Best Table Top Easels

When it comes to purchasing easels, it can be very difficult choosing the right one for you especially if you are a beginner and you have no idea what exactly you are looking for. There are so many different types of easels and there are so many good easels on offer so it can be really hard deciding which one to buy.

If you are a painter with limited workspace the best option for you would be to purchase a table top easel. We prepared a list of best table top easels to help you out.

First, you need to know what you should look for in an easel.

Stability

Stability is very important! Just because you need a small compact easel, it doesn’t mean it should be all flimsy and insecure.

You need a sturdy, secure easel that will keep your painting surface, whether tats a panel, canvas or any other surface you might be painting on, securely in place. No one likes working on a surface that is constantly shaking and moving.

What we would recommend here is a table top easel that is an H-frame easel. With an H-frame, you are getting a lot of support for your painting surface.

Also, pay attention to the canvas or panel holders those should be big enough to provide nice support and you must be able to tighten them enough so they don’t slide on the mast.

Don’t forget the base of the easel which has to be big enough to provide adequate support and it should preferably have rubber legs to prevent sliding on the table surface.

Rubber legs might not seem like much to you, but believe me, they are important. I once had an easel without them and it was really special experience.

With the slightest push on the canvas, my easel would move, which is incredibly annoying not to mention the mistakes I made each time that happened. So yes, rubber legs are important.

Easy Storage

You decided to purchase a table top easel so you probably don’t have a studio space or enough room for working. If that is the case then you need to look for an easel that is easy to fold and small and light enough to store out of the way.

Functionality

In the end, there is functionality. You need your easel to allow you to paint or draw comfortably in many different positions without having to remove your painting or drawing surface from it each time you need to adjust the angle.

Depending on the size of the surfaces you use you need to check the carrying capacity of the easel you are buying because many of table easels can’t carry large canvases or panels. Also, some of the table easels allow you to lower the painting surface under the table level, which is very useful if you are working on larger pieces.

Now that you got the basics of what you should be looking at when purchasing your easel, we can tell you more about our favourites.

Best Deluxe Table Top Easel

Best Deluxe table top easel is hand made easel produced by Jack Richeson & Co. that is in the production of the finest art materials and is located in America.

Stability

This easel is made of finest carefully selected red oak handcrafted and hand-finished. This is an H-frame table easel with an 18″ x 18″ base that gives the easel additional stability.

Bottom canvas holder is big enough to provide a secure grip of your painting surface whether it is a canvas, a panel or a drawing board.

The height and angle are adjusted by a simple turn of knobs which can be tightened tight enough to keep everything securely in place.

Best Deluxe table top easel can be tilted to any angle between 0 and 85 degrees which makes it suitable for any painting and drawing technique.

This is a very sturdy and stable heavy-duty table top easel that will provide excellent support to your painting or drawing surface.

Easy Storage

Best Deluxe table top easel can be folded flat so it can be easily stored when you are not using it. For tighter spaces, you can even remove the bottom canvas holder and place it next to your easel.

Functionality

Best Deluxe table top easel is a large H-frame table easel. It can carry a canvas or a panel up to 36″ high. When it is fully extended it is 47″ high.

It arrives to you almost fully assembled, all you have to do is add the bottom canvas holder which is really simple and it will take you just a minute of your time.

There are large, easy to turn knobs for any adjustment you might need when it comes to the angle of the painting surface or the height.

The knobs are of good quality and can be tightened very well, so everything is very stable and secure. This is by all standards a top quality product that will last you a lifetime.

The price is a bit high, but considering the quality, I would definitely say it is worth it.

Product Details

• Very sturdy and stable wooden H-frame table top easel handcrafted of red oak with a large base 18″ x 18″ for additional stability.
• Can be folded flat for easy storage.
• Holds a painting surface up to 36″ in height.

Mabef Table Top Easel M/31

Mabef table top easel M/31 is produced in Italy by a company with long tradition and experience in the production of the finest wooden easels.

Stability

M/31 is made of solid top quality beechwood, which is durable and very solid and yet lightweight.

Mabefs’ M/31 table top easel is very stable and sturdy. On the base, there are non slip rubberized feet which is great since some table surfaces are very smooth and your easel can simply glide on them and that would be so annoying while you are working.

It might seem a bit insecure since it is just one mast easel with no additional support on the sides of the canvas but the canvas holders are big enough and they can be tightened enough to keep your painting surface securely in place with no movement while you are working.

The canvas holders are big enough and you can tighten the screws on them to secure your painting surface and be sure that it will not slip or move while you are painting.

All moving parts are constructed in a way the there is no friction and all the screws and wing nuts are of top quality so everything can be tightened very tight to allow you to paint uninterrupted without having to think about your painting surface moving or even shaking while you work.

