Best Oil Pastels For Kids: Sets for Home, School, and Art

#1 · Best Overall

1. Crayola Oil Pastels

• Weight: 3.2 oz
• Material Type: Wax, Oil, Pigment
• Line Size: 0.3mm

Best for: Easy-grip classroom projects.

Why it ranks #1: The 28 creamy colors blend easily, while the hexagonal shape is easy to hold and resists rolling; the listing states a minimum age of four.

A hexagonal shape helps these 28 Crayola pastels sit comfortably in small hands and keeps them from rolling away, making them practical for kids’ drawing sessions. Creamy color lays down smoothly, while pointed tips support detailed marks alongside broader coloring and blending.

The pointed tips help children add small features to pictures, and the creamy laydown blends for smoother transitions when a project calls for mixed colors. Because the sticks are hexagonal and do not roll away, they are easier to hold and keep on a table during classroom art or poster making. The 28 assorted colors suit home and school activities; the stated minimum age is four, which gives caregivers a clear age boundary.

Skip it if you need a 48-color starter palette; Aliferous Art’s 48-color set provides more shades for mixing.

Crayola suits children aged four and up who need easy-grip pastels for home art, classroom projects, or posters. The 28-color range is a practical fit when pointed detail and handling matter more than an especially large assortment.

Listed on Amazon as: Crayola Oil Pastels, School Supplies, Kids Indoor Activities At Home, 28 Assorted Colors

#2 · Best Storage Case

2. Faber-Castell Oil Pastels

• Weight: 8 oz
• Material Type: Plastic
• Line Size: 0.5mm

Best for: Beginner set with storage case.

Why it ranks #2: Its 24-color set comes in a durable plastic case, and the product is described as suitable for kids and beginners graduating from crayons.

A sturdy plastic storage case keeps the 24 Faber-Castell pastels together, making the set easier to put away between children’s art sessions. The smooth, opaque colors are softer than crayons and blend readily, helping young artists cover larger areas as they move into oil pastel techniques.

The softer texture and easy blending can help kids fill broad areas with color, while opaque pigments make the hues prominent on a page. The 24-color assortment includes several named shades, such as turquoise, lime green, magenta, and indigo, giving children choices for varied pictures. Non-toxic and acid-free pastels are held in a sturdy plastic case, supporting more orderly storage. The stated minimum age is five; small parts make it unsuitable for children under three.

Skip it if you need at least 45 colors; Mr. Pen’s 45-color set offers a larger assortment for drawing and coloring.

Faber-Castell suits a child aged five or older who is moving beyond crayons and benefits from a case for tidier storage. Its 24 colors cover many projects, but it is not the widest palette in this roundup.

Listed on Amazon as: Faber-Castell Blendable Oil Pastels In Durable Storage Case | Back to School Favorites | 24 Vibrant Colors – Non-Toxic Pastels for Kids

#3 · Best for Techniques

3. SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior

• Weight: 5.6 oz
• Material Type: Oil Pastels
• Line Size: 2mm and above

Best for: Layering and painterly effects.

Why it ranks #3: The 25-color junior set supports blending, layering, and scratching, and its pastels are ACMI-approved non-toxic; supervision is noted below age three.

Creamy texture and smooth application let kids blend, layer, and scratch through color for varied painterly effects. Sakura’s 25-color Cray-Pas Junior Artist set also has pigments individually tested against one another for blendability, giving young artists a clear route into mixing colors rather than using each pastel only by itself.

The creamy texture supports layering and blending, while scratching adds another way to alter a finished area; together, these techniques give children options for making marks beyond basic coloring. Sakura says each pigment is tested against the others for blendability, a useful detail for projects that combine multiple colors. The 25-color set is suited to home and school use, with the supplied guidance calling for supervision for children under three.

Skip it if you want a larger 48-color palette; Artecho’s 48-color set offers more shades for mixing and layering.

Sakura fits kids ready to explore blending, layering, and scratching at home or school, especially when color interaction matters. Follow the supplied supervision guidance for children under three before putting the set into use.

Listed on Amazon as: SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist Soft Oil Pastels, 25 Color Set

#4 · Best Jumbo Shape

4. PENTRISTA Oil Pastels

• Weight: 9.6 oz
• Material Type: Wax
• Line Size: 11 millimeters

Best for: Jumbo sticks for little hands.

Why it ranks #4: Its 24 colors use jumbo-sized hexagonal sticks that resist rolling, with a bonus sharpener and pastel holder included for drawing and coloring.

