility and encourages experimentation.
Buy individual paints if: You already have some paints and know exactly what colours you need. You are painting a specific army with a specific colour scheme, and only a handful of the paints in any set would be useful. Or you are on a very tight budget and can only afford 3-4 paints right now.
The most efficient approach for most beginners is a hybrid: buy a starter set for the foundational colours, then supplement with individual paints as you discover what your specific army needs. This gives you the broad coverage of a set and the targeted selection of individual purchases.
What About Mixing Paints Instead of Buying More?
In theory, you can mix almost any colour from a small set of primaries (red, blue, yellow, black, white). In practice, mixing paints on a miniature painting palette is fiddly, inconsistent, and time-consuming. You will struggle to reproduce the exact same mix twice, which means you cannot maintain colour consistency across an army.
That said, mixing is a valuable skill for specific situations. Mixing a tiny amount of white into a base colour to create a highlight is practical and effective. Mixing two similar colours to create a transitional shade is useful for blending. And mixing custom skin tones or specific colours that no manufacturer produces can be necessary for certain projects.
Our recommendation: buy the colours you use most often as individual paints, and mix for one-off situations or custom colours. Do not try to paint an entire army from a five-paint mixing palette — you will spend more time mixing than painting.
Dropper Bottles vs. Pots — Does It Matter?
Yes, it matters more than most beginners realise.
Citadel pots use a hinged lid that is notoriously difficult to seal properly. Paint dries around the rim, preventing the lid from closing fully, which leads to the paint inside drying out over time. Many hobbyists lose significant amounts of paint to dried-out pots. The flip-top design also makes it easy to knock the pot over, spilling paint everywhere.
Dropper bottles (used by Vallejo, Army Painter, and most other brands) dispense paint one drop at a time, which reduces waste and makes it easy to control exactly how much paint you use. The screw-cap seal is much more reliable than Citadel’s hinged lid, and dropper bottles are virtually impossible to knock over and spill.
If you buy Citadel paints, consider transferring them to empty dropper bottles (available cheaply online). This protects your investment and makes the paints much easier to use. If the dropper bottle advantage is important to you, choose Vallejo or Army Painter from the start.
What Else Do You Need Besides Paint?
A paint set alone is not enough to start painting. You will also need the following essentials.
Primer/spray: Miniatures need to be primed before painting. A can of Citadel spray primer (Chaos Black, Wraithbone, or Grey Seer) is the easy option; a hardware-store spray primer (like Rust-Oleum) works at a fraction of the cost. See our best primer guide.
Brushes: At minimum, you need three brushes — a large one for basecoating, a medium one for layering, and a fine one for details. A basic brush set is inexpensive – see our best brushes guide. Do not spend a lot on brushes at the beginning; cheap brushes wear out quickly, and you will learn brush care habits with inexpensive brushes before investing in quality ones.
A palette: Something to put your paint on before applying it to the model. A wet palette (cheap to buy, or DIY with a plastic container, paper towel, and baking paper) keeps your paint wet and workable for much longer than a dry palette.
Water pot: Any cup or jar for rinsing your brush between colours.
Paper towel: For wiping excess paint and water from your brush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth buying expensive paints as a beginner?
Not really. The difference between budget and premium paints is less important than your technique. A skilled painter can produce excellent results with cheap paints, while an inexperienced painter will not get better results by spending more on premium paints. Start with whatever fits your budget, and upgrade to higher-quality paints as your skills improve and you learn what qualities you value in a paint.
Can I use non-miniature paints (craft paints, artist acrylics)?
Yes, with caveats. Craft paints (like Apple Barrel or FolkArt) are much cheaper than miniature paints but have lower pigment density and coarser pigment particles, which can result in thicker, chalkier coverage. Artist-grade acrylics (like Golden or Liquitex) are high quality but formulated for canvas rather than miniatures, so they may need thinning. Miniature paints are specifically formulated for small-scale work, and the convenience of using purpose-made products is worth the extra cost for most hobbyists.
How many paints do I need for a full army?
Most army colour schemes require 10-20 paints for the full range from basecoat to highlight, including washes, metallics, and basing colours. A horde army with a simple scheme (like Necrons) might need as few as 8-10 paints. A diverse army with many different unit types (like Astra Militarum with tanks, infantry, and characters) might need 25-30.
Do paint sets ever go on sale?
Games Workshop rarely discounts Citadel products. Army Painter and Vallejo sets are more frequently discounted by third-party retailers, especially during Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, and holiday sales. Independent game stores sometimes offer bundle deals that are not available from the manufacturer directly. It is worth shopping around.
What is the single best first purchase if I can only buy one thing?
A pot of Agrax Earthshade. It is the single most useful paint in miniature painting — it works as a wash on almost any colour, adding instant depth and definition. It is sometimes called “liquid skill” because of how dramatically it improves any paint job. Whatever else you buy, make sure Agrax Earthshade is in the basket.
Can you mix Citadel, Army Painter and Vallejo paints?
Yes. They’re all water-based acrylics, so you can mix them on the palette and layer one brand over another without problems. Many painters use a mix of brands, picking the best colour or price from each. The only catch is that colour names don’t match, so follow a guide’s recipe with an equivalent chart.
How long do miniature paints last?
Several years if they’re sealed properly. Dropper bottles keep paint fresh for longest because air barely gets in, while flip-top pots can dry out if paint builds up around the rim. Shake bottles before use, close lids firmly, and add a drop of water to a paint that has started to thicken.
Are Speedpaints the same as Contrast paints?
They’re competing versions of the same idea. Army Painter Speedpaint and Citadel Contrast are both one-coat paints that shade and colour at once when brushed over a light primer. Results and colour ranges differ slightly, but both work the same way and can be used side by side on the same army.
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