The Best Thermal Paste in 2026
Tom’s Hardware calls Thermal Grizzly’s Duronaut the best-performing thermal paste it has tested. For a budget pick, ID-Cooling’s Frost X45 ($6.99) topped its air-cooling tests. Liquid metal is faster still but electrically conductive and hard to apply.
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Quick answer
Tom’s Hardware calls Thermal Grizzly’s Duronaut the best-performing thermal paste it has tested. For a budget pick, ID-Cooling’s Frost X45 ($6.99) topped its air-cooling tests. Liquid metal is faster still but electrically conductive and hard to apply. Best premium paste: Thermal Grizzly Duronaut, $10. Runner-up premium: Arctic MX-6, $2. Best value paste: ID-Cooling Frost X45, $6.99.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best premium paste | Thermal Grizzly Duronaut | the best paste performance | About $10/gram |
| Runner-up premium | Arctic MX-6 | great results at a low price | About $2/gram |
| Best value paste | ID-Cooling Frost X45 | air-cooled builds on a budget | $6.99 (about $3.50/gram) |
| Runner-up value | Noctua NT-H2 | Noctua fans and easy cleanup | About $3.70/gram |
| Best thermal pad | Thermal Grizzly KryoSheet | a mess-free, reusable alternative to paste | About $16/sheet |
| Runner-up pad | Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet | a reusable, non-conductive pad | $13.99 |
| Best liquid metal | Alphacool Eisfrost Extreme | extreme overclocking | $15.25 |
This page is based on a single source, Tom’s Hardware’s[1] thermal paste guide and benchmarks, last updated June 26, 2026 (prices checked October 2026). Most traditional pastes aren’t electrically conductive, but liquid metals almost always are, so take extra care with them.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Product | Price per gram | Type | Electrically conductive | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Grizzly Duronaut | $10 | Paste | — | The best paste performance |
| Arctic MX-6 | $2 (3.5g tube) | Paste | — | Great results at a low price |
| ID-Cooling Frost X45 | $3.50 | Paste | No | Air-cooled builds on a budget |
| Noctua NT-H2 | $3.70 (3.5g tube) | Paste | — | Noctua fans and easy cleanup |
| Thermal Grizzly KryoSheet | $16 per sheet | Graphite pad | Yes, but a solid compound | A mess-free, reusable alternative to paste |
| Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet | Varies | Phase-change pad | No | A reusable, non-conductive pad |
| Alphacool Eisfrost Extreme | Not comparable | Liquid metal | Yes | Extreme overclocking |
The picks in detail
1. Thermal Grizzly Duronaut
Best for: the best paste performanceTom’s Hardware[1] calls Duronaut the best-performing thermal paste it has tested, hands down, designed specifically for long-term stability, and easy to use and clean up. Tom’s lists no drawbacks, though at about $10 per gram it costs more than most pastes.
Price (Oct 2026): About $10/gram Source
Pros
- Best paste Tom’s tested
- Long-term stability
- Easy to apply and clean
Cons
- Pricier per gram
2. Arctic MX-6
Best for: great results at a low priceA PC enthusiast favorite holding the second-best spot among traditional pastes in Tom’s Hardware’s[1] benchmarks, with stability, easy application and cleanup and a low price of about $2 per gram in a 3.5g tube.
Price (Oct 2026): About $2/gram Source
Pros
- Second-best traditional paste in Tom’s tests
- Low price
- Easy to use
Cons
- None listed by Tom’s
3. ID-Cooling Frost X45
Best for: air-cooled builds on a budgetTom’s Hardware[1] says the Frost X45 is the best-performing thermal paste it has tested on its air-cooling system, hands down, and it was available for only $6.99 on Amazon. It’s non-conductive, rated 15.2 W/mK, and easy to use and clean.
Price (Oct 2026): $6.99 (about $3.50/gram) Source
Pros
- Top air-cooling results
- Very cheap
- Non-conductive
Cons
- None listed by Tom’s
4. Noctua NT-H2
Best for: Noctua fans and easy cleanupTom’s runner-up value paste carries a relatively budget price (about $3.70 per gram in a 3.5g tube) despite Noctua’s premium reputation, with stability, easy application and included cleaning towels.
Price (Oct 2026): About $3.70/gram Source
Pros
- Included cleaning towels
- Stable
- Easy to use
Cons
- None listed by Tom’s
5. Thermal Grizzly KryoSheet
Best for: a mess-free, reusable alternative to pasteTom’s best thermal pad is a solid material that isn’t messy and is reusable. It beat traditional pastes on Tom’s AMD Ryzen system, with performance similar to liquid metal. It costs more than paste (about $16 per sheet) and needs high mounting pressure for best performance. Tom’s notes it is electrically conductive, but as a solid compound.
Price (Oct 2026): About $16/sheet Source
Pros
- Not messy
- Reusable
- Near liquid-metal performance on Ryzen
Cons
- More expensive than paste
- Needs high pressure
6. Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet
Best for: a reusable, non-conductive padA phase-change (PTM) sheet that melts under high pressure, with strong performance, and it’s reusable and electrically non-conductive. It has a moderate cost, requires extensive burn-in and needs high pressure, and Tom’s Hardware[1] marks it down for ease of use.
Price (Oct 2026): $13.99 Source
Pros
- Reusable
- Non-conductive
- Strong performance
Cons
- Extensive burn-in
- Needs high pressure
7. Alphacool Eisfrost Extreme
Best for: extreme overclockingThe best-performing liquid metal Tom’s Hardware[1] has tested, beating competitors by a significant (for liquid metal) 0.5C. It’s rated 16 W/mK but is difficult to apply and electrically conductive, so it’s only for experienced builders.
Price (Oct 2026): $15.25 Source
Pros
- Best liquid metal Tom’s tested
- For extreme overclocking
Cons
- Difficult to apply
- Electrically conductive
Also considered
BeQuiet DC2 Pro: Tom’s says this liquid metal is on par with Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut for much less; difficult to apply and electrically conductive.
Paste, pad or liquid metal?
Traditional paste (Duronaut, MX-6, Frost X45, NT-H2) is easy and safe for nearly everyone. Pads like KryoSheet are mess-free and reusable but need high mounting pressure. Liquid metal performs best but is electrically conductive and hard to apply.
Pair it with a good cooler
See our best CPU coolers, best CPUs and best PC cases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thermal paste?
What is the best cheap thermal paste?
Is liquid metal worth it?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Related
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