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Have you found the perfect colouring book but aren’t sure which pens to use? We’ll help you make the right choice! Colouring is a relaxing and enjoyable way to explore colours and techniques, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced creative. The right pens can make a big difference to both the colouring experience and the final result. Here, we guide you through the best options for colouring books – with a focus on colour, quality and paper-friendly pens that won’t bleed through!
Colouring books for adults - creative relaxation
Colouring books have always been a fantastic way for children to express their creativity, as well as a fun way to practise staying within the lines. In recent years, colouring books have also become popular with adults and are often described as a great way to relax and relieve stress. However, it can be tricky to know which pens and pencils are suitable and which ones won’t bleed through the paper. So, we’ve gathered our best tips to hopefully make your choice a little easier.
What to consider when choosing pens and pencils
The best type of pen or pencil to use for colouring books is largely a matter of personal preference. However, there are a few things to consider, whichever type you choose:
- Colour range: Do you want plenty of shades to work with? When colouring a detailed design, it can be useful to have several shades of the same colour to choose from. Opt for a set with a wide colour range so you can experiment and find your favourites.
- Tip size: Detailed designs require a fine tip, while larger areas are easier to cover with broader tips and brush pens.
- Paper thickness: Colouring books often use relatively thin paper (around 70-100 g/m²), which is similar to standard printer paper. Some pens can bleed through and ruin the design printed on the other side of the page. Water-based felt-tip pens, coloured pencils and gel pens are the best options for avoiding colour bleeding through the paper. Avoid alcohol-based markers, as they can easily bleed through the page.
Different types of pens and pencils for colouring books
The type of pen or pencil you choose can affect both the colouring experience and the final result. Do you want smooth colour transitions, intense colours or perhaps shimmering details? Below, we take a closer look at three popular options – coloured pencils, felt-tip pens and gel pens – and what they are best suited for.
Coloured pencils for colouring books
Coloured pencils are a classic choice for colouring books – they’re easy to use, offer great control and work well on most types of paper without bleeding through. They’re suitable for both large areas of colour and small details, and you can easily blend different shades by building up the colour in layers. Of course, there’s a huge range of brands and pencils to choose from. Here are a few that we think work particularly well with colouring books.
Affordable options
You don’t need the most expensive pencils to enjoy spending time with your colouring book. More affordable coloured pencils work brilliantly too! The most important thing is to choose a set with a good colour range, so you have enough shades for whatever you want to colour. We recommend starting with a set of 24 or 36 colours. This gives you a sufficiently broad colour range to work with. Most coloured pencils are also sold individually, making it easy to add specific colours to your collection later on. Once you’re truly hooked, it might be time to invest in a set of 120 colours.- Studio Collection from Winsor & Newton
- Goldfaber from Faber-Castell
- Rembrandt Polycolor from Lyra
- Intensity from BIC
- Black Edition from Faber-Castell
Premium options
If you’re looking for richer pigments, better coverage and pencils that work well for layering, there are some truly excellent coloured pencils to choose from. They offer high colour saturation, smooth application and excellent durability – perfect if you want a more professional and luxurious colouring experience. Take a look at these product ranges:- Faber-Castell Polychromos (140 colours)
- Derwent Lightfast (100 colours)
- Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 (100 colours)
- Caran d'Ache Pablo (120 colours)
Gel pens for colouring books
Gel pens are perfect when you want to give your colouring that little something extra! They glide smoothly across the paper and come in a huge variety of styles, from metallic and glitter to pastel and neon. Perfect for adding details that really stand out!
One thing to bear in mind is that gel pens take a little longer to dry. If you accidentally touch the ink too soon, it can smudge, so it’s worth being a little patient. But once it has dried, it gives a really beautiful finish!
Another bonus? They come in white too! A white gel pen is brilliant for adding highlights and light reflections. Try adding a glint to the eyes of an illustration, a reflection on a glass or small details that make the whole picture feel more alive. A little touch can make a big difference! Here are a few gel pens worth trying:- Gelly Roll from Sakura
- Dual Metallic from Pentel
- Mattehop from Pentel
Felt-tip pens for colouring books
Felt-tip pens are a popular choice for colouring because they produce bright, intense colours and are easy to work with. They glide smoothly across the paper and cover large areas quickly, making them perfect if you want vibrant colours without having to build them up layer by layer.
But not all felt-tip pens are the same! They come with different types of tips, from fine fineliners for small details to broad brush tips for smooth colour transitions. Another important thing to consider is the type of ink they contain. Water-based felt-tip pens work best in colouring books because they are less likely to bleed through the pages than alcohol-based markers. Below, we recommend some water-based felt-tip pens.
If you enjoy blending colours, water-based brush pens are a fun option, the colours can be blended with water to create smooth transitions, almost like watercolours.
Felt-tip pens offer a completely different colouring experience from coloured pencils and can be a fun way to add variety to your colouring. Experiment with different options and find your favourite!
Felt-tip pens with brush tips (brush pens)
Felt-tip pens with brush tips are a great option if you want more flexibility when colouring. The soft tip makes it easy to vary the line width, apply light pressure for thin lines or press more firmly for broad, full brush strokes. Perfect for both colouring large areas and adding details!
- ABT dual brush from Tombow
- Koi Coloring Brush from Sakura
- Brush 68 from Stabilo
- Clean Color from Zig Kuretake
Felt-tip pens with fine tips (fineliners)
Fineliners are perfect for detailed colouring books with small patterns and intricate lines. Their fine tips offer excellent precision and make it easy to colour without the ink spreading. Coloured fineliners are particularly popular because they provide vibrant colours and are ideal for mandalas and other highly detailed designs.
- Point 88 from Stabilo
- Triplus from Staedtler
- Intensity fineliner from BIC
Dual-tip felt-tip pens
Dual-tip felt-tip pens offer plenty of flexibility when colouring, a fine tip for details and a broader tip for filling in larger areas. They’re easy to work with and make it simple to vary line width and technique without having to switch pens. A practical choice for colouring books when you want both precision and coverage in a single pen!
- Mildliner from Zebra
- Intensity from BIC
- ABT dual brush from Tombow
- Promarker Watercolour from Winsor & Newton
Colouring Books →
Sharpeners →
Coloured Pencils →
