Coloring activities are one of the ways people relax their minds and enhance their creativity. Adults can do coloring projects with their kids as a way of bonding and spending some quality time together. However, there are some people who color for professional reasons. Regardless of your reason for coloring, you need the right colored pencils to help you create the best drawings. Such pencils are strong and durable to remain intact when you are drawing or even sharpening.
Finding the best coloring pencils for all your favorite drawing activities can prove really difficult and time-consuming. This is because it involves more than just getting a few basic colors. Thus, you will carry out an in-depth research by reviewing products one by one until you get the best. But how do you do this, especially if you have never bought coloring pencils or used one before? Lucky for you, that is what we are here for. And we have compiled the following top 10 best colored pencils for coloring books to help you out.
How to Find the Best Colored Pencils for Coloring Books
Getting the best colored pencils require that you have some sort of guideline. Hence, we have compiled the following factors to guide you when shopping for colored pencils.
- Color Variety: Most colored pencils come in sets. While some sets contain as few as 6 pieces, others may contain as many as 100 plus pieces. The more the color variety a set contains, the more costly it is. If you are buying coloring pencils for kids, buy sets with a few basic colors. However, for professional artists, you should buy sets with more color variety.
- Lead Hardness: Consider how hard the lead of a colored pencil is before buying. And this depends on the person you are buying it for. Usually, hard lead is made of graphite materials. Coloring pencils for beginners and children should be hard enough to avoid breaking during use. Whereas, coloring pencils with soft leads are wax or oil-based and are ideal for professionals. This is because they are soft and therefore, demand extra care.
- Color Vibrancy: People who paint a lot will agree that vibrancy is everything when it comes to colored pencils. Some colored pencils are not vibrant hence require you to add more strokes and layers to make the colors brighter. On the other hand, some colored pencils are very vibrant that you won’t need many strokes just to make bright colors. Normally, the vibrancy of the colored pencils you buy will largely depend on the project you are currently working on.
Now take a look at some of the products that made it to our list
Table of Contents
- 10. Arteza Professional Colored Pencils 72 Colors
- 9. Ashleigh Nicole Arts Woodless Colored Pencils 36 Colors
- 8. Prismacolor Soft Core 72 Colored Pencils -Preferred
- 7. Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tone Colored Pencil Set
- 6. Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils
- 5. Prismacolor Colored Pencils Box of 150 Assorted Colors -Preferred
- 4. erofa Raffine 72-Color Professional Colored Pencils
- 3. Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencil Set -Preferred
- 2. Shuttle Art 136 Colored Pencils
- 1. Castle Art Supplies 72 Colored Pencils -Preferred
10. Arteza Professional Colored Pencils 72 Colors
Blend and layer like a pro with the Arteza Professional Colored Pencils. These pencils are constructed of sturdy barrels and break-resistant cores to make them long-lasting. They are easy to sharpen to work excellently each time. The pencils come in a wide array of bright saturated colors for you to create colorful images. Similarly, each pencil is labeled and numbered for easy identification. These colored pencils are affordable yet they offer the same professional quality performance you’d get with much costlier brands. Better still, they come in a durable double-hinged metal case for storage when not in use.
| PROS | CONS |
| Glide effortlessly and smoothly across the paper | They are a bit waxier |
| The color selection is bright and beautiful | |
| Well-weighted and feels good in the hand | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
9. Ashleigh Nicole Arts Woodless Colored Pencils 36 Colors
Make sketches and color them without the annoyance and frail of traditional wooden pencils using the Ashleigh Nicole Arts Woodless Colored Pencils. These pencils are constructed using highly pigmented lead and strengthened with a special lacquer sheath. Hence, they are stronger and can last much longer than wooden pencils. This helps to reduce pencil replacement cost by a greater percentage. As if that’s not enough, these pencils have perfectly dispersed pigment that gives them a smooth and comfortable feel.
| PROS | CONS |
| The 36 highly pigmented colors are easy to blend | They are more fragile than regular ones but still, they are usable even when broken |
| Come in compact carry tubes for easy storage and carrying | |
| They color uniformly without extra pressure | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
8. Prismacolor Soft Core 72 Colored Pencils -Preferred
Whether you are looking for colored pencils to help you shade, layer, and blend, the Prismacolor Soft Core 72 Colored Pencils is perfect for you. These pencils come in 72 great colors at a pocket-friendly price. These colored pencils are dynamic and easy to apply. Thus, they are ideal for a seasoned coloring veteran and an amateur in coloring. They are well-made to meet the rigors of frequent use and they feel good in the hands too. What’s more, the pencils are available in a variety of set sizes to meet various needs and budgets.
