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Quick answer: The best soft pastels for most serious artists are the Sennelier Extra-Soft half pastels, which lay down rich color with very light pressure, with the firmer Rembrandt half sticks as the best choice for controlled layering and portraits. For beginners on a budget, the MUNGYO 64-color set and the Mont Marte 48-piece tin are inexpensive ways to learn blending before you invest in artist-grade sticks.
Choosing the best soft pastels starts with one question most product listings skip: how soft do you actually need them to be? Pastels sold as “soft” range from buttery, extra-soft artist sticks that crumble at a touch to firm, square student sticks that behave much more like hard pastels. Both are useful, but they suit different jobs and budgets.
This guide compares seven widely available sets on Amazon, from premium French half sticks to budget square sets under the price of a takeout lunch, and explains which one fits beginners, professional artists, portrait painters, and crafters.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Sennelier Extra-Soft Half Pastel 80-Color Set — Best overall and best soft pastels for professional artists
- Rembrandt Soft Pastels Half Stick 60 Deluxe Set — Best for layering, detail and portraits
- Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastels (72) — Best mid-priced set for students
- COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels 80 Colors — Best large palette for hobbyists
- MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set (64) — Best soft pastels for beginners on a budget
- Mont Marte Signature Soft Pastels 48pc Tin — Best budget set for blending practice
- Artecho Soft Pastels 50pcs — Best cheap soft pastels for crafts and kids’ projects under adult supervision
| Product | Best For | Format/Size | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennelier Extra-Soft Half Pastels | Professional artists, final layers | 80 half sticks, round | Air-dried, uncompressed, extra-soft | $$$ |
| Rembrandt Half Stick Deluxe | Layering, portraits, control | 60 half sticks, round | High pigment load, lightfastness, kaolin formula | $$$ |
| Faber-Castell Creative Studio | Students, sketching, detail | 72 sticks | Large range, wipes and blends easily | $$ |
| COLOUR BLOCK 80 Colors | Hobbyists wanting many colors | 80 square sticks, 2.5 in, paper-wrapped | Labeled wrappers, foam-lined box | $$ |
| MUNGYO 64 Colors | Beginners, practice | 64 square sticks | AP-seal non-toxic, low cost per color | $ |
| Mont Marte Signature 48pc | Budget blending, travel | 48 sticks in tin | Powdery texture, storage tin | $ |
| Artecho 50pcs | Crafts, polymer clay, sampling | 50 square sticks, 8 x 8 x 27 mm | Extra black and white, 4 fluorescent colors | $ |
How We Chose
We have not personally tested these sets. Our picks are based on manufacturer specifications and product listings, pigment, format and size information, the practical needs of each use case, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers (checked October 2026). We prioritized sets that are easy to buy in the US and that cover a realistic range of budgets.
- Softness and grade: artist-grade extra-soft, artist-grade medium-soft, or student/studio grade.
- Color range: number of colors and whether the set includes useful darks, lights and neutrals.
- Pigment information: stated pigment quality and lightfastness, where the maker provides it.
- Format: half sticks vs full sticks, round vs square, wrapped vs unwrapped.
- Safety labeling: non-toxic claims or certification seals listed by the manufacturer.
- Storage and portability: box quality, foam inserts or tins.
- Value: what you get for the price tier, not just the lowest cost.
Understanding the Softness Spectrum (Read This First)
All soft pastels are pigment held together with a small amount of binder, but the ratio of pigment to binder and filler changes how a stick feels. The more binder and filler, the firmer the stick. That is why two sets labeled “soft pastels” can feel completely different on paper.
- Extra-soft (e.g., Sennelier): crumbly, very high color payoff, best for final layers and broad, velvety passages. They fill the paper’s tooth quickly.
- Medium-soft artist grade (e.g., Rembrandt): firmer and more controllable, good for early layers, edges and details. Rembrandt lists kaolin in its formula, which contributes to a more consistent stick.
- Square student/studio sticks (e.g., MUNGYO, COLOUR BLOCK, Artecho): often marketed as “chalk pastels.” Square sticks of this kind are typically firmer, closer to hard pastels in feel, and great for sketching, blocking in and edges, but they usually carry less pigment per stroke than extra-soft artist sticks.
Most pastel painters eventually use both: firmer sticks underneath and softer sticks on top. If you want the full breakdown of terminology, see our explainer on soft pastels vs chalk pastels and hard pastels.
Best Soft Pastels Reviewed
1. Sennelier Extra-Soft Half Pastel Set, 80 Colors — Best Overall for Professional Artists
Sennelier’s extra-soft pastels sit at the soft end of the spectrum. According to the listing, the sticks are naturally air dried rather than compressed, so even a gentle stroke deposits a lot of color. That makes them excellent for final layers, rich darks and luminous highlights that sit on top of earlier work.
