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10 Best Charcoal Pencils 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0 score

Faber-Castel 24 Piece Pitt Charcoal Set

The Faber-Castel 24 Piece Pitt Charcoal Set is a comprehensive collection designed for artists who enjoy working with charcoal. This set offers a variety of natural and compressed charcoal pencils and sticks in different degrees of hardness (soft, medium, and hard), which is excellent for creating a range of textures and shades in your artwork. The inclusion of a kneadable eraser and blending stump adds to the set's versatility, allowing for detailed drawing and smooth blending of charcoal marks.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,279
Pencil Casing

Most important from
436 reviews

Pencil Casing
Very good quality, pencils are easy to shave with a knife.
#2
9.4 score

Faber-Castell Try It Box: Dry Mediums - 17 Piece Sketching Drawing Art Set with featuring Colored Pencils, Graphite Pencils, Charcoal Pencils, Pitt Artist Pen and Art Tools

The Faber-Castell Try It Box is an excellent choice for adults interested in exploring various dry art mediums. This 17-piece set includes a diverse range of drawing tools, featuring colored pencils, graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, and an India ink artist pen. One of the standout strengths of this set is its premium quality, as the brand has a longstanding reputation for producing high-quality art supplies. The pencils are made from wood sourced from sustainable forestry and are coated with environmentally friendly varnish, making them an eco-conscious choice.

Rating
9.4
Brand and Quality

Most important from
36 reviews

Brand and Quality
Faber-Castell is one of the brands you can trust in the art world.
#3
7.9 score

STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Art Set | Drawing Kit with Charcoal and Graphite Drawing Pencils, Blending Stump, Kneadable Eraser and Dual Hole Sharpener 61 100C

The Staedtler Mars Lumograph Art Set is a versatile drawing kit that is well-suited for artists of all levels. It includes six graphite shading pencils and three charcoal pencils, offering a wide range of shades from soft gray to deep black. The variety in hardness, from 8B to HB for graphite and soft to hard for charcoal, allows for detailed and textured artwork.

Top 10 Best Charcoal Pencils 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0  score

Faber-Castel 24 Piece Pitt Charcoal Set

Hardness: soft, medium, hard
Type of Charcoal: natural, compressed
Pencil Casing: metal case
Erasability: kneadable eraser
Brand and Quality: Faber-Castell, high-quality

Chosen by 1279 this week

Winsor & Newton Studio Collection, 6 Count, Charcoal Pencils

Hardness: soft, medium, hard
Type of Charcoal: Charcoal Pencils
Pencil Casing: linden wood
Brand and Quality: Winsor & Newton

General Pencil Gen15 Charcoal Kit, Multicolor (GEN15)

Type of Charcoal: Charcoal pencils, black and white, sticks
Erasability: Includes eraser
Brand and Quality: GENERAL'S

GENERAL'S 557 Series Charcoal Pencils 4B each [Pack of 12] (33611-PK12)

Hardness: 4B
Type of Charcoal: oil-free, high-quality organic materials
Pencil Casing: wooden casing
Erasability: can be lifted or lightened easily
Brand and Quality: GENERAL'S
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Buying Guide for the Best Charcoal Pencils

Choosing the right charcoal pencils can significantly enhance your drawing experience and the quality of your artwork. Charcoal pencils are a versatile tool for artists, offering a range of tones and textures that can bring depth and dimension to your drawings. When selecting charcoal pencils, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure you get the best fit for your artistic needs. Here are the main factors to consider and how to navigate them.
HardnessThe hardness of a charcoal pencil determines how light or dark the marks it makes will be. Harder pencils (often labeled H) produce lighter, finer lines, while softer pencils (labeled B) create darker, bolder strokes. If you are doing detailed work or need fine lines, a harder pencil might be more suitable. For shading and creating rich, dark areas, softer pencils are ideal. Artists often use a range of hardness levels to achieve different effects in their drawings.
Type of CharcoalCharcoal pencils can be made from different types of charcoal, such as compressed charcoal or vine charcoal. Compressed charcoal pencils are denser and produce darker, more consistent lines, making them great for bold, dramatic effects. Vine charcoal is softer and lighter, offering a more delicate touch and easier blending. Depending on your drawing style, you might prefer one type over the other, or use both to achieve a variety of textures.
Pencil CasingThe casing of the charcoal pencil can affect your comfort and control while drawing. Wooden casings are traditional and provide a familiar feel, but they need to be sharpened regularly. Paper-wrapped or peel-and-sharpen casings offer convenience as they can be peeled away to expose more charcoal without the need for a sharpener. Consider how you like to work and whether you prefer the classic feel of wood or the ease of a peel-and-sharpen design.
ErasabilityErasability refers to how easily the charcoal marks can be erased. Some charcoal pencils are designed to be more erasable, which can be useful for making corrections or creating highlights. If you anticipate needing to make adjustments to your work, look for pencils that are labeled as erasable. However, keep in mind that more erasable pencils might not produce as dark or intense marks as less erasable ones.
Brand and QualityThe brand and overall quality of the charcoal pencil can impact your drawing experience. Higher-quality pencils tend to have more consistent charcoal, better casings, and superior performance. While brand preference can be subjective, it's often worth trying a few different brands to see which ones you prefer. Reading reviews and seeking recommendations from other artists can also help you find reliable, high-quality options.

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