Finding the right art supplies for students usually comes down to a tradeoff between washability, color range, and how much mess a classroom (or kitchen table) can absorb. After comparing twelve popular options, the Crayola Super Tips 100-Count set stands out as my best overall pick — it covers drawing, coloring, lettering, and detail work in one washable package that lasts a full school year. For tighter budgets, the Crayola Broad Line Markers 12-pack delivers the core marker experience at a fraction of the price, while the KALOUR 18-Piece Sketch Pencil Set is the strongest option for older students moving into serious drawing. Younger kids and 3D projects are better served by air-dry clay and bulk construction paper than by more markers. Read on for the full ranked breakdown, including who each set is for and which ones to skip.
Play games included with Prime
Start a Prime free trial and play with Amazon Luna on your devices.
Start playingAs an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Takeaways
- The Crayola Super Tips 100-count won best overall because its fine tips replace three separate products — markers, colored pencils for detail, and highlighters — making it the most versatile single purchase for students.
- Duplicated basics matter: this lineup includes two nearly identical Crayola Broad Line 12-packs, and the price per pack, not the product, decides which one earns a spot for multi-child households.
- Oil pastels split cleanly by age: Artecho‘s 48-color set suits beginners and classrooms, while Pentel‘s 50-color set justifies its higher price only for students already committed to pastel work.
- Glue sticks are a quantity decision — Elmer’s 30-count purple sticks win for classrooms, but the 12-count clear version is the smarter buy for a single student since purple visibility matters most at volume.
- The KALOUR sketch pencil set is the only pick aimed at skill progression rather than craft projects, filling a gap the Crayola-heavy lineup otherwise leaves open for middle and high school students.
| Crayola Broad Line Markers (12 Count), Washable, Assorted Colors |  | Best Starter Marker Set | Number of Markers: 12 | Line Size: 2mm and above (broad) | Ink Color: Multicolored assorted | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Super Tips Marker Set (100ct), Washable Fine Point Markers |  | Best Premium Marker Upgrade | Number of Markers: 100 | Colors: Assorted | Washable: Yes | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Air Dry Clay (5 lbs), Natural White Modeling Clay |  | Best for 3D and Sculpture Projects | Weight: 5 lbs | Color: Natural White | Material: Air dry clay | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Colored Pencils (36 Count) |  | Best for Schoolwork and Detail | Quantity: 36 pencils | Color Range: 36 assorted colors | Pre-sharpened: Yes | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Crayons Bulk (24 Packs of 24 Colors) |  | Best Classroom Bulk Buy | Number of Packs: 24 boxes | Colors per Pack: 24 | Total Crayons: 576 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, Washable, Acid-Free, Clear, 7g, 30 Count |  | Best Bulk Glue Value | Item Form: Stick | Container Type: Tube | Compatible Material: Cardboard, Foam, Paper | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors |  | Best Color Range for Young Artists | Number of Colors: 48 | Pastel Size: 70 mm x 10 mm | Material: Oil pastel | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 6 Grams, 12 Count |  | Best Glue for Young Kids | Weight: 6 grams per stick | Quantity: 12 count | Application: Bonds to paper, cardboard, foam board, display board | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Construction Paper Bulk Pack (480 Sheets) – 10 Assorted Colors, 9×12 |  | Best Classroom Foundation Supply | Quantity: 480 sheets | Colors: 10 assorted colors | Sheet Size: 9 x 12 inches | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Crayola Broad Line Markers (12-pack of 10), Assorted Colors for Kids |  | Best for Teachers Buying in Bulk | Quantity: 12 packs of 10 markers each (120 total) | Colors: Orange, Yellow, Brown, Violet, Red, Blue, Black, Pink, Gray, Green | Type: Broad line markers | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Pentel Oil Pastels – 50 Color Set (PHN-50) |  | Best Premium Pastels | Brand: Pentel | Model Number: PHN-50 | Color Count: 50 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| KALOUR 18-Piece Professional Sketch Pencil Set with Erasers, Sharpener, and Blending Stump |  | Best for Drawing Fundamentals | Number of Pencils: 14 | Total Pieces: 18 | Hardness Range: 5H to 14B | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
More Details on Our Top Picks
Crayola Broad Line Markers (12 Count), Washable, Assorted Colors
For a student who just needs reliable markers for school projects and posters, this 12-pack keeps things simple and affordable. The broad tips cover construction paper fast, which matters when a book report poster is due tomorrow. Compared with the Crayola Super Tips 100-Count Set, this option trades color variety for a lower price and a tip better suited to bold, fill-in work rather than detail. The washable formula is the real selling point for parents and teachers — ink comes off skin and most fabrics without a fight. The tradeoff is precision: anyone hoping to color inside fine lines in a coloring book will find these tips too wide, and like most markers, they die quickly if caps are left off.
