Easels

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All Painting Easels, All Types
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In short

Choose an easel based on where you work and how tall a canvas you’ll put on it. For the table, a tabletop easel for canvases 32–68 cm tall is enough; for the studio, a studio easel for canvases up to roughly 120–135 cm; and for outdoors, a folding field easel weighing 1–2 kg. If you paint in watercolor, look for a model that tilts to a horizontal position.

A painting easel (canvas easel, art easel, display easel) holds your canvas, board or paper in a stable position, leaving your hands free for brush and palette. Easels differ mainly in whether they stand on a table, in the studio or out in the open air.

Canvas and display easels: tabletop, studio, field

Type Best for Examples
Tabletop Smaller canvases, paper and card on the table, and displaying a finished picture; canvases up to 32 cm (011M) or 68 cm (MABEF). Masterpiece Maker 50 cm, 011M, MABEF tabletop, all tabletop easels
Studio Painting standing up in a studio or classroom, canvases up to roughly 120–135 cm. EKONOMY, Valeriano PROFI, 258 NEW YORK, MABEF Basic type A and Mabef Lyre (both lyre easels), all studio easels
Convertible studio Large formats: canvases up to 180 cm or 55 × 200 cm, 10 kg load capacity; tilts down to a horizontal position. MABEF convertible, MABEF Universal convertible
Field (plein air) Painting outdoors and at home; folding, from 1.077 kg, canvases up to 84–115 cm. Daler-Rowney Simply, Royal ALUMINIUM, MABEF Universal field, MABEF Basic field, MABEF economy, all field easels

The range also includes H-frame easels, some with a crank. You’ll find everything in All Easels.

How to choose a canvas easel

Maximum canvas height

Look at the maximum canvas height, not the overall height of the easel. EKONOMY stands up to 175 cm tall but holds a canvas up to 132 cm. MABEF Basic type A takes canvases up to 119 cm, Valeriano PROFI and Mabef Lyre up to 130 cm. Compare the size with your painting canvases; if you stretch your own canvas, see stretcher bars, frames and accessories.

Material and finish

The wooden easels are mostly beech; the Art Sprout mini easel and the ARTMIE children’s easel are pine. MABEF, Valeriano PROFI and 258 NEW YORK have an oiled finish; on MABEF it repels paint and is easy to clean. EKONOMY and SZ1-M are untreated beech with no oil finish.

Folding and carrying

Daler-Rowney Simply weighs 1.077 kg and adjusts without tools. The MABEF economy field easel weighs 1.5 kg and the MABEF Universal field easel about 1.6 kg; once folded, you carry it by its leather strap. Both the economy and Basic MABEF field easels have three adjustable legs for uneven ground, and you can hang a bag or bucket from the lower support. Studio easels arrive unassembled or as a self-assembly kit.

Tilt: oil, acrylic and watercolor

Oil and acrylic are painted on an upright canvas, while watercolor needs a flatter surface. The canvas holder on the MABEF Universal field and MABEF Basic field easels tilts smoothly from vertical to horizontal. The MABEF convertible folds down flat to become a worktable, and the MABEF Universal convertible tilts by 20° or folds down completely. You’ll find paints in acrylic, oil and watercolor paints.

Easels for drawing and sketching

A field easel also works as a drawing easel: the MABEF economy field easel holds a canvas, drawing board or paper up to 115 cm tall, roughly A1. Lay loose sheets on a drawing board and carry your sketches in a sketchbook.

Frequently asked questions

Which easel is best for beginners?

For smaller canvases and paper on the table, the Masterpiece Maker tabletop easel (50 cm, about 0.27 kg) is all you need. For painting standing up, EKONOMY holds canvases up to 132 cm. For outdoors, Daler-Rowney Simply is a good fit – the manufacturer designed it for beginners, schools and leisure painting.

How big a canvas can a canvas easel hold?

The tabletop easels in our range take canvases 32–68 cm tall, the field easels 84–115 cm and the studio easels roughly 120–135 cm. The largest canvas, 55 × 200 cm, fits on the MABEF Universal convertible.

Can I use a painting easel as a display easel?

Yes. The Masterpiece Maker also works as a decorative display stand for a picture or photo, and the Art Sprout mini easel (29 cm) for small canvases and place cards. The double-sided MABEF Studio holds two paintings at once.

Which easel should I choose for children?

The SZ1-M school easel takes canvases up to 80 cm, has sliding top and bottom clamps and folds easily. The ARTMIE children’s easel is double-sided – one side for chalk, the other for markers, both magnetic, with a magnetic clip to hold paper.