The half-stick format keeps the price of an 80-color range more manageable than full sticks and makes the set easier to carry for plein air work. The trade-off is that extra-soft sticks wear down quickly, break more easily, and fill the tooth of your paper fast, so they reward a planned, hard-to-soft layering approach.
Best suited for: experienced and professional pastel painters, landscape and still life artists, and anyone who wants the most intense color laydown.
Key features:
- 80 colors in half-stick format
- Naturally air-dried, uncompressed, extra-soft sticks
- Made with high-quality, pure pigment (per manufacturer)
- Acid-free
Pros
- Very high color payoff with light pressure
- Large, varied palette for serious work
- Half sticks are travel-friendly
Cons / limitations
- Premium price tier
- Soft and fragile; produces more dust than firmer sticks
- Too soft for fine detail early in a painting
Buying consideration: If you are brand new to pastels, consider starting with a firmer budget set and adding Sennelier later for top layers. Paired with sanded paper, these sticks are at their best.
2. Rembrandt Soft Pastels Half Stick 60 Deluxe Set — Best for Layering and Portraits
Rembrandt pastels, made by Royal Talens (a company in business since 1899, per the listing), are a long-standing professional choice that is firmer than Sennelier. The manufacturer highlights high pigment concentration, excellent lightfastness, cobalt-free pigments and a formula that includes kaolin for consistent performance and smooth color transfer.
That firmer, consistent feel is why many artists like Rembrandt for underlayers, crisp edges and controlled transitions, and why it is often a strong candidate for the best soft pastels for portraits, where you need to place a value or a soft edge exactly. You can still glaze softer pastels over the top later.
Best suited for: portrait and figure artists, realists, intermediate painters moving up from student sets, and professionals who want a reliable workhorse layer.
Key features:
- 60 half sticks in a deluxe set
- High pigment concentration and excellent lightfastness (per manufacturer)
- Kaolin-based formula for consistent laydown
- Cobalt-free pigments
- Numbered colors, making it easier to restock individual sticks
Pros
- Controllable firmness for detail and early layers
- Professional pigment and lightfastness claims
- Works well alongside softer brands
Cons / limitations
- Premium price, though usually below the Sennelier set
- Less buttery than extra-soft brands for final accents
- Half sticks wear down faster on large-format work
Buying consideration: If you can only afford one professional set, Rembrandt is the more versatile foundation; Sennelier is the more indulgent finishing set. Many artists eventually own both.
3. Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastels, 72 Colors — Best Mid-Priced Set for Students
Faber-Castell’s Creative Studio line sits in the studio tier: a big jump in color count over budget sets without the price of artist-grade half sticks. The listing promises a soft color deposit for intense, vivid colors and notes the sticks work for both fine details and shading larger areas.
The colors can be wiped and blended with a finger, paper wiper (stump) or pastel brush, which makes the set a practical choice for art students, sketchbook work and learning value studies. With 72 colors, you get enough intermediate hues to avoid constant mixing on the paper.
Best suited for: art students, hobbyists who have outgrown a starter set, and sketchers who want a broad range in one box.
Key features:
- 72 colors in a sturdy cardboard box
- Soft color deposit for intense, vivid color
- Suited to fine details and larger shaded areas
- Blends easily with finger, paper wiper or pastel brush
Pros
- Large palette at a mid-range price tier
- Trusted, widely available brand
- Versatile for both line and area work
Cons / limitations
- Studio grade, not marketed with professional lightfastness data
- Cardboard box is less protective than foam or tin cases
Buying consideration: A good bridge set. If you mainly sketch, study or work in a sketchbook, it may be all you need for a long time.
4. COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels, 80 Colors — Best Large Palette for Hobbyists
COLOUR BLOCK packs 80 square sticks into a foam-lined “carbon” box at a mid-range price. Each 2.5-inch stick is paper-wrapped and printed with its color name and number, and the full palette is printed on the sleeve, which makes it easy to find and reorder colors.
Square sticks give you a sharp edge for lines and hatching and a flat side for broad strokes. As square “chalk pastel” style sticks, expect a firmer feel than extra-soft round artist pastels. The brand describes the formula as highly pigmented and formulated to minimize dust.
Best suited for: hobbyists and adult beginners who want a lot of colors, mixed-media artists adding pastel accents to charcoal work, and gift buyers.