| PROS | CONS |
| They come in a durable case for storage | Some pencils break during sharpening |
| The thick cores help to create a smooth laydown | |
| Come with a sharpener for added convenience | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
7. Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tone Colored Pencil Set
Create rich drawings with more dimension than the ordinary colored pencils using the Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tone Colored Pencil Set. The set contains 24 pieces of multi-colored pencils made from the finest Hardtmuth colors. Each pencil contains three complementary shades to enable you to draw a multicolored line. And you can blend the colors further using a unique blender pencil included. These pencils are housed in a sturdy and durable California cedar casing. This helps to store the pencils when not in use or allows for easy carrying when traveling.
| PROS | CONS |
| These pencils are rich in tone and are easy to work with | The core is very thin, making the lead to break easily |
| Are well-made and offer good value for money | |
| Clean up decently with an eraser | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
6. Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils
Transfer your imaginations into little a piece of art with the Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils. This set contains 24 premium quality colored pencils to help you create colorful drawings. Each pencil is oil-based and highly pigmented to help you achieve rich colors without putting so much pressure. They are light and water-resistant to lay down smoothly with no wax building up. As a result, you get ultimate control on paper for smooth and brilliant images. Also, these colored pencils are available in various sets and colors to meet different needs and budgets.
| PROS | CONS |
| The pencils have a good color and application | Tend to break during sharpening |
| They are affordably priced | |
| These pencils contain many bold and intensity hues | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
5. Prismacolor Colored Pencils Box of 150 Assorted Colors -Preferred
Featuring 150 artist-quality colored pencils, the Prismacolor Colored Pencils is a great place to start for the amateur and aspiring artists. These pencils have richly saturated pigments with soft cores, making them the best tool for blending or shading. Also, they have thick robust leads for making bold creations and to resist cracking and chipping for long-lasting performance. To ensure your pencils are always sharp, this set comes with a 2-blade sharpener. Besides, the package includes a rectangular-shaped eraser that fits comfortably in the hand for erasing small details and large areas.
| PROS | CONS |
| The pencils come in a nice sturdy case for storage | May come with manufacturers defects, however, this can be replaced |
| Colored pencils make a great gift idea | |
| They are easy to use as they do not crack easily | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
4. erofa Raffine 72-Color Professional Colored Pencils
Get the erofa Raffine 72-Color Professional Colored Pencils for yourself or your loved one as a gift. These coloring pencils are multipurpose so you can either use them as professional art drawing or as a writing pencil for general purpose. Each pencil is designed to fit comfortably into the hands to give you more control and a smooth writing experience. The set is reasonably priced so you do not break the bank just to have it. Furthermore, they are crafted from recycled wood which is eco-friendly and non-toxic for your safety.
| PROS | CONS |
| Good assortment of colors | May come with shipping defects however, they work well |
| Great quality pencils which are easy to work with | |
| Blends perfectly and lay down really well | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
3. Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencil Set -Preferred
Featuring bonded leads, the Faber Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils do not break easily like other colored pencils in the same class. The set contains 60 colored pencils in an assortment of colors. They come in a nice tin case for easy storage when not in use or for easy carrying during transportation. To get the best out of these colored pencils, combine them with graphite pencils. Similarly, you can lay them down with delicate or strong strokes to unleash their vivid and vibrant colors.
| PROS | CONS |
| They are highly pigmented for easy layering | The white pencil is not highly pigmented |
| The price is a bargain for these great pencils | |
| Water-proof and long-lasting colored pencils | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
2. Shuttle Art 136 Colored Pencils
For an abundant coloring set that will help you do your entire favorite coloring, consider the Shuttle Art 136 Colored Pencils. Each of these coloring pencils is made of hardened and crack-resistant cores that are great for adult coloring books. Also, the leads are thick and super soft, making them suitable for shading and shadowing. And they are covered with wood and painted with bright colors on the outside for brilliance. Moreover, the pencils come in a high-quality easy taking packaging, making this set a great gift idea.
| PROS | CONS |
| The package includes 8 special metallic colors | Pencil tips may arrive broken due to shipping, but this does not compromise performance |
| Has a huge selection of vibrant colors | |
| The price is right for the extra colors | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
1. Castle Art Supplies 72 Colored Pencils -Preferred
With a strong and heavy-duty lead core, the Castle Art Supplies 72 Colored Pencils will save you the annoying breakages during general use and sharpening. They are durable and firm so you can do your sketches and color with confidence. It is for this reason that these pencils are ideal for shading, blending, and layering. All the pencils are neatly packed in a nice presentation box ideal for school supplies, budding artists, and professionals. It is no doubt that these pencils offer unrivaled color selection, high pigment content, and great value for money.
| PROS | CONS |
| They are bight and lay down softly | The package barely contains any pinks, but this is not a big deal |
| Solid, sturdy, and seem like they can last a long time | |
| The colors are nice and brilliant | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
Conclusion
Investing in the best quality colored pencils will not only help you create beautiful drawings but also will save you the time and money in buying new ones every time. And we have made sure to only include durable and top-quality pencils. Make sure you read in order to discover which one best suits your needs.
