The short answer
Crayola Crayons, 24 count (pack of 2) are the everyday box to start with, Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Crayons are the pick if marks on walls and clothes worry you, and Honeysticks Originals are the beeswax set Honeysticks designs as a first crayon for toddlers (its age grade is in the labels section below).
Our verdict
Our Top Picks
Crayons are not all alike: some wash off walls, some are made for a toddler’s hand, and some are shaped for a preschooler’s grip. This guide compares six crayon sets sold on Amazon by what their makers state and what reviewers and parents found using them. Every age grade and safety mark below is the maker’s, and the label on your box is the final word.
Crayon finder
Find the right crayons
Pick a job and a price tier (price per crayon). The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the six sets below, not a test result. Check the age grade and any warning on the box before you buy.
Tiers are relative to the sets in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the picks
Compare the 6 Crayon Sets
Each row is the exact set we link; shapes and safety marks are the makers’ statements, and “not published” means the maker pages we read give none. Age grades are in the labels section below.
Crayola CrayonsEveryday BoxEveryday, schoolStandard stick$4.70
Evidence: Hip2Save, this exact box; we link a pack of two
Prang CrayonsSmooth Everyday BoxEveryday, schoolStandard stick$9.99
Evidence: Hip2Save, this exact model
Crayola Ultra-Clean WashableWashable Bulk SetWashable, classroomStandard stick$19.99 Prime
Evidence: The Budding Artists, Ultra-Clean Washable large size; we link the standard-size 64 count
Honeysticks OriginalsFirst Crayons, BeeswaxToddler, beeswaxStubby beeswax stick$22.95
Evidence: owner reports, no independent test
Crayon RocksGrip BuilderGrip, preschoolRock-shaped soy wax$8.30
Evidence: The Budding Artists, 32-color bag of the same rocks; we link the 8-color bag
Crayola Mini TwistablesNo-Sharpen Twist-UpTravel, no sharpeningTwist-up in a plastic barrel$8.77 Prime
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
How We Picked These Crayons
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer documentation, published third-party reviews and parent reports; we have not tested these products ourselves.
What we compared
- What the maker states: shape, count, washability and safety marks (the ACMI AP seal, ASTM D-4236 and, for toys, ASTM F963 and CPSIA).
- Stocked on Amazon: each pick was in stock and new when we checked on November 6, 2026; the seller is named in its review.
- Recalls: the CPSC’s recall database, searched for crayons and each brand on November 4, 2026, lists no recall of these crayons.
Sources and how we graded them and what we left out, and why
Sources and how we graded them
Hip2Save compared six crayon brands in 2025 and says “we purchased every box ourselves.” The Budding Artists, an art-education site, listed pros and cons for nine kinds of crayon. Green Choice Lifestyle is a teacher-parent’s guide to natural crayons. We also read an occupational therapist’s post on crayon size and grip and a homeschool parents’ thread on Reddit. Each review’s Evidence line says whether it rests on an exact-model review, a review of another size or count, an owner’s report or the maker’s specs.
What we left out, and why
- Colored pencils. Our earlier version included Twistables colored pencils, which are not crayons.
- Two out-of-stock Crayola sets. The Budding Artists reviewed Crayola’s large Ultra-Clean Washable crayons and My First Palm Grip crayons; neither was in stock on Amazon when we checked.
- Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Crayons, which its listing says are “made completely of break-resistant plastic–not wax,” and Stockmar beeswax blocks, which we found on Amazon only from resellers we could not vet.
Detailed Reviews
Crayola Crayons, Everyday Box
Families and teachers who want a cheap, standard box for everyday coloring and school lists; check the box's age grade.
$4.70 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
The classic 24-color box, linked as a pack of two, the lowest price per crayon here when we checked; Hip2Save found it messy and quick to break.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Hip2Save: Crayola Crayons, 24-count box (we link a pack of two of the same box).
Crayola says these crayons are “double wrapped for extra strength,” and its FAQ says Crayola art materials “carry the Art and Creative Materials Institute’s (ACMI) APPROVED PRODUCT (AP) seal.” Hip2Save called Crayola “a traditional must-have pick” and “the cheapest pack of crayons on our entire list,” but also “one of the messiest crayons” that “broke the easiest out of all the boxes I tested.” On r/homeschool, the commenter Realistic-Tadpole-56 wrote: “We use crayola for color consistency, but yes they are mostly broken by week 3.”
