7 Best Colored Pencils

72 watercolor pencils.

Comes with 72 different shades, which can be easily combined to offer possibilities which are truly endless.

The pencils are sturdy and precise, but when combined with water give a soft, diffuse finish. They can be used wet or dry to create a wider range of looks.

These pencils are rather pricey at $136 for 72 pencils. This price does include a high-quality wooden case, which makes the higher cost seem more reasonable.

Set of thrity twist up colored pencils with a harder, waxier core.

The set comes with thrity shades, which is more minimal, but they’re well selected to offer a good amount of versatility.

The pencils are a little harder and waxier, which can mean blending shades together is trickier. However, they’re highly pigmented and smooth, plus the lack of need for a sharpener is a nice touch.

This set costs around $10 for 30 pencils, which is very good value for money.

120 top quality water resistant colored pencils with a medium core.

This set comes with a whopping 120 colors, meaning there’s no shade you can’t find.

These pencils offer a superior drawing experience, which feels super luxurious. They’re smooth and pigmented, and each pencil is consistently top notch.

The only real downside to these pencils is the high price tag. They currently cost an enormous $229, although that is for 120 different shades plus a durable metal case. If you’re super into colored pencils, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be disappointed.

Set of 24 mechanical colored pencils with a waxier core.

Comes with just 24 shades, which some users may find too limiting. The waxier consistency can mean they don’t mix as well as other options.

While these aren’t the most luxurious pencils on the market, users report a pleasant experience thanks to their smooth core and comfortable grip.

This set of 24 pencils costs around $17, which is a reasonably good value for the money, espcially considering the quality.

Set of 24 chalk paste colored pencils with a 4.4 mm core diameter.

The set of 24 is smaller than some other options, but the blendability means you can create custom shades to suit any need.

These pencils have a softer core, which makes them highly blendable. The fact they can be smudged when wet or dry makes them highly versatile.

This set of 24 pencils currently costs $34. This is a mid-range price in terms of colored pencils, but for the high quality product, it’s a pretty good value.

Set of 48 triangular pencils with medium to soft wax-based cores.

This set comes with 48 shades, which is a little fewer than other options, but perfectly adequate for the majority of needs. They’re also well selected for maximum options.

People find these pencils a little harder than others on our list. Some also dislike the wider tip of the pencils, which can make finer detail more tricky. Nonetheless, they’re still a high quality pencil set.

These pencils provide excellent value for the cost. They currently cost $15 for 48 pencils, which is a really exceptional price, especially considering the high standard of the product.