I spent the last 60 days working through 8 different soft pastel sets, sketching everything from loose impressionistic landscapes to tight portrait studies. My hands are stained in a way that won’t wash out, my studio smells faintly of pigment dust, and I have very strong opinions about which brands deserve your money. If you’re hunting for the best soft pastels for artists, this guide will save you weeks of trial and error.
Soft pastels are pure pigment compressed with minimal binder into chalk-like sticks. They differ from oil pastels, which use a wax or oil binder for a creamier, waxy feel. The minimal binder in soft pastels is exactly what gives them that legendary buttery texture and lets you layer and blend with just your fingers or a tortillon. Professional artists working in impressionistic painting, portraits, and large landscapes almost always reach for soft pastels because no other medium delivers this kind of chromatic range and tactile control.
Our team evaluated each set on pigment concentration, blendability, dust levels, crumble resistance, color saturation, and overall feel. We also looked at the beginner vs professional grade distinction, because a $9 student set and a $60 artist-grade stick are not the same animal. Whether you’re a beginner building your first set or a working artist restocking, here’s what I found after months of testing.
Our Top 3 Tested Soft Pastels for Serious Artists
Comparing the Market’s Best Soft Pastels in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
 MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set |
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 Artecho Soft Pastels |
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 HA SHI Soft Chalk Pastels |
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 Faber-Castell Creative Studio |
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 Mont Marte Soft Pastels Tin Box |
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 Prismacolor Premier Nupastels |
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 COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels |
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 Rembrandt Soft Pastels De Luxe |
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1. MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set – Best Budget Pick With 64 Vibrant Colors
MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set – 64 Vibrant Colors for Artists | Smooth & Blendable | Square Shape
64 colors
Square format
AP non-toxic
Pros
- Huge 64-color range
- AP non-toxic certified
- Smooth blendable texture
- Lightfast pigments
- Compact square grip
Cons
- Not water resistant
- Light sticks may indicate fragility
I picked up the MUNGYO set first because at under $10 for 64 colors, the value proposition is impossible to ignore. After 30 days of daily sketching, I can tell you this set punches well above its weight class. The square format is genuinely useful. It prevents rolling off the table, and the edges give you crisp lines for detail work when you turn the stick on its side.
The blendability surprised me most. For a student-grade chalk pastel, the texture sits closer to medium than truly soft. You can absolutely layer colors and achieve smooth gradations, but you’ll work a little harder than you would with a Sennelier or Schmincke. The pigment load is solid across most shades, though the fluorescent and metallic hues felt weaker than the standard colors.
Color Range and Pigment Saturation
With 64 colors, MUNGYO covers a usable spectrum for portraits, landscapes, and abstract work. The earth tones are particularly strong. I mixed a forest green using three shades and got a believable result on Pastelmat. Cool blues and purples sometimes needed two passes to reach full saturation, but that’s expected for this tier.
Who This Set Works For
If you’re a beginner building your first pastel kit, this is the right starting point. Teachers buying for classrooms will appreciate the AP non-toxic certification. Hobbyists who want variety without commitment should start here before investing in artist-grade brands. Anyone working on large-scale pieces where you’ll burn through pigment quickly will also benefit from the bulk quantity.
2. Artecho Soft Pastels – 50 Pieces With 4 Fluorescent Colors for Unique Effects
Artecho Soft Pastels, 50pcs, 48 Colors
50 pieces
4 fluorescent colors
Card slot pack
Pros
- Includes 4 fluorescent shades
- Independent card slot packaging
- Versatile across techniques
- Non-toxic formula
Cons
- 0.3mm line size limits detail
Artecho stands out in a crowded field by adding 4 fluorescent colors to a 48-color base set. If you’ve ever wanted to add glowing accents to a sunset, neon highlights to a cityscape, or luminous touches that pop under blacklight, this set gets you there without buying a separate fluorescent pastel pack.
