Best Colored Pencils for 2027: Polychromos to Luminance
On published specs, Faber-Castell Polychromos is the best all-round artist colored pencil: a firm 3.8 mm oil-based core, 120 colors and a lightfastness rating on every pencil. Pick Prismacolor Premier for a soft wax core, Caran d'Ache Luminance for maximum lightfastness and Faber-Castell Goldfaber on a student budget.
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Products compared
| Product | Brand origin | Made in | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011)Faber-Castell | Germany | Germany* | Price range: $ |
| Prismacolor Premier soft-core colored pencils, 72-count set (3599TN)Prismacolor | United States | Mexico* | Price range: $ |
| Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 colored pencilsCaran d'Ache | Switzerland | Switzerland* | Price range: $$ |
| Faber-Castell Goldfaber colored pencils, tin of 48 (114748)Faber-Castell | Germany | Not stated* | Price range: $ |
| Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer artists' watercolor pencils, tin of 24 (117524)Faber-Castell | Germany | Not stated* | Price range: $ |
| Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils (OP series)Holbein | Japan | Japan* | Price range: $ |
Notes on these facts
- Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011): Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Made in Germany: Officeworks lists Germany as the country of manufacture for the 120-pencil tin. Faber-Castell's German and other product pages we read don't state a country. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Cowling & Wilcox says Polychromos pencils first launched in 1908; we found no Faber-Castell page confirming the date.
- Prismacolor Premier soft-core colored pencils, 72-count set (3599TN): Made by Newell Brands. Made in Mexico: ADI Global Distribution's catalog entry for the 3599TN gives Mexico as the country of origin and Newell Brands as the maker, and says origin is subject to change (its spec tab is shown to signed-in dealers). A brand-guide write-up also reports that packaging says "Made in Mexico". Prismacolor's own site blocks automated readers, so we couldn't check it there. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Year the Eagle Pencil Company introduced the Prismacolor name, per Wikipedia (citing Prismacolor's About Us page); we found no separate launch date for the Premier soft-core line.
- Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 colored pencils: Made by Caran d'Ache SA, Thônex-Geneva, Switzerland. Made in Switzerland: Caran d'Ache's Swiss French page says "Développé et fabriqué en Suisse" (developed and made in Switzerland) and lists Swiss Made; the 100-color case page says the pencils are made in Geneva. Source. Price: example listing.
- Faber-Castell Goldfaber colored pencils, tin of 48 (114748): Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Country of manufacture not stated: Faber-Castell's German product page for the 48 tin doesn't state a country, and we found no retailer spec sheet we could read that does, so check the tin. Price: example listing.
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer artists' watercolor pencils, tin of 24 (117524): Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Country of manufacture not stated: Faber-Castell's German product pages for the 24 and 120 tins don't state a country, so check the tin.
- Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils (OP series): Made by Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka). Made in Japan: Japanese retailer ASKUL's listing gives 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan), as shown in search results; the page didn't load for us in full, and Holbein's own site didn't respond. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Polychromos, Luminance, Albrecht Dürer and Holbein all list a 3.8 mm core; Goldfaber's is 3.3 mm and Prismacolor Premier's is given as 3 to 3.8 mm.
- Caran d'Ache says 81 of Luminance's 100 colors are rated LFI, the top grade of the ASTM D6901 lightfastness standard.
- Prismacolor Premier has the most colors, 150; Holbein also lists 150, against 120 each for Polychromos and Albrecht Dürer.
- Albrecht Dürer pencils are watercolor pencils: Faber-Castell says the core dissolves fully in water and can behave like classic watercolor.
- Five of the six sit in our lowest band, $ (under $5 a pencil, bought in sets); Luminance is $$.
What are the best colored pencils?
Faber-Castell Polychromos are the best colored pencils for most artists, but the best pick for a soft wax core, maximum lightfastness, a student budget, water blending or a Japanese line is a different pencil. Picks are based on published specs and maker claims; we haven’t tested them yet.
- Best oil-based artist pencil: Faber-Castell Polychromos. A firm 3.8 mm oil-based core in 120 colors, with one to three lightfastness stars printed on every pencil.