Pros:- Washable ink cleans off skin and clothes easily
- Broad tips cover large areas quickly
- Safe, non-toxic formula for ages 3+
- Low price point for a trusted brand
Cons:- Broad tips are too wide for detailed coloring
- Markers dry out fast if caps aren’t replaced tightly
Best for: Elementary students and parents who need an inexpensive, no-fuss marker set for posters and school crafts
Not ideal for: Older students or detail-oriented colorists — the broad tip can’t handle fine line work
- Number of Markers:12
- Line Size:2mm and above (broad)
- Ink Color:Multicolored assorted
- Washable:Yes
- Water Resistance:Water resistant
- Suitable Age:3+
Our verdict“A dependable budget pick for young students who need bold color fast and parents who need easy cleanup.”
Crayola Super Tips Marker Set (100ct), Washable Fine Point Markers
This is the set a student graduates to once a basic 12-pack starts feeling limiting. With 100 colors at roughly the price of eight starter sets, it gives serious colorists room to blend, shade, and layer in adult coloring books or detailed class projects. The fine tips can also draw thick lines when angled, making these more versatile than the standard Broad Line Markers 12-Pack, which only does fat strokes. The catch is durability: heavy classroom use drains these markers quickly, and the fine tips fray faster than broad ones. Still, for a middle or high school student who treats coloring as more than a rainy-day activity, nothing else in this roundup matches the color range.
Pros:- 100 colors enable shading, blending, and layering
- Fine tips work for both thin and thick lines
- Washable and non-toxic for all ages
- Far better value per marker than small sets
Cons:- Ink runs out quickly under heavy use
- No broad-tip option for large coverage areas
Best for: Dedicated young artists, teens, and adults who want maximum color variety for detailed coloring and note decoration
Not ideal for: Rough-and-tumble elementary classrooms where markers get abused and half the colors would sit unused
- Number of Markers:100
- Colors:Assorted
- Washable:Yes
- Nontoxic:Yes
- Tip Type:Fine point (versatile thick or thin lines)
- Ages:3+ (kids and adults)
Our verdict“Worth the spend for students serious about coloring; overkill for casual craft sessions.”
Crayola Air Dry Clay (5 lbs), Natural White Modeling Clay
When flat drawings aren’t enough, this 5-pound bucket adds a sculptural dimension to art class without any equipment. The clay air-dries on its own — no kiln, no oven — which is exactly why it works for classrooms and kitchen tables alike, and once dry, pieces can be painted with any of the marker or paint supplies already in this roundup. The resealable bucket is a practical touch that leftover-clay storage usually lacks. Compared with paper-and-marker supplies like the Crayola Construction Paper Bulk Pack, this is messier and less portable, and it needs occasional water to re-soften between sessions. It also can’t produce durable, kiln-fired ceramics, so serious sculpture students will outgrow it.
Pros:- Air-dries with no kiln or baking required
- Soft and easy for small hands to mold
- Resealable 5 lb bucket allows storage between sessions
- Non-toxic and classroom-safe for ages 4+
Cons:- Requires occasional water to re-soften
- Finished pieces are fragile compared with fired clay
Best for: Teachers and parents running group sculpture projects where a kiln isn’t available
Not ideal for: Students wanting durable, permanent ceramics — air-dried pieces remain fragile and can’t be kiln fired
- Weight:5 lbs
- Color:Natural White
- Material:Air dry clay
- Drying Method:Air dry (no kiln needed)
- Package Type:Bulk, resealable bucket
- Suitable Age:4+
Our verdict“The easiest way to bring 3D projects into a student art routine, as long as fragile results are acceptable.”
Crayola Colored Pencils (36 Count)
Colored pencils are the quiet workhorse of student art supplies, and this 36-count set covers maps, science diagrams, and sketchbook assignments with none of the mess markers bring. Because they’re presharpened and erasable-ish, they suit classroom settings where a stray marker line would ruin a worksheet. Compared with the KALOUR 18-Piece Sketch Pencil Set, this option trades graphite range for color breadth, making it better for coloring and worse for shading practice. It also sits below the Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors in pigment intensity — pencil color is subtler and requires layering for richness. That subtlety is exactly why teachers prefer pencils for graded work, though advanced artists will find 36 colors limiting.
Pros:- 36 pre-sharpened colors ready out of the box
- Precise tips suit detailed diagrams and shading
- No mess or bleed-through like markers
- Durable cores resist breaking under student use
Cons:- Color output is lighter than markers or oil pastels
- 36 colors fall short for advanced blending work
Best for: Students who need one tidy, low-mess medium for classwork, homework projects, and coloring
Not ideal for: Advanced art students seeking rich pigment and a wide professional-grade color range
- Quantity:36 pencils
- Color Range:36 assorted colors
- Pre-sharpened:Yes
- Brand:Crayola
- Ages:3+
- Intended Use:Coloring, school projects, classroom and home
Our verdict“The safest all-purpose choice for school assignments where precision and low mess matter more than bold color.”
Crayola Crayons Bulk (24 Packs of 24 Colors)
Buying crayons one box at a time doesn’t scale, and this 24-pack case solves that with 576 total crayons at a per-box cost well below retail. Each student gets an identical 24-color box, which eliminates sharing disputes and makes this the natural companion to classroom staples like the Elmer’s Glue Sticks 30-Count and Crayola Construction Paper Bulk Pack. Compared with the Broad Line Markers 12-Pack, crayons are slower to die, cheaper to replace, and far less likely to stain — though they can’t match marker vibrancy or coverage speed. For a single household, though, 24 boxes is genuinely excessive, and the boxes themselves aren’t premium storage.
Pros:- Lowest per-box cost in the roundup for bulk buyers
- 24 identical boxes prevent classroom sharing conflicts
- Trusted Crayola quality and color consistency
- Pairs well with bulk paper and glue for full supply kits
Cons:- Massive overbuy for single-family use
- Crayon color vibrancy trails markers and pastels
Best for: Teachers, homeschool co-ops, and program directors supplying whole classrooms on a budget
Not ideal for: Individual families — 24 boxes is far more crayons than one child will ever use
- Number of Packs:24 boxes
- Colors per Pack:24
- Total Crayons:576
- Colors Included:Apricot, Black, Blue, Bluetiful, Blue Green, Blue Violet, Brown, Carnation Pink, Cerulean, Gray, Green, Green Yellow, Indigo, Orange, Red, Red Orange, Red Violet, Scarlet, Violet, Violet Red, White, Yellow, Yellow Green, Yellow Orange
- Intended Use:Classrooms, group activities, creative learning
Our verdict“A smart bulk purchase for classrooms that need uniform supplies cheap — everyone else should buy a single box.”
Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, Washable, Acid-Free, Clear, 7g, 30 Count
This 30-pack of Elmer’s All Purpose Glue Sticks makes the most sense for classrooms and families with multiple kids, because glue sticks vanish faster than any other supply on the list. The sticks go on clear and dry fast, which keeps poster board and paper projects from wrinkling or warping — a real advantage over liquid glue for younger students who tend to over-apply.
