Amazon Basics 72-Count Colored Pencils Set with Tin Case

4.6
31,173
100+ Bought last month
Current Price $32.36
Amazon Basics 72-Count Colored Pencils Set with Tin Case
7.5
Expert Score

Quick Analysis Verdict

"Great value for beginners and hobbyists who want a wide color range; not ideal for professionals seeking archival-grade pigments or ultra-premium performance."

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Best Application

Beginner or hobby artist needing a wide color palette at an affordable price.

Investment Value

Great Value

Durability Index

Durable wood casing with a sturdy metal tin; cores are adequate for casual use but not designed for heavy professional workloads.

Key Buying Points

72-color spectrum provides broad shade options for shading, detailing, and layering.

Artist-quality soft lead delivers rich pigment with smooth application for everyday art projects.

Sturdy wooden case with built-in tray keeps pencils organized, protected, and portable.

Excellent value for a large color set, making it ideal for students, hobbyists, and beginners.

Versatile for fine detail work as well as broad color washes and color blending.

Conforms to common safety standards and is non-toxic for peace of mind during use.

Works well on a variety of paper types, from sketch to mixed-media surfaces.

The Catch

Not archival-grade: colorfastness and long-term lightfast performance are not guaranteed for professional archival use.

Some colors may appear similar or duplicate across the set, reducing distinct shade options for advanced work.

Core can feel waxy; performance is solid for beginners but not as creamy as premium brands.

Occasional manufacturing inconsistencies can result in missing or miscounted shades in some batches.

Lead breakage can occur if sharpened aggressively or with inexpensive sharpeners.

Performance Scorecard

Performance 7.0
Quality 7.0
Value 8.0
Ease of use 8.0

Common Questions & Expert Insights

Q: Deal-breaker: Is this set suitable for archival, long-term artworks requiring high colorfastness?
No, not archival-grade. The pigments are designed for everyday use and hobby work, not guaranteed for long-term lightfastness or archival applications.)
Q: Deal-breaker: Does the color range include enough distinct shades for professional illustration?
Not ideal for professionals. While 72 colors cover many needs, some hues overlap and there are fewer highly specialized tones.)
Q: Deal-breaker: Are the pencils prone to breakage with aggressive sharpening?
Yes, there is a risk of breakage. Sharpening with high pressure or cheap sharpeners can cause cores to crack or break.)
Q: Tech/Compatibility: Are these wax-based pencils water-soluble or compatible with water blending?
No, they are not water-soluble. These are wax-based pencils and do not dissolve with water like watercolor pencils.)
Q: Tech/Compatibility: Will they work on standard drawing papers and with common blending tools?
Yes, they perform well on typical drawing papers. They blend smoothly with standard blending stumps and tools used for colored pencils.)
Q: Tech/Compatibility: Are they compatible with most normal sharpeners?
Yes, they fit most standard sharpeners. A basic handheld or desktop sharpener will typically work without issue.)
Q: Maintenance: What steps help extend the pencils' life and performance?
Keep them dry and stored in the tin. Wipe dust and avoid moisture to prevent wood swelling and core issues.)
Q: Maintenance: What sharpening technique reduces breakage and wear?
Sharpen gradually with light, steady pressure. Avoid overheating the core and use a sharp, quality sharpener to minimize stress on the lead.)
Q: Comparison: How does this set compare to Crayola in price and quality?
Better value for price tier. Generally perceived as delivering more color options and smoother laydown at similar price points.)
Q: Comparison: How does it stack up against Prismacolor for softness and blending?
Less creamy than Prismacolor. It blends decently but isn’t as soft or forgiving as premium brands designed for heavy blending.)