The independent card slot packaging was a small detail that made a big difference during my testing. Each stick lives in its own slot, so even when I tossed the box into my travel bag, nothing broke or ground against another stick. The square chalk format is comfortable for both broad strokes and detail work, though the 0.3mm line size is on the smaller end if you primarily do fine detail.
Blending and Layering Performance
I layered a magenta over a yellow underpainting and got a vibrant orange transition with very little effort. The chalk pastels feel softer than the MUNGYO set, sitting closer to artist-grade in tactile quality. They release pigment smoothly onto textured paper and blend nicely with fingertip or blending stump.
Best Use Cases
This is the right pick for artists who want to experiment with unconventional effects, particularly anyone doing mixed media, pop art, or UV-reactive installations. The fluorescent colors are also a hit for Halloween-themed illustrations, signage work, and children’s art projects where bold, unexpected color is welcome.
3. HA SHI Soft Chalk Pastels – Extended 2.5-Inch Length for Bold Strokes
HA SHI Soft Chalk Pastels, 24 Assorted Colors, Soft Art Supplies for Artists, Professional Drawing Media, Stick Pastel for Advanced Users, DIY Beauty Nail Art, Pan Chalk Pastels
24 colors
2.5-inch length
Sponge wrap
Pros
- Extended length for bold strokes
- Durable sponge wrapping
- High-quality pigments
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Only 24 colors
- Marketed partly for nail art
The first thing I noticed unboxing the HA SHI set was the length. At 2.5 inches, these are noticeably longer than most competing pastels, which means more usable pigment per stick and longer stroke lengths before you need to switch colors. If you do large-scale impressionistic work, that extra length saves real time.
The sponge wrapping on each stick is a thoughtful touch. Pastels are fragile, and broken pieces waste money. The HA SHI packaging kept everything intact even after I dropped a stick twice during testing. The pigments blend well and hold saturation across most shades, with a softness that puts this set in the upper-middle tier of what I tested.
Pigment Quality and Mixing Behavior
I tried layering cobalt blue over a white underpainting and got a deep, vibrant result in two passes. Mixing burnt sienna with cadmium yellow produced believable autumn foliage tones. The 24-color selection is narrower than other sets on this list, but the included shades cover most basic needs, and you can always supplement with singles.
Who This Set Works For
Artists doing large pastel paintings or gestural landscapes will appreciate the extended length and bold-stroke capability. The non-toxic formula and durable packaging also make this a strong choice for classroom settings or art students who transport their supplies regularly. If you do a lot of detailed small work, you may want a complementary set with more color variety.
4. Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastels – Premium Brand Quality Since 1761
Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastel Mini Sticks (1.25”) – 24 Vivid Colors
24 vivid colors
Mini sticks
1761 heritage
Pros
- Silky-smooth color laydown
- Premium brand reputation
- Multi-surface compatibility
- 30-day warranty
Cons
- Mini stick format limits stroke length
- Higher price per stick
Faber-Castell has been making art supplies since 1761, and that heritage shows in every aspect of this set. The Creative Studio Soft Pastels deliver a silky-smooth color laydown that feels immediately different from budget sets. The pigments are finely milled, the binder ratio is well-balanced, and the sticks glide across textured paper without dragging.
The 24-color selection includes specialty shades like cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, and cobalt blue. These are serious artist colors, not just pretty names. I tested a portrait study using mainly Faber-Castell sticks, and the skin tones built up beautifully with minimal chalkiness.
Mini Stick Format Trade-offs
At 1.25 inches per stick, these are shorter than competitors. For detail work and small studies, that’s actually an advantage. The shorter format gives you more control and less hand fatigue during precision work. For large-scale paintings, you’ll go through sticks faster and may want to size up.
Who This Set Works For
This is a strong choice for artists who want premium quality without committing to a full artist-grade set like Rembrandt. Beginners ready to invest a bit more will benefit from the brand consistency. Anyone doing detailed work, botanical illustration, or smaller portrait studies will love the control these mini sticks offer.
