Best Paint Thinner For Oil Paint 8 Top Picks ( 2023 Updated )

Nowadays, the market is so saturated with all these painting products, and seriously, most of them are unnecessary. While trying to avoid buying redundant items, we often forget to focus on the mains sometimes. This article is specially written for professionals and DIY workers who do not or do know the importance of the paint thinner. Finding the best paint thinner is as important as finding a good paint itself. 

Paint thinner is necessary not for the job of thinning the oil paints but also for the cleaning process after the application. It comes in different types. Some thinners are made for latex paints, some for oil-based paints, so you can not just go and buy any for your project. So it needs special consideration before selecting the perfect match. 

No doubt, I am going to suggest you the best paint thinners in the upcoming list but be open-minded to accept that the specific paint thinner can give different results with your paint because of the different chemical compositions. Other than that, to guide you even better on what product to get for yourself, there is a buying guide given at the end. The buying guide consists of all the factors that need to be considered before getting any paint thinner. So without wasting any more time let’s get into the details:

8 Best Paint Thinner Comparison Table

Image	Product	Details	Price
	Sunnyside Corporation 80332 Low Odor Mineral Spirits Paint Thinner,	Specifications: Brand: Sunnyside Corporation Model Number: 80332 Item weight: 0.01 ounces Item Dimensions: 4.63 x 2.38 x 7.5 inches Material: Low odor mineral spirits Usage: for thinning oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes Size: 1 quartz	Check Price
	Pebeo 038004 Porcelaine 150, China Paint Thinner	Specifications: Brand: Pebeo Model Number: 038004 Item weight: 1.6 ounces Item Dimensions: 1.63 x 1.63 x 2.63 inches Material: Low odor paint thinner Usage: for cleaning and Diluting oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes Size: 45ml	Check Price
	Real Milk Paint, Citrus Solvent, Natural Alternative to Odorless Mineral Spirits, Paint Thinner,	Specifications: Brand: Real Milk Paint Model Number: CS 32 Item weight: 1.76 pounds Item Dimensions: ‎7.5 x 5.25 x 1.75 inches Material: Natural alternative for the mineral spirits paint thinners Usage: for oil-based based thinning and cleaning Size: Available in different sizes	Check Price
	Chelsea Classical Studio Lavender Spike Oil Essence – Natural Solvent Non-Toxic Natural Processed Lavender Spike Oil Essence Solvent	Specifications: Brand: Chelsea Classical Studio Model Number: Lavender spike oil Item weight: 3.94 ounces Item Dimensions: ‎4 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches Material: Lavender spike oil Usage: To dilute oil paints, varnishes, and resins.  Size: 2 Oz	Check Price
	Weber Odorless Turpenoid, Artist Paint Thinner, and Cleaner	Specifications: Brand: Weber Model Number: 1684 Color: White Item weight: 1.72 pounds Item Dimensions: 2 x 5.15 x 7.55 inches Material: turpenoid  Usage: To dilute oil paints, varnishes, and resins. And cleaning brushes  Size: 946 milliliters	Check Price
	Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Mediums Thinner,	Specifications: Brand: Winsor and Newton Model Number: 3239729 Color: Transparent Item weight: 7.2 ounces Item Dimensions: 5.83 x 1.97 x 3.15 inches Material: Artisan Water Mixable Mediums  Usage: To dilute oil paints, varnishes, and resins. And cleaning brushes  Size: 250 ml Country of origin: France	Check Price
	Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits Bottle, 4.2oz	Specifications: Brand: Gamblin Gamsol Model Number: G00094 Color: Transparent Item weight: 4 ounces Item Dimensions: 1.5 x 1.5 x 4.5 inches Material: Mineral Spirit paint thinner  Usage: Solvent For Thinning Gamblin Mediums And For General Painting Size: 4.2oz Country of Origin: United States	Check Price
	Eco Solve paint thinner and brush cleaner	Specifications: Brand: Eco-solve Model Number: 155 Color: Transparent Item weight: 1.3 pounds Item Dimensions: 2.75 x 2.75 x 6.75 inches Material: Soy-based and Vegan free Usage: Alternative solvent for the traditional mineral spirits thinner Size: 16 fl oz Country of Origin: United States	Check Price

1- Sunnyside Corporation 80332 Low Odor Mineral Spirits Paint Thinner,

Features:

As a painting expert, I have used multiple paint thinners, and believe me many of them gave me the best results. It was difficult for me to select the best one but finally selected Sunnyside Corporation’s paint thinner to be at the top of this list. This brand has made its name in the past some years and risen to the top for  quality products. This paint thinner has also proved to be the best paint thinner with amazing features. 

