Whether you have kids, enjoy coloring in coloring books, or are a fan of paper crafts, chances are you own quite a few colored pencils. These small tools allow you to bring creations to life and are an important tool for any artist. However, it can be hard to tell which colored pencils are best, especially when there are so many options available on the market. This is why we have compiled a list of the 10 best colored pencils for paper crafts; we have made your search simpler, allowing you to get back to your art.
Best Colored Pencils FAQ
What Are Colored Pencils?
Colored pencils are small pencils that instead of gray graphite, have bright selections of color running through their centers. These tools are great for blending, shading, coloring, and outlining a number of artistic projects.
What Might You Use Colored Pencils For?
Perhaps one of the most common uses of colored pencils is coloring. Kids around the globe use colored pencils each and every day to color in their drawings or the drawings inside of a coloring book. With the recent rise in adult coloring books, thousands of people from three to 103 have taken up coloring as a hobby.Colored pencils are also great tools for artists. They allow them to shade, outline, and detail in ways a normal pencil could not. Colored pencils can be used to detail small paper crafts, add color to a school project, or simply create a background for a much larger piece. The possibilities are truly endless in terms of these pencils.
What Makes Some Colored Pencils Better than Others?
Ultimately, the best colored pencils will come down to color, style, amount of pencils in a package, and their strength while coloring. Many people will have different preferences based on their own unique style, needs, and overall usage of the pencils. Take into consideration all of these factors, including who may be using the colored pencils, before you make your purchase.
Where Can You Buy the Best Colored Pencils?
You can buy colored pencils at a number of local general stores, art stores, or online. The best colored pencils, the ones featured here, can all be found on Amazon.
How We Reviewed
To make sure we got an accurate review of the best colored pencils on the market, we spent a great deal of time compiling a list of brands. Once we had this list, we went over the features, pros, cons, and price for each brand in order to determine how beneficial each would be compared to the last. We then reviewed the entire list and came up with a final verdict on the best colored pencils for paper crafts.Enter your text here…
Overall Price Range of This Product (and Similar Products)
The price of the best colored pencils will vary a bit depending on the brand, the number of pencils in the package, the quality of the pencils, and where you purchase them from. There are also a number of other great colored pencils, not featured on this list, that may cost a little more or a little less than our estimated price range. The best colored pencils, the ones featured here, will cost somewhere between $3 and $165.
What We Reviewed
Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils
- Wood comes from certified sustainably managed forests
- Ergonomic triangular shape
- Includes a stand up box to keep pencils organized
Features The Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils are a great choice for anyone looking to color a lot of material. The pencils themselves have a soft, non-slip grip which makes them easy to hold. They also come in a vibrant array of 24 colors that stand up easily on their easel-style case.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
PROS
- Comes with 24 different colors
- Has a stand-up easel case
- Has a non-slip grip
- Uses .3mm lead
- Reasonably priced
CONS
- Wear down quickly
- Not the smoothest for coloring
Cra-Z-art Colored Pencils
- School quality
- 72 bright colors
- Sketch, color, create
Features The Cra-Z-art Colored Pencils really give you the most for your money. For just around $5, you can get 72 different color options to do with as you please. These pencils are great for school projects, coloring books, or doodles.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $.
PROS
- Incredibly affordable
- Comes with 72 color options
- Great for school
CONS
- Not great for blending
- Not the most vibrant set of colors
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils
- Long lasting
- Sketch, color, create
- 72 bright colors
Features The Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils are really some of the best colored pencils currently out on the market. The pencils themselves have a thick core that is specifically designed to help achieve great shading while also resist cracking. The colors are soft and easy to blend and are incredibly pigmented, creating vibrant colors on all of your work.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
PROS
- Reasonably priced
- Comes with 24 different colors
- Has a thick core designed for shading
- Has rich pigments
- Resistant to cracking
- Easy to blend
CONS
- Some people find the colors too vibrant
- Lead is soft, making it a bit difficult to control in some cases
Derwent Colored Pencils
- DURABLE CORE – Break resistant core lets you sharpen pencils to a fine point and is great for a range of drawings and...
- SOFT TEXTURE – The velvety soft core helps emphasize the richness of each colour. Ideal for building up colour...
- ACCESSORIES – For best results, combine with other Derwent products, such as Derwent Blender and Burnisher and Derwent...
Features The Derwent Colored Pencils are another great choice for those looking to enhance their art. These colored pencils are larger in diameter than most colored pencils and offer a number of bright colors to choose from. The cores inside are quite soft, making them easy to work with, and are break-resistant.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
PROS
- Comes with 24 different colors
- Packaged in a tin
- Available in different color amounts (up to 72)
- Are both vibrant and soft
- Break-resistant
CONS
- Slightly more expensive than some of the other colored pencils
- Not the easiest to blend
Crayola Colored Pencils
- 24 pre-sharpened long colored pencils that are strong and durable
- COLORING BOOK COMPANION: Pair these Presharpened Colored Pencils with Crayola Coloring Books (sold separately) for a...
- CRAYOLA COLORED PENCILS: This color pencil set features 24 presharpened Crayola Colored Pencils in classic colors.
Features One of the most reliable coloring brands by far is Crayola and the Crayola Colored Pencils do not disappoint. These colored pencils are a great choice for anyone with any skill level. They are easy to use, reasonably priced, and great for kids and adults alike. Plus, they come with 24 different colors in a pack, making them a great starting pack for any artist.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $.
