The best paint racks are tiered wooden organisers sized for your paint range – 33mm-plus slots for Citadel pots, 26mm holes for Vallejo and Army Painter dropper bottles – or wall-mounted racks if desk space is tight. A well-organized paint station saves time and protects your investment — a full paint collection can easily represent a serious investment that deserves proper storage.
If you have ever spent five minutes hunting for a specific colour in a pile of scattered pots, or discovered that a paint has dried out because the lid was not closed properly, you know why paint storage matters. The right rack puts every colour at your fingertips, keeps lids secure, and displays your collection so you can see exactly what you have — and what you need. This guide covers the best paint racks for every budget, paint brand, and workspace configuration.
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 | Capacity / type | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Plydolex 105-Bottle Paint Rack (dropper bottles) Best Overall | 105 dropper bottles + brushes, drawers | $53.95 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Plydolex Citadel Paint Organizer (87 pots) Best for Citadel Pots | 87 Citadel/Tamiya pots + brushes | $62.95 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | The Army Painter Paint Station Best for Beginners | 50 x 18ml bottles + brushes | $30.23 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | PROSCALE Wall Paint Rack (26mm) Best Budget | Wall rack, 26mm dropper holes | $18.97 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | LITKO 108-Hole Paint Rack Best Wall-Mounted | 108 x 26mm, wall or desk | $69.99 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Vallejo Corner Paint Storage Rack Best Corner Rack | 28 x 17/18ml + 16 large bottles | $21.38 as of Nov 13, 2026 6:10 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 Paint Racks for Miniatures (2026)
1. Plydolex 105-Bottle Paint Rack (dropper bottles) – 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.
Plydolex’s big plywood station is a complete paint desk organiser rather than just a rack. Six tiered rows hold 105 dropper bottles, and you also get brush storage, two drawers for tools and a top shelf for anything that doesn’t fit the holes.
Best for: Painters with a growing collection of Vallejo, Army Painter or AK dropper bottles.
| Capacity | 105 holes (1 inch) for 17ml dropper bottles |
|---|---|
| Brushes | 14 brush holes plus a brush tray |
| Extras | 2 drawers, top shelf for odd-sized bottles, 6 miniature stands |
| Material | Plywood |
| Assembly | No glue – wooden clamps |
Why we like it
- Tiered rows keep every label visible
- Room to grow – 105 bottles covers most collections for years
- Drawers and brush slots clear the rest of the clutter off your desk
- Plywood rather than pressed board, which Plydolex says lasts longer
- Huge capacity in one unit
- Brushes, tools and paints all in one place
- Glue-free assembly
- 1-inch holes suit dropper bottles, not Citadel pots
- Large footprint on a small desk
2. Plydolex Citadel Paint Organizer (87 pots) – Best for Citadel Pots
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.
Citadel pots are wider than dropper bottles, so they need a rack built for them. This Plydolex organiser has 87 wide slots sized for Citadel and Tamiya, in tiered rows so you can read every lid at a glance.
Best for: Citadel and Tamiya pot users.
| Capacity | 87 slots (1.4 inch) for 10–24ml pots such as Citadel and Tamiya |
|---|---|
| Brushes | 14 brush holes |
| Extras | Top shelf for other supplies, 6 miniature stands |
| Material | Plywood |
| Assembly | No glue – wooden clamps |
Why we like it
- Slots sized for Citadel’s wide pots, not squeezed-in droppers
- Tiered layout shows every colour without moving pots around
- Brush holes and stands keep your work in progress tidy
- Same sturdy plywood build as Plydolex’s dropper racks
- Purpose-built for Citadel pots
- Good capacity for a full Citadel range build-up
- No glue needed to assemble
- Too loose for slim dropper bottles
- Takes up a fair amount of desk space
3. The Army Painter Paint Station – Best for Beginners
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.
If you started with an Army Painter set, their own Paint Station is the simplest home for it. It holds 50 of their 18ml bottles upright in individual slots, with space for brushes, and fits neatly on a small desk.