The thing I love most about this product is that it works perfectly with not only all kinds of oil-based paints but also with stains and varnishes. If you are dealing with oil-based paints I will suggest you to go for this paint thinner. As this paint thinner is not so heavy on the pocket and yet provides the best results. What people admire most about this paint thinner by Sunnyside corporation is its low odor formula. I faced the strong odor issue with multiple paint thinners but this one saved me from the headache and other adverse effects. 

Moreover, Sunnyside paint thinner has a large customer following over the internet. This paint thinner has its permanent customers. The other reason for loving this paint thinner is its quality to be used for cleaning purposes afterward as well. Along with being the best paint thinner to dilute the paints it also helps in cleaning your paint blunders and mess. Just dip and soak your painting tools in this thinner for 2 minutes and Ta-da!!! Your products look brand new.

2- Pebeo 038004 Porcelaine 150, China Paint Thinner

Features:

This paint thinner by Pebeo is my second favorite product in the list. To be honest, I did not know about Pebeo 2 years back. You need to trust me and try this paint product, it does dilute the paint amazingly to deliver wonderful results. The market is so saturated with paint thinners but still has fewer products for surfaces like glass etc. So this best paint thinner is made specially to be used on china, glass, porcelain, and other surfaces like these. 

It might be difficult for you to digest that this paint thinner comes in 45ml packaging but believe me 2-3 drops are enough to dilute the dry and thick paints. So another amazing feature of the said paint thinner is that it lasts for years, I still have some of it left although I used it for many paint buckets and cleaning. This product is best for cleaning the leftover paints on your palette as well. 

Moreover, Pebeo paint thinner is user-friendly. You need to follow some easy and simple steps to get the work done. Just keep in mind to keep the instructions close to you otherwise you might get things messed up. So without any doubt, if you want paint thinner for the surfaces mentioned above, do not think twice and go with this one by Pebeo.

3- Real Milk Paint, Citrus Solvent, Natural Alternative to Odorless Mineral Spirits, Paint Thinner,

Features:

Another top-quality product that I specially added to this list of best paint thinners just to give you an option to choose the natural alternatives to odorless mineral spirits. This citrus solvent is the product of Real Milk Paint which has an amazing internet presence and worth. This product is better in all aspects as compared to chemical-based paint thinners. For the testing, it comes in smaller packaging as well, so that if you do not like the product or it does not suit your demands, there is no wastage of the product. 

If we talk about the composition of this citrus solvent, it is made of 98% of the oil that is extracted from the natural orange peel. The other 2% is just water. It does not contain any emulsions, surfactants, or any other chemicals. Hence there is almost no adverse effect of using this paint thinner on health. One thing to note is that this paint thinner evaporates much quicker than ordinary chemical solutions. It evaporates if left open. So make sure to fit the cap perfectly before storing it. 

Moreover, this natural citrus solvent has no negative impact on the environment. The commonly used paint thinners play a significant role in depleting the ozone layer and smog. However, the natural composition of this solvent allows it to release no fumes that affect the ozone adversely. Other than that, disposing it off is also very easy as it can cause no potential harm to the environment. 

Furthermore, this product is a great alternative to the paint thinners that are specifically designed for diluting oil-based paints and products. Not only this but also for the thinning of the Tung oil. When I say an alternative I mean in each and everything as it can also be used for the cleaning of the paint mess, paintbrushes, heavy-duty greasy products, etc.

4- Chelsea Classical Studio Lavender Spike Oil Essence – Natural Solvent Non-Toxic Natural Processed Lavender Spike Oil Essence Solvent

Features:

Another great option for oil painters who want to find a natural alternative for diluting the paints. Chelsea Classical Studio has all top-end products which have great quality if we compare them to the other market. They never disappoint in this regard. So If you really want to replace ordinary chemical paint thinner with a natural best paint thinner, this lavender oil is your way to go. Other than that, it comes in a very beautiful bottle and packaging which makes me love it even more. 

