TOP 10 best pencil sets: differences, which one to choose, comparison with analogues

The pencil has a wide range of uses. It is used for creativity when creating a drawing, for drawings, writing, marking and even for make-up. We have been using them since early childhood, when we get acquainted with flowers and try to embody our ideas about this world on a piece of paper. But few of us thought about the fact that the world of pencils is rich and diverse.

When visiting any office supply store, we see a large selection of pencil sets on the shelves. And they all differ in several ways: color, softness, type and shape of the frame. In the rating, I will tell you about popular brands and help you choose the best option for creativity, among which there will be not only colored, but also black graphite ones.

Rating TOP 10 pencil sets

Before writing a review and making a TOP 10, I studied popular brands and got customer reviews about them. The rating is based on consumer opinion and product quality. You will learn about these brands in the review:

Sonnet Set

The set is marketed as extra soft and intended for professional artists. It contains 36 pieces from dark to bright and light colors. The palette is not bad, but there are no gray shades in it. There is also a white pencil that works great on tinted paper and allows you to stretch other shades. The declared softness is not quite extra-class. It is rather soft-hard. The lines are bold and dense. Do not rub them with your fingers, only with an eraser or a nag. The shape is round, which is not very convenient in work, and can also roll off the table, and therefore break the rod. Available in sets of 12, 24 and 36 colors. Rod diameter 2 mm. Easy to sharpen.

This set of Sonnets is not at all extra soft. It is rather just soft. Colors don't mix well with each other. The palette is pretty good though. The lead may crumble when sharpening. I think another disadvantage is the round case, which is not very comfortable. I will definitely not buy again.

BRAUBERG Butterflies (181286)

This set from the German brand Brauberg is made in China. Available in three variations: 6, 18 and 24 pieces. Pretty good palette for a budget series, but lightly pigmented. The impact-resistant lead is hard-soft, and the body is triangular. Perfect for elementary school students. Lines without bald spots are straight. But the wood is slightly shaggy when sharpening, although the manufacturer claims that it is made of high-quality species, while not specifying which ones.

I bought it for my children on a trip to draw in coloring pages. We were quite satisfied, since we shouldn't expect anything special for such a price. The set is not bad in terms of color palette, but there are similar shades. The packaging says that they are soft, but in fact they are hard-soft and sometimes even scratch the paper. The lead is slightly crumbled.

Carioca BiColor (43031)

The set of double-sided pencils is designed for children from 3 years old and teenagers. The triangular shape allows you to put your hand, or rather, to hold the pencil itself correctly, and at the same time the brush does not get tired during work.The lead is soft and 3.3 mm in diameter, that is, thin. Designed to work on cardboard and paper. The pigmentation is good and the colors are bright enough. Convenience is that each pencil is double-sided, which means that with a small package you get 24 pencils, but 48 colors. Many buyers noted that the set is convenient and it is a pleasure for them to draw. The brand is Italian, but production is carried out in China.

I bought a child for school for art lessons. I liked the set very much, and right away. It is comfortable, and the pencils are soft and a pleasure to draw with them. It is comfortable to hold in hand and the brush does not get tired. The gamut is extensive and many bright colors. Now this is our favorite set.

Faber-Castell Castle with sharpener (120148)

The set is designed for children of primary preschool and school age. The rod is hard-soft (HB) and impact-resistant, and the hexagonal “shirt” is painted in a water-based varnish, which is safe for children. When drawing, it practically does not give bald spots. The colors are rich and easy to mix with each other, and if necessary, there is always the opportunity to touch up the sketch with an eraser. In addition, there is an ordinary sharpener. The wood is of high quality and is easily sharpened without fringes. The brand is German, but this set is made in Turkey.

I believe that a child needs not only to be taught to draw, but also to be provided with high-quality materials. When I was in art school, I used Faber-Castell sets. That is why the choice fell on these pencils. I like them in all respects: brightness, usability, quality of materials. The consumption is quite economical.

BRAUBERG (180635)

Black lead pencils from the German company BRAUBERG with an impact-resistant core. In a set of 12 pieces of the same hardness HB and a lead diameter of 2.05 mm, which belongs to the "thin" category. Designed for drawing and decoration work. The cross section is hexagonal. There is an eraser at the end of each pencil. The kit is convenient to use for creating light sketching, drawing or design work. They belong to the professional series.

I bought it for work. It is very comfortable and will last for a long time, as it contains 12 pieces and all of the same hardness. They write excellently and without blots. Pencils are thin and it is convenient to draw lines with them. Sharpening is easy without peeling wood. If it falls, then the rod inside does not break.

Derwent Coloursoft Skin Tones (2300217)

When creating portraits, it is important to choose the right skin tones, and the Derwent Coloursoft set of 6 pencils of different shades will be great for this: cream, ocher, pink blush, pink, dark terracotta and brown earth.They are lightfast and easy to mix with each other and also overlap. More textured fit on textured paper. For better safety and convenience, the set has a metal package and an additional sharpener. The texture is soft for bold lines and light feathering. Lead with a diameter of 4 mm with double gluing of the body, which is resistant to breaks, which ensures better preservation of the core. Manufactured in the UK.

In the portrait series, I already have a set from Koh-i-noor, but I decided to try a new brand, and I chose Derwent. The reason is that the colors in this set do not overlap with Kohinoor. The pencils are soft and the pigmentation is fine. Fits without bald spots, even layer and color can be stretched. Of the minuses, I noted only a metal pencil case, which sometimes opens in my handbag.

KOH-I-NOOR Magic (3408013001KS)

The Magic series from the Czech company Kohinoor is intended not only for children, but also for artists. We often mistakenly think that multicolor pencils are akin to self-indulgence. In fact, they need to be used correctly and then you get magical, multi-toned and unusually beautiful pictures. The set consists of 12 colored pencils and one blender (white) for mixing colors. The shirt is thickened and triangular. The rod is 5.6 mm, which is a thick one, but it is he who allows you to correctly distribute different shades and use them when shading.

