Many artists mistakenly assume any heavy cardstock will suffice for soft pastels. This oversight leads to muddy colors and frustrating dust falloff.
Choosing the Best Papers for Soft Pastels requires an understanding of how tooth and grit hold pigment. Keep reading to see how specific surfaces change your results.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize paper with a visible tooth because this texture captures the powder and prevents it from sliding off the page.
- Select a weight of at least 80 lb or 120g to ensure the paper remains flat even when you apply heavy layers of pigment.
- Look for sanded surfaces if you intend to create highly detailed work with multiple layers, as these provide the most grip.
- Consider the color of the paper carefully, as the base tone will show through the gaps in your pastel application.
- Verify the sheet count against your current project scale so you do not run out of your favorite surface in the middle of a piece.
| Reliable Studio Staple |  |
Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad | Excellent tooth for pigment | Consistent paper quality | Great for color studies | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Professional Texture Standard |  |
Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Pad | Iconic honeycomb texture | Handles multiple layers | High cotton content | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Larger Format Essential |  |
Strathmore 400 Series 11×14 Pad | Larger surface area | Consistent grip on pastel | Good for broad strokes | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Miniature Detail Specialist |  |
Somime 5×7 Sanded Paper Pad | Exceptionally high grip | Rigid 600gsm weight | Compact travel size | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Serious Layering Surface |  |
Somime 9×12 Sanded Pastel Pad | Extremely durable surface | Holds immense pigment | Heavyweight construction | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Compact Sketching Pad |  |
GR DZPLUS Square Pastel Pad | Unique square shape | Sturdy heavyweight paper | Portable size | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Tactile Color Exploration |  |
Somime 5×7 Sanded Assorted Pad | High variety of colors | Aggressive sanded grip | Durable small sheets | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Heavyweight Drawing Essential |  |
GR DZPLUS 9×12 Pastel Pad | Substantial paper weight | Ample sketching area | Reliable surface quality | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Large Scale Texture |  |
Somime 11×14 Sanded Pastel Pad | Extra large sanded surface | Incredible durability | Excellent pigment retention | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Versatile Palette Selection |  |
Somime 5×7 Mixed Color Pad | Extensive color variety | Strong sanded texture | Easy to store | View on Amazon | Read Review |
More Details on Our Top Picks
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Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad
This is the go-to choice for artists who want consistency. The 80 lb. paper offers a textured surface that acts like a fine-tooth comb, grabbing pastel particles effectively without tearing under pressure.
It works best for those who enjoy multi-colored backgrounds, as the assorted sheets provide instant variety. Just remember that it is a lighter weight paper, so it might curl if you use heavy wet-media underpainting.
- Brand:Strathmore
- Paper Type:Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:9 x 12 inches
- Sheet Count:24
- Weight:80 lb
- Surface Texture:Textured
- Additional Feature:Tape bound for easy removal
- Additional Feature:Acid free archival quality
- Additional Feature:Assorted color range
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Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Pad
You will find this paper in most serious studios because of its distinctive honeycomb pattern. This texture is famous for its ability to anchor layers of pastel, allowing you to build up rich, saturated colors without muddying the work.
It is ideal if you prefer a firm, durable surface that handles heavy application well. Do note that the dual-sided nature of the paper means you have to choose which texture side suits your specific stroke style before you start.
- Brand:Canson
- Paper Type:Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:9 x 12 inches
- Sheet Count:24
- Surface Texture:Honeycomb
- Additional Feature:Dual sided texture
- Additional Feature:Acid free material
- Additional Feature:Professional grade weight
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Strathmore 400 Series 11×14 Pad
When you need a bit more room to move your arm, this larger format is the perfect partner. It retains the same reliable 80 lb. texture as the smaller version, ensuring your strokes remain crisp and intentional across a wider area.
The size is perfect for full-scale landscapes or portraiture where detail requires extra space. It does require careful handling since larger sheets are more prone to bending during transport.
