PaintingProGuide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick answer: The best watercolor pencils for most artists are the Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer set for artist-grade work and the Derwent Watercolour 48 set for range and value among established brands. Choose Caran d’Ache Supracolor if lightfastness and covering power matter most, Derwent Inktense if you want permanent, ink-like color that won’t reactivate, Castle Art Supplies or KALOUR for a big budget palette, and Crayola for kids.
Finding the best watercolor pencils comes down to three questions: how well the pigment dissolves, how many colors you actually need, and whether the color stays movable or locks in once it dries. A $10 kids’ set and a $90 artist tin both “turn into paint” with water, but they behave very differently on paper.
Below are seven sets that cover every common need, from coloring books and kids’ crafts to professional illustration and work on fabric. Each pick is matched to a specific use case so you can skip straight to the one that fits.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils (24) — Best overall for artists
- Derwent WaterColour Pencils (48, wooden box) — Best range from a heritage brand
- Caran d’Ache Supracolor (30, metal box) — Best for professional artists
- Derwent Inktense (12, tin) — Best permanent, ink-like color (and for fabric)
- Castle Art Supplies Watercolor Pencils (72) — Best for beginners and adults who want lots of colors
- KALOUR Watercolor Pencils (72, with 2 brushes) — Best budget set for coloring books
- Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils (24) — Best watercolor pencils for kids
Best Watercolor Pencils Compared
| Product | Best For | Format/Size | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer | Serious artists | 24 pencils, metal tin | Artist-grade line, open stock available | $$ |
| Derwent WaterColour | Wide palette, illustration | 48 pencils, wooden box, 3.4mm core | Soft core, re-wettable after drying | $$$ |
| Caran d’Ache Supracolor | Professional work | 30 pencils, metal box, 3.7mm lead | Covering power and lightfastness | $$$ |
| Derwent Inktense | Permanent layers, fabric | 12 pencils, tin, 4mm round core | Dries permanent, ink-like vibrancy | $$ |
| Castle Art Supplies | Beginners, adults | 72 pencils, 3-layer tin | Named/numbered, tutorial included | $$ |
| KALOUR | Budget, coloring books | 72 pencils, tin, 2 brushes | Huge palette for the price | $ |
| Crayola | Kids 3+ | 24 pencils, pre-sharpened | Non-toxic, simple, inexpensive | $ |
How We Chose
We have not personally tested these pencils. Our picks are based on manufacturer specifications and product listings, pigment, core and set-size information, the practical needs of each use case (kids, coloring, beginners, professional work, permanent layering), and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers, checked in October 2026.
- Solubility and behavior when wet: does the color dissolve fully, and does it stay re-wettable or dry permanent?
- Core size and durability: stated core diameter, break resistance and barrel shape.
- Palette size versus quality: whether a set offers more colors or better pigment for the money.
- Lightfastness information: whether the maker states or publishes lightfastness for work you plan to frame or sell.
- Safety and audience: non-toxic labeling and age range for kids’ sets.
- Brand track record and buyer feedback volume: established ranges with a long history on Amazon.
Best Watercolor Pencils Reviewed
1. Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils — Best Overall for Artists
Albrecht Dürer is Faber-Castell’s artist-grade watercolor pencil range, and it is one of the names that comes up most often when people search for the best watercolor pencils for artists. This 24-pencil tin is a practical entry point into the line: enough colors to mix almost anything, without paying for shades you will rarely use.
The big advantage of an established artist range is consistency. Colors are sold individually (open stock) at many art retailers, so when you wear down your favorite blue, you can replace that one pencil instead of buying a new set.
Best suited for: intermediate and advanced artists, botanical and nature sketching, and anyone who wants to build a long-term watercolor pencil kit.
Key features:
- 24 artist watercolor pencils
- Durable metal tin for storage and travel
- Part of Faber-Castell’s artist-grade Albrecht Dürer line
Pros
- Artist-grade line from a long-established maker
- Individual colors can usually be replaced
- Compact tin works well for travel sketching
Cons / limitations
- Only 24 colors, so you will mix more than with a 48 or 72 set
- The Amazon listing gives very little technical detail; check Faber-Castell’s own color chart for pigment and lightfastness information
Buying consideration: If you already know you enjoy the medium, this is a smarter buy than a giant budget set. If you are still deciding whether watercolor pencils are for you, start cheaper.