Compared with the Elmer’s Disappearing Purple 12-count, this set trades the purple visibility feature for sheer volume at a better per-stick price. Teachers stocking a shared supply bin will appreciate that; parents supervising one wobbly kindergartner might prefer the purple version instead. The bond holds well on paper, cardboard, and foam, but it’s not water resistant, so anything destined for a display board near a window or sink needs a stronger adhesive.
Pros:- Goes on smooth without clumps for neat application
- Dries quickly and clear to prevent wrinkled paper
- Non-toxic, acid-free, and photo-safe for kids’ work
- Works on paper, cardboard, and foam alike
Cons:- Each 7g stick is too small for bigger builds
- Not water resistant once dry
- Large projects can burn through several sticks fast
Best for: Teachers and parents stocking glue for multiple students or a full school year
Not ideal for: Students working on large 3D or display projects — the 7g sticks run out quickly and the bond isn’t water resistant
- Item Form:Stick
- Container Type:Tube
- Compatible Material:Cardboard, Foam, Paper
- Item Package Quantity:30 sticks
- Volume:7 grams per stick
- Drying Finish:Clear
- Safety:Non-toxic, acid-free, washable
Our verdict“Buy this if you’re buying glue for a crowd; skip it if one student needs adhesive for heavy or oversized projects.”
Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors
Artecho’s 48-color oil pastel set stands out for giving students an unusually broad palette at a student-friendly price. That color count matters more than it sounds: shading skin tones, layering sunsets, and color-mixing exercises all fall apart with a 12-color starter set. The pastels are soft and blend smoothly, which makes them forgiving for beginners still learning pressure and technique.
Against the Pentel Oil Pastels 50 Color Set, the Artecho holds its own on pigment vibrancy but the sticks are a bit more prone to snapping, so they demand gentler handling — a real consideration for elementary-age users. Each pastel comes in its own sleeve, which keeps hands and pencil cases cleaner than naked sticks. Compared with the Crayola Construction Paper bulk pack later in this list, pastels pair beautifully with that paper’s texture for blended backgrounds.
Pros:- 48 vibrant, richly pigmented colors for serious color work
- Soft texture blends and shades smoothly
- Individual sleeves keep sticks protected and hands clean
- Portable enough for travel sketching and art class
Cons:- Sticks break easily without careful handling
- Only 48 shades — professionals will want a wider range
Best for: Middle and high school students exploring color blending who have outgrown basic crayons
Not ideal for: Art students building a portfolio for AP or college applications — the pigment load trails professional-grade pastels
- Number of Colors:48
- Pastel Size:70 mm x 10 mm
- Material:Oil pastel
- Non-toxic:Yes
- Sleeves:Individual protective sleeves
- Skill Level:Beginner to intermediate
Our verdict“The best budget gateway into color blending for students ready to move past crayons, as long as they handle the sticks gently.”
Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 6 Grams, 12 Count
The disappearing purple formula is the whole story here: kids can see exactly where they’ve glued, so they stop either missing the edge entirely or caking on half the stick. That visual feedback makes this set better suited to early elementary students than any clear glue stick on this list.
The tradeoff versus the Elmer’s All Purpose 30-count is straightforward — you get half the glue and slightly smaller sticks, but far fewer frustrated glue-everywhere moments. For a single child’s supply list, 12 sticks usually covers a school year. The purple dries completely clear, so the finish is just as neat, and the washable, photo-safe formula means mistakes wipe off clothing without drama. It still bonds only paper, cardboard, and foam board, so heavier craft materials need a different adhesive.
