9 Best Magnetic Eyeshadow Palettes
Pre-made eyeshadow palettes are convenient, but they do not always include the exact shades you use most. An empty magnetic eyeshadow palette lets you customize your collection with compatible individual pans you already own or plan to buy.
Magnetic eyeshadow palettes are useful for makeup artists, frequent travellers, and anyone who likes organising single shadows by colour, finish, brand, or everyday use.
Magnetic eyeshadow palettes are empty cases with a magnetic base that hold compatible metal makeup pans so you can build your own custom palette. The pans themselves do not have to contain magnets, but their bases must be attracted to the palette magnet or fitted with a compatible metal sticker.
The magnetic lining helps keep compatible pans from sliding around during normal use. For travel, a secure closure, snug pan fit, and protective divider matter because pressed powders can still crack from impact.
You can arrange pans in whatever order makes sense for your routine, then reorganize them whenever your preferences change.
A refillable palette can also make it easier to focus on shades you actually use instead of repeatedly buying pre-made palettes that include colours you tend to skip.
Because these magnetic palettes are refillable, you can replace, rearrange, or rotate compatible pans without buying a new case each time.
So, what are the best magnetic eyeshadow palettes?
The best magnetic eyeshadow palette for you should match the size, shape, and metal compatibility of your pans, hold them securely during normal use, close reliably, and fit where you plan to store or carry it. Extras such as a mirror, divider, clear window, or metal stickers can be useful depending on your routine.
Magnetic eyeshadow palettes come in many shapes and sizes, so this guide focuses on practical details such as capacity, portability, pan compatibility, closure style, internal protection, and organisation.
Empty Magnetic Eyeshadow Palettes – Buyer’s Guide
With so many magnetic eyeshadow palettes available, the useful differences come down to how well each one fits your pans, collection size, and storage needs.
Start with how you plan to use it. A large palette can consolidate a collection at home or in a kit, while a smaller case is easier to carry for everyday makeup or travel.
For larger palettes, pay attention to materials, hinge strength, closure, and internal protection. A full palette can become surprisingly heavy, especially when it holds blush, bronzer, or highlighter pans as well as eyeshadow.
If you mainly want a few go-to shadows on hand, a smaller palette can be easier to carry and less likely to become unnecessarily heavy.
Also consider details such as a mirror, clear window, divider, pan depth, and how securely the palette stays closed in a bag.
Before choosing a palette, compare the features that affect compatibility, protection, portability, and everyday use:
Size
The first thing you should decide is what size magnetic eyeshadow palette you need.
Compact cases suit travel or touch-ups, while larger formats make it easier to keep a bigger selection of single shadows and face pans in one place.
Most empty palettes list their exterior or interior dimensions, and some manufacturers also estimate how many pans they can hold. Treat those capacity numbers as approximate because pan diameter, shape, and spacing vary by brand.
There is no single universal eyeshadow-pan size. Many popular round refill pans are around 26 mm, but others are smaller, larger, square, rectangular, or unusually deep. Measure your pans and compare them with the palette’s usable interior space before buying.
Capacity varies widely, so do not compare palettes by exterior dimensions alone.
Large double-sided palettes can hold dozens of standard-size pans, and some are designed to hold more than 100. Actual capacity depends on the specific pan dimensions and how tightly they can be arranged.
If you’re looking for something smaller, compact magnetic palettes can hold a curated handful of pans while taking up much less room in a makeup bag or handbag.
Materials
One thing to consider if you want a larger palette is that the larger it is, the sturdier it needs to be.
A palette holding dozens of metal pans can become heavy, so large cases benefit from a rigid body, reinforced hinges or folds, and a closure that does not pop open easily. Plastic, metal, and reinforced board can all work when the construction is sturdy.
For smaller magnetic palettes, reinforced cardboard or paperboard can be a lightweight option, while plastic and metal can provide a more rigid shell.
Cardboard-based cases are often lightweight, but environmental impact depends on the coatings, magnets, adhesives, plastics, and whether the components can actually be separated for recycling.
Design
The exterior design may matter if the palette sits on your vanity or travels in your kit, but functional design matters more once the case is filled.
You can find everything from plain black cases to decorative eyeshadow palettes with colourful or patterned covers.
However, we also think it’s important to pay attention to the functional design features that eyeshadow palettes can have:
- Mirror: Some eyeshadow palettes include a mirror on one side.
This is useful for travel, touch-ups, or a small everyday palette, while a mirror may be less important in a large storage palette that mostly stays on a vanity or workstation.
- Divider: If your palette is double-sided or has a mirror opposite the pans, a divider can help keep powder from transferring between surfaces and reduce direct contact between fragile products.