I just love this set. I bought it in Prague when I was vacationing there. It's gorgeous and it's called "Magic" for a reason. My daughter just loves to draw with them in coloring pages, and I use pencils for drawing. The palette is very well chosen and the lines are soft and vibrant.

Best lists

High-quality pencils allow you to completely immerse yourself in the unforgettable world of creativity. Therefore, it is time to determine the best kits for kids, drawing and black lead pencils for sketching. Looking ahead, I will say right away that there are worthy copies among budget brands.

The best set for toddlers

A young artist needs to choose a set according to several parameters: safety, ease of use, a full-fledged palette for exploring colors. Therefore, the choice is sometimes difficult, given how many goods can be seen on store shelves. Check out the Junlandia Pencil Babies (181376) set that meets all the needs of moms and their young artists.

Small pencils thickened in diameter and having a hexagonal cross-section are very convenient for kids, as they easily fit into their pens and they do not get tired of drawing. The lead is thick and very soft, so the lines are easy and effortless. The package contains 12 pieces of different colors from dark to light. The palette is quite sufficient for getting acquainted with the main and auxiliary colors, and also makes it possible to mix them in the drawing.

The rod is impact-resistant and non-toxic, so it is safe when chewing. Art can be easily cleaned with soapy water from floors and wooden furniture. Can be used for the first acquaintance with the palette and pencils.

The best pencil set for professional artists

It is important for professional artists that the set allows not only to embody pictures from the imagination in reality, but also to work in different techniques. I would classify KOH-I-NOOR Mondeluz (3714072001KZ) as the best in this category. The Czech manufacturer has been on the world market for over 230 years and its products are appreciated in all countries.

A set for professionals, but of course, it can also be used by amateurs. The peculiarity is that the drawing made with these pencils can be blurred with a wet brush and you get a watercolor effect.

The package contains 72 colors, including dark, light and juicy, as well as different tones. This allows you to work in multiple techniques and create truly soulful drawings. The pigmentation is excellent and good mixing and shading characteristics, making it possible to make soft transitions. Hexagonal cedar shell. Lead diameter 3.8 mm. The composition does not contain toxic substances.

The color of the body matches the lead in tonality, which makes it easier to find and select the desired scale for creating a drawing. Beginners will first need to get used to such a set, but it will truly give a positive mood and provide an opportunity to discover talents in themselves. For convenience, the package also includes a sharpener and brushes nos. 3, 8 and 9.

The best set of pencils for sketching and graphics

For graphics and sketching, you must have a good set of pencils of different hardness and softness. This includes KOH-I-NOOR Art series 1500 (1502012008PL). The company stands out for its impeccable quality, proven for decades.

Black lead pencils are designed for students of art schools and professionals and are intended for drawing and decoration work. Hexagonal shape, which is convenient in work and will not allow rolling on the table.

A metal box provides additional protection. Rod diameter 2.0 - 2.5 mm. Different softness allows not only to display clear lines, but also to create shadows, penumbra and 3D-drawings. The box contains the following markings 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B. The wood does not crumble when sharpening.

Features of pencil sets

At first glance, it seems that you can improve in a pencil? But manufacturers do not stand still and constantly offer innovations. Therefore, today we can buy in stores not just a pencil, but a convenient one that allows you to create masterpieces. Conventionally, all of them can be divided into three large groups: children's, amateur and professional. But each of them has its own characteristics.

The juiciness and quality of the drawing depends on the type of lead. They are:

1. Classic made of white clay with added pigment.
2. Waxes are not encased and do not require sharpening. From the name it is clear that they are made from wax.
3. Watercolors look like regular pencils. But they have one feature. If you run a wet brush over such a drawing, it comes to life, or rather, a watercolor effect is created.
4. Pastels are made on the basis of a pigment with the addition of linseed oil. Soft strokes and strokes can be blurred with your finger.

All leads have a certain stiffness that affects the accuracy of the drawing and lines, the saturation of tones and shades. The designation of numbers and letters is applied to the body of the pencil, where the number is the degree of hardness or softness. Most often, the following markings can be found in stores:

• very soft 2B, 4B, 6B, which is perfect for babies or creating dark places, placing accents;
• soft B or M;
• hard-soft HB is the main one for creating drawings;
• hard H for fine lines.

What to look for when choosing a pencil set?

Immediately I want to say about the main mistake of buyers. Never rely on price as there is a high probability of overpaying for a brand. Not always cheap means poor quality.

So, you came to a stationery store and saw a wide variety of pencil sets on the counter. Of course, you can get confused. But I will tell you how to make the right choice.

First, you need to decide for whom the purchase is being made. If for a preschooler, then you should pay attention to soft pencils with a triangular base and a lead of at least 1 cm.And also check the composition so that there are no toxic ingredients in it. Usually, the age is always indicated on the box. But for a first grader, the thickness of the lead is from 2.5 to 5 mm, and the pencil itself should lie comfortably in the hand. Here, the meaning of the edges on the shirt does not really matter.

Second, decide on the purpose of use. For home art and school, 12-color sets are fine. This is the best option for introducing the child to flowers and giving him the opportunity to draw anything. But for an art school, it is better to consider 24 colors. They have different shades, more variations for the development of talent.

Thirdly, pay attention to the body, that is, the shirt of the pencil. Most often it is made of wood. In this case, make sure that both parts fit snugly against each other and the lead itself. Top quality shirt made of pine, cedar and jelutong. But for kids it is better to choose a plastic case. It fits snugly to the lead, does not break, shockproof and does not hit the insides of the pencil when dropped.