Best Drawing Charcoals of 2026

Corey Phillips Avatar
Corey Phillips
Last Updated: 7 Feb 2026

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Drawing charcoals are a versatile and popular medium among artists of all levels. They are made of compressed charcoal and come in various forms such as sticks, pencils, and powder. Charcoals are known for their rich black colour and ability to create dramatic and expressive marks on paper. They are ideal for creating sketches, shading, and creating texture. Charcoals are also easy to blend and smudge, making them perfect for creating soft and subtle tones. Whether you are a professional artist or just starting out, drawing charcoals are a must-have in any art kit.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Zieler® Artists Charcoal Drawing Set - 24 Pieces Cover #TOP 1
Zieler® Artists Charcoal Drawing Set - 24 Pieces
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Coates Willow Charcoal Assorted Pack of 30 Cover #TOP 2
Coates Willow Charcoal Assorted Pack of 30
ftb score rating icon 9.8
PaulStore 12 Assorted Charcoal Drawing Sticks Cover #TOP 3
PaulStore 12 Assorted Charcoal Drawing Sticks
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 8 Drawing Charcoals

#TOP 1

Zieler® Artists Charcoal Drawing Set - 24 Pieces

09299538
black
1 count (Pack of 1)
Zieler® Artists Charcoal Drawing Set - 24 Pieces Cover
Zieler - Artists Charcoal Drawing Set | 24-piece Gift Tin Set | The Ideal Starter Set!

The Zieler® Charcoal Drawing Set includes essential tools for artists, featuring six compressed charcoal sticks in soft, medium, and hard varieties. These are perfect for creating a range of tones and textures in your drawings. You also receive four vine charcoal sticks, which allow for quick and light-handed sketches. Additionally, the set includes three pencil-shaped compressed charcoal sticks, offering a more precise application. To enhance your blending techniques, three blending stumps are included, ensuring smooth transitions in your artwork.

What We Like
Comprehensive starter set
Portable gift tin included
Variety of charcoal types
Ideal for blending techniques
Perfect for beginners
#TOP 2

Coates Willow Charcoal Assorted Pack of 30

1004
Black
Coates Willow Charcoal Assorted Pack of 30 Cover
Coates Willow Charcoal Assorted 30 Pieces

The Coates Willow Charcoal offers high-quality drawing charcoals, grown in the picturesque Southwest of England. Each stick is crafted from selected willow rods, ensuring that you receive only the best materials for your artwork. The non-compressed design allows for a smooth application, giving you greater control over your strokes. The package includes 30 assorted sticks, providing you with a variety of options for your creative projects, making it convenient for both beginners and experienced artists alike.

What We Like
High-quality willow charcoal
Non-compressed for smooth application
30 assorted sticks included
Ideal for all skill levels
#TOP 3

PaulStore 12 Assorted Charcoal Drawing Sticks

Willow Charcoal
Black
1 count (Pack of 1)
PaulStore 12 Assorted Charcoal Drawing Sticks Cover
PaulStore 12 Assorted Willow Charcoal Sketch Drawing Natural Charcoal Sticks Drawing

The PaulStore Charcoal Sticks are crafted from high-quality wild charcoal, perfect for both beginners and experienced artists. Their unique soft and velvety texture allows you to create smooth, glossy lines, enhancing your drawing experience. Whether you are working on still life, loose sketches, or fine art, these charcoal sticks provide consistent results that elevate your artwork. They also make an excellent gift for artists, ensuring they have the best materials to express their creativity.

What We Like
High-quality soft grade charcoal
Grit-free, glossy lines
Ideal for various drawing styles
Light and easy to use
Great gift for artists

Winsor & Newton Thick Willow Charcoal Sticks

7005171
Pack of 3
3 count (Pack of 1)
Winsor & Newton Thick Willow Charcoal Sticks Cover
Winsor & Newton Thick Charcoal Stick (Pack of 3)

The Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sticks are made from high-quality willow wood and offer a rich jet black finish. As artist-quality charcoal, they are easy to smudge and remove, allowing you to create soft transitions in your artwork effortlessly. You will appreciate how the paint smear remains consistent, making it simple to blend and manipulate with your fingers. To preserve your creations, it is essential to use a fixative, and Winsor & Newton offers a recommended option for this purpose.

