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If your first charcoal drawing turned into a gray smudge with snapped pencil tips all over the table, the pencils were probably the wrong grade and the sharpener was definitely the wrong tool.
My take: beginners don’t need a giant set. You need three grades (hard, medium, soft), a knife and a sanding block. Get those right and charcoal becomes one of the most forgiving, satisfying mediums there is.
Quick answer: Start with a small set that covers hard, medium and soft, like the Faber-Castell Pitt or Derwent pencils below. Sharpen with a craft knife and sandpaper, never an electric sharpener. Draw on paper with some tooth.
This post is about charcoal pencils specifically. For vine, compressed and powdered charcoal, see the best charcoal for drawing. For blenders, erasers and fixatives, see the best charcoal drawing tools.
Quick picks
Best Budget 
|
Best Overall 
|
Best for Blending 
|
$7.22
| $35.44
| $11.50
|
Comparison at a glance
| Pencil | Best for | Price | Blending | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Pitt | All-around | $$ | Smooth | Beginner+ |
| General’s kit | Budget starter | $ | Good | Beginner |
| Derwent | Soft blending | $$ | Very smooth | Beginner+ |
| Nitram | Fine detail work | $$ | Smooth | Intermediate |
| Caran d’Ache set | Upgrade set | $$$ | Smooth | Intermediate |
Why charcoal pencils are great for beginners
Charcoal gives you dark, rich values fast. A drawing that takes an hour to build in graphite can reach deep shadows in a few minutes.
Pencils are the friendliest way in. Stick charcoal is wonderful for big, loose shapes, but it coats your fingers and is hard to control in small areas. A pencil gives you a point, a cleaner hand and the same velvety blacks.
- sharp point for detail
- cleaner hands
- easy to control
- great for portraits
- fast big shapes
- messier
- broad strokes
- great for gesture
Charcoal also erases and lifts easily, so you can push and pull values while you learn. That forgiveness is why I recommend it for anyone practicing shading. If you’re deciding between mediums, charcoal vs graphite for realistic sketching compares the two.
Charcoal grades explained
Charcoal grades work backward from what you might expect. Soft charcoal makes the darkest marks. Hard charcoal makes lighter, crisper lines.
The confusing part: every brand labels grades differently, and an HB in one brand won’t match an HB in another.
| Brand | Hard | Medium | Soft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Pitt | Hard | Medium | Soft |
| Derwent | Light | Medium | Dark |
| General’s | HB or 2B | 4B | 6B |
Use hard for your first light layout, medium for building midtones and soft only at the end for your darkest darks. Soft charcoal on top of hard layers sits nicely; hard charcoal on top of soft tends to skate and scratch.
Top picks for beginners
Best overall: Faber-Castell Pitt charcoal pencils
Pitt charcoal pencils are my go-to recommendation for a first set. The cores lay down even, consistent tone, and the grades are clearly labeled, so you learn what soft, medium and hard actually feel like. A larger set gives you room to experiment without buying again later.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants one reliable set to learn on. Skip it if you only want to try charcoal once; the budget kit below is cheaper.
Best budget: General’s charcoal drawing kit
General’s kits are the classic starter in many art classes. They typically bundle charcoal pencils in a few grades with extras like a white charcoal pencil and an eraser, so you have a full beginner setup in one box for very little money.
Who it’s for: students and anyone testing the waters. Skip it if you already know you love charcoal; you’ll want the smoother cores of the Pitt or Derwent soon.
Best for smooth blending: Derwent charcoal pencils
Derwent labels its grades light, medium and dark, which is refreshingly simple. The cores blend into soft, smoky gradients, which makes them lovely for skin, clouds and fur.
Who it’s for: portrait and soft-value lovers. Skip it if you mostly draw crisp architectural lines; a harder Pitt pencil holds an edge better.
Ready to upgrade?
Once you’ve filled a sketchbook, these are the next steps.
