About This Ranking
This Top 10 list is compiled from publicly available information found on the internet, manufacturer websites and online packaging resources.
The article is intended as an editorial sourcing guide for art-material brands, paint companies, private-label businesses, contract fillers and packaging buyers looking for empty paint tube manufacturing options in China.
Suppliers were reviewed using publicly presented information relating to aluminum, plastic and laminate tube manufacturing, nozzle options, custom printing, OEM / ODM capability and general tube-packaging experience.
Not every company listed publicly specializes in every type of artist paint. Buyers should therefore verify actual paint-packaging experience, internal lining, chemical compatibility and filling requirements for the exact formulation before procurement.
This is not an official industry ranking and does not represent audited market share, independent certification or third-party endorsement.
Version 2026.08 · Last Reviewed: August 26, 2026What Is an Empty Paint Tube?
An empty paint tube is a collapsible or flexible tube supplied without product so that an art-material manufacturer or contract filler can fill it with oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolor, gouache, pigment paste or another color medium.
Traditional professional artist paints are often packed in collapsible aluminum tubes, while PE and laminate tubes can be used for selected acrylic, craft-paint and specialty-pigment applications.
Paint Packaging Must Match the Binder and Solvent System
Oil paint, water-based acrylic and solvent-rich technical coatings can interact very differently with packaging materials. The tube should therefore be selected using the actual formulation, not just the product label “paint.”
Key Requirements for Paint Tube Packaging
The tube wall and internal lining should resist oils, solvents, pigments and binders.
Packaging should limit moisture, oxygen or solvent loss where required.
The nozzle opening should match paint viscosity and expected bead size.
Artists often prefer tubes that dispense paint predictably without uncontrolled spring-back.
The tail must withstand filling, crimping or heat sealing and repeated squeezing.
Printed color, labels and coatings should survive handling and studio conditions.
Related resources: Plastic Paint Tube Packaging Guide and Plastic Paint Tube Packaging Project .
Aluminum vs Plastic vs Laminate Paint Tubes
Paint brands can choose among collapsible aluminum, flexible PE and laminate structures depending on the formulation, target market and desired dispensing behavior.
| Factor | Aluminum Tube | PE Tube | ABL / PBL Tube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsibility | High | Lower, more recovery | Medium to high |
| Barrier | High | Standard | Good to high |
| Permanent Fold | Yes | No / limited | Depends on structure |
| Internal Lining | Often important | Not typically comparable | Depends on laminate construction |
| Squeeze Recovery | Low | High | Medium |
| Print Appearance | Excellent with suitable decoration | Excellent | Excellent |
| Typical Direction | Oil paint / artist pigments | Acrylic / craft paint | Specialty / barrier-sensitive paint |
Why Artists Often Prefer Aluminum Tubes
Aluminum tubes collapse as product is dispensed and tend to stay collapsed rather than drawing significant air back into the pack. This characteristic can be useful for certain artist paint formulations.
Explore: Aluminum Tubes , PE Tubes and Laminate Tubes .
Paint Type × Empty Tube Material Guide
The table below provides a preliminary sourcing direction. Final material and lining selection should be confirmed using the exact paint formulation.
| Paint Type | Main Packaging Concern | Tube Direction To Evaluate | Critical Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Paint | Oil / solvent compatibility + barrier | Aluminum | Internal lining + filled aging |
| Acrylic Paint | Moisture + squeeze behavior | PE / PBL / Aluminum | Compatibility + evaporation |
| Watercolor | Controlled small-dose dispensing | Small Aluminum / PE | Nozzle flow |
| Gouache | Moisture retention + thick paste flow | Aluminum / PE | Weight loss + squeeze test |
| Artist Pigment Paste | Barrier + pigment stability | Aluminum / ABL / PBL | Filled stability |
| Craft Paint | Cost + easy dispensing | PE | Leakage + squeeze test |
| Metallic Paint | Pigment stability + interaction | Barrier tube | Compatibility |
| High-Viscosity Paint | Squeeze force + nozzle flow | Soft PE / Aluminum | Dispensing test |
Formulation Testing Is Essential
The material directions above are general sourcing references, not universal compatibility guarantees. Pigments, binders, solvents and additives can significantly change package performance.
Top 10 Best Empty Paint Tube Manufacturers in China 2026
The suppliers below represent different sourcing options for aluminum, plastic, laminate and specialty tube packaging that may be relevant to art paint, pigment paste and other color-medium applications.
Buyers should verify each supplier's actual experience with paint products, internal lining, chemical compatibility, filling requirements and closure design before mass production.