Jumbo, hexagonal sticks help keep PENTRISTA pastels from rolling off desks, while their soft texture and strong coverage suit children’s everyday drawing and coloring. The set includes 24 colors plus an extra red pastel, along with a sharpener and holder, giving kids several useful accessories for working with the sticks.

The hexagonal shape helps the pastels stay put on a desk, while the listed jumbo format offers a substantial stick for home or school art sessions. Soft texture and strong coverage support coloring larger areas, and the included sharpener and pastel holder provide tools for handling and maintaining the sticks. The 24 colors plus bonus red give children a varied starting palette. The supplied safety information identifies a small-ball hazard and says it is not for children under three.

Skip it if you need a 50-color assortment; Artecho ATO-OP5008 supplies 50 colors for a wider selection.

PENTRISTA fits kids drawing or coloring at home or school who would benefit from jumbo sticks, a non-rolling shape, and included accessories. Keep the under-three safety boundary in mind when choosing it for a household.

Listed on Amazon as: Oil Pastels, 24+1 Colors Hexagonal Oil Pastels for Kids & Artists

#5

5. Aliferous Art Oil Pastels

• Line Size: 2mm and above

Best for: Beginner-friendly color mixing.

Why it ranks #5: The 48-color kids set is designed for classroom art and beginners, with blending guidance that includes smudging colors using a finger or cotton swab.

Forty-eight vivid colors give young artists a wide palette for pictures, while the pastels’ easy blending helps beginners create soft gradients and new shades. Aliferous Art also suggests smudging colors with a finger or cotton swab, making simple experiments accessible for kids exploring color transitions.

The smooth-gliding pastels are described as easy to blend, so a child can combine colors for skies, sunsets, or other gradual transitions instead of relying only on separate shades. Supplied guidance suggests a finger or cotton swab for smudging and tapping a stick gently for dot textures, offering two straightforward ways to vary a drawing. The 48-color assortment and stated use for coloring and drawing fit home or classroom creative sessions.

Skip it if you need a stated minimum age for choosing kids’ supplies; Sakura Cray-Pas Junior Artist is not suitable under three without supervision.

Pick Aliferous Art for a young beginner who wants to experiment with blending, gradients, and dotted texture across a broad range of colors. Caregivers seeking a stated age recommendation should note that none is supplied here.

Listed on Amazon as: Oil Pastels for Kids – 48 Color Pastels for Kids – Perfect Classroom Art Supplies – Easy to Blend with Vibrant Colors

#6

6. Artecho 48-Color Pastels

• Weight: 0.63 kg
• Material Type: oil pastels
• Line Size: 10 millimeters

Best for: Wide palette for mixed techniques.

Why it ranks #6: This 48-color set offers a soft texture for blending and shading, plus techniques including layering, scratching, and dotting for varied art projects.

Forty-eight richly pigmented colors in 10-by-70-millimeter sticks give children plenty of pastel for experimenting with coverage and technique. Artecho describes the texture as soft and buttery, supporting blending, shading, layering, and color mixing, with additional options such as stenciling, scratching, impasto, and dotting.

The soft texture is intended to blend and shade easily, so young artists can move from mixed colors to layered areas without switching tools. The listed techniques—illustration, stenciling, scratching, impasto, and dotting—make the set useful for projects that call for different surface effects. Each stick measures 10 by 70 millimeters, and the 48-color assortment gives kids a range of pigments for drawing, coloring, or painting; the listed weight is 0.63 kg.

Skip it if you prefer individually paper-sleeved 8-by-60-millimeter sticks; Artecho ATO-OP5008 lists that packaging detail.

Artecho’s 48-color set suits kids who want to try several pastel techniques, from blending to dotting, in drawing or painting. Consider the listed 0.63 kg weight if children will carry the set between home and class.

Listed on Amazon as: Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors (10 x 70 mm)

#7

7. Artecho 50-Color Pastels

• Material Type: Oil Pastels
• Line Size: 2mm and above

Best for: Portable set with paper sleeves.

Why it ranks #7: Fifty colors and individually sleeved 60-by-8-millimeter sticks provide broad color choice and organized handling, though the listing gives a minimum age of three.

Fifty colors in 8-by-60-millimeter sticks give young artists a broad palette, while each pastel’s individual paper sleeve helps keep it separately wrapped. Artecho lists easy blending and shading alongside techniques such as stenciling, scratching, impasto, and dotting, so the set can support more than basic coloring.

The soft-touch pastels are described as easy to blend and shade, supporting color transitions and layered artwork without changing materials. Their stated uses include illustration, stenciling, scratching, impasto, and dotting, offering children several ways to explore texture. Each 8-by-60-millimeter stick has its own paper sleeve, and the humanized size is described as easy to put in different bags, which can help when taking art supplies along. The manufacturer’s minimum age is not under three.