Pros:- Purple color shows exactly where glue is applied
- Dries clear for a neat finished project
- Washable and non-toxic for worry-free cleanup
- Photo-safe for scrapbooks and memory projects
Cons:- Only 12 small sticks — poor value per gram
- Not enough adhesive for larger or multi-project needs
Best for: Parents of kids ages 4–8 who are still learning where and how much glue to apply
Not ideal for: Classroom bulk buying or older students — the 12-count costs more per gram than the 30-pack
- Weight:6 grams per stick
- Quantity:12 count
- Application:Bonds to paper, cardboard, foam board, display board
- Color:Purple when applied, dries clear
- Safety:Non-toxic, acid-free, photo-safe
- Cleanup:Washable
Our verdict“Pick this over clear glue sticks when the user is young enough that visible application actually prevents messes.”
Crayola Construction Paper Bulk Pack (480 Sheets) – 10 Assorted Colors, 9×12
Construction paper is the quiet workhorse of student art, and 480 sheets in 10 colors means a class of 30 can run through a semester of collages, cutouts, and posters without rationing. The 9×12 size fits standard folders and most school project requirements, and Crayola’s stock is thick enough to survive glue, markers, and enthusiastic cutting without tearing.
Where this sits in the lineup: it’s the surface everything else acts on. The Crayola Broad Line Markers show up bold on these colors, and the Artecho Oil Pastels blend nicely on the textured stock. Two real annoyances, though — the sheets arrive bound into pads, so tearing them out cleanly takes care, and there’s no acid-free guarantee, which matters if a project is meant to last years. For everyday classwork, neither is a dealbreaker.
Pros:- 480 sheets cover a full classroom for months
- 10 vibrant assorted colors support versatile projects
- Thick, sturdy stock holds up to glue and markers
- Standard 9×12 size fits typical school assignments
Cons:- Sheets come pad-bound, making clean individual removal awkward
- Not acid-free, so colors may yellow over time
Best for: Teachers, homeschoolers, and program coordinators supplying paper for group projects all year
Not ideal for: Students needing archival or specialty papers for portfolios — this is everyday craft stock, not gallery-grade
- Quantity:480 sheets
- Colors:10 assorted colors
- Sheet Size:9 x 12 inches
- Brand:Crayola
- Format:Pad-bound sheets
- Intended Use:Classroom projects, arts and crafts
Our verdict“The most cost-effective way to keep a busy classroom or craft table in paper, as long as longevity isn’t the goal.”
Crayola Broad Line Markers (12-pack of 10), Assorted Colors for Kids
This isn’t one marker set — it’s twelve individually boxed 10-packs, which is the difference between a supply for a student and a supply for a classroom. Teachers handing out table-group kits, camp directors, and party planners get pre-portioned sets that eliminate the squabbling over a shared box. Each pack covers the core ten colors with durable broad tips that lay down bold, even lines on everything from coloring books to the Crayola Construction Paper in this roundup.
Compared with the Crayola Super Tips 100-count, this option sacrifices color variety for distribution logistics — ten colors per kid beats a hundred colors per classroom fight. The broad tips also suit younger hands better than fine points. The flip side: an individual family buying this will store eleven boxes they don’t need, and the caps must be clicked down firmly or the markers dry out within weeks.
Pros:- 12 separate boxed sets make classroom distribution effortless
- Durable broad tips produce bold, consistent lines
- Ten core colors cover most school projects
- Non-toxic and safe for ages 3 and up
Cons:- Wildly excessive for one child’s use
- Caps left off will dry the markers out quickly
- Only 10 colors per pack — limited variety next to larger sets
Best for: Teachers and group leaders who need to hand each student their own complete marker set
Not ideal for: Single-student households — one child can’t use 120 markers before half of them dry out
- Quantity:12 packs of 10 markers each (120 total)
- Colors:Orange, Yellow, Brown, Violet, Red, Blue, Black, Pink, Gray, Green
- Type:Broad line markers
- Ages:3+
- Safety:Non-toxic
- Packaging:12 individually boxed sets
Our verdict“A smart bulk purchase for anyone supplying a whole group; a wasteful one for anyone supplying a single kid.”