Easy Storage

M/31 is very compact, very lightweight since it is made of beechwood, has a small base that is only 14 1/8″ x 15″  and you can easily store it out of the way when you are not using it, like under the bed or in some closet somewhere.

Functionality

When it comes to functionality, this little easel is great! You can set it to any angle from vertical to horizontal, which allows you to use it for many painting and drawing techniques with ease.

You can also pull the mast below the table surface so you can comfortably paint on a larger canvas panel or whatever surface you use.

Minimum height of the easel is 25″ and maximum height, when you fully stretch it is 41 3/8″. The base is 14 1/8″ and 15″ so it can easily fit on the average table.

The weight of the easel is 6lbs and its maximum loading capacity is 9lbs. It can accommodate the canvas or panel up to 39 3/8″.

Mabef M/31 has a lifelong guarantee which says all about the quality of this product. When you purchase Mabef products you are making a brilliant investment in your art since they last you a lifetime.

The price of the easel can seem high to many but the quality fits the price so I assure you it is worth every penny. Table top easels are suitable for those of you with a limited work area and the fact that you can store them anywhere since they are compact makes them ideal for students and hobbyists.

Product Details

• Very stable wooden table top easel made of top quality beechwood with a square base that is 14 1/8″ x 15″ with rubberized legs for additional security.
• Easily folded to be stored away when you are not using it.
• Can carry a panel or canvas up to 9lbs in weight and up to 39 3/8″  in height.

Mabef Table Top Easel M/14

Another amazing easel made in Italy by Mabef. This is a basic H-frame table top easel.

Stability

Mabefs’ table easel M/14 is a basic tabletop easel. It is made of top quality beechwood, which is the best choice of material for wooden easels since it has perfect structure. There are no soft and hard grains in a single piece of beechwood, so it does not bend or twist over time.

Wood is additionally oiled which makes it stain resistant so it is not only long-lasting it is very easy maintaining it in pristine condition with just a little care.

All you have to do after the painting is clean your easel with a soft dry cloth and damp the cloth in linseed oil and rub it in your easel. This way your easel will stay perfect for many years to come.

Canvas holders are big enough and you can tighten them enough to keep your painting surface securely in place.

The base of the easel is 11. 1/2 x 13. 3/8. It has rubber legs that prevent the easel to slide on the table. Even tho this easel is small and light, it is still very stable and sturdy.

The H-frame shape additionally helps to secure your canvas, so it doesn’t move even when you are painting a bit more energetic.

Easy Storage

Mabef table easel M/14 is very light weighs only 3.5 libs, and it is foldable so it is great for students, beginners and all of you with limited workspace since it is very easy storing it out of the way after you finished working and also you can carry it anywhere.

Functionality

Mabef table easel M/14 is diverse and you can use it for many painting and drawing techniques since you can adjust the angle in which you prefer painting. You can also use it as a display easel. 

All the moving parts are made in such a manner, so there is no friction and no damage to the wood no matter how many times you adjust it. Also, all the screws and hinges are made of top quality materials so they don’t wear out after a long period of use.

It can carry a canvas or a panel up to 5.5 libs and up to 23.5″ in height. Height of the easel when fully stretched is 40.5″.

The price of the M/14 basic table easel might seem to you somewhat high but may I remind you that Mabef products have a lifetime guarantee which says enough about the quality they provide you.  So I think it is worth paying a bit extra for a product you know will last you a lifetime.

Product Details

• Stable basic wooden H-frame table top easel with a square base measuring 11 1/2″ x 13 3/8″ with rubberized feet for stability.
• Very lightweight and easy to fold so you can store it out of the way when you are not using it.
• Accommodates a canvas or panel up to 5.5lbs in weight and up to 23.5″ in height.

Renoir Table Top Easel

Amazing table easel. What do we like about this easel? Everything. It is sturdy and still light. It is nice in design. Very practical to carry and move around, storable, which makes it amazing for all of you without studio space.

Stability

Renoir table easel is very sturdy and stable. It is made of refined beechwood and protected with an oil finish. 

Base of the easel is a large box with a tool drawer. The drawer is lined with metal to protect the inside from staining in case some of your paints and solvents leak out in it.

Also, you can adjust the metal parts in the drawer so it suits your needs depending on what tools you want to carry with you or keep stored in it.

Size of the base is 14″ x 16″ x 1.5″. It does make your easel heavier especially when you fill it up but that additional weight gives your easel greater stability.

On Renoir table easel there are two moving canvas holders that have ridges on them for additional security of different painting and drawing surfaces. 

Since Renoir table easel is in a shape of an H-frame easel, it provides better support for your drawing or painting surface.

