11 Best Pastel Art Marker Sets

Here are the best pastel art marker sets. If you love soft, dreamy colors in your artwork, pastel art markers are a must have. These pastel marker pens come in shades that are for gentle backgrounds, soft shading, and adding a light pop of color to any drawing.

In this post, I’m going over some of the best pastel colored markers that work well for both beginners and experienced artists, and what makes each one stand out.

I’ve always had a soft spot for pastel markers. There’s just something calming about blending those light pinks, soft blues, and buttery yellows. I use them all the time for journaling, layering over alcohol markers, and even in some of my coloring videos. Over the years I have used many brands!

Best Pastel Art Markers

Keep in mind that this list includes a mix of alcohol markers, acrylic markers, and water-based ones. Each type works a little differently, so you can pick what suits your project best. Some are great for blending, others are better for layering or adding soft pastel highlights.

1. Caliart 61 Pastel Alcohol Markers

If you’re looking for a big pastel set that is budget friendly, Caliart’s 61 pastel marker pack is a good one to get. These are alcohol based, so they blend nicely and work great for coloring pages with larger areas. This set is good for backgrounds or when you want soft, dreamy colors that layer without streaks.

2. Shuttle Art Pastel Acrylic Paint Markers

The ink on these markers is super smooth, and the brush tips are actually some of the best for acrylics. They work on more than just paper too and you can use them on wood shapes and even rocks when you need pastel designs. They’re also great if you want that painted look without dealing with brushes and messy tubes. They have several sets to choose from with lots of colors.

3. Shuttle Art Dual Brush Pastel Markers

These are water based and come with both a brush and fine tip, which makes them perfect for detail work or journaling. This set is fantastic to have for filling in smaller areas or when you need to add softer, muted shades without bleeding through the page. If you love using color by number books, these are a great match.

4. Arrtx Pastel Markers

Arrtx alcohol markers come in a soft pastel palette that blends smoothly and dries evenly. The set is well balanced with a mix of pale pinks, soft blues, and gentle greens that work great for dreamy art styles. They’re especially nice for layering and shading without harsh lines.

5. Ohuhu Water Based Pastel Markers

Ohuhu’s water based pastel markers are beginner friendly and great if you need muted colored ink for sketchbooks or journals. They also have a soft finish that’s fun for coloring florals or soft backgrounds. These are the ones to pull out when you want to switch things up from alcohol markers and keep things light. This brand also made my list for the best colored pencils for coloring.

6. Ohuhu Pastel Alcohol Markers

These are the ones you’ll see on most of the big coloring YouTube channels, and for good reason. The pastel set blends beautifully and has a smooth, even ink flow that works well for everything from characters to soft skies. I’ve used them on so many coloring pages, and they hold up really well over time.

7. Artistro 24 Dual Pastel Markers

I’ve used Artistro’s markers a ton over the years, so it’s no surprise their dual pastel markers are some of the top sellers. The colors are soft, smooth, and fun to blend. These are a good pick if you like using both a fine and brush tip in your work.

8. Tombow Pastel Markers

This brand is definately a favorite. I have so many Tombow markers in my collection, and I’ve been using them for coloring mostly in my planner. Their pastel range is one of the softest and prettiest out there. The water based ink gives you gentle blends and soft washes that look beautiful in coloring books.

9. Sharpie Pastel Marker Set

I don’t really use Sharpies for full coloring pages, but I do love them for little accents here and there. They’re great for outlining, adding pop to eyes or flowers, or writing cute quotes. The pastel colors are fun when you want something bold but not too bright.

10. Primrosia 24 Pastel Dual Tip Markers

This set comes in such cute packaging that it makes a sweet gift for someone who colors. The pastel shades are calm and soft, with both a brush and extra fine tip for those little details or zendoodles.

There’s lots of free zendoodle practice sheets to download and print if you like to use fine tipped markers.

11. Ohuhu 160 Color Set

If you want a full range that includes pastels and way more, this is the set. You’ll find soft shades and bold tones all in one box, which makes it great for experimenting. Ohuhu markers also blend really well, especially on smoother paper.

12. Copic Too Pastel Markers

Copic’s pastel shades are vibrant and smooth, with some of the best blending you can get. The ink flows perfectly and the brush tips are buttery soft. These are an investment, but they really do feel like artist tools.

13. Copic Sketch Pastel Markers

Here’s a more budget friendly way to try out the Copic brand without going for the full set. You still get those smooth blends and rich color quality they’re known for, just in a smaller pack. It’s a nice way to test the markers before investing in the big collection.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my favorite pastel art markers. I hope this helped you find a set that fits your style, whether you’re adding soft touches to your planner or creating full pastel illustrations. Don’t forget to share this post with your artsy friends, and save it for later if you’re building up your marker collection.

Next, check out my list of the best oil pastels for beginners.