Specs (linked: Crayola Crayons, 24 count, pack of 2)
Pros
- The lowest price per crayon of the sets here when we checked, with Crayola’s AP seal
Cons
- One of the messiest boxes Hip2Save compared, and the one that broke the easiest
- Not washable, and paper wrappers peel, as The Budding Artists notes
Who should buy it
Families and teachers who want a cheap, standard box for everyday coloring and school lists; check the box’s age grade.
- Count: 24 colors per box, standard size (Crayola); the linked listing is a pack of two boxes
- Washable: no; this is not Crayola’s washable line
- Safety marks: ACMI AP seal (Crayola FAQ); age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: PrmeSource Deals, LLC (third-party seller) when we checked
- Price tier: $
Prang Crayons, Smooth Everyday Box
Parents who want smoother color than Crayola and do not mind paying more per crayon; check the box's age grade.
$9.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
A standard 24-color box that Hip2Save found smoother and less flaky than Crayola, at a higher price per crayon; Prang says it is AP certified.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Hip2Save: Prang Crayons, 24-pack (Hip2Save links this listing).
Prang says these crayons give “smooth laydown with less flaking than ordinary crayons” and calls them “AP certified.” Hip2Save linked this exact listing and wrote: “They’re very smooth and have very minimal flaking when compared to the Crayola and Cra-Z-Art crayon brands. However, they’re pricier than the two other popular picks combined.” Its tester had no breaks but was “disappointed with the colors.”
Specs (linked: Prang Crayons, standard size, 24 count)
Pros
- Smoother, less flaky color than Crayola in Hip2Save’s comparison
- Prang offers a replacement promise on its products (Prang)
Cons
- Higher price per crayon than the Crayola box
- Hip2Save’s tester was disappointed with the colors overall
Who should buy it
Parents who want smoother color than Crayola and do not mind paying more per crayon; check the box’s age grade.
- Count: 24 colors, standard size (Prang)
- Washable: no; not sold as washable
- Safety marks: AP certified (Prang); age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: BestSource OfficeSupplies, shipped from Amazon, when we checked
- Price tier: $$
Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Crayons, Washable Bulk Set
Families with a wall-drawer, or a classroom table, who want Crayola's washable formula in bulk; check the box's age grade.
$19.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
Two 64-color boxes of Crayola’s washable crayons, the one set here its maker says washes off skin, most washable clothes and most painted walls.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. The Budding Artists: Ultra-Clean Washable, large size (16 count).
Crayola says its Ultra-Clean Washable Crayons “easily wash off skin, most washable clothes, and most painted walls,” and each 64 box has a built-in sharpener. The Budding Artists reviewed the large size of the same washable line and listed “washable” and “affordable” as pros, with “break easily,” “paper peels” and colors that do not always match the label as cons. One homeschool parent on Reddit, FImom, wrote: “I use regular Crayola. The washable ones break a little easier.” Test a mark on your own wall or fabric first.
Specs (linked: Ultra-Clean Washable Crayons, 64 count, 2-pack)
Pros
- Washes off skin, most washable clothes and most painted walls, by Crayola’s account
- 128 crayons in two boxes, enough for siblings or a classroom table
- Built-in sharpener in each box (Crayola)
Cons
- Washable crayons break a little easier, by one parent’s account; The Budding Artists lists “break easily”
- Colors do not always match the label, in The Budding Artists’ review of the large size
Who should buy it
Families with a wall-drawer, or a classroom table, who want Crayola’s washable formula in bulk; check the box’s age grade.
- Count: 128 crayons, two boxes of 64 colors (Amazon listing)
- Washable: from skin, most washable clothes and most painted walls (Crayola)
- Safety marks: nontoxic and ACMI AP seal (Crayola); age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: Amazon.com when we checked
- Price tier: $
Honeysticks Originals, First Crayons, Beeswax
Parents choosing a first crayon for a toddler who want beeswax and a stubby shape; check Honeysticks' age grade on the box.
$22.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
Short, stubby beeswax crayons that Honeysticks designs as a first crayon for toddlers; they cost the most per crayon here.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Green Choice Lifestyle (Sofia Mitchellis): Honeysticks, set not stated.
Honeysticks says the Originals have “a short, stubby design made especially for little hands – easy to grip yet tough to break,” made from “100% pure beeswax and food-grade pigments” with no paraffin wax. Its FAQ does not call them washable and suggests a cloth “slightly dampened with warm water” for stray marks. Sofia Mitchellis of Green Choice Lifestyle made Honeysticks her top pick and wrote: “We’ve been using them for over 3 years!” She does not say which Honeysticks set.