Nitram fine art charcoal
Nitram is a favorite with academic and portrait artists for its consistency and fine, even texture. It’s a step up in control once you’re comfortable with the basics.
Caran d’Ache Art by Sketch set
This 14-piece set from the Swiss maker Caran d’Ache is a gift-worthy upgrade that gives you a range of sketching tools in one tin. It’s more than a beginner needs, which is exactly why it’s a nice reward once charcoal has stuck.
How to sharpen charcoal pencils without snapping them
Charcoal cores are brittle. Electric sharpeners grind and twist them, and cheap handheld sharpeners snap the tip just as it gets pointy. A craft knife and a sanding block give you a long, strong point.
A few extra tips:
- Shave in short strokes, rotating the pencil a quarter turn each time
- Keep a scrap of 220-grit sandpaper or a sanding pad taped to your desk
- Sharpen over a small dish so dust doesn’t drift onto your drawing
- Store pencils flat or point-up; a drop onto a hard floor can crack the core inside the wood
Must-have tools to go with your pencils
Essential Tool 
|
Best for Smooth Shading 
|
Best for Charcoal 
|
Protect Your Artwork 
|
$6.24
| $8.95
| $11.61
| $9.19
|
You’ll want a kneaded eraser for lifting highlights, blending stumps for soft transitions and paper with enough tooth to hold layers. My guide to kneadable erasers and the best paper for charcoal drawings go deeper on both.
Your first 3 charcoal drawings
Practice with a plan. Each of these takes under 30 minutes and teaches one skill.
| Drawing | Skill | Grades | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value strip, 5 boxes | Light to dark control | Hard to soft | 10 min |
| An egg on a table | Soft form shading | Medium, soft | 20 min |
| A crumpled paper bag | Edges and contrast | All three | 30 min |
Do the value strip first every session for a week. It warms up your hand and trains your eye to see five distinct steps instead of “light” and “dark”. For blending technique, see how to blend charcoal like a pro.
Set up your charcoal workspace
Best Art Desk 
|
Best Lighting 
|
Best Storage 
|
Essential Setup 
|
$109.99
| $195.30
| $59.97
| $59.99
|
Charcoal dust travels, so set up with that in mind. Work on a tilted surface so dust falls off the page instead of grinding in, and keep a damp cloth nearby for your hands.
Investment pieces worth it
You don’t need any of these to start. They’re worth it once charcoal becomes a regular habit.
Caran d’Ache Art by Sketch set (#7 above): Around $79. Worth it if you’ve filled at least one sketchbook and want a beautiful, varied kit. Skip it if you’re still figuring out whether you like charcoal.
Adjustable drafting table: The Stand Up Desk Store adjustable height and angle drafting table is around $300. The tilt lets charcoal dust fall away and keeps your page square to your eyes, and the height adjusts for sitting or standing. Over three years of weekly sessions, that’s about $1.90 a session. Skip it if you draw small in a sketchbook; a $25 tabletop drawing board does the tilt for less.
Color-true task lamp: The Daylight Company Lumi Task Lamp is around $195, with a 95+ CRI. Charcoal is all about value, and good side light shows you the difference between your midtones and your darks. Worth it if you draw in the evenings. Skip it if you have a bright north-facing window and draw by day.
FAQ
Are charcoal pencils good for beginners? Yes. They give you rich darks with more control and less mess than sticks.
What’s the difference between charcoal and graphite pencils? Charcoal is matte and darker, and it smudges more. Graphite is shinier and easier to keep clean. See graphite vs lead pencils for more on graphite.
Do I need fixative? For finished pieces, yes. Spray in light coats from about 12 inches away in a ventilated room.
Can I use a regular pencil sharpener? You can, but expect broken cores. A knife and sandpaper waste far less charcoal.
The takeaway
The best charcoal pencils for beginners are a small, reliable set covering hard, medium and soft. Sharpen them with a knife, practice your value strip, and upgrade only once the habit sticks.
Which brand are you starting with, or which one surprised you? Tell me in the comments. And save this pin for your next art supply run.
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