The best colouring pencils
Adult colouring books, children's drawings or both. The pencil sets that make colouring a pleasure.
Colouring isn't just for children. Plenty of grown-ups swear by an evening with a colouring book to switch off, and a good set of pencils is what makes it satisfying: bright colours, smooth leads and no snapping.
We've picked across the range, from cheap and tough pencils for small hands to big sets of 60 and 72 for people who take their mandalas seriously.
What matters
- The number of colours: 24 for children, 60+ for adult colouring.
- Leads that don't snap when sharpened.
- A tin, stand or case that keeps them in order.
- Softer leads for blending and layering.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Faber-Castell Classic Colour Pencils (60 colours)
£22.95 RRP
Sixty colours, including neons, metallics and pastels, in a box that folds out into a stand so every shade is in view. A lovely set for a keen colourer of any age.
What owners say: Owners love the range of colours and how easily they blend, and find them soft and smooth for mandalas and colouring books.
A closer look: For smooth, even colour, build up two or three light layers rather than pressing hard once. Metallic and neon pencils show up best on white paper, so save them for the last details.
- 60 colours, including neon, metallic and pastel
- Bonded leads that resist breaking
- Stand-up box
- Wood from certified forests
- Made in Germany
Best for: The whole family
- Colours
- 60, incl. neon, metallic, pastel
- Comes in
- Stand-up box
- Extras
- None
#2 of 5
Best for grown-up colouring
Zenacolor 72 Colouring Pencils in a Metal Box
£10–£20 Price range
Seventy-two colours with no duplicates, laid out on three trays in a metal tin: exactly what an adult colouring fan wants for detailed mandalas and nature pages.
What owners say: Owners love the rich range of colours that need only light pressure, and find them smooth and easy to blend.
A closer look: Put each pencil back in its slot as you go and the colours stay in order, which is half the pleasure of a big tin. A sharpener with a catch-tray saves shavings all over the sofa.
- 72 different colours
- 3.3mm pre-sharpened leads
- Metal tin with 3 trays
- Individual slot for every pencil
Best for: Adult colouring books
- Colours
- 72
- Comes in
- Metal tin, 3 trays
- Extras
- None
#3 of 5
Best gift set
Melifluo 73-Piece Colouring Pencils with a Colouring Book
£10–£20 Price range
Seventy-two pencils and a colouring book to start on, in a zipped case with a slot for every pencil: a whole present in one, ready to wrap.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality with a great variety of shades, love the case, and say the pencils blend and layer nicely.
Heads up: Soft leads snap if a blunt sharpener is used, so a good-quality sharpener is worth adding.
A closer look: The zipped case makes this a good travel set for long train journeys or holidays. Colour the book's simplest pages first to try out how the colours blend.
- 72 colouring pencils
- Colouring book included
- Zipped case with individual slots
- Includes gold and silver
Best for: A ready-made present
- Colours
- 72
- Comes in
- Zipped case
- Extras
- Colouring book
#4 of 5
Best budget
STAEDTLER Noris Colour Pencils (24 colours)
Under £10 Price range
A school pencil-case classic: tough, bright and cheap enough to buy two packs. Staedtler makes them from upcycled wood.
What owners say: Owners find the colours strong and the leads tough enough not to crumble when sharpened, and say they're great value for children and adults.
A closer look: Their soft, grippy coating makes them easier for small hands to hold than glossy pencils, which is why they suit children just starting to colour inside the lines.
- 24 colours
- Break-resistant leads
- Soft, non-slip surface
- Pre-sharpened
- Made in Germany
Best for: School and stockings
- Colours
- 24
- Comes in
- Card pack
- Extras
- None
#5 of 5
Best for little ones
Crayola Colouring Pencils (24 colours)
Under £10 Price range
Chunky 3.3mm leads that lay down colour without white gaps, from the brand that has been making children's colouring things since 1903. Made for ages 3 and up.
What owners say: Owners find them great value with a wide array of colours, and say toddlers and young children love them.
A closer look: Pair them with a chunky colouring book with thick outlines: younger children find big shapes far more satisfying to fill than fine detail.
- 24 colours
- 3.3mm soft leads
- Pre-sharpened
- Break-resistant
- For ages 3+
Best for: Toddlers and young children
- Colours
- 24
- Comes in
- Card pack
- Extras
- None
How they compare
| Feature | #1Faber-Castell 60 | #2Zenacolor 72 | #3Melifluo 73 | #4Staedtler Noris 24 | #5Crayola 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for grown-up colouring | Best gift set | Best budget | Best for little ones | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Price | £22.95 RRP | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Colours | 60, incl. neon, metallic, pastel | 72 | 72 | 24 | 24 |
| Comes in | Stand-up box | Metal tin, 3 trays | Zipped case | Card pack | Card pack |
| Extras | None | None | Colouring book | None | None |
| Best for | The whole family | Adult colouring books | A ready-made present | School and stockings | Toddlers and young children |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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