Best Watercolors for Kids: 8 Sets Tested and Ranked
The best watercolors for kids give bright color with barely any water and clean up without a fight. We put washable pans, liquid bottles, and bigger palettes through real painting sessions at our own kitchen table, with our two kids doing most of the brushwork. Below are our eight favorite sets, ranked. If your kids are new to painting, our guide on how to use watercolors with kids pairs well with any set here.
NoteEvery set here was painted with at our kitchen table, mostly by a five-year-old and an eight-year-old with very different patience levels. We judged color payoff, mixing, durability, and how honest the word "washable" turned out to be.
How We Chose These Watercolor Sets
We scored every set on the things that decide whether kids keep painting. Color payoff came first, because bright pans matter most for the youngest painters. Sets that go vivid with barely any water hold a child's attention; pale, scrubby pans get abandoned fast.
We also weighed mixing behavior, the included brush, and durability. Pans that snap out individually earned extra points, since a dug-out black or blue can be replaced without buying a whole new set. We also checked safety labels and tested cleanup on skin and clothes.
Quick scope note: this list covers paints only. For paints bundled with paper and brushes, see our roundup of the best watercolor kits for kids.
1. Crayola Washable Watercolors (16 Colors) — Best Overall for Most Kids
The Crayola Washable Watercolors set is our best overall because it nails what families need most: honest washability at a low price. You get 16 semi-moist oval pans, an included brush, and a hinged plastic case, usually for under $7.
The washability is the real story. These genuinely wash out of clothing and off preschooler skin, the single feature parents mention most, and it matched what we saw at our table. The tradeoff is that the colors never get truly dark, so keep pigment expectations modest. Retailers print different minimum ages on this set, so think of it as a preschool-and-up pick.
Pros
- Washes out of clothes and off skin, for real
- 16 colors and a brush for under $7
- Individual pans snap out for cheap replacement
Cons
- Colors never get truly dark
- Included brush is basic
2. Prang Semi-Moist Watercolor Set — Best Pigment for the Price
The Prang Oval Pan Watercolor Set is the classroom staple for a reason. Its 16 semi-moist pans mix smoothly, the hinged mixing lid is sturdy, and the wax-free paint gives richer color than most student sets.
Teachers keep choosing Prang because the pans last longer than other brands and stay moist instead of cracking dry. One honest color note: the reds lean maroon and red-orange rather than true red. The oval pans snap out, and Prang sells single-color refill pans so a dug-out favorite is cheap to replace. It carries the AP certified non-toxic seal, though this line isn't marketed as washable, so add a smock for the littlest painters.
Pros
- Richest color of the classic school pans
- Pans stay moist and last for years
- Snap-in single-color refills available
Cons
- Reds lean maroon rather than true red
- Included brush is forgettable
- Not a washable formula
3. Ooly Chroma Blends — Best for Older Kids and Tweens
The Ooly Chroma Blends Travel Watercolor Palette packs 24 colors into a compact case with built-in mixing wells, and Ooly recommends the line for ages 6 and up. It is the right set for a kid who has outgrown chunky school pans and paints on the go.
The paint has a slightly chalky feel and can read almost opaque, and pigment ranges from subtle to surprisingly intense. Some pans dry out over time and take effort to re-wet, so a spritz of water before painting helps. The line's variants are fun for tweens, including a pearlescent version that works on black paper. Expect around $15 to $20.
Pros
- 24 colors in a truly portable case
- Built-in mixing wells and included brush
- Fun variants like pearlescent for black paper
Cons
- Slightly chalky, near-opaque feel
- Pans can dry out and re-wet slowly
4. Faber-Castell Connector Paints — Best for Preschoolers
The Faber-Castell Connector Paint Box turns the paint set itself into a toy. Each of the 12 watercolor pans clicks together like a building block, and kids treat the connectors as play in their own right, snapping colors together around their work. Pairing pans side by side led kids to color mixes they had never tried.
The paint goes on rich and saturated with a slightly chalky, more opaque feel than traditional watercolor. There's no white pan, but the included tube of opaque white covers tinting. The 7 mm thick pans are washable and non-toxic, the mixing tray doubles as a palette, and the set runs $16.50 direct from Faber-Castell. The box prints an older age guidance, but the click-together design is exactly what makes it work for preschool hands.
