Every painter knows that having the right tools is essential to creating your masterpiece. One of the most important – but often neglected – tools for any painter is a good water cup to help you clean your brush or activate your paint.
What are the best water cups for painting? Ideally, they should be portable with built-in features like brush holders and brush cleaners. They should also have a wide bottom to handle the weight of your brushes, so they don’t tip over as you work.
Regardless, water cups come in all shapes and sizes, so it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to find the best water cups for painting. Hopefully, it will help make your decision easier!
Buyer’s Guide
Every painter knows that having a water cup near your painting station is quite necessary to help you clean your brushes during or after painting.
If you work with water-based paints like watercolor or acrylics, then water can also be a useful thinner to help you activate your paint.
You may be thinking: any container can be used to handle your paint water, right? It’s true that a lot of painters use whatever they can spare as a water cup, from mason jars, coffee mugs, or even a disposable plastic cup.
However, as these cups are not designed to handle paint specifically, there may be features that you’re definitely missing out on. Here are some things you should consider when buying a water cup for painting.
Size/Capacity
Most water cups for painting can hold about 8 oz of water. However, if you prefer a bigger or smaller container, you can also find them as well.
A larger cup will allow you to handle more water and rinse your brushes more efficiently, which means you won’t have to replace it as often. This could be a big time saver, especially if you don’t love making frequent trips to the sink.
However, if you are planning on using a larger water cup, it will take up more space on your table or desk. A large water cup is also not very portable, so if you love painting on the go, you will need to opt for a smaller, more travel-friendly version.
Shape
The shape is arguably the most important factor when it comes to a water cup for painting. That’s because the shape of the cup maintains its stability.
Just imagine – all of your brushes putting weight on one side of the cup, tipping it over, and spilling water everywhere. That’s definitely not something that you want.
That’s why a lot of water cups for painting are designed with a flared bottom, which gives it more stability at the bottom and prevents the cup from tipping when it handles too many brushes.
Taller cups (at least ⅔ the length of your paint brushes) are also more stable when handling your brushes.
If you want more stability, you can also get a heavier material, like glass or ceramics, but keep in mind that these materials are not very portable and travel-friendly.
Features
When you get a water cup specifically for painting, there are a ton of features that are designed specifically for brushes.
Some cups are designed with a wavy rim to help you “hang” your brushes to dry. Some cups also have a nubby texture at the bottom, like a laundry washboard, to help you scrub and massage your brushes.
If you work with watercolor, you can also opt for a water cup with a slightly smaller inner rim to help you remove the excess water when you need to mix and use your paint.
If you want to travel with your water cup, you can also purchase cups with sealed lids so that they can hold all the liquid inside when you travel.
Depending on your preference, you can definitely choose the features that make painting more convenient and enjoyable.
Material
Water cups for painting come in all kinds of materials, including plastic, glass, ceramics, metal, silicone, etc. Each of these materials has its own pros and cons that you will need to consider.
Glass and ceramics are sturdy, but they are not very portable. Plastic and silicone are more portable, but they tend to warp over time. Finally, metal containers are heavy and sturdy, but they can rust over time.
Portability
Some painters love taking their painting set on the go, and that’s why portability is a big factor.
If you want to travel with your water cup, you will need something small and lightweight. There are some great collapsible silicone water cups that you can easily travel with, as they can easily collapse into a small shape that won’t take up too much space in your kit.
If you want the containers to be able to hold water as you travel, then you should look for some containers with watertight lids so that the liquid won’t be able to spill out when you travel with them.
Best Water Cups For Painting
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Faber-Castell Clic & Go Artist Water Cup | Collapsible, built-in brush holder |
| 2. | Paint Brush Cleaner Rinse Cup (All-in-One) | Brush cleaner, brush holder |
| 3. | Sargent Art Non-Spill Paint Cups | Non-spill travel container |
| 4. | KINGART 900 Brush Basin | Brush cleaner, brush holder |
| 5. | MyLifeUNIT Paint Brush Washer | Brush cleaner, non-spill travel container |
| 6. | US Art Supply Deluxe Brush Cleaner | Brush cleaner, brush holder |
| 7. | Masterson Fresh Water Rinse Well | Fresh water well, built-in brush holder |
1. Faber-Castell Clic & Go Artist Water Cup
The Faber-Castell Clic & Go Artist Water Cup is a collapsible cup with a built-in brush holder, thanks to the wavy shape of the rim. It’s perfect for artists on the go, as it can easily be packed up and carried with you.