Dividers range from thin flexible sheets to rigid acrylic panels, with thicker versions generally offering more physical separation.
Magnet Strength
The magnetic liner’s hold matters because pans should stay flat during normal opening, closing, and carrying.
The magnetic sheet or base sits inside the palette and attracts compatible pan material. Not every metal pan will respond to a magnet, so pans made from non-magnetic metals may need the adhesive metal stickers supplied with some palettes.
Do not judge magnetic strength by liner thickness alone. Magnet material, construction, contact area, pan material, and the weight of the product all affect how securely a pan stays in place. If possible, check manufacturer guidance and recent user feedback for the types of pans you own.
Manufacturer specifications and recent user feedback can help you judge pan compatibility, closure quality, and magnetic hold before buying.
A thick-looking liner does not automatically mean strong hold. What matters is whether your pans stay flat during normal handling without being difficult to remove when you want to rearrange them.
Pan Compatibility
Before buying a palette, check whether your refill pans are magnet-compatible. Steel and tin-based pans are commonly attracted to magnetic palettes, while some aluminum pans are not. If a palette includes adhesive metal stickers, those can make otherwise incompatible pans usable without changing the makeup itself.
If you are depotting makeup from an existing compact, avoid forcing a pan out with sharp tools. Some formulas are glued in firmly and can crack during removal, so follow the brand’s refill or depotting guidance when available.
Best Magnetic Eyeshadow Palettes
Below are nine magnetic palette options covering compact, mid-size, and high-capacity formats. Before ordering, check the current listing for dimensions, included accessories, and pan compatibility because product details can change over time.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Trish McEvoy Refillable Magnetic Dual-Level Compact | Great for travel or purse – fits 8 eyeshadows, high-quality construction |
| 2. | The Adept Palette | Large palette that holds over 100 eyeshadow pans. Can hold a lot of weight. |
| 3. | Allwon Magnetic Palette – Mermaid | Med-sized, sturdy, and has a stunning design |
| 4. | Z Palette Large Magnetic Makeup Palette | Mid-sized palette that fits 28 eyeshadow palettes and has a window on the front |
| 5. | MAC Pro Colour Empty Cosmetic Compact | Tiny compact that safely holds 2 eyeshadow pans for your nights out |
| 6. | Coosei Book Shaped Magnetic Eyeshadow Palette | Great for pros – holds up to 112 eyeshadow pans and fold out like a book |
| 7. | Beauty Junkees Large Make Up Palette | Great mid-size options that comes with extra perks like a dual-tip makeup brush |
| 8. | Adept Extra Large Marble Palette | Unique design with a built-in mirror and two palettes that fit 70 eyeshadows |
| 9. | Teensery Empty Eyeshadow Palette | Solid construction, built-in mirror, clear window, and a compact design for 5 eyeshadow pans |
1. Trish McEvoy Makeup Wardrobing Refillable Magnetic Dual-Level Compact
This customizable magnetic two-tier makeup compact is designed for anyone who wants a small selection of refill pans in a structured case for travel or everyday touch-ups.
It opens to two page-like tiers, each capable of holding four eyeshadows.
You can also use it for compatible blush, bronzer, or other refill pans, provided the pan base is attracted to the palette magnet and the pan fits the available space.
This format suits someone who travels frequently and wants a small group of go-to makeup pans in one structured container.
The compact uses a structured plastic-and-metal design with a matte finish, giving it a more rigid feel than lightweight cardboard palettes.
2. The Adept Palette
This Adept magnetic eyeshadow palette case is aimed at anyone who wants a large-capacity case for consolidating many compatible pans in one place.
This palette can fit just over 100 single-round eyeshadows or 96 1-inch-square shadows.
It measures 9 x 7 inches when closed and opens up to a double-sided case with a thick acrylic divider to keep your product protected.
The case is made out of thick plastic material and weighs about a pound when empty.
Its rigid construction is better suited to a large collection than a thin travel palette, although any filled palette should still be handled carefully to protect pressed powders from impact.
This format makes the most sense for makeup artists or enthusiasts who prioritise capacity over portability. Once loaded with many metal pans, expect it to feel substantially heavier than a compact travel palette.
3. Allwon Magnetic Palette – Mermaid
The Allwon Magnetic Palette in Mermaid is a medium-size option for shoppers who want practical storage with a more decorative exterior.
Its main appeal is the combination of portability, a built-in mirror, and a chrome mermaid-style finish.
The palette sits between a tiny touch-up compact and a high-capacity storage case, giving you more shade choice without moving to a very large format.