If you are an environment enthusiast like me, this lavender spike oil from Chelsea Classical Studio is the best option for you. It is a safer, healthier, and earth-friendly solvent that has no apparent negative or adverse effects on the environment. The ordinary toxic paint thinners have so many chemicals in them that you require a lot of care to save your health and surroundings from them. However, lavender oil provides the same benefits and no adverse effects whatsoever. So tell me, what else does one need?

Moreover, the unique feature of this product is that it comes with a sweet lavender fragrance. Mostly all paint thinners come with a pungent unbearable smell but this lavender oil provides a pleasant and distinctive scent. Furthermore, unlike ordinary thinners, it has multiple uses and benefits. For example other than diluting it can be used to blend pencil colors and dissolve resins and varnishes. Not only this but it can also be utilized in handmade soaps and in aromatherapy.

5- Weber Odorless Turpenoid, Artist Paint Thinner, and Cleaner

Features:

If you are old in the painting domain, you will know how trustable Weber is. It is the oldest brand that made it to the top. According to my knowledge, this is the best paint thinner among the masses. It comes in the category of most sold paint thinners. This paint thinner actually provides an alternative to traditional turpentine oil. Turpentine oil is chemically harsh however this Weber Turpenoid is natural and has a low content of chemicals. Other than that, as this product is USA-made, there is no reason left to not try this product. 

When I first used this paint thinner, to be honest, I was not so amazed by the results I received. This was maybe because I was using it with traditional solvents. I did not know at that time that this paint thinner is made for oil paints only. However, when I used it with oil paint I was stunned to see excellent results at literally no price if we compare it with other competitors. This terpenoid paint thinner is light on the pocket and comes in such a generous quantity. 

Furthermore, turpentine oil has a resinous smell that can literally become the cause of headaches and nausea. However, to your surprise, this terpenoid by Weber has no odor at all. So basically it saves you from all nausea and headaches. Another notable feature of this product is that it evaporates very slowly as compared to other competitive products. It can stay intact for a longer time period. The traditional paint diluters and cleaners emit harmful fumes when applied but this solvent is very environment friendly and emits no harsh fumes.

6- Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Mediums Thinner,

Features:

Winsor and Newton is the first brand to introduce the water mixable medium paint thinner. The main reason to come up with this paint is to keep the oily feel of the paint intact even after using the paint thinner. I have seen multiple high-end products that have no special features and still have sky-rising prices but this product has proved to be a good paint thinner among many. Although the price is a little high but that is okay for the quality we are getting in return.

While using this paint thinner, I had to take no special care and precautions just because this paint thinner is the least toxic you can get in the market right now. It comes with a clean formula that utilizes the minimum amount of chemicals hence it is also environment friendly with no adverse effect on the ozone layer. This is the reason why this product emits no harmful fumes as it does not contain any harmful chemicals. So you just need to be a little careful while applying, no special precautions are necessary. 

Moreover, this Winsor and Newton Artisan water mixable thinner does not affect the color of the paint. The water paint thinners have the con of changing the original color of the paint, but this product saves you in this regard. Other than that, like other less toxic paint thinners, this product also has no odor or we can say less odor. It will not make you physically sick like other options. This paint thinner not only dilutes the paint but also gives it a glowy finish, improves the flow, and provides the paint with texture. Furthermore, it improves the drying time of the paint it is used with.

7- Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits Bottle, 4.2oz

Features:

Eco-solve is not a new name. It has been in the market for years now but I came across this product recently and the results I received forced me to add this product to the list of the best paint thinners. This paint thinner is actually an amazing alternative or you can say substitute for all the chemical-filled mineral spirits available in the market. Moreover, the composition of Eco-solve thinner is 100% chemical free. So, if you have a little conscience of saving the environment, this product will help you a lot. 

Furthermore, this paint thinner by Eco-solve is directly extracted from soy-based and vegans hence it is also animal cruelty-free. This paint thinner was quite heavy for my pocket at least but I still tried it for the sake that it is environmentally friendly. So if you have got enough money never go for mineral spirits and show some dignity and use its natural alternative. Another thing that I noticed about this product is that it is easily utilizable even by beginners and also by professionals. It is all in one type of product. 

