
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
by Prismacolor
Quill Pier score
- Core9.0
- Feel9.1
- Build9.0
- Value8.8
Prismacolor Premier pencils remain a favorite among hobbyists and professional artists alike thanks to their creamy texture and vibrant blending capabilities.
- Rich vibrant pigments
- Superior blending quality
- Wide color selection
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what you get
Key features
- 01Thick, soft core with high pigment concentration
- 02Blendable, smudge-resistant wax-based formula
- 03Available in sets of 12 to 150 colors
- 04Pre-sharpened, break-resistant 3.3mm cores
- 05Compatible with blending solvents and markers
the honest bit
Pros & cons
What we liked
- Rich, vibrant pigment payoff
- Excellent blending and layering capability
- Smooth laydown with minimal pencil pressure needed
- Wide color range including skin tones and grays
- Great for detailed art journaling and adult coloring books
What could be better
- Softer core wears down quickly, needs frequent sharpening
- Higher price point than student-grade pencils
- Wax bloom can appear on finished artwork over time
- Not ideal for very fine detail due to soft tip
from our desk
Our Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils review
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils have earned their reputation as the gold standard for artists, illustrators, and hobbyists who demand rich, consistent color in every stroke. Each pencil features a soft, thick core made from a proprietary wax-based formula that glides smoothly across paper, allowing for effortless blending, layering, and shading. The pigment-saturated cores deliver vivid, true-to-label colors that remain vibrant whether used for bold statement pieces or delicate gradients, making them a favorite for coloring book enthusiasts, journal decorators, and planner customizers alike who want their pages to pop with personality and professional polish.
Beyond their color payoff, these pencils are built with a thicker barrel and a soft cedar wood casing that resists breakage and sharpens to a fine point with minimal waste, which is especially appreciated by those who spend hours detailing planner spreads, bullet journal art, or hand-lettered quotes. The pencils are also praised for their resistance to cracking, even with repeated sharpening, so creators can rely on a consistent tip for intricate line work or broad fills without constantly replacing pencils. This durability translates into long-term value, as a single set can last through countless projects, from monthly planner themes to seasonal journal makeovers, without sacrificing performance.
Available in sets ranging from a handful of essential shades to collections exceeding 150 colors, Prismacolor Premier pencils give planner enthusiasts and stationery lovers the flexibility to build a personalized palette suited to their creative style. The soft core also makes them ideal for techniques like burnishing and color mixing directly on the page, a feature that elevates everyday planning into an artistic ritual. Whether used to highlight important dates, create mood-based color codes, or simply add a touch of handmade beauty to a weekly spread, these colored pencils transform ordinary stationery tasks into opportunities for mindful, satisfying creativity.
how it stacks up
Compared with top pencils
| Product | Best at | Core | Feel | Build | QP score | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prismacolor Premier Colored PencilsThis review | Rich vibrant pigments | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | |
Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored PencilsFaber-Castell | Lightfast archival pigments | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 9.8 | |
STAEDTLER Noris Colored PencilsStaedtler | Break-resistant lead | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 9.0 | |
Tombow Mono Drawing PencilsTombow | Smooth consistent graphite | 9.2 | 8.4 | 9.4 | 9.0 |
The verdict
Our verdict
Prismacolor Premier pencils remain a favorite among hobbyists and professional artists alike thanks to their creamy texture and vibrant blending capabilities. While the soft core requires more frequent sharpening and the price is steeper than basic sets, the color payoff and layering quality make them well worth it for planner decorating, adult coloring books, and detailed illustration work.


