Top 5 compared
The best art sets
Everything to draw and color with, all in one set, for a young child’s first pictures or for learning to sketch.
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The top 5 at a glance
Art sets split two ways. Children’s sets are about color: crayons, washable markers, oil pastels and simple paints in a case that shuts. Sketching sets are for teens and adults learning to draw, with graphite pencils in several grades, charcoal, watercolor pencils and blending stumps, and deluxe painting sets add acrylics, watercolors and canvas boards on top.
The age each maker gives is the quickest guide to which is which, and the adult kits are no place for small children. Each sketching set here comes in a zip case with a sketchbook, two with tan and black pages that show off white charcoal and metallics; the Crayola is for young children, and the Soucolor deluxe set is for an adult who wants to paint as well as draw.
What matters
- A spread of hard H and soft B pencil grades, not just HB.
- A kneaded eraser and blending stumps matter more than the piece count.
- Paper in the set saves buying a pad right away.
#1Crayola Inspiration Art Case (140 pieces)
$20–$30
A carry case of 64 crayons, 40 washable markers and 20 short colored pencils, with 15 large sheets of paper and a slot for every piece, so it all goes back where it came from. Crayola marks it for children aged five and up.
What owners say: Owners say the colors are bright with plenty of shades to choose from, and that the case keeps everything organized and goes anywhere.
A closer look: Fifteen sheets go quickly, so keep a pad or a stack of printer paper beside it. The trays make tidying up a quick game of matching each crayon and marker to its gap, and the handle means it can live on a shelf between sessions rather than spread across the table.
- A slot for every piece
- Washable markers
- Latches shut for carrying
Best for: Young children drawing and coloring
- Pieces
- 140
- What’s in it
- Crayons, markers, pencils
- Made for
- Ages 5+
- Case
- Case with handle
- Paper
- 15 large sheets
#2Caliart 176-Piece Sketching Kit
$20–$30
Sixty-three pencils of six kinds, graphite from 5H to 8B plus charcoal, white charcoal, colored, watercolor and metallic, with blending stumps, two erasers and a water brush, and a 100-sheet sketchbook of white, tan and black paper to try each one on.
What owners say: Beginners say it holds everything needed for serious sketching practice, and the watercolor and metallic pencils come in for special mention.
A closer look: Try the white charcoal and metallic pencils on the black and tan pages, where they show up best, and keep the white paper for graphite. The sandpaper block brings charcoal to a finer point than the sharpener alone. Teens and adults learning to draw will get the most from it.
- Graphite from 5H to 8B
- White charcoal and metallic pencils
- Water brush and blending stumps
- Sandpaper block for points
- Kneaded and vinyl erasers
Best for: Learning to sketch
- Pieces
- 176 (76 + 100 sheets)
- What’s in it
- 63 pencils, 6 kinds
- Made for
- Teens and adults
- Case
- Zip case
- Paper
- 100-sheet sketchbook, 3 colors
#3Prina 76-Piece Drawing and Sketching Kit
$20–$30
A seven-step drawing tutorial comes with 64 pencils, including charcoal in black, white and color and 16 graphite pencils, so it suits someone teaching themselves to draw. The sketchbook has white, tan and black pages to practice on.
What owners say: It helps beginners pick up new techniques, by owners’ accounts, and the range of media wins praise, with real white charcoal among it.
Heads up: Owners mention pencil points breaking, so sharpen gently and use the sandpaper pointer for a fine tip.
A closer look: Work through the tutorial with the graphite pencils first, then move on to charcoal, which smudges easily: the paper blending stumps soften it, and the kneaded eraser lifts out highlights. The 6 × 9in sketchbook is spiral-bound, so it lies flat on a table.
- Seven-step drawing tutorial
- Black, white and colored charcoal
- Sketchbook lies flat
- Kneaded eraser for highlights
Best for: Teaching yourself to draw
- Pieces
- 76
- What’s in it
- 64 pencils, 7 kinds
- Made for
- Teens and adults
- Case
- Zip case
- Paper
- 50-page sketchbook, 3 colors
#4Soucolor 73-Piece Sketching Kit
$10–$20
Sixty pencils in five kinds, graphite from 2H to 8B plus charcoal, colored, watercolor and metallic, with a sketchbook, a coloring book, blending stumps, a pencil extender and the basic tools in a zip case.
What owners say: The spread of drawing supplies and the colors are what people like, from adult beginners to eight-year-olds. The leads are the weak spot, with some owners finding they snap easily.
A closer look: The pencil extender keeps graphite pencils in use once they’re too short to hold. Use the coloring book with the colored and watercolor pencils, going over the watercolor with the water brush for a painted look, and keep the sketchbook for graphite and charcoal practice.
- Graphite from 2H to 8B
- Pencil extender for short stubs
- Water brush pen
- Art knife and sandpaper block
Best for: Trying five kinds of pencil
- Pieces
- 73
- What’s in it
- 60 pencils, 5 kinds
- Made for
- Adults and beginners
- Case
- Zip case
- Paper
- Sketchbook, coloring book
#5Soucolor 192-Piece Deluxe Art Set
$30–$50
For adults and teens who want to paint as well as draw: 24 acrylics with three 8.5 × 11 in canvas boards, 24 watercolors, 24 oil pastels, 24 colored pencils and 60 crayons, with a sketchbook, watercolor and acrylic pads and eight brushes, all in a wooden case with two drawers.
What owners say: The range of media and colors is what people like, with everything for a project in one box, and most find it a good value. The case is the weak point: some arrived with the box broken or crayons melted together, and the drawers can be stiff to close.
A closer look: Keep the acrylics for the canvas boards and the acrylic pad, and the watercolors for their own 300gsm pad; the thinner sketchbook is for pencil and pastel. Acrylic won’t wash out of brushes once it dries, so rinse them as soon as you finish.
- Eight brushes
- Color wheel, palette and sponge
- Rinse acrylic brushes straight away
Best for: Grown-ups starting to paint
- Pieces
- 192
- What’s in it
- Acrylics, watercolors, oil pastels, pencils, crayons
- Made for
- Teens and adults
- Case
- Wooden case, 2 drawers
- Paper
- Sketch, watercolor and acrylic pads, 3 canvas boards
How they compare
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| Feature | #1Crayola Inspiration Art Case | #2Caliart 176-piece | #3Prina 76-piece | #4Soucolor 73-piece | #5Soucolor 192-piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for sketching | Best budget | Best for painting | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $30–$50 |
| Pieces | 140 | 176 (76 + 100 sheets) | 76 | 73 | 192 |
| What’s in it | Crayons, markers, pencils | 63 pencils, 6 kinds | 64 pencils, 7 kinds | 60 pencils, 5 kinds | Acrylics, watercolors, oil pastels, pencils, crayons |
| Made for | Ages 5+ | Teens and adults | Teens and adults | Adults and beginners | Teens and adults |
| Case | Case with handle | Zip case | Zip case | Zip case | Wooden case, 2 drawers |
| Paper | 15 large sheets | 100-sheet sketchbook, 3 colors | 50-page sketchbook, 3 colors | Sketchbook, coloring book | Sketch, watercolor and acrylic pads, 3 canvas boards |
| Best for | Young children drawing and coloring | Learning to sketch | Teaching yourself to draw | Trying five kinds of pencil | Grown-ups starting to paint |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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