Looking for the best colored pencils for artists in 2023? Look no further!
We can have all the most inventive gadgets in the world, but for artists, nothing will ever replace the power and feel of colored pencils. Growing up, we’re taught to believe that our pencils are some of our strongest tools. True enough, times have only validated that claim.
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Whether for drawing pleasure or writing purposes, pencils have been workplace staples that have helped us accurately articulate our ideas.
As such, we’ve dedicated an entire feature to cite all of the best colored pencils in 2023 artists can purchase today!
15 Best Colored Pencils for Artists in 2023 — Overview
- Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Color Pencils — The best colored pencils for artists in 2023 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 pack) — The best value colored pencils
- Crayola Colored Pencils Multi-Pack — The best budget colored pencils
- Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (150 pack) — The best colored pencils for beginners
- Castle Art Colored Pencils — The best reviewed colored pencils
- Derwent Colored Pencils — The best colored pencils for professionals
- Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils — The best affordable colored pencils
- Marco Renoir Art Wooden Colored Pencils Set — The best easy-to-use colored pencils
- Prang Thick Core Colored Pencils — The best high-quality colored pencils
- Black Widow Colored Pencils — The best reliable colored pencils
- Magicfly Oil Based Colored Pencils — The best non-toxic colored pencils
- Caran d’Ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set — The best colored pencils with water-resistant
- Soucolor Colored Pencils Set — The best vibrant colored pencils
- Cool Bank — The best-colored pencils with improved artist-quality
- Art-n-Fly — The best oil-based colored pencils
Also see our posts on the best Best Mechanical Pencils for Artists and the best pens & pencils for artists.
What to Consider When Buying Colored Pencils
Color pencils are a dynamic medium for artists as they are easy to use and are simple to learn. Most importantly, they produce cleaner creatives in comparison to other mediums. However, there are a few factors to consider before you buy colored pencils:
Quality
There are many considerations to take into account before purchasing color pencils for artists. However, the most important factor is the quality of the color pencils.
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When it comes to quality, there are two types of qualities that you will come across while shopping, which are student grade and artist grade.
If your budget allows, it’s always best to buy artist-grade pencils, which are noticeably superior. They contain a higher proportion of pigment, which yields richer, bolder, and more vibrant colors and are also more lightfast.
On the other hand, student-grade are not of superior quality but are the best choice for beginners, when practicing, and for hobbyists.
Consistency
Consistency is one of the most important factors, when it comes to color pencils. Their consistency depends on the lead it uses. This may vary depending on the brands, types, and particularly on the formulation used.
In general, these colored leads are made up of pigment, gum binder, filler, and wax that’s encased in wood.
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They have types that go like soft colored pencils that are easy to lay down and can blend well. Many artists prefer them due to their consistency. The other type is hard colored pencils which have a very fine point. These student-grade pencils are good for students, with textures like grass, hair, fur, etc., They are also used for binding and filling, but they might not give the same results as soft colored pencils.
Color
Most colored pencils come with a wide range of colors as they are difficult to blend and create hues. It is best to purchase a pencil set containing 24 pencils and then purchase additional pencils individually as necessary.
Lightfastness
Lightfastness defines the amount of light the color resists the light to avoid fading when bright light reaches your project. The higher the lightfastness the more permanent or the longer the color stays on the surface or the medium you use.
Blendability
Like many traditional art forms, colored pencil drawings and illustrations require having to layer and draw over existing lines and shades. To make these colors naturally cohesive and visually palatable, serious artists must consider how colored pencils mesh well with each other.
Vibrancy
The whole point of optimizing colored pencils is to produce dynamic and vibrant works of art. On that note, pencils created with more pigment levels generally appear richer. Consequently, a ton of pigments naturally lose their luster as they are exposed to light over time. That said, it’s best to optimize lightfast pencils for more complex and larger art projects.
Durability
All pencils break, and that’s a given. As such, pick sets that are made with premium wood. High-quality wood pencils are less likely to break when you accidentally drop them or after a fresh round of sharpening. It also isn’t new knowledge how the firmer pencils are easier to use.
All things considered, the colored pencil sets that you choose for yourself have every power to dictate how stellar, realistic, and inspiring your works of art turn out. So to help you in your quest for the best-colored pencil artworks, we’ve jotted down all the top colored pencils in 2023 to help you streamline your search.