Best for: Starter collections of Army Painter dropper bottles.
| Capacity | 50 x 18ml dropper bottles |
|---|---|
| Designed for | Warpaints Fanatic, Speedpaint, Warpaints Air |
| Brushes | Brush storage included |
| Type | Tabletop |
Why we like it
- Made by Army Painter for its own bottles, so the fit is right
- 50 slots is plenty for a starter set plus your first add-ons
- Keeps bottles upright, which helps stop dropper tips clogging
- Compact tabletop design
- Official fit for Army Painter bottles
- Affordable
- Includes brush storage
- Not for Citadel pots
- 50 bottles fills up quickly as a collection grows
4. PROSCALE Wall Paint Rack (26mm) – 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.
PROSCALE’s wall rack is the cheapest way on this list to clear paints off your desk. Holes are sized at 26mm for standard dropper bottles, and the top section holds brushes, knives and tweezers. There is also a 33mm version for Citadel pots.
Best for: Getting paints off the desk for very little money.
| Hole size | 26mm – fits Vallejo, Army Painter, AK droppers |
|---|---|
| Mount | Wall (vertical) |
| Extras | Top section for brushes and tools |
| Size | 7 × 38 × 28 cm |
| Assembly | Kit – wood glue recommended |
Why we like it
- Wall-mounted, so it frees up desk space entirely
- Labels face you at eye level for quick colour picking
- Brush and tool holder keeps sharp tools off the desk
- Separate 33mm-hole version available for Citadel pots
- Very low cost
- Space-saving
- Matching Citadel version
- You glue the kit together yourself
- Smaller capacity than the big desk organisers
5. LITKO 108-Hole Paint Rack – Best Wall-Mounted
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.
LITKO’s rack holds 108 dropper bottles in a panel only four inches deep, so it hangs on the wall without sticking out. A built-in handle lets you lift the whole loaded rack to your desk when you need it.
Best for: A large dropper collection on the wall.
| Capacity | 108 holes, 26mm diameter (18ml droppers) |
|---|---|
| Size | 24 × 12 × 4 inches |
| Material | Acrylic and MDF |
| Mount | Keyhole slots for wall mounting (hardware not included) or tabletop |
| Assembly | Tab-and-slot, no glue or tools |
Why we like it
- Fits Vallejo, Army Painter, AK, Green Stuff World, AMMO and other 26mm bottles
- Store bottles upright or upside-down to keep heavy pigments settled
- Only 4 inches deep – barely intrudes on a small room
- LITKO designs and makes its products in the USA
- Big capacity in a slim panel
- Wall or desk use
- No glue needed
- Dropper bottles only
- Wall screws not included
6. Vallejo Corner Paint Storage Rack – Best Corner Rack
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.
Most painting desks live in a corner, and Vallejo’s corner module turns that dead space into storage. It takes standard dropper bottles plus larger 35–60ml bottles (handy for primers and varnish) and 26 brushes.
Best for: Hobby desks tucked into a corner.
| Capacity | 28 × 17/18ml bottles, 16 × 35/60ml bottles, 1 × 200ml bottle |
|---|---|
| Brushes | 26 brush slots |
| Size | 10.6 × 10.6 × 4.3 inches |
| Assembly | No glue |
Why we like it
- Uses the corner of the desk that is usually wasted
- Mixed slot sizes for droppers, primers and a 200ml bottle
- From Vallejo, so it is made for Vallejo’s bottles
- Small enough to sit beside a bigger rack
- Space-efficient corner design
- Holds large bottles too
- Inexpensive
- Lower capacity than full-size organisers
- Not designed for Citadel pots
Why Does Paint Storage Matter?
Paint storage is not just about tidiness — it directly affects your painting productivity and the longevity of your paints. A disorganised pile of pots wastes time as you search for colours, increases the risk of spills, and makes it harder to plan colour schemes because you cannot see your full range at a glance.
Proper storage also extends paint life. Paints stored upright with lids properly closed last much longer than paints tossed in a box at random angles. Dropper bottles, in particular, benefit from upright storage because it keeps paint away from the nozzle, preventing clogs. Citadel pots — notorious for drying out — last significantly longer when stored upright in a rack where the lid closure is not stressed by weight from other pots stacked on top.
