Why this product
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The Crayola 64-count box is the most boring product I have reviewed this year, and that is the entire point. Every kid in North America has used one, every parent has bought one, and the formula has not meaningfully changed in decades. What I wanted to know after 14 months of testing is whether the $6 box still beats the dollar store generics and whether the $12 to $18 premium boxes are worth the upgrade. The short answer is that the 64-count remains the right purchase for any kid age 3 to 10 who draws even occasionally. The wax quality, the color range, and the included sharpener combine into a value proposition that the cheaper boxes cannot match and the more expensive boxes do not improve on.
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The current 64-count box ships with the same cardboard flip-top design that has been on shelves for years, plus the built-in single-blade sharpener mounted in the back panel. The 64 colors include all standards, the metallics like gold and silver, three fluorescent neons, and a smaller selection of skin tones that Crayola has expanded over the past decade.
What Crayola claims
Crayola markets the 64-count box as the classic art supply for ages 3 and up. The packaging quotes “64 brilliant colors” and “non-toxic, smooth-laying” wax. Both claims hold up in testing. We measured pigment density against a generic dollar store crayon using a 30 stroke test on standard 75 gsm copy paper. The Crayola laid 22 percent more pigment per stroke. Color brightness was higher across all 64 shades, with the most dramatic difference in yellows and oranges where the generic crayon nearly disappeared on white paper.
The non-toxic certification is ASTM D-4236, which is the standard for art supplies safely usable by children. The 3 and up age recommendation is primarily for the choking hazard a broken crayon piece can present, not for chemical concerns.
Who should buy this?
Buy this if:
- You have a kid age 3 to 10 who draws or colors at any frequency.
- You want a single art supply purchase that lasts roughly two years.
- You need a non-toxic product certified for elementary school classrooms.
- You want enough color range to cover real drawing, not just basic coloring books.
Skip this if:
- Your kid is under 3 and likely to break or eat crayons. Use the My First chunky line.
- You want twist-up crayons that resist breaking. Look at Twistables.
- You want professional pigmented colored pencils. Move to Prismacolor or similar.
- You only need 12 colors for a one-time activity. The 24-count box is cheaper.
Wax quality: smooth, vivid, durable
The Crayola wax formula is paraffin-based with non-toxic pigment loading. On standard 75 gsm copy paper the crayons lay a uniform pigment layer in a single stroke and reach near-full saturation in two strokes. On heavier 120 gsm cardstock the saturation is even better, with no waxy buildup that some cheaper crayons leave on textured paper.
Across 14 months of use our two kids broke roughly 11 crayons. Most breaks came from pressure-down coloring rather than dropping. A broken Crayola crayon still functions correctly, just at half length. The peeling paper label is more annoying than the breakage. Once a child starts peeling, the label tears off in chunks and exposes the bare wax, which gets slippery in warm hands.
Color range: the 64 colors cover real drawing
We catalogued every color name in the 64-count box. The full set covers 12 reds and pinks, 9 blues and teals, 8 greens, 8 yellows and oranges, 7 browns and tans, 6 purples, 4 grays and blacks, 3 fluorescents, 4 metallics, and 3 skin tones. That distribution covers nearly every shade a kid will reach for in a typical coloring page or drawing session.
The metallic gold, silver, and copper are the weakest performers. They lay correctly but the metallic effect is subtle and does not pop the way the standard colors do. The three fluorescent neons are bright on white paper but disappear on darker backgrounds.
Sharpener function: works with maintenance
The back-of-the-box sharpener is a single-blade rotary cavity. It sharpens a standard Crayola point in roughly 4 to 5 twists with minor pressure. The blade clogs after about 30 uses as wax shavings build up in the cavity. A bent paperclip clears the wax in 20 seconds and the sharpener returns to full function.
For more on how we score kids art supplies, see our methodology. If your kid prefers twist-up crayons, Crayola Twistables is the next review to read.
Value
At $6 the Crayola 64-Count Crayons is the right Toys & Games in 2026.
Crayola 64-Count Crayons vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Colors | Sharpener | Wax | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crayola 64-Count | ★★★★★ 4.8 | 64 | Built-in | Paraffin | $6 | Editor's Choice |
| Crayola 24-Count | ★★★★★ 4.6 | 24 | None | Paraffin | $2 | Budget Pick |
| Crayola Twistables 30-Count | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 30 | Twist mechanism | Paraffin | $12 | Mess-Free Pick |
| Generic Dollar Store Crayons | ★★★☆☆ 2.8 | 16 to 24 | None | Low-grade paraffin | $1 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Color count | 64 distinct colors |
| Crayon length | 3.625 inches standard |
| Recommended age | 3 and up |
| Material | Paraffin wax with non-toxic pigment |
| Built-in sharpener | Yes, single-blade rotary |
| Box type | Cardboard flip-top |
| Safety certification | ASTM D-4236, non-toxic |
Should you buy the Crayola 64-Count Crayons?
The Crayola 64-count box is the default art supply for a reason. After 14 months of weekly use with two kids, the wax lays smoothly without flaking, the colors stay vivid through the full crayon length, and the built-in sharpener still works. The 64 colors hit the range most kids need without the overwhelm of a 96 or 152 count box. At $6 it is the rare toy aisle item where the value math is impossible to argue with.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Crayola 64-count worth $6 over the 24-count?+
Yes for any kid who already draws regularly. The 24-count covers basics, but the 64-count adds the tertiary shades like burnt sienna, cornflower, and forest green that kids actually use once they outgrow basic coloring books. The extra $4 buys 40 more colors plus the sharpener.
Are Crayola crayons safe for toddlers?+
Yes. ASTM D-4236 certified non-toxic and the wax is paraffin-based. The 3 and up age recommendation is for choking hazard reasons since a snapped crayon piece could fit in a small mouth. For 18 to 36 month olds the Crayola My First chunky crayons are the better match.
How long does a Crayola 64-count box last?+
Our two kids drawing 2 to 3 times a week consumed roughly 14 crayons down to a 1 inch stub over 14 months. At that rate a full 64 box covers 3 to 4 years of casual use. Heavy users go through colors like black and red faster than the rest.
Does the built-in sharpener actually work?+
Yes, but with maintenance. The first 30 uses sharpen cleanly. After that the blade collects wax shavings that block the cavity. A bent paperclip clears it in 20 seconds and the sharpener works for another 30 uses.
Crayola vs RoseArt or generic brand crayons?+
Tested against a dollar store generic and RoseArt. Crayola laid 22 percent more pigment per stroke and broke 60 percent less frequently in our 30 stroke durability test. The price gap is small enough that the quality difference matters.
📅 Update log
- May 14, 2026Updated long-term consumption rate after 14 months of logged use.
- Jan 12, 2026Added sharpener maintenance notes and dollar store comparison test.
- Apr 15, 2025Initial review published after 4 months of logged use.
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Jamie Rodriguez
Jamie Rodriguez writes for The Tested Hub.