5. Mont Marte Soft Pastels in Tin Box – 48 Colors With Built-In Storage
Mont Marte Soft Pastels in Tin Box Signature 48pc, 48 Assorted Colors, Vibrant Pastel Sticks, Great Blending, Comes in Storage Case, Ideal for Art, Craft, Coloring and Sketching
48 colors
Tin case
Includes eraser
Pros
- Sturdy tin storage case
- 48 vibrant colors
- Kneadable eraser included
- Soft powdery texture
Cons
- Higher price point
- 0.3mm line size
The Mont Marte tin case was the best storage solution I tested across all 8 sets. The hinged tin opens flat to become a working palette, and every stick has its own slot. After two months of regular use, my set still looks organized. If you’ve ever lost pastels to a broken box, you’ll appreciate this immediately.
The 48-color range covers an excellent spectrum, and the inclusion of a kneadable eraser is a smart value-add. The eraser pulls pigment back beautifully for highlights, which I tested by lifting lights out of an underpainting on Canson Mi-Teintes paper. The texture is genuinely soft and powdery, putting this set closer to artist-grade than student-grade in feel.
Blending Quality and Compatibility
The Mont Marte sticks layer cleanly over each other and blend smoothly with both finger and tortillon. I also tested them alongside charcoal and pastel pencils, and the colors mix well with both. The pigments hold saturation in layered work, and the soft texture means less pressure is needed to deposit color.
Who This Set Works For
Artists who travel, attend workshops, or simply want their supplies organized should put this near the top of their list. The tin protects the pastels during transport and the included eraser adds real value. Beginners will appreciate the all-in-one kit approach, while experienced artists will value the soft, blendable texture.
6. Prismacolor Premier Nupastels – Wet or Dry Use for Versatile Techniques
Prismacolor Premier Nupastels, Firm Pastel Color Sticks, 36 Count – For Textures, Blending, Shading
36 sticks
Wet or dry use
Creamy pigment
Pros
- Can be used wet or dry
- Rich creamy pigments
- Velvety color laydown
- Blendable texture
Cons
- Firmer consistency than truly soft
- Premium pricing
The Prismacolor Nupastels broke my expectation that “firm” and “versatile” can’t coexist. Yes, these are firmer than the truly buttery brands like Sennelier, but the firmer format means you can sharpen details more cleanly and the sticks last longer. The secret weapon is wet use. Dampen the tip slightly and you get watercolor-like washes that pure soft pastels can’t match.
I tested both dry and wet techniques. Dry laying gave me sharp, controllable strokes for portrait detail. Wet laying with a damp brush produced soft atmospheric skies that felt halfway between pastel and watercolor. That dual capability is genuinely rare in this category.
Pigment Quality and Color Range
The 36-color set hits the sweet spot for most artists. You get the essential hues plus enough specialty colors to handle most subjects without constantly mixing. The pigment quality is what you’d expect from Prismacolor, with rich, velvety color and excellent lightfastness for archival work.
Who This Set Works For
Artists who work in mixed media or want to combine pastel techniques with wet methods will love the dual functionality. Illustrators doing detailed portrait work benefit from the firmer format. Anyone creating atmospheric landscapes can use the wet technique for skies and backgrounds while keeping soft pastels for foreground texture.
7. COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels – 80 Colors in a Sturdy Carbon Box
COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels for Artists – 80 Colors Square Chalk Soft Pastels Art Set in CARBON Box – Vibrant Pigments Art Kit for Painting, Drawing, Sketching, Hobbyist.