Xinfly Packaging
Xinfly Packaging manufactures customized tube packaging across plastic, laminate and aluminum directions and can support paint, pigment paste and technical color-product packaging projects after compatibility review.
Projects can include custom tube dimensions, nozzle openings, closures, tube colors, printing and different barrier structures.
- PE squeeze tubes
- 5-layer EVOH
- ABL
- PBL
- Aluminum tubes
- Acrylic paint
- Craft paint
- Pigment paste
- Art materials
- Technical color products
- Offset printing
- Silk screen printing
- Hot stamping
- Custom Pantone colors
- Matte / glossy finish
- Material comparison
- Nozzle / orifice selection
- Sample development
- Filling coordination
- Quality inspection
Lisson Packaging
Lisson Packaging provides customized flexible tube packaging with multiple dispensing and decoration options. These capabilities may be relevant for selected paint and pigment packaging applications.
- Custom flexible tubes
- Tube dimensions
- Custom dispensing heads
- Printing and decoration
- OEM / ODM support
- Paint packaging experience
- Solvent compatibility
- Internal lining if required
- Filled aging
- Filling process
Runk Packaging
Runk Packaging offers tube packaging across PE, multi-layer and laminate structures that may provide several material directions for paint and pigment applications.
- 2-layer PE
- 5-layer PE / EVOH
- ABL
- PBL
- Custom squeeze tubes
- Paint compatibility
- Barrier needs
- Squeeze recovery
- Nozzle size
- Tail sealing
Fushiny Packaging
Fushiny Packaging supplies plastic and laminate tube structures for cosmetic and specialty applications and may be considered for selected acrylic, craft paint and pigment-paste projects.
- 2-layer PE
- 5-layer EVOH
- ABL
- PBL
- Custom squeeze tubes
- Paint compatibility
- Solvent resistance
- Nozzle availability
- Tail-seal method
- Filled aging performance
Guangzhou Hucci Industrial
Guangzhou Hucci Industrial offers tube packaging across PE, laminate and aluminum directions. This broader material range can be useful for paint brands comparing flexible and collapsible tube formats.
- PE tubes
- ABL tubes
- PBL tubes
- Aluminum tubes
- Custom printed tubes
- Internal lining options
- Tube-wall compatibility
- Nozzle / neck dimensions
- Filling process
- MOQ by material
Somewang Packaging
Somewang Packaging provides customized packaging across tubes, bottles and jars. Selected flexible-tube formats may be relevant for craft paint, pigment paste and private-label art-material projects.
- Custom tube packaging
- Custom closures
- Custom colors
- Printing support
- OEM / ODM programs
- Private-label art materials
- Multi-SKU projects
- Coordinated packaging programs
- Custom decoration
UKPACK
UKPACK provides customized flexible packaging and tube options with color, closure and decoration support. Selected tube structures may be suitable for paint or pigment applications after compatibility testing.
- Custom plastic tubes
- Custom colors
- Logo printing
- Closure options
- Surface finishing
- Paint experience
- Formula compatibility
- Nozzle flow
- Tail sealing
- Long-term storage
Ruizhi Packaging
Ruizhi Packaging offers soft tube packaging across PE, laminate and other material directions. These structures may provide several sourcing options for acrylic paint, craft paint or pigment-paste packaging.
- PE
- ABL
- PBL
- PCR
- Specialty tube formats
- Paint migration
- Tube swelling
- Weight loss
- Nozzle flow
- Seal strength
Suzhou Alpha Packaging / Packagingest
Suzhou Alpha Packaging, also presented online through Packagingest, provides soft tube packaging across PE, laminate and sustainability-oriented structures.
- PE tubes
- ABL / PBL options
- Custom colors
- Printing
- Cap assembly
- Paint packaging references
- Barrier requirements
- Nozzle availability
- Filled stability
- MOQ per SKU
Pinyuan Packaging
Pinyuan Packaging can be considered for custom flexible tube projects requiring branded colors, printing and dispensing options.
Buyers should verify current paint-tube experience and exact material availability before procurement.
- Custom tube sizes
- Material options
- Nozzle choices
- Printing
- OEM support
- Paint compatibility
- MOQ
- Samples
- Filling suitability
- QC standards
Top 10 Empty Paint Tube Manufacturers Compared
The best supplier depends on whether the project requires traditional collapsible aluminum, soft PE, barrier laminate or another specialty structure.
| Manufacturer | Relevant Tube Direction | Best Fit | Buyer Should Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xinfly Packaging | PE / EVOH / ABL / PBL / Aluminum | Custom paint & pigment projects | Formula-specific material and lining |
| Lisson Packaging | Flexible tubes + custom heads | Custom dispensing projects | Paint packaging experience |
| Runk Packaging | PE / multi-layer / laminate | Material-comparison projects | Filled squeeze behavior |
| Fushiny Packaging | PE / EVOH / ABL / PBL | Barrier-oriented paint tubes | Solvent compatibility |
| Guangzhou Hucci Industrial | PE / laminate / aluminum | Multi-material sourcing | Internal lacquer options |
| Somewang Packaging | Custom flexible packaging | Multi-SKU programs | Paint-specific QC |
| UKPACK | Custom plastic tubes | General custom packaging | Paint formulation suitability |
| Ruizhi Packaging | PE / laminate soft tubes | Acrylic / craft-paint directions | Swelling + dispensing |
| Suzhou Alpha / Packagingest | PE / laminate | Custom soft paint tubes | Filled aging performance |
| Pinyuan Packaging | Verify by RFQ | Custom projects | Current paint-tube capability |
Empty Paint Tube Capacity & Diameter Guide
Paint tube capacity should be selected together with paint viscosity, artist usage pattern and desired package proportions.
| Typical Capacity | Diameter Direction | Typical Use | Main Buyer Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–15ml | Small diameter | Watercolor / sample / specialty pigment | Precision dispensing |
| 15–30ml | Φ19–25mm direction | Artist colors / premium pigments | Nozzle control |
| 30–50ml | Φ25–30mm direction | Acrylic / oil paint / gouache | Squeeze feel |
| 50–75ml | Φ30–35mm direction | Standard artist paint | Wall / collapse behavior |
| 75–120ml | Φ35–40mm direction | Studio paint / craft paint | Filling and tail stability |
| 120–200ml | Φ40–50mm direction | Large-volume craft / studio use | Wall stiffness + dispensing force |
Dimensional reference: Tube Capacity, Diameter, Length & Thickness Guide .
Paint Viscosity × Nozzle & Orifice Selection
Nozzle size influences both dispensing accuracy and the force required to squeeze paint from the tube.
| Paint Consistency | Dispensing Goal | Orifice Direction | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Viscosity Color Medium | Small controlled amount | Fine opening | Dripping |
| Standard Acrylic | Controlled bead | Medium opening | Over-dispensing |
| Heavy-Body Acrylic | Easy squeeze | Larger opening | High squeeze force |
| Oil Paint | Controlled paste delivery | Medium / larger opening | Flow restriction |
| Pigment Paste | Thick bead | Larger orifice | Nozzle blockage |
Formula Testing Beats Generic Orifice Rules
Pigment loading, thixotropy and temperature can change dispensing behavior even when two paints have similar measured viscosity.
Why Internal Lacquer Matters in Aluminum Paint Tubes
Aluminum provides excellent barrier properties, but direct interaction between the metal and certain formulas can be undesirable. Internal lacquer or lining may therefore be used to separate the paint from the aluminum surface.
The lining can reduce direct contact between the formula and bare aluminum.
Suitable coatings can help reduce corrosion risk with certain water- or solvent-containing systems.
A compatible lining can help reduce unwanted discoloration or interaction.
Internal lacquer itself must remain stable during tube collapse and long-term storage.
Ask for the Exact Lining System
“Internally coated aluminum tube” is not a complete specification. Ask what coating system is used and whether compatibility has been validated for a similar binder and solvent system.
Paint Tube Filling, Crimping & Tail Sealing
Aluminum and plastic paint tubes are normally closed using different processes, so the packaging specification must match the filler’s equipment.
| Tube Type | Typical Closing Direction | Main Control Points |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Tube | Fold / crimp closure | Crimp geometry, fold strength, paint contamination |
| PE Tube | Heat / hot-air sealing | Temperature, pressure, dwell time, headspace |
| ABL / PBL | Heat-compatible laminate sealing | Layer structure, seal window, clean tail area |
Thick paint may require pressure-assisted or specialized filling equipment.
Paint contamination can weaken heat seals or interfere with aluminum crimping.
Adequate headspace helps keep product away from the closing area.
Filled tubes should withstand storage, squeezing and transport.
Custom Printing & Labeling for Empty Paint Tubes
Paint brands often require many color SKUs, so decoration strategy should consider both branding consistency and SKU-management cost.
Useful for strong brand consistency and integrated artwork on larger production runs.
Good for opaque logos and selected spot colors.
