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10 Best Soft Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States
#1
Winner
Crayola Colored Pencils Set for Kids (120ct), Bulk Art Supplies for Kids, Back to School Essentials, Teacher Classroom Must Haves, Coloring Book Pencils
The Crayola Colored Pencils Set (120ct) is a vibrant and versatile option for both kids and adults. It offers an impressive range of 120 colors, which allows for extensive creativity and detailed artwork. The pre-sharpened tips are convenient, allowing users to start coloring immediately, and the smooth, creamy texture of the pencils makes them easy to blend and layer. This would be particularly beneficial for those who enjoy adult coloring books and intricate designs.
Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,205
Pigment Quality
Color Range
Blendability
Most important from
10127 reviews
#2
Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencil Set, Back to School Essentials, Must Have Classroom Supplies for Kids, Pre-Sharpened Coloring Book Pencils, 3+
The Crayola Colored Pencils set features 36 vibrant and distinct colors, making it an excellent choice for kids and beginners in coloring. The pigment quality is bright and consistent, helping to create eye-catching artwork. These pencils are designed with a soft core that makes coloring smooth and enjoyable, though they might not be as creamy as professional-grade pencils.
Rating
9.6
Pigment Quality
Color Range
Blendability
Most important from
35939 reviews
#3
Crayola Colouring Pencils - Assorted Colours (Pack of 12) | A Must-Have for All Kids Arts & Crafts Sets | Ideal for Kids Aged 3+
The Crayola Colouring Pencils (12 pack) are a popular choice for children and beginners, especially those aged 6 and up. They offer bright, vibrant colors that apply smoothly on paper, making them fun and easy to use for basic coloring and simple blending. The pigment quality is good for casual artwork, delivering intense colors that kids usually enjoy. The pencil cores are on the harder side (marked as H), which means they are durable and long-lasting but less soft and creamy compared to artist-grade pencils. This also means they may not blend as seamlessly as softer colored pencils designed for more advanced shading techniques.
Rating
9.3
Pigment Quality
Durability
Most important from
1635 reviews
Top 10 Best Soft Colored Pencils 2025 in the United States
#1
Winner
Crayola Colored Pencils Set for Kids (120ct), Bulk Art Supplies for Kids, Back to School Essentials, Teacher Classroom Must Haves, Coloring Book Pencils
Crayola Colored Pencils Set for Kids (120ct), Bulk Art Supplies for Kids, Back to School Essentials, Teacher Classroom Must Haves, Coloring Book Pencils
Softness of the Core: smooth, creamy texture
Color Range: 120 colors
Blendability: easy to blend and layer
Durability: durable and long-lasting
Ease of Sharpening: easy to sharpen
Chosen by 1205 this week
Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencil Set, Back to School Essentials, Must Have Classroom Supplies for Kids, Pre-Sharpened Coloring Book Pencils, 3+
Crayola Colored Pencils (36ct), Kids Pencil Set, Back to School Essentials, Must Have Classroom Supplies for Kids, Pre-Sharpened Coloring Book Pencils, 3+
Pigment Quality: bright and consistent
Softness of the Core: soft
Color Range: 36 vibrant colors
Blendability: decent
Durability: resist breaking
Ease of Sharpening: relatively easy
Crayola Colouring Pencils - Assorted Colours (Pack of 12) | A Must-Have for All Kids Arts & Crafts Sets | Ideal for Kids Aged 3+
Crayola Colouring Pencils - Assorted Colours (Pack of 12) | A Must-Have for All Kids Arts & Crafts Sets | Ideal for Kids Aged 3+
Pigment Quality: good for casual art, intense colors
Softness of the Core: hard (H), less soft and creamy
Color Range: 12 shades
Blendability: less seamless than softer pencils
Durability: durable, long-lasting, thick point
Ease of Sharpening: easy with standard sharpener
KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Soft Core,Ideal for Drawing Blending Shading,Color Pencils Set Gift for Adults Kids Beginners
KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Soft Core,Ideal for Drawing Blending Shading,Color Pencils Set Gift for Adults Kids Beginners
Pigment Quality: high
Softness of the Core: soft
Color Range: 72 shades
Blendability: ideal for blending
Durability: break-resistant cores
Ease of Sharpening: simplifies sharpening
Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils (24ct), Assorted Kids Colored Pencils for Coloring Books, Back to School Essentials, Coloring Supplies for Classrooms, 6+
Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils (24ct), Assorted Kids Colored Pencils for Coloring Books, Back to School Essentials, Coloring Supplies for Classrooms, 6+
Pigment Quality: basic
Softness of the Core: moderately soft
Color Range: 24 vibrant colors
Blendability: blends reasonably well
Durability: fine for daily use
Ease of Sharpening: fairly easy
Related Products
Up to 23% off
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, Perfect for Sketching, Drawing, Art, Coloring, Assorted, 36 Count
