Whether you’re filling a sketchbook on your lunch break or building a serious illustration practice, the right set changes how much you draw. A scratchy core or a barrel that rolls off the desk kills momentum fast. This shortlist covers everything from a dependable 24-pencil starter to full 120-color kits with cases, so you can match the tool to how you actually work.
How The Shortlist Stacks Up
PickWhy We Picked ItBest ForAction
Everyday Favorite
Pentel Arts Colored Pencils Set of 24 (CB8-24)
Reliable no-fuss starter set
Students and casual sketchers
Feature Rich
TMOL 120 Pack Colored Pencils with Zipper Case
Wide palette plus extras
Adult coloring enthusiasts
Beginner Friendly
Heshengping 48 Color Colored Pencils Set with Sketchbook
Complete drawing kit included
New artists and teens
Premium Pick
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils, 14 Count
Creamy cores built for blending
Night scenes on dark paper
Professional Pick
KALOUR 120 Colored Pencils Set with Carry Case
Oil-based cores, studio setup
Serious hobbyist illustrators
Family Friendly
Prudiut 5.8 x 8.3In Sketch Book Set for Kids
Paper and pencils together
Young kids and gift giving
Thoughtful Design
Grabie Trace & Color Drawing Kit, Retro Groove
Guided system beats blank pages
Anxious first-time drawers
A Breakdown Of The Leading Choices
Sometimes the smartest buy is the plain one. The Pentel CB8-24 gives you 24 pre-sharpened wood-cased pencils in clear, bright colors that lay down smoothly and blend without fighting the paper. The hexagonal barrels are a small detail with real payoff: they stop pencils rolling off a tilted drafting table or a couch arm during a coloring session.
Compared with the bigger kits further down this list, this set trades quantity for simplicity. That works in its favor for anyone who dreads organizing 120 sticks before drawing a single line.
Notable Upsides
- ✓Pre-sharpened out of the box, so the first sketch starts the moment the tin opens.
- ✓The lead is glued along its length inside the wood, which reduces the tip-snapping owners often see with cheaper cores.
- ✓Bright pigment handles posters, portraits, and caricatures on most standard paper stock.
- ✓Hexagonal grip stays put on slanted surfaces instead of migrating across the desk.
Small Caveats
- •No case or storage tray comes with the set, so you’ll want a pencil pouch of your own.
- •24 colors runs thin once shading demands subtle gradations between hues.
Who Will Love This
Students, journal keepers, and casual sketchers who want a dependable everyday set without fuss.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Anyone craving a broader palette should step up to the TMOL 120 Pack, which adds a zipper case and far more hues for dedicated coloring sessions.
One hundred twenty colors changes how you approach a page. Skin tones stop looking cartoonish, foliage gets three greens deep, and gradients happen without constant sharpening swaps. The oil-based soft cores here lean toward smooth, even coverage, which suits adult coloring books where large areas need consistent fill.
The kit bundles more than pencils: a sketch book, a color book, and a zippered case round it out. Where the Pentel set above keeps things minimal, TMOL builds an entire portable station.
Advantages To Know
- ✓Color-matched barrels let you identify the exact shade at a glance instead of test-scribbling every time.
- ✓The zipper case keeps the whole collection organized in a bag or drawer, a real advantage over loose tins.
- ✓Included sketch and color books mean the set doubles as a ready-made gift for a coloring hobbyist.
- ✓Soft oil-based cores glide over textured adult-coloring paper with less pressure than harder student-grade leads.
Things To Consider
- •With 120 pencils, keeping the case sorted after heavy use takes discipline; mixed-up order is a commonly reported annoyance.
- •Hobby-brand quality can vary pencil to pencil, so expect a few softer or harder cores within the set.
At A Glance
| | Feature | Specification | Why It Matters |
|---|
| Pencil count | 120 colors | Deep palette supports blending and detailed shading |
| Core type | Soft oil-based | Smooth laydown suited to coloring-book fills |
| Barrel design | Color-matched | Faster shade selection mid-session |
| Storage | Zipper case | Portable organization for travel or classes |
Made For
Dedicated adult-coloring fans and hobbyists who want maximum color range in one organized package.
Swap It Out When
Artists wanting a more refined professional core will prefer the KALOUR 120 set, which adds a blender pencil and color chart to the same large-format idea.
This is the set you hand someone starting from zero. Alongside 48 colored pencils, Heshengping packs in an HB graphite pencil, a 50-page A5 sketchbook printed with three-tone paper, a 47-animal coloring book, plus an eraser, sharpener, pencil extender, and roll-up canvas wrap. Nothing else needs buying before the first drawing session begins.
