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10 Best Art Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.9 score

Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencils Set, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Coloring Book Pencils, Gifts for Kids & Toddlers, Ages 3+

The Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct) set is designed for kids, making it a popular choice for young artists and creative activities. One of its strengths is the pigment quality, which offers vibrant colors that kids will love. The set includes a wide range of 36 colors, providing plenty of options for artistic expression and enhancing the coloring experience.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
The vibrant colors bring illustrations to life, with each pencil offering a rich hue that blends beautifully for smooth transitions.
Color Range
With 36 different colors, this set provides an excellent range for all kinds of projects, from bright and bold to subtle and muted tones.
Blendability
The vibrant colors bring illustrations to life, with each pencil offering a rich hue that blends beautifully for smooth transitions.
Pencil Durability
The pencils are sturdy and resistant to breaking, even with pressure during use, and maintain their sharpness well, requiring less frequent sharpening.
#2
9.8 score

Shuttle Art 136 Coloured Pencils , Soft Core Colouring Pencils Set for Adult Colouring Books, Doodling, Sketching, Drawing, Art Supplies

Shuttle Art's 136 Colored Pencils set is an appealing option for both casual and serious artists, thanks to its impressive range of 136 vibrant colors, including 12 metallic shades. This extensive color palette allows for a diverse array of creative projects, such as coloring books, doodling, and drawing, making it a great fit for various age groups and skill levels.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
These pencils match the quality of more expensive brands, with rich pigment that doesn’t require hard pressing.
Color Range
The set includes a dazzling array of colors, organized in six trays with different shades, making it a fantastic choice for both beginners and experienced artists.
Pencil Durability
The pencils are smooth, sharpen well, and the tips don’t break off easily, which enhances the drawing experience.
#3
9.7 score

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 150 Count, Ultra-Smooth, Durable, Vibrant Colors

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are an excellent choice for artists and coloring enthusiasts looking for high-quality colored pencils. With a soft core, these pencils excel in shading and blending, allowing for smooth transitions and vibrant color application. The lightfast pigments ensure that your artwork will resist fading over time, which is a significant advantage for those creating lasting pieces. With 150 colors in the set, users have a wide palette to work from, making it suitable for detailed and intricate designs.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
The colors are highly saturated and blend smoothly, providing a fun and versatile coloring experience.
Core Hardness
Investing in a specific sharpener for soft leads can solve the common issue of lead breakage.
Color Range
The 150-color set offers a wide range of shades, which is perfect for detailed and intricate designs.
Blendability
These pencils color and blend very well, making them worth the cost for serious artists.
Pencil Durability
The right sharpener makes a significant difference in preventing breakage and maintaining the pencils' quality.

Top 10 Best Art Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.9 score

Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencils Set, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Coloring Book Pencils, Gifts for Kids & Toddlers, Ages 3+

Pigment Quality: vibrant colors
Lightfastness: not as high as professional-grade
Core Hardness: 2B
Color Range: 36 colors
Blendability: great for blending
Pencil Durability: durable, soft cores resist breaking

Chosen by 1446 this week

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 150 Count, Ultra-Smooth, Durable, Vibrant Colors

Pigment Quality: lightfast pigments
Lightfastness: resist fading over time
Core Hardness: soft
Color Range: 150 colors
Blendability: excel in shading and blending
Pencil Durability: resist cracking and chipping
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Buying Guide for the Best Art Colored Pencils

Choosing the right art-colored pencils can significantly impact the quality of your artwork. Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, understanding the key specifications of colored pencils will help you make an informed decision. The right set of colored pencils can enhance your creativity, provide better control, and ensure your artwork stands the test of time. Here are the key specifications to consider when selecting art-colored pencils.
Pigment QualityPigment quality refers to the richness and vibrancy of the colors in the pencils. High-quality pigments provide more vivid and intense colors, which are essential for creating striking and detailed artwork. Pigment quality can be divided into student-grade and artist-grade. Student-grade pencils have lower pigment concentration and are suitable for beginners or casual use. Artist-grade pencils have higher pigment concentration, offering superior color payoff and blending capabilities, making them ideal for professional artists or serious hobbyists. Choose based on your level of expertise and the type of artwork you plan to create.
LightfastnessLightfastness is the resistance of the pencil colors to fading when exposed to light over time. This is important if you want your artwork to remain vibrant and unchanged for years. Lightfastness ratings are usually indicated on the pencil or packaging, with higher ratings signifying better resistance to fading. For artwork intended for display or sale, opt for pencils with high lightfastness ratings. For practice or temporary projects, lightfastness may be less critical.
Core HardnessCore hardness determines how soft or hard the pencil lead is. Softer cores provide richer color application and are easier to blend, making them suitable for shading and layering. Harder cores are more durable and produce finer lines, which are ideal for detailed work and precision. Soft cores are great for expressive, painterly techniques, while hard cores are better for technical drawings and intricate details. Consider your drawing style and the type of effects you want to achieve when choosing the core hardness.
Color RangeThe color range refers to the variety of colors available in a set of colored pencils. A wider color range offers more options for creating detailed and nuanced artwork. Sets can range from basic 12-color packs to extensive 150-color collections. Beginners might start with a smaller set to learn basic techniques, while more advanced artists may prefer larger sets to have a broader palette at their disposal. Think about the complexity of your projects and whether you need a wide array of colors or just the essentials.
BlendabilityBlendability is the ability of the colored pencils to mix and blend with each other to create smooth transitions and new colors. This is crucial for achieving realistic shading and gradients in your artwork. Pencils with good blendability allow for seamless color mixing and layering. Wax-based pencils generally offer better blendability compared to oil-based pencils, which are more suited for detailed work. If your artwork involves a lot of blending and layering, prioritize pencils known for their blendability.
Pencil DurabilityPencil durability refers to the strength of the pencil core and the casing. Durable pencils are less likely to break during use or sharpening, which is important for maintaining a consistent drawing experience. Durability can be influenced by the quality of the wood casing and the bonding of the core. High-quality pencils are less prone to breakage and can withstand more pressure. If you tend to apply heavy pressure while drawing or need pencils that can endure frequent sharpening, look for those with high durability.

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