Beyond the practical benefits, a well-organised paint station makes the hobby more enjoyable. Sitting down to a clean, organised workspace with every colour visible and accessible puts you in the right mindset for painting. It removes friction from the creative process and lets you focus on what matters — putting brush to miniature.
How to Choose a Paint Rack
The most important consideration is compatibility with your paint range. Citadel pots, Vallejo dropper bottles, Army Painter dropper bottles, and Scale75 bottles all have different dimensions. A rack designed for Citadel pots will not hold Vallejo droppers securely, and vice versa. Check the slot dimensions before buying, especially if you use a mix of brands.
Capacity matters more than you think. Most painters underestimate how quickly their collection grows. If you currently have 40 paints, buy a rack that holds 60-80. You will fill it faster than you expect, and buying a second rack later often means a less elegant setup than planning ahead. Modular systems that can be expanded are ideal for growing collections.
Visibility is crucial. Tiered racks that angle each row so you can see the labels of paints behind the front row are far more useful than flat shelves where rear paints are hidden. The whole point of a rack is to see your colours at a glance — if you have to move paints to find the one you want, the rack is not doing its job.
Material and durability also matter. MDF (medium-density fibreboard) racks from hobby manufacturers are the most common. They are sturdy, reasonably priced, and look good on a desk. Acrylic racks are lighter and more modern-looking but can crack if dropped. 3D-printed racks are increasingly popular and can be customised to exact specifications, but print quality varies.
Footprint — how much desk space the rack occupies — is often overlooked. A paint rack that takes up half your desk is counterproductive. Measure your available space before buying, and consider wall-mounted options if desk space is limited. Corner racks are space-efficient solutions that make use of otherwise dead space.
Know your bottle sizes. Standard 17–18ml dropper bottles (Vallejo, Army Painter, AK, Green Stuff World) are about 26mm across, which is why most dropper racks use 26mm holes. Citadel pots are wider – racks built for them typically use holes of 33mm or more. If you mix brands, a combined station or separate racks for pots and droppers works best.
Other brands. HobbyZone’s modular MDF paint stations are excellent and popular in Europe, and Corner Bloc-style corner racks make good use of space – both are usually bought direct or from hobby shops rather than Amazon.
Budget and DIY Paint Storage
DIY options are popular among budget-conscious painters. A simple tiered rack can be built from MDF strips or even foamboard. The key measurement is the Citadel pot diameter — allow around 33mm per hole. Slots or holes cut to this size, arranged in tiered rows with 25-30mm height difference between tiers, create a functional rack at minimal cost. Many free plans are available online.
Wall-mounted spice racks are a popular budget hack for dropper bottles. Standard spice racks from IKEA or similar retailers have shelves that are the right depth for dropper bottles, and mounting them on the wall above your desk creates a cheap, effective paint display. Add a strip of adhesive magnetic tape to the shelf and glue small magnets to the bottle caps for a secure hold that prevents bottles from toppling.
What About Wall-Mounted vs. Desk Paint Racks?
Desk racks are the default choice and work well if you have sufficient desk space. They put paints within arm’s reach and do not require drilling into walls. The downside is the desk footprint — a large collection can consume significant workspace, especially if you also need space for tools, a wet palette, a cutting mat, and the models you are working on.
Wall-mounted racks free up your entire desk surface by moving paint storage to the wall above your workspace. This is ideal for small hobby areas where every square inch of desk space matters. The paints are visible at eye level, making colour selection quick and intuitive. The trade-off is that you need to reach up to grab paints, which can slow your workflow slightly compared to a desk rack within arm’s reach.
A hybrid approach works well for larger collections: keep your most-used paints (base colours, washes, and metallics) in a small desk rack within arm’s reach, and store your full collection on a wall rack. This gives you quick access to everyday colours while keeping the rest visible and organised without sacrificing desk space.
How Should You Organise Paints on a Rack?
There are several common organisation systems, and the best one depends on how you think about colour. The key is consistency — pick a system and stick with it so you always know where to find a specific colour.