Budget
To avoid overspending on something unnecessary, having a budget plan is important. Make sure you purchase the one depending on your requirements and the type of projects you handle.
If you’re interested in adult coloring, Read about 7 Best Markers for Adult Coloring to know more.
The Top Best 12 Colored Pencils for Artists in 2023
1. Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Color Pencils (Editor’s Choice)
Arguably the epitome of what premium colored pencils should look and feel like, the Faber-Castell Polychromos are the best in this category.
Well-reviewed, high-rated, and a staple to thousands of artists, this pick consists of smooth and stable pencils that blend effectively and beautifully.
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They’re also easily erasable should you encounter a hiccup. Available in 5 stunning sets, this find is easily any artist’s favorite and it isn’t hard to tell why.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Firm and durable | ➖ A tad expensive |
| ➕ Easy to hold |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Polychromes Colored Pencil Set In Metal Tin 60pc
- Acid free. Imported
- Color pencils can be laid down with delicate or strong strokes to unfold their vibrant colors
2. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 Pack)
Available in 4 dynamic sets, this pick blends colors naturally and makes for spectacular tools in finishing tiny details and corners that require saturated strokes. One of the best in its section, the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils is a crowd favorite for a handful of creative and technical reasons.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Good color range | ➖ Lead breaks easy |
| ➕ Easy to use |
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Latest Price on Amazon:
- Soft, thick cores are perfect for shading and shadows
- Lightfast, richly saturated pigments
- Ultra-smooth, even color laydown
- Thick, robust leads resist cracking and chipping
- 72 premium colored pencils
3. Crayola Colored Pencils Multi-Pack
The Crayola Colored Pencils Multi-Pack extends more than your ample share of options for each popular color. Here, a pack contains only 12 basic colors. Nonetheless, each of the colors has 12 pieces, varying in hue and shade. This means artists are treated to a stellar range of 240 colors overall. It also doesn’t hurt how this pick’s box already double as the pencil holder. It’s great for starters and even better for classroom and shared experiences.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Presharpened pencils | ➖ Not ergonomically-friendly |
| ➕ Box doubles as a holder |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- CLASSROOM SET: This Crayola Classpack features 240 Colored Pencils in 12 Assorted Colors with 12 Sharpeners in 3 Colors.
- BULK COLORED PENCIL SET: This bulk set has 20 coloring pencils of each color, including White, Black, Brown, Violet, Blue, Sky Blue, Green, Yellow Green, Yellow, Orange, Red Orange & Red.
- ORGANIZED STORAGE: Presharpened colored pencils are separated by individual sections in the organized storage box.
- SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Crayola Colored Pencil set is perfect for teachers as classroom supplies.
- SAFE & NONTOXIC: Ideal for kids, ages 4 & up.
4. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (150 Pack)
Perfect for artists in the fashion space, the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils produce rich colors that are both lightfast and do not smudge easily. They blend amazingly with other colors, making it easy to replicate shades and colors the pack may not have. Whether you’re a beginner, a design mogul, or otherwise, you’re going to love this find.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Metal tin protects the pencils | ➖ Smaller sets have limited colors |
| ➕ Blends easily with other shades |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Soft, thick cores are perfect for shading and shadows
- Lightfast, richly saturated pigments
- Ultra-smooth, even color laydown
- Thick, robust leads resist cracking and chipping making them perfect for adult coloring books
- 150 premium colored pencils
5. Castle Arts Colored Pencils
With over 14,000 Amazon reviews and counting, the Castle Arts Colored Pencils is one of the better-reviewed finds among the bunch. Made of fantastic wood and waxy leads, this set is arguably the best-colored pencil kit you’ll find in its price category. They’re easy to hold, work on several paper surfaces, and easily look and feel premium too!
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great quality for the price | ➖ Sometimes come with a chemical smell |
| ➕ Affordable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- MADE TO MAKE IT EASY Essential range of 72 pencils arranged in color families; named, numbered and color-coded for unerring selection: flip up your choice of pencil from the 3 layers of the handsome...
- SOFT YET DURABLE Latest advanced formulation by in-house artists and technicians results in cores with soft, buttery laydown that also defy crumbling under pressure and hold their point.
- A JOY TO USE Intensely pigmented, rich, creamy colors for smooth coverage and effortless layering, blending and burnishing to add texture and achieve the perfect shade – on paper, eggshell, canvas,...
