The best wet palette for most miniature painters is a Redgrass Games Everlasting palette (the Painter Lite, or the bigger Studio XL), or a DIY wet palette (tupperware + sponge + baking paper) if you’re on a tight budget. The Army Painter and Masterson Sta-Wet palettes are solid alternatives. A wet palette keeps your paints workable for hours or even days, prevents waste, and makes blending and glazing dramatically easier. If you paint miniatures regularly, it’s the single most impactful tool upgrade you can make.
If you’ve been painting miniatures using a dry palette — a plastic or ceramic surface where you squeeze out paint — you’ve been working harder than you need to. Paint on a dry palette dries within minutes, forcing you to constantly remix colours and waste paint. A wet palette keeps paint usable for hours during a session and days between sessions, transforming your painting workflow.
This guide rounds up the best wet palettes, shows you how to build a DIY alternative for next to nothing, and explains how to get the most out of whichever option you choose. For related painting technique guides, see our complete wet palette guide.
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 | Size / key feature | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Redgrass Games Everlasting Wet Palette – Painter Lite Best Overall | 8.9″, seal + strap, 50 sheets, 2 foams | $29.99 as of Nov 13, 2026 3:10 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | The Army Painter Wet Palette Best for Beginners | 13.8 x 19.8cm, brush storage | $34.98 as of Nov 13, 2026 3:11 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | The Army Painter Wet Palette – Wargamers Edition Best for Batch Painting | 276 x 198mm + 30-well insert | $43.26 as of Nov 13, 2026 3:11 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette (12×16″) Largest Mixing Area | 12 x 16″, airtight lid | $27.45 as of Nov 13, 2026 3:11 PM PST | Buy on Amazon |
 | Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette (8.5×7″) Best Compact | 8.5 x 7″, airtight | $18.59 as of Nov 13, 2026 3:11 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 Wet Palettes for Miniature Painting (2026)
1. Redgrass Games Everlasting Wet Palette – Painter Lite – 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.
Redgrass Games’ Everlasting palettes are the ones you’ll see on most competition painters’ desks, and the Painter Lite is Redgrass’s most affordable version. Its paper is made specifically for miniature paints, and Redgrass says paint stays workable for days or even weeks with the lid shut.
Best for: Regular painters who want the palette pros use.
| Size | 8.9 in (Painter Lite) |
|---|---|
| Included | 50 hydration paper sheets, 2 anti-mould foam pads |
| Seal | Integrated TPE seal plus closing strap |
| Body | ABS plastic |
Why we like it
- Hydration paper made for miniature paints like Citadel, Vallejo and Scale75
- Thick foam that Redgrass says is naturally mould-resistant
- TPE seal and strap keep the palette airtight between sessions
- Comes with 50 sheets and 2 foams, so you’re set for months
- Excellent paint consistency for layering and blending
- Good seal for multi-day projects
- Widely used by pro painters
- Refill paper costs more than DIY baking parchment
- Mid-sized – batch painters may want the larger Studio XL (sold by Redgrass directly)
2. The Army Painter Wet Palette – 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.
The Army Painter’s Wet Palette is a simple, purpose-built option you can pick up alongside your first paint set. It comes with foam and 50 sheets, and the clever inner tray doubles as brush storage when you pack up.
Best for: New painters who want a ready-to-go miniature palette.
| Size | 13.8 x 19.8cm |
|---|---|
| Included | 50 Hydro Sheets, 2 reusable Hydro Foams |
| Storage | Inner tray holds up to 6 Wargamer + 10 Hobby brushes |
| Closure | Lid and strap |
Why we like it
- Designed specifically for miniature painting
- Everything you need is in the box
- Brush storage keeps your kit together
- Refills (the Hydro Pack) are easy to find
- Easy to set up
- Compact for small desks
- Handy brush storage
- Smaller mixing area than the Wargamers Edition or Masterson Premier
- Proprietary refill size
3. The Army Painter Wet Palette – Wargamers Edition – Best for Batch Painting
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.