- Best wax-based artist pencil: Prismacolor Premier. A soft, thick wax core in 150 colors that lays down rich color with light pressure; sharpen it gently, because it breaks.
- Best for lightfastness: Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901. Caran d’Ache rates 81 of its 100 colors LFI, the top grade of the ASTM D6901 standard, in a 3.8 mm wax lead made in Switzerland.
- Best for students and budgets: Faber-Castell Goldfaber. A 3.3 mm core that Faber-Castell calls smudge- and water-resistant with excellent lightfastness, and the 48 tin works out under $5 a pencil.
- Best for blending with water: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer. Watercolor pencils with a 3.8 mm core that Faber-Castell says dissolves fully, so a wet brush turns the strokes into a wash.
- Best Japanese pencil: Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencils. 150 colors and a 3.8 mm core of pigment, wax, oil and fats, which a Dutch retailer places between Polychromos and Prismacolor in hardness.
How do the six colored pencils compare?
Four of the six share a 3.8 mm core; they differ mainly in binder, color count and lightfastness rating.
| Pencil | Core | Binder | Colors | Lightfastness info | Made in | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Polychromos | 3.8 mm | Oil-based | 120 | 1–3 stars per pencil | Germany | $ |
| Prismacolor Premier | 3–3.8 mm (retailers) | Wax-based | 150 | Not on the pencil | Mexico | $ |
| Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901 | 3.8 mm | Wax | 100 | ASTM D6901, 81 colors LFI | Switzerland | $$ |
| Faber-Castell Goldfaber | 3.3 mm | Not stated | 48 (largest tin listed) | “Excellent” (maker) | Not stated | $ |
| Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer | 3.8 mm | Water-soluble | 120 | “Unsurpassed” (maker) | Not stated | $ |
| Holbein Artists’ | 3.8 mm | Pigment, wax, oil and fats | 150 | Grade on each pencil (retailer) | Japan | $ |
Prices are bands per pencil, bought in sets. Luminance lands in $$: Caran d’Ache’s Swiss store lists the 12-color box at CHF 44 (about US$53), and the full 100-color box costs more per pencil.
Oil-based or wax-based: which should you choose?
Choose oil-based for detail and many layers, wax-based for fast, saturated color. The Virtual Instructor describes Polychromos as harder than Premier, so solid coverage takes patience, while Premier is “rich and buttery” and layers easily.
Wax pencils have trade-offs. Prismacolor’s soft core breaks under heavy sharpening and needs sharpening more often, while a firm oil-based core keeps its point for fine hatching.
Which colored pencils are the most lightfast?
Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901 is the safest choice for work that will hang in daylight. Caran d’Ache says every color is tested to ASTM D6901, which grades colors from LFI to LFV, and that 81 of the 100 reach LFI; it claims finished work will last up to 100 years.
Polychromos is close behind for planned work: each pencil prints its own one to three stars, so you can buy three-star colors only. Prismacolor Premier doesn’t print a rating on the pencil, so check the maker’s charts before selling originals.
Which pencils are best for students and coloring?
Faber-Castell Goldfaber is the step-up from school pencils. Faber-Castell describes a soft, richly pigmented 3.3 mm core with high break resistance, and School Specialty sells the 48 tin aimed at student and hobby artists.
It has fewer colors than the artist lines, so add Polychromos singles later for the shades you miss. A good sharpener matters at every level; see our X-ACTO School Pro guide.
Can colored pencils blend like watercolor?
Yes, if they are watercolor pencils such as Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer. Faber-Castell says the core is fully water-soluble, so you draw dry, then brush on water for a fine or broad wash that can behave like classic watercolor, depending on the paper.
Use watercolor paper or a heavy mixed-media sheet; thin sketch paper buckles. Polychromos and Goldfaber stay put when wet, so they work for line work over a dry wash.
What about Japanese colored pencils?
Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencils are a Japanese artist line in 150 colors. Opus Art Supplies lists a soft 3.8 mm lead and pigments with high lightfast ratings, and the Dutch retailer Splendith says each pencil carries its lightfastness grade.