- BUILD YOUR SKILLS Unique fold-out tutorial enables you refine your colored pencil skills by re-creating the stunning unicorn illustration on the sleeve cover.
- TESTED, TRUSTED AND GUARANTEED Tested by our studio experts to beat competitors. Trusted by ultimate judges – our 1.5 million customers worldwide; backed by unique money-back-PLUS guarantee.
6. Derwent Colored Pencils
If you’re a huge fan of watercolor art, you’re going to enjoy using Derwent Colored Pencils. The pencils in this kit impressively mimic watercolor aesthetics, allowing your illustrations to look and blend cohesively. Derwent’s pencils also make it easier to layer and achieve vibrant hues. This is perfect for a stretch of artists, but those looking to complete watercolor-like creations without necessarily using a watercolor set will easily fall in love with this contender.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Rich and vibrant colors | ➖ Leads break easily |
| ➕ Layers perfectly |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- VIBRANT SHADES – The round 4mm soft lead core is perfect for bold expressive drawings. The highly pigmented colour is easy to apply and produces a vibrant finish. Includes a range of 24 colours....
- WATER SOLUBLE – Expand your creative possibilities. Water soluble pencils can be used dry for expressive drawings, or washed out with water to create a bright, yet translucent ink-like effect
- PERMANENT COLOUR – Pigments dry quickly and permanently when washed out, minimizing colour bleeding. Once dry, colours can be placed next to each other or layered, without fear of colour bleeding
- SURFACE VARIETY – Switch up your artistic canvas. As the colour dries permanently, it’s great on fabrics such as silk or cotton. Can also easily be used on paper. Modify the use to fit your...
- COLOUR CREATION – Make custom shades by mixing colours together. You can also obtain lighter shades of the same colour by adding water. Mix colours to create a truly unique piece of art
7. Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils
One of the cheaper options is the Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils which are perfect for non-professional art projects, this set is an awesome solution for when you just want to articulate your ideas and draw and color your heart away.
Still, these colored pencils here are smooth, blend fairly, and are easily erasable. If you’re looking for a colored pencil set that’s straightforward and does exactly what it’s designed to do, you can’t go wrong with this one.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Affordable | ➖ Colors are not as dynamic as other sets |
| ➕ Easily erasable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Supports Creativity: These neon colored pencils encourage creativity in their use, with a variety of bright, vibrant colors. Perfect for all types of persons, beginner or expert.
- Variety Of Colors: This set of neon colored pencils has an awesome variety of 12 different, bright colors included.
- Environmentally Friendly: These colored pencils are made of wood and as such, are environmentally friendly. Can be disposed directly without adverse effect to the environment.
- Safe for Use: All our colored pencils are safe and non-toxic.
- Pre-Sharpened: The colored pencils come sharpened for first use, eliminating the need to sharpen before usage for the very first time. It is straight to the point as soon as you unpack.
8. Marco Renior Fine Art Wooden Colored Pencils Set
Another great affordable alternative to many premium sets is the Marco Renior Fine Art Wooden Colored Pencils Set. Available in metal tin containers, the pencils here produce creamy and vibrant colors. The set doesn’t contain shade receptions, making sure you get your money’s worth. Perfect for a ton of projects, those primarily looking to sketch will love this the most.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Easy to use | ➖ Colors could be richer |
| ➕ Compatible with many types of paper |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- ◆ A wonderful oil-based colored pencil set for coloring books.
- ◆ Provides an artist with a wide range of materials in a compact, portable & nice metal tin case.
- ◆ Soft core makes coloring and drawing delightfully vivid. Ultra-smooth, even color laydown.
- ◆ Pre-sharpened long pencils that are strong and durable.
- ◆ Environmental friendly material which is harmless to your health.
9. Prang Thick Core Colored Pencils
Just because Prang Thick Core Colored Pencils is the cheapest alternative on the list, doesn’t mean it’s bad! It’s simply meant for those still exploring the coloring and sketching space. This set’s nearly 3,000 Amazon reviews mostly praise it for being a superb coloring companion. It blends nicely with other colors and doesn’t easily break too!
