Best Colored Pencils Under 20 Dollars: 6 Sets That Actually Deliver

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Best Colored Pencils Under 20 Dollars: 6 Sets That Actually Deliver

Twenty dollars is a sweet spot for colored pencils. Below that, you’re in Crayola territory (which is fine for kids but frustrating for adult coloring). Above that, you start hitting Prismacolor and Polychromos prices. The 10 to 20 dollar range is where budget brands actually try, and a few of them produce pencils that rival sets costing three times as much.

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I’ve used all of these sets on adult coloring books over the past year. Some surprised me. Some disappointed me. Here’s what I found.

What You Get for Under 20 Dollars

Pencils in this price range are wax-based or hybrid wax/oil cores. None of them match Prismacolor Premier’s soft blendability, but several come closer than you’d expect. The trade-offs are usually in color count (24 to 48 instead of 72), barrel quality, and consistency between colors. A set might have 12 great pencils and 12 mediocre ones.

I tested each set on the same mandala coloring page, using the same techniques: flat coverage, layering, and blending with a colorless blender pencil.

1. Crayola Signature Colored Pencils (about 15 dollars for 50)

The Crayola Signature 50-count set is the best value on this list. Fifty pencils for 15 dollars works out to about 30 cents per pencil. The Signature line is a step up from Crayola’s standard pencils, with softer cores and more pigmented colors.

Coverage is decent for the price. The colors go down smoothly with medium pressure, and the range covers most of what you’d need for a standard coloring book. Where they fall short is blending. The wax core doesn’t layer and smear the way Prismacolor does. You can blend them, but it takes more effort and the results aren’t as smooth.

For someone just starting adult coloring who doesn’t want to spend 40 dollars on Prismacolor, this is the set I’d recommend first.

2. Arteza Expert Colored Pencils (about 18 dollars for 48)

The Arteza Expert 48-set is the closest thing to a “real” artist pencil in this price range. The cores are softer than Crayola Signature, the colors are more saturated, and they blend reasonably well with a colorless blender.

The barrel is slightly thicker than standard, which I found comfortable but might not suit everyone. The main weakness is breakage. Arteza’s quality control isn’t as tight as Prismacolor’s. I had two pencils arrive with cracked cores, and the points are more fragile when sharpened to a fine tip.

Still, for 18 dollars, the color quality is impressive. If you’re coloring for relaxation and don’t need professional-grade results, these are a strong pick.

3. Castle Arts Colored Pencils (about 17 dollars for 24)

The Castle Arts 24-set comes in a nice metal tin, which feels more premium than the cardboard boxes most budget pencils ship in. The pencils themselves have a soft core that lays down color smoothly.

Twenty-four colors is limiting. If you’re coloring books with lots of color variety (mandalas, nature scenes), you’ll run out of shades quickly. But for simple designs, bold coloring, or grayscale coloring where you’re adding tint over existing tones, 24 colors is plenty.

The blending is better than I expected. Not Prismacolor-level, but you can create smooth gradients with a light hand and some patience. The tin makes this a good gift option.

4. Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils (about 14 dollars for 12)

Staedtler’s Ergosoft line has a triangular barrel that’s genuinely comfortable for long coloring sessions. The 12-count set is limited in range but the pencil quality is consistent across every color. No duds in the set.

The cores are harder than Arteza or Castle Arts, which means they hold a point longer but lay down less pigment per stroke. You’ll need more layers to get saturated color. For coloring books with small spaces and fine details, the hard core is actually an advantage. For large area coverage, it’s a disadvantage.

You can find these on Amazon at around 14 dollars for 12 pencils. Pricey per pencil, but the quality justifies it if you prefer detail work.

5. Arrtx Colored Pencils (about 13 dollars for 36)

Arrtx is a budget brand I’d never heard of until a reader mentioned them. The Arrtx 36-set is surprisingly good for the price. The colors are vibrant, the cores are reasonably soft, and they blend better than Crayola Signature.

The weakness is consistency. Some pencils in the set are excellent. A few feel scratchy and hard, like the core dried out unevenly during manufacturing. At 36 cents per pencil, some duds are acceptable, but it’s worth knowing going in.

6. Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils (about 19 dollars for 24)

Prismacolor Scholar is Prismacolor’s student-grade line. The 24-count set gives you Prismacolor’s wax formula at a budget price, but with a harder core than the Premier line.

The colors are slightly less saturated than Premier, and the blending isn’t as effortless. But the core formula is similar enough that you can use the same techniques. If you’re planning to upgrade to Prismacolor Premier eventually, Scholar is a good stepping stone to learn on.

Read our full comparison: Prismacolor Premier vs Scholar.

Bottom Line

The Crayola Signature 50-count is the best overall value. The Arteza Expert 48-set is the best quality in this price range if you don’t mind occasional breakage. And the Castle Arts 24-set is the best gift option. For more colored pencil recommendations at different price points, see our full colored pencil guide and our under 50 dollars guide.