What We Like
High-quality willow wood
Easy to smudge and remove
Consistent paint smear
Recommended fixative available
#TOP 5

Winsor & Newton Willow Charcoal Sticks, 24 Count

7005176
Dark Grey
Winsor & Newton Willow Charcoal Sticks, 24 Count Cover
Winsor & Newton Willow Sticks - Charcoal (Pack fo 24)

The Winsor & Newton Charcoal Sticks offer high-quality drawing charcoal specially prepared for artists. The grey colour provides a versatile option for various artistic styles. With correctly baked wood, these sticks ensure an even line of consistent intensity, allowing you to create smooth, precise drawings. This attention to detail enhances your control over shading and texture, making your artwork more refined. Whether you're sketching or working on detailed illustrations, these charcoal sticks will meet your artistic needs.

What We Like
High-quality for artists
Even line consistency
Versatile grey colour
Enhances shading control
Easy to use
#TOP 6

Derwent Charcoal XL Blocks Set of 6 Shades

2306196
multi
Derwent Charcoal XL Blocks Set of 6 Shades Cover
Derwent Charcoal XL Blocks 6 Tin, Set of 6, 60mm Extra-Large Block, Naturally Water-soluble, Ideal for Sketching, Drawing and Expressive Mark Making, Professional Quality, 2306196

The Derwent Charcoal XL Blocks offer a versatile range of greyscale shades, allowing you to create expressive sketches and drawings with broad coverage. These blocks are naturally water-soluble, so you can easily blend and manipulate your work for smooth smudging effects, using your hand or a paper stump. The soft texture of the charcoal helps you achieve bold marks and agile lines, perfect for dynamic artwork. Additionally, the XL size means each block contains a generous amount of charcoal, equivalent to eight pencils, giving you great value and flexibility in your projects.

What We Like
Wide range of greyscale shades
Water-soluble for easy blending
Soft texture for smooth smudging
XL size offers great value
#TOP 7

12-Piece Compressed Charcoal Drawing Sticks Set

12Graphite
Black
12-Piece Compressed Charcoal Drawing Sticks Set Cover
12 Pieces Graphite Material Sticks Square Compressed Charcoal Sticks Drawing Pencils Set for DIY Drawing Crafts, Sketching, Shading, Beginners and Artists

The SZCXDKJ Charcoal Sticks set includes 12 high-quality compressed graphite charcoal bars, perfect for both beginners and experienced artists. You can easily cover large areas or make detailed adjustments in your artwork. The smooth texture and good toughness of the charcoal make it comfortable to hold and easy to use. Suitable for various painting styles, including sketching and oil painting, this set allows you to quickly express your creativity. Additionally, you can vary the pressure to achieve different colour tones, enhancing your artistic expression.

What We Like
High-quality materials
Versatile for various techniques
Easy to use for beginners
Comfortable grip
Excellent for detailed work
#TOP 8

HJYZY Willow Charcoal Sticks 5-8mm, 25 pcs

black
HJYZY Willow Charcoal Sticks 5-8mm, 25 pcs Cover
HJYZY 5-8mm Willow Charcoal Sticks for Sketching and Drawing Art Supplies for Professionals Students and Hobbyists 25 pcs

The HJYZY Willow Charcoal Sticks offer a set of 25 pieces in the most commonly used sizes, giving you plenty of options for your artwork. Made from real willow branches, these sticks are all-natural and safe, perfect for any charcoal drawing project. Their removable quality makes them ideal for sketching and basic compositions, allowing you to dust off or erase marks easily as you refine your work. With a soft, velvety texture, these sticks create smooth, grit-free lines that are perfect for figure drawing, still life, and loose sketches, ensuring your art is consistently refined.

What We Like
All-natural willow material
Variety of commonly used sizes
Removable and easy to erase
Soft, smooth charcoal lines
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the 6 drawing media?

Topics include: pencils and colored pencils; charcoal, chalk, pastels, crayons and oil pastels; markers; inspiration, papers and sketchbooks.

2. What is charcoal used for in drawing?

Charcoal is a matte dark drawing material that crumbles easily and is often used for expressive marks.

Editor's Notes

During our drawing charcoal research, we found 263 drawing charcoal products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 19,217 customer reviews through our big data system to write the drawing charcoals list. We found that most customers choose drawing charcoals with an average price of £6.11.

The drawing charcoals are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of drawing charcoals, including Zieler, Speedball, PaulStore, Winsor & Newton, Derwent.

Written by
Corey Phillips Avatar

Corey Philips is an electrician and lighting expert. He graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering. Corey is a specialist contractor in lights. He sells and installs and recommends lights and lamp sheds, and other lights accessories. Aside from that, Corey is vast in installing and maintaining electrical appliances like air conditioners, water heaters, and the likes.