Specs (linked: Honeysticks Originals, 12 pack)
Pros
- A short, stubby shape Honeysticks designs for toddlers’ hands
- Pure beeswax with food-grade pigments, no paraffin (Honeysticks)
- Years of use of Honeysticks crayons (set not named) by a teacher-parent who reviews natural crayons
Cons
- The highest price per crayon of the picks here
- No AP seal or ASTM mark on the Honeysticks pages we read
Who should buy it
Parents choosing a first crayon for a toddler who want beeswax and a stubby shape; check Honeysticks’ age grade on the box.
- Count and size: 12 crayons, each 2.2 in long and 0.8 in across (Honeysticks’ listing)
- Material: 100% beeswax, food-grade pigments, no paraffin wax (Honeysticks)
- Washable: not sold as washable; wipe marks with a damp cloth (Honeysticks)
- Safety marks: not published on the Honeysticks pages we read; age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: Honeysticks’ own Amazon storefront, shipped from Amazon, when we checked
- Price tier: $$$
Crayon Rocks, Grip Builder
Parents of preschoolers, and therapists, who want a grip-shaped crayon for free drawing; check the warning and age grade on the bag.
$8.30 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
Rock-shaped soy-wax crayons that their maker shapes to encourage a tripod grip, recommended on an occupational-therapy blog; the maker’s choking warning is in the labels section.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. The Budding Artists: Crayon Rocks, 32-color bag.
Crayon Rocks says each rock is about 1¼ by ¾ inches, “equal in volume to a traditional stick crayon,” and “Certified to ASTM D-4236, ASTM F-963, EN71-3, and CPSIA safety standards.” Its FAQ says the shape is designed “to encourage a tripod grip, the same grip used for handwriting.”
Jaime, who writes the occupational-therapy blog MissJaimeOT, wrote: “Crayon rocks are perfect for little fingers! They automatically put your fingers in a ‘pinch’ position so kids don’t get in the habit of ‘fisting’ their crayons.” The Budding Artists reviewed the 32-color bag and listed “smooth application” and “strengthen tripod grip” as pros, and difficulty “when doing detailed work” as a con. We link the 8-color bag of the same rocks.
Specs (linked: Crayon Rocks, 8 colors, blue velvet bag)
Pros
- A shape its maker designs to encourage a tripod grip, recommended on an occupational-therapy blog
- The only pick here whose maker names ASTM F963 and CPSIA as well as ASTM D-4236
- Smooth color, in The Budding Artists’ review of the 32-color bag
Cons
- A choking warning from its maker (see the labels section)
- Hard to see where you are coloring in detailed work, as The Budding Artists notes
- A high price per crayon
Who should buy it
Parents of preschoolers, and therapists, who want a grip-shaped crayon for free drawing; check the warning and age grade on the bag.
- Count: 8 colors (Crayon Rocks)
- Size: about 1¼ x ¾ in each (Crayon Rocks)
- Material: non-toxic soy wax, made in Kentucky (Crayon Rocks)
- Safety marks: ASTM D-4236, ASTM F963, EN71-3, CPSIA (Crayon Rocks); age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: the Crayon Rocks storefront (listed as “Crayons Rocks”), shipped from Amazon, when we checked
- Price tier: $$$
Crayola Mini Twistables, No-Sharpen Twist-Up
Families who want crayons for the car or a bag, or for a child who peels and snaps paper-wrapped crayons; check the box's age grade.
$8.77 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 17:24 UTCVerdict
Twist-up crayons in plastic barrels that Crayola says never need sharpening or peeling; this set has Crayola’s Fun Effects colors. No independent test we could find, so this rests on Crayola’s specs.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Crayola.
Crayola says Twistables “never need sharpening” and that “the durable plastic barrels are clear and let kids see the color inside while protecting it against breakage.” Crayola’s Amazon listing calls them “great for travel.” On r/homeschool, the commenter Any-Lychee9972 wrote: “Crayola twistables are nice, but are more pricey and can still break if Twisted all the way out.”
Specs (linked: Mini Twistables, Fun Effects, 24 count)
Pros
- No sharpening or peeling, by Crayola’s account
- Made for coloring on the go, by Crayola’s listing
Cons
- No independent test we could find; Crayola’s specs only
- Can still break if twisted all the way out, as one r/homeschool commenter notes
- Fun Effects colors rather than a classic palette
Who should buy it
Families who want crayons for the car or a bag, or for a child who peels and snaps paper-wrapped crayons; check the box’s age grade.
- Count: 24 mini twist-up crayons, Fun Effects colors (Crayola)
- Barrel: clear plastic; twist up, no sharpening or peeling (Crayola)
- Safety marks: nontoxic and ACMI AP seal (Crayola); age grade: see the labels section
- Sold by: Amazon.com when we checked
- Price tier: $$
Which Crayon for Which Child?