Pros
- Click-together pans make color mixing a game
- Rich, saturated color with a white tinting tube
- Mixing tray doubles as a palette
Cons
- Chalkier and more opaque than classic watercolor
- Only 12 colors, no white pan
5. Colorations Liquid Watercolors — Best Liquid Option for Toddlers and Process Art
Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paint comes as a set of 8 colors in 8 oz bottles of concentrated liquid, which you dilute and use with brushes, droppers, or spray bottles. That makes it the best pick for toddlers and process art: coffee-filter art, diffusing paper, and dyeing playdough.
Two practical notes from real family use. Undiluted, it stains toddler skin and takes a while to wash off, so dilute it well and dress kids in smocks. And it lasts: those 8 oz bottles carry homeschool families through multiple years across several children. It meets the ASTM D-4236 non-toxicity standard, is made in the USA, and is free of common allergens including gluten, peanut, and soy.
Pros
- Concentrated 8 oz bottles last for years
- Perfect for droppers, spray bottles, and process art
- Allergen-free formula, made in the USA
Cons
- Stains skin if used undiluted
- Needs smocks and a covered table
6. ARTISTRO Watercolor Set — Best Big-Palette Upgrade
The ARTISTRO 48 Color Watercolor Paint Set is the gift-shelf upgrade. You get 48 colors, including 4 metallic and 4 fluorescent shades, in a portable box with a brush and a water brush pen included. For budding artists past the basics, variety is the point, and kids spend hours mixing and making designs with a palette this deep.
One quirk: the colors don't always match how they look in the pan, so paint a swatch sheet first and tape it inside the lid. The box also lacks a dedicated mixing palette, so keep a spare plate handy. The paint is non-toxic and conforms to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards. Figure around $30 at most.
Pros
- 48 colors including metallic and fluorescent
- Water brush pen included for travel
- Deep palette keeps older kids busy for hours
Cons
- Pan color doesn't match painted color; swatch first
- No dedicated mixing palette in the box
7. Mr. Pen Washable Watercolors — Best Budget Two-Pack
The Mr. Pen Washable Watercolors 2 Pack solves the oldest sibling problem in art supplies: one set, two kids. Each pack contains 2 palettes with 8 colors apiece and a soft-bristle brush per palette, so both kids paint at once and nobody hovers over the good blue.
The clear cover doubles as a palette for mixing, and dried pans refresh with a splash of water. The compact case is why this became the set that lives in the travel bag. The washable pigment cleans off skin and most fabrics.
Pros
- Two full palettes, so siblings stop fighting
- Clear lid doubles as a palette
- Small enough to live in a travel bag
Cons
- Only 8 colors per palette
- Color payoff is modest next to Prang
8. Nicpro Liquid Watercolor Set — Best for Classrooms and Crafts
The Nicpro Liquid Watercolor Paint Set gives you 12 colors in huge 8.45 oz bottles. The concentrated formula dilutes down for painting and works with droppers, spray bottles, and sponges. Families use it for dyeing slime, salt dough, and shaving-cream art as much as for painting.
Here's the one thing you must know: this is not a washable paint. The concentrated formula can stain hands, clothes, and surfaces, so treat it as a smocks-on, covered-table activity every time. It is non-toxic, allergen-free, and ASTM D-4236 certified, so the caution is about laundry, not safety. For co-ops, classrooms, and craft-heavy homes, the bulk sizing makes it the workhorse buy.
Pros
- 12 colors in bulk 8.45 oz bottles
- Dyes slime, dough, glue, and shaving cream
- Classroom-scale value
Cons
- Not washable; can stain hands and clothes
- Requires smocks and a covered table
Quick Comparison: All 8 Watercolor Sets at a Glance
| Product | Best for | Format | Colors | Washable/Non-toxic | Age range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crayola Washable Watercolors | Most kids, best overall | Pan (semi-moist) | 16 | Washable, AP certified | Preschool and up |
| Prang Semi-Moist Watercolors | Pigment for the price | Pan (semi-moist, refillable) | 16 | AP certified (not washable line) | ~3+ (school staple) |
| Ooly Chroma Blends | Older kids and tweens | Pan (travel palette) | 24 | Non-toxic | 6+ |
| Faber-Castell Connector Paints | Preschoolers | Pan (connector) + white tube | 12 + white | Washable, non-toxic | Works younger than box age |
| Colorations Liquid Watercolors | Toddlers and process art | Liquid (8 oz bottles) | 8 | ASTM D-4236; dilute for washout | 3+ with smock |
| ARTISTRO Watercolor Set | Big-palette upgrade | Pan (incl. metallic/fluorescent) | 48 | ASTM D-4236 + EN71 | 3+ |
| Mr. Pen Washable Watercolors | Budget two-pack | Pan (2 x 8) | 8 per palette (x2) | Washable, non-toxic | 3+ |
| Nicpro Liquid Watercolors | Classrooms and crafts | Liquid (8.45 oz bottles) | 12 | ASTM D-4236; NOT washable, can stain | 5+ with supervision |
How to Pick the Right Watercolors for Your Kid
These are the four things worth checking before you buy.
