72 or 150 Prismacolor Pencils? A Buyer's Guide for Office Administrators

There's No Single 'Right' Prismacolor Set

If you're the person who handles office supplies, you've probably had a week where someone requested a calculator watch, another coworker asked about an ABV calculator for a team happy hour, and a third person shouted "why is my printer not printing?" (again). So when a request for Prismacolor colored pencils lands on your desk, you want to make the right call the first time.

The truth is, there's no universal answer. The 72 and 150 sets are both excellent, but they serve different needs. I've ordered both—and I've learned to think about this decision like a decision tree, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

When I took over purchasing in 2020, the vendor who handled my first $250 Prismacolor order carefully is the same one I now use for a $30,000 annual art supply budget. Small orders are how trust starts.

What's Actually Different?

Before we get into scenarios, let's talk about what separates the 72 Prismacolor pencils from the 150 Prismacolor pencils. The 150 set isn't just twice as many pencils. It includes a wider range of analogous hues, more tints and shades, and subtle transitions that professional artists rely on. The 150 Prismacolor pencils chart is worth printing out, by the way—it shows you exactly which colors you're getting and how they group by family.

What most people don't realize is that the bigger set isn't always about "more colors" in the obvious sense. It's about gradients. With 150, you get multiple stops between a light blue and a navy, which makes blending and realism easier. The 72 set gives you a solid range, but you'll do more mixing to get those in-between shades.

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the per-pencil cost of the 150 set is typically lower than the 72 set. If you're buying for a professional who will use most of those colors, the bigger set is the better value. But don't take my word for it—pull up the 150 Prismacolor pencils chart and check whether the colors align with your team's typical projects.

Scenario A: Art Classrooms and Schools

If you're buying for a school or a community art program, I'd lean toward the 72 set. Here's why: students are learning fundamentals—color theory, blending, composition—and the 72 set has enough variety for those lessons. Plus, you're likely ordering multiple sets, so the budget adds up fast. I've placed orders for 12 sets of 72 for a middle school, and that vendor treated the order (worth about $900) as seriously as the $20,000 annual contract I manage. Small order or not, that's the kind of supplier you want.

One thing I've learned: if you buy the 150 set for a shared classroom, you'll end up with missing pencils in colors nobody can name. The 72 set has more recognizable core colors, making replacement easier. And when you do need replacements, open stock options save you from buying a whole new box.

Scenario B: Professional Illustration and Design Teams

This is where the 150 set earns its keep. If your team includes illustrators, concept artists, or graphic designers who do finished hand-rendered work, they'll appreciate the extra range. In my experience, designers know exactly which colors they need. When we had an illustrator working on a children's book, she specifically asked for the 150 set because it includes multiple variations of skin tones and natural greens.

In this scenario, the color chart becomes a communication tool. I've had designers circle the specific colors they require from the 150 Prismacolor pencils chart and hand it to me with their requisition. That's a level of specificity you won't get in a general office. Respect it.

Scenario C: General Office and Administrative Use

Now, if you just need colored pencils for marking up documents, brainstorming whiteboard sessions, or casual sketching in the breakroom, do yourself a favor: don't buy 150. The 72 set is still overkill, honestly, but if the team specifically asked for Prismacolor, 72 is a safe middle ground. I've seen general offices go through a 24-pack over two years; spend the extra budget on something people actually use.

In this scenario, I also recommend checking open stock availability. If a few pencils run out, you can buy singles instead of committing to a whole new set. It's a small thing that saves money over time—and the vendor who lets you do that is worth keeping.

How to Decide Which Scenario You're In

Here's the practical checklist I use when I'm not sure:

• Who's using the pencils? If it's a structured class, go 72. If it's a professional who renders finished pieces, go 150. If it's random office use, consider a smaller set entirely.
• How are they stored and secured? Shared environments lose pencils. A locked cabinet or dedicated storage makes a larger set feasible.
• Are there specific project needs? Check the color chart. If they ask for "the full range of warm earth tones," that's a clue.

The numbers might say the 150 set offers the best price per pencil. But my gut often says that a team won't use all those colors. I've gone against the spreadsheet before and it worked out—and I've also been wrong when I let a tight budget override a pro's needs. The assessment above helps you avoid both mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Choose a Vendor Who Takes You Seriously

Whether you order two sets or two hundred, a good supplier should offer accurate product descriptions, transparent shipping costs, and responsive customer service. That's not just my admin opinion—it's good business. And if you're a reseller marketing Prismacolor, remember that per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), claims about durability or color quality need to be substantiated.

Also, if you're shipping to multiple sites, think about logistics. According to USPS (usps.com), heavy or oversized items are often cheaper via flat-rate boxes than by weight. We learned that the hard way when a bulk 150-set order cost more to ship than the pencils did. Now we always factor that into the decision.

As for the printer? I still can't explain why it stops working, but that's a different article.