Skip it if you need larger 10-by-70-millimeter sticks; Artecho’s 48-color 10-by-70 mm set provides that format.

Choose Artecho’s 50-color set for kids who want varied techniques and individually sleeved sticks that can go in a bag. It is not suitable for children under three, so follow the listed age guidance.

Listed on Amazon as: Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 50 Colors (8 x 60 mm)

#8

8. Pentel Oil Pastels

• Weight: 1.89 kg
• Material Type: Oil Pastels

Best for: Blending on paper and canvas.

Why it ranks #8: The 50-color set applies smoothly and blends for shading and color mixing; its stated uses include home and school, but it is not specifically kid-focused.

Fifty colors that apply smoothly and blend easily give young artists room to mix shades and build subtle tints. Pentel’s oil pastels are also described as more vibrant than chalk pastels, making this set a fit for kids ready to explore richer color on paper, canvas, or artboard.

The smooth laydown and easy blending support color mixing and shading without requiring a separate medium, so children can move from bold strokes to softer transitions with the same sticks. Acid-free pastels resist humidity’s effects, a useful property for drawings kept in changing conditions. The stated surfaces—paper, canvas, and artboard—give families and classrooms several familiar options, while the 50-color assortment offers variety for projects that call for more than a basic palette.

Skip it if you need several compact classroom sets; Color Swell OP18 supplies 18 packs, each with 12 colors.

Choose Pentel for a child who wants a broad palette and enjoys blending on paper, canvas, or artboard. Its listed weight of 1.89 kg is worth considering if the pastels need to travel regularly.

Listed on Amazon as: Pentel Oil Pastels – 50 Color Set (PHN-50)

#9 · Best Classroom Pack

9. Color Swell Bulk Pastels

• Weight: 2.07 kg
• Material Type: Wax
• Line Size: 0.3 millimeters

Best for: Bulk packs for classrooms.

Why it ranks #9: Eighteen boxes provide 216 pastels in total, making this a practical classroom format; each box has 12 colors for group activities and supplies.

Eighteen separate packs provide 216 oil pastels in total, making Color Swell a practical format for classrooms, group crafts, party favors, or gift bags. Each pack contains 12 classic colors, so teachers can distribute sets to multiple children rather than sharing one larger collection.

The pack-by-pack format helps organize supplies for group activities: each child can receive a 12-color assortment without dividing a single set. The listed colors include basics such as black, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and brown, supporting common coloring and craft tasks. Storage boxes are included, which gives the many sticks a designated place after use. With 18 packs and 216 pastels overall, this set emphasizes quantity and distribution rather than an extensive palette in each pack.

Skip it if you want one broad 48-color set for a single child; Aliferous Art’s 48-color set offers more shades in one assortment.

Color Swell is best suited to teachers, group leaders, or families preparing multiple craft activities that benefit from separate packs. Each child gets 12 colors, so choose another format when a single user needs a broader palette.

Listed on Amazon as: Color Swell Bulk Oil Pastels, 18 Packs, 12 Colors (216 Total) – Pointed Tip

#10

10. Mr. Pen Oil Pastels

• Weight: 0.44 kg
• Material Type: Wax/Oil-Based Pigment

Best for: Smooth-color student set.

Why it ranks #10: The 45 assorted colors have a smooth, creamy texture and blendable application, but the listing targets artists, students, and hobbyists rather than kids specifically.

Forty-five assorted colors pair with a rich, creamy texture that applies smoothly and blends effortlessly, giving children and students a comfortable way to create expressive drawings. Mr. Pen presents the pastels for drawing, sketching, and coloring, making this set a straightforward choice for young artists who want one collection for several paper-based activities.

Smooth application and a creamy texture help colors cover the page without requiring children to press the set into a single drawing style; the stated blendability also supports mixing and softer transitions. With 45 assorted colors, the set offers a range for drawing, sketching, and coloring projects. Mr. Pen describes the sticks as easy to handle and intended for long-lasting use, which suits repeated art sessions, though the supplied details do not identify specific compatible surfaces.

Skip it if you need a specified surface list before buying; Pentel PHN-50 names paper, canvas, and artboard.

Mr. Pen suits students and young hobbyists seeking creamy, blendable pastels for drawing, sketching, and coloring. Choose it when the listed handling and color range fit; buyers who need named surface compatibility should consult a set that specifies it.

Listed on Amazon as: Mr. Pen- Oil Pastels for Artists, 45 Pack, Assorted Colors