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10 Best Soft Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.7 score

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

The KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils are designed for artists, hobbyists, and beginners who appreciate vibrant colors and smooth application. With 72 different shades, this set offers an extensive range that can cater to various artistic projects, whether for coloring books or drawing. The high pigment quality stands out, allowing for vivid and rich color laydown, which is ideal for blending and shading techniques. The soft core of these pencils enhances the coloring experience, making it easy to create smooth gradients and layers of color.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
The colors are vivid and blend nicely with a blending pencil, making them a good choice for beginning artists or casual coloring.
Softness of the Core
Soft cores make coloring smooth and effortless while allowing for great layering and gradients.
Color Range
The 72 vibrant shades provide an incredible range for blending, shading, and detailed work.
Blendability
The colors are vivid and blend nicely with a blending pencil, making them a good choice for beginning artists or casual coloring.
Durability
These pencils sharpen well without breaking and hold their point even with frequent use.
Ease of Sharpening
These pencils sharpen well without breaking and hold their point even with frequent use.
#2
9.4 score

Soucolor 72-Color Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Back to School Supplies, Soft Core, Artist Drawing Sketching Pencils Set, Art Supplies Kit Gifts for Kids Teens Beginners Blending Shading

The Soucolor 72-Color Colored Pencils are a solid choice for anyone from adults to kids and teens looking to engage in coloring, drawing, or sketching. One of their biggest strengths is the pigment quality, offering vibrant colors that are perfect for blending and shading. With a soft core, these pencils provide a smooth coloring experience and are easy to sharpen, which is great for users who want to quickly add detail to their artwork without the hassle of frequent breaks or crumbles.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
The richness of the colors and smoothness of the pencils are impressive, with no breakage experienced so far.
Softness of the Core
A great value for the money, hard to beat compared to other soft lead pencils used for pleasure and anxiety relief.
Color Range
These pencils are the best ones ever used, with so many shades of each color and easy sharpening.
Blendability
Blends fabulously and layers well, holding a good sharp point.
Durability
The richness of the colors and smoothness of the pencils are impressive, with no breakage experienced so far.
Ease of Sharpening
These pencils are the best ones ever used, with so many shades of each color and easy sharpening.
#3
9.2 score

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

The Crayola Colored Pencils set features 36 vibrant and distinct colors, making it an excellent choice for kids and beginners in coloring. The pigment quality is bright and consistent, helping to create eye-catching artwork. These pencils are designed with a soft core that makes coloring smooth and enjoyable, though they might not be as creamy as professional-grade pencils.

Customer Highlights

A summary of real customer reviews to highlight what shoppers are saying!
Pigment Quality
The vibrant colors have a fantastic payoff, bringing illustrations to life with rich hues.
Color Range
With 36 different colors, this set offers an excellent range for all kinds of projects.
Blendability
They blend beautifully, allowing for smooth transitions between colors.
Durability
The pencils are sturdy and resistant to breaking, even with a bit of pressure during use.
Ease of Sharpening
They maintain their sharpness well, requiring less frequent sharpening.

Top 10 Best Soft Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 36 Count

Pigment Quality: High-quality, lightfast
Softness of the Core: Soft
Color Range: 36 colors
Blendability: Smooth laydown, easy blending
Durability: Thick leads, resist cracking
Ease of Sharpening: Good, use quality sharpener

Derwent Coloured Pencils, Inktense Ink Pencils, Drawing, Art, Metal Tin, 72 Count (2301843)

Pigment Quality: highly pigmented
Softness of the Core: soft lead
Color Range: 72 colors
Blendability: easy to blend
Durability: softer cores can break easily
Ease of Sharpening: requires frequent sharpening

Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils - Tin of 120 Colors - Premium Quality Artist Pencils

Pigment Quality: Exceptional, vibrant, long-lasting colors
Softness of the Core: Smooth and buttery laydown
Color Range: 120 colors
Blendability: Effortless blending and layering
Durability: Thick, SV-bonded leads, water-resistant
Ease of Sharpening: Relatively easy to sharpen

Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils, Adult Coloring, 60 Pack

Pigment Quality: rich and vibrant
Softness of the Core: soft, smooth leads
Color Range: 60 vibrant colors
Blendability: excellent blending and shading
Durability: durable, resist breakage
Ease of Sharpening: sharpen easily, no crumbling
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Buying Guide for the Best Soft Colored Pencils

Choosing the right soft-colored pencils can greatly enhance your artistic experience, whether you are a beginner or a professional artist. Soft-colored pencils are known for their rich, vibrant colors and smooth application, making them ideal for blending and layering. When selecting soft-colored pencils, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure you get the best fit for your needs. Here are the key specs to look out for and how to navigate them.
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. Artists who require intense and true-to-life colors should opt for pencils with high pigment quality. For casual use or coloring books, medium pigment quality may suffice. Always check for lightfast ratings, which indicate how well the color resists fading over time.
Softness of the CoreThe softness of the core determines how easily the pencil lays down color and how well it blends. Softer cores are ideal for blending and creating smooth gradients, but they may wear down faster and require frequent sharpening. Harder cores are more durable and better for detailed work. Choose softer cores if you prioritize blending and shading, and harder cores if you need precision and fine details.
Color RangeThe color range refers to the variety of colors available in a set. Larger sets offer more colors, which can be beneficial for creating detailed and nuanced artwork. Smaller sets are more portable and can be sufficient for basic coloring needs. Consider the type of artwork you plan to create and whether you need a wide range of colors or just the basics.
BlendabilityBlendability is the ability of the pencils to mix and create new colors when layered. High blendability allows for smooth transitions and a more professional finish. Artists who focus on realistic drawings or complex color work should prioritize pencils with high blendability. For simpler projects, blendability may be less critical.
DurabilityDurability refers to how well the pencils withstand use without breaking. Softer pencils are more prone to breakage, while harder pencils are more durable. If you tend to press hard while drawing or need pencils that can withstand travel, look for those with higher durability. For delicate and careful use, this may be less of a concern.
Ease of SharpeningEase of sharpening is important for maintaining a fine point on your pencils. Some soft-colored pencils can be difficult to sharpen without breaking. Look for pencils that are known for their ease of sharpening, especially if you need to maintain a sharp point for detailed work. If you prefer a softer, more rounded tip, this may be less critical.

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