Pentel Oil Pastels – 50 Color Set (PHN-50)
For students who have outgrown starter pastels, this 50-color Pentel set earns its place as the premium upgrade over the Artecho Oil Pastels Set of 48 Colors. The difference comes down to pigment load: Pentel’s colors go down richer and more fade-resistant, which matters for portfolio pieces a student wants to keep beyond the school year. The included carrying case is a genuine plus for teens shuttling supplies between home and class, and the humidity resistance means summer projects won’t turn muddy. The tradeoff is price — chalk pastel sets cost meaningfully less — and oil pastels demand careful storage or finished work smudges. Compared with dry media like the Crayola Colored Pencils (36 Count), blending here is faster and more painterly, but far less precise. This pick makes the most sense for a serious middle or high school artist, not a first-timer experimenting.
Pros:- Vibrant, fade-resistant pigment that holds up in portfolios
- Smooth application that blends easily on paper, canvas, and artboard
- Carrying case included for transport between classes
- Certified non-toxic and humidity-resistant
Cons:- Noticeably more expensive than chalk pastel alternatives
- Requires careful storage to prevent smudging finished work
Best for: Middle and high school art students building a portfolio who need rich, blendable color that lasts
Not ideal for: Younger kids or casual crafters — the price and smudge-prone finish make cheaper chalk sets a smarter buy
- Brand:Pentel
- Model Number:PHN-50
- Color Count:50
- Recommended Use:Drawing on paper, canvas, and artboard
- Item Weight:1.89 kg
- Case Included:Yes, carrying case
- Safety:Certified non-toxic
- Warranty:Limited Lifetime Warranty
Our verdict“A worthwhile step up for dedicated student artists who want gallery-worthy color depth, though casual doodlers should stick with cheaper sets.”
KALOUR 18-Piece Professional Sketch Pencil Set with Erasers, Sharpener, and Blending Stump
Where most items in this roundup serve color work, this set targets the foundational skill every art student needs: shading. With 14 pencils spanning 5H to 14B, it covers a far wider value range than a general-purpose set like the Crayola Colored Pencils (36 Count), which offers color variety but almost no tonal control. The included kneaded eraser and blending stump matter more than they sound — kneaded erasers lift graphite for highlights without damaging paper, a technique art teachers expect students to learn. The accessories mean there’s no extra shopping before the first assignment. The honest tradeoff: this is traditional graphite only, with no colored media, and no mention of a case, so organization falls on the student. Compared with the Pentel pastels above, this is the quieter, more technical pick — better for drawing class than expressive color projects.
Pros:- Wide 5H to 14B hardness range for full tonal control
- Kneaded and vinyl erasers cover both lifting and clean-up techniques
- Sharpener and blending stump included, ready for class day one
- Scales from beginner exercises to advanced portraiture
Cons:- Graphite only — no colored media in the set
- No case or storage solution mentioned, easy to lose pieces
Best for: Art students taking drawing or sketching classes who need a full hardness range for shading assignments
Not ideal for: Students focused on colorful crafts and posters — there’s no color here, just graphite and accessories
- Number of Pencils:14
- Total Pieces:18
- Hardness Range:5H to 14B
- Included Accessories:Vinyl eraser, kneaded eraser, sharpener, paper blending stump
- Medium:Graphite sketching
- Skill Level:Beginner to professional
Our verdict“The best pick here for learning to draw properly, as long as the student’s coursework is about shading and value rather than color.”
How We Picked
I evaluated every product through the same student-focused lens: washability and safety (whether items clean off skin, clothes, and desks), cost per use (a 100-count set that lasts two semesters can beat a cheap 12-pack), and age appropriateness (a product that frustrates a 6-year-old or bores a 15-year-old loses points regardless of quality). I also weighed versatility — supplies that cover multiple project types ranked higher than single-purpose items — and classroom practicality, meaning bulk counts, storage durability, and how well items survive a backpack.
