Stationery & hobby
Best Colored Pencils 2026: 5 Sets Compared
WriterPickly Editorial
Updated 2026-11-03
Colored pencil sets range from classroom basics to artist tins, and the core type matters as much as the color count. The five here include soft cores, a student line and an oil-based artist lead, so the right choice depends on what you will draw.
Quick answer
Crayola 36 Count is the lowest at $6.57 on Amazon US on November 3, 2026, and KALOUR 72 Count is $9.99. Prismacolor Premier 24 Count is $24.99, Prismacolor Scholar 48 Count is $29.80, and Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 tin is $39.12.
📋How we compared
We did not draw with these pencils ourselves. Color richness, core strength and lightfastness depend on paper and technique, and we cannot test them. This comparison is built from the titles and features of the Amazon US listings, fetched through the Amazon Creators API on November 3, 2026, plus general knowledge of colored pencils. Color counts, core claims, lightfastness and conformity statements are seller claims. Prices change often, so check the store.
🖍️ Classroom basics: Crayola Colored Pencils come as 36 presharpened pencils for kids and adults. The listing says the soft cores do not break easily, that they glide smoothly for coloring books, and that the set is meant for classrooms and ages 3 and up.
Top picks ↓- 3
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Soft Core 24 Count🎨 Soft artist cores$24.99Price as of 2026-11-05 - 5
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils Tin of 24🖌️ Oil-based lead$38.69Price as of 2026-11-05
Related articles
1★ Best Pick🖍️ Classroom basicsCrayola Colored Pencils (36-Count)
Confirm the 36-count set; Crayola sells many sizes of colored pencils.
Crayola Colored Pencils come as 36 presharpened pencils for kids and adults. The listing says the soft cores do not break easily, that they glide smoothly for coloring books, and that the set is meant for classrooms and ages 3 and up. On Amazon US it was $6.57 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Lowest price of the five
- ✓36 presharpened pencils
- ✓Soft cores that do not break easily, per the listing
Cons
- ✗Basic quality, not an artist line
- ✗No case or color names mentioned
2🌈 72 colorsKALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils Soft Core
Confirm the 72-count set with soft cores; KALOUR sells other counts.
KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils have soft cores and basswood bodies, each numbered and named. The listing says the cores are highly pigmented and break-resistant, and that the set conforms to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 for ages 5 and up. On Amazon US it was $9.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓72 colors for a low price
- ✓Number and name on each pencil
- ✓Basswood bodies, per the listing
Cons
- ✗Lesser-known brand than the others
- ✗Core and pigment claims come from the seller
3🎨 Soft artist coresPrismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Soft Core 24 Count
Confirm the Premier 24 count; Prismacolor sells several counts and lines.
Prismacolor Premier 24 Count has soft thick cores in a tin. The listing mentions a smooth laydown, brilliant lightfast pigments, leads that resist cracking and chipping, and notes that the tin artwork may vary. On Amazon US it was $24.99 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Soft thick cores for shading
- ✓Tin case for storage
- ✓Lightfast pigments, per the listing
Cons
- ✗Higher price for just 24 colors
- ✗Soft cores wear down faster in general
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4📚 Student linePrismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils 48 Count
Confirm Scholar rather than Premier, since the names look alike.
Prismacolor Scholar 48 Count has smooth cores with strong cores designed to minimize breakage. The listing aims it at students, beginners and aspiring artists, for sketching, drawing and mixed media. On Amazon US it was $29.80 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓48 colors in one set
- ✓Cores designed to minimize breakage, per the listing
- ✓Aimed at students and beginners
Cons
- ✗Costs more than the 72-color KALOUR
- ✗Listing gives few pigment details
5🖌️ Oil-based leadFaber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils Tin of 24
Confirm Polychromos and the 24-color tin; Faber-Castell sells other lines and counts.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils come as a tin of 24 colors. The listing says they are break-resistant due to SV bonding, with a smudge-proof, water-resistant thick oil pastel lead, and part of a color-matching system. On Amazon US it was $39.12 on November 3, 2026.
Pros
- ✓Oil-based lead, per the listing
- ✓Break-resistant bonding, per the listing
- ✓Tin of 24 artist pencils
Cons
- ✗Highest price of the five
- ✗24 colors cost more per pencil than the others
Core type and what the listing says
The Crayola and KALOUR listings describe soft cores, and Crayola adds that they do not break easily. Prismacolor Premier is described with soft thick cores, a smooth laydown and lightfast pigments. Prismacolor Scholar is described with smooth cores designed to minimize breakage for developing artists.
Faber-Castell Polychromos is described differently: a thick oil pastel lead that is smudge-proof and water-resistant, with SV bonding said to resist breakage. As a general rule, soft cores lay down more color but wear down faster, while harder or oil-based leads hold a point longer. These are seller statements, not results we checked.
Color count, case and extras
The sets run from 24 to 72 colors. KALOUR has the most at 72, and its listing says each pencil is numbered and named. Crayola offers 36 presharpened pencils, Prismacolor Scholar 48, and the two artist-style sets, Prismacolor Premier and Polychromos, 24 each in tins.
More colors give more choice but cost more storage space. The Premier listing mentions a tin case and says its artwork may vary, and the Polychromos listing says it comes in a tin and belongs to a color-matching system.
Which to start with
For a child or a classroom, Crayola is the lowest-cost choice. For many colors on a small budget, KALOUR has 72 for $9.99. Prismacolor Scholar suits students stepping up to a better line, Prismacolor Premier suits shading with soft cores, and Polychromos suits those who want an oil-based artist lead, at the highest price of the five.
Frequently asked questions
How many colors do I need?▼
What is the difference between soft and oil-based cores?▼
What does a non-toxic or age label mean?▼
Check the details of the products in this article
- Crayola Colored Pencils (36-Count)$6.57Price as of 2026-11-05
- KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils Soft Core$11.99Price as of 2026-11-05
- Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Soft Core 24 Count$24.99Price as of 2026-11-05
- Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils 48 Count$29.80Price as of 2026-11-05
- Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils Tin of 24$38.69Price as of 2026-11-05
Prices change. Check the retailer for the current price.
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