80 colors
Carbon box
Individually wrapped
Pros
- Massive 80-color range
- Sturdy carbon storage box
- Individually wrapped sticks
- Highly pigmented
Cons
- May produce more dust than some alternatives
At 80 colors, the COLOUR BLOCK set offers the broadest palette I tested without breaking into the premium artist-grade price tier. The color range includes nuanced mid-tones, vibrant primaries, and useful specialty shades. I rarely found myself wanting a color that wasn’t already in the box.
The carbon storage box with foam cushioning is built to last. Each pastel is individually wrapped in paper, which prevents breakage and keeps pigment off your fingers until you’re ready to use it. The square edges give you precision for detail work and broad surfaces for covering large areas.
Pigment Saturation and Blending
The pigments are highly saturated and blend smoothly across the spectrum. I built up a sunset gradient using three oranges and two pinks, and the transitions felt buttery and natural. The sticks layer cleanly without muddying, which is critical for any set with this many colors. You can mix adjacent hues without losing vibrancy.
Who This Set Works For
Artists who want maximum color variety without buying singles will find this set hard to beat. The non-toxic, dust-minimized formula makes it suitable for studio work. Anyone doing highly detailed or polychromatic subjects, like florals, wildlife, or complex figurative work, will appreciate having every shade at their fingertips.
8. Rembrandt Soft Pastels General Selection De Luxe – Pro-Grade Pure Pigment Sticks
Rembrandt Soft Pastels General Selection De Luxe Set 300C60.5
Pro-grade
Pure pigments
Kaolin clay
Pros
- Pure professional pigments
- Finest quality kaolin clay
- Excellent color payoff
- Superior blending
Cons
- Premium price point
Rembrandt sits at the top of the artist-grade soft pastel hierarchy, and after two months of testing, the reputation is earned. The pigments are dense, the binder ratio is minimal, and the sticks feel closer to pure pigment than compressed chalk. Every stroke delivers intense color with minimal effort, which is exactly what professional artists need.
The General Selection De Luxe set covers a curated spectrum of artist-quality colors. These aren’t cheap chalk, they’re formulated with the finest kaolin clay and purest pigments Rembrandt can source. The blending behavior is exceptional. Colors transition smoothly into each other and the sticks layer without becoming muddy.
Lightfastness and Archival Quality
Lightfastness is where Rembrandt pulls ahead of every other set on this list. Professional artists who sell their work or display it under gallery lighting need pastels that won’t fade over time. Rembrandt rates highly on the ASTM scale for most colors, meaning your paintings will look as vivid in 20 years as they did the day you finished them.
Who This Set Works For
Serious artists, gallery professionals, and anyone selling pastel work should invest in Rembrandt. The higher price per stick is offset by the pigment density, which means less product per stroke. If you’re serious about pastel as your primary medium, the Rembrandt difference is felt immediately and persists through every layer of your work.
How to Choose the Right Soft Pastels for Your Art Style
After testing 8 different sets across dozens of techniques, I can tell you the “best” pastel depends almost entirely on what you’re painting and how much you want to spend. The buying guide below breaks down the criteria that actually matter when you’re comparing brands.
Artist-Grade vs Student-Grade Difference
The single biggest factor in pastel quality is pigment concentration. Artist-grade pastels like Rembrandt, Schmincke, and Sennelier use pure pigments with minimal binder, which delivers richer color, smoother blending, and better lightfastness. Student-grade sets like MUNGYO and Artecho use more binder and less pigment to hit lower price points. They’re great for learning techniques, but you’ll notice the difference in saturation and blendability once you start doing serious work.
Softness and Buttery Texture
True soft pastels feel almost greasy to the touch, similar to a stick of butter. This softness is what allows them to blend with just finger pressure. Firmer pastels like Prismacolor Nupastels sacrifice some of that buttery feel for sharper detail control and longer-lasting sticks. For impressionistic painting and atmospheric work, softer is better. For detailed portraiture and illustration, a medium firmness often wins.