The ranking order reflects a simple principle: the best overall pick should serve the widest range of students, while lower-ranked products still earn a place when they solve a specific problem better than anything above them. That is why a humble glue stick appears at all — for collage-heavy elementary curricula, it matters more than a fancier marker set. Where two products overlap almost exactly, price and count broke the tie, and I flag those head-to-heads directly in the write-ups.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Art Supplies For Students
Before adding anything to your cart, it helps to understand how student art supplies differ from artist-grade materials and where the common buying mistakes happen. These are the factors I would weigh first, regardless of which specific products you choose.
Match the Medium to the Grade Level
The single most common mistake is buying for the student you want rather than the student you have. Elementary students need washable, forgiving media — markers, crayons, and clay — because fine motor control is still developing and everything ends up on clothing. Middle schoolers start needing layering tools like colored pencils and pastels that reward patience and technique. High school students working on portfolios need graphite grades, blending tools, and pigment density that kid-focused brands simply do not offer. Buying artist-grade supplies for a second grader wastes money on capabilities they cannot yet use, while giving a teen a washable marker set signals the work is not being taken seriously. When in doubt, buy one tier below what seems age-appropriate and upgrade when the student outgrows it.
Washability Is Not a Luxury for Younger Kids
Every washable product costs slightly more than its permanent counterpart, and that premium pays for itself the first time a marker meets a school uniform. Check the label for the word washable specifically — it means the pigment is designed to lift with water, which is different from merely being non-toxic. Non-toxic only tells you the product is safe to touch or accidentally ingest; it says nothing about whether purple streaks will survive the laundry. For classroom purchases, washability also affects the teacher’s cleanup time, which is a real constraint at scale. The tradeoff is that washable formulas sometimes deliver slightly less saturated color, so a dedicated art student may eventually prefer permanent media for finished pieces.
Do the Price-Per-Use Math on Bulk Packs
Big counts look expensive upfront but usually win on economics — the Super Tips 100-pack costs far less per marker than any small set, and bulk construction paper costs pennies per sheet. The mistake runs the other way too: buying bulk for a single child often ends in dried-out supplies, because markers and glue sticks degrade once opened and rarely survive long storage. A useful rule is to buy bulk only when three or more students will use the supplies within a school year, or when the items are shareable across a classroom. Paper and pencils store indefinitely; glue sticks and markers do not. Check expiration expectations on adhesive products before committing to a 30-count box for one child.
Watch for Overlapping Purchases
Many families end up with four products that do the same job. Broad line markers, Super Tips, and even oil pastels can all cover a coloring book page, so buying all three mostly adds clutter. A smarter approach is to pick one coverage tool, one detail tool, and one 3D or mixed-media tool, then fill gaps only when a specific project demands it. This lineup deliberately includes near-duplicates in the marker category because price differences at the same count are real decision points, but a buyer should choose between them, not buy both. Teachers buying for group use get a pass here — variety prevents disputes — but households should specialize.
Storage and Portability Affect Survival Rates
A supply that cannot survive a backpack is a supply that gets replaced by October. Look for resealable packaging or cases — pencil tins, marker boxes with latching lids, and re-closeable paper sleeves keep items from scattering and drying out. Loose crayons and uncapped markers are the two fastest paths to wasted money in this category. Clay deserves special mention: air-dry clay that is not sealed airtight after opening hardens in the tub, so budget for zip bags or containers if the full 5-pound block will not be used in one session. For students who transport supplies between home and school, a rigid case is worth more than any marginal upgrade in pigment quality.
Know When to Stop Buying Kid Brands
There is a real ceiling on student-grade supplies, and serious young artists hit it quickly. Once a student is shading spheres, blending graphite, or building a portfolio, tools like a graded sketch pencil set deliver more value than another washable marker pack. The signals are easy to spot: frustration with limited color range, interest in technique videos, or requests for specific materials by name. At that point, spending on one professional-grade tool beats spending the same amount on five kid-grade sets. For everyone below that threshold, the washable, affordable options in this roundup are genuinely the right call — professional supplies for a casual crafter are money spent on durability and pigment nuance nobody will notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Crayola Super Tips worth it over a basic 12-pack of markers?
