10 Best Pencil Crayons 2025 in the United States

The KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils offer a broad color range, providing 72 vibrant colors that make it easy to find the perfect hue for your artwork. This extensive variety is ideal for both beginners and more experienced colorists looking to enrich their coloring books or art projects. The soft core of these pencils ensures a smooth and velvety application, which is great for blending and layering colors. This feature can help achieve a more polished and professional look in your drawings.

The break-resistant cores also add durability to the pencils, reducing the need for constant sharpening and making them more reliable for extended use, whether in the classroom or at home. Each pencil is made from high-quality basswood, so sharpening is straightforward and less likely to result in broken leads. These pencils are non-toxic and safe for children over the age of five, making them a good choice for family art sessions or school supplies.

The KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils are a solid choice for anyone looking to explore their creativity with a wide array of colors and a reliable pencil set.

Crayola Colored Pencils (36 count) offer a wide variety of colors, which is great for kids looking to explore creativity and add vibrancy to their artwork. The pencils come pre-sharpened and have soft cores that resist breaking, making them easy and convenient for young users. Their smooth glide on paper works well for coloring books, although the blendability is basic compared to artist-grade pencils, which may limit more advanced color mixing.

The lead hardness is suited for kids' typical use—soft enough for bright colors but not ideal for detailed shading or fine lines. Lightfastness, or how well colors resist fading over time, isn’t a strong point here, so artworks might not last as vibrant for years. Ergonomically, the pencils have a simple round shape with a smooth grip, which is fine for small hands but might lack extra comfort features found in specialty pencils.

This set is perfect as a classroom supply or for younger kids starting out with colored pencils, but those seeking more professional quality or durability might want to look elsewhere.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils come in a set of 36 vibrant, assorted colors, offering a good range for artists who want variety. Their soft cores make them especially suitable for shading and creating smooth, even layers of color. The pigments are richly saturated and lightfast, meaning your artwork will stay bright over time without fading easily. These pencils have thick leads that resist breaking, which is great if you do a lot of coloring or apply pressure while drawing.

They blend nicely thanks to their softness, making it easier to achieve smooth transitions between colors. However, because the leads are soft, they require more frequent sharpening than harder pencils, which some users might find inconvenient. The pencil design is comfortable to hold, supporting longer creative sessions without hand strain.

These pencils are a solid choice for adult coloring books, sketching, and detailed drawing, but beginners should be mindful of the soft lead’s delicate nature when handling. For those seeking rich colors with excellent blendability and who don't mind sharpening often, Prismacolor Premier pencils remain a reliable and popular option.