Paint rack questions, answered

Vendors cut Citadel-size holes at 33–34 mm: PROSCALE lists 33 mm and GameCraft sells a "34mm GW / Citadel" rack. Our own Citadel Rack 44 uses 34 mm pockets for 30–32 mm pots. We have not yet measured pots with calipers ourselves; that is part of the hands-on testing we are planning.

Usually yes. Both are sold as 17–18 ml dropper bottles, and racks cut for them use holes of about 26–27.5 mm (LITKO lists 26 mm and names Vallejo, Army Painter and AK Interactive as compatible). Larger 35 ml or 60 ml bottles need bigger slots.

Pro Acryl bottles are wider than Vallejo-style droppers, so a 26 mm dropper rack is too tight. PROSCALE says they measure 31 mm across, GameCraft sells a rack with 31 mm holes for 40 bottles, and Just Hanging sells Pro Acryl racks for SKÅDIS and standard pegboard (its pegboard listing gives a 30.5 mm maximum bottle). Some 33–34 mm Citadel racks may also take them, but that depends on the rack. We haven't measured the bottles ourselves yet.

Some can. Mixed-format options in our list include the Battle Kiwi dropper rack with pot shelves, PROSCALE's modular range, Formada3D's Gallery Ladder (swappable dropper and pot shelves) and the universal wells on Formada3D's tower kits. A rack cut only for droppers will not take 32 mm pots.

Wall racks free up the desk and suit big collections. LITKO's 108-bottle rack is only 4 in deep. Desk racks need no drilling and can move with you. If you rent or can't drill, look at pegboard shelves (such as IKEA SKÅDIS add-ons) or a slim rack that leans against the wall at the back of the desk.

Count your paints, split them into pots and droppers, then add room to grow. Most collections keep growing. Modular systems (PROSCALE, Green Stuff World, Formada3D risers) let you add capacity later instead of replacing the rack.

Each has trade-offs. Laser-cut MDF is the most common and usually ships flat for you to assemble. Acrylic is see-through and easy to wipe. 3D-printed racks can be cut to exact bottle sizes and odd layouts, but you can see layer lines. We will add durability notes only after hands-on testing.

Often recommended on Reddit as a budget choice. MiniatureStorage.com says one 5-tier example holds 60 Citadel pots or 80 Vallejo bottles. They aren't made for hobby paints, so check that the step depth and height suit your bottles before buying.

It is not independent. bestpaintrack.com is made by Formada3D, a 3D-printing workshop in Melbourne, Australia, that designs and sells paint racks. Our racks are included in the comparison alongside racks from other makers. We use no affiliate links, and we show where every spec comes from.

Not yet. Every spec on this site comes from the maker's or retailer's own listing and is labelled that way. Hands-on testing is coming: caliper-measured holes, fit checks with real Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter and Tamiya paints, footprint, stability and assembly time. Results will be added with dates.

Formada3D's policy is that screws and hardware are not included unless a listing says so. Wall-mounting screws are not included. Check each listing for drawer details.

From Melbourne. Per Formada3D's shipping info on 8 Nov 2026: Australia A$10 standard (free over A$100), New Zealand A$15, United States A$20, most other countries A$25. Formada3D does not ship to the United Kingdom or Brazil. Racks are made to order and dispatched in 3–5 business days.

Tamiya's 23 ml jars are about 35 mm across, so they need wider holes than Citadel pots. Formada3D's Tamiya rack uses 37 mm wells, and PROSCALE lists Tamiya compatibility in its modular range.