The Wargamers Edition is The Army Painter’s extra-large palette, and it’s built for painting whole armies. As well as a big wet surface, it has a 30-well insert for thin paints like Speedpaints and washes that don’t sit well on wet paper.
Best for: Army painters who use Speedpaints, washes and lots of colours.
| Size | 276 x 198mm (10.6 x 7.8 in) |
|---|---|
| Insert | Hard-plastic Paint Well Insert with 30 wells |
| Storage | Up to 16 brushes |
| Included | 50 Hydro Sheets, 2 Hydro Foams |
| Closure | Hard lid and safety strap, airtight storage |
Why we like it
- Large surface for many colours and mixes at once
- 30 dry wells for Speedpaint, Contrast-style paints and washes
- Stores up to 16 brushes
- Airtight lid and strap for multi-day projects
- Wet and dry palette in one
- Plenty of space for batch painting
- Great all-in-one storage
- Bulkier than the standard palette
- Overkill if you paint one model at a time
4. Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette (12×16″) – Largest Mixing Area
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.
Masterson’s Sta-Wet has been used by traditional artists for decades. It wasn’t designed for miniatures, but its huge 12 x 16 inch surface gives you more mixing space than any other palette here, and Masterson says paint stays workable for days or even weeks with the lid closed.
Best for: Painters with big desks who mix a lot of custom colours.
| Size | 12 x 16 in surface |
|---|---|
| Included | Sponge and 5 sheets of Sta-Wet palette paper |
| Lid | Airtight |
| Also for | Oils, with Masterson’s oil palette paper |
Why we like it
- Biggest working area in this list
- Airtight lid for long breaks between sessions
- Refill paper and sponges are widely sold in art shops
- Same box can be used for oils with Masterson’s oil paper
- Masses of space for blending and custom mixes
- Proven art-supply design
- Easy-to-find refills
- Takes up a lot of desk space
- Only 5 sheets of paper included
- Sponge needs drying out between long breaks to avoid mould
5. Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette (8.5×7″) – Best Compact
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.
The Sta-Wet Handy is Masterson’s small palette, and it’s a neat fit for a cramped desk or a club bag. It works the same way as the Premier – sponge under palette paper, airtight lid – just in a footprint that won’t crowd your paints.
Best for: Small desks, travel and occasional painters.
| Size | 8.5 x 7 x 1 in |
|---|---|
| System | Sponge plus palette paper |
| Lid | Airtight |
| Made in | USA (per listing) |
Why we like it
- Compact enough to carry to a club or event
- Airtight lid for keeping mixes between sessions
- Simple sponge-and-paper system
- A low-risk way to try a wet palette
- Small footprint
- Travel-friendly
- Easy to refill
- Limited mixing space for bigger projects
- Not tuned for miniature paints the way Redgrass paper is
What Is a Wet Palette and How Does It Work?
A wet palette is a painting surface that keeps acrylic paint wet through a simple mechanism:
- A sponge or absorbent pad sits in a shallow container, soaked with water
- A sheet of semi-permeable paper sits on top of the sponge
- You place your paint on top of the paper
- Water slowly wicks up through the paper via capillary action, keeping the paint hydrated from below
- When you close the lid, humidity inside the container prevents the paint from drying
The result: paint that stays workable for hours during a session, and paints that are still usable days later when you reopen the palette. This eliminates the constant remixing, colour-matching, and paint waste that plagues dry palette users.
How to Choose a Wet Palette
Paper matters most. The paper controls how fast water reaches your paint. Miniature-specific papers (Redgrass, Army Painter) are tuned for thin hobby paints; art-store papers like Masterson’s are thicker and slightly less permeable, which some painters prefer.
Pick a size for your desk. A small palette is fine for one model at a time; batch painters and colour-mixers benefit from the Wargamers Edition or Masterson Premier.
Look for a good seal. A strap or airtight lid is what keeps paint usable between sessions.