2. Derwent WaterColour Pencils, 48 Count — Best Range From a Heritage Brand
Derwent’s WaterColour range is a classic regular watercolor pencil: the pigment is not permanent, so you can re-wet it and move or soften color even after it has dried. That makes it forgiving, which is why it suits both learners and illustrators who like to adjust as they go.
According to Derwent, the formulation is softer so pigment transfers to paper quickly, which helps with blending and layering. The 3.4mm core in a hexagonal barrel keeps a point for detail work, and 48 colors give you a wide range before you need to mix.
Best suited for: illustrators, urban sketchers, adult hobby artists who want a big palette from a recognized brand, and anyone who likes to rework washes.
Key features:
- 48 colors in a wooden presentation box
- 3.4mm core, hexagonal barrel, described as break-resistant and easy to sharpen
- Softer formulation for fast pigment transfer, blending and layering
- Non-permanent pigment that can be re-wetted and moved after drying
Pros
- Large palette from an established art brand
- Forgiving: mistakes can be softened or lifted with water
- Works both for textured wet-tip lines and soft washes on damp paper
Cons / limitations
- Because color re-activates, glazing new layers over old ones can disturb the layer underneath
- Higher price than budget 72-color sets
Buying consideration: Choose this over Inktense if you want to keep color movable. If you plan to build many crisp glazes, pair it with a few Inktense pencils for the bottom layers.
3. Caran d’Ache Supracolor Soft Aquarelle, 30 Count — Best for Professional Artists
When people search for the best watercolor pencils for professional artists, Swiss maker Caran d’Ache is usually in the conversation. The Supracolor listing highlights exceptional covering power and superb lightfastness, which are the two specs that matter most when you plan to sell, frame or reproduce your work.
The 3.7mm leads are a touch thicker than many standard pencils, and the hexagonal pencils are designed to be used wet or dry. Thirty colors in a metal box is a balanced professional palette rather than a huge novelty range.
Best suited for: professional illustrators, artists selling originals, and experienced hobbyists who want premium pigment.
Key features:
- 30 hexagonal pencils in a metal box
- 3.7mm leads
- Use wet or dry
- Manufacturer highlights covering power and lightfastness
Pros
- Lightfastness is a stated priority, important for finished work
- Strong coverage means fewer layers to reach rich color
- Premium brand with open-stock availability at many art stores
Cons / limitations
- The most expensive set here per pencil
- Overkill for coloring books or casual practice
Buying consideration: Worth it when your work will hang on a wall or go to a client. For practice and sketchbooks, a mid-tier set is the better value.
4. Derwent Inktense, 12 Count — Best Permanent Ink-Like Color (and for Fabric)
Inktense is not a regular watercolor pencil, and that difference is the whole point. These are ink-based, water-soluble pencils: dry, they draw like a soft colored pencil, and once washed out with water and dried, the color is permanent. It will not re-activate when you add the next wet layer.
That permanence makes layering much easier. Derwent notes that once dry, colors can sit side by side or be layered without bleeding, and because the color dries permanently it can be used on fabrics such as silk or cotton, as well as paper. The round 4mm core is soft and highly pigmented for bold, vivid results.
Best suited for: artists who build glazes, mixed-media and ink-and-wash styles, fabric and craft projects, and anyone frustrated by colors lifting when re-wet.
Key features:
- 12 colors in a metal tin
- Round 4mm soft core, highly pigmented
- Washes out to a bright, translucent ink-like effect
- Dries permanently; suitable for silk and cotton as well as paper
Pros
- Permanent once dry, so layers stay crisp
- Very vivid, saturated color
- Opens up fabric and mixed-media projects
Cons / limitations
- Mistakes cannot be lifted once dry, so it is less forgiving for beginners
- Only 12 colors in this set
- The round barrel can roll off a tilted desk
Buying consideration: Think of Inktense as a companion to a regular watercolor pencil set, not a replacement. Many artists lay in permanent Inktense underlayers and finish with re-wettable pencils on top.
5. Castle Art Supplies 72 Watercolor Pencils — Best for Beginners and Adults
For the best watercolor pencils for beginners, a large, well-organized palette helps more than premium pigment. The Castle set gives you 72 colors that are named, numbered and color-coded, arranged in color families across three layers of a presentation tin, so you can find the exact shade quickly.
