10 Best Charcoal Pencils 2025 in the United States

The Aenir Charcoal Pencil Set offers a versatile and well-rounded collection of 22 pieces that includes a variety of charcoal pencils in different hardness levels (soft, medium, hard), white charcoal pencils, charcoal sticks, blending tools, and erasers. This variety allows users—from beginners to professional artists—to explore different drawing techniques like shading, sketching, and blending with good control and precision. The inclusion of both soft and harder pencils means you can achieve smooth gradients as well as fine details, which is important for realistic and expressive charcoal artwork.

The pencil casing is plastic, which is lightweight but may feel less traditional compared to wooden casings that some artists prefer for grip and durability. The set stands out with two types of erasers—a kneaded eraser and a vinyl eraser—offering flexibility for clean corrections, which is helpful since charcoal can be messy and tricky to erase perfectly. Brand-wise, Aenir has earned positive feedback with a solid rating (4.7 out of 5 from over 500 reviews), reflecting consistent quality and user satisfaction. Some artists might find that the plastic casing and included sharpener don’t match the premium feel or longevity of higher-end charcoal pencils.

While the white charcoal pencils add valuable options for highlights and contrast, beginners may need to practice to fully utilize the range of hardness and tools provided. This set is especially well-suited for teens, hobbyists, and professionals looking for a comprehensive starter or supplement kit that covers various charcoal drawing needs without needing to buy separate items.

The Derwent Tinted Charcoal Pencils offer a neat twist on traditional charcoal drawing by combining charcoal particles with fine clays inside cedar wood barrels. This means you get the classic charcoal look but with more control and less mess, which is great for both beginners and experienced artists who dislike smudging or dust. The 4mm core is fine enough for detailed work but still soft enough to blend and smudge beautifully, adding depth with the included 12 vibrant colors. The hardness level is marked as H, indicating a firmer lead that holds a point well but might require more pressure for darker strokes compared to softer options.

The wood casing is high quality cedar, providing durability and a comfortable grip. Because the charcoal is encased in wood, it’s less crumbly than traditional charcoal sticks, reducing waste and breakage. These pencils are designed to be erasable, which is helpful for refining artwork without leaving harsh marks. Derwent is a respected brand known for consistent quality, and this set ranks well among drawing charcoals with solid customer reviews.

The firmer hardness may limit very rich, dark shading compared to softer charcoal, and the colored aspect might not suit artists looking for pure black charcoal effects. Also, while the pencils reduce mess, some smudging is inevitable with charcoal media. This set is ideal for artists wanting controlled, colorful charcoal drawing with less fuss and a reliable build.

The Arteza Drawing Set offers a well-rounded collection of 33 sketching tools, including 4 charcoal pencils with varying softness levels (soft, medium, hard, and white charcoal). This variety is great for artists wanting to experiment with different shading and textures. The charcoal pencils come in a traditional casing, making them easy to handle and sharpen with the included metal sharpener. The set also includes blenders and erasers, which help with smooth blending and correcting charcoal marks, though charcoal can always be a bit messier to erase compared to graphite.

Arteza is known for good quality art supplies at an affordable price, and this set maintains that reputation with reliable materials suitable for beginners, teens, and even more experienced artists. Since this is a mixed drawing set, dedicated charcoal artists might find the charcoal pencils somewhat basic compared to specialized charcoal-only sets.

If you want a versatile starter kit with both graphite and charcoal options plus extras like a fineliner and hobby knife, this set covers most needs well. However, if charcoal is your main focus, you might want to supplement with higher-end charcoal pencils for deeper blacks and softer blends.