Adds metallic accents for premium artist ranges.
Can be useful when many paint shades require different information or color coding.
Multi-SKU Paint Brands Should Standardize Components
Using one tube diameter, cap and base decoration system across multiple colors can simplify sourcing and help control MOQ.
Compare: Direct Printing vs Labeling .
How to Choose a Reliable Empty Paint Tube Manufacturer in China
A reliable empty paint tube manufacturer should understand more than tube dimensions and decoration. The supplier should be able to connect paint chemistry, binder system, solvent exposure, tube structure, internal lining, nozzle design, filling method and shelf-life requirements into one packaging specification.
For professional artist paints and pigment concentrates, buyers should place particular emphasis on long-term compatibility, internal coating stability, collapsibility and filled-product testing.
Provide binder type, solvent system, pigment load, viscosity and expected shelf life.
Evaluate aluminum, PE, ABL and PBL according to barrier, collapsibility and chemical resistance.
Aluminum projects should define the internal lacquer system and its compatibility with the formula.
Thick oil paint and low-viscosity color mediums require different dispensing openings.
Aluminum crimping and plastic heat sealing require different equipment and setup.
Professional artist paint may benefit from controlled tube collapse, while craft paint may favor soft recovery.
Monitor formula stability, weight loss, lining performance and package deformation.
The final physical sample should define material, nozzle, print, dimensions and closure performance.
Common Buyer Pain Points When Sourcing Empty Paint Tubes
| Buyer Pain Point | Possible Cause | What To Request |
|---|---|---|
| Paint reacts with aluminum | Internal lacquer is incompatible or damaged | Exact lining system + filled aging |
| Paint dries inside the tube | Moisture or solvent loss through package | Weight-loss / barrier test |
| Tube is too hard to squeeze | Wall thickness or material too rigid | Filled squeeze-force sample |
| Nozzle blocks with pigment | Opening too small or pigment agglomeration | Dispensing trial |
| Aluminum tube cracks when folded | Material / crimp geometry / fatigue issue | Crimp and repeated-fold test |
| Plastic tube panels or collapses | Insufficient wall stiffness | Filled aging test |
| Tail leaks after shipping | Weak crimp or heat seal | Burst + leakage test |
| Many paint colors make MOQ expensive | Different tubes / printing setups per SKU | Shared-component SKU strategy |
Common Empty Paint Tube Failures & Solutions
1. Internal Lacquer Fails in Aluminum Paint Tubes
Internal coating failure can expose paint directly to the aluminum surface and may contribute to discoloration, corrosion or formula instability.
- Confirm the exact internal lacquer chemistry.
- Test the actual binder and solvent system.
- Inspect aged tubes for coating separation.
- Check lining integrity after tube collapse.
2. Solvent or Moisture Is Lost During Storage
A tube can remain visually intact while volatile components slowly migrate through the package or closure.
- Monitor filled-package weight over time.
- Compare PE, laminate and aluminum barrier structures.
- Check cap and nozzle sealing.
- Run accelerated and real-time storage tests.
3. Pigment Paste Blocks the Nozzle
High pigment loading, agglomerates or an undersized opening can create inconsistent dispensing or complete blockage.
- Increase the orifice where appropriate.
- Test with the final pigment particle distribution.
- Check nozzle taper and internal geometry.
- Evaluate repeated dispensing cycles.
4. Aluminum Tube Splits Near the Tail Fold
Incorrect crimp geometry, excessive folding or poor material condition can create fatigue near the tail.
- Review crimp pattern and fold count.
- Keep paint contamination away from the fold area.
- Perform filled squeeze and drop tests.
- Verify the filler’s crimping equipment.
5. Plastic Paint Tube Is Too Stiff
High-viscosity paint requires enough flexibility to dispense comfortably without excessive hand force.
- Review PE blend.
- Reduce wall thickness where technically appropriate.
- Increase nozzle opening if formula allows.
- Test actual filled squeeze force.
6. Paint Tube Printing Scratches or Peels
Artist tubes may experience frequent handling, bending and paint contamination during studio use.
- Validate ink adhesion.
- Perform abrasion and tape peel tests.
- Test decoration after repeated tube deformation.
- Choose durable varnish or coating systems.
Related guide: Tape Peel Test for Tube Printing Durability .
Why Choose Xinfly Packaging for Custom Empty Paint Tubes?
Xinfly Packaging supports custom tube development across plastic, laminate and aluminum packaging directions, allowing art-material and pigment brands to compare different structures before mass production.
PE, EVOH, ABL, PBL and aluminum directions can be evaluated according to paint chemistry and usage.