Key features:
- 80 colors, square 2.5-inch sticks
- Paper wrappers labeled with color name and number
- Foam-cushioned storage box to reduce breakage
- Non-toxic, dust-minimized formula (per manufacturer)
Pros
- Big color range for the price tier
- Wrappers keep hands cleaner and help identification
- Protective, portable box
Cons / limitations
- Firmer square format will not match extra-soft artist pastels for velvety top layers
- No published lightfastness ratings in the listing
Buying consideration: Choose this over the budget sets if you want more colors and better storage. Pair it with a few artist-grade soft sticks for highlights.
5. MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set, 64 Colors — Best Soft Pastels for Beginners on a Budget
MUNGYO’s 64-color square pastels are one of the most common first sets for people learning pastel. They carry the AP non-toxic seal, according to the listing, and the manufacturer notes that standard pastel techniques such as blending, gradation and dry-wash can be applied easily.
At a budget price tier, 64 colors give beginners room to practice value, color temperature and layering without worrying about wasting expensive sticks. Like other square sets, they feel firmer than artist-grade round pastels, which actually helps beginners keep control.
Best suited for: beginners, students, teachers stocking a classroom, and artists who want inexpensive sticks for underlayers and sketches.
Key features:
- 64 colors in square sticks
- AP seal non-toxic certification (per listing)
- Supports blending, gradation and dry-wash techniques
Pros
- Low cost per color
- Firm enough for control and edges
- Good range for learning
Cons / limitations
- Less pigment intensity than artist-grade sticks
- Listing gives limited detail on pigments or lightfastness
Buying consideration: A smart, low-risk way to learn whether you enjoy pastels. Keep these as your “hard layer” sticks even after you upgrade.
6. Mont Marte Signature Soft Pastels 48pc in Tin — Best Budget Set for Blending
Mont Marte describes these pastels as having a soft, powdery texture for seamless application and blending, which is exactly what you want when practicing gradients and atmospheric backgrounds. The 48 colors come in a tin storage case that protects sticks better than a thin cardboard box.
The listing also notes they pair well with pastel pencils and charcoal and suggests blending with a finger or paper stump and lifting highlights with a kneaded eraser, a practical toolkit for beginners.
Best suited for: beginners who want to focus on blending, mixed-media sketchers, and artists who want a compact travel set.
Key features:
- 48 colors in a tin storage case
- Soft, powdery texture for blending
- Shades large areas and creates fine lines
- Compatible with pastel pencils and charcoal
Pros
- Budget price with a protective tin
- Easy blending for gradients and skies
- Good companion to pencils and charcoal
Cons / limitations
- Smaller palette than 64- to 80-color sets
- No lightfastness data in the listing
Buying consideration: If you value a sturdy case and smooth blending over sheer color count, this is a better pick than larger square sets in cardboard.
7. Artecho Soft Pastels, 50pcs (48 Colors) — Best Cheap Soft Pastels for Crafts
Artecho is the lowest-cost set here and a good answer to “cheap soft pastels” searches. You get 48 colors plus an extra black and an extra white, which are the two sticks most people run out of first. Four of the colors are fluorescent and, per the listing, glow under UV or black light.
The sticks are small squares (8 x 8 x 27 mm), each in its own slot in the box. That compact size suits sketchbook work, card making and craft projects, including brushing pastel dust onto crafts such as polymer clay, where you do not want to sacrifice expensive artist sticks.
Best suited for: crafters, casual sketchers, older kids and teens with adult supervision, and anyone who wants to sample pastels for very little money.
Key features:
- 50 pieces: 48 colors plus extra black and white
- 4 fluorescent colors that react to UV light
- Square sticks, 8 x 8 x 27 mm, in individual slots
- Non-toxic (per manufacturer)
Pros
- Lowest price tier in this guide
- Extra black and white included
- Compact and easy to carry
Cons / limitations
- Small sticks wear out fast on large work
- Not intended for archival or professional fine art
Buying consideration: Buy it for crafts, experiments and sampling. For serious paintings, put the savings toward an artist-grade set later.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Soft Pastels
Artist Grade vs Student Grade
Artist-grade soft pastels, such as Sennelier and Rembrandt, prioritize pigment concentration and lightfastness information. Student and studio grades use more binder or filler to keep prices down, which usually means firmer sticks and less color per stroke. For learning, student grade is fine; for work you plan to sell or display long term, artist grade is the safer choice.
Softness and How You Paint
If you like loose, painterly work with thick final layers, prioritize extra-soft sticks. If you draw realistically, work small or need precise edges, firmer pastels give you more control. The best approach for most people is a combination: firm sticks first, soft sticks last.
Number of Colors
Unlike paint, pastels cannot be premixed on a palette, so you mix optically or by layering on the paper. That makes larger sets more useful than they would be in paint. Still, a 48- to 64-color set covers most beginner needs. Look for a good spread of values, not just bright hues.
