Here’s your guide to finding the best wet palette for painting miniatures like Warhammer, RPGs, or Board Games based on features and budget.
Updated on May 20th, 2025, by Rob Baer with updated information and links for the best wet painting palettes.
Tired of your paints drying out faster than your will to finish that backlog? You’re not alone. A good wet palette is a game-changer, and if you’re painting Warhammer, RPG minis, or board game figures, you need one that stays wet and a palette for acrylic painting actually keeps up with your workflow, not one that turns into a soggy mess after a long time or seals tighter than a vault.
This guide cuts through the nonsense and gets straight to what matters: the best wet palettes based on features, durability, and budget.
Painting Miniatures & Warhammer
TLDR: Here’s a quick list of all the wet palettes for miniature painting products we have used for miniature painting and where you can get yours!
- #1: Game Envy- the Exemplar Wet Palette
- #2: The Army Painter Wet Palette XL
- #3: The Army Painter Wet Palette
- #4: Masterson
- #5: Red Grass Games
Before we get too far into which wet palette is worth your hobby dollars and maybe next your favorite hobby tool, let’s get through some questions many have when buying one.
What is a Wet Palette?
A miniature painting wet palette is a tool used by painters to keep their paint moist and workable for extended periods, normally consisting of a container with a damp sponge or paper underneath a semi-permeable membrane.
This allows artists to maintain the right paint consistency, reducing waste and making blending easier. It’s perfect for beginners or advanced painting techniques.
You can also DIY your own wet palette, and many miniature painters have done it. But the time it takes usually isn’t worth the savings.
How Does a Wet Palette Work?
A wet palette works by creating a humid environment that slows down the drying process of acrylic paints by utilizing a layer of water or a damp sponge beneath a membrane that keeps the paints hydrated. This prevents paints from drying out too quickly while you work on your miniatures. But keep in mind, there is no thing as a truly everlasting wet palette.
Five Best Wet Palettes
Whether you’re batch-painting infantry, layering highlights on a character model, or just trying to keep your paints fresh for hours between sessions, there’s an option that’ll fit your setup without draining your hobby fund.
We’ve broken down what to look for, why certain palettes are worth your money, and how to pick one that fits your painting style.
#5 Redgrass Games
Made for painters who want the Cadillac of wet palettes, this one claims to have the best hydration system on the planet packed into a seriously airtight case. It keeps your paints smooth, wet, and stable for hours—and once it’s closed, it’s locked down tighter than a Space Marine vault. Bonus: the membranes are reusable, which is a nice touch.
Now, the catch. This thing is pricey. Like, $55-for-the-big-one pricey. And the seal? It’s really good—maybe too good. It holds in so much moisture that we usually leave the lid slightly cracked if we’re planning to reuse the same paint or paper later. Otherwise, you’re coming back to a swampy mess.
One more thing: we’ve had some weird experiences with the company itself. Let’s just say the customer service isn’t as polished as the product. So while this wet palette is solid and does what it promises, it’s not quite our favorite.
Want a second opinion? Squidmar put it through its paces—check out his review below!
#4 Masterson Affordable Wet Palette For Painting Miniatures
The Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette is kind of the no-fuss, old reliable of the wet palette world. Super easy to use, and it keeps your water-based paints fresh for days—sometimes even weeks—without any weird science or gimmicks. Just a sponge, some palette paper, and boom: no more sad, crusty paint blobs halfway through a session.
For acrylics, it works like this: the paint slowly pulls moisture from the palette paper and sponge underneath while you’re working. Leave the lid off while you’re painting, and when you’re done, snap it shut. It’ll keep your paints nice and usable for quite a while. Perfect for those projects that stretch out over a few painting sessions (or weeks… no judgment).
For oil painting, it pulls double duty. Just ditch the sponge and acrylic paper, toss in your oil paper of choice (not included, sadly), and it becomes a handy little drying-time extender.
It’s not flashy, but it works—and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
The only real issue with this one is the paper they come with. It is almost unusable for standard water-based acrylic paint for miniatures. This is the easiest thing to fix, though; you can cut parchment paper to fit or buy refills from Game Envy.
The best part about this one, in our opinion, is the price. You can find them for about $15 on Amazon.
#3 Army Painter Wet Palette
This clever little tool is beginner-friendly but still pulls its weight for more experienced painters. It’s not just a paint-saver—it also helps thin your paints for smoother layers without overthinking it.
You get everything you need to hit the ground running: Two pieces of Hydro Foam and 50 Hydro Sheets come in the box, so you’re good to go right out of the gate. There’s no extra shopping list, no weird hacks, just open, load, and paint.
One of the slicker features? There’s a built-in inner tray that holds up to 6 Wargamer Brushes and 10 Hobby Brushes from The Army Painter range. It’s like a tidy little garage for your tools, so you’re not fishing for that one detail brush every five minutes.
As for price, it hits a sweet spot. The Army Painter Wet Palette is made with quality parts, built to last, and doesn’t try to bankrupt you in the process.
We initially liked this because it is easy to use, affordable, an all-in-one package, and portable.
The real question is, does it still work after years of use? We reviewed this product in 2019 and then again in 2021 to see how it held up.
Spoiler alert, it passed with flying colors. Read the full Wet Palette review here.
#2 Army Painter XL Wet Palette:
This one packs a punch with a slick, hard-plastic Paint Well Insert—yep, 30 wells just waiting to be filled with your Speedpaints and washes. No more juggling bottles or mixing on the fly.
Plus, there’s built-in storage for up to 6 Wargamer Brushes and 10 Hobby Brushes from The Army Painter range, so your gear stays organized and ready to roll.
The Wet Palette Paper Wargamers Edition is built like it means business. Top-tier materials, smart design, and all aimed at keeping your acrylics smooth, creamy, and ready for action. No chalky layers, no dried-up regrets.
And now? It’s bigger. Like, extra-large bigger. With a surface area of 276mm x 198mm (10.6” x 7.8”), this thing gives you room to stretch out and take on your most ambitious paint jobs without feeling cramped.
Coming in at #2 is this new XL Wet Palette, which priced at $44.99 is only $12 more than their original one.
#1 Game Envy Exemplar Wet Palette
The system is set up perfectly. With room for your supplies on top and a place for your phone (or inspiration), it’s super slim.
Plus, getting one is pretty affordable for how amazing a product it is! The smallest size is only $24.99, and then it goes up from there.
You can see just how slim this thing is! It would be so easy to transport and take your paint with you wherever you want. Honestly, the Spikey Bits team has been using the Game Envy Wet Palette ever since the Kickstarter came out, and they are just amazing!
They are super durable, designed perfectly, and just make painting great. Plus, now they have three different sizes too! See more in our initial review article here.
Final Thoughts: Keep Your Paint Wet
At the end of the day, a miniature paint palette isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s one of the most practical tools you can add to your hobby setup. Whether you’re working on Warhammer armies, RPG characters, or board game minis, keeping your paints smooth and usable for longer means less waste, better blends, and fewer interruptions.
From budget-friendly basics like the Masterson to feature-packed options like the Game Envy Exemplar and Army Painter XL, there’s a wet palette that fits how you paint. Some are better for travel, others shine on big projects, and a few come loaded with clever extras like brush storage and paint wells.
The best wet palette for miniature painting is always the one that fits your workflow, space, and budget!
Get Your Wet Palette for Painting Miniatures!
What is your favorite wet palette for painting Miniatures, and which of these have you used?
