Review: The Best Wooden Colored Pencils

Mr. Pen 36 Pack is the budget-minded option that surprised us with consistent performance. The pre-sharpened wood-cased pencils use a relatively thick 3.3 mm core that lays down vibrant color and blends reasonably well for the price. In testing they held up to repeated sharpening and light layering without excessive breakage. They’re not as buttery as premium oil-based pencils, but for schoolwork, gift packs, or beginners they offer the best cost-to-performance ratio. Pros: very affordable, good range of hues, sturdy cores. Cons: pigment saturation and blending are limited compared with artist-grade sets; barrels are uncoated and can be rougher to hold.

Ohuhu Halawa Series 72-Pack is the premium pick for serious hobbyists and pros. The 4 mm oil-based core combines durability with a creamy, high-pigment laydown that blends and layers smoothly across mixed-media and watercolor papers. We found shading and subtle gradations straightforward; two metallics add versatile highlights. The color-coded basswood barrels and metal storage tin make organization easy. Technical notes: 4 mm core for strength and smooth coverage; oil-based formulation reduces wax bloom and improves burnishing performance. Pros: outstanding pigment, blending, robust core; organized presentation. Cons: pricier, and tips will break if sharpened too thin — sharpen conservatively.

ZBHANSHUIS mini colored pencils are designed for volume rather than studio finesse. The package includes 32 tubes (6 pencils each) — a total of 192 pencils — making this an outstanding value for classrooms, camps, and party packs. Each short pencil (about 3.3") has softer leads that are easy for children to press down and layer; the tube cap doubles as a sharpener in our experience, which is handy in group settings. Technical details: small barrels for little hands, standard wood casing and refill-style leads. Pros: unbeatable cost-per-pencil, kid-focused size, built-in sharpener convenience. Cons: short length limits adult use; cores are thinner and less blendable than artist-grade pencils.

Amazon Basics Colored Pencils (24 count) combine ease-of-use with reliably pleasant performance, earning Editor's Choice for everyday versatility. The cores are described as artist-quality and feel softer than entry-level school pencils, producing richer pigments and smoother shading. Thick cores reduce breakage and the included tin with tray keeps pencils organized. In tests they handled layering and light blending on sketchbook paper better than most budget sets, though they won’t match oil-based professional pencils for deep burnishing. Pros: consistent quality, pre-sharpened and ready-to-use, robust cores. Cons: limited color selection vs large artist sets; not oil-based so blending ceiling is moderate.