10 Best Colored Pencils For Artists 2025 in the United States

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are a popular choice for artists who enjoy sketching and coloring with rich, vibrant colors. These pencils have soft, thick cores that make shading and blending smooth and easy, which is great when you want to create gradients or shadows. The pigments are richly saturated and lightfast, meaning your artwork will hold its color well over time without fading. With 36 assorted colors, you get a good range to work with, though professional artists might find the selection somewhat limited compared to larger sets.

The pencil leads are designed to be thick and sturdy, so they’re less likely to break or chip—this durability is especially helpful if you’re coloring in detailed adult coloring books or use a lot of pressure while drawing. However, because the cores are soft, they sharpen faster and might need more frequent sharpening compared to harder pencils, which could be a minor inconvenience.

These pencils are best suited for beginners and hobbyists who want a lively color experience with easy blending, rather than for those needing extremely precise lines or very hard, fine points. If you want a dependable, smooth coloring experience with strong pigment and decent durability, Prismacolor Premier is a solid pick.

The Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (12-pack) are a solid choice for adult artists, especially those who enjoy coloring books or shading work. Their soft, thick cores make them excellent for smooth shading and layering colors, offering a rich and even color laydown. The pigments are richly saturated and designed to be lightfast, meaning your artwork won’t fade easily over time when exposed to light. The set covers a basic but useful range of 12 colors, mixing primaries, earth tones, and a few shades of violet, which is good for general artistic use but might feel limited if you want a broader palette.

The pencil leads are known for being thick and tough, which helps prevent breakage—an important feature if you press hard while drawing or want durable pencils for frequent use. Their softness means they blend well, allowing for smooth transitions between colors, although very fine detail work might be harder due to the thick cores. These pencils lean towards a softer core hardness (around 2H), which is comfortable for shading but less ideal if you need very sharp, precise lines.

The limited color range in this 12-pack means artists looking for a full spectrum might need to buy additional sets. While the pencils are great for adult coloring and general artistic work, professional artists seeking highly specialized pigments or extreme colorfastness might look elsewhere. With a reputation for quality, these pencils provide great value for beginners to intermediate artists wanting soft, blendable colors that hold up well over time.

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils are a strong choice for artists seeking professional quality supplies. Their biggest strengths lie in the high pigment quality and excellent lightfastness, meaning your artwork will maintain vibrant colors over time without significant fading. The pencils contain oil-based leads that are smooth and buttery, making blending and layering colors easy, which is great for creating depth and subtle color transitions.

The core hardness is balanced with a thick 3.8 mm lead, making these pencils durable and resistant to breakage during use or sharpening. With a wide range of 120 colors, you get plenty of options for detailed and colorful artwork. These pencils have an H hardness rating, which leans toward being a bit firmer than softer pencils, so if you prefer very soft leads for intense color saturation, these might feel a little different initially.

While the durability of the leads is impressive, the wooden casing is standard and may show normal wear with heavy use. These pencils are ideal for serious hobbyists and professional artists who value longevity and blending ability in their colored pencils.