Prismacolor vs Polychromos: Wax or Oil Colored Pencils

A crimson Prismacolor Premier pencil above a dark green Faber-Castell Polychromos pencil, both sharpened and drawn to scale, with a close-up of their cores — Wax-based soft core above oil-based firm core, at one scale.

Products compared

No. 1Prismacolor Premier soft-core colored pencils, 72-count set$Read the guide →
No. 2Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120$Read the guide →

Product	Brand origin	Made in	Price range
Prismacolor Premier soft-core colored pencils, 72-count set (3599TN)Prismacolor	United States	Mexico^*	Price range: $under $5 per pencil
Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011)Faber-Castell	Germany	Germany^*	Price range: $under $5 per pencil

Notes on these facts

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.
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. Released: Cowling & Wilcox says Polychromos pencils first launched in 1908; we found no Faber-Castell page confirming the date.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Binder: Prismacolor Premier is wax-based; Polychromos is oil-based, per retailers and reviewers.
Range: 150 Prismacolor Premier colors against 120 in the largest Polychromos tin and wooden case.
Core: Faber-Castell gives Polychromos a 3.8 mm core; Prismacolor listings range from 3 mm to 3.8 mm.
Lightfastness: every Polychromos pencil carries 1 to 3 stars; Blick says 3-star colors resist fading for more than 100 years under museum conditions.
Made in: Prismacolor Premier in Mexico (ADI, retail listings); Polychromos in Germany (Officeworks). Both work out under $5 a pencil in big sets, our $ band.

What is the difference between Prismacolor and Polychromos?

The binder: Prismacolor Premier cores are soft and wax-based, and Polychromos cores are firmer and oil-based. That one difference drives everything else, from how fast they cover paper to how well they hold a point.

Prismacolor Premier is an American brand dating to 1938, now owned by Newell Brands and made in Mexico. Faber-Castell Polychromos launched in 1908, per Cowling & Wilcox, and is made in Germany.

How do Prismacolor Premier and Polychromos compare?

Similar core size and price per pencil; different feel, range and lightfastness information.

	Prismacolor Premier	Faber-Castell Polychromos
Binder	Wax-based, soft	Oil-based, firmer
Colors	150	120 (largest tin and wooden case)
Sets	12 · 24 · 36 · 48 · 72 · 132 · 150	12 · 24 · 36 · 60 · 120
Core	3–3.8 mm (listings vary)	3.8 mm (Faber-Castell)
Length	7 in (178 mm), Staples	176 mm (6.9 in), Galaxus
Barrel	Round, painted the core color	Round, dark green with a color-dipped end
Lightfastness	Not printed per pencil in our sources	1 to 3 stars on every pencil
Since	1938	1908
Made in	Mexico	Germany
Price band	$ (big sets)	$ (big sets)

Cross-sections to scale at 1 mm = 20 px: Polychromos 3.8 mm core in a dark green barrel and Prismacolor Premier core listed from 3.0 to 3.8 mm in a crimson barrel, with 150 vs 120 colors — The two cores end-on at one scale, with the range of Prismacolor listings.

Which blends better?

Prismacolor, for soft and fast blending; Polychromos, for controlled layering. The Virtual Instructor describes the Premier core as soft wax that blends and covers paper quickly, much like a soft B graphite pencil.

Reviewers say Polychromos blend well by layering, though the firmer core needs more pressure for heavy coverage. If you own both, try firm pencils for early layers and detail and soft ones to finish.

Which keeps a sharp point and breaks less?

Polychromos. Retailers describe the oil-based core as firmer than wax-based pencils, which helps it hold a point for detail.

Prismacolor’s soft core is its most common complaint: reviewers say it needs protecting from drops and heavy sharpening pressure. A good hand sharpener helps; our best pencil sharpeners includes one made for Prismacolor.

Which is more lightfast?

Polychromos tells you: each pencil carries 1 to 3 stars. Cowling & Wilcox describes the grades as good, very good and maximum, and Blick says 3-star colors resist fading for more than 100 years under museum conditions.

We found no per-pencil lightfastness rating for Prismacolor Premier in our sources. For art you plan to sell or frame, that makes Polychromos the safer choice.

What do reviewers and buyers say?

Both have large, loyal followings. Staples shows the Prismacolor Premier 72-count set at 4.87 stars from 1,698 reviews (October 2026), and the Virtual Instructor recommends the Premier for its soft, rich laydown.

For Polychromos, Cowling & Wilcox and T N Lawrence highlight the lightfastness grading, and Blick builds a 102-color set from the 3-star colors alone. Faber-Castell’s German site lists the single pencils in 138 color variants, so open stock may go beyond the 120 tin.

Which set size should you buy?

Start smaller than you think. Prismacolor sells sets of 12 to 150 and Polychromos tins of 12 to 120, so both let you grow into the full range.

Soft Prismacolor cores wear down faster, so a mid-size set lets you learn which colors you’ll replace most. Polychromos are sold singly, and Quill lists Prismacolor Premier colors in 12-packs of one color, such as Crimson Red 924, so you can top up favorites.

Which should you buy?

Buy Prismacolor Premier for rich, fast color, coloring books and blending; buy Polychromos for detailed, layered, archival work. In big sets both work out under $5 a pencil, our $ band.

Start with 24 or 36 colors of either. Our best colored pencils roundup adds a student set and Japanese options.

Where are they made?

Prismacolor Premier in Mexico and Polychromos in Germany. ADI Global Distribution and retail listings give Mexico for the Prismacolor 72 set, and Officeworks gives Germany for the Polychromos 120.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use Prismacolor and Polychromos together?

Yes, both lay down on paper the same way. We'd suggest firm oil-based Polychromos for early layers and detail and soft wax-based Prismacolor for rich final layers; we haven't tested the combination yet.

Why do Prismacolor pencils break so much?

The core is very soft, and reviewers note it needs protecting from drops and heavy sharpening pressure. Use a sharp hand sharpener, turn gently, and store the pencils flat.

What sharpener should I use for Prismacolor?

A sharp hand sharpener turned gently. Prismacolor sells its own Premier Pencil Sharpener, which our sharpener roundup covers.

Which is better for adult coloring books?

Prismacolor, for most people. Its soft core covers printed pages quickly with little pressure; Polychromos need more pressure for heavy coverage.

Are Polychromos worth the extra cost for beginners?

Only if you want archival work. Both sit in our $ band per pencil in large sets; a 24- or 36-count set of either is a sensible start.

Which has better lightfastness?

Polychromos publishes it: each pencil has 1 to 3 stars, and Blick sells a 102-color set of 3-star colors. We found no comparable per-pencil rating printed on Prismacolor Premier in our sources.

Sources (13)

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