Moreover, Eco-solve paint thinner goes well with oil paints, resins, and varnishes. It helps you to clean the brushes, and palettes completely. The thing I love about this product is that it has no pungent smell hence no headaches and nausea. A little warning for you if you are about to buy this product is that it dries quite slowly as compared to traditional mineral spirits. Other than that, it emits no harmful fumes leaving your health unaffected.

8- Eco Solve paint thinner and brush cleaner

Features:

Eco-solve is not a new name. It has been in the market for years now but I came across this product recently and the results I received forced me to add this product to the list of the best paint thinners. This paint thinner is actually an amazing alternative or you can say substitute for all the chemical-filled mineral spirits available in the market. Moreover, the composition of Eco-solve thinner is 100% chemical free. So, if you have a little conscience of saving the environment, this product will help you a lot. 

Furthermore, this paint thinner by Eco-solve is directly extracted from soy-based and vegans hence it is also animal cruelty-free. This paint thinner was quite heavy for my pocket at least but I still tried it for the sake that it is environmentally friendly. So if you have got enough money never go for mineral spirits and show some dignity and use its natural alternative. Another thing that I noticed about this product is that it is easily utilizable even by beginners and also by professionals. It is all in one type of product. 

Moreover, Eco-solve paint thinner goes well with oil paints, resins, and varnishes. It helps you to clean the brushes, and palettes completely. The thing I love about this product is that it has no pungent smell hence no headaches and nausea. A little warning for you if you are about to buy this product is that it dries quite slowly as compared to traditional mineral spirits. Other than that, it emits no harmful fumes leaving your health unaffected.

A Complete Buying guide for buying the best paint Thinner:

If you are an artist you must know how important it is to use paint thinner to get the best results especially when we are dealing with oil paints. Due to the saturated market of paint supplies, this product, paint thinner, also gets ignored. Believe me, a little paint thinner can improve your experience to 10x better. However, finding a suitable paint thinner is also not a very easy task. You just cannot go and order the first product you see. It needs special consideration. Hence I have written this buying guide to assist you. 

So let us get into the buying guide so you can also find your perfect match as fast as possible.

1- Quantity:

I have seen people not buying paint thinner just because they find the quantity less. In my opinion, you just need a few drops of right paint thinner to work. It lasts longer than you think so do not give quantity much importance and go for the quality product instead.

2- Reliability:

As far as I know, reliability is the most important thing while buying not only paint thinners but anything. Paints are wasted if the paint thinner you used is of harsh quality so it is better to go with a reliable product by a reputable brand. One thing I can say for sure is that recognized brands do not lie in the features lists and you won’t face the issues of odor when it is labeled as odorless.

3- Environment Friendly:

Buying an environment-friendly product will give you satisfaction for not playing a part in destroying nature. Environment-friendly paint thinners have fewer or no chemicals which means it is not only the best option for the surroundings but also for your health. It emits no harmful fumes to start with. Also it will give no skin irritations. Furthermore, you can dispose it off easily and whatnot. So if you have an option to buy a natural substitute for chemical-filled paint thinner go for the natural one. 

4- Price:

It is an important factor that we need to discuss. I am of the opinion that investing too much in the paint thinner is not an intelligent move. Keep yourself on a moderate budget. Investment in buying the best paint thinner is long term. Hence select the best quality product within the budget. Never go for high-end products if your pocket is not ready as low-end quality products do the same job.

5- The type of the paint thinner:

When I was a beginner, I accidentally ordered the wrong paint thinner. I ordered the acrylic paint thinner while what I needed was oil paints one. I was really disappointed but it taught me a lesson that never ever buy any paint supply without knowing the type of paint it is compatible with, whether it is a paint thinner, primer, or finish.

6- The rate of evaporation:

Without thinking twice, go for the product which has low rates of evaporation. The paint thinners usually tend to dry and evaporate super quickly even without paint getting dry properly. So it is always recommended to buy a paint thinner that has elongated evaporation times.

Frequently Asked Questions:

The ending note: