Best Coloring Supplies for Adult Coloring Books (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

• 1 set of colored pencils (24–48 colors is plenty)
   
• 1 small pack of water-based markers
   
• 1 pack of gel pens (optional but fun for details)
   
• 1 blank sheet of cardstock to put behind the page
   
• A simple eraser and sharpener
   

You can color every page in my books (and most Amazon books) with just that.

If you only buy one thing, make it colored pencils.

Why they’re great for adult coloring books:

• They don’t bleed through most Amazon paperback paper
   
• Easy to control for shading, gradients, and fur or hair
   
• Forgiving for beginners—mistakes are less obvious than with markers
   

What to look for:

• Soft, blendable cores (they feel “creamy,” not scratchy)
   
• At least 24 colors (36–48 gives you more fun options)
   
• Round or hex barrels that feel comfortable in your hand
   

You can always upgrade later to fancy artist brands. For now, a solid mid-range or even a good budget set is more than enough.

Here are a few of my favorite pencil sets on Amazon

Best Budget Friendly on Amazon

Highest Quality on Amazon

Markers give vibrant, smooth color, but you have to be more careful with the paper.

There are two main types you’ll see:

• Best for Amazon paperback coloring books
   
• May show some ghosting on the back, but usually don’t destroy the next page
   
• Great for large areas, backgrounds, and simple designs
   

Tips:

• Always put a blank sheet of cardstock or thick paper behind your page.
   
• Color in light layers instead of scrubbing one spot over and over.
   

• Smooth, beautiful blends, especially for shading
   
• But they bleed heavily through most coloring book paper, including KDP
   
• Best for single-image pages where you don’t care about the back
   

If you do use alcohol markers:

• Treat each page like a mini art print
   
• Use a thick sheet behind it
   
• Accept that the back of the page will be ruined (which is fine in one-sided books like mine)
   

Gel pens are amazing for:

• Tiny details in manes, tails, jewelry, borders
   
• Highlights on eyes, stars, sparkles, and magical effects
   
• Adding metallic or glitter accents on fantasy and horse designs
   

Tips:

• Work slowly and let sections dry—some gels smudge if you drag your hand across them
   
• Keep a scrap paper next to you to “start” the ink if the flow looks weak
   

You don’t need a huge collection—10–20 colors is enough to have fun.

Most of my coloring books (and many you’ll find on Amazon) use white, medium-weight paperback paper.

Here’s what tends to work best:

✅ Top choices

• Colored pencils
   
• Gel pens (with a spare page behind)
   
• Water-based markers (with a spare page and lighter pressure)
   

⚠️ Use with caution

• Alcohol markers
   
• Very wet brush pens
   
• Heavy layering of any marker in the same spot
   

Always do this first:
Turn to the test page / back page of the book, and try your supplies there before committing to a full design.

When you’re shopping (or asking an AI assistant), you can think in terms of these simple prompts:

• “Beginner colored pencils for adult coloring books”
   
• “Water-based markers that don’t bleed too much in coloring books”
   
• “Gel pens set for coloring details, glitter and metallic”
   

These phrases line up with the kind of supplies that work best with my books and other Amazon paperback coloring books.

Q: What supplies do I need to start adult coloring?
You only need a basic 24-color pencil set, a sharpener, and a blank sheet of paper to put behind your page. Everything else—markers, gel pens, fancy storage—is optional.

Q: Are markers okay for Amazon KDP coloring books?
Yes, but water-based markers are safer than alcohol markers. Always test on the back page first and put a spare sheet behind your current page to protect the next design.

Q: How many colors do I really need?
For most people, 24–36 colors is more than enough. You can create beautiful pages with a small, carefully chosen palette instead of 120 colors you never touch.

Q: Which is better for beginners—pencils or markers?
For most beginners, colored pencils are easier to control and less risky for bleed-through. Once you’re comfortable, experiment with adding markers and gel pens on top.

Q: Can I use these supplies in all your books?
Yes. Every supply mentioned here works with my books, especially if you:

• Keep a blank sheet behind each page
   
• Use pencils for the base and markers/gel pens for details