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Rich colors | ➖ Fragile packaging |
| ➕ Blends effectively |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Smooth core delivers vivid, blendable colors and soft laydown
- Durable pencils with long lasting core provide bright colors and resist fading
- 3.3mm break resistant core holds up under pressure
- Real wood casing ensures consistent, easy sharpening
- Includes 50 brilliant colors, AP certified non-toxic
10. Black Widow Colored Pencils
Also one of the more affordable picks on the list, the Black Widow Colored Pencils is an awesome find for artists looking to make the most of water-soluble pencils. And thanks to their hexagon shape, these pencils are easy to hold and use, too! All that said, there’s a lot beginning artists will love here, and one of them is how sturdy and reliable these pencils are.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Easy to hold | ➖ Limited color range |
| ➕ Rich color |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- ✅ SILKY SMOOTH COLORING! The buttery, smooth tips of these colored pencils practically purr across the page of your favorite adult coloring book or drawing. The soft, wax points lay down color...
- ✅ VIBRANT COLORS WITHOUT DUPLICATES! 24 vivid colors, shades and hues in this set. Colors like Venom, Purple Haze and Blood Diamond are pre-sharpened ready to pop off the page. Every color pencil is...
- ✅ RICH PIGMENTS THAT BLEND AND LAYER LIKE VELVET! These coloring pencils have a wax core which means they blend, shade and layer seamlessly without smudging or strain. The deep, rich pigments result...
- ✅ PENCIL CORE DOESN’T BREAK WHEN SHARPENED! The soft wax core and tips of these art colored pencils don’t crumble and break when sharpened or when pressing down to extract darker shades when...
- ✅ COMFORTABLE TO HOLD AND COOL TO DISPLAY! The sleek barrel of these colored pencils is Cobra black, which adds elegance and a touch of cool to your art supplies. The hexagon shape means the pencil...
11. Magicfly Oil Based Colored Pencils
If what you’re looking for are oil-based drawing solutions, you’re going to have fun with Magicfly Oil Based Colored Pencils. Made with 100% non-toxic materials, these pencils are perfect for artists of all kinds, regardless of one’s level of expertise. From shading and layering to sketching and basic coloring, this kit is sure to keep you productive and busy.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ OIl-based | ➖ Blending can be difficult |
| ➕ Durable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 【72 Vivid & Bright Colors】Magicfly oil pencils set for coloring comes with 72 assorted colors, providing smooth coloring and shading. Highly pigmented colors are easy to mix to create other...
- 【High Quality & Safe】These soft core colored pencils are made of non-toxic materials, which are safe for users and environment. Conforms to ASTM D–4236. As the cores are made of soft leads, we...
- 【Easy Organization & Color Identification】Each pencil of our coloring pencils set is marked with color name, color number & light-fastness for easy recognition. This set also comes with a delicate...
- 【Practical Color Pencils Set】Magicfly colored pencils are perfect for drawing, colouring books, sketching, shading, etc. Great range of colors and high quality guarantee a wonderful drawing...
- 【Ideal Gift Choice】Magicfly 72 colored pencils set is a perfect gift choice for those who love drawing, and helps unleash their creativity.
12. Caran d’Ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set
One of the more premium finds on the list is Caran d’Ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set. Overtly leaning towards the pricier side, this pick is a dream come true for many serious artists. Loaded with 120 dynamic colored pencils, this set is water-resistant, excellently holds up to sharpening, and sports hard leads, ensuring that you can sketch as passionately as you need to without worrying about breakages. A perfect example of what professional colored pencils should be like, this set is worth every buck!
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Creamy - soft - water-resistant
- Set of 120 pencils
- Ideal for shading - mixied media
- Exceptional covering power and superb lightfastness
- 3.7mm leads
13.Soucolor Colored Pencils Set
Great color pencils are a gift for artists as they give life to their sketches. Soucolor Colored Pencils Set is one such set that offers 180 vibrant colored pencils. They are bright and vibrant color that offers smooth coloring, easy blending, and shading. Unlike other pencils, they have soft leads and they won’t break easily. These premium colored pencils are an efficient solution to brighten any of your sketches.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Metal tin protects the pencils | ➖ Strong smell |
| ➕ Safe to use | |
| ➕Affordable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- WHAT YOU GET -- 180 Vibrant Colors Numbered colored pencils + 1 Gift Metal Tin Box. Convenient to storing and keeping the color all visible, without any trouble finding the colors. Great color pencils...
