The right colored pencils can make everyday sketching, school projects, and detailed coloring more enjoyable. This roundup compares 10 popular sets across core softness, color variety, erasability, durability, and value.
Whether you need a professional-style palette, a dependable classroom set, or an easy gift for a beginner, the selections below cover a range of creative needs and budgets.
Best 10 Colored Pencils Picks for 2026
Premium Artist Pick
Prismacolor Premier 150 Colored Pencils
- 150 vibrant assorted colors
- Soft, blendable thick cores
- Case included for storage
Best For: Adult coloring, sketching, and detailed art projects
Kid-Friendly Twist-Up Set
- 50 assorted colored pencils
- No sharpening or peeling
- Protected twist-up color cores
Best For: Kids’ school projects, coloring, and gifts
Complete Beginner Art Kit
120-Color Oil-Based Pencil Set
- 120 vibrant oil-based pencils
- Sketchbook and tutorial included
- Portable zipper case
Best For: Beginners, gift giving, and portable sketching
Large Kids’ Classroom Set
- 120 vibrant assorted shades
- Pre-sharpened tips
- Smooth for blending and layering
Best For: Kids’ schoolwork, coloring books, and home art supplies
Best for Smooth Shading
Prismacolor Premier 24-Count Colored Pencils
- Soft cores blend easily for shading
- Rich, lightfast pigments
- Portable tin with 24 pre-sharpened pencils
Best For: Adult coloring, sketching, and smooth blended artwork
Best Classroom Value
Crayola 36-Count Colored Pencils
- 36 colors for broad creative variety
- Presharpened and durable
- Non-toxic, child-friendly design
Best For: School projects, classrooms, kids, and casual coloring
Best for Color Variety
80-Count Oil-Based Colored Pencils
- 80 shades across bright, earth, and pastel tones
- Soft oil-based cores blend smoothly
- Includes labeled pencils and swatch chart
Best For: Adult coloring, illustration, shading, and gift giving
Best Erasable Pick
Crayola 24-Count Erasable Colored Pencils
- 24 vibrant colors in a resealable box
- Erasable and pre-sharpened
- Smooth, precise coloring for kids
Best For: Kids, classrooms, and mistake-friendly coloring
Best Heavy-Duty Pick
Soucolor 72-Count Colored Pencils
- 72 numbered and named colors
- Soft, break-resistant cores
- Designed for blending and layering
Best For: Adult coloring, sketching, and detailed illustrations
Best Beginner-Friendly Set
KALOUR 72-Count Soft Core Colored Pencils
- 72 colors for drawing and coloring
- Soft, vivid cores blend and layer
- Labeled pencils with easy-to-sharpen basswood
Best For: Beginners, families, and versatile art projects
Premium Artist Pick – Prismacolor Premier 150 Colored Pencils
For artists who want an extensive palette, these Prismacolor colored pencils provide 150 assorted colors with soft, blendable cores and richly saturated pigments. Their smooth laydown suits shading, layering, adult coloring, sketching, and other detailed art projects.
Best For: Adult artists, coloring enthusiasts, and creators who prioritize a broad color range and soft blending performance.
Pros:
- 150-color assortment supports detailed and varied artwork.
- Soft, thick cores are designed for shading, blending, and creating shadows.
- Rich pigments offer vibrant color saturation and smooth, even application.
- Includes a storage case for organization and portability.
Cons:
- Soft leads may require more careful handling despite their durable construction.
- The adult-focused set may be more than beginners need.
This is a strong choice when color variety and smooth, expressive application matter most. The pre-sharpened, oil-based pencils are especially well suited to artists building layered color and nuanced shading.
Kid-Friendly Twist-Up Set – Crayola Twistables 50ct
These Crayola Twistables colored pencils offer a low-maintenance option for kids’ coloring, drawing, crafts, and school projects. The twist-up format eliminates sharpening and peeling, while the plastic barrels help protect the color cores during everyday use.
Best For: Children ages 4 and up, school supplies, gifts, and portable creative activities.
Pros:
- Includes 50 multicolored pencils for a variety of projects.
- Twist-up design requires no sharpening or peeling.
- Plastic barrels protect the color core and allow tips to twist down for storage.
- Non-toxic and suitable for coloring and drawing on the go.
Cons:
- Twistable plastic format differs from traditional wood colored pencils.
- The set has fewer colors than the 120- and 150-count options in this roundup.
Choose this set for convenience and durability rather than advanced artist techniques. It is a practical, giftable option for younger users who may not want to manage a sharpener.
Complete Beginner Art Kit – 120-Color Oil-Based Pencil Set
This colored pencils set combines 120 vibrant oil-based pencils with a three-color sketchbook, zipper case, and drawing tutorial. The soft cores are made for layering, blending, shading, and sketching, making the kit a convenient starting point for beginners while still offering a broad working palette.