Picks: Crayola Crayons, Prang Crayons, Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable, Honeysticks Originals, Crayon Rocks, Crayola Mini Twistables
- A first crayon. Look for a shape made for small hands and a maker’s age grade that fits your child (listed in the labels section): Honeysticks designs the Honeysticks Originals for toddlers.
- A preschooler learning to hold a crayon. MissJaimeOT calls jumbo crayons “age-appropriate for toddlers” and argues for regular-size tools once children start scribbling; Crayon Rocks are shaped for a tripod grip by their maker’s design.
- The school-list box. Crayola Crayons cost the least per crayon here when we checked; Prang cost more but colored more smoothly in Hip2Save’s comparison. For markers on the same list, see our markers for kids.
- Walls, clothes, or a whole classroom. Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable is the one set here its maker sells as washable, and the two-pack holds 128 crayons. An art desk for kids gives coloring its own surface.
- Travel. Crayola Mini Twistables need no sharpener and Crayola calls them “great for travel.” For a wider kit, see our art supplies for kids and drawing tools for kids.
Labels, Ages and Choking Hazards
This is the one place in this guide for safety labels and age grades; the reviews point here.
What “non-toxic” rests on. Every “non-toxic” claim in this guide is the maker’s or ACMI’s, not ours. The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) says its AP (Approved Product) Seal identifies art materials that a board-certified toxicologist has certified “to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children,” labeled to the chronic-hazard standard ASTM D-4236. ACMI advises checking for the AP Seal “on creative products for kids in sixth grade or younger.” Crayola and Prang say their crayons carry the AP seal; Crayon Rocks says it is certified to ASTM D-4236; the Honeysticks pages we read name no seal or standard.
What the law requires. The CPSC’s art-materials rule, from the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act, requires every art material to undergo a toxicological assessment and to carry a statement such as “Conforms to ASTM D-4236” on the product or package. Crayons sold as toys also fall under the CPSC’s toy rule: the CPSIA “made ASTM F963 a mandatory consumer product safety standard for children’s toys.” Of our picks, only Crayon Rocks names ASTM F963 and CPSIA.
Small and broken pieces. The CPSC’s small parts rule bans small parts in products for children under 3 but lists “writing materials such as crayons, chalk, pencils, and pens” among the exclusions. That means a crayon’s age grade and choking warning come from its maker. Crayons break, and a broken end is a small piece; Crayon Rocks’ own FAQ says “like all small objects, crayons can pose a choking hazard if placed in the mouth.”
Each maker’s age grade and warning, as stated on its page or Amazon listing:
- Crayola Crayons, 24 count (pack of 2): Crayola’s product page we read gives no age grade; check the box.
- Prang Crayons: “great for kids ages 3 & up” (Prang).
- Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable: “nontoxic for kids ages 3 and up” (Crayola).
- Honeysticks Originals: “Ideal for toddlers aged 1-3”; its FAQ says the crayons are “safe for infants and children ages 1+” (Honeysticks).
- Crayon Rocks: “Warning: Choking hazard. Not intended for children under 3 years of age. Adult supervision is recommended.” Its FAQ says the shape and size are designed “for children ages 3 to 8” (Crayon Rocks).
- Crayola Mini Twistables: “great for ages 3 and up” (Crayola).
Read the grade and warning on the box you receive, since packaging can differ from a web page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What brand of crayons are the best?
It depends on the job. Crayola was “the cheapest pack of crayons” on Hip2Save’s list, and Prang was smoother than Crayola and Cra-Z-Art. For washability, see Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable; for a toddler, Honeysticks Originals.
Q. What are the safest crayons for kids?
No crayon can honestly be ranked that way. What you can check is the label: an ACMI AP seal, a “Conforms to ASTM D-4236” statement, the maker’s age grade and any choking warning, all explained in the labels section above.
Q. Are there any crayons better than Crayola?
For smooth color, Hip2Save found Prang “very smooth” with “very minimal flaking” compared with Crayola, at a higher price per crayon.
Q. What are the best first crayons for my child?
Ones whose maker’s age grade (listed in the labels section) fits your child; Honeysticks designs the Originals for toddlers.
The bottom line
Final Verdict
For everyday coloring, start with Crayola Crayons, 24 count, in a pack of two (check price), or the smoother Prang Crayons (check price). For walls and clothes, the Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable (check price) two-pack. For a toddler’s first crayon, Honeysticks Originals (check price); for a preschooler’s grip, Crayon Rocks (check price); and for the car, Crayola Mini Twistables (check price). Whichever you choose, read the age grade and any warning on the box.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
