7 Best Easel Trays for Holding Extra Paint Tubes

Painting on an easel often leads to a cluttered workspace where paint tubes, brushes, and medium bottles migrate toward the floor. An effective easel tray functions as a centralized command station, keeping essential supplies within arm’s reach while preventing unnecessary movement. Choosing the right tray can transform a frantic painting session into a smooth, focused creative experience.

U.S. Art Supply Tray: Best for Larger Projects

When tackling expansive canvases, the U.S. Art Supply tray offers a generous surface area that handles multiple paint tubes and larger solvent containers with ease. This tray is designed for artists who prefer to keep their entire palette of colors visible and ready for immediate blending.

The build quality emphasizes stability, making it an excellent choice for home studios where the tray might hold significant weight over long sessions. Its footprint is substantial, which requires a sturdy easel base to ensure balance is maintained throughout the painting process.

For those with larger studio spaces or dedicated art rooms, this tray provides the necessary capacity to avoid constant trips to a supply cart. It is a reliable, no-nonsense solution that prioritizes storage volume over compact portability.

MEEDEN Clamp-On Tray: Offers Maximum Versatility

Apartment dwellers or those working in shared living spaces often face the challenge of limited real estate, making the MEEDEN clamp-on tray a highly adaptable solution. Because it attaches directly to the vertical mast or leg of almost any easel, it bypasses the need for existing shelf mounting hardware.

The clamp mechanism is intuitive, allowing for rapid repositioning as the height of the painting changes. This flexibility ensures that the tray stays at a comfortable working level, reducing neck and back strain during long creative sessions.

While it lacks the massive surface area of stationary trays, its ability to attach to nearly any support structure makes it a standout choice for portability. It is the ideal companion for painters who frequently fold up their equipment between sessions.

Creative Mark Art-Horse: A Truly Sturdy Workhorse

The Creative Mark Art-Horse serves as more than just a tray; it acts as a dual-purpose seating and storage station. By integrating a seat with a supply shelf, it optimizes vertical space in a way that dedicated standalone trays simply cannot.

This is a premium choice for those who prefer to remain seated while working, as the unit is engineered to support the weight of the user while keeping supplies within reach. The craftsmanship is geared toward long-term durability, justifying the investment for serious home hobbyists.

Because of its size and weight, this unit is best suited for homeowners with a permanent studio corner rather than those who move their equipment frequently. It is an investment in comfort and organizational efficiency.

Jack Richeson Tray: A Smart Buy for Serious Painters

The Jack Richeson tray is often favored for its professional-grade construction and thoughtful edge design. These trays usually feature raised lips that prevent small items like palette knives or pencils from rolling off the side during a project.

The finish is typically resistant to the incidental spills of solvents or acrylics, which is a critical feature for maintaining a tidy workspace over time. It strikes a balance between professional utility and accessible pricing, fitting well into the budgets of dedicated home painters.

When selecting this tray, ensure the dimensions align with the mounting holes of the current easel model. It is a robust, reliable performer that rarely disappoints those who value consistency in their studio tools.

Mont Marte Tilting Tray: Adjusts To Your Angle

For artists who use varying easel tilts—such as vertical for oils or flat for watercolors—the Mont Marte tilting tray provides essential adaptability. The ability to adjust the tray angle ensures that paint pots and brushes remain stable regardless of the canvas orientation.

This feature prevents the common frustration of brushes sliding into wet paint or supplies tipping over when the easel mast is pushed to an extreme angle. The adjustment mechanism is straightforward, allowing for quick transitions between different painting techniques.

This tray is a practical choice for artists who dabble in multiple mediums and require equipment that can keep up with shifting artistic needs. It is best suited for those who prioritize functional versatility over simple, flat-storage designs.

Mabef M33 Tray: A Classic, Exceptionally Reliable Choice

The Mabef M33 is frequently recognized as the gold standard for those who appreciate traditional, well-crafted wooden studio equipment. It is designed to slide securely onto compatible easels, providing a seamless and professional look that integrates perfectly with high-quality wooden stands.

Durability is the hallmark of the Mabef line, with materials selected to withstand the rigors of frequent, heavy-duty use. It holds a significant number of paint tubes without wobbling or losing its level position.

While it carries a higher price point, the longevity of this tray makes it a cost-effective solution over a period of years. It remains a top recommendation for homeowners who want to invest in equipment that requires zero maintenance and retains its integrity for decades.

Transon Artist Shelf: The Best Budget-Friendly Pick

The Transon artist shelf provides a functional and inexpensive way to add storage to an existing setup without breaking the bank. It is lightweight, making it an excellent choice for students or hobbyists who are just beginning to build their home studio.

Despite the lower price point, the design is surprisingly effective, offering enough room for the essentials of a standard painting session. It is particularly well-suited for renters or those who need a temporary solution that is easy to remove or reconfigure.

The trade-off for the lower cost is a lighter construction material, meaning it may not hold as much weight as professional-grade wooden trays. However, for everyday projects, it provides exactly what is needed to stay organized on a budget.

How to Match a Tray to Your Existing Easel Style

Matching a tray to an easel requires a close look at the mounting method, as not all trays are universal. Some trays slide into grooves on the center mast, while others require specific hooks or bracket holes already present on the easel frame.

Always measure the width of the easel mast before purchasing a slide-on tray to ensure a snug fit. If the easel is an older model or a non-standard brand, a clamp-on style tray is often the safest bet because it relies on grip rather than specific pre-drilled holes.

Consider how the tray will affect the overall center of gravity of the easel. A heavy, fully loaded tray on a small, lightweight easel can cause the entire setup to become front-heavy and unstable.

Wood vs. Metal Trays: Which One Lasts Longer?

Wooden trays offer an aesthetic appeal and a warmth that many artists prefer, especially when paired with high-end wooden easels. They are durable if kept dry, but they can be prone to staining if paint is allowed to sit on the surface for extended periods.

Metal trays, on the other hand, are generally easier to clean and impervious to the warping that can sometimes affect wood in humid climates. They are typically lighter, which makes them easier to move, though they can occasionally be prone to denting or scratching.

For long-term studio use, metal trays often require less upkeep and are simpler to sanitize. However, wooden trays can be sanded and refinished, giving them a potential lifespan that can span generations with proper care.

Keeping Your Easel Tray Clean and Organized

The best way to maintain an easel tray is to lay down a protective surface, such as a piece of glass, a specialized silicone mat, or even a sheet of thick plastic. This barrier catches drips and spills, allowing for a quick cleanup that doesn’t involve harsh scrubbing or paint thinners.

Group supplies by frequency of use to keep the workspace efficient. Keep the most-used colors and brushes in the front section of the tray, while reserving the back for mediums, jars, or backup tubes.

Finally, establish a habit of clearing the tray at the end of every painting session. Wiping away wet paint immediately prevents the accumulation of stubborn, hardened spots that eventually make the surface uneven and difficult to manage.

Proper organization of painting supplies is the hidden secret to enjoying more time at the easel. By selecting a tray that fits the specific space and project requirements, you remove the friction that often stops a project in its tracks. Focus on finding the balance between the storage capacity you truly need and the footprint your home can comfortably support.