It also includes a fold-out tutorial that walks you through recreating the knight-on-horseback image on the lid, which is a genuinely useful first project. Castle’s listing recommends heavier watercolor or mixed-media paper for wet effects, and notes the pencils work on standard drawing paper when used dry.
Best suited for: adult beginners, hobby artists, gift buyers, and adults working in coloring books who want lots of colors.
Key features:
- 72 named, numbered, color-coded pencils
- Three-layer flip-up tin arranged by color family
- Break-resistant leads, described as intensely pigmented
- Fold-out tutorial project included
Pros
- Big palette means less mixing for beginners
- Built-in learning project
- Gift-ready presentation
Cons / limitations
- No brush included; you need a paintbrush or water brush pen
- Not an artist-grade range, and open stock replacement is not the norm
Buying consideration: A strong first set for adults. If you later get serious, you can add a few artist-grade pencils in your most-used colors.
6. KALOUR 72 Watercolor Pencils With 2 Brushes — Best Budget Set for Coloring Books
KALOUR packs 72 named and numbered colors into a tin with three plastic trays, and adds two brushes so you can start painting immediately. For adults who mostly want the best watercolor pencils for coloring books, that combination of range and low cost is hard to argue with.
The listing states the pencils are non-toxic and conform to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3, and that both adults and children can use them. The hexagonal barrels and soft cores are aimed at blending, shading and layering.
Best suited for: adult coloring, casual sketching, families sharing one set, and anyone testing the medium on a budget.
Key features:
- 72 named and numbered colors
- Two brushes included
- Tin with three protective plastic trays
- Non-toxic; conforms to ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3
Pros
- Lowest cost per color in this list
- Ready to use with included brushes
- Portable tin for travel
Cons / limitations
- Budget pigment; no lightfastness information is given
- Included brushes are basic; a better brush improves results noticeably
Buying consideration: Ideal for coloring pages and practice. For work you want to keep on display long term, step up to a brand that publishes lightfastness data.
7. Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils, 24 Count — Best Watercolor Pencils for Kids
The Crayola set is the easy answer for the best watercolor pencils for kids. The pencils arrive pre-sharpened, are labeled safe and non-toxic for ages 3 and up, and are made from reforested wood.
Crayola suggests three simple ways to create watercolor effects: wet the pencil tip, sketch on wet paper, or trace over a drawing with a wet paintbrush. Those are the same core techniques adults use, which makes this a good first introduction to the medium. It also works well for greeting cards and scrapbooking.
Best suited for: children, classrooms, family crafts and quick card-making.
Key features:
- 24 pre-sharpened watercolor pencils
- Safe and non-toxic, for ages 3 and up
- Made from reforested wood
- Three suggested techniques printed in the listing
Pros
- Very low cost
- Ready to use out of the box
- Familiar, trusted kids’ brand
Cons / limitations
- Student-grade color; less intense than artist sets
- Limited palette for detailed adult work
Buying consideration: Pair it with thicker paper so kids’ washes don’t tear the page. For more kid-friendly painting options, see our guide to the best watercolor sets for kids.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Watercolor Pencils
Regular watercolor pencils vs ink-based (permanent) pencils
This is the most important decision. Regular watercolor pencils, like Derwent WaterColour, Albrecht Dürer and Supracolor, can be re-wetted after drying, so you can soften edges and lift mistakes. Ink-based pencils like Derwent Inktense dry permanent, which keeps layers crisp but removes the safety net. Many artists own both.
Artist grade vs student grade
Artist-grade ranges generally offer stronger pigment, better solubility and published lightfastness information, plus individual pencils sold separately. Student and budget sets trade some of that for more colors at a lower price. For practice and coloring, budget sets are fine; for finished work, artist grade pays off.
Lightfastness
Lightfastness describes how well color resists fading in light. If you plan to frame, sell or gift your art, choose a brand that states or publishes lightfastness ratings. Caran d’Ache lists lightfastness as a headline feature of Supracolor.
Number of colors
More colors is not always better. A 24-color artist set mixes well because you can layer wet colors on paper. A 72-color budget set saves you mixing time, which beginners and coloring-book users often prefer.
