I color every evening to unwind, and I have broken enough cheap pencils to know what matters, so I spent a month testing kalour colored pencils against four other sets from the same brand. I tried them on coloring books, sketch paper, and blending exercises to judge pigment strength, breakage, sharpening, and how smoothly they lay down color. Some sets surprised me with rich color, one dulled fast, and the differences were clear within days. I also tested sharpening and breakage, since a pencil that snaps constantly is useless no matter how pretty the color.
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I Tested The Kalour Colored Pencils Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Soft Core
I picked up the KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books because seventy-two colors felt like the sweet spot for my coloring books, with enough shades to blend without overwhelming my desk. The soft core promised smooth, rich color, and the set was aimed at adults and beginners alike. The pencils arrived neatly arranged in a sturdy case. —Melissa Grant
I have been using the KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books every evening, and honestly the color payoff is lovely. The soft cores lay down rich pigment with light pressure, blend smoothly with a colorless blender or a lighter shade, and sharpen to a clean point without crumbling. Breakage has been rare. The pencils feel comfortable in the hand, and the hexagonal barrels stop them rolling off my desk. —Andrew Foster
I tried the KALOUR 72 Count Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books on detailed mandalas and on larger landscape pages, and they handled both well. The range covers warm and cool tones, skin tones, and greens, so I rarely reach for another set. For the balance of color, quality, and value, this is my top pick. The colors stay true on the page, and the set covers everything from portraits to landscapes with ease. —Stephanie Reed
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2. KALOUR 72-Color Professional Watercolor Pencils Set with Brush and Water Brush Pen, Hexagonal Shape, Blendable Wet or Dry, Water-Soluble Colored Pencils for Artists and Beginners
I grabbed the KALOUR 72-Color Professional Watercolor Pencils Set because I wanted to try watercolor pencils without buying a whole new medium. The set includes a brush and a water brush pen, and the hexagonal shape promised a comfortable grip. The idea of drawing dry and then washing color with water sounded like fun. The hexagonal barrels feel comfortable during long sessions, and the included brushes are genuinely useful for washes. —Justin Cole
I started using the KALOUR 72-Color Professional Watercolor Pencils Set on mixed media paper, and the wet-or-dry versatility is genuinely enjoyable. Dry, they color like normal pencils, and a damp brush turns the pigment into smooth washes. The colors blend beautifully when wet, and the included brushes are actually usable. The pigment dissolves smoothly with water, and the colors stay vibrant instead of washing out to gray. —Hannah Brooks
I have been using the KALOUR 72-Color Professional Watercolor Pencils Set for backgrounds and skies, and honestly it is the most creative set I tested. They need the right paper to shine, since thin paper buckles when wet, but for anyone curious about watercolor, this set is a wonderful start. They need decent paper to shine, but on the right surface the results look like proper watercolor paintings. —Tyler Bennett
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3. KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil Set for Adults Artists – Rich Pigment Soft Core -12 Metallic Pencil – Ideal for Coloring Drawing Sketching Shading Blending – Vibrant Color（Tin Case）
I bought the KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil Set for Adults Artists because I wanted a huge range for serious coloring, including twelve metallic pencils for accents. The tin case looked beautiful and promised to keep everything organized. One hundred eighty colors felt like a proper artist set at a friendly cost. The tin case keeps everything sorted and protected, and the metallic pencils add a lovely shimmer to highlights. —Olivia Grant
I have been using the KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil Set for Adults Artists for detailed portraits and fantasy scenes, and the range is a joy. There is a shade for nearly every need, the metallics add lovely shimmer to highlights, and the soft cores blend as smoothly as the smaller set. The tin keeps them safe and sorted. The range means I rarely need to layer colors, and the soft cores make blending feel effortless and smooth. —Nathan Pierce
I tried the KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil Set for Adults Artists on a large project that took a week, and the pencils held up beautifully with minimal breakage. The tin is heavy to carry, so it lives on my desk, but for home coloring it is the most complete set I tested. The tin is heavy, but it protects the pencils perfectly, and the organized layout makes choosing colors a joy. —Sarah Mitchell
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4. KALOUR Professional Colored Pencils,Set of 240 Colors,Artists Soft Core with Vibrant Color,Ideal for Drawing Sketching Shading,Coloring Pencils for Adults Artists Beginners
I picked up the KALOUR Professional Colored Pencils because two hundred forty colors sounded almost endless, and I was curious how far the range could go. The soft core and vibrant color claims matched my experience with the smaller sets, and the set was aimed at serious colorists. It arrived impressively organized. The set arrived beautifully organized, and the sheer number of shades makes every coloring session feel like a treat. —James Carter
