Best Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Under 50 Dollars

Quick Comparison

What to Look for in Budget Colored Pencils

Before we get into the picks, here’s what actually matters when you’re shopping for colored pencils on a budget:

• Pigment quality — Cheap pencils often look washed out on paper. You want rich, saturated color that shows up in one or two passes.
• Blendability — If you can’t layer and blend, you’re limited to flat coloring. Soft-core pencils blend far better than hard ones.
• Color count — More colors means less mixing, but only if the colors are actually distinct (not five nearly-identical blues).
• Durability — Some soft pencils crumble or break constantly. That’s frustrating and wasteful.
• Comfort — Thick barrels reduce hand fatigue during long coloring sessions.

For a deeper dive into blending and shading technique specifically, check out our guide on how to blend and shade colored pencils.

1. Prismacolor Premier 72-Color Set — Best Overall

The Prismacolor Premier set is the gold standard for adult coloring, and it manages to squeeze in under the 50-dollar mark at the 72-count size. These pencils have a soft, thick core that lays down color like butter and blends with almost no effort.

Pros:
– Exceptionally soft core — the easiest pencils to blend with
– Rich, vibrant pigment that covers dark paper well
– 72 distinct, well-curated colors (no filler shades)
– Widely available and easy to replace individual pencils

Cons:
– Soft cores break more easily if you press hard or drop them
– The wood casing can be inconsistent — some pencils sharpen poorly
– Not ideal for fine detail work (the cores are thick)

If you’ve read our best colored pencils for adult coloring roundup, you already know Prismacolor consistently tops the list. The 72-set hits the sweet spot between variety and affordability — you get premium performance without the premium price tag of the larger sets.

The bottom line: If you buy one set, make it this one. The blending capability alone puts it ahead of everything else at this price.

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2. Faber-Castell Polychromos 60-Color Set — Premium Feel, Fair Price

Faber-Castell’s Polychromos line is what many professional artists reach for, and the 60-color set brings that oil-based quality in just under 50 dollars. These are the most different from Prismacolor on this list — harder cores, oil-based instead of wax-based, and built like tanks.

Pros:
– Oil-based cores hold a sharp point incredibly well — ideal for detail work
– Excellent lightfastness (colors won’t fade over time)
– Sturdy barrels that rarely break
– Smooth, consistent laydown without wax bloom

Cons:
– Harder cores mean blending takes more layers and effort
– 60 colors vs. 72 in competing sets
– Slightly drier feel compared to wax-based pencils

Polychromos pencils are the opposite of Prismacolor in feel — where Prismacolor is soft and buttery, these are precise and controlled. If you prefer fine detail and clean lines over dreamy blends, this is your set. They also pair beautifully with Prismacolor if you want to mix wax and oil-based pencils (more on that in our markers vs. colored pencils comparison).

The bottom line: The craftsman’s choice. Durable, precise, and pigment-rich — just know you’ll work harder for those soft blends.

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3. Arteza Professional 72-Color Set — Best Budget Pick

Arteza has built a reputation for delivering solid quality at prices that make you do a double take, and their Professional 72-color set is no exception. At around 35 dollars, it’s the best value on this list by a comfortable margin.

Pros:
– 72 colors at the lowest price per pencil in this roundup
– Soft cores that blend reasonably well
– Sturdy tin packaging that doubles as storage
– Good color variety with minimal duplicate shades

Cons:
– Pigment isn’t as rich as Prismacolor or Polychromos — colors can look slightly muted
– Cores are softer than ideal, leading to more frequent sharpening
– Not lightfast-rated, so colors may shift over time in direct sunlight

For the price, Arteza punches well above its weight. If you’re just getting into adult coloring and don’t want to commit 50 dollars before you know if you’ll stick with it, this is the smart buy. It’s also a great companion to our best coloring supplies under 25 dollars guide — pair these pencils with a good sharpener and eraser and you’re set for under 50 total.

The bottom line: The most colors for the least money. Great for beginners, good for everyone else.

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Shop This Guide

• Derwent Chromaflow 72-Color Set
• Crayola 50-Count
• Kum Automatic Long Point Sharpener
• Kneaded Eraser
• Prismacolor Colorless Blender
• Pencil Extender
• Prismacolor Premier 72-Color Set
• Arteza Professional 72-Color Set