Top Charcoal Pencil Brands for Artistic Excellence

Charcoal pencils are essential tools for artists and art enthusiasts who wish to explore the rich, textured depths of drawing. Choosing the right brand ensures quality marks, smooth application, and precise erasure, elevating your creative expression. In 2023, several brands stand out for their exceptional charcoal pencils that offer both beginners and professionals a rewarding experience. Curious to see which brands made the cut and why they are highly recommended? See below for the complete list.

Illustration of charcoal pencils

Best brands of charcoal pencils in 2025

Faber-Castell

Faber-Castell is a renowned leader in the production of high-quality charcoal pencils, boasting a rich history that dates back to 1761 when Kaspar Faber first manufactured pencils with graphite leads and wooden casing. The company produces 2.3 billion writing utensils annually, including a significant portion of charcoal pencils, and is known for its commitment to sustainability, using wood from sustainably-managed forests and planting 300,000 new seedlings every year. Faber-Castell's products are synonymous with quality and style, particularly in the high-end market segment, and the brand has achieved a unique cult status among artists and creatives. In 2016, Faber-Castell had its most successful year, highlighting its strong market position. The company's global presence includes manufacturing in nine countries and sales in over 120 countries.

General's

General's is highly regarded as one of the best producers of charcoal pencils, offering artist-grade quality at reasonable prices. Their charcoal pencils are known for their smooth application and consistent performance, with a range of hardness levels from HB to 6B, allowing for a wide spectrum of tonal values.

Derwent

Derwent is a renowned brand in the art supplies industry, particularly celebrated for its high-quality charcoal pencils. With a heritage dating back to 1832 and pencil production in the Lake District, UK, since 1916, Derwent introduced its first color pencil in 1938. The company's innovative products, such as the Tinted Charcoal Pencils, feature a luxurious 4.3mm core encased in an 8.5mm cedar wood barrel, ensuring durability and artistic precision. Derwent's commitment to quality is reflected in its use of the Blue Wool Lightfast scale, ensuring lightfastness and longevity of the colors. The brand's products are trusted by professional artists worldwide, contributing significantly to the global color pencil market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 6.83% from 2023 to 2030.

Conte à Paris

Conte a Paris is renowned as one of the best producers of charcoal pencils, with a history dating back to 1795 when founder Nicolas Jacques Conte developed the modern graphite lead. This French company has established itself as a reference for artists worldwide, offering a wide variety of techniques and effects for drawing, sketching, and pastel work. Their Conte Pierre Noire pencils are particularly praised for being less powdery and less messy than pure compressed charcoal, making them ideal for beginners. These pencils have a slightly waxier composition, which enhances control and ease of use. With their high-quality materials and long-standing reputation, Conte a Paris continues to be a favorite among artists. Explore the Conte a Paris compressed charcoal set for an unparalleled artistic experience.

Caran d'Ache

Caran d'Ache is renowned as one of the premier producers of high-quality art supplies, including charcoal pencils, known for their exceptional smoothness and durability. Their graphite products are made from 99% pure graphite, mined from Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Germany, ensuring a strong core that resists breaking. The company, founded in 1915, has a long history of innovation, such as inventing the mechanical clutch pencil and developing products like the NEOCOLOR® wax pastels, launched in 1952. Caran d'Ache's commitment to using pure pigments and rigorous quality controls results in products with excellent lightfastness and color consistency, as seen in their Luminance 6901 pencils, which conform to ASTM D-6901 standards. Their products are highly regarded by artists, architects, and designers worldwide.

Koh-I-Noor

Koh-I-Noor is a renowned brand in the art supplies industry, particularly noted for its high-quality charcoal pencils. The company's Gioconda charcoal pencils, for example, are highly regarded for their durability and expressive qualities. Koh-I-Noor's products are part of a larger market that saw the global drawing pencil market size reach USD 15.5 billion in 2023, with North America dominating over 46% of the global revenue. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation aligns with the growing demand for art supplies, expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.50% from 2023 to 2030. Koh-I-Noor's charcoal pencils are favored by artists for their performance and affordability.

Prismacolor

Prismacolor, though widely recognized for its colored pencils, is often misunderstood when it comes to charcoal pencils, as it primarily excels in wax-based colored pencils. Prismacolor Premier pencils, manufactured in Mexico, are celebrated for their soft, vibrant pigments and enjoy popularity among artists and hobbyists, despite some recent quality concerns. They are especially lauded for their buttery smooth texture and intense color output, making them ideal for both beginners and seasoned artists. However, when it comes to charcoal pencils, other brands might be more pertinent. Prismacolor's market influence is noteworthy, with the global colored pencils market, inclusive of such offerings, projected to grow at a CAGR of around 6.83% from 2023 to 2030.

Winsor & Newton

Winsor & Newton, founded in 1832, is a renowned brand in the art supplies industry, particularly celebrated for its high-quality charcoal pencils. Their Studio Collection Charcoal Pencil set, featuring soft, medium, and hard charcoals, is ideal for creating a range of traditional effects and is made with sustainably grown cedar wood. These pencils are known for their break-resistant cores and ease of blending and shading, making them perfect for both fine details and expressive sketches. Winsor & Newton has been granted a Royal Warrant since 1841, a testament to their consistent excellence. As a B Corporation since 2023, the brand is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Cretacolor

Cretacolor is renowned as one of the best producers of charcoal pencils, offering products like the Nero oil-based charcoal pencils, which combine the advantages of charcoal and graphite. These pencils are available in four grades (Extra Soft, Soft, Medium, and Hard) and are praised for their minimal dust and smudge-proof characteristics. Cretacolor's products are highly regarded in the art industry, particularly in regions like North America, where the demand for premium art supplies is high. The global drawing pencil market, which includes Cretacolor's offerings, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.50% from 2023 to 2030, with North America dominating the market with over 46% of the global revenue. Cretacolor's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a favorite among professional artists and hobbyists alike.

Staedtler

Staedtler is renowned as one of the best producers of charcoal pencils, known for their high-quality and versatile products. The Staedtler Mars Lumograph black pencils, for instance, are highly regarded by artists for their deep, rich blacks and expressive qualities. These pencils have undergone recent changes, such as the integration of the Lumograph 100-7B and 100-8B into the Lumograph black series in 2016, enhancing their appeal to professional artists. Staedtler's products are popular globally, particularly in regions like North America and Europe, where there is a strong demand for premium and eco-friendly writing instruments. The brand's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has solidified its position in the market.