Check refill costs. Branded paper and foam are an ongoing cost. Many painters use a branded palette with cheaper refills, or buy branded paper for a DIY box.
Redgrass Studio XL. Redgrass’s larger Studio XL palette is a favourite of serious painters, but it wasn’t listed with an offer on Amazon US when we checked – buy it from Redgrass directly if you want the bigger size.
New to wet palettes? Our complete wet palette guide walks through setup and technique, and how to thin paints covers consistency.
How to Make a DIY Wet Palette
A DIY wet palette works on exactly the same principle as commercial options. Here’s how to build one in five minutes:
Materials
- A shallow container with a lid (tupperware, takeaway container, or a shallow food storage box) — any size works
- A sponge (kitchen sponge, makeup sponge, or paper towels folded to 1cm thickness)
- Baking parchment (greaseproof paper) — NOT wax paper, which is too waterproof
Assembly
- Cut the sponge to fit flat inside the container.
- Soak the sponge with water until fully saturated. Pour off excess — the sponge should be wet but not swimming.
- Cut a piece of baking parchment to fit on top of the sponge.
- Place the parchment on the wet sponge and press gently to ensure contact. The paper should darken slightly as it absorbs moisture.
- Place your paint on the parchment surface. Close the lid between sessions.
DIY Paper Options
Baking parchment is the classic DIY option, but its permeability varies by brand. Some brands are too waterproof (paint dries); others are too permeable (paint becomes soupy). Test your parchment before committing — put a drop of water on it and see how quickly it wicks through. You want slow but visible wicking over 30-60 seconds.
Alternatives to baking parchment:
- Tracing paper — More permeable than parchment, better for thick paints that need more hydration
- Palette paper refills — Buy Masterson or Redgrass refill paper and use it in your DIY container. Best of both worlds: premium paper at DIY container prices
- Printer paper (in a pinch) — Regular paper works temporarily but deteriorates quickly, becoming pulpy within an hour
How Long Does Paint Stay Wet on a Wet Palette?
Paint longevity depends on the palette quality, humidity, and paint type:
During a Painting Session (Lid Open)
- Commercial wet palette: 2-4 hours before paint starts to thicken at the edges
- DIY wet palette: 1-3 hours depending on parchment quality
- Dry palette (comparison): 5-15 minutes before paint becomes unusable
Between Sessions (Lid Closed)
- Commercial palettes with a sealed lid: several days is typical. Redgrass and Masterson both say paint can stay workable for days or even weeks with the lid closed.
- DIY (tupperware lid): 1-2 days, depending on how airtight the container is
Tips for Maximum Paint Longevity
- Add a damp paper towel inside the lid for extra humidity
- Don’t use too little water in the sponge — a dry sponge defeats the purpose
- Keep the palette out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources
- Re-wet the sponge every 2-3 hours during long sessions
How to Maintain Your Wet Palette
Paper Replacement
Replace the paper when it becomes stained, wrinkled, or develops colour bleed between paint spots. For most painters, this is every 1-3 sessions (roughly weekly). Don’t try to reuse paper indefinitely — old paper loses its permeability and can contaminate fresh colours with dried residue.
Sponge Care
Rinse the sponge with clean water every time you change the paper. If you won’t use the palette for more than a week, remove the sponge and let it dry completely to prevent mould. Mould growth is the most common wet palette problem — a sponge left damp in a sealed container for weeks will grow mould. If mould appears, discard the sponge and replace it.
Preventing Mould
- Add a tiny drop of white vinegar or mouthwash to the sponge water — this inhibits mould growth without affecting paint
- Let the sponge dry between extended breaks (more than 5 days)
- Replace the sponge every 2-3 months regardless of appearance
- Clean the container with soapy water monthly
Travel Wet Palettes
If you paint at a club, store, or gaming events, a compact wet palette is invaluable:
Compact Options
The Masterson Sta-Wet Handy (8.5 x 7 inches) and The Army Painter’s standard Wet Palette (13.8 x 19.8cm, with a strap to keep the lid shut) both fit easily in a bag. Redgrass’s Painter Lite is also a manageable size for travel, and its strap and seal keep paint from leaking.