Core size and barrel shape
Thicker cores (3.4mm to 4mm in this list) lay down color quickly and resist breaking. Hexagonal barrels don’t roll off the table; round barrels, like Inktense, can feel more comfortable but roll more easily.
Paper and brushes
Your paper matters as much as your pencils. Thin printer or sketch paper buckles and pills when wet. Use watercolor or heavy mixed-media paper for washes; our guide to the best watercolor paper for artists covers good options. A soft round brush or a refillable water brush pen makes activating pencil color far easier; see our picks for the best water brush pens.
Safety for kids
For children, look for non-toxic labeling and an age range on the listing. Crayola states ages 3 and up; KALOUR states ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 conformance.
Watercolor Pencils Brands: What Sets Them Apart
If you are comparing watercolor pencils brands rather than individual sets, here is the short version. Faber-Castell (Albrecht Dürer) and Caran d’Ache (Supracolor) are the premium, artist-focused names. Derwent offers both a classic re-wettable range (WaterColour) and the permanent Inktense line. Castle Art Supplies and KALOUR are value brands built around big, well-organized palettes. Crayola is the kids’ and classroom choice.
Learn the Basics Before You Buy
If you are new to the medium, our step-by-step guide on how to use watercolor pencils covers dry-then-wet, wet paper, dipping the tip and layering, so you get good results from day one.
Not sure whether you need water-soluble pencils at all? Our breakdown of watercolor pencils vs colored pencils explains how the two behave and when each makes sense.
And if you are torn between pencils and pans or tubes, read watercolor pencils vs watercolor paint for an honest comparison of control, portability and cost. Prefer traditional paint after all? See our list of the best watercolor paints for artists.
Common Mistakes When Buying Watercolor Pencils
- Buying the biggest set by default. Seventy-two colors of weak pigment can disappoint more than 24 strong ones.
- Confusing Inktense with regular watercolor pencils. Inktense dries permanent; you cannot lift it once dry.
- Using thin paper. Water warps and pills copy paper. Use watercolor or mixed-media paper.
- Ignoring lightfastness for finished work. Budget pigments may fade on a sunny wall.
- Forgetting a brush. Many sets don’t include one, and a scrubby craft brush ruins smooth washes.
- Using too much water. Flooding the page dilutes color and creates blooms; start damp, not soaking.
FAQs
What are the best watercolor pencils?
For artist-grade work, Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer and Caran d’Ache Supracolor are top choices. Derwent WaterColour offers a big re-wettable palette, Derwent Inktense gives permanent ink-like color, Castle and KALOUR are strong budget sets, and Crayola is best for kids. The right pick depends on your use case.
What are the best watercolor pencils for beginners?
Castle Art Supplies 72 is a strong beginner set because the colors are named, numbered and organized, and it includes a tutorial project. KALOUR is a cheaper alternative that includes two brushes. Both let you learn without a large investment.
What are the best watercolor pencils for professional artists?
Caran d’Ache Supracolor is a common professional choice because the maker highlights covering power and lightfastness. Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer is the other widely used artist-grade range. Both brands sell individual pencils for replacement.
What are the best watercolor pencils for kids?
Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils are pre-sharpened, inexpensive and labeled safe and non-toxic for ages 3 and up. They make it easy for children to try wet-tip, wet-paper and brush techniques.
Are Derwent Inktense pencils watercolor pencils?
They are water-soluble, but they are ink-based rather than traditional watercolor. Once washed with water and dried, Inktense color is permanent and won’t re-activate, which makes layering easy and also allows use on fabric such as silk or cotton.
What are the best watercolor pencils for coloring books?
KALOUR and Castle 72-color sets suit adult coloring books thanks to their large palettes. Use them dry on regular coloring pages, and only add water if the paper is thick enough to handle it.
Final Recommendation
There is no single best watercolor pencil set for everyone, but there is a clear pick for each need. Artists who want quality they can build on should start with Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer, or step up to Caran d’Ache Supracolor for professional, lightfast work. Choose Derwent WaterColour for a large re-wettable palette, and add Derwent Inktense when you want permanent layers or plan to work on fabric.
Beginners and adult colorists get the most for their money from Castle Art Supplies or KALOUR, and Crayola remains the simplest, safest choice for kids. Whatever you pick, pair it with proper watercolor paper and a soft brush, and you will see what these pencils can really do.
