Palette Calculator — How Much Paint to Squeeze

These are working estimates, not a manufacturer standard — there is no fixed rule, and the amount depends on your brush size, style and whether you use a stay-wet palette. As a rough guide, for a medium-sized painting (30-60cm) squeeze about 5ml of each colour — roughly a generous 2.5-3cm mound (a flat 2cm blob is only around 2ml). It is better to squeeze out a little too much than too little: dried acrylic on the palette is wasted, but running out mid-stroke ruins your flow. For oils, leftover paint can be covered and used the next day.

A limited palette of 4-6 colours produces more harmonious paintings than using every colour you own. A classic warm-cool split primary palette uses 6 colours: warm and cool versions of red, yellow and blue, plus white. Many professional artists work with just 3-5 colours plus white.

Use a stay-wet palette: a shallow tray lined with damp sponge or kitchen paper, topped with baking parchment. The moisture keeps acrylics workable for hours. You can also mist your palette with water occasionally or add a retarder medium to slow drying.