The case measures 7 x 4 inches and is listed to fit 18 single-round eyeshadow pans. It features a chrome mermaid design on the outside and includes a built-in mirror.
Its size can work for home use, travel, weekends, or special-event makeup, depending on how many pans you actually need.
The medium-size format combines portability with a built-in mirror, making it practical for someone who wants more options than a tiny compact without carrying a very large case.
For someone who prioritizes a medium-size case, built-in mirror, and decorative exterior, this Allwon format covers those needs in one palette.
4. Z Palette Large Magnetic Makeup Palette
If you want a medium-sized palette with a clear window that lets you see the pans without opening the case, the Z Palette is designed around that feature.
This palette measures approximately 8×4 inches and comes in a solid plastic body with a clear window on the front.
Because there is a window instead of a mirror, it’s a fair trade-off for those who prefer seeing their palettes without opening them.
The window is especially useful for organisation if you own several magnetic palettes and want to identify the contents at a glance.
The palette can fit 28 standard round eyeshadow pans. It also comes with 20 magnetic stickers to attach to non-metal eyeshadow pans and keep them in place.
This magnetic palette uses a combination of cardboard and plastic, which keeps the case relatively light while providing a protective outer shell.
Its main trade-off is straightforward: it is lighter than a heavy rigid case, while the clear window makes it easy to identify the palette’s contents without opening it.
5. MAC Pro Colour Empty Cosmetic Compact
If you want something very compact for a clutch or small makeup bag, this MAC Pro compact is designed around a minimal two-pan setup.
It fits just two eyeshadow pans, making it better for touch-ups or a very small everyday colour combination than for collection storage.
You can rotate the two refill pans whenever your makeup look changes, rather than carrying a larger palette.
The body of the palette is made of high-quality, thick, sturdy plastic. The front of the palette features a clear window that lets you see the eyeshadow colors.
Its simple black design keeps the focus on the two refill pans visible through the clear window.
6. Coosei Book Shaped Magnetic Eyeshadow Palette
The Coosei book-shaped palette is a high-capacity option listed to hold up to 112 standard-size eyeshadow pans.
Measuring 5.5” x 8.25” and about 1.5” thick, it packs substantial magnetic surface area into a book-style case.
The palette is shaped like a book, with the front and back “covers” serving as single-sided magnetic palettes, and each of the three “pages” serving as double-sided palettes.
With many pans installed, this palette can become quite heavy. Its reinforced cardboard construction helps limit the weight of the empty case, but a full professional kit should still be handled carefully.
On the outside, the palette features an elegant matte black finish and a small logo on the front, giving it a high-end appearance.
This design is most useful for makeup artists or enthusiasts who want high capacity while keeping many single pans consolidated in one case.
7. Beauty Junkees Large Make Up Palette
The Beauty Junkees option is another mid-size format, with room for multiple pans plus a mirror and brush storage.
This palette is designed to fit 28 eyeshadow pans and measures 8.25 x 5.75 inches.
Its listed capacity puts it in a similar general size category to the Z Palette above.
Unlike the Z Palette, however, this one has a built-in mirror and comes with a dual-ended cosmetic brush that fits into its own little holder inside the palette.
It also comes with 10 metal stickers that can make some otherwise non-magnetic pans compatible with the palette base.
The case combines cardboard and aluminum, balancing a lightweight feel with more structure than a thin paperboard palette.
The added mirror, brush slot, and included metal stickers make this format useful if you want more than a basic empty magnetic case.
8. Adept Extra Large Marble Palette
For those who want more than a mid-size capacity without moving to an extra-large book-style case, this Adept marble palette offers two magnetic panels plus a mirror.
The palette uses a white marble-style exterior, which gives this larger storage format a more decorative look.
It measures approximately 8” x 6” inches when closed, but unrolls to include a built-in mirror and two magnetic palettes.
The mirror also serves as a divider because it’s attached to a thick cardboard sheet that falls between the two palette panels, separating your products.
Its fold-out design gives you more usable magnetic area than a single-panel compact while still keeping the pans together in one case.
9. Teensery Empty Eyeshadow Palette
This compact eyeshadow palette is designed to fit 5 standard round eyeshadow pans.
It has individual recesses for each pan, so unlike an open magnetic sheet, it is more limited in the shapes and sizes that will fit correctly.
It is small, measuring 5.8” x 2”, and includes a wide built-in mirror suited to quick eye-makeup application away from home.
Below the mirror, a small, clear window lets you see the pans without opening the container.
The container uses a rigid plastic shell, which offers more structure than a thin paperboard case, although pressed powders can still break if the palette is dropped or crushed.
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