6 vs 12 vs 24 Oil Paint Sets: Which Size Is Right?

What changes when an oil paint set gets larger?

Moving from 6 to 12 or 24 colors should add useful functions—not simply more tubes.

A well-structured larger set may add:

These additions can make painting faster. They do not remove the need to understand value, temperature, saturation, and mixing.

Tube size matters as well. A set of 24 small tubes may contain less total paint than a set of 12 larger tubes. Before comparing prices, check the volume per tube and whether the colors can later be replaced individually.

When a 6-color oil paint set is the better choice

A six-color set is not merely a smaller version of a “complete” palette. At its best, it is a deliberate limited palette that gives each tube a clear job.

Choose six colors if you want to learn how mixtures are built

With fewer tubes, you become more aware of how one red shifts when mixed with different yellows, how a blue changes an earth color, or how much white is needed to raise a value. That practice can be more useful than memorizing dozens of color names.

Jackson’s Art notes that a limited palette of four or five colors can still produce an extensive range through mixing. The exact range depends on the pigments chosen, so six random colors are not automatically a functional palette. The set still needs sensible coverage across light, warm, cool, earthy, and dark roles.

Choose six colors if you value portability and low setup friction

Six tubes occupy less space on a table, in a pochade box, or in a class bag. They also make it easier to arrange a clean palette and remember where each mixture came from.

Choose six colors if you are testing whether oils suit you

A compact set lowers the number of products you must learn at once. It can leave room in your budget for a suitable surface, a few brushes, a palette, and proper studio setup.

Do not choose by color count alone

Inspect the actual color list. A useful compact set should let you mix a broad range rather than giving you several closely related colors. Also check whether it includes enough white. Oil painters often use white more quickly than strong chromatic colors, so the ability to buy a replacement tube matters.

Best match: a curious beginner who enjoys learning, a traveling painter, or an experienced artist who prefers a disciplined limited palette.

Why a 12-color oil paint set is the best starting point for most people

Twelve colors usually give a beginner enough variety to paint common subjects without making every mixture from the smallest possible palette. At the same time, the selection remains compact enough to understand.

Twelve colors can separate color roles more clearly

A balanced 12-color set may provide:

The exact pigments differ by set, but the important question is whether each tube adds a distinct role. Two colors with different names may still behave similarly in mixtures, while two blues can be valuable if one leans warmer and the other cooler.

Twelve colors reduce repetitive mixing

If you paint a landscape, portrait, floral study, or still life, a mid-sized set can shorten the path to common mixtures while still encouraging you to adjust them. You get convenience without turning the palette into a wall of nearly identical options.

Twelve colors are easier to grow from

After several paintings, patterns become obvious. You may use one white quickly, reach repeatedly for a particular earth color, or discover that your subjects need a cooler red or a more transparent blue. At that point, you can add individual tubes based on experience instead of guessing before your first session.

Best match: most beginners, art students, returning painters, and hobbyists who want one versatile general-purpose set.

When a 24-color oil paint set earns its place

A 24-color set offers a larger library of ready-made starting points. That can be useful—but only if those colors support your subjects and painting habits.

Choose 24 colors when convenience improves your workflow

If you regularly paint varied subjects, a broader set can reduce the time spent rebuilding the same greens, violets, skin-adjacent neutrals, or muted colors. You can still modify those colors; the benefit is that you begin closer to the result you need.

Choose 24 colors when you already understand your palette

Painters with some experience are better able to recognize which colors are genuinely distinct and which are likely to duplicate mixtures they already make easily. They are also more likely to use a wider range before the tubes sit untouched.

Choose 24 colors for an exploratory or gift-friendly presentation

A broad color range can feel inviting, especially for a returning artist or someone who enjoys trying many subjects. For a complete beginner, however, presentation should not replace function. A smaller set with larger tubes and a clearer palette may offer better practical value.

Check for “variety without purpose”

Before paying for 24 colors, ask:

Best match: painters who value ready-made variety, work across multiple subjects, or already know which convenience colors support their process.

The most important test: does the set cover useful color roles?

Color count is easy to compare. Palette structure is more important.

Use this role-based checklist before buying:

Color role	What to look for	Why it matters
Light	A practical mixing white	Controls value and is often used quickly
Yellow range	At least one useful yellow; warm/cool choice is a bonus	Supports greens, oranges, light mixtures, and temperature shifts
Red range	A red that works for your subjects; two temperature directions add flexibility	Supports oranges, violets, skin mixtures, florals, and warm neutrals
Blue range	A versatile blue; a second blue can broaden greens and violets	Supports cools, dark mixtures, skies, water, and neutralization
Earth colors	One or more ochres, siennas, or umbers	Speeds natural mixtures, underpainting, and neutralization
Dark or neutral	A dark color or a combination capable of mixing one	Helps organize value without relying on white-plus-black formulas
Convenience accents	Green, violet, orange, gray, or subject-led colors	Saves time when it adds a genuinely different starting point

This checklist is intentionally role-based. Color names can vary among ranges, and two paints with similar names may use different pigment combinations.

How to compare value between sets

Do not divide the price by the number of colors and stop there. Compare what you can actually use.

Multiply the number of tubes by the volume per tube. This gives you the total paint volume, although it does not account for differences in formulation or pigment cost.

White is a common example, but your own subject may make another color equally important. Open-stock availability lets you replace one tube without buying the whole set again.

Words such as “starter,” “classic,” or “professional” do not tell you whether the palette fits your work. Read the tube names and, when available, the pigment information.

A six-color artist range and a 24-color studio range answer different questions. Decide first what handling, information, and budget level you need; then compare set sizes within that context.

Paint is only one part of beginning oils. Reserve budget for a suitable primed surface, brushes or painting knives, a palette, and the cleaning or medium system recommended for the specific paint you purchase.

Which oil paint set should you buy?

Use this decision path:

If two sets still look equally suitable, choose the one with the more useful color list, larger practical tube sizes, clearer product information, and easier single-color replacement—not simply the larger number on the box.

A smart way to grow beyond your first set

Whichever size you choose, avoid buying many extra tubes immediately. Complete several small paintings and keep a simple note:

Your answers will show whether you need a larger general set, a themed palette, or just two or three individual colors.

Ready to compare the current options? Explore Phoenix oil paints and sets, then check each product’s live color list, tube size, and availability before choosing.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 12-color oil paint set enough for a beginner?

Yes. A well-balanced 12-color set is enough for most beginners to practice mixing and paint a wide variety of subjects. Palette structure matters more than the number alone.

Is a 24-color oil paint set better than a 12-color set?

Not automatically. Twenty-four colors provide more ready-made options, while 12 colors usually make the palette easier to learn and may offer better value if the tubes are larger. Choose 24 when you will use the added convenience.

Can I start oil painting with only six colors?

Yes, provided the six colors form a functional limited palette. A compact set can be excellent for learning mixtures, values, and color relationships.

Should a beginner buy a set or individual oil colors?

A balanced set is often the simpler first purchase. Individual tubes become more useful after you know which colors you use most or which role your set is missing.

What should I check besides the number of colors?

Check the exact color list, pigment information when provided, tube volume, white quantity, open-stock replacement, safety information, and whether the palette fits the subjects you want to paint.

Does a larger oil paint set mean higher quality?

No. Set size describes the number of colors, not paint grade, pigment selection, handling, or permanence information. Compare those factors separately.