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10 Best Quality Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Crayola Colored Pencils Set for Kids (120ct), Bulk Art Supplies for Kids, Back to School Essentials, Teacher Classroom Must Haves, Coloring Book Pencils

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,412
Color Range
Blendability
Pigment Quality

Most important from
10080 reviews

Color Range
The set offers an outstanding range of colors that inspire creativity for portraits, landscapes, and more.
Blendability
These pencils excel at layering and blending, producing vibrant results especially after multiple light layers.
Pigment Quality
They perform best on textured paper like bristol vellum, where the pigment grips well and colors appear more even.
Core Hardness
The cores are harder than some premium brands, which suits those with a heavier hand and helps avoid breakage.
Pencil Construction
The pencils come pre-sharpened and ready to use, making them convenient for both kids and beginners.
Lightfastness
While not ideal for archival-quality artwork, they are perfect for casual coloring, school projects, and fun craft activities.

The Crayola Colored Pencils Set with 120 colors offers a wide variety of shades, which is great for kids and beginners who want lots of choices without buying multiple sets. These pencils have a smooth and creamy core, making them easy to blend and layer colors for creative effects. The pre-sharpened tips are convenient, allowing users to start drawing right away without the hassle of sharpening. The pencils are built to be durable and long-lasting, suitable for regular use in school projects or coloring books.

This set is well suited for young artists, school use, or anyone looking for a large assortment of colors for casual coloring and craft projects. The cores are softer to make coloring easier, which might reduce precision for detailed work or make the tips prone to breaking if pressed too hard. While the pencils blend nicely, they may not offer the rich, intense colors or archival quality that professional artists seek.

In summary, Crayola’s 120-pack provides a fun, affordable choice to explore coloring with plenty of shades. It is designed more for casual use than for professional or serious hobbyist needs where pigment permanence and a wider range of core hardness are important.

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,412
Color Range
Blendability
Pigment Quality

Most important from
10080 reviews

Color Range
The set offers an outstanding range of colors that inspire creativity for portraits, landscapes, and more.
Blendability
These pencils excel at layering and blending, producing vibrant results especially after multiple light layers.
Pigment Quality
They perform best on textured paper like bristol vellum, where the pigment grips well and colors appear more even.
Core Hardness
The cores are harder than some premium brands, which suits those with a heavier hand and helps avoid breakage.
Pencil Construction
The pencils come pre-sharpened and ready to use, making them convenient for both kids and beginners.
Lightfastness
While not ideal for archival-quality artwork, they are perfect for casual coloring, school projects, and fun craft activities.
#3

Crayola Twistables Colored Pencil Set for Kids (50ct), No Sharpen Coloring Book Pencils, Essential Classroom Supplies, Cute Back to School Gifts for Kids, 4+

Rating
9.3
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
27585 reviews

Pigment Quality
Colors are bright and consistent, delivering a fun and enjoyable coloring experience every time.
Core Hardness
While the tips may not be extremely sharp, they are sufficiently pointed for effective coloring and blending.
Blendability
The pencils glide smoothly like crayons but provide the precision of colored pencils, perfect for both kids and adults.
Pencil Construction
The twist-up design eliminates the need for sharpening, making coloring hassle-free and mess-free.
Color Range
With 50 vibrant colors, the set offers an impressive range that sparks creativity and suits detailed work.

The Crayola Twistables Colored Pencil Set offers a convenient and kid-friendly coloring experience with 50 vibrant colors in twist-up barrels that never require sharpening. This protects the color cores from breakage, making them durable and mess-free — a big plus for younger children who may struggle with traditional pencils. The plastic barrel design also helps keep the tips safe when stored.

These pencils are particularly suited for coloring books and casual drawing, providing consistent color application that’s bright and fun. However, in terms of pigment quality and lightfastness, these pencils are designed more for everyday use rather than professional art, so the color intensity may not be as rich or long-lasting as higher-end colored pencils. The core hardness balances ease of use and color saturation but doesn't support advanced blending techniques typically favored by older or more experienced artists.

The set offers an excellent color range for kids to explore creativity with plenty of options, but the blendability is limited due to the core type and twistable design. They are an ideal choice for young children, classroom settings, and beginner artists who want hassle-free, colorful drawing tools without the fuss of sharpening or peeling, though they may fall short for those seeking professional-grade pigment performance.

Rating
9.3
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
27585 reviews

Pigment Quality
Colors are bright and consistent, delivering a fun and enjoyable coloring experience every time.
Core Hardness
While the tips may not be extremely sharp, they are sufficiently pointed for effective coloring and blending.
Blendability
The pencils glide smoothly like crayons but provide the precision of colored pencils, perfect for both kids and adults.
Pencil Construction
The twist-up design eliminates the need for sharpening, making coloring hassle-free and mess-free.
Color Range
With 50 vibrant colors, the set offers an impressive range that sparks creativity and suits detailed work.

Buying Guide for the Best Quality Colored Pencils

Choosing the right colored pencils can greatly enhance your artistic experience, whether you are a beginner, a hobbyist, or a professional artist. The key to finding the best fit for you lies in understanding the various specifications and how they align with your needs and preferences. Here are some important factors to consider when selecting colored pencils.
Pigment QualityPigment quality refers to the richness and vibrancy of the colors produced by the pencils. High-quality pigments result in more vivid and long-lasting colors. For professional artists or serious hobbyists, pencils with high-quality pigments are essential for achieving the best results. Beginners or casual users might be satisfied with lower-quality pigments, which are usually more affordable.
LightfastnessLightfastness is the ability of the pencil's color to resist fading when exposed to light over time. This is particularly important for artists who want their work to remain vibrant and unchanged for years. Lightfastness is often rated on a scale, with higher ratings indicating better resistance to fading. If you plan to display your artwork or sell it, opt for pencils with high lightfastness ratings. For casual use or practice, this may be less critical.
Core HardnessCore hardness determines how soft or hard the pencil lead is. Softer cores produce richer, more intense colors and are easier to blend, making them ideal for shading and layering. Harder cores are more durable, hold a point longer, and are better for detailed work. If you enjoy blending and creating smooth gradients, choose softer cores. For detailed illustrations or fine lines, harder cores are preferable.
BlendabilityBlendability refers to how well the colors mix and layer with each other. High blendability allows for smooth transitions and a wider range of colors through mixing. This is crucial for artists who want to create realistic textures and gradients. If blending is a significant part of your technique, look for pencils known for their excellent blendability. For simpler coloring tasks, this may be less important.
Pencil ConstructionPencil construction includes the quality of the wood casing and the bonding of the core to the wood. Well-constructed pencils are less likely to break and are easier to sharpen. This is important for both durability and ease of use. If you want pencils that last longer and are less prone to breakage, invest in well-constructed options. For occasional use, this might be a secondary consideration.
Color RangeColor range refers to the number of different colors available in a set. A wider range offers more options for creating detailed and varied artwork. Artists who work on complex pieces or need specific shades will benefit from larger sets. Beginners or those working on simpler projects might find smaller sets sufficient.

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