For most students, yes, but the gap depends on how they use markers. Super Tips have fine tips that handle lettering, detail coloring, and thin lines, which a broad line 12-pack simply cannot do, and the 100-color range reduces the constant swapping that frustrates kids mid-project. A 12-pack remains the better buy if markers are only used occasionally for coloring large areas, since the per-marker cost difference only pays off with regular use. Families with very young children may also prefer fewer options — some kids spend more time choosing a color than drawing with it. If your student journals, bullet journals, or colors detailed pages, the Super Tips are a clear upgrade.
Should I buy oil pastels for an elementary school student?
I would hold off until around age 8 or 9. Oil pastels are wonderful for teaching blending and bold color, but they smear easily, resist full washing out of clothing, and require deliberate pressure control that younger kids lack. The Artecho 48-color set is the safer entry point because it is inexpensive enough that ruined sticks are not a tragedy, while the Pentel 50-color set rewards the technique of a student who already knows they love the medium. For early elementary students, crayons deliver a similar bold-color experience with far better washability. If a teacher specifically requests pastels, send an old shirt along with them.
Is a 5-pound tub of air-dry clay too much for one child?
It can be, and the risk is not running out — it is the clay drying out before it gets used. Once opened, air-dry clay needs airtight storage or it hardens in the container, so a single student working solo may waste a large share of a 5-pound tub. That size makes the most sense for classrooms, co-ops, or multi-child households where projects happen weekly. For one child, use the clay in planned sessions, divide the block into zip-sealed portions immediately, and add a damp paper towel to stored chunks to extend life. If projects are occasional rather than regular, consider whether a smaller tub, even at a worse per-pound price, is actually the better deal.
Purple or clear glue sticks — does the color actually matter?
The disappearing purple feature matters most for young students and high-volume use. Purple glue shows exactly where adhesive has been applied, which teaches kids not to over-glue and lets them see coverage before pressing pieces together — genuinely useful for kindergarten through about second grade. For older students, the color adds nothing, and clear sticks avoid any faint purple residue showing through thin paper. In this comparison, the purple 30-count makes sense for classrooms while the clear 12-count suits a single older student. Neither formula is stronger; the adhesive performance is the same, so treat it purely as a visibility and count decision.
When should a student upgrade from Crayola-colored pencils to artist-grade pencils?
The trigger is technique, not age. Crayola colored pencils are wax-based, which means weaker pigment, visible streaking, and difficulty layering — fine for coloring maps and school posters, but limiting for shading exercises or blended artwork. Once a student is watching blending tutorials, layering colors deliberately, or complaining that their colors look washed out, a student-to-artist-grade set becomes a worthwhile gift. The KALOUR graphite sketch set in this lineup marks the same threshold for drawing, covering the shading and blending foundation before anyone invests in expensive colored pencil brands. Skipping that step usually means buying professional pencils a beginner cannot yet exploit.
Conclusion
For most buyers, the Crayola Super Tips 100-Count set is the best overall choice — no other single product in this lineup covers as many ages, subjects, and project types at its price. The Crayola Broad Line Markers 12-pack and Elmer’s glue sticks take the value crown for families and teachers who need functional basics at the lowest cost per use. On the premium end, the Pentel 50-color oil pastel set and KALOUR sketch pencil set are the picks for students serious enough to notice the difference in pigment and graphite grades. Young beginners are best served by the washable trio of Crayola crayons, broad line markers, and air-dry clay, which matches their motor skills instead of fighting them. For specific needs: classrooms should buy the bulk construction paper, 30-count glue sticks, and 24-pack crayon bundle; detail-oriented and middle school students should get Super Tips; and any student heading toward a portfolio needs the sketch pencil set first. Pick the tier that matches the artist in front of you — not the one you hope they become — and you will not waste money on either end.
NFL season / tailgating Picks
team gear
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