By colour family — grouping all reds together, all blues together, all greens together, etc. This is the most intuitive system for most painters because it mirrors how you think about colour choices. When you need a highlight for your red armour, you look at the red section and pick a lighter red. Arrange each colour family from dark to light for easy shade/highlight selection.
By type — base paints, layer paints, shades, contrast paints, technical paints, metallics. This system makes sense if you follow a structured painting workflow where you apply all base coats first, then all layers, then all washes. It keeps paints for each stage of your process together. Citadel’s own range is designed with this system in mind.
By project or army — grouping the specific colours you use for each army together. This is efficient if you paint one army at a time, as your entire palette is in one section of the rack. However, it becomes unwieldy if you paint multiple armies simultaneously, and it means duplicate paints if the same colour is used across multiple schemes.
Alphabetically — by paint name. This is the least intuitive system for creative work but the easiest to maintain consistently. If you know the exact name of the paint you want, you can find it instantly. The downside is that related colours (which you often use together) end up scattered across the rack.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many paint pots does the average miniature painter own?
Beginners typically start with 10-20 paints, while experienced painters often have 80-150+. If you collect Citadel’s full range, that is over 300 paints. Most painters who have been in the hobby for a few years own 50-100 paints, which is the range you should plan your storage around. Buy a rack that can handle the upper end of this range, or choose a modular system you can expand.
Are Citadel pots or dropper bottles better for storage?
Dropper bottles are generally better for storage and longevity. They seal more securely, dispense paint in controlled amounts (reducing waste), and are less prone to drying out. Many painters transfer their Citadel paints into empty dropper bottles for these reasons. However, Citadel’s shade (wash) pots are well-designed and not worth transferring, and some painters prefer pots for metallics and technical paints.
Can I 3D print a paint rack?
Yes, and many excellent designs are available for free on Thingiverse, Printables, and MyMiniFactory. 3D-printed racks can be customised to your exact paint brands, collection size, and desk dimensions. FDM printing is fine for paint racks — you do not need resin printing quality for a storage solution (save the resin printer for miniatures; see our best 3D printer for miniatures guide). The main consideration is using enough infill (20-30%) and wall thickness for structural strength.
How do I stop paints drying out on the rack?
Always close lids and caps firmly after use. Store paints upright so gravity does not push paint into the seal area. Keep paints away from direct sunlight and heat sources, which accelerate drying. For Citadel pots, ensure the lid channel is clean of dried paint — built-up paint in the channel prevents the pot from sealing properly. Adding a stainless steel mixing ball to each pot helps keep paint properly mixed and flowing.
What is the best budget paint storage solution?
A tiered spice rack from IKEA or a similar home goods store provides functional paint storage for very little money. For dropper bottles, wall-mounted spice racks or a simple wall rack like the PROSCALE (pick 4) are ideal. For Citadel pots, a desk-mounted stepped display shelf works well. If you have access to a 3D printer, printing your own rack costs only a little filament. The key is any system that keeps paints visible, upright, and within arm’s reach.
What is the best way to store Warhammer paints for travel?
A carry case with foam inserts or a tackle-style box with fixed compartments works best for travel. Upright slots stop pots tipping and lids popping open in transit. Many hobby brands sell paint cases sized for pots or dropper bottles, but a cheap tool box with cut foam does the same job. Keep a small travel set of your most-used paints rather than moving your whole collection.
Should dropper bottles be stored upright or upside down?
Either works, as long as you’re consistent and shake well before use. Upright storage keeps paint away from the nozzle, which reduces clogged tips. Storing bottles upside down keeps heavy pigment near the nozzle, so they need less shaking, and racks like the LITKO support both. An agitator ball in each bottle helps whichever way you store them.
Does Games Workshop make an official paint rack?
Games Workshop doesn’t make a full desk paint rack like the Plydolex or LITKO options. Most painters with Citadel pots use third-party racks with holes of 33mm or more. Check the slot size before buying, because a rack made for 26mm dropper bottles won’t hold Citadel pots securely.