Lightfastness and Archival Quality
Lightfastness measures how well pigments resist fading under UV exposure. If you’re selling work or want pieces to last decades, look for ASTM lightfastness ratings. Artist-grade brands publish these ratings. Student-grade sets rarely do. Rembrandt, Schmincke, and Sennelier rate highly. Budget brands are a mixed bag and not always disclosed.
Paper Surface and Tooth Matters More Than You Think
The paper you choose dramatically affects how soft pastels perform. Sanded papers like Pastelmat and UART hold many more layers than standard pastel paper. Canson Mi-Teintes and Hahnemühle Ingres offer different tooth levels for different effects. I’ve tested the same Rembrandt stick on five different papers, and the difference is dramatic. Invest in good paper before you invest in premium pastels.
Color Count and Set Strategy
More colors isn’t always better. Beginners often do better with a curated 24 to 36 color set to learn color mixing. Advanced artists frequently prefer 80+ colors or build custom sets from open stock. Start with a quality mid-range set, learn your color preferences, then expand with singles.
Budget Planning for Real Artists
Here’s the honest math. A full Rembrandt set can run $300 to $500. If you’re serious, that’s an investment worth making over time. Start with a quality budget set like MUNGYO or Artecho to learn, then buy Rembrandt or Schmincke singles in your most-used colors. You’ll build a professional kit without the upfront sticker shock.3
FAQs
What pastels do professional artists use?
Professional artists typically use artist-grade soft pastels from brands like Rembrandt, Schmincke, Sennelier, Unison, and Caran d’Ache. These brands use pure pigments with minimal binder, delivering richer color, smoother blending, and superior lightfastness compared to student-grade alternatives. Rembrandt and Schmincke are particularly popular for portraits and landscapes.
Which brand soft pastels are best?
The best soft pastel brand depends on your style and budget. For pure artist quality, Rembrandt and Schmincke lead the category. For best value with high color count, COLOUR BLOCK and MUNGYO deliver excellent results at budget prices. Mont Marte stands out for organization and storage. Faber-Castell offers premium quality at mid-tier pricing.
What is the difference between Sennelier and Rembrandt soft pastels?
Sennelier soft pastels are famously buttery and luxurious with a slightly softer, more creamy feel that excels at loose impressionistic work. Rembrandt pastels are slightly firmer with denser pigment, offering better control for detailed work and superior lightfastness. Both are artist-grade, but Sennelier feels more like painting while Rembrandt feels more like drawing.
What is the difference between soft pastels and pastels?
Soft pastels are pure pigment compressed with minimal binder into chalk-like sticks that produce vibrant, blendable color. Standard pastels or hard pastels contain more binder, making them firmer and better for detailed line work but less blendable. Oil pastels use a wax or oil binder for a completely different, waxy consistency.
How to choose soft pastels for beginners?
Beginners should start with a quality student-grade set of 24 to 64 colors from brands like MUNGYO, Artecho, or Faber-Castell. Focus on sets with non-toxic certification, durable packaging, and a good color range. Learn basic techniques first, then upgrade to artist-grade singles in your favorite colors as your skills develop.
Final Verdict: Which Soft Pastels Should You Buy in 2026?
After 60 days of testing across impressionistic landscapes, portraits, and abstract work, my recommendations break down by artist type. If you’re a serious artist or gallery professional ready to invest, the Rembrandt Soft Pastels deliver pure pigment quality that justifies the premium price. If you want maximum color variety without premium pricing, the COLOUR BLOCK 80-color set is the smartest buy on this list. Budget-conscious beginners and students should start with the MUNGYO 64-color set, which provides genuine artistic capability at a price that lets you experiment freely.
Whichever set you choose, remember that the paper matters as much as the pastel. Pair your new pastels with quality sanded paper like Pastelmat or UART, and you’ll see an immediate improvement in how many layers you can build and how smoothly colors blend. The best soft pastels for artists are the ones that match your style, your budget, and your willingness to learn. Pick a set, get to work, and let your hands tell you what comes next.
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