10 Best Colored Pencils 2026 in the United States

Derwent Inktense Pencils come in a large set of 100 vibrant, water-soluble colored pencils, making them ideal for artists who want a wide color range to work with. Their 4mm cores are highly pigmented with a firm but blendable texture, allowing both detailed dry drawing and smooth, ink-like watercolor effects when mixed with water. These pencils are unique because once dry, the colors become permanent and won’t smudge or react to water again, which is great for layering and preserving your artwork. The round barrel shape is comfortable for extended use.

Derwent is a well-known brand with a strong reputation among artists, and the high customer ratings indicate that most users are very satisfied. While the quality and color variety are excellent, this set is a premium option that might be pricey for beginners or casual users. Also, the pencils are best paired with water brushes and specific Inktense paper to get the most out of their water-soluble feature, which could mean extra costs.

If you’re an adult or student serious about watercolor pencil art and want professional-grade results, this set offers a great balance of rich colors, permanence, and versatility.

The Crayola Colored Pencils Set with 120 colors is a great choice for kids and classrooms thanks to its large color range and trusted brand reputation. These pencils have a smooth, creamy core that makes coloring and blending easy, which is especially helpful for young artists just starting out. The pencils come pre-sharpened, so kids can dive right into their artwork without any hassle.

While Crayola is known for quality and safe materials, these pencils are designed primarily for casual use rather than professional or archival artwork, so they may not offer strong lightfastness (resistance to fading over time) or very hard cores that some artists prefer for fine detail. The set is quite affordable considering the quantity, making it an excellent value for schools, homeschooling, or families with multiple children.

With so many colors, some shades might be quite similar, which could be a bit overwhelming or unnecessary for beginners. If you are looking for a fun, reliable, and budget-friendly pencil set mainly for kids or general coloring activities, this Crayola set delivers well without being overly specialized.

The Shuttle Art 172 Colored Pencils set offers a huge range of 172 unique colors, including 12 metallic shades, making it perfect for detailed coloring, sketching, or crafting for beginners, adult coloring enthusiasts, or artists. Each pencil is clearly labeled with both the color name and number, and the pencil’s body color matches the core, allowing for quick and easy shade selection. The soft cores glide smoothly on paper, enabling easy blending and layering, which is excellent for shading and creating vibrant artwork. Despite their softness, the cores resist breaking under normal use, and the pencils are made with quality wood for easy sharpening. Safety is also ensured as these pencils meet U.S. and European safety standards, making them suitable for all ages, including children.

Though the set is large and might be pricier than smaller packs, it offers excellent value considering the variety and quality. For those needing pencils with very high lightfastness (resistance to fading over time), this set may not be ideal since it mainly targets casual to intermediate artists rather than professionals focused on archival quality. However, for most hobbyists and coloring book fans, Shuttle Art’s colorful, user-friendly pencils provide a reliable and enjoyable drawing experience.