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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
9.9
Chosen by1,479
Color Range
Blendability
Pigment Quality

Most important from
46587 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
9.9
Chosen by1,479
Color Range
Blendability
Pigment Quality

Most important from
46587 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.
#2

Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencil Set, Back to School Essentials, Must Have Classroom Supplies for Kids, Pre-Sharpened Coloring Book Pencils, 3+

Rating
9.8
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
46587 reviews

Pigment Quality
The pencils deliver bright and vibrant colors that bring drawings to life with rich hues.
Core Hardness
Soft cores glide on smoothly without frequent breakage, ideal for young artists.
Blendability
They blend beautifully, allowing smooth transitions and layering of colors.
Pencil Construction
Pencils are sturdy and resistant to breaking, maintaining sharpness well during use.
Color Range
The set’s wide variety of 36 colors covers everything from bold shades to subtle tones.

The Crayola Colored Pencils (36 count) are designed primarily for kids and classroom settings, making them a solid choice for younger artists or group activities. They offer a wide color range with 36 different shades, which helps bring coloring books and creative projects to life. These pencils have soft cores that are less prone to breaking and come presharpened, so they're ready to use right away—great for kids who want to start coloring without fuss. The pigment quality is decent for children's use, producing vibrant colors suitable for coloring books and basic artwork. However, these pencils are not known for high lightfastness, meaning the colors may fade over time if exposed to strong light.

The core hardness is on the softer side, which makes blending colors easier but can wear down tips faster. Blendability is good enough for simple layering and mixing of colors, fitting the needs of beginners rather than professional artists. The pencil construction using round, smooth wood makes them comfortable to hold but might lack the durability and precision found in more advanced sets. This set is ideal as basic, affordable colored pencils for kids and encourages creative expression, but it may not meet the needs of users looking for archival-quality artwork or advanced blending and shading techniques.

Rating
9.8
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
46587 reviews

Pigment Quality
The pencils deliver bright and vibrant colors that bring drawings to life with rich hues.
Core Hardness
Soft cores glide on smoothly without frequent breakage, ideal for young artists.
Blendability
They blend beautifully, allowing smooth transitions and layering of colors.
Pencil Construction
Pencils are sturdy and resistant to breaking, maintaining sharpness well during use.
Color Range
The set’s wide variety of 36 colors covers everything from bold shades to subtle tones.
#3

KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Soft Core,Ideal for Drawing Blending Shading,Color Pencils Set Gift for Adults Kids Beginners

Rating
9.6
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
7875 reviews

Pigment Quality
The colors are vivid and blended nicely with a blending pencil.
Core Hardness
The soft cores make coloring smooth and effortless while allowing for great layering and gradients.
Blendability
The 72 vibrant shades provide an incredible range for blending, shading, and detailed work.
Pencil Construction
These pencils sharpen well without breaking and hold their point even with frequent use.

The KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils set is a versatile option for both adults and kids, making it a suitable choice for a wide range of users, from beginners to those engaging in more detailed art projects. One of its standout features is the vibrant pigment quality, ensuring that the colors are vivid and lively when applied.

With 72 different colors, artists have a broad palette to choose from, which can be particularly useful for detailed coloring and drawing tasks. The soft core of these pencils allows for smooth application and seamless blending, which is beneficial for creating gradients and layering colors.

Additionally, the pencils are made of high-quality basswood, making them easy to sharpen and reducing the risk of breakage, which can be a common issue with colored pencils. The pencils are also marketed as non-toxic and safe for kids, adhering to safety standards, making them a good gift option for children above the age of 5. These colored pencils are well-suited for general use, including school projects and adult coloring books.

Rating
9.6
Pigment Quality
Core Hardness
Blendability

Most important from
7875 reviews

Pigment Quality
The colors are vivid and blended nicely with a blending pencil.
Core Hardness
The soft cores make coloring smooth and effortless while allowing for great layering and gradients.
Blendability
The 72 vibrant shades provide an incredible range for blending, shading, and detailed work.
Pencil Construction
These pencils sharpen well without breaking and hold their point even with frequent use.

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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