Collection: Color Pencils

How to choose colour pencils

Start with the child or the job. For nursery and early classes, chunky triangular pencils are easier to hold and break less: Pelikan Silverino Thick and the Pelikan thick natural-wood pencils are made for small hands, and the regular Silverino 12 adds a name field for school. Half-size pencils such as Brito 12 half or Pelikan short pencils fit compact pencil boxes and are good value for bulk school orders.

For older students and hobby drawing, more shades help with blending: the Brito 24, Pelikan 24 in a cylinder and the Pelikan 36-colour set are the larger sets. Pelikan water-soluble pencils turn into watercolour with a wet brush.

Budget and value picks

Dollar's dual-ended pencils put two colours on each pencil, so the Dual Color 12 gives 12 shades from 6 pencils. Brito's 15-colour bonus pack adds 3 extra colours, and the Brito pencil bus makes a fun gift. Schools and shops can buy Brito sets by the packet.

Need more for art class? See crayons and oil pastels, sketching pencils, graphite pencils and sharpeners and scales.