Pan vs. Liquid vs. Tube Watercolors
Pans are the default for good reason: tidy, portable, and self-limiting, since a kid can only pick up so much paint at once. Liquids like Colorations and Nicpro are for volume and variety: droppers, spray bottles, and toddler process art. Tubes give the most control but are easy to over-squeeze, so hold off until a kid is painting seriously. For most families: pans first, a bottle of liquid for craft days second.
Age and Skill Level
Match the set to the hands, not the box. Toddlers do best with diluted liquid watercolor and fat brushes. Preschoolers thrive on washable pans and playful designs like the Faber-Castell connectors. Around six and up, kids start caring about color range and portability, which is where Ooly and ARTISTRO shine. Young artists grow through sets fast, so it's fine to start cheap.
Washability and Safety (Non-Toxic Labels Explained)
"Washable" is a formula, not a promise, and it varies wildly between sets. Crayola's washable pans genuinely come out of clothes; Nicpro's concentrated liquid can stain permanently. Liquid watercolor washout depends on dilution, the fabric, and how fast you rinse, so smock up regardless.
NoteFor safety, look for the AP-certified non-toxic seal from the Art & Creative Materials Institute, or a note that the paint conforms to ASTM D-4236. Both mean a toxicologist has evaluated the product and found it safe for its intended use, including by kids. Every set in this roundup carries one of these marks.
Pigment Quality and Color Mixing
Bright, easy-wetting pans matter more than color count. A 16-pan Prang set with strong pigment will outlast a 48-pan set of pale colors, because kids abandon paint that won't show up on the page. Look for semi-moist pans, which wet quickly, and a lid with real mixing space.
What's Included: Brushes, Palettes, and Paper
Included brushes are almost always the weak spot; a cheap pack of real brushes upgrades every set here. A clear lid that doubles as a palette, like Mr. Pen's, saves dishes. And paper matters more than parents expect: printer paper buckles and pills under water, which frustrates kids. A pad from our guide to the best watercolor paper for kids fixes that instantly, and the best watercolor workbooks for kids help kids who want direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can kids start using watercolors?
Most kids can start around age 2 to 3 with diluted liquid watercolor or washable pans and close supervision, since everything still goes in mouths at that age. Stick to sets with an AP seal or ASTM D-4236 certification, use fat brushes, and expect process over pictures until preschool.
Are washable watercolors really washable?
The good ones are, with caveats. Crayola's washable pans come out of most clothing and off skin, and Mr. Pen's clean off skin and most fabrics. Liquid watercolors are conditional: diluted Colorations rinses out if you're prompt, while concentrated formulas like Nicpro can stain permanently.
Do kids need special watercolor paper?
Not artist-grade paper, but printer paper is a bad match. It buckles, pills, and tears when wet, which frustrates kids and makes good paint look bad. An inexpensive kids' watercolor pad holds water, keeps colors brighter, and survives heavy-handed brushwork.
Are cheap watercolor sets worth it?
Usually, yes. Sets like Crayola and Mr. Pen cost so little that they're the right way to find out whether a kid will stick with painting. The tradeoff is softer color and flimsy brushes.
Final Thoughts
If you only buy one set, make it the Crayola Washable Watercolors: 16 colors, real washability, and a price that makes messes stress-free. Pick Prang when pigment matters, Faber-Castell for a preschooler who learns by playing, and Ooly or ARTISTRO for young artists ready to spread out. Keep a bottle of Colorations on the shelf for craft days, and remember Nicpro's staining rule before it meets a school uniform.
Whichever set lands on your table, better paper and one decent brush will do more for the results than a pricier palette. Our list of easy watercolor ideas for kids is a good first afternoon.