- PREMIUM COLORED PENCILS-- 180-color professional art coloring pencils have soft leads, easy to sharpen, they won't breaking, cracking or crumbling.
- MULTIPLE COLORS -- 180 Numbered individual vibrant colors, rich colors provide smooth coloring, easy blending and shading, colorful illustrations Perfect for drawing, sketching, adult coloring books.
- METAL TIN BOX, SAFE To USE -- Odorless Materials. With safety certificate. Note: Choking Hazard: Small parts, not suitable for children under 3 years of age
14. Cool Bank
Cool Bank colored pencil lives up to its product name featuring 160 different colored pencils in a tin box. This is a safe choice for sketching, shading, and coloring. This improved artist-quality colored pencil set delivers the same professional quality that you would find from more expensive brands. You can enjoy your creative freedom and this pick is an awesome choice for professionals who wish to fill vibrant colors.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ New and improved artistic quality colored pencils | ➖ They are not watercolor pencils |
| ➕ Affordable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- √ NEW AND IMPROVED ARTIST QUALITY COLORED PENCILS: Why pay a fortune for premium art pencils? This New and Improved artist quality colored pencil set gives you the same professional quality you'd...
- √ VIBRANT COLOR: Come with 160 different Colored Pencils in a tin box. Your colored pencils have soft, break-resistant cores made from lightfast pigment that won't fade over time.160 shades give you...
- √ QUALITY PENCIL IN A STURDY METAL CASE: Each adult coloring pencils is made of durable basswood with a strong core, neatly packaged in a stunning presentation tin box. The thick lead of our...
- √ LUXURIOUS 'SOFT SERIES' for ultimate blending, shading and layering. These expert coloring pencils glide smoothly across your paper, blend beautifully & layer effortlessly.You'll be amazed by...
- √ Our gorgeous colors and design tools are neatly organized and arranged in a tin box so you can create art wherever you go.
15. Art-n-Fly
Are you looking for oil-based colored pencils? Art-n-Fly is an excellent choice, as it features a rich pigment for vibrant and long-lasting artwork. These colored pencils are studier and more pigmented, which gives you a perfect finish to your artwork. It contains 48 vibrant colors for a wide range of pencils for drawing, coloring, and sketching.
These professional-grade art pencils won’t fade with exposure to light and they require very little pressure to lay down color. Art-n-Fly is one of those pencils that match perfectly with your creative ideas.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Superior Colored Pencils | ➖ Color name is not printed on the pencils |
| ➕ Smooth Layering |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Superior Colored Pencils: Our high-quality drawing pencils feature a rich pigment for vibrant, long-lasting artworks. We’ve constructed our coloring pencils to be stronger, brighter, and better...
- Innovative Oil-based Core: Compared to wax sketch pencils, oil sketching pencils are sturdier and more pigmented, allowing them to hold a finer point, and never finish with a waxy film. Whether...
- High Lightfast: All of our painting, drawing, & art supplies are made to last, and this color pencil set is no exception. Our professional colored pencils are lightfast, meaning they won’t fade with...
- Smooth Layering: The queen of art supplies, our color pencils boast soft, thick cores, which layer flawlessly. The perfect choice for adult coloring books, oil pastel pictures, and manga-inspired art.
- 48 Colors: This art set features 48 vibrant colors in an incredible range, including a white pencil and skin tone colored pencils. No matter whether you’re just learning how to draw, or have been at...
Frequently Asked Questions
What brand of colored pencils do artists use?
Prismacolor, Faber Castell, Caron D'Ache, Lyra, and Derwent are a few popular colored pencil brands that most artists prefer.
Do professional artists use colored pencils?
Yes, professional artists do use colored pencils for sketching, shading, and coloring in their drawings.
Do Prisma color pencils need a specific sharpener?
Yes, it is best to use Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener, as it features two different blades, and it can deliver the right level of sharpness to your Prisma color pencils.
The Top 12 Colored Pencils for Artists in 2023
Overall, the Best Colored Pencils in 2023 are all amazing picks, each targeted to certain audiences and expertise levels. Find a set that resonates with you the most and tailor-fit your selections to the kinds of art projects you naturally gravitate towards. At the end of the day, the best-colored pencil sets for you may not be someone else’s.
All in all, we hope this list has helped you narrow down your choices.
Good luck and stay creative!