Best For: Beginner artists, gift giving, and anyone who wants pencils plus basic drawing supplies in one portable kit.
Pros:
- 120 assorted colors provide a broad range for creative projects.
- Soft, oil-based cores support layering, blending, and shading.
- Includes a sketchbook and step-by-step parrot drawing tutorial.
- Zipper case keeps the supplies organized and portable.
Cons:
- The included tutorial focuses on a parrot, which may not suit every learner.
- Those seeking pencils only may not need the extra sketchbook and accessories.
This kit stands out for its all-in-one format. It gives new artists a substantial color selection and practical materials to begin drawing without assembling supplies separately.
Large Kids’ Classroom Set – Crayola 120 Colored Pencils
With 120 assorted shades, these Crayola colored pencils give kids plenty of variety for coloring books, school assignments, and creative projects. The pre-sharpened tips make them ready to use, while the smooth texture supports basic blending and layering.
Best For: Children’s school supplies, bulk home art materials, and coloring-book activities.
Pros:
- Large 120-count assortment offers vibrant color variety.
- Pre-sharpened tips allow immediate use.
- Smooth texture is suitable for blending and layering.
- Non-toxic construction is designed for kids.
Cons:
- The set is kid-focused rather than intended as a professional artist pencil collection.
- It does not include a sketchbook, case, or drawing tutorial.
This is a sensible bulk option for young artists who need many colors at home or school. It offers more variety than a small classroom pack while keeping the format familiar and straightforward.
Best for Smooth Shading – Prismacolor Premier 24-Count Colored Pencils
Prismacolor Premier colored pencils are a strong choice when smooth blending, shading, and saturated color matter more than having the largest possible assortment. This 24-count set uses soft, durable cores and arrives pre-sharpened for drawing, sketching, adult coloring, and crafts.
Best For: Artists and adult colorists who prioritize soft, blendable laydown and rich pigments.
Pros:
- Soft, thick cores support shading and shadow work.
- Ultra-smooth laydown helps produce even color.
- Richly saturated, lightfast pigments add vibrant results.
- Includes a portable tin case and pre-sharpened pencils.
Cons:
- The 24-color assortment offers fewer shade options than larger sets.
- The pencils are not water resistant.
This set is well suited to users who want a compact colored-pencil collection with a soft core for layering and blending. The included tin also makes storage and portability convenient.
Best Classroom Value – Crayola 36-Count Colored Pencils
Crayola colored pencils offer a practical, child-friendly option for school projects, classroom activities, and everyday coloring. This 36-count set provides a broad range of colors, with presharpened, durable cores that are ready to use out of the box.
Best For: Kids, classrooms, families, and casual coloring-book use.
Pros:
- 36 distinct colors provide useful variety for school and art projects.
- Presharpened tips make the set ready to use immediately.
- Durable soft cores are designed to resist easy breaking.
- Non-toxic construction suits the listed kid-focused use.
Cons:
- The set is positioned for classic, child-friendly use rather than specialized professional techniques.
- The supplied details list a smooth grip but do not mention a storage case.
Choose this set when ease of use, color variety, and classroom practicality are the priorities. It is a versatile colored-pencil option for young artists and shared creative activities.
Best for Color Variety – 80-Count Oil-Based Colored Pencils
This 80-piece colored pencils set is designed for artists who want extensive color coverage for adult coloring books, illustration, sketching, and shading. Its oil-based soft cores support smooth blending, while the labeled pencils and included swatch chart make palette selection easier.
Best For: Adults, beginners, students, and artists who want many shades for layered artwork.
Pros:
- 80 colors include bright tones, earth hues, and soft pastels.
- Oil-based soft cores support blending, gradients, and delicate shading.
- Color names, numbers, and a blank swatch chart simplify organization.
- Sturdy gift-box packaging suits storage and gifting.
Cons:
- The larger set may be more color variety than casual users need.
- The supplied details do not specify that the pencils are pre-sharpened.
For users who want a wide palette without immediately moving to a smaller specialist set, this collection offers strong versatility. The swatch chart is especially useful for building a personal color reference before starting a project.
Best Erasable Pick – Crayola 24-Count Erasable Colored Pencils
These Crayola colored pencils are a practical choice for kids who want vibrant color with the flexibility to correct mistakes. The 24-count set arrives pre-sharpened in a resealable box, making it convenient for coloring, classrooms, homeschool, and back-to-school use.
Best For: Kids, students, and young artists who benefit from erasable colored pencils.
Pros:
- Includes 24 rich, vibrant colors.
