Top 10 Best pastel paper in 2026

Last Updated - 6/19/2026

🏆Best Choice

Strathmore

Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad, Assorted Colors, 9"x12" Glue Bound, 24 Sheets

9.8

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.8

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Great for creating artwork using a variety of pastels
•Ideally textured and suitable colors for pastels
•80 lb./118 gsm. acid free
•9"x12" Glue Bound

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$8.11

$10.55

-23%

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine Pastelmat Glued Pad - Palette No. 7 - (9 1/2 x 12 Inches) 24 x 30 cm - 360g - 12 Sheets - Sanguine Red, Sand, Beige, Dark Grey

9.7

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.7

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Oganic Velvety Surface: unique strong, velvty surface that has more tooth than traditional ingres paper ut without the abrasive qualities of sanded papers.
•"Painting with Pastel": Pastelmat's unique interaction with pastels allows the artist to create painterly effects with soft, buttery marks.
•Blending and Layering: Pastelmat offers remarkable control, allowing for effortless, precision blending of pigments. Supports building multiplelayers of pgment to control color tone and intensity.
•Lower Consumption Rate of Costly Pastels: Pastelmat's surface consumes pastel sticks at a 30% slower rate than sanded papers. The surface also creates minimal amounts of pastel dust.
•Unique Qualities: Pastelmat is versatile and strong. It holds up to water or solvent-based washes to create underpaintings. Unlike grittier sanded papers, Pastelmat is suitable for fie line artwork. Pastel can be easily erased with magic erasers.
•Pad size is 9 1/2 x 12 Inches (24 x 30 cm)

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$53.02

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine Pastelmat Glued Pad - Palette No. 4 - (9 1/2 x 12 Inches) 24 x 30 cm - 360g - 12 Sheets - Dark Blue, Light Blue, Wine, Sand

9.5

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.5

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Oganic Velvety Surface: unique strong, velvty surface that has more tooth than traditional ingres paper ut without the abrasive qualities of sanded papers.
•"Painting with Pastel": Pastelmat's unique interaction with pastels allows the artist to create painterly effects with soft, buttery marks.
•Blending and Layering: Pastelmat offers remarkable control, allowing for effortless, precision blending of pigments. Supports building multiplelayers of pgment to control color tone and intensity.
•Lower Consumption Rate of Costly Pastels: Pastelmat's surface consumes pastel sticks at a 30% slower rate than sanded papers. The surface also creates minimal amounts of pastel dust.
•Unique Qualities: Pastelmat is versatile and strong. It holds up to water or solvent-based washes to create underpaintings. Unlike grittier sanded papers, Pastelmat is suitable for fie line artwork. Pastel can be easily erased with magic erasers.
•Pad size is 9 1/2 x 12 Inches (24 x 30 cm)

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$51.74

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine Pastelmat Glued Pad - Palette No. 3 - (9 1/2 x 12 Inches) 24 x 30 cm - 360g - 12 Sheets - White

9.4

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.4

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•Oganic Velvety Surface: unique strong, velvty surface that has more tooth than traditional ingres paper ut without the abrasive qualities of sanded papers.
•"Painting with Pastel": Pastelmat's unique interaction with pastels allows the artist to create painterly effects with soft, buttery marks.
•Blending and Layering: Pastelmat offers remarkable control, allowing for effortless, precision blending of pigments. Supports building multiplelayers of pgment to control color tone and intensity.
•Lower Consumption Rate of Costly Pastels: Pastelmat's surface consumes pastel sticks at a 30% slower rate than sanded papers. The surface also creates minimal amounts of pastel dust.
•Unique Qualities: Pastelmat is versatile and strong. It holds up to water or solvent-based washes to create underpaintings. Unlike grittier sanded papers, Pastelmat is suitable for fie line artwork. Pastel can be easily erased with magic erasers.
•Pad size is 9 1/2 x 12 Inches (24 x 30 cm)

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$52.32

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine - Ref 975488C - Paint'ON Mixed Media Grey Glued Pad (20 Detachable Sheets) - 22.29 x 30.5cm (9 x 12in), 250gsm Heavyweight Paper (USA Version)

9.2

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.2

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•Paint'On is the multitechnical paper par excellence! It is the perfect compromise between dry (pencil, pastel) and wet techniques (ink from China, gouache, oil).
•Thanks to its high weight, this high-quality backing is scratch-proof and can withstand multiple layers.
•100% cellulose paper (these are pulp fibers mainly from wood, after removal of lignin). Excellent storage capacity.
•With its grey colour, this paper allows highlights (bright or bright touches intended to highlight certain areas).
•International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.

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$13.43

$18.99

-29%

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine - Ref 197021C - Pastelmat Card Sheets (Pack of 5 Sheets) - 360gsm Card - 24 x 32cm - Light Green Colour - Specially Formulated for Use with Pastels

9.1

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.1

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•PASTELMAT PAPER: this pack of 5 sheets of 360g card stock is ideal for the pastel technique.
•UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PAPER: the soft and adherent surface of Pastelmat paper makes it possible to multiply the layers of pigments without saturation effects and without fixative. Neither abrasive like sandpaper, nor soft like velvet paper, Pastelmat paper has to be tested!
•IDEAL FOR DRY PASTEL: this paper is ideal for the dry pastel technique. It allows you to receive energetic strokes such as the softest shadings. In addition, once wet or gummed, it retains its properties! It supports both wet techniques and alcohol without even affecting its grain or gripping surface!
•24x32 FORMAT: this pack offers an assortment of 5 monochrome sheets, ideal when you are looking for a particular shade!
•ACID-FREE: this paper is acid-free and has a neutral pH for perfect preservation of the drawings over time.
•FINE ARTS SPECIALIST PAR EXCELLENCE: Clairefontaine Rhodia offers high-quality products adapted to your needs and to all drawing techniques.

