Airbrush kits are a great way to get all your gear at once without messing around trying to find all the equipment. Airbrushing really only has 3 main components and it’s very straight-forward to get all the airbrush equipment you need for a complete setup.
However, when it comes to airbrushing, much of your gear selection actually comes down to preference. Personal preference can be hard to determine when you don’t have very much experience.
This is why I think that starter kits are amazing for beginners because you can get all the gear you need to start painting right away, without breaking the bank. In the process of discovering your airbrushing style, you will undoubtedly change gear along the way.
Therefore, there’s no point in investing in an expensive airbrush or compressor when you will get new gear several months later. So might as well get something affordable and see what you can do with that first!
With that, here’s the best airbrush kits for beginners:
1. Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual Fan Air Compressor Airbrushing System Kit with 3 Professional Airbrushes
This airbrush kit is an amazing option for your first kit. It has everything you need and more to get started immediately:
- Airbrush (x3)
- Hose
- Compressor
- Water based acrylic paints
- Cleaning kit
- Quick start guide
This kit is a great beginner kit because it includes three different kinds of airbrushes:
- A dual action, large ⅓ oz reservoir, gravity fed airbrush with a 0.3mm nozzle.
- A dual action, small 1/16 oz reservoir, gravity fed airbrush with a 0.2mm nozzle.
- A single action, external mix, siphon fed airbrush with a 0.8mm nozzle (including 2 siphon bottles)
These 3 airbrushes make the master airbrush kit highly versatile and give you an option to try the different styles of airbrushes for a great price.
The dual action with the 0.3mm nozzle would be your workhorse option – the large cup allowing color mixing, dual-action trigger system for versatility, and the 0.3mm nozzle being a medium sized option for both large shading patterns and detail work.
The other dual-action airbrush would provide a nice intro into micro airbrushing as a 0.2mm nozzle is on the smaller side and great for detail work. The small reservoir encourages you to use small amounts of each color as detail work doesn’t require lots of paint.
The external mix airbrush is also a fun option to have. The 0.8mm nozzle is on the larger side, the external mix makes a slightly coarser spray pattern, and the 2 siphon feed bottles would let you switch between colors quickly – a style of airbrushing popular with temporary tattoos, cake decorating etc.
Water based airbrush paint is easy to use
A good color palette of water based acrylic paints is included – all the primary colors are there which gives you options for mixing paints. I recommend starting with water based acrylics before moving onto other kinds of paints like alcohol based or polyurethane – water based acrylic is just the easiest to work with. Once you master water based, you can pretty much use any kind of paint with confidence.
The cleaning kit has a series of different sized brushes – these come in very handy to keep dried paint particulates from clogging your airbrush – one of the main impediments to keeping your airbrush in pristine working condition.
This airbrush kit also has an airbrush holder which mounts directly onto the top of the compressor – a very nice accessory which I recommend in this article about the best airbrush equipment.
All in all, this master airbrush kit is a phenomenal starter kit with tons of versatility for a great price.
2. Master Airbrush Cool Runner II Dual Fan Air Tank Compressor System Deluxe Kit
This master airbrush kit has what you need to get started on your dual action journey. It features one dual action, large ⅓ oz reservoir, gravity fed airbrush with a 0.3mm nozzle, an airbrush compressor with a holding tank, and a large assortment of water based acrylic colors.
You can read about why I am a huge fan of compressors with holding tanks in this article about airbrush compressors. In short, the reason why is they’re less prone to overheating which makes them last longer.
The 0.3mm dual action airbrush is a perfect in-between size which allows you to paint both large shading patterns and smaller detail work. So this type of airbrush gives you the ability to paint pretty much anything.
The water based acrylic paints are a great starting-out paint base, and the color selection here is considerable – 24 opaque colors will give you great versatility in your palette.
A couple other nice accessories that are included are the table mounted airbrush holder, a 6 ft air hose, and a cleaning pot. The cleaning pot helps you clear your airbrush nozzle without spraying cleaning solution all over the room – it’s a very nice accessory which is also part of this guide on top airbrush equipment.
Master airbrush clearly designed this airbrush kit with intention – for beginner airbrushers that are serious about getting into dual action airbrushing, this beginner kit will do the trick.
3. Iwata Beginner Airbrush Neo Cn Gravity Set
The Neo for Iwata CN airbrush kit is a great dual-action starter kit with a decent low-pressure compressor, frisket film for stencils, a cleaning pot, and some paints to get started.
I am a big fan of stencil work and have explained in another post how building a unique stencil collection can help you stand out as an artist. I therefore highly recommend this kit for people that are getting into stenciling as it gives you everything you need to start cutting hand-made stencils.
I am an unashamed Iwata-Medea advocate, so there is the advantage of getting an Iwata airbrush, compressor, and cleaning pot in this kit. Admittedly, the Neo is one of Iwata’s lower end airbrush lines, but is nonetheless a great introduction to the Iwata style of dual-action airbrushes.
4. Paasche Airbrush TG-300R Double Action Gravity Feed Airbrush Set and Compressor with Tank
Paache’s starting airbrush kit is a perfect starter kit that is also great for intermediate and advanced users. It includes an air compressor with a holding tank, a dual-action gravity-fed airbrush with three different nozzle sizes included (0.25mm, 0.38mm, and 0.66mm), hose, airbrush holder, and cleaning kit.
What sets this airbrush kit apart is the quality of each of the main components. The airbrush is one of Paasche’s standard dual-action gravity feed options. This US based company has a reputation for making premium airbrush products and is one of my top 3 recommended airbrush companies. In another post I explained my advocacy for this company and why the dual-action gravity fed airbrush is the way to go.
The included air compressor features a holding tank and auto shut off valve. It is also included in my list of top 5 airbrush compressors because of its quiet operation and fine tuned operation.
The included 6’ airbrush hose is braided rather than a plastic hose which makes it more sturdy and resistant to breakdown over the years.
If you have the confidence to invest in a great mid-range dual-action airbrush setup, this Paasche kit will get you started and also last you for years to come.
5. FENGDA Airbrush Kit with Compressor and Paint AS-186K, Airbrush Compressor with 3L Air Tank, Dual Action Gravity Feed Airbrush Gun, 5 Primary Opaque Acrylic Paints, & Airbrush Hose
The FENGDA Airbrush Kit is my value pick for this list. What you get for the price is just unmatched – a dual-action airbrush, compressor with an air tank, airbrush hose, 6 primary colors of water based acrylic paint, and an airbrush holder to top it off.
The airbrush has a mid-sized 0.3mm nozzle, a large paint hopper, and a comfortable trigger action. The airbrush brand, Fengda, is a chinese based airbrush company that’s known for affordable but good airbrush products.
The kit includes a ⅙ HP Timbertech compressor with a 3L holding tank which can achieve up to 50 PSI of working pressure. The air pressure output, in tandem with the holding tank, makes this compressor a very good introductory option considering how versatile it is for it’s price.
The water based paints included are great to get started on – they’re easy to mix, primary colors are included, and they can be diluted with water.
A kit like this is perfect for beginners because it allows you to get a feel for what you like without a heavy investment.
When it comes down to it, a lot of airbrushing equipment comes down to preference. I swear by Iwata-Medea because they make great airbrush gear and I like how the Eclipse HP-CS feels in my hand. However, I also acknowledge others who swear by Paasche and Badger – both great airbrushing companies that provide great products.
To get a feel for your own preference, beginner airbrush kits can be a great way to start painting immediately and playing around with the intricacies of your airbrush setup. Get one of the kits suggested in this article, and before long you will know exactly what works for you and how to further invest in your airbrush gear.