It has wing nuts that help you tighten it in the desired position and it holds very well so you do not have to worry your painting surface will move even with a bit of extra force applied to it.

Easy Storage

Once you fold Renoir table top easel, it gains a shape of a little wooden suitcase with a leather handle on the side and neat locks to secure everything.

It is very easy to carry and store your easel and it does not take up much space in your closet or under the bed. This easel is great for all of you that do not have enough space and have to travel often.

Functionality

When it comes to functionality, this little easel is amazing. It has two mobile canvas holders with ridges to tightly hold different painting surfaces such as canvas, panel or drawing boards.

You can lower bottom canvas holder under the table surface, which is great if you are working on a larger canvas or panel and need that little extra room to maneuver.

Painting or drawing surface is very secure and tightly held and also since this is an H-frame easel you have additional support on the back of your painting or drawing surface that prevents it to move or flip.The size of a panel, canvas or drawing board it can accommodate is up to 34″ in height.

We can position Renoir table easel in many angles between horizontal and vertical and tighten it in place with wing nuts. This makes Renoir easel suitable for many different painting and drawing techniques.

The drawer that is actually the base of the easel is great storage for all the tools and materials you might need while working, so you basically have everything at hand.

Also, having your tools and paints in the drawer makes it a perfect, ready to go, art studio in case you need to travel or paint outside.

Product Details

• Sturdy and stable H-frame easel with a toolbox at base measuring 14″ x 16″ x 1.5″.
• Fully foldable with a leather handle on the side, which makes it easy to carry and store when you are not using it.
• Weight of the easel is 9lbs and it can accommodate painting or drawing surface up to 34″ in height.

US Art Supply Tabel Top Easel

US Art Supply is one of many brands owned by TCP Global Corporation. It imports low cost-high quality artist materials to the United States, providing the artists with a wide variety of quality art supplies at a low price.

Stability

This is a professional medium size H-frame wooden tabletop easel. You can use it as a painting or a display easel.

US Art Supply Table easel is made of solid, hand sanded, aged beechwood that grows in Germany. Beechwood is the best choice of wood for the production of wooden easels because of its properties. You will never have issues with your easel twisting or splintering since there are no soft and hard grains in a single piece of beechwood.

 It can accommodate fairly large canvas and hold it securely so you can work without fear of it flipping or falling off.

The easel is hand sanded and protected with an oil finish, so it is easier to maintain it in perfect shape. When you get the easel, some simple assembly is required because it comes assembled backwards so you have to disassemble and put it back together the right way.

This is easy tho and it will take you just a few minutes to do it so I do not see this as a big problem.

The base of the easel is square shaped and it has rubber feet for safe surface grip so your easel would not slide on the table while you are working.

Canvas holders are big enough to hold your canvas securely in place and you can tighten the side screws and hinges enough so you can adjust your painting surface in any angle you need to work without the fear of the easel folding to flat.

Easy Storage

Once folded the easel is small enough so you can easily store it out of the way like under the bed or in the closet. This makes it great for students or beginner artists that have no studio space and have to use shared rooms for their artwork. 

Functionality

US Art Supply Medium H-Frame tabletop easel can support a canvas up to 22″ in height. The top canvas holder is easy to remove so you can put a larger painting surface on it, but it is too unstable so I wouldn’t recommend that.

The dimensions of the easel are: 11″ wide by 12.5″ deep by 29.5″ high, easel adjusts up to 38.5″ in total maximum height.

It has metal knobs that make it easy for you to adjust the height and angle quickly and easily. This makes your easel usable for many painting techniques from oil painting to watercolor painting that requires a flat surface. 

You can also adjust your easel to hold the canvas or any surface you work on slightly past a full vertical incline which makes it suitable to do pastel work.

When folded the easel is small enough to be easily stored or carried so this makes it great for students or beginner artists that have no studio space and have to use shared rooms for their artwork. 

What is also great is that US Art Supply offers you a 100% Lifetime Satisfaction guarantee. This means that you can return your easel at any time if you are not satisfied with it and get your money back or exchange it for a different product. I am sure this will not be the case tho since this is a good quality product.

Product Details

• Stable H-frame easel with wooden feet to prevent sliding on the table surface.
• Foldable and light so it is easy storing it away.
• Accommodates a canvas or a panel up to 22″ in height.

Conclusion

Table easels are great for all of you with limited work space but are in no way substitute for studio easels. 

I hope this review helps you to decide which easel will suit your needs the best, and that will make it easier for you to purchase one.

If you have any questions regarding the subject and need any help, I will be more than happy to help just leave me a message in the comment section and I will make sure to answer as soon as possible.