The 10 Best fluid Cold Press Watercolor Papers (2023 reviews)

We consider a fluid cold press watercolor paper to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your needs from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Arches fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best With Acrylic: Buy: Strathmore fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For doing pen And ink Watercolor washes: Buy: Canson fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For Artist: Buy: Stonehenge Aqua fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For Professional: Buy: BAOHONG fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For applying The finest Watercolor paints: Buy: Speedball fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best With gouache: Buy: Speedball Premium Quality Paper READ REVIEW

Best For blending And Lifting Color: Buy: Legion fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For Cyanotype: Buy: Hahnemuhle fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best For practice: Buy: new York Central fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Arches fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

The latest arches fluid cold press watercolor paper is an absolute beast in terms of its features, and rightfully takes the top spot with ease. It is made from 100% natural cotton fiber with no optical brightening agents, this arches paper has an archival, natural white color and an exquisite texture unlike other papers on the market. It is cotton fiber so it makes painting on it much more successful. It is available in several formats and sizes including blocks, pads, sheets and rolls, and 3 luxurious textures.

It is thick and rigid, 140 lb (300 gsm), and is acid-free. The texture is rough, and it is excellent for amature for professional artists alike. The Tape comes off easily without ripping and masking fluid also comes off easily without pulling at the paper. It is good for multiple layers of washes. It comes with long fibers, this thick, stable sheet is beautiful, durable, and resillient.

• Very thick and absorbent paper for a beginner artist, good quality
• Perfect amount of texture for amazing detail with nice thick quality
• Rough surface is great for landscapes

Best With Acrylic: Strathmore fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

The strathmore fluid cold press watercolor paper might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year. If you’re looking for affordable, 100% cotton watercolour paper, this paper is perfect. The strathmore 500 series ready cut watercolor cold press papers utilize a harder size and surface strength to provide greater water hold. It holds a decent amt of water. It is 100% cotton, acid free, and archival. It stands up well with water for small paper.

It provides greater water hold-out, improved color lifting, and blending. It does not give the right reaction when you do wet on wet. It does not feel like 300g or 100% cotton.

• Excellent watercolor paper that is reasonably priced
• A good quality 100% cotton paper
• Doesn't tear easily when painting on

Best For doing pen And ink Watercolor washes: Canson fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate paper. The canson fluid cold press watercolor paper is exactly that - it's a simple paper that hits all the right notes. It is good for starting water colour. It can be used on 20 sheets of 140 pound/300 gram acid free 9 x 12 inch paper. It is mold made and performs beautifully with all wet medias. The pages are very thick and they hold up very well when a lot of water is used.

The paper has a perforated edge, so you can easily tear it out and move it around. It is good for doing pen and ink watercolor washes or even acrylic inks.

• Great paper for watercolor or acrylics
• Thick, durable, and heavyweight watercolor paper
• Thick, sturdy, no pilling and just beautiful to work on

Best For Artist: Stonehenge Aqua fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

The stonehenge aqua fluid cold press watercolor paper is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. It is a more affordable block of amazing 100% cotton watercolor paper. It's super strong, absorbent, and can withstand scrubbing. The texture is somewhere between cold press and hot press with the best attributes of both. It's like it has an inner layer of cellulose fiber. The thickness of it is perfect and the texture is amazing. Painter's tape peels up lots of paper and frisket also peels the paper off, and gum erasers lift texture off.

It's an excellent product for pros and especially for beginners and kids so they don't get discouraged by wood pulp papers that hopelessly wrinkle and tear, & don't reflect colors as brightly.

• Beautifully textured and holds water and pigment like a dream
• Affordable cotton rag that's great for students and illustrators
• Fantastic watercolor paper for a fraction of the cost of arches
• Dries completely flat after using very wet washes

Best For Professional: BAOHONG fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

The baohong fluid cold press watercolor paper should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. It has all the qualities you'd look for in 100% cotton watercolor paper. It is made from long, 100% cotton fibers, allowing it to absorb a lot of water without warping or causing the colors to bleed. Pigments dry a little lighter and slightly less vibrant than Arches or Fluid 100 but all of that can be compensated for by its great glazing and reworking capability.