DIY Travel Option
Use a small, shallow tupperware container (the kind used for sandwiches) with a sponge and parchment. Cheap, no great loss if it goes missing, and it works perfectly.
Wet Palette Techniques for Better Painting
Thin Paints More Consistently
The wet palette naturally thins your paint slightly over time. Use this to your advantage — place paint on the palette 5-10 minutes before you need it, and it will reach an ideal thin consistency for smooth, even coats without manually thinning with water.
Mix Custom Colours
Wet palettes are ideal for mixing custom colours because the paint stays wet long enough to test, adjust, and apply without rushing. Mix a colour, test it on the model, adjust if needed — the original mix is still workable on the palette.
Create Gradients
Place two colours next to each other on the wet palette and blend between them with a brush to create a smooth gradient of intermediate colours. The long working time means you can paint an entire gradient across a model using a single palette setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wet palette worth it for beginners?
Absolutely. Beginners benefit the most from a wet palette because it solves the most common beginner problem: paint drying too quickly, leading to thick application. A wet palette naturally keeps paint at a workable consistency. Start with a DIY version to test the concept, then upgrade to a Redgrass, Army Painter or Masterson palette if you enjoy it.
Can I use Citadel paints on a wet palette?
Yes, all acrylic miniature paints (Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, Scale75, ProAcryl) work on a wet palette. Citadel paints in particular benefit because their pot design causes them to dry out quickly — the wet palette solves this. Note that Citadel Contrast paints and washes are already very thin and may become too watery on a wet palette. Use these directly from the pot or on a dry palette.
Why does my paint get too watery on the wet palette?
Three possible causes: too much water in the sponge (pour some out), paper that’s too permeable (try a different brand of parchment), or paint sitting too long (after several hours, paint absorbs too much water). If your paint is consistently too thin, switch to a less permeable paper or reduce sponge hydration.
Can I use a wet palette for oil paints?
Not as a wet palette. The hydration system is designed for water-based acrylics; oil paints aren’t water-soluble and stay workable for a long time on any surface anyway. Masterson does say its Sta-Wet Premier box works for oils if you swap in its oil palette paper, but at that point it’s simply a sealed palette rather than a wet one.
How much should I spend on a wet palette?
If you paint weekly or more, a purpose-made miniature palette like the Redgrass Painter Lite or The Army Painter Wet Palette is worth it – the paper and seal make a genuine difference. If you paint monthly or less, a Masterson Sta-Wet Handy or a DIY version is perfectly adequate. Beyond the mid-range, you’re mostly paying for size and extras like brush storage rather than better hydration.
Do professional miniature painters use wet palettes?
Almost universally, yes. The vast majority of competition painters, commission painters, and GW studio painters use wet palettes. The ability to maintain consistent paint consistency, keep custom colours workable, and reduce waste makes it an essential tool for anyone painting more than casually. Redgrass says its palette is the most popular among pro painters and is used by several Golden Demon winners.
What is the difference between a wet palette and a dry palette?
A wet palette keeps paint moist from below with a damp sponge and semi-permeable paper, so paint stays workable for hours. A dry palette is a plain plastic or ceramic surface where paint dries in roughly 5–15 minutes. Dry palettes still suit washes, Contrast paints and metallics, so many painters keep one next to their wet palette.
Should I use tap water or distilled water in a wet palette?
Tap water is fine for most painters. Distilled or boiled-and-cooled water can slow mould growth and avoids mineral deposits in hard-water areas, but it isn’t essential. Changing the water and rinsing the sponge whenever you replace the paper matters far more than what kind of water you use.
Can I put metallic paints on a wet palette?
Yes, but metallics can leave flakes of pigment that end up in the colours next to them, and some painters find they separate on wet paper. Plenty of people put metallics on a separate dry palette or a dry corner of the wet palette to keep their other mixes clean. If you do use the wet palette, change the paper afterwards.
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