Best Art Supplies for Kids (2026)
The Faber-Castell 24-piece colored pencils set is the best starter for kids 6-12 — soft thick cores for easy color laydown, break-resistant, and consistent pigment that shows up with light pressure.
See Today’s Price →What You Need to Know
Photo by Vlada Karpovich / PexelsArt supplies for kids fail in one of two ways: too fragile (breaks immediately, discourages use) or too low quality (colors don't show up, bleed through paper, or differ significantly from what's shown on packaging). Good art supplies for kids meet a simple bar — the materials work predictably, survive normal rough handling, and produce results that match the kid's intent closely enough to feel satisfying. The brand difference in colored pencils specifically is more pronounced than in almost any other category: student-grade pigment load is measurably higher in Prismacolor and Faber-Castell versus no-name sets at the same price.
Colored Pencils: Student vs. Artist Grade
Student-grade colored pencils (Crayola, Rose Art) have lower pigment concentration — colors lay down lighter, require more pressure, and don't blend cleanly. Artist-grade student sets (Faber-Castell Polychromos, Prismacolor Premier) have higher pigment load and a wax binder that blends smoothly. For kids 8+ who use colored pencils with any regularity, the step up to Prismacolor 24 or 48 count is significant — the colors actually show up with light pressure, which makes the work more satisfying and encourages more practice. For younger children who will break them or lose them frequently, student-grade is the practical choice.
Markers vs. Colored Pencils vs. Watercolors
Markers are the highest engagement medium for younger children (under 8) — the color saturation is immediate and does not require pressure control. Colored pencils build fine motor skill and allow shading and blending — more suitable for older children (8+) who have the patience for controlled work. Watercolors are the most forgiving medium for happy accidents (colors blending unexpectedly works as a technique) but require paper thick enough to handle moisture without buckling. For a first kit, washable markers plus a 24-color pencil set covers both immediate gratification and skill development.
How we picked these.
We compared 7 art supply sets across pigment load and color accuracy, durability of pencil leads under normal kid pressure, range of included colors, and washability (where relevant). The Faber-Castell 24-piece EcoPencils set leads as the best starter for kids 6-12 — soft cores for easy color laydown, durable construction, and accurate colors from a brand with consistent quality control.
Our Picks
Faber-Castell Young Artist Essentials 64-Piece Premium Art Set (Best Starter Set) — $52 See Price →
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils 24 Count (Best Value Upgrade) — $24 See Price →
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils 48 Count (Best 48-Count) — $47 See Price →
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Soft Core 72 Count (Best 72-Count) — $74 See Price →
ARTEZA Colored Pencils 72 Soft Wax-Based Color Pencils for Adults (Best Budget Set) — $74 See Price →
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color Paint Set 20 x 12ml Tubes (Best Watercolor) — $40 See Price →
Norberg & Linden XL Drawing Set Drawing Fundamentals From a reliable company, (Best Multi-Medium) — $36 See Price →
Showing 7 of 7 products
“Faber-Castell gives young artists the tools professionals use — the quality difference is immediately noticeable versus mass-market supplies.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Faber-Castell professional quality even for young artists
- 64-piece essentials set
- Develops real artistic skills with proper tools
Watch out for
- Premium price for children's art supplies
- Quality is overkill for casual doodlers
- Some supplies need adult guidance
“The best colored pencil set for serious illustrators and adult colorists who want a full professional palette. Best for those who color regularly and want buttery blending without switching brands.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 72 colors
- Soft core
- Burnishable
- Prismacolor quality
Watch out for
- High price point for a colored pencil set
- Soft core can break during heavy sharpening if not done carefully
- 72-color set is overwhelming for absolute beginners
“An affordable 72-color set for adult colorists and hobbyists who want a broad palette without the professional price tag. Best for those who color regularly and want variety without committing to prem”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 72 colors
- Soft wax core
- Pre-sharpened
- Budget professional
Watch out for
- Soft wax core can break more easily during sharpening than harder alternatives
- Pigment quality is not lightfast enough for archival work
- Large 72-color set produces significant waste for beginners who use few colors
“A 20-color student oil paint set for beginners exploring oil painting for the first time. Best for those who want a broad palette to experiment with color mixing and technique.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 20 tubes 12ml each
- Winsor and Newton quality
- Lightfast pigments
- Starter-friendly
Watch out for
- Small 12ml tubes run out quickly for heavy painters
- Oil paints require solvents for cleanup which are not included
- Pigment quality is student-grade not professional
How We Analyze Products
We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available. The 38,914+ reviews analyzed on this page represent real verified-purchase feedback from Amazon buyers.
Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.
We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.
Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →