How to Choose a Watercolour Set: 12 vs 21 vs 35 Colours Explained

Choosing the Right Watercolour Set: 12, 21, or 35 Colours?

Buying your first — or next — watercolour set is exciting, but the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming. One of the most common questions we hear is: how many colours do I actually need? The answer depends on your experience level, painting style, and budget. Let's break it down.

12-Colour Sets: The Perfect Starting Point

A 12-colour set is ideal for beginners and those who want to travel light. With a well-chosen palette of 12 pigments, you can mix virtually any colour you need. Most quality 12-colour sets include a balanced selection of warm and cool primaries, a few earth tones, and a black and white — everything you need to learn colour theory and mixing fundamentals.

Best for: beginners, students, sketching on the go, and artists who enjoy the discipline of limited palettes.

21-Colour Sets: The Sweet Spot

A 21-colour set gives you more pre-mixed convenience without overwhelming you with choices. You'll find a wider range of greens, violets, and specialty colours that would otherwise require complex mixing. This is the most popular choice among intermediate painters who want versatility without carrying a full studio palette.

Best for: intermediate painters, botanical illustration, landscape work, and anyone who wants to spend less time mixing and more time painting.

35-Colour Sets: The Full Studio Palette

A 35-colour set is a serious investment for dedicated artists. You'll have access to a broad spectrum of pigments — including granulating colours, luminous violets, and specialty hues that are difficult to mix from scratch. These sets are particularly popular with professional illustrators and painters who work across a wide range of subjects.

Best for: experienced painters, professional illustrators, and artists who work in multiple styles and subjects.

A Note on Pigment Quality

The number of colours matters less than the quality of the pigments. A 12-colour set of artist-grade watercolours will outperform a 35-colour student set every time. Look for sets that list individual pigment codes (e.g. PB29, PY150) on the packaging — this is a sign of a quality manufacturer.

Shop Watercolour Sets at ArtDrawCrafts

Browse our full range of watercolour sets and kits, including options from trusted brands across every price point. Not sure which individual colours to choose? Explore our watercolour paints collection to build your own custom palette.