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, Perfect for Sketching, Drawing, Art, Coloring, Assorted, 36 Count
Pigment Quality: High-quality, lightfast
Softness of the Core: Soft
Color Range: 36 colors
Blendability: Smooth laydown, easy blending
Durability: Thick leads, resist cracking
Ease of Sharpening: Good, use quality sharpener
Soucolor 72-Color Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Back to School Supplies, Soft Core, Artist Drawing Sketching Pencils Set, Art Supplies Kit Gifts for Kids Teens Beginners Blending Shading
Soucolor 72-Color Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Back to School Supplies, Soft Core, Artist Drawing Sketching Pencils Set, Art Supplies Kit Gifts for Kids Teens Beginners Blending Shading
Pigment Quality: vibrant colors
Softness of the Core: soft core
Color Range: 72 colors
Blendability: excellent
Ease of Sharpening: easy to sharpen
Derwent Coloured Pencils, Inktense Ink Pencils, Drawing, Art, Metal Tin, 72 Count (2301843)
Derwent Coloured Pencils, Inktense Ink Pencils, Drawing, Art, Metal Tin, 72 Count (2301843)
Pigment Quality: highly pigmented
Softness of the Core: soft lead
Color Range: 72 colors
Blendability: easy to blend
Durability: softer cores can break easily
Ease of Sharpening: requires frequent sharpening
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils - Tin of 120 Colors - Premium Quality Artist Pencils
Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils - Tin of 120 Colors - Premium Quality Artist Pencils
Pigment Quality: Exceptional, vibrant, long-lasting colors
Softness of the Core: Smooth and buttery laydown
Color Range: 120 colors
Blendability: Effortless blending and layering
Durability: Thick, SV-bonded leads, water-resistant
Ease of Sharpening: Relatively easy to sharpen
#10
Castle Art Supplies Colored Pencils Set | 72 Premium Soft Core Colored Leads for Adult Artists | Organized in Presentation Tin Case
Castle Art Supplies Colored Pencils Set | 72 Premium Soft Core Colored Leads for Adult Artists | Organized in Presentation Tin Case
Pigment Quality: excellent
Softness of the Core: soft, buttery laydown
Color Range: 72 colors
Blendability: smooth coverage, layering, blending, burnishing
Durability: resist crumbling
Ease of Sharpening: satisfactory
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Buying Guide for the Best Soft Colored Pencils
Choosing the right soft-colored pencils can greatly enhance your artistic experience, whether you are a beginner or a professional artist. Soft-colored pencils are known for their rich, vibrant colors and smooth application, making them ideal for blending and layering. When selecting soft-colored pencils, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure you get the best fit for your needs. Here are the key specs to look out for and how to navigate them.Pigment QualityPigment quality refers to the richness and vibrancy of the colors produced by the pencils. High-quality pigments result in more vivid and long-lasting colors. Artists who require intense and true-to-life colors should opt for pencils with high pigment quality. For casual use or coloring books, medium pigment quality may suffice. Always check for lightfast ratings, which indicate how well the color resists fading over time.
Softness of the CoreThe softness of the core determines how easily the pencil lays down color and how well it blends. Softer cores are ideal for blending and creating smooth gradients, but they may wear down faster and require frequent sharpening. Harder cores are more durable and better for detailed work. Choose softer cores if you prioritize blending and shading, and harder cores if you need precision and fine details.
Color RangeThe color range refers to the variety of colors available in a set. Larger sets offer more colors, which can be beneficial for creating detailed and nuanced artwork. Smaller sets are more portable and can be sufficient for basic coloring needs. Consider the type of artwork you plan to create and whether you need a wide range of colors or just the basics.
BlendabilityBlendability is the ability of the pencils to mix and create new colors when layered. High blendability allows for smooth transitions and a more professional finish. Artists who focus on realistic drawings or complex color work should prioritize pencils with high blendability. For simpler projects, blendability may be less critical.
DurabilityDurability refers to how well the pencils withstand use without breaking. Softer pencils are more prone to breakage, while harder pencils are more durable. If you tend to press hard while drawing or need pencils that can withstand travel, look for those with higher durability. For delicate and careful use, this may be less of a concern.
Ease of SharpeningEase of sharpening is important for maintaining a fine point on your pencils. Some soft-colored pencils can be difficult to sharpen without breaking. Look for pencils that are known for their ease of sharpening, especially if you need to maintain a sharp point for detailed work. If you prefer a softer, more rounded tip, this may be less critical.