Colouring pencils are perfect for bringing your creativity to life, the vibrant colours and impressive shade selections make it easier than ever to enjoy art.
Whether you (or your kids) have a therapeutic colouring-in book or you are looking for your next set of quality artist pencils, the perfect set is out there… It’s just finding them amongst all the choice.
The best colouring pencils depend a lot on personal preference and what you will be using the pencils for.
Figuring out which pencils are best for you can be a challenge but the reviews and buyers guide below will help you narrow down the selection.
Here are the best coloured pencils in Australia:
1. Best for Adults: Prismacolor Premier Coloured Pencils Set
This set of 48 coloured pencils from Prismacolor is best for adult colouring. They offer vibrant colours at artist quality making them enjoyable to use for all levels of expertise.
The soft cores of these pencils are thick and creamy which is ideal for blending, shading and layering so you can create your picture exactly as you envision it. The colours are rich and this Prismacolor Premier set comes with 48 pencils held in a smart tin.
The leads of Prismacolor pencils resist breakage so you can create deep, forceful lines or more delicate blends without the worry of the pencils breaking. This set of coloured pencils is ideal for everything from adult colouring books to freehand drawing.
What We Like:
- Great for blending and shading
- Vibrant colours
- Professional quality
What We Don’t Like:
- The soft cores can make it a bit more difficult to produce very fine lines
2. Runner Up: Faber-Castell Polychromos Colouring Pencils
This set of 12 colouring pencils from Faber-Castell is a professional quality collection of pencils that are resistant to fading. Faber Castell is known for producing artist-quality supplies and is a reliable option for beginners and professionals.
The pencils contain high-quality pigments to produce permanent colour that will not fade. The smooth oil-based leads are best for blending to produce highlights, transitions and layered effects.
As the leads go down the entire pencil length you can rely on these Faber Castell polychromos pencils for a long time and they are resistant to breaking and water making them a durable choice. The set comes in a reusable tin that keeps the pencils organised, together and safe from damage when not in use.
What We Like:
- High quality
- Resistant to fading
- Oil-based lead
What We Don’t Like:
- Higher price
3. Best for Kids: BIC Kids Evolution Colouring Pencils
This pack of 36 colouring pencils from BIC Kids are an ideal all-rounder for children as they are durable, easy to use and are even chew-resistant.
The colourful set is perfect for kids as the leads are resistant to breaking and easy to sharpen, even if (or when) the kids drop the pencils they will still be in great working order.
A great feature for the more environmentally conscious is that these pencils are made with 50% recycled materials.
The barrels are hexagonal which makes it easier for children to grip and the shape stops the pencils from rolling off the table during drawing sessions. These coloured pencils are chew resistant and will not splinter if broken.
What We Like:
- Extremely durable
- Eco friendly
- Value for money
What We Don’t Like:
- Set does not come in a case
4. Crayola Kids Coloured Pencils
These Crayola Coloured Pencils are also a great option for kids as they are designed to be durable and won’t break easily under pressure.
This set is good value and includes 24 bright colours that will leave your kids spoilt for choice.
For additional strength, the leads of the pencils are fully bonded to the barrel. The leads themselves are thick and soft which is perfect for colouring, blending and practising other techniques.
These pre-sharpened colouring in pencils are non-toxic and are made from high-quality reforested wood.
What We Like:
- Great value
- Robust pencils
- Won’t break easily under pressure
What We Don’t Like:
- You have to push quite hard to get good coverage
5. Crayola Gel Core Lead Crayola Blend & Shade Colored Pencils
This set of 24 blending and shading pencils is great for creatives and also makes a great gift thanks to the decorative tin they come in.
The gel cores are soft, highly-pigmented and produce a smooth result great for use on both dark and light paper. They are perfect for producing detailed drawings, blending and layering.
The round wood casing is made from reforested wood and is easy to sharpen. Each pencil has a matte black finish that looks smart and the ends are coloured to make it very quick and easy to pick out the colour you need.
