The Best Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring: Tested and Reviewed
Get my list of the best adult coloring pencils for vibrant colors, smooth blending, and rich pigment. I tested them all personally. Perfect for adult coloring books and creative projects!
Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post to get a video of my tips for using colored pencils. I think they’ll come in hardy for you.
I’ve been coloring for nearly a year now! Adult coloring has been the rage for a while and I’m still in love with it. On any regular day you can find me coloring some free coloring pages or using my adult coloring books. It’s a really relaxing hobby, and I am so glad it’s one I picked up again.
Given that I’m so obsessed, I get asked some questions about it pretty frequently – and one of them is, “what are the best colored pencils?” Well, I’m here to help you!
Here are my top five picks for good colored pencils that are going to give you the results that you want. By “results” I mean great colors, easy to hold, easy to use, and don’t crumble on the page.
The great news? I’m picking them based on actual testing that I have done myself! None of these brands paid me or sent me anything for free. This is my 100% honest opinion.
Best Adult Coloring Pencils
I own all of these sets of pencils (and many more) and have tested them all. Out of the colored pencils I tried, these were the top five that I chose. Note that I prefer pencils that are wax based as opposed to oil based, so that’s what’s on the list.
These are my thoughts, and here is my ranking below from 1 – 5.
1. Crayola Twistables
(starts at $6 for a pack of 12) – my set was purchased online and has 30 colors included.
Pros: These pencils have a great color palette; no sharpening is required, you just twist! The color goes on smoothly and wax-like, somewhere in between a crayon and a pencil. I love the feel.
Cons: There are no labels on the colors! You don’t think labeling colors is important until you don’t have them – some of the colors look the same so it was hard for me to remember what I had used.
Overall: I’m pretty much in love with these pencils. I’m going to be honest – I love two big things about them: 1) how the color applies to the page and how smooth it is; and 2) you don’t have to sharpen them.
Now having said that, sometimes it’s hard to get a sharp tip on them for detail areas. But to me, if you want a nice set for a reasonable price, this is a great option.
2. Pentel Arts Color Pencils
(around $3 to start) – this set includes 24 colored pencils; I believe this is the only size set you can buy from them.
Pros: The pencil tubes are hexagons which make them easy to hold; the colors go on smoothly and waxy just like I love; they are easy to blend.
Cons: The only bad thing I can say is that there aren’t enough colors! I wish Pentel would have made some larger sets too.
Overall: LOVE this set! The price is right. Your only limitation is going to be the colors available. So whether or not I’d recommend it depends on your color needs.
I like it better than the more inexpensive sets I’ve tried – I’m just sad I can’t get it in a larger range of colors or this would be my go-to set!
3. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
(starting at around $19.99) – Prismacolor are artist grade pencils so they are not cheap – but I opted for the 72-count set anyway. These come in a variety of sizes.
Pros: What can I say about Prismacolors except that they are amazing? High quality, easy to layer, go on smoothly, lays down vibrant color . . . they go over markers well and markers go over the top of them well.
Cons: To me Prismacolors are like the Posca paint markers of the pencil world. They are expensive. Having said that, the quality is there! I did feel like I had to buy a pretty large set to get all of the colors I wanted.
Overall: It’s hard to complain about Prismacolors – they are truly the best colored pencils especially when it comes to adult coloring. The price is really the only thing that is daunting.
In terms of pencils, these are the best quality as far as I’m concerned. I have a price limit on what I’m willing to spend for pencils regularly, so I do have a set of these, but I don’t use them all the time!
4. Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tone
($15.59 and up) – what is a Tri-Tone pencil? I didn’t have any idea when I purchased a set of 12! You can also purchase these adult colored pencils in a set of 24.
Pros: Makes VERY cool colors – so fun to experiment with! Includes a blending pencil.
Cons: You’ll still need a basic set with basic colors other than this set because these are all literally as they are described – three colors in each pencil tip.
