4 Best Mini Watercolor Kits: What's Included & Price Compared

Top 4 Mini Watercolor Kits

1. Tobio's Watercolor Kit

Tobio’s Watercolor Kit comes with a walnut wood palette, 12 colors, a water brush, a cotton paper sketchbook, a wristband, and a metal clip. 

Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the most thoughtfully assembled beginner-friendly travel kit available. It was designed on the philosophy that watercolor should feel calming and accessible, and every component reflects that. Rather than throwing together generic supplies, Tobio's has curated a complete experience that removes the guesswork entirely so you can focus on the act of painting itself.

What the Tobio's Watercolor Kit Includes

• Pocket-size wooden watercolor palette

• Cotton paper sketchbook 

• Premium guided workbook containing 30 pre-sketched illustrations (an optional add-on)

• A travel water brush that you can fill with water, allowing you to paint anywhere with zero spills or mess

• 12 watercolor tubes that can be squeezed into the palette wells and left to dry for easy reuse

• An absorbent wristband that catches drips and keeps your workspace clean while you paint

• A metal clip to hold your paper steady on the palette or sketchbook so pages stay in place while you work

• A compact carrying case to keep the entire kit organized 

How Much Does the Tobio's Watercolor Kit Cost?

Tobio's Watercolor Kit currently costs $36.00. For what you get (palette, water brush, 12 paint tubes, cotton paper sketchbook, and a carrying case), the per-item cost works out well below buying each supply separately.

Users appreciate its compact design and inclusions, often calling the kit fabulous and brilliantly worth it. 

Users who like painting on the go find the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit extremely handy 

2. Kuretake Gansai Tambi

Kuretake's Gansai Tambi occupies an interesting position in the watercolor market. It's technically a Japanese watercolor product, which gives it slightly different characteristics from Western watercolors. 

It produces a bold finish when used with minimal water, but can also deliver soft washes when diluted. The pans are larger than standard half-pans, which makes it easy to load a brush with plenty of pigment.

What the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Includes

• Available in sets of 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 colors

• Large pans with vibrant and saturated pigments

• Blank color chart on the inside of the lid for swatching, plus a protective plastic sheet that doubles as a mixing surface

• Fabric-covered cardboard box with a green washi overlay

How Much Does the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Cost?

The 48-color Kuretake Gansai Tambi set lists for $80.00 on Amazon. Smaller sets (12, 18, and 24 colors) are available at lower price points.

Reviewers note the creamy, generously sized pans, but a few users find the colors muted rather than bright.

Some users find the set’s colors not so saturated and vibrant. 

3. Meeden Watercolor Paint Set

The Meeden Watercolor Tube Set 24 is a tube-based option with good value. It delivers a capable set at a favorable price point, especially for beginners who aren't ready to invest in professional-grade supplies yet.

What the Meeden Watercolor Paint Set Includes

• 24 tubes of watercolor paint at 12ml each

• Wide color range including earth tones, cool and warm primaries, and specialty shades

• Vivid pigmentation that holds up well when diluted

• Compact storage box that keeps tubes organized

• Compatible with most standard watercolor palettes for squeezing out and drying into pans

How Much Does the Meeden Watercolor Paint Set Cost?

The Meeden Watercolor Paint Set (24 tubes at 12 ml each) costs $15.95 on the Meeden Art website. Each tube holds enough paint to squeeze into a palette and dry into reusable pans, so the overall supply goes further than the price tag suggests.

Reviewers call the pigments intense and easy to mix for the price, while some users mention the absence of other painting materials as a minor drawback.  

Some users find it easy and helpful to use. 

4. Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Kit

The Sakura Koi Water Color Field Sketch Kit is a recognized travel watercolor set in the sketching and urban art community. It has been a common pick for plein air painters and travel sketchers for years, offering quality, portability, and smart design.

What the Koi Water Color Field Sketch Kit Includes

• Available in 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48 color configurations

• Integrated water brush with refillable reservoir built into the case

• Detachable, pegged blending palette 

• Lightweight snap-shut case

• Student-grade pans with strong color saturation for the category

How Much Does the Koi Water Color Field Sketch Kit Cost?

The Koi Water Color Field Sketch Kit is available through major U.S. art supply retailers, with the 24-color set listed for $34.50 at JetPens and the 12- and 18-color versions priced lower.

Reviewers like the pigment quality and pocket-sized case, though the water brush unscrews backward, which may surprise a new user.

Users find the watercolors good, but some have issues with the water brush. 

The Best Mini Watercolor Kits to Choose From: Comparison Table

Why Tobio's Watercolor Kit Is the Best Pick

Tobio’s Watercolor Kit has all that you need to get started with watercolor painting. 

Every kit here delivers solid pigment quality and portability at a fair price. The right choice depends on your priorities: color count, tube vs. pan format, or a complete ready-to-paint setup. For beginners who want zero guesswork, a kit that pairs guided instruction with the paints pulls ahead.

We designed our Watercolor Kit so beginners never have to research supplies or guess what to buy. The pocket palette, 12 watercolor tubes, cotton paper sketchbook, and water brush arrive in a carrying box, ready to paint as soon as you open it. Grab a Tobio's Watercolor Kit and start painting today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best starter kit for watercolor?

The best starter kit for watercolor includes everything you need in a single purchase: paint, paper, and a brush at minimum. Tobio's Watercolor Kit is the top recommendation for beginners because it includes a quality pocket palette, a premium watercolor notebook, a travel water brush, 12 watercolor tubes, and a compact carrying case.

How many colors should a watercolor kit have?

For beginners, 12 colors is the sweet spot. It gives you enough range to mix a wide variety of colors without overwhelming you with too many options. 

Experienced painters often work with as few as 6 carefully chosen colors, relying on mixing knowledge to expand their range. More colors don't automatically mean better paintings, because strong color theory and controlled mixing will always outperform a large palette used without intention.

What is the biggest mistake beginners make in watercolor?

Using too little water is the most common mistake new watercolor painters make. Watercolor is a water-based medium by definition, and the magic happens when pigment flows and blooms across wet paper. Beginners often paint too dry, producing streaky, overworked results that fight the paint's natural behavior.

How can you watercolor while traveling?

To paint while traveling, cut your setup down to absolute necessities. A compact pan palette or color sheet set, a single water brush, a small watercolor notebook, and a carrying case is all you need. 

Avoid anything that requires a water cup, multiple loose brushes, or separate tube paint. These setups work well in a studio but create real friction when you are painting on a train, at a café, or on a hiking trail.

Can you use the Tobio's Watercolor Kit while traveling?

Yes, Tobio's Watercolor Kit was designed specifically for portability. The compact carrying case keeps everything organized and protected; the pocket-size palette fits easily in a bag or jacket pocket, and the travel water brush eliminates the need for any additional supplies. The entire kit packs in seconds and works anywhere without setup.

*Disclaimer: Tobio's Kits watercolor supplies are designed for ages 6 and above. As with all art materials, paints are not food-safe and should be kept away from the mouth. Best suited for beginner to intermediate painters. Visit Tobio's Kits to explore our full range of art kits and find the right set for you.