How much does painting miniatures cost?

$75 buys all 4 essentials.

4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$75

4 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Below median

Cheaper than 51% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Miniature Paint Set essential

mid $40top $55

$30

Miniature Paint Brushes essential

mid $28top $50

$26

Wet Palette essential

mid $35top $113

$13

Primer Spray essential

mid $20top $18

All 4 essentials

$75

What you need

$75

Everything you need to start painting miniatures. None of it is a big commitment.

Miniature Paint Set

$30

Acrylic miniature paints in dropper bottles. The big three brands: Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter. Start with one set — don't mix and match brands until you know what you prefer.

Nicpro All-In-One Miniature Painting Kit

mid $40top $55

Miniature Paint Brushes

$26

Tiny brushes (sizes 000 to 2). Synthetic is fine for beginners; sable is the upgrade for fine detail.

Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable Brush

mid $28top $50

Wet Palette

$13

Wet palettes keep acrylic paint workable for hours instead of minutes. The single biggest beginner quality-of-life upgrade.

Wet Palette Paper and Sponge Refill for Redgrass Wet Palette Lite(Third…

mid $35top $113

Primer Spray

Primer = the first paint coat that helps subsequent paint stick. Spray primers are faster than brush-on for beginners.

2X Ultra Cover Flat Gray Primer Spray

mid $20top $18

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Magnifying Lamp

$38

Magnification + good lighting reduce eye strain and improve detail work. Optional but a major upgrade for older eyes.

Clamp LED Magnifying Lamp 5X

mid $120top $160

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale

$1Blogging

$84median

$1245Kite Surfing

$83

Painting Miniatures costs more to start than 49% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Painting Miniatures cost to start?

About $75 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for Painting Miniatures?

Miniature Paint Set: from $30. Miniature Paint Brushes: from $26. Wet Palette: from $13. Primer Spray: from $6.

Is Painting Miniatures an expensive hobby?

Painting Miniatures costs about $83 to start, dearer than 49% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this sits around the middle.

What should I buy first for Painting Miniatures?

miniature paint set, miniature paint brushes, wet palette, primer spray — $75 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to painting miniatures by startup cost, out of 247.

Mineral & Gem Collecting$2 less$81 Painting$1 less$82 Jewelry Makingabout the same$83

Painting Miniaturesyou are here$83

Billiards$1 more$84 Mixology$1 more$84 Model Ship Building$1 more$84

Start painting miniatures Painting Miniatures beginner guide