The material is a combination of sturdy metal and flexible silicone. It’s PVC and latex-free, so it won’t affect the quality of your paint at all.
The brush holder is great for hanging paintbrushes to dry, and the cup itself is perfect for holding water for painting.
When collapsed, the cup takes up very little space, making it easy to throw in a bag or backpack, but when expanded, it can handle up to 12 oz of water.
2. Paint Brush Cleaner Rinse Cup (All-in-One)
This paint brush cleaner and rinse cup are a must-have for any painter, amateur, or professional. It has a wide range of features that makes paintbrush cleaning quick and easy.
The inner and outer brush holders can accommodate different sizes of paint brushes, and you can keep your paint brushes inside the water cup or hang the brushes outside the cup to dry.
The dual squeegee lips prevent the water inside from spilling as you work. There are also nubs at the bottom of the cup to help you clean the paint brushes, and the drip tray catches any liquid and prevents the cup from tipping over.
These are all the convenient features that any painter will enjoy, and they will definitely make painting more convenient and enjoyable.
3. Sargent Art Non-Spill Paint Cups
The Sargent Art Non-Spill Paint Cups are a great option for painters who are on the go. The funnel-shaped cap keeps liquids from spilling out, and it also helps you remove excess liquids when painting with watercolor.
The paint cups are made of durable plastic, and they have a tubular base that makes them easy to grip. They also come with a lid that snaps shut, so you can easily transport them without worrying about spills.
Overall, the Sargent Art Non-Spill Paint Cups are an ideal option for watercolor painters who want a convenient way to take their paint supplies with them when they travel.
4. KINGART 900 Brush Basin
The KINGART brush basin is a great way to keep your paintbrushes clean. The textured bottom of the basin helps to scrub brushes clean, and the brush holder is perfect for drying brushes after cleaning.
The basin is also big enough to accommodate multiple brushes, and the lid serves both as a cap for the basin and a small palette for mixing paint. Although this basin is made of plastic, it’s still highly durable and can even handle strong solvents.
Whether you’re a professional artist or a casual painter, the KINGART brush basin is a great multi-functional water container to keep on your painting station.
5. MyLifeUNIT Paint Brush Washer
MyLifeUNIT’s paintbrush washer is a high-quality water container made from stainless steel. It has a tight-sealing lid that makes it easy to take your paint water with you when you’re on the go.
The washer is also designed with a draining filter, so you can easily clean your brushes and paint supplies when you’re finished using them. There’s also a convenient handle to help you carry the container with you as you travel.
The stainless steel material is strong and sturdy, and it is rust-proof and even dishwasher safe, which means it will definitely become a permanent fixture in your travel painting supply.
6. US Art Supply Deluxe Brush Cleaner
US Art Supply’s Deluxe Brush Cleaner is a painting water cup and cleaning basin all in one. The holder is made of rust-proof stainless steel, and it has a paintbrush holder on top for you to dry your paintbrushes after washing.
The basin is sturdy, with a sediment grate and particle cup to help you clean your brushes thoroughly. These parts are removable, so you can easily take them out to clean once you are done painting.
Overall, the US Art Supply Deluxe Brush Cleaner is a great way to hold your paint water and keep your paint brushes clean at your painting station.
7. Masterson Fresh Water Rinse Well
The Masterson Fresh Water Rinse Well definitely has a very innovative design for a water cup.
This is designed with a water reservoir that automatically flushes the dirty water down and fills the basin with fresh water for you to rinse your brush, so you don’t have to make frequent trips to refill or refresh your water.
The well also has built-in brush holders so you can keep your brushes in one place when you work. This design is perfect for those who work with watercolor, as you can easily switch colors and clean your brushes with ease.
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