When you need colored pencils for a group of kids, buying individual sets can get expensive and frustrating. The 168 Count Colored Pencils Bulk pack aims to solve that by providing 14 separate packs, each containing 12 colored pencils. That’s 168 pencils total, with each pack offering a standard 12-color assortment. This review looks at how this bulk option performs in real-world settings, its strengths, and where it falls short.
In practice, this product is most at home in classrooms, after-school programs, art camps, or large families. Teachers often face the dilemma of having enough supplies for every student without breaking the budget. With 14 packs, a teacher can hand out one pack per student to a small group, or break them into shared bins. The individual packs are also convenient for sending home with kids or including in party favor bags. The 12 colors per pack are the basics: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, gray, and likely a couple of others like light blue or tan. It’s a standard set that covers most coloring needs for younger children.
Functionally, these are colored pencils, so they require sharpening. The cores are likely softer than artist-grade pencils, which means they lay down color easily but may need more frequent sharpening. The barrels are probably standard round or hexagonal shape, made of wood. The lead is not going to be as pigmented or blendable as higher-end brands, but for kids’ drawings and school projects, they should be sufficient. The bulk packaging is typically a cardboard box or a set of individual packs wrapped together. The individual packs might be simple cardboard sleeves or plastic pouches, which are not designed for long-term storage. Over time, pencils can shift around and get lost if not kept in a pencil case or bin.
One clear limitation is the lack of variety within each pack. All 14 packs are identical, so you get 14 sets of the same 12 colors. If you have a child who loves a particular color, you’ll end up with duplicates. Also, the quality is not on par with premium brands like Prismacolor or Faber-Castell. The cores may break more easily if dropped, and the color payoff might be less vibrant. For serious art students or adults who enjoy adult coloring books, these pencils might feel waxy or scratchy. They are clearly aimed at children and casual use.
Compared to buying a single large set of 120 or 150 colored pencils from a brand like Crayola or Staedtler, this bulk pack offers a different advantage: individual packs. A large set is great for a single user, but it doesn’t help when you need to distribute pencils to multiple kids. The bulk pack is more about convenience and quantity than quality. You could also compare it to buying a box of generic colored pencils in bulk from a office supply store; those often come in a single large box without individual packaging. The individual packs here are a key differentiator.
Who is this for? It’s ideal for teachers, camp counselors, daycare providers, and parents hosting a party or running a large family. It’s also a good option for donation drives or community art events where supplies are needed in volume. It is not suitable for professional artists, serious hobbyists, or anyone who needs high-quality, blendable pencils. Also, if you only need a few pencils, buying this bulk pack is overkill; you’ll end up with more than you can use.
In terms of performance, expect these pencils to do the job for basic coloring, sketching, and school assignments. They won’t produce gallery-worthy art, but they will keep kids entertained and allow them to complete homework. The leads might break if pressed too hard, and the colors might not erase cleanly, but that’s typical for budget pencils. Sharpening can be a bit messy; some pencils may have off-center cores that cause the wood to splinter. It’s a good idea to have a decent sharpener on hand.
Overall, the 168 Count Colored Pencils Bulk pack is a practical solution for group settings. It delivers on quantity and convenience, but it’s not a high-end art supply. If you manage a classroom or need to outfit a group of kids, this is a cost-effective way to do it. Just don’t expect them to last forever or perform like artist-grade pencils. For the price, they are a reasonable choice for everyday use.
