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Quick answer: Soft pastels are dry, powdery sticks of pigment held with a small amount of gum or cellulose binder; oil pastels are creamy sticks of pigment bound in oil and wax. Soft pastels blend and layer into a velvety, matte finish but are dusty and must be framed under glass, while oil pastels are dust-free, bold and waxy but never fully dry and are harder to layer finely. Neither is better overall: choose soft pastels for subtle, painterly blending and oil pastels for vivid, low-mess work.
The soft pastels vs oil pastels question comes up for almost every beginner, because both are sold as “pastels,” both come in sticks, and both sit next to each other in the art aisle. In practice they are very different media. The binder changes everything: how they feel, how they blend, what surfaces they need, how messy they are, and how you protect the finished work.
Below is a side-by-side comparison, followed by guidance on which one to choose for your goals. If you already know you want dry pastels, jump to our picks for the best soft pastels.
Soft Pastels vs Oil Pastels: Comparison Table
| Feature | Soft Pastels | Oil Pastels |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Small amount of gum (such as gum arabic or tragacanth) or methylcellulose | Non-drying oil and wax |
| Texture | Dry, powdery, chalky | Creamy, waxy, buttery |
| Finish | Matte, velvety | Semi-gloss to satin, slightly waxy |
| Dust | Yes, especially extra-soft brands | Virtually none |
| Drying | Nothing to dry; pigment sits on the paper’s tooth | Never fully dries; stays soft and can smudge |
| Blending | Fingers, stumps, pastel brushes; soft gradients | Fingers, color shapers, or solvent such as odorless mineral spirits |
| Layering | Many layers on toothy or sanded paper | Limited; wax builds up and colors start to slide |
| Best surfaces | Pastel paper, sanded paper, pastel boards | Heavy paper, oil pastel paper, primed board, canvas, wood |
| Fixative | Optional workable fixative, used sparingly | Special oil pastel fixative or varnish recommended |
| Framing | Under glass with a mat or spacer | Under glass is safest; varnished pieces have more options |
| Mess | Dusty hands and workspace | Greasy hands, but no airborne dust |
| Typical style | Atmospheric landscapes, portraits, soft light | Bold, graphic, expressive, sgraffito |
What Are Soft Pastels?
Soft pastels are sticks made mostly of pure pigment with just enough binder to hold them together. Traditional binders include gum arabic, gum tragacanth and methylcellulose, and some brands add a filler such as kaolin or chalk to adjust firmness. Because there is so little binder, the color sits on the surface of the paper as fine particles, which gives soft pastel its characteristic matte, glowing look.
Within the category, softness varies a lot. Extra-soft artist sticks feel almost like compressed powder, while square student sticks (often sold as “chalk pastels”) are firmer. If that terminology confuses you, our guide to soft pastels vs chalk pastels explains the labels.
What Are Oil Pastels?
Oil pastels combine pigment with a non-drying oil and wax binder. The result is a creamy stick that glides onto paper like a rich crayon. They do not create dust, and the colors look bold and saturated straight from the stick.
Because the oil never cures, oil pastel artwork stays slightly soft and can smudge years later. You can thin and blend oil pastels with a solvent such as odorless mineral spirits, which turns strokes into paint-like washes. For more on oil-based sticks and how they relate to painting, see our guide to oil paint and pastels.
Key Differences Explained
Binder and Texture
The binder is the root of every other difference. Soft pastel’s light gum or cellulose binder leaves the pigment loose and powdery, so colors can be pushed, smudged and layered like dry paint. Oil and wax make oil pastels sticky and cohesive, so strokes stay put and feel more like drawing with crayon or lipstick.
Blending
Soft pastels blend easily with a fingertip, a paper stump or a soft brush, and they excel at smooth gradients like skies, water and skin. Oil pastels blend by pushing colors together with pressure, using a rubber-tipped color shaper, or dissolving them with solvent. They can produce beautiful blends, but fine, subtle transitions take more effort.
Layering
On a toothy or sanded surface, soft pastels allow many layers, especially if you work from firmer sticks to softer ones. Oil pastels can be layered a few times, but the wax builds up and eventually new colors slide around instead of covering. Many oil pastel artists scratch through layers (sgraffito) instead of piling them up.
Dust and Mess
Soft pastels create pigment dust, and some pigments are not something you want to breathe. Work with your board upright or tilted so dust falls into a tray, never blow dust off, and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth instead of sweeping. Oil pastels produce no dust, which makes them easier for small spaces and classrooms, though they leave greasy residue on hands and tables.
