A-Frame Easels, also known as lyre easels, rely on their triangular silhouette to provide a sturdy foundation for your painting. The single rear leg allows for placement in corners and tight spaces. In most models the rear leg can be flattened for easy storage. Most designs do not allow forward tilt of the top of the painting surface, and canvas size can be more limited than some H-Frame models.

Convertible and Hybrid Easels serve the artist who is not satisfied to work in one medium. Most are designed to accommodate the needs of oil/acrylic painters while converting to the needs of the watercolorist or pastel painter. Most closely related to the H-Frame family, these easels provide a maximum of flexibility.

Giant Easels are designed for the artist working on a large scale. These easels, which support canvases taller than 8 ft (244 cm), are enlarged versions of the standard easel designs, some with extra accommodations such as a double mast, or a winch to hoist heavy surfaces.

H-Frame Easels derive a solid stance from their rectangular silhouette and their substantial rectangular bases. Several models accept giant canvases, most afford a forward tilt, and some have crank adjustments and paint tray features that offer even more convenience to the painter. These substantial workhorses command a presence in the studio. Many models can be collapsed for storage and transport, but they are heavier and clumsier in their collapsed state than A-Frame and Single-Mast easels.

Single-Mast Easels are the simplest of easel forms. Their more affordable architecture can be appreciated for its elegance but cannot be counted on to provide the same sturdiness or flexibility of the other traditional forms. Single-Mast easels are often seen in cramped apartments or school studios where their advantages are clear. They take up less space, they collapse and store with great ease, and they are generally more affordable.

French Style Easels are similar to sketch box easels because they consist of a box for storage, and a lid that folds up to act as the easel, but French Style easels also have tripod style legs. When opened completely they become full sized easels, but if the legs are left closed they can be used as table top easels. Many artists like this type of easel for plein air painting because they can stand at it while they work and it has enough room to carry all their necessary supplies.

Pochade Boxes are compact boxes that allow the artist to keep all of their supplies in one location and work on the inside of the lid. These boxes are traditionally used for plein air painting but can also be used in the studio, home, or classroom. Since pochade boxes are used for travel and plein air painting, the maximum size canvas or work surface is quite small, usually not over 12".