Splendith also warns that Holbein’s oily core doesn’t blend well with other brands. Opus sells 50-color sets at C$258.20 (about US$183), under $5 a pencil.
What do other reviewers recommend?
Reviewers mostly narrow the field to the same three artist lines. The Virtual Instructor compares Prismacolor Premier, Polychromos and Luminance: Premier is soft and widely available, Polychromos firmer and more consistent, and Luminance the brightest, sitting between the two in hardness.
Its advice is to buy a small set of each before committing, which is also ours. We couldn’t find a JetPens or Wirecutter colored pencil guide we could read in full.
Where are these colored pencils made?
Polychromos is listed as made in Germany, Luminance in Switzerland, Prismacolor Premier in Mexico and Holbein in Japan. Faber-Castell’s own pages for Goldfaber and Albrecht Dürer don’t state a country, so check the tin.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best colored pencils for professional artists?
Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Luminance are the usual professional picks. Polychromos is a firmer oil-based pencil in 120 colors; Luminance is a wax pencil whose maker rates 81 of 100 colors at the top ASTM D6901 lightfastness grade.
What is the difference between oil-based and wax-based colored pencils?
Wax-based cores such as Prismacolor Premier are softer and lay down color with little pressure, but they wear quickly and can break. Oil-based cores such as Polychromos are firmer, hold a sharp point longer and suit fine detail and many thin layers.
Which colored pencils are the most lightfast?
Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901, which its maker grades to the ASTM D6901 standard, with 81 of 100 colors at LFI. Polychromos prints one to three lightfastness stars on each pencil, so you can choose three-star colors.
What colored pencils are best for students on a budget?
Faber-Castell Goldfaber is a step below Polychromos in the same maker's range, with a 3.3 mm core that Faber-Castell calls smudge- and water-resistant. The 48-pencil tin still works out under $5 a pencil.
Are Prismacolor or Polychromos better for blending?
Prismacolor Premier's soft wax core blends with less pressure, which is why many colorists choose it. Polychromos blends by layering many thin coats; for water blending, use watercolor pencils such as Albrecht Dürer.
Are Japanese colored pencils good?
Yes. Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils come in 150 colors with a 3.8 mm core that one retailer describes as sitting between Polychromos and Prismacolor in hardness, and Japanese retail listings give Japan as the origin.
Can you mix colored pencil brands?
Usually yes; artists often lay down soft wax pencils over firmer oil-based ones for the final layers. One Dutch retailer notes that Holbein's unusual core blends less well with other brands, so test on scrap paper first.
Sources
- Caran d'Ache (Canada): Box of 100 colours Luminance 6901 + 2 blenders (ASTM D6901, 81 colours LFI, 3.8 mm wax lead, FSC cedar, made in Switzerland)
- Caran d'Ache (Switzerland): Box of 20 colours Luminance 6901, Portrait assortment
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Goldfaber Farbstift, 48er Metalletui (114748; 3.3 mm Mine, excellent lightfastness)
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Albrecht Dürer Aquarellstift, 24er Metalletui (117524; 3.8 mm water-soluble core)
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Albrecht Dürer Aquarellstift, 120er Metalletui (117511)
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Polychromos Farbstift, 120er Metalletui (110011)
- Faber-Castell Singapore: 48 pieces Goldfaber colour pencil set (3.3 mm lead)
- School Specialty: Faber-Castell Goldfaber Color Pencils, set of 48
- ASKUL: ホルベイン アーチスト色鉛筆 (Holbein Artists' Colored Pencil; 150 colors, oil-based, country of origin Japan)
- Opus Art Supplies: Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils (soft 3.8 mm lead, high lightfast ratings, sets of 50)
- Splendith: Holbein colored pencil set of 24 (core of pigments, wax, oil and fats; 3.8 mm core, 7.8 mm pencil)
- Staples: Prismacolor Premier soft core colored pencils, 72 count (3599TN)
- Blick: Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils and sets
- The Virtual Instructor: Which colored pencils are the best? (Prismacolor Premier, Polychromos and Luminance compared)