The middle-ground count sits sensibly between the Pentel’s 24 and the 120-stick giants, and the canvas roll solves the storage problem the Pentel leaves open.
The Helpful Details
- ✓The complete accessory load means beginners learn erasing, extending, and sharpening technique with proper tools from day one.
- ✓Roll-up canvas case unrolls flat for easy shade selection and rolls tight for backpacks.
- ✓Three-color sketchbook paper lets practice happen immediately without sourcing separate pads.
Worth Noting
- •Canvas wraps hold pencils by friction, so rough handling in a crowded bag can shake a few loose.
- •Accessory-grade paper won’t handle wet blending techniques as well as heavyweight art stock.
- •48 shades covers most subjects but skips some niche tones the 120-count sets include.
Right Fit For
Teens, adults trying art for the first time, and gift-givers who want one box that answers everything.
Another Choice May Suit
Younger children will get more mileage from the Prudiut kids’ sketch book set, whose smaller format and simpler layout suit little hands better.
Prismacolor’s Premier line has long been the reference point for creamy, blendable cores, and this limited-edition 14-count targets a specific job: drawing on dark paper. Night skies, moody portraits, and high-contrast illustrations pop when pale pigments sit brightly against black stock, something the lighter-hued student sets above simply aren’t curated for.
You’re paying artist-tier prices per pencil here, but the soft wax core layers and burnishes in a way budget brands rarely match. Fourteen shades is a deliberate palette, not a compromise.
The Upside
- ✓Soft, thick cores deposit dense pigment quickly, cutting down layering time on dark backgrounds.
- ✓Shade selection is tuned for night scenes, removing guesswork about which colors read well on black.
- ✓The creamy texture blends smoothly with fingers, blenders, or solvents for painterly transitions.
Points To Note
- •Soft cores wear down faster than hard leads, so frequent sharpening is part of ownership; a quality sharpener protects the fragile tips.
- •Fourteen pencils limits standalone use, though it pairs naturally as an accent set alongside a larger collection.
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Intermediate and advanced illustrators working on toned or black paper who value blending quality over quantity.
Look Elsewhere When
Budget-focused starters get better overall value from the Heshengping 48-piece kit, which supplies far more tools for the same spend.
Oil-based cores behave differently from wax ones: harder at the tip, less prone to bloom, and excellent at holding fine detail through long layering sessions. KALOUR leans into that character with 120 richly pigmented pencils aimed squarely at people who take their drawing seriously.
The supporting cast is unusually complete. A three-zipper carry case with shoulder strap, a sketchbook, a blender pencil, sharpeners, and a printed color chart arrive in the box, which makes this the most studio-ready package on the list.
What Pays Off
- ✓Highly pigmented oil-based cores deliver crisp lines that survive detailed illustration work without crumbling.
- ✓The color chart speeds up palette planning, letting you map blends before touching the page.
- ✓Shoulder-strap case travels comfortably to classes, cafés, or outdoor sketching spots.
- ✓Included blender pencil extends the tonal range without extra purchases.
Details To Watch
- •Oil-based cores feel firmer under light pressure, so heavy-handed colorists may find the laydown less buttery than Prismacolor’s soft wax.
- •Three zippers add a few seconds of setup compared with a simple roll case.
Quick Facts
| | Feature | Specification | Why It Matters |
|---|
| Pencil count | 120 oil-based colors | Broad range for professional blending and layering |
| Case style | Three-zipper carry case with strap | Organized transport for study or travel |
| Included accessories | Sketchbook, blender, sharpeners, color chart | Complete workflow straight from the box |
Built With In Mind
Advanced hobbyists and art students who want pro-style oil cores plus a full accessory kit in one purchase.
Consider Something Else When
Anyone prioritizing buttery soft blending over detail work may prefer the Prismacolor Premier 14-count, whose wax cores melt into smoother transitions.
Kids don’t need 120 colors; they need paper that survives enthusiasm. This Prudiut bundle pairs a spiral-bound A5 pad with 30 sheets of 100 GSM drawing paper and a box of 36 colored pencils, sized at 5.8 by 8.3 inches so small hands can cover the whole page comfortably.
The hardcover front and thick back board matter more than they sound. Drawing on a lap in the back seat or on the living room floor works because the backing board stiffens the page, unlike flimsy notepads that buckle mid-stroke.
Practical Pluses
- ✓100 GSM paper resists fading and yellowing, keeping finished drawings intact over time.
- ✓Hardcover and rigid back board let kids draw anywhere without a desk.
- ✓Paper and pencils ship together, eliminating mismatched supplies.
Less Ideal Details
- •Thirty sheets disappear quickly with daily young artists, so refills are inevitable.
