Top Drawing Pencil Brands for Artists and Illustrators

The world of drawing pencils offers a wide range of brands, each catering to the needs of artists with varying styles and preferences. Whether you're sketching intricate details or shading large areas, finding the perfect pencil can enhance your artistic journey. In this article, we will explore some of the most renowned brands that have consistently received praise for their quality, durability, and versatility. Curious to know which brands made it to the top of our list? Read on to discover more about the best drawing pencils available today.

Illustration of drawing pencils

Best brands of drawing pencils in 2025

Faber-Castell

Faber-Castell, a leading global manufacturer of high-quality drawing pencils, produces over 2.3 billion pencils and colored pencils annually. With a history spanning nine generations since its founding in 1761, the company is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation. Faber-Castell maintains a strong presence in over 120 countries and operates production sites in 10 countries, as well as sales companies in 23 countries. The company's focus on sustainability is evident in its use of wood from sustainably-managed forests and its reforestation efforts, planting 300,000 new seedlings each year. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, Faber-Castell achieved a satisfactory business performance despite challenging market conditions, maintaining a return on sales above pre-Covid levels. For more information, visit their official website.

Derwent

Derwent is renowned as one of the best producers of drawing pencils, particularly known for their high-quality graphite and colored pencils. The Derwent Graphic range, for instance, offers a comprehensive set of 24 pencils from 9H to 9B, known for their chalky texture and high lightfastness, making them a favorite among professional artists. In the global colored pencils market, Derwent is a key player, with the market expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.83% from 2023 to 2030, reaching USD 3105.56 million by 2030. Derwent's products are highly regarded for their durability and performance, with the Graphic range being especially praised for its resistance to fading and its wide range of hardness levels. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has solidified its position in the art supplies market.

Staedtler

Staedtler is a renowned brand in the drawing pencil market, known for its high-quality products that cater to various artistic and educational needs. As one of the leading manufacturers, Staedtler operates in Germany and is a key player in the global drawing pencil market, which was valued at USD 15.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.50% from 2023 to 2030. The brand's products are favored by artists and students alike, contributing to the dominance of the North American market, which accounted for more than 46% of the global revenue in 2023. Staedtler's commitment to innovation and product differentiation has helped maintain its strong market position. The company's presence in both online and offline distribution channels further enhances its market accessibility.

Prismacolor

Prismacolor is a leading brand in the colored pencils market, renowned for its artist-quality pencils that offer excellent blending and layering capabilities, making them a favorite among illustrators and designers. These pencils contain more pigment and fewer fillers, allowing for smoother and more vibrant color application. Despite some quality control issues, Prismacolor pencils are highly regarded for their performance, especially in fine art and portrait drawing. The global colored pencils market, which includes brands like Prismacolor, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.83% from 2023 to 2030, with North America leading the market share.

Caran d'Ache

Caran d'Ache is renowned as one of the top producers of drawing pencils, offering exceptional quality and consistency, particularly with their Grafwood pencils, which are praised for their excellent line and shading quality, smooth glide, and consistent graphite performance. The brand's pastel pencils also stand out for their high pigment levels and lightfastness, with 37 out of 84 pigments rated 5-star for lightfastness. Caran d'Ache's products are favored by professional artists and are part of a larger market that saw the global drawing pencil market size reach USD 15.5 billion in 2023, with a projected CAGR of 3.50% from 2023 to 2030. Despite being more expensive, the brand's commitment to quality and craftsmanship justifies the cost. Caran d'Ache's products are highly regarded in the art supply industry, making them a top choice for artists worldwide.

Tombow

Tombow is renowned as one of the best producers of drawing pencils, particularly with its Mono 100 and Mono Professional lines, which have been staples among artists and animators. The Mono 100, often referred to as the "best pencil ever made," has garnered significant loyalty despite temporary distribution disruptions in the US. Tombow's pencils are known for their high-quality graphite leads, with the Mono Professional featuring the same lead as the Mono 100 but differing in wood and paint thickness. These pencils are highly preferred in regions like North America, where the demand for premium and specialized drawing tools is high. Tombow's commitment to quality and innovation has solidified its position in the global drawing pencil market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.50% from 2023 to 2030.

Koh-I-Noor

Koh-I-Noor is a renowned brand in the drawing pencils market, known for its high-quality Polycolor pencils that use a proprietary blend of oils and premium pigments, ensuring dense, even strokes and excellent layering capabilities. These pencils, with a 3.8 mm lead diameter, are encased in California cedar, a renewable resource, and are available in 72 different shades. Koh-I-Noor Polycolor pencils are highly pigmented, light-resistant, and soft, making them ideal for artists. The global colored pencils market, which includes Koh-I-Noor, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.83% from 2023 to 2030, reaching a market size of USD 3105.56 million by 2030. Koh-I-Noor's products are popular among beginners and professionals alike due to their vivid colors and affordability.

Lyra

Lyra is a renowned brand in the drawing pencils market, known for its high-quality products that cater to both professional artists and students. As part of the global pencils market, which was valued at USD 14.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2024 to 2031, Lyra pencils are appreciated for their durability and vibrant color range, making them a favorite among art enthusiasts. The brand is included in market reports alongside other major players like Faber-Castell, Staedtler, and Caran d'Ache, highlighting its significant presence in the industry. Lyra's commitment to quality and innovation has contributed to the overall growth of the colored pencils market, projected to reach USD 3105.56 million by 2030. For more detailed insights on the pencils market, you can access the market research report.

Bruynzeel

Bruynzeel, a brand with a rich history dating back to 1897, has established itself as a reputable producer of high-quality drawing pencils. Since joining the Royal Talens family in 2016, Bruynzeel has experienced a resurgence in popularity worldwide. The Bruynzeel Design range offers a diverse selection of pencils, including graphite, color, watercolor, and pastel formats, with a total of 50 colors available and plans to expand to 96 colors. These pencils are known for their 3.7 mm wide-gauge, perfectly centered, and double-glued colored cores, making them resistant to breakage and ideal for fine detail work. Despite being manufactured in China under Bruynzeel's guidance, they remain a popular choice for artists due to their balanced color range and lightfastness. Learn more about their features here.

Cretacolor

Cretacolor, an Austrian brand, is renowned for producing high-quality drawing pencils, particularly known for their intense colors and excellent lightfastness. Founded by Carl Brevillier in 1863, the company has a rich history of making writing and drawing tools accessible to the public. Under the leadership of Hans Wolfgang Hromatka since the late 1990s, Cretacolor has developed into a premium brand for artists worldwide. The brand's Mega Color Colored Pencils feature a 6.4mm diameter lead, ideal for coloring large surfaces. Cretacolor is part of a global colored pencils market expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.83% from 2023 to 2030.