The best charcoal set for drawing depends on whether you need a focused charcoal kit or a broader collection that also includes graphite and paper. Faber-Castell’s 24-piece Pitt set suits artists who prefer charcoal tools, while the KALOUR PDAS and MARTCOLOR sets offer black-and-white pencils with accessories. Brusarth and PRINA are better choices for artists who want graphite, charcoal, and additional sketching supplies together.
| Set | Best For | Standout Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal | Charcoal-focused drawing | Charcoal sticks and pencils, blender, kneadable eraser |
| KALOUR PDAS 22-Piece | Varied charcoal marks | Black, white, colored, and willow charcoal tools |
| MARTCOLOR 19-Piece | Multiple black-pencil grades | Five black-charcoal grades, white pencils, erasers |
| Brusarth 26-Piece | Mixed-media sketching | Graphite, charcoal, willow sticks, sharpening tools |
| PRINA 50-Pack | Broad starter collection | Graphite, charcoal, pastels, and a three-color sketchbook |
Faber-Castell Pitt 24-Piece Charcoal Set
Best for: Artists who want a charcoal-centered set with drawing and blending basics. Its listed contents include natural charcoal sticks, charcoal pencils, charcoal in stick and pencil forms, a paper wiper, and a kneadable eraser.
The set is selected for its focus on charcoal rather than a large assortment of unrelated media. The listed range of hardness gives artists options for different marks, while the blender and kneadable eraser support blending and lifting charcoal from the page.
Limitation: The provided product details do not identify the exact hardness grades or give a complete item-by-item breakdown, so check the listing if those specifics matter.
KALOUR PDAS 22-Piece Charcoal Drawing Set
Best for: Beginners and experienced artists who want several charcoal formats in one kit. The set lists six black charcoal pencils, two white pencils, two colored charcoal pencils, willow pencils and sticks, charcoal sticks, blending tools, an artist knife, and two kinds of eraser.
Choose this set if you want to compare pencil marks with stick and willow-charcoal marks, or use white and colored charcoal alongside black. Its listed supplies support outlining, shading, blending, and corrections without limiting the kit to pencils alone.
Limitation: The set includes a wide mix of tools, but the supplied details do not specify individual pencil hardness grades.
MARTCOLOR 19-Piece Charcoal Drawing Set
Best for: Artists who want multiple black charcoal pencil grades for varied tones. The set includes 10 black pencils across five grades, two white charcoal pencils, three charcoal sticks, a blending stump, an art knife, and kneaded and vinyl erasers.
The two pencils in each listed black grade make this a useful choice when you want more than one pencil in a preferred softness. White charcoal can be used for highlights, while the charcoal sticks offer another format for broader marks. It is selected for a clear balance of pencil grades and core drawing accessories.
Limitation: The listed kit does not include graphite pencils, so choose another option if you want graphite and charcoal in the same set.
Brusarth 26-Piece Graphite And Charcoal Set
Best for: Sketchers who need both graphite and charcoal tools. Its contents include eight graphite grades, four black charcoal pencils, a white charcoal pencil, charcoal and willow sticks, blending and sharpening tools, an extender, and two erasers.
Choose Brusarth if your work moves between graphite outlines, charcoal shading, and blended marks. The included art knife, sandpaper block, pencil extender, and sharpener add tool options for maintaining or adjusting pencils. It is more versatile than a charcoal-only set when you want several media in one kit.
Limitation: Its broader mix means it may be less suitable than a charcoal-focused set if you only want charcoal supplies.
PRINA 50-Pack Drawing Set With Sketchbook
Best for: New artists and mixed-media sketchers who want a broad supply kit with paper included. It lists graphite pencils, black and white charcoal pencils, graphite and charcoal sticks, willow charcoal, blending stumps, erasers, pastels, and a 6-by-9-inch sketchbook with white, tan, and black pages.
The included paper offers three page colors for exploring different drawing approaches without sourcing a separate sketchbook. A drawing tutorial is also listed, making this set a practical option for someone starting out and comparing materials.
Limitation: The 50-piece assortment includes several media beyond charcoal, so it is not the most focused pick for artists seeking charcoal tools only.
Buying Guide: How To Choose A Charcoal Drawing Set
Do you need charcoal only or a mixed-media kit?
A charcoal-focused set is a direct choice when your main goal is practicing charcoal marks, shading, and blending. A mixed-media kit such as Brusarth or PRINA adds graphite and other supplies, which can be useful for artists who switch between materials. Compare the actual contents rather than relying on the set’s piece count.
Which charcoal formats and hardness levels matter?
Pencils offer a familiar, controlled format for outlines and smaller details. Sticks and willow charcoal can support broader marks and different textures. A set that lists soft, medium, and hard options gives you a stated range of grades; check whether those grades are specified if you want predictable comparisons between pencils.
Are blending and erasing tools included?
Look for blending stumps or a paper wiper if you plan to soften marks. Kneaded and vinyl erasers are included in several of these kits and provide different erasing options. Tool selection varies, so confirm that the accessories you need are part of the set.
Would white charcoal or colored paper help?
White charcoal can add highlights to darker areas, and some sets also include colored charcoal or pastels. A sketchbook with toned or black pages can support experiments with contrast. If you primarily draw on white paper, these extras may be less important than pencil grades and blending tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a beginner look for in a charcoal set?
Look for a manageable selection of charcoal pencils or sticks, more than one hardness where specified, and basic blending and erasing tools. A larger mixed-media kit may also be helpful if you want to try graphite or pastels.
What is the difference between charcoal pencils and charcoal sticks?
Charcoal pencils provide a pencil-shaped tool for controlled marks. Sticks offer a different drawing format and can be used for broader or varied marks, depending on how they are applied.
Do charcoal sets usually include white charcoal?
Some do. The MARTCOLOR, KALOUR PDAS, Brusarth, and PRINA sets list white charcoal pencils or sticks among their contents.
Which set includes a sketchbook?
The PRINA 50-pack lists a 6-by-9-inch sketchbook with white, tan, and black pages.
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