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$24.85

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine - Ref 96018C - Pastelmat Pastel Card Pad No.1 (12 Sheets) - 360gsm Card - 30 x 40cm - Assorted Colours - Specially Formulated for Use with Pastels

8.9

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.9

/ 10

Great

Main highlights

•PASTELMAT BLOCK: this glued block of 360g card is ideal for the pastel technique. It has 4 shades (3 leaves of each): corn, buttercup, dark gray and light gray.
•UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PAPER: the soft and adherent surface of Pastelmat paper makes it possible to multiply the layers of pigments without saturation effects and without fixative. Neither abrasive like sandpaper, nor soft like velvet paper, Pastelmat paper has to be tested!
•IDEAL FOR DRY PASTEL: this paper is ideal for the dry pastel technique. It allows you to receive energetic strokes such as the softest shadings. In addition, once wet or gummed, it retains its properties! It supports both wet techniques and alcohol without even affecting its grain or gripping surface!
•FORMAT 30x40: this pad of 12 sheets has between each sheet a crystal paper insert to protect your drawings! Its glued finish allows you to easily detach the sheets.
•ACID-FREE: this paper is acid-free and has a neutral pH for perfect preservation of the drawings over time.
•FINE ARTS SPECIALIST PAR EXCELLENCE: Clairefontaine Rhodia offers high-quality products adapted to your needs and to all drawing techniques.

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$85.86

$91.85

-7%

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine 96052C Glued Pad Pastelmat n°7-12 Sheets Special Card for Dry Pastels - 18x24 cm 360g - 4 Assorted Colors - Crystal Paper Dividers

8.8

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.8

/ 10

Great

Main highlights

•PASTELMAT BLOCK: this glued block of 360g card is ideal for the pastel technique. It has 4 shades (3 sheets of each): beige, sand, sanguine and anthracite.
•UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PAPER: the soft and adherent surface of Pastelmat paper makes it possible to multiply the layers of pigments without saturation effects and without fixative. Neither abrasive like sandpaper, nor soft like velvet paper, Pastelmat paper has to be tested!
•IDEAL FOR DRY PASTEL: this paper is ideal for the dry pastel technique. It allows you to receive energetic strokes such as the softest shadings. In addition, once wet or gummed, it retains its properties! It supports both wet techniques and alcohol without even affecting its grain or gripping surface!
•FORMAT 18x24: this block of 12 sheets has between each sheet a crystal paper insert to protect your drawings! Its glued finish allows you to easily detach the sheets.
•ACID-FREE: this paper is acid-free and has a neutral pH for perfect preservation of the drawings over time.
•FINE ARTS SPECIALIST PAR EXCELLENCE: Clairefontaine Rhodia offers high-quality products adapted to your needs and to all drawing techniques.

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$49.05

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine - Ref 96111C - Pastelmat Pastel Card Pad No.4 (12 Sheets) - 360gsm Card - 24 x 30cm - Assorted Colours - Specially Formulated for Use with Pastels

8.6

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.6

/ 10

Good

Main highlights

•PASTELMAT BLOCK: this glued block of 360g card is ideal for the pastel technique. It has 4 shades (3 leaves of each): dark blue, light blue, wine and sand.
•UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PAPER: the soft and adherent surface of Pastelmat paper makes it possible to multiply the layers of pigments without saturation effects and without fixative. Neither abrasive like sandpaper, nor soft like velvet paper, Pastelmat paper has to be tested!
•IDEAL FOR DRY PASTEL: this paper is ideal for the dry pastel technique. It allows you to receive energetic strokes such as the softest shadings. In addition, once wet or gummed, it retains its properties! It supports both wet techniques and alcohol without even affecting its grain or gripping surface!
•24x30 FORMAT: this pad of 12 sheets has a crystal paper spacer between each sheet to protect your drawings! Its glued finish allows you to easily detach the sheets.
•ACID-FREE: this paper is acid-free and has a neutral pH for perfect preservation of the drawings over time.
•FINE ARTS SPECIALIST PAR EXCELLENCE: Clairefontaine Rhodia offers high-quality products adapted to your needs and to all drawing techniques.
•Packaging may vary

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$62.54

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Clairefontaine

Clairefontaine 24 x 30 cm PastelMat Pastel Card Pad No1, 360 g, 12 Sheets, Assorted Colours

8.5

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.5

/ 10

Good

Main highlights

•Size of pad - 24 x 30 cm
•The paper within the pad is 360 gsm
•The paper is suitable for all dry techniques, lead, sanguine, charcoal and more
•The paper is also suitable for dry pastels
•The pad contains 12 sheets in colours maize, buttercup, dark grey and light grey

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$39.16

$42.64

-8%

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