Overall: Man, I really love these. If you get seriously into adult coloring and have a birthday or other holiday coming up, ask for the Tri-Tones. They are THAT fun. Color effects like no other . . . but they can’t be your only set (unless you’re just crazy with your coloring!).
5. Sargent Art Colored Pencils
($6.99 for 12 and up) – my colored pencils set included 24 pencils for a great price!
Pros: The colors are vibrant; the pencils are easy to hold; great value for number of pencils.
Cons: Hardly any! There’s a bit of dust that comes off the pencil but unlike some of the others, it was easy to wipe away without getting any smears.
Overall: In terms of the wood type that you have to sharpen, these pencils were my favorite! They were actually recommended to me by someone on Instagram who said she had arthritis and these were comfortable for her, so I had to purchase. I agree; they are easy to hold. You can’t go wrong with the Sargent adult coloring pencils.
So these are my picks for the best pencils for adult coloring books. Have you tried any of them? What are your faves? I’d love to know in the comments!
Ready for a video with my tips for using color pencils? Just press “play” in the center of the video in this post! Also don’t forget to check out my other articles about adult coloring:
I’m trying to find a set pf colored pencils that are different fLesh tones. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Stacey! I found these: https://amzn.to/2IjFp6h
Based on my reviews I think the sargent or prismacolor would be the best. Good luck!
Prismatic Color has sets for different things like earth, people, and color pallets like grays, Brown’s and the like. I get mine from art supply sources. Search art supplies. They are expensive.
I have seen pkgs of only skin tones on Amizon. Dont remember the manufaturer.
-I know Crayola makes a set of “skintones”. They call them Multicultural I believe.
Lyras has a set of skin tones
Hi, I’m from Portugal and I color for a very little time but I like the pencils from Milan, are very smooth and not very expensive. And also from giotto, it as a collection of the different colours of skin.
MY PERSONAL FAVES ARE FABER CASTLE, NOT SURE YOU CAN THEM IN SOME OF YOUR COUNTRY’S, CAUSE I LIVE IN nZ, YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE THOUGH,
https://www.mightyape.co.nz/search?q=Faber+Castell&i=0&source=landing
I’ll have to try some of these out. The only ones I’ve used for adult coloring are the crayola ones I stole from my son’s preschool box
Paige
https://www.thehappyflammily.com/
Great information. Thanks fOr sharing.
Awesome! Now do markers? Please…
Great tip and yes!
I like markers better ,I suggest Stabilo point 88 and Tri-plus fineliners they are both great ones for colouring 🙂
-I love the Stabilo 88 markers. I’ll probably get the 68’s next for coloring in larger areas.
I like the crayola watercolor pencils. I USE A DAMPENED Q-TIP AND GET SOME GREAT effects.
Oooh – I need to do that! Great tip!
This is a great article. My advice regarding the price of any given pencil set would be to take advantage of the coupons at michael’s or Ac moore. they often give you 50% off a regular priced item, which seriously helps with the pricier items you need to buy there!
Prismacolor Premiers are my absolute favorite. Used these with my students when I taught Art and use them now as an Art Consultant. Comfortable to use, even coverage on all papers. Expensive but worth it and I look for sales at the local craft store when there is a 50% off coupon.
I love my Prisma colors!
I find the best pencils I’ve used are marco Raffine. Mid-range in terms of expense and with 72 colours you can’t go wrong., available from amazon so you should be able to get them from most countries.
Amanda I’ve not heard of those! But I’m always on the lookout for the next best thing so I will definitely be trying to find those on Amazon. Thank you!
Warning – I am a serious colored pencil freak. In fact I may have a little problem…
This is a great list with some I haven’t tried. Prismacolor premier are my favorite, hands down! It’s an expensive initial investment for sure, but you can replace favorite colors individually at most art supply stores. Try blending with baby oil too! I outline with Prismacolor Verithin pencils for matching colors with a harder core.