- •The 36-pencil count suits play and school projects more than serious shading practice.
Who Should Grab It
Parents stocking a craft corner and anyone shopping a birthday gift for a child aged roughly four to ten.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Older beginners ready for real technique-building tools will outgrow this fast; the Heshengping 48-color kit offers sharper accessories and a larger palette.
Blank-page paralysis is real, and Grabie attacks it directly. Instead of handing you pencils and wishing you luck, this trace-and-color system provides professional guide sheets you follow to produce finished, high-contrast artwork on the first attempt. Five dual-tip markers in a retro-groove palette do the coloring.
It’s the odd one out on this list since markers replace pencils entirely, yet it earns its spot for a specific person: someone who wants the feeling of finishing art before learning the mechanics of drawing it.
What Earns Its Place
- ✓Guided sheets produce satisfying results immediately, which builds confidence faster than freehand practice alone.
- ✓Dual-tip markers offer both broad fills and fine lines without switching tools.
- ✓The compact five-marker format slips into any bag for café or travel sessions.
A Few Limitations
- •Marker ink can bleed through thinner paper, so a protective sheet underneath is wise on softcover notebooks.
- •Once the guide sheets run out, creative direction depends entirely on you.
- •Five markers restricts color mixing compared with any pencil set above.
The Right Fit
Total beginners, stressed-out unwinders, and gift recipients who freeze when handed an empty page.
Not Your Match When
Drawers committed to traditional pencil technique should choose the Pentel CB8-24, which builds transferable graphite and shading skills instead.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Colored Pencils For Drawing
Core Type Shapes Everything
Wax-based cores, like Prismacolor’s, go down soft and buttery, ideal for blending and burnishing. Oil-based cores, found in the TMOL and KALOUR sets, hold sharper points longer and resist the waxy film called bloom that can cloud finished work. Neither is objectively better; the choice depends on whether your style leans toward painterly transitions or crisp detail.
Count Versus Quality
A 120-pencil set sounds superior until you notice half the shades overlap. What actually matters is pigment density and how the range covers skin tones, greens, and neutrals. Beginners genuinely progress faster with 24 to 48 well-chosen colors than with an overwhelming wall of near-duplicates.
Paper Is Half The Equation
Colored pencil work lives or dies on tooth, the surface texture that grabs pigment. Smooth printer paper frustrates layering, while the 100 GSM stock in the Prudiut pad or a dedicated sketchbook accepts multiple passes. Match your paper weight to your technique before blaming the pencils.
Storage Decides Longevity
Loose pencils in a drawer break tips and get lost. Cases, whether the TMOL zipper bag, the KALOUR shoulder-strap organizer, or the Heshengping canvas roll, protect cores and keep your palette order intact. Factor storage into the total cost of any set sold bare.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Traps First Timers Fall Into
The biggest mistake is chasing pencil count while ignoring core hardness, then wondering why blending feels gritty. Another common slip: pairing soft wax pencils with cheap sharpeners, which snaps delicate tips repeatedly. Buy one decent sharpener early.
The Upgrade Payoff
Higher-tier sets spend money where it counts: richer pigment loads, bonded cores that resist breakage, and thoughtful cases. Artists logging weekly hours recover that cost in reduced frustration. Occasional colorists honestly won’t notice the difference, so start modest and upgrade once habit forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
QAre oil-based or wax-based colored pencils better for drawing?
Oil-based cores hold points longer and suit detailed linework. Wax cores blend more smoothly, making them better for layered, painterly shading.
QHow many colors does a beginner actually need?
Twenty-four to forty-eight well-chosen shades covers most subjects comfortably. Larger sets mainly benefit artists doing complex blending or portrait work.
QDo colored pencils work on dark or black paper?
Yes, especially highly pigmented soft-core pencils like the Prismacolor Premier dark-paper edition. Lighter shades show up vividly against black stock.
QHow do I stop pencil leads breaking while sharpening?
Use a sharp blade-style or quality helical sharpener and rotate gently rather than forcing. Cores glued along their length, like Pentel’s, resist snapping better too.
QCan kids use adult coloring pencil sets?
They can, though smaller formats fit young hands better. The Prudiut set pairs kid-sized paper with a manageable 36-pencil box for exactly that reason.
Bottom Line
Your drawing habits should drive the choice, not the biggest number on the box. Casual sketchers will be happy with the Pentel CB8-24 for years, while dedicated colorists get their money’s worth from the KALOUR or TMOL 120-count kits. Starters deserve the Heshengping’s all-in-one convenience, and stuck beginners will thank Grabie for the head start. Whichever fits, the best set is simply the one you reach for tomorrow.
