Resin Art Kit: Best Kits for Beginners (Buyer’s Guide)
Walk into any craft shop or scroll any online marketplace and you will find dozens of boxes promising everything you need to make coasters, geodes, ocean waves and pendants. A good resin art kit really can get you pouring in an afternoon, but a poor one leaves you with sticky, cloudy pieces and a drawer of tools you never use. This guide explains what should be in a beginner’s box, how art kits differ from plain resin kits, the kit types worth considering and the red flags to avoid, so you can choose with confidence rather than by the prettiest packaging.
If you are completely new to the craft, start with our overview of resin art to see the techniques and styles, then come back here to choose your starter kit.
Resin art kit vs a plain resin kit
A plain epoxy resin kit is usually just resin, hardener and perhaps a few cups and sticks. It suits woodworkers and people who already own tools. A resin art kit bundles the resin with the creative extras: pigments, mica powders, moulds, glitter, dried flowers and tools aimed at specific projects. For beginners that convenience is valuable, but it also means a lot of the price can go on bits of variable quality.
What a good beginner kit should include
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Resin and hardener | Clear art or coating resin, simple 1:1 by volume ratio, at least 500ml combined so you can practise |
| Measuring cups | Graduated cups with clear millilitre markings; several sizes |
| Stirring sticks | Flat wooden or silicone sticks to scrape the sides and bottom |
| Silicone moulds | Glossy-finish, flexible food-grade-type silicone in simple shapes such as coasters and trays |
| Colourants | Mica powders, alcohol inks or liquid pigments made for resin |
| Gloves | Nitrile gloves, not latex or vinyl |
| Instructions | Clear mixing ratio, working time, cure time and temperature guidance |
Nice extras include a small heat tool for popping bubbles, a silicone mat to protect your table, and a dust cover for curing.
Types of starter kits
Coaster and tray starter kits
The most common and most forgiving. Shallow coaster moulds cure reliably and let you practise colour, cells and gold-leaf effects. Ideal for a first resin art kit for adults.
Jewellery and UV resin kits
Small bezels, pendants and earrings, often using UV-curing resin and a lamp. Fast and tidy, but not suitable for thick or large pieces. Read our UV resin guide before buying one.
Mould and casting kits
Kits built around silicone moulds for spheres, pyramids, bookends or trinket dishes. Check the resin suits the depth of the moulds; many coating resins overheat in deep moulds. Our guide to resin molds explains shapes and materials.
Pour-painting and geode kits
Larger quantities of resin with alcohol inks, white pigment and glitter for wall art or canvas pours. Better for confident beginners willing to work on a larger, level surface.
Flower preservation kits
Include dried flowers and clear moulds. Flowers must be fully dry or they will brown; see preserving flowers in resin.
How to judge kit quality before you buy
- Resin quantity: some kits include only 100–200ml of resin, barely enough for three coasters. Compare the cost per millilitre.
- Clarity and yellowing: look for mention of UV stabilisers and a clear, low-odour formula.
- Safety information: a safety data sheet should be available. Avoid kits with no supplier details or ingredients.
- Cure guidance: realistic times (typically 24–72 hours to demould) rather than vague claims.
- Pigment quality: resin-specific micas and inks disperse better than generic craft powders. Our mica powder guide explains what to look for.
- Mould finish: shiny inner surfaces give glossy pieces; matte moulds give matte results.
Red flags to avoid
- Unusual mix ratios with no clear measuring instructions.
- Claims such as “completely non-toxic” with no data sheet.
- Huge piece counts made up mostly of glitter pots and plastic spatulas.
- Resin that arrives cloudy, crystallised or with leaking caps.
Your first project with a resin kit
- Work in a room at roughly 20–25°C with good ventilation and a level, protected surface.
- Put on nitrile gloves and eye protection.
- Measure resin and hardener exactly to ratio in separate cups, then combine.
- Stir slowly for 3–5 minutes, scraping sides and bottom.
- Split into small cups and add colour sparingly; a pinch of mica or a drop of ink goes a long way. See how to colour epoxy resin.
- Pour into moulds, then pass a heat tool briefly over the surface to release bubbles.
- Cover and leave undisturbed for the full cure time before demoulding.
For more on the pouring stage, see how to pour epoxy resin and our epoxy resin for beginners guide.
Safety: the part most kits gloss over
Uncured epoxy can cause skin irritation and, with repeated contact, allergic sensitisation that may be permanent. Always wear nitrile gloves, avoid skin contact, ventilate the room and keep kits away from children and pets. Sanding cured resin creates fine dust, so wear a dust mask. The Wikipedia article on epoxy includes a useful summary of the health risks and why sensitisation matters. Cured art resin is not automatically food safe; check our food safe epoxy guide before making serving pieces.
Storing your kit between projects
Most beginners use only part of the resin in their first sessions, so storage matters. Keep both bottles tightly capped, upright and in a cool, dark cupboard, ideally between about 15°C and 25°C. Wipe the threads before closing so the caps do not glue shut. Hardener can slowly yellow once opened, and resin stored in the cold may crystallise and turn cloudy; gently warming the bottle in a bath of warm water usually clears it. Most resins have a typical shelf life of six to twelve months once opened. Clean silicone moulds with tape or a soft cloth, not solvents, and store them flat so they keep their shape.
What does a resin art kit cost?
Typically, small coaster or jewellery starter kits cost around £20–£40 ($25–$50), while larger kits with more resin, several moulds and a range of pigments are typically £40–£90 ($50–$110). Buying resin, moulds and colourants separately often works out cheaper per piece once you know what you enjoy making.
Watch it being made
Watch our first light-up resin table being made in the workshop, with dragons and creatures appearing in the resin art, and the colours, pours and finishing shown step by step.
Resin Art Dragons and creatures in resin art table My First Light-Up Resin Table. More builds on the Go Bespoke YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best resin kit for beginners?
Look for a kit with a 1:1 ratio, at least 500ml of resin, simple shallow moulds, resin-specific pigments, nitrile gloves and clear instructions. Coaster kits are the most forgiving starting point.
Are resin art kits for adults different from kids’ craft kits?
Yes. Two-part epoxy is not suitable for children. Adult kits contain real epoxy resin that requires gloves and ventilation; craft kits for kids generally use different, non-epoxy materials.
How much resin do I need to start?
Around 500ml to 1 litre of mixed resin is enough for a handful of coasters and small trays, which is plenty for practice.
Can I use a resin kit for a table?
No. Art kits contain far too little resin and often the wrong type. Tables need table-top or deep-pour resin in much larger volumes.
Why is my resin still sticky after 48 hours?
Usually inaccurate measuring, under-mixing or a cold room. Remove the soft resin, clean the mould, and remix carefully at a warmer temperature.
Want to see resin projects poured and finished from start to end? Subscribe to the Go Bespoke YouTube channel for step-by-step builds and ideas for your next piece.