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Drawings Easy
Shop · 22 picks · Updated 2026

Best pencils & colored pencils for 2026

Graphite pencils range from hard H grades for light lines to soft B grades for dark shading. Colored pencils vary mainly in core softness, which decides how easily they blend and layer.

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Our 22 pencils & colored pencils picks

Graphite sketching sets, colored pencils, and erasers for shading, blending and coloring.

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Pencils & Colored Pencils buying guide

Graphite grades explained

Graphite pencils run from hard H grades to soft B grades. H pencils make light, crisp lines that erase cleanly, which suits construction lines. B pencils are softer and darker for shading. A basic set of 2H, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B covers almost every drawing.

Wax-based or oil-based colored pencils

Wax-based pencils like Prismacolor Premier are soft and blend quickly, but can build a waxy bloom. Oil-based pencils like Faber-Castell Polychromos are firmer, hold a sharp point for detail and smudge less. Many artists use both.

Student or artist grade

Student sets such as KALOUR, Shuttle Art and Castle Art give lots of colors for little money and are fine for coloring books and practice. Artist-grade pencils cost more because they use stronger, lightfast pigments, which matters if you sell or frame your work.

Accessories that make a difference

A kneaded eraser lifts graphite without damaging paper, a blending stump smooths shading without finger oils, and a sharp handheld sharpener protects soft cores. An eraser pencil or electric eraser helps with fine highlights.

Frequently asked questions about graphite and colored pencils

What pencils do I need to start drawing?
An HB and a 2B for sketching, a 4B or 6B for shadows, and a kneaded eraser. A 6 to 12 pencil set covers this.
Are expensive colored pencils worth it?
Artist-grade pencils like Prismacolor Premier blend more smoothly and are lightfast. Budget sets like KALOUR are fine for coloring and practice.
What does 2B mean on a pencil?
B grades are softer and darker, and H grades are harder and lighter. 2B is a soft, medium-dark sketching pencil.
How many colored pencils do I need?
A set of 24 to 48 is enough to learn layering and blending. Larger sets save mixing time once you color often.
Why do my colored pencils keep breaking?
Soft cores crack inside when dropped. Sharpen with a sharp blade and light pressure, and store pencils where they will not fall.
What is lightfastness?
How well a pigment resists fading in light. It matters for work you frame or sell, and less for practice and coloring books.