Top Crayon Brands Unveiled: Color Your Creativity

Crayons have long been a beloved art tool for artists of all ages, offering vibrant colors and ease of use. With so many brands available, choosing the right one can make a significant difference in the quality of your artwork. In this article, we explore some of the best crayon brands that stand out for their range of colors, durability, and overall quality, ensuring your creations are as vivid as your imagination. Discover which brands top the list and why they might be perfect for your artistic needs below.

Illustration of crayons

Best brands of crayons in 2025

Crayola

Crayola is a paramount force in the crayon industry, boasting an impressive 83.4% market share of the coloring market as of 2014, with 40% of its sales derived from colored pencils. This dominance is a result of its strong brand recognition and commitment to quality, having held nearly 80% of the market share for over a century. Crayola's products are sold in more than 80 countries and include a diverse range of art supplies such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils. The company's revenue in 2016 was estimated at $620.3 million, solidifying its position as the largest crayon manufacturer worldwide. Crayola's adaptability to market trends, including the rise of adult coloring books, has further cemented its leadership in the art supply industry.

Faber-Castell

Faber-Castell is a renowned brand and one of the best producers of crayons and colored pencils, manufacturing 2.3 billion pencils and colored pencils annually. The company has achieved a strong increase in turnover, with a 24.2% growth in the 2022/23 financial year, reaching sales of 649.2 million euros. Faber-Castell is committed to sustainability, using wood from sustainably-managed forests and planting 300,000 new seedlings every year. Founded in 1761, it is one of the oldest industrial companies in the world, with a global presence in over 120 countries. The company's products are highly regarded for their quality and innovation. For more information, visit their official website.

Prang

Prang, a renowned brand since 1882, is celebrated for its high-quality, non-toxic art supplies, including crayons that feature intense pigments for bright colors and a smooth, blendable formulation. Prang crayons are AP certified non-toxic, ensuring safety for all users. The brand's unique formula provides a smoother, brighter laydown with lower flaking, enhancing creative expression. Prang's products, such as the standard crayons and Payons Watercolor Crayons, cater to various artistic needs. With a commitment to quality and safety, Prang continues to inspire limitless creativity.

Staedtler

Staedtler, a renowned brand in the art and stationery industry, has been a leading producer of high-quality crayons since its inception in 1835. Founded by Johann Sebastian Staedtler, the company is credited with inventing the wood-cased colored pencil and has continued to innovate, offering products like the Staedtler Watercolour Crayons, which are part of their Design Journey Range. These crayons are known for their vibrant colors and water-soluble properties, making them a favorite among artists and students. Staedtler's products are widely recognized for their durability and performance, contributing to the global wax crayons market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2024 to 2031. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has solidified its position as a major player in the market. For a deeper understanding of Staedtler's rich history and innovative journey, visit their company history page.

Caran d'Ache

Caran d'Ache is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality crayons, particularly with their Neocolor II water-soluble pastels, which are highly pigmented and offer smooth, creamy lines, especially when heated. These crayons are favored by artists for their intense colors and natural, raw lines. The company is a key player in the global colored pencils market, which is expected to grow from USD 1955.66 million in 2022 to USD 3105.56 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 6.83%. Caran d'Ache's products are part of a broader market that includes wax crayons, which are also experiencing significant growth, with the global wax crayons market projected to reach USD 4.9 billion by 2031. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a staple in the art supplies industry.

Sargent Art

Sargent Art is a notable producer of crayons, particularly known for its watercolor crayons that cater to both children and adults. The brand offers a 36-color set of watercolor crayons, which, although hard and sometimes difficult to dissolve, provide a unique color selection. Despite some issues with the packaging, Sargent Art's products are appreciated for their fine pigments and raw materials. The company competes in a market where wax crayon demand is growing, driven by educational and creative needs, with the global wax crayons market projected to reach USD 4.9 billion by 2031. Sargent Art's products are part of this expanding market, which is fueled by increasing demand from schools and art enthusiasts.

Melissa & Doug

Melissa & Doug is a prominent brand in the wax crayons market, known for its high-quality and creative art supplies. The brand is part of a market that was valued at USD 3.45 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.9 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2024 to 2031. Melissa & Doug's products, including their wax crayons, are favored for their non-toxic and eco-friendly characteristics, appealing to health-conscious consumers. The brand's emphasis on early childhood education and creative learning has contributed significantly to the market's expansion. With the rise in e-commerce, Melissa & Doug's products are more accessible globally, enhancing their market reach.

Stockmar

Stockmar, a renowned German company, has been a leading producer of high-quality wax crayons for over 50 years, particularly favored in Waldorf schools. Their crayons are made from a blend of 52% paraffin, 30% stearin, 10% beeswax, and 8% or more synthetic organic and inorganic color pigments, ensuring vibrant colors and a pleasant beeswax scent. The beeswax content provides transparency and a preserving effect, eliminating the need for preservatives. Stockmar crayons are known for their rich pigments and excellent drawing properties, making them a preferred choice among educators and artists. Despite containing paraffin, a non-renewable resource, Stockmar's commitment to safety and quality has maintained their popularity.

Dixon Ticonderoga

Dixon Ticonderoga is a leading producer of high-quality crayons and art supplies, particularly notable for its Prang brand, which has been a staple in the arts-and-crafts market for over 125 years. The company holds about a 15% share in the U.S. crayon market, with a strong presence in supplying crayons to schools and retailers like Kmart and Woolworth's. Dixon Ticonderoga's products are distributed globally through its extensive network of subsidiaries in countries including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The company's commitment to innovation and quality has made it a significant player in the education and arts supplies sector. Its acquisition by the F.I.L.A. Group in 2005 further solidified its position as a major producer of creative tools.

Stabilo

The Stabilo brand, part of the Schwan-STABILO Group, has established itself as a leading producer of high-quality writing and drawing instruments, including crayons. In the 2022/23 financial year, the STABILO division maintained its position with a sales increase of 1% to EUR 217.9 million, despite a challenging market environment. The brand's success is particularly notable in Asia, where it achieved significant growth, with China being a key market with sales increases of over 30% in previous years. Stabilo's products, such as highlighters and paint/drawing tools, are well-received by consumers both in stores and online. This consistent performance underscores Stabilo's commitment to quality and innovation.