Half Sticks vs Full Sticks
Half sticks give you a wider color range for the same money and are easier to carry. Full sticks last longer and are better for large paintings and broad strokes. All three professional-leaning picks here use half sticks or small square sticks.
Round vs Square
Round artist pastels are usually softer and are typically used on their side or tip for broad, painterly marks. Square sticks provide crisp edges for lines and hatching. Square sets marketed as “chalk pastels” tend to sit at the firmer end of the soft pastel range.
Safety and Dust
All dry pastels create some dust, and softer sticks create more. Look for non-toxic labeling such as the AP seal, avoid blowing dust off your work, and wash your hands after painting. If you buy for children, choose sets labeled non-toxic and supervise use.
Paper and Surface
Your surface matters as much as your pastels. Soft pastels need tooth, the texture that grabs pigment. Pastel papers and sanded papers hold many more layers than smooth drawing paper. If you want to work on a rigid support, our guide to the best canvas and boards for pastels covers your options.
Learn the Basics Before You Buy
If you are still deciding which medium to start with, our comparison of soft pastels vs oil pastels explains the differences in binder, blending, dust and framing so you can pick the right one for your style.
Once your set arrives, follow our step-by-step guide on how to use soft pastels, which covers paper choice, layering from hard to soft, fixative and safe dust handling.
Confused by labels like “chalk pastels,” “hard pastels” and “pastel pencils”? The terminology guide linked in the softness section above clears that up. And if you also work with oil-based sticks, see our guide to oil paint pastels.
Common Mistakes When Buying Soft Pastels
- Buying the softest set first. Extra-soft pastels are wonderful but harder to control and fill paper tooth quickly. Many beginners do better starting firmer.
- Using smooth printer or sketch paper. Without tooth, even the best soft pastels slide around and will not layer.
- Judging a set by color count alone. A big set with few darks and lights can be less useful than a smaller set with a balanced value range.
- Ignoring storage. Soft sticks break and contaminate each other. A foam insert, tin or divided tray saves money over time.
- Blowing dust off the paper. Tap the board or let dust fall into a tray instead, to keep pigment out of the air.
- Expecting student sets to be archival. Budget sets often do not publish lightfastness data. Use artist grade for pieces you plan to sell.
FAQs
What are the best soft pastels for beginners?
For most beginners, an inexpensive square set such as MUNGYO 64 or the Mont Marte 48-piece tin is the best start. They are firm enough to control, affordable enough to practice freely, and cover a useful color range. Add a few artist-grade soft sticks once you know you enjoy the medium.
What are the best soft pastels for professional artists?
Professionals commonly choose artist-grade brands with strong pigment and lightfastness information. In this guide, the Sennelier Extra-Soft half pastels and the Rembrandt half stick set are the professional picks, with Sennelier best for soft final layers and Rembrandt best for controlled layering and detail.
Which soft pastels brands are best?
Well-known artist-grade soft pastel brands include Sennelier, Rembrandt, Schmincke, Unison and Great American, while Faber-Castell, Mont Marte and MUNGYO are popular in the student and studio range. The best brand depends on whether you want extra-soft or firmer sticks and how much you plan to spend.
Are cheap soft pastels worth it?
Yes, for learning, sketching, crafts and underlayers. Cheap soft pastels are usually firmer and less pigmented, and they rarely list lightfastness data, so they are not ideal for finished work you want to last. Many artists keep a budget set for early layers even after upgrading.
What are the best soft pastels for blending?
Softer pastels blend more easily. Sennelier Extra-Soft is the most blendable professional option here, and Mont Marte’s powdery formula is a good budget choice for blending practice. Use paper with tooth and blend with fingers, a stump or a pastel brush.
Can you use soft pastels on polymer clay?
Yes. Crafters often scrape or brush soft pastel powder onto unbaked polymer clay to add color or blush effects, then bake according to the clay maker’s directions. A budget set such as Artecho works well for this, so you are not using expensive artist sticks on crafts.
Final Recommendation
There is no single best soft pastel set for everyone, because softness, budget and subject matter change the answer. If you are a professional or serious hobbyist and want the richest color, choose the Sennelier Extra-Soft half pastels. If you need control for portraits, realism and layering, choose the Rembrandt half stick set, and add Sennelier later for highlights.
Students who want a big range without a big price should look at Faber-Castell Creative Studio or COLOUR BLOCK 80. True beginners should start with MUNGYO 64 or the Mont Marte 48 tin, and crafters can save the most with Artecho. Whatever you choose, pair it with toothy pastel paper and work from firm to soft.