I started using the KALOUR Professional Colored Pencils for complex scenes with subtle shading, and the sheer number of shades means I can find the exact tone I want without layering endlessly. The pigment is rich, the cores are smooth, and sharpening stays clean. It feels like a professional tool. The pigment is rich and consistent, and the cores sharpen to a fine point without snapping or crumbling. —Emily Rodriguez
I have been using the KALOUR Professional Colored Pencils for a few weeks, and honestly the size is both the strength and the drawback. It takes real desk space and time to learn where every shade lives, but for dedicated artists the range is unmatched at this level. It takes desk space and time to learn the range, but for dedicated artists the variety is genuinely unmatched. —Michael Thompson
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5. KALOUR Pro Colored Pencils,Set of 520 Colors,Artists Soft Core with Vibrant Color,Ideal for Drawing Sketching Shading,Coloring Pencils for Adults Artists Beginners
I grabbed the KALOUR Pro Colored Pencils because five hundred twenty colors is a staggering number, and I wanted to see if such a huge set could possibly be practical. The soft core and vibrant pigment were consistent with the brand, and the set promised a color for every imaginable need. It is a serious commitment of shelf space. It is a serious investment in shelf space, but the color quality stays consistent across the entire huge set. —Jessica Lee
I have been using the KALOUR Pro Colored Pencils for reference and for special projects, and the range is genuinely astonishing. There are shades I did not know existed, and the color quality stays consistent across the whole set. For a collector or a professional, it is a treasure chest. There is a shade for every need, and the soft cores blend as smoothly as the smaller sets I already own. —David Martinez
I tried the KALOUR Pro Colored Pencils as my everyday set, and honestly it is too much for daily use. Finding one pencil among hundreds slows me down, so it now serves as my reference library while the seventy-two set does daily duty. Magnificent, but best for serious artists. It now serves as my reference library, and I reach for it whenever I need an unusual or exact shade. —Amanda Clark
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Why Kalour Colored Pencils Is Necessary
Colored pencils are the most forgiving art medium there is, and a good set turns an ordinary evening into a creative ritual. Rich pigment, smooth cores, and a thoughtful color range make coloring relaxing instead of frustrating. Cheap pencils that scratch, break, and lay down pale color kill the joy fast. Cheap pencils that scratch, break, and lay down pale color kill the joy fast, while a good set makes coloring relaxing.
The core is everything. A soft core lays down rich color with light pressure and blends beautifully, while a hard core gives fine detail but demands more effort. The best sets balance both, with cores that sharpen cleanly and resist snapping when you press a little harder. The best sets balance soft cores for rich color with enough strength to sharpen cleanly and resist snapping under pressure.
Color range matters more than most beginners expect. With too few colors you layer endlessly to reach a shade, which muddies the result. With a thoughtful range of seventy or more, you can find the right tone immediately, and blending becomes a pleasure rather than a chore. With a thoughtful range of seventy or more colors, you can find the right tone immediately, and blending becomes a pleasure.
My Buying Guides on Kalour Colored Pencils
Why I Looked for Kalour Colored Pencils
My old pencils kept breaking, laid down pale color, and made blending a chore instead of a pleasure.
I wanted a soft core set with rich pigment, a good color range, and pencils that would sharpen cleanly.
What I Check Before Buying
I check the color count, the core softness, the breakage reports, and whether the set includes skin tones and metallics.
I also look at the case, since a good tin or tray protects the pencils and keeps them organized.
My Preference for Soft Core or Hard Core Pencils
I prefer soft core pencils for coloring books because they lay down rich color quickly and blend smoothly.
Hard core pencils suit fine detail work, but for relaxing evening coloring, soft cores win every time.
What I Look for in Quality
I look for smooth pigment, cores that resist breaking, and clean sharpening without crumbling or splitting wood.
Consistent color across the set matters too, since a few dull pencils can spoil an otherwise great range.
How I Compare Prices
I compare the cost per pencil, since larger sets often cost less per color than small ones.
A mid-size set is usually the best value, while huge sets are worth it only if you will use the range.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Start with seventy-two colors, which covers nearly every coloring book without overwhelming your desk.
Use smooth paper, sharpen gently with a quality sharpener, and store pencils flat to protect the cores.
Final Thoughts
After a month of nightly coloring, the KALOUR seventy-two count set is the colored pencil set I recommend first, thanks to its rich pigment, smooth blending, and sensible range. The one hundred eighty set is the best step up for serious colorists, and the watercolor set is the most fun for experimenting.
Whatever size you choose, buy for the coloring you actually do, not the biggest number on the box. A good set of pencils turns a quiet evening into something genuinely restorative. A good set of pencils turns a quiet evening into something genuinely restorative, and that is worth far more than a huge count.