10 Best Pastel Pencils in 2026

The trade-off is that 36 pencils may feel restrictive if you regularly reach for unusual hues or subtle gradations. Compared to the Derwent Pastel Pencil 72 Tin, this set gives you half the color count in a heavier metal case. But for everyday sketching, portrait work, or travel, the Faber-Castell Pitt delivers consistent quality in a tidy package that protects your pencils. If you prefer to buy a complete spectrum in one go, you might outgrow this selection quickly.

Seventy-two colors in one tin means you have a broad palette ready to go, from soft pastels to deep darks, without swapping pencils constantly. That 4.5mm core is thick enough to lay down generous washes of pastel, yet the round barrel lets you twist it to a fine edge for crisp details. For artists who love to mix and blend directly on the page, building up layers of sky or softening a portrait’s shadow, this set gives you the range to explore without constantly swapping pencils. It’s the kind of collection that suits someone who wants to try everything, not just the basics.

The tin itself is heavy: at nearly two pounds, it’s not a set you toss into a backpack for a quick sketch at the café. Compared to the 36-pack Faber-Castell Pitt set, this Derwent tin asks for a dedicated spot on your desk or a sturdy tote. But if your work calls for a full spectrum of hues, and you value the convenience of having them all in one organized, hinged case, that extra heft is a fair price for the creative freedom it brings.

The thick 4.7 mm core gives you plenty of pastel to work with, so you can cover large areas without constantly sharpening. This set suits the artist who wants a complete palette from the start, with lightfastness that keeps finished pieces from fading. The hexagonal cedar wood body feels familiar and comfortable in hand, making long drawing sessions easier on the fingers.

The set’s size and weight, 1.3 pounds and a box over thirteen inches wide, mean it’s not something you toss in a daypack. The Caran d’Ache is lighter than the Derwent Pastel Pencil 72 Tin, which weighs 1.9 pounds, but still bulky for on-the-go use. If you work mostly at a desk and value color intensity and lightfastness above portability, this set delivers. For quick sketches on the go, a smaller lighter set like the STABILO CarbOthello 24 would be more practical.

A 4.4 mm lead diameter and a wonderfully dry, dusty stroke make the STABILO CarbOthello feel closer to loose chalk pastel than any other pencil in this guide. That chalky texture lets you layer and blend colors on paper with the same soft, smudgy character you get from a stick pastel, but with the control and clean point of a pencil. The wooden shaft protects the lead from breaking, so you can sharpen it without worrying about snaps. For artists who want the look of pastel with more precision, this set offers that experience in a metal wallet.

The STABILO CarbOthello Pastel Pencil 24 Set covers only a fraction of the 60 shades the brand offers, so if you work across a wide color range you may need additional sets. The Derwent Pastel Pencil 72 Tin includes 72 colors in one box, so this set gives you fewer options at once. The leads are partially aquarellable, meaning you can use water for a wash effect, but they are not fully water-soluble like dedicated watercolor pencils. If your priority is the authentic chalk pastel feel in a pencil form, this set delivers that.

The 28-page handbook includes step-by-step tutorials for four illustrations: Snow Queen, Floral Rose, Fairy Queen, and Zebra. That guide, combined with 48 named and numbered pencils in a three-tier tin, gives a new pastel artist a clear way to organize colors and follow along with projects. The numbered pencils make it easy to find and replace shades without guesswork, so you can stay focused on your drawing.

The synthetic wax core is vegan and non-toxic, which some artists may prefer over traditional chalk pastel pencils. The set offers 48 shades, a focused range that suits someone learning pastel techniques. Experienced artists who want a very wide color selection might find the 48-shade range limiting compared to larger sets like Derwent’s 72-color tin.

A 5 mm lead diameter gives you genuine freedom to carve crisp lines and tight details without constant sharpening. Conté à Paris designed these with a slightly harder, less pigmented lead compared to soft pastels. That means the point stays sharp longer and you can control fine edges in portraits, life drawing, or small silhouette work. If your style leans toward precise, controlled strokes rather than broad, smeary washes, this set rewards that patience with a velvety finish that blends exactly where you want it.

The Conté à Paris pastel pencil uses a slightly harder lead with less pigment than soft pastel, so it won’t deliver the dense, opaque coverage of a soft pastel stick. This makes it less ideal for large, heavily textured surfaces or for artists who need quick, bold color application. For detailed work on small and medium formats where precision matters more than speed, it’s a focused tool that does one thing exceptionally well.

The 4mm core allows for controlled, accurate drawing with less mess, making it easy to produce fine lines and detailed work. The soft, blendable texture can be mixed, smudged, and blended for a range of effects, and because pastel is naturally watersoluble, you can use water to create light washes. The set comes in a metal tin for storage.

The color range is limited: twenty-four pencils cover the basics but skip the broader palette that a larger set like the Derwent Pastel Pencil 72 Tin offers. If you need a wide spectrum for large-scale or full-spectrum work, you may find yourself mixing and layering more to fill the gaps. For the artist who values precision and a compact set, this tin delivers control and versatility.

A 12-color set that weighs 0.2 pounds means you can slip this into a sketch pouch without noticing it’s there. The pre-sharpened fine tip and oil-free, acid-free core give you crisp outlines and blendable shading right out of the box. That makes it a natural entry point for anyone new to pastel pencils or working on mixed-media projects where archival safety matters. The cedar wood barrel keeps the pencil balanced and durable, so you’re not fighting a flimsy tool when you’re trying to lay down soft color.

The 12-color set forces you to mix and layer for soft transitions, which demands more patience than grabbing a 36-pack like Faber-Castell’s Pitt set. But the core is smooth and pigment-rich enough to blend well, so the limitation is about convenience, not quality. For an artist wanting a budget-friendly introduction to pastel pencils without sacrificing archival materials, this set delivers real value where it counts.

This 24-set from Koh-I-Noor’s Gioconda range uses 100% FSC wood, so the pencils are made from certified sustainable materials. The set comes in a great presentation pack, which keeps the pencils organized and protected during travel. For artists who value a brand with a long history in stationery manufacturing, this set offers a compact selection of 24 colors that is easy to carry and ideal for building a core palette without overwhelming choice.

Weighing 0.7 pounds, this set is a touch heavier than STABILO’s 24-set at 0.6 pounds, so it may be slightly less convenient for artists who prioritize ultralight travel kits. That small difference in heft matters most when you’re packing for a plein-air session or a long flight, where every ounce counts. The weight still keeps it manageable for most bags, though, and the extra mass can help keep the tin from sliding around on a slanted desk or easel. For everyday studio use, the difference is negligible, but weight-conscious travelers might prefer the lighter STABILO option.

Fifty colors in one metal tin means you get a broad palette without chasing individual pencils. These are wax and oil free, so the laydown stays true to pastel’s dry, powdery feel. The high pigmentation with excellent lightfastness helps your artwork hold its color over time. For anyone who wants a large, versatile set that keeps safety front and center, this is a strong option, especially if you work on dark or toned paper where the soft particles create a modern three-dimensional effect.

Sharpening requires some care. The manufacturer advises using a utility knife because a standard sharpener can break the pastel pencil, which takes a bit of practice. The Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils 36 Pack offers 36 colors, while this set gives you 50, so you get a wider palette if you need more variety. If you prefer quick, fuss-free sharpening, the extra color range may still be worth the extra effort.