- Erasable design helps undo coloring mistakes.
- Pre-sharpened and ready to use out of the box.
- Smooth, precise application supports detailed coloring.
Cons:
- The 24-color selection is smaller than the 72-count alternatives.
- Designed primarily for coloring rather than advanced blending work.
Choose this set when easy corrections and kid-friendly convenience matter more than having the widest possible color range. The resealable packaging also makes storage simple between projects.
Best Heavy-Duty Pick – Soucolor 72-Count Colored Pencils
Soucolor’s 72-count colored pencils give artists a broad palette for drawing, adult coloring books, sketching, shading, and blending. The pre-sharpened pencils feature numbered and named colors, a soft break-resistant core, and a storage case for organized use.
Best For: Adult coloring enthusiasts and artists who want many shades for blending and detailed illustrations.
Pros:
- Offers 72 richly pigmented colors.
- Soft cores support smooth blending, layering, and shading.
- Numbered and named pencils make color identification easier.
- Includes a storage case and pre-sharpened pencils.
Cons:
- The larger set may be more than casual colorers need.
- Soft cores can require careful sharpening despite their break-resistant design.
For shoppers prioritizing color range and smooth transitions, this set is a versatile step up from a basic coloring assortment. Its labeled pencils and case are useful when working with repeated shades or larger projects.
Best Beginner-Friendly Set – KALOUR 72-Count Soft Core Colored Pencils
KALOUR’s 72-count colored pencils combine a wide color selection with soft, highly pigmented cores for coloring, drawing, blending, and shading. Each pencil has a color name and number, while the basswood body is designed to sharpen easily for use by adults, kids, and beginners.
Best For: Beginners, families, and artists seeking a versatile 72-color set for creative projects.
Pros:
- Provides 72 colors for varied artwork and coloring books.
- Soft, vivid cores are suited to blending and layering.
- Color names and numbers simplify shade identification.
- Made with basswood and described as easy to sharpen.
Cons:
- The broad set may be excessive for simple school coloring tasks.
- Soft cores may use more pigment during extended coloring sessions.
This set is a strong all-purpose option when you want plenty of shades without limiting the user to one skill level. Its soft core and labeled colors make it approachable for beginners while supporting more detailed drawing and shading.
How We Picked the Best Colored Pencils
We focused on the features that matter most in real-world use: color selection, pigment performance, core feel, blendability, durability, ease of sharpening, and overall versatility. The roundup includes established options from Crayola and Prismacolor alongside broad-color sets aimed at adult coloring, drawing, and beginner practice.
Because pencil preferences vary, we considered both premium soft-core choices and practical school-friendly sets. Product descriptions, intended users, pack sizes, and common use cases also helped shape the recommendations.
Quick Comparison
- Best premium all-around set: Prismacolor Premier 150-count
- Best compact premium set: Prismacolor Premier 24-count
- Best for younger children: Crayola 120-count or 36-count sets
- Best no-sharpening option: Crayola Twistables
- Best for erasable coloring: Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils
- Best broad-palette value: Soucolor or KALOUR 72-count sets
Key Buying Factors for Colored Pencils
Core Softness and Control
Soft cores generally lay down richer color and blend more easily, making them useful for adult coloring, shading, and layered artwork. Harder or firmer cores offer more control for fine outlines and detailed schoolwork. A balanced set is usually the most flexible choice for beginners.
Color Range
A larger assortment provides more shades with less mixing, but it also costs more and takes up additional storage space. A 24- to 36-count set is often enough for children, casual drawing, or travel. Artists who layer colors or work on detailed coloring books may prefer 72 colors or more.
Durability and Sharpening
Look for pencils with cores that resist frequent breakage and casings that tolerate regular sharpening. Twistable designs avoid sharpeners altogether, while traditional wood-cased pencils can provide more precise points when maintained properly.
Age and Intended Use
For younger children, prioritize easy grip, sturdy construction, and clearly labeled age guidance. Adult coloring and illustration users may value pigment intensity, smooth layering, and a wider range of muted, skin-tone, or blending shades.
Who Should Buy Which Colored Pencils?
Choose Prismacolor Premier if smooth application, rich color, and blending performance are more important than the lowest price. The 150-count set suits serious hobbyists, while the 24-count version is a practical introduction or compact upgrade.
Choose Crayola for children, classrooms, gifts, and everyday projects. The standard sets offer familiar, easy-to-use colors; Twistables are convenient for mess-free use; and the erasable set is useful when young artists want to correct mistakes.
Choose a 72-, 80-, or 120-color adult set if variety and value are your priorities. These larger assortments work well for coloring books, practice, and experimenting with blending without committing to a premium artist-grade collection.