PROS
- Comes with 24 colors in the pack
- Incredibly affordable
- Made by a reliable brand
- Great for artists of any skill level
CONS
- Some colors are difficult to get pigment on the paper
- Not incredibly break resistant
Prismacolor Scholar Pencil Set
- Includes: Indigo Blue, Permanent Blue, Aquamarine, Copenhagen Blue, Dark Green, Grass Green, Permanent Green, Pale...
- Hardened cores resist breakage
- High quality art pencils designed for beginning artists and crafters
Features If you are just beginning to dip your toes into the world of artistic coloring, the Prismacolor Scholar Pencil Set may be the perfect fit for you. This 24-pack of vibrant colored pencils is designed with aspiring artists in mind. The colors are smooth, soft, and highly pigmented. It also comes with is own easel stand to keep your pencils up and in sight while you work.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $.
PROS
- Reasonably priced
- Comes with 24 colors in the pack
- Comes with its own easel stand for holding pencils
- Designed for beginning artists
- Highly pigmented colors
- Smooth and soft
CONS
- Are not highly break resistant
- Newer versions of these pencils have been stated to be of lesser quality
CREATIVE ART MATERIALS Caran D’ache Luminance Colored Pencil Set
- 20 piece assortment
- Pigments chosen for purity-intensity and resistance to UV
- Can be blended and layered for various effects
Features If you are a serious artist or looking to give a long lasting gift, check out the CREATIVE ART MATERIALS Caran D’ache Luminance Colored Pencil Set. While these colored pencils are a bit more expensive than others, they offer incredible quality for those who are serious about their work. The pigment is rich, smooth, and resistant to UV rays. Plus, the colors are easy to blend and layer however you need.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
PROS
- Comes with 20 different colors in the pack
- Easy to blend and layer
- Pigment is intense and resistant to UV rays
- Incredibly smooth
- Has high lightfastness
CONS
- Significantly more expensive than other colored pencils on the market
- Colors may feel a bit more like pastels than some people are used to
Sargent Art Assorted Colored Pencils
- Sharp color pencils are ready to use right away, so there's no need to spend time looking for a pencil sharpener.
- Colors lay down without a scratch. Developed with creative and future artists in mind.
- Add vivid and bright colors to drawings in minute detail with these Sargent Art color pencils, created to be used in...
Features The Sargent Art Assorted Colored Pencils are some of the best colored pencils for kids. They are very cheap, easy to color with, and are AP certified. Plus, their lead is 3.3mm thick, meaning that the color is broader and easier to cover larger surfaces with.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $.
PROS
- Incredibly affordable
- Has different pack options (up to 52 different colors)
- Has 3.3mm lead
- AP certified
CONS
- Only comes with 12 colors in the package
- Designed more for kids than adults
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Color Pencils
- 120 COLORS IN METAL TIN - Includes all colors from the Polychromos Artist Pencil line. Polychromos Artists' Pencils are...
- FABER-CASTELL QUALITY ART MATERIALS - See your artwork come to life with the absolute best quality art materials....
- BREAK RESISTANT LEADS - Polychromos Pencils feature thick 3.8 mm leads that are break and water resistant. Leads are...
Features If you are willing to make a serious investment into your art, then considering checking out the Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Color Pencils. This incredible tin comes with 120 different color variations for you to use and enjoy. The pencils themselves have tremendous lightfastness and are easy to blend. Plus, they are resistant to breaking while sharpening and in use.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$$.
PROS
- Comes with 120 different colors in the pack
- Comes in other size variations (down to 12)
- Has incredible lightfastness
- Resistant to breakage
- Easy to blend
CONS
- Extremely expensive compared to other colored pencils on the market
- Pencils are not as soft or smooth as other brands
ColorIt Premium Colored Pencils
- 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE OR YOUR MONEY BACK - ColorIt takes pride in providing premium products and quality service....
- SMOOTH FINISH - The ColorIt Colored Pencils Set is a must have for any coloring enthusiast in search of a nice smooth...
- BEST COLORED PENCILS FOR ADULT COLORING - Set includes 48 high-quality colored pencils, 1 pencil sharpener, a durable...
Features For the perfect gift for a lover of color, check out the ColorIt Premium Colored Pencils. This set of colored pencils comes in its own traveling case and its own gift box, making it great for birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries. Plus, the company provides you with a money-back guarantee. If you do not completely love these colored pencils, you can send them back for a full refund.
PriceThis product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
PROS
- Comes in a convenient travel case
- Comes with 48 different colors in the pack
- Has vivid color pigments
- Comes in a gift box
- Has a money-back guarantee
CONS
- Slightly more expensive than some of the other colored pencils on the market
- Some of the cores are not centered, making them difficult to sharpen
The Verdict
With all the different options available out on the market, it can be difficult to know which colored pencils are truly the best. You should conder what you will be using the colored pencils for, how you use them, and how many different colors you will need before purchasing them. Deciding on the best colored pencils for you will ultimately come down to your own personal preference, but we have made a few suggestions.Our pick for the best colored pencils for an advanced artist serious about their work is the CREATIVE ART MATERIALS Caran D’ache Luminance Colored Pencil Set. These colored pencils are made incredibly well and provide you with the perfect array of color options for artists of any style. While they are a bit more expensive than many of the other sets on this list, they are long-lasting and will help you continuously create great work.Our overall pick for the best colored pencils for artists of any skill level is the Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils. These colored pencils are soft, easy to use, and come with rich pigments that are great for any number of projects. Plus, they have a decent price point for anyone’s budget.
Last update on 2022-11-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API