This specific watercolor paper has a cold press finish and light texture. They can take a lot of water without damage and it is able to absorb just the right amount of moisture. Acid-free paper addresses the problem of preserving artwork for long periods and ensures the longevity of your artwork, perfect for the artists who are looking for the ultimate in permanence. It is perfect for different mediums and subjects.

• Wet painting without buckling and is scrubbable when correction is needed
• Hot press paper is flat with no texture
• Excellent paper for new and experienced artists

Best For applying The finest Watercolor paints: Speedball fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

It fits perfectly in a Guerrilla Painter 5x7 box and in many inexpensive picture frames. It is the finest quality watercolor paper that conforms to ISO 9607 standards of permanence, 100% cotton rag and gelatin-sized. This paper is heavy weight and is textured as are most cold pressed papers. It's stiff like thin cardboard and dries with minimal buckling. It is produced at slow speeds for precise control for a stronger, premium quality paper.

This is a nice, heavyweight 100 % cotton paper that comes as separate loose sheets in a reclosable cardboard packet.

• Cotton archival quality paper that is perfect for applying the finest watercolor paints
• Holds a lot of water and doesnt buckle
• A nice, heavyweight 100% cotton paper

Best With gouache: Speedball Premium Quality Paper

Buy on Amazon

Speedball is known for creating pragmatic and minimalist paper for people on the go, and its line of speedball premium quality paper definitely falls in line with that reputation. Fluid watercolor blocks come in 12 artist friendly sizes in cold or hot press surfaces, so there's sure to be one that inspires your creative spirit. It is great for higher end watercolor painting. It handles only two gentle layers of wet on wet though. The glue along the two long edges will hold the sheet flat as you paint.

The paper is a nice thickness and water color goes on beautifully. It is heavy and does not cause the inks to feather. It is nice for inking and ok as long as you dont saturate the paper. This paper holds up really well.

• Nice size and well sealed on edges
• Stays flat with washes and lots of water
• One of the new comers and featured product

Best For blending And Lifting Color: Legion fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

This paper has wonderful texture that holds pigment beautifully. It is made of 100 percent white cotton paper. It holds up to multiple layers of paint and does not pill. It is ideal for blending and lifting color.

This block is glued along two long edges to hold each sheet flat while painting. It doesnt have a lot of texture to it like arches or baohong paper does but it's still very absorbent and works just as well. The paper is great quality when you remove your finished piece from the block and it comes off so easily without leaving an edge on the block or your paper. There is a small opening mid way on one of the long sides of the block where there is no glue.

• Better blending, and bleeding, and lifting pigment
• Watercolors blend and bleed nicely when using wet on wet technique
• Stays workable ( wet ) longer

Best For Cyanotype: Hahnemuhle fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

The hahnemuhle fluid cold press watercolor paper's high-end materials makes sure that it ages well with use. This paper is really nice to paint on on wet, dry brush, and other techniques without a hitch. It can withstand the most demanding watercolor techniques, the fibers do not lift, rub off or loosen when applying multiple layers of color, or when using masking fluids and tapes. It pulls the paper layer when you try taking out the masking fluid gently. It offers extremely strong fibers and incomparable purity. It handles wet on wet, dry brush, and other techniques without a hitch.

The Collection cold press is a bit finer “grain” and a bit more random than Arches. It has a nice tooth that is not too much and not too little. It does not feel as thick or stiff as other.

• Amazing watercolor paper for lifting paint
• Nice 100% cotton watercolor paper, well-priced
• Great paper quality, absorb water well, no problem with masking tape and liquid

Best For practice: new York Central fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Buy on Amazon

All four sides of the New York central watercolor blocks are glued to prevent the top sheet from curling and buckling as you paint. It can withstand a multitude of techniques, including wet color blending, paper scratching, and scrubbing. It's easy to blend and mix on the paper and it has a nice texture. The rigid backing board supports the paper and makes plein air painting simple.

The paper is very nice quality and takes water well. The internal gelatin sizing prevents paint bleed-through and preserves color vibrancy. It has a balanced grain that softens as a unit when wet. There is no need to stretch the paper before using it.

• Delivers what they promise
• Good brand reputation