For special effects try Derwent Metallics, Graphitone, and Inktense pencils – they’re all water soluble and SO much fun! It takes very little moisture to achieve wonderful effects, so if your color book can handle markers, they should be okay. I also color with soft (chalk) pastel pencils, but not as much as they can be quite messy. Big sets of quality pencils go on great sales on Amazon at Christmas time.
Our best in South Africa are COLLEEN. Originally Japanese and now made in Malaysia I think
Ooh – I’ll have to see if I can get those here so I can try them!
I really like Primacolors. My experince was same as yours. I like Staedtler, but the con is the colors are not stamped on the pencils.Pro reasonable priced many great colors. I tried Prang Groove Pro great for arthritis.suffers.Color go on smooth and are great. No color stamp.Prang simular to crayola..I purchasd six Lyra Metallic color gaint pencils.. They are great for stain glass effect or a little glam.They are a product of Germany. I have purchased very cheap pencils at dollar type stores Some of the colors are very nice.Expensive isn’t always better.I love my new hobby.
Blick colored pencils are my new favorite over Prismacolor Premier!!!! I have the set of 72 for $51.49, set of 12 grays for $8.23, set of 24 landscape for $16.47, set 0f 24 portrait. All 4 sets come in a tin; total cost is $92.66. This is about 60% less than Prismacolor. Free shipping on orders of $50 plus. Everything is 30% to 70% off. dickblick.com
sorry portrait is also $16.47.
Thank you Karole! I will check those out! We have a Dick Blick here :0
I just bought some Tri Tones after reading about them here. I love them! I got the 23 set with a coupon. They are so smooth. I have been coloring for over 10 years. Thanks for the recommendation!
I really appreciate the advice. I am in a rehabilitation program after a bad car accident causing spinal cord injuries. My hands often shake so colouring is part of the therapy. I have been using a 20 year old Crayola set from the days my children were in school and finding them unsatisfactory. Your rating and description will be a big help to me.
P
I have a 24 count set of Crayola, a 50 count set of Sargent, and a few Prismacolors. I may use all 3 varieties on one piece depending on the color I choose to work with. My favorite is Prismacolor, hands down. They glide onto the picture and the colors are more vibrant and deep. I just love the feel of using them. Eventually, I’d treasure a complete 150 count set, but yes, the price is a deterrent. My second choice is Sargent. I color for stress relief and use my finished projects for gifts, many if them uniquely personalized and some made to order. I am looking for a local class to learn more technique.
I color to relax. Although I guess I’m not ‘artiste’ enough to see the difference but I do have a couple of favorites. I love the Sinostar which comes in a tin of 72 for about 20.00. They are comparable to prismacolors which I wouldn’t know as I haven’t tried the prisma. The blend is excellent and they also have perfect skin colors. Called soft core, all I know is that I love them. Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you they are on amazon.com. Second choice is the very vibrant colored twistable crayola twistables. I love my new hobby! Relax & color on!
I am a huge lover of the Sargent art pencils myself I bought a box of 36 from Walmart and then ordered a box of 120 which unlike my crayola crayons is not a box of 120 different colors but still gives you way more variety than the 36 and you get 2 or 3 of the same one so they last longer than with only one of each in a box
I’ve only been using Crayola and Sargent Art but Prismacolor Premier really looks interesting and can be a welcome addition to my collection. Never tried it before but I’ve been reading a lot of good reviews about it. Thanks for sharing. =D
– Ben Gill (Element Paints)
I enjoyed your reviews and that you gave the pros and cons of each that you reviewed. I have read quite a few reviews on colored pencils and I find yours refreshingly honest. Some of the reviews I have read the reviewer never even used or tried the colored pencils they reviewed. There is one review I found interesting and that was on the YouTube app. If you go to search and type in “colored pencil reviews” and it will bring up all kinds of video reviews. But the one I really liked was the one by Coloring Bliss. She tested 30 different brands of colored pencils and gives the 10 best and the 10 worst brands. It will blow your mind! I found the results surprising especially the top 3 best. She was also very scientific in her testing and actually used the pencils.