Explore Tube Materials →Compare traditional collapsible aluminum with soft plastic or laminate structures.
Explore Aluminum Packaging Tubes →Nozzle and orifice direction can be matched to paint viscosity and dispensing needs.
Explore Nozzle Tubes →Tube colors, printing, foil and surface finishes can support professional and private-label art-material lines.
Tube Decoration →Recommended Paint Tube Development Workflow
Paint Formula → Binder / Solvent Review → Tube Material → Internal Lining → Capacity → Diameter → Nozzle → Closure → Decoration → Filled Compatibility Test → Filling / Crimp Trial → Leak Test → Golden Sample → Mass Production
Empty Paint Tube RFQ Checklist
- Paint type: oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pigment paste, craft paint or other.
- Binder system: oil, acrylic polymer, gum-based or other.
- Solvent system: provide formulation information or SDS where possible.
- Pigment characteristics: particle size, metallic pigments or high pigment loading.
- Viscosity: provide actual measurement if available.
- Fill volume: required ml or gram capacity.
- Tube material: aluminum, PE, EVOH, ABL, PBL or supplier recommendation.
- Internal lining: specify requirement for aluminum tubes.
- Nozzle style: standard neck, precision nozzle or custom opening.
- Orifice size: specify target bead or flow if known.
- Closure: screw cap or specialty cap.
- Tube body color: white, metal finish or custom Pantone.
- Printing: direct printing, silk screen, hot stamping or label.
- Number of paint colors / SKUs: clarify whether components can be shared.
- Order quantity: required units per SKU.
- Filling equipment: aluminum crimping, hot-air sealing or other.
- Storage requirements: expected shelf life and temperature range.
- Testing: lining compatibility, weight loss, leakage, drop, squeeze, aging or other tests.
- Launch date: sample and mass-production deadline.
Need Custom Empty Tubes for Paint or Pigment Paste?
Send Xinfly your paint type, binder system, viscosity, capacity, preferred tube material, nozzle and order quantity. We can help compare aluminum, PE, EVOH, ABL and PBL packaging directions before sample testing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Empty Paint Tubes
1. What material is best for empty paint tubes?
Aluminum is widely used for many professional artist paints, while PE, ABL and PBL can be considered for selected acrylic, craft-paint and pigment-paste applications.
2. Why are oil paints often packaged in aluminum tubes?
Aluminum provides strong barrier performance, collapses as paint is dispensed and can reduce air re-entry, subject to suitable internal lining.
3. Can acrylic paint be packaged in plastic tubes?
Yes. PE and laminate tubes can be suitable for many acrylic and craft-paint formulations after compatibility testing.
4. Do aluminum paint tubes need an internal lacquer?
Many formulations benefit from a suitable internal coating that separates the paint from direct contact with aluminum. The exact requirement depends on the formula.
5. How do I choose a nozzle size for paint?
Nozzle size should be matched to viscosity, pigment loading, desired bead size and squeeze force.
6. Can empty paint tubes be custom printed?
Yes. Tube color, branding, labels, direct printing, silk screen and metallic decoration can be customized.
7. Why does paint dry inside a tube?
Possible causes include moisture or solvent loss, poor cap sealing, unsuitable barrier properties or package damage.
8. How should paint tube compatibility be tested?
Useful tests include filled aging, weight loss, color and viscosity monitoring, lining inspection, leakage, squeeze and dispensing tests.
9. Can multiple paint colors share one tube specification?
Yes. Standardizing one diameter, tube material and closure across multiple colors can simplify sourcing and improve MOQ efficiency.
10. How do I choose an empty paint tube manufacturer in China?
Compare material options, aluminum lining expertise, paint compatibility, nozzle engineering, filling support, printing, MOQ, quality control and export experience.
Factors considered include publicly presented aluminum, plastic and laminate tube capabilities, nozzle options, custom decoration, OEM / ODM support and general tube-manufacturing experience.
The order shown above is not an official industry ranking, audited market-share ranking, independent factory audit or third-party endorsement.
Technical Suitability Disclosure: Not every supplier listed publicly specializes in every artist paint, coating or pigment formulation. Buyers should independently verify internal lining, formula compatibility, filling method and shelf-life performance before commercial production.
Publisher Disclosure: Xinfly Packaging is both the publisher of this guide and one of the suppliers included in the list. Readers should therefore use this article as a sourcing reference and independently verify each manufacturer before procurement.
Edition: 2026 | Version: 2026.08 | Last Updated: August 26, 2026