Best paper for coloured pencils

If you're looking for the right paper to use with coloured pencils, you've come to the right place! In this guide, we share our tips on paper for sketching, advanced techniques, beginners and professionals alike. Whether you're after smooth paper, textured surfaces or a unique colour, we’ll help you find the perfect match.

Best paper for coloured pencils for beginners

Perfect for anyone who wants to explore coloured pencils and draw a lot without breaking the bank. These papers are affordable yet sturdy enough to handle some layering, so you can experiment with techniques and grow without limits.

1. Daler-Rowney Smooth HeavyWeight
2. Faber-Castell Mixed Media Pad
3. Canson C à grain
4. Clairefontaine Paint'ON Artist Pad
5. Winsor & Newton Mixed Media Spiral Pad

See all drawing paper →

Best premium paper for coloured pencils

This is the paper for the pieces you truly invest in, when you want results that last over time and let your coloured pencils perform at their best. Premium paper is worth the investment. It is more durable, handles layering well and resists both erasing and scraping.

1. Clairefontaine Pastelmat Artist Pad Anthracite
2. Hahnemühle Mixed Media Bamboo
3. Hahnemühle Watercolour Paper Harmony Hot Pressed
4. Caran d'Ache Pastel Paper
5. Magnani Drawing Pad Annigoni

See all paper →

Best coloured paper for coloured pencils

Coloured paper is a simple way to create contrast and depth in your drawings. A subtle shade like brown, grey or sand can make light areas pop and adds a vivid and dramatic feel.

1. Hahnemühle The Cappuccino Pad Sketchbook
2. Daler-Rowney Black Paper
3. Winsor & Newton Pastel Pad Earth
4. Clairefontaine Paint'ON Artist Pad
5. Winsor & Newton Pastel Pad Grey

See all coloured paper →

Best sketch paper for coloured pencils

Affordable paper with lots of sheets for lots of ideas. Perfect for sketching with coloured pencils, especially when working in light layers and not needing to rework the paper repeatedly.

1. Crevide Sketch pad
2. Hahnemühle Creativ Spiral Sketchbook
3. Hahnemühle Spiral Sketchbook
4. Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook
5. Faber-Castell Sketch Pad

See all sketch paper →

Best smooth paper for coloured pencils

For those who want control, clean lines and soft transitions. Smooth paper is ideal for detailed drawings and light layers of colour. Easy to work on, especially for beginners, and responsive without resisting the pencil. Here are great smooth paper options in different price ranges.

1. Daler-Rowney Smooth HeavyWeight
2. Canson XL Bristol
3. Hahnemühle Bristol Paper
4. Crevide Sketch pad
5. Clairefontaine Paint'ON Artist Pad

See all drawing paper →

Best textured paper for coloured pencils

Textured paper has a surface that grips the pigment exceptionally well. It makes it easier to build up layers, blend colours and create depth. Many also love the rustic, slightly rough look it gives to a drawing. Watercolour paper is one example that works great with regular coloured pencils, as do pastel paper and heavier sketch papers.

1. Canson C à grain
2. Clairefontaine Pastelmat Artist Pad Anthracite
3. Hahnemühle Mixed Media Bamboo
4. Magnani Drawing Pad Annigoni
5. Watercolour Paper Harmony 300 g Hot Pressed

See all paper →

Best paper for watercolour pencils

For watercolour pencils, or when combining coloured pencils with wet techniques, watercolour paper is the best choice. Its durable surface and absorbency handle both colouring and wet brushes without warping or tearing. Here are some tips.

1. Arches Watercolour Paper
2. Crevide Watercolour Pad
3. Canson XL Aquarelle
4. Winsor & Newton Watercolour Block
5. St Cuthberts Mill Saunders Waterford Watercolour Block

See all watercolour paper →

Best sketchbook for coloured pencils

A good sketchbook should have a bit of texture for the pigment to grip, and thick pages that allow for shading and layering. One tip for coloured pencil users is to choose a book with coloured pages, it adds depth even to the simplest sketches.

1. Art Creation Sketchbook
2. Hahnemühle The Grey Book
3. Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook
4. Daler-Rowney Ebony Artist's Sketch Book Spiral
5. Moleskine Sketchbook ART collection

See all sketchbooks →