What We Like:
- Produces great results on light and dark paper
- Comes with a decorative tin
- Bright colours
What We Don’t Like:
- Plastic tray within the tin is very flimsy
6. Black Widow Colored Pencils For Adults
The Black Widow colouring pencils for adults are perfect for use with colouring books and for bringing your ideas to life. They are high-quality, comfortable to use and they look great too.
The lead in these pencils is made from soft wax which creates a buttery, smooth tip that flows with you as you draw. They are great for all skill levels and can handle everything from deep colouring to fine line art.
The colours are vibrant and the set has a colour chart on the inside of the tin lid to make choosing the perfect colour even easier.
The barrels of these pencils are sleek and hexagonal shape which makes them more comfortable to hold and stops them from rolling away when you put them down too.
What We Like:
- Comfortable to use
- Require less frequent sharpening
- Suit all skill levels
What We Don’t Like:
- The all-black barrels make it less obvious which colour is which
7. Jemark Colour Pencil & Eraser Topper
This set of 20 pencils is fun, cute and a great gift idea or back-to-school set. Each of the coloured pencils has a novelty eraser topper and the pack comes with a colourful pencil sharpener too.
These pencils are great for colouring, drawing and writing. Any mistakes are easily fixed with the erasers, all of which are bright, colourful and created to look like cute animals.
This pack does not come pre-sharpened but the included sharpener ensures you will be ready to write and draw in no time.
What We Like:
- Brightly coloured pencil and eraser set
- Cute, novelty set
- Includes a sharpener
What We Don’t Like:
- Pencils are not pre-sharpened
8. BIC Kids Colouring Set – Marker Felt Pens, Colouring Pencils and Colouring Crayons
This is the best colouring set for children, it contains felt pens, pencils and crayons for hours of creative fun with your little ones.
The felt pens are water-based so are easy to wash off hands and fabrics, the pencils are eco-friendly, splinter-free and durable and the crayons are plastic wax making them more durable than regular crayons.
This kit is perfectly suited for kids and contains all the supplies they need to create beautiful, vibrant art.
This is a durable, dependable set that is easy to use and children-friendly.
What We Like:
- Felt pen, crayon and pencil set
- Durable and less mess making it perfect for children
- Bright colours
What We Don’t Like:
- The plastic case may not stay open when in use unless it is weighed down
Colouring Pencils Buyer’s Guide
Colouring pencils come in a variety of shapes, sizes and types. There are a huge amount of options, so much so that even seasoned artists may struggle to choose one set from another.
To help figure what kind of colouring pencils you want, this buyers guide takes a closer look at the most important factors.
Colour Range
Different sets and brands offer a massive variety in the colours offered and the number of pencils in a pack.
When choosing the best colouring pencils for you, think about how many colours you require and which pencil colour shades are absolutely necessary.
The colour selection varies hugely between packs so make sure the set you choose includes the colours that are important to your artwork.
Grade
Are you looking for professional-grade pencils or something more beginner-friendly?
Consider your level of experience, how user-friendly the pencils are and how suitable they are for your planned application.
You will often find student grade and artist grade pencils, the main difference between the two grades is the pigment.
An artist grade pencil will have a higher pigment to binder ratio which produces a more intense colour with less application while a student grade pencil will require more application to achieve the same intensity.
Student quality pencils are often available at a lower price.
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Lead Binder
The two most common coloured pencil options are oil-based and wax-based:
- Oil-based – these pencils have a harder core which means they last longer and are more durable. They tend to require more pressure in order to achieve a deeper colour intensity. Some oil based pencils are softer which require less pressure but can smudge more easily.
- Wax-based – these pencils have a soft core meaning it is easier to achieve better coverage and they are smoother to colour with. As they are softer they are also more prone to breaking and tend to wear down faster.
Soft vs Hard Pencils
Depending on your use you may have a preference regarding the hardness of the pencils.
Soft pencils offer great coverage and are more opaque while hard pencils are best for those finer details and for colouring smaller areas.