Surfaces
Soft pastels need tooth. Pastel papers, sanded papers and pastel boards hold the most pigment, and some primed canvases and boards also work; our guide to the best canvas for pastels covers rigid options. Oil pastels are less fussy and work on heavy paper, primed board, canvas and wood, but the oil can stain unprimed paper over time, so a heavier or primed surface is better.
Fixative and Protection
Soft pastel artists often use a workable fixative between layers to restore tooth and lightly secure pigment. Fixative tends to darken or dull colors slightly, so many artists use it sparingly or skip it on the final layer. Oil pastels do not need fixing in the same way, but because they stay soft, a fixative or varnish formulated for oil pastels helps protect the surface.
Framing Under Glass
Finished soft pastel paintings are almost always framed under glass or acrylic glazing, with a mat or spacer to keep the pastel from touching the glass. Oil pastel pieces also benefit from glass because the surface never fully hardens, although some artists varnish and frame them without glazing.
Soft Pastels vs Oil Pastels for Beginners
For beginners, oil pastels are usually the easier start if your priority is low mess, low cost and bold results. They are common in schools for this reason. You can start with any inexpensive set and plain heavy paper.
Soft pastels have a steeper start because you need suitable paper and some dust awareness, but they teach blending, value and color layering in a way that transfers directly to painting. A budget set such as the MUNGYO 64-color soft pastel set is an affordable way to try them, and the firmer square sticks are easier to control than extra-soft artist pastels. Once you have a set, our step-by-step guide on how to use soft pastels walks you through your first painting.
Are Soft Pastels Better Than Oil Pastels?
Not universally. Soft pastels are better if you want delicate gradients, glowing light, realistic portraits and a matte, painterly surface. Oil pastels are better if you want vivid color, dust-free work, mixed media on many surfaces, and expressive texture.
Think about where you will work and how you will display art. If you have a small shared space or sensitivity to dust, oil pastels are more practical. If you plan to frame finished pieces and love soft atmospheric effects, soft pastels are worth the extra setup.
Can You Use Soft and Oil Pastels Together?
You can, with one rule: apply soft pastel first and oil pastel on top, not the other way around. Dry pastel will not grip a waxy oil pastel layer, but oil pastel can be drawn over dry pastel for accents. Mixed pieces still need glass framing because of the dry pastel layer.
Which Should You Buy?
- Choose soft pastels if you love blending, landscapes, portraits and atmospheric light, and you are ready to use toothy paper and frame under glass.
- Choose oil pastels if you want bold color, minimal mess, flexible surfaces and an inexpensive, kid-friendly start.
- Try both if you are unsure; budget sets of each cost far less than one professional set.
If you want an artist-grade soft pastel experience without a huge investment, the Rembrandt half stick set is a widely used professional option with firmer, controllable sticks.
FAQs
Are soft pastels oil pastels?
No. Soft pastels are dry pigment sticks with a small amount of gum or cellulose binder. Oil pastels use oil and wax as a binder, which makes them creamy and dust-free. They look similar in the box but behave very differently.
Are oil pastels or soft pastels better for kids?
Oil pastels are usually the better choice for young children because they create no dust and are less messy in the air. Soft pastels can be used by older kids with adult supervision, a non-toxic labeled set and good habits like not blowing dust.
Do soft pastels need fixative?
Not always. Many artists use a light coat of workable fixative between layers to restore tooth, but fixative can darken colors, so they skip it or use very little on the final layer. Framing under glass is the main protection.
Can you use oil pastels on top of soft pastels?
Yes. Oil pastel can be applied over dry soft pastel for bold accents. The reverse does not work well, because dry soft pastel will not stick to the waxy surface left by oil pastels.
Which is easier to blend, soft or oil pastels?
Soft pastels are generally easier to blend into smooth, subtle gradients using fingers or a stump. Oil pastels blend well with pressure, color shapers or solvent, but very fine transitions take more practice.
Final Recommendation
If you are drawn to soft light, smooth blending and a velvety, painterly finish, start with soft pastels on toothy paper, and browse the soft pastel sets we recommend for every budget, from beginner square sets to professional half sticks. If you want bold color with no dust and minimal setup, oil pastels are the faster start. Either way, buy a budget set first, learn the medium, and upgrade the colors you use most.
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