- Brand:Strathmore
- Paper Type:Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:11 x 14 inches
- Sheet Count:24
- Weight:80 lb
- Surface Texture:Textured
- Additional Feature:Acid free sheets
- Additional Feature:Tape bound spine
- Additional Feature:Assorted colors included
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Somime 5×7 Sanded Paper Pad
If you like creating highly detailed sketches, this sanded paper is a dream. The 600gsm weight feels more like a sturdy board than a piece of paper, providing a rigid support that holds onto heavy pigment loads without buckling.
The sanded surface provides a coarse grit that physically bites into the pastel stick. It is a smaller pad, so keep it for focused, intimate studies rather than expansive sweeping vistas.
- Brand:Somime
- Paper Type:Sanded Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:5 x 7 inches
- Sheet Count:6
- Weight:600gsm
- Surface Texture:Sanded
- Additional Feature:Light color assortment
- Additional Feature:Extra thick construction
- Additional Feature:High grit surface
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Somime 9×12 Sanded Pastel Pad
This pad is a powerhouse for anyone who loves heavy, thick application. The 600gsm weight is nearly indestructible, allowing you to work with aggressive pressure without worrying about the integrity of the paper.
It excels when you need to layer multiple colors because the grit keeps the surface open for new pigment. The weight makes it quite heavy, so it is better suited for a tabletop easel than a lightweight travel bag.
- Brand:Somime
- Paper Type:Sanded Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:9 x 12 inches
- Sheet Count:12
- Weight:600gsm
- Surface Texture:Sanded
- Additional Feature:Assorted color variety
- Additional Feature:Professional grit texture
- Additional Feature:Sturdy pad binding
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GR DZPLUS Square Pastel Pad
This square format offers a unique layout for experimental compositions. The 123 lb. weight provides a substantial feel that holds up well for quick oil pastel sketches or soft pastel notations.
It is a great choice if you prefer smaller, daily exercises rather than long-term projects. Because it is optimized for oil pastels, you may find the surface slightly smoother than traditional sanded papers.
- Brand:GR DZPLUS
- Paper Type:Heavyweight Drawing Paper
- Dimensions:5.9 x 5.9 inches
- Sheet Count:50
- Weight:123 lb
- Surface Texture:Smooth
- Additional Feature:High sheet count
- Additional Feature:Durable binding
- Additional Feature:Versatile drawing surface
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Somime 5×7 Sanded Assorted Pad
You get a diverse range of colors in this set, which is excellent for finding how different backgrounds shift your color perception. The sanded texture is perfect for artists who want to see their pastel dust settle into a toothy, reactive surface.
It is an ideal tool for testing color palettes in a controlled, small format. Remember that the grit is aggressive, so your soft pastel sticks will wear down faster than on traditional paper.
- Brand:Somime
- Paper Type:Sanded Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:5 x 7 inches
- Sheet Count:6
- Weight:600gsm
- Surface Texture:Sanded
- Additional Feature:Mixed color pack
- Additional Feature:High grit surface
- Additional Feature:Heavyweight board feel
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GR DZPLUS 9×12 Pastel Pad
This pad gives you the generous space needed for traditional landscape work. The 123 lb. weight ensures your paper stays flat, even if you are working with bolder, heavier strokes or layering multiple colors.
It provides a smooth, consistent surface that is very predictable. If you require the intense grip of a sanded surface, you might find this paper a bit too sleek for extremely fine detail work.
- Brand:GR DZPLUS
- Paper Type:Heavyweight Drawing Paper
- Dimensions:9 x 12 inches
- Sheet Count:30
- Weight:123 lb
- Surface Texture:Smooth
- Additional Feature:Acid free sheets
- Additional Feature:Firm paper construction
- Additional Feature:Professional pad binding
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Somime 11×14 Sanded Pastel Pad
When you have a large-scale project, this pad provides the necessary surface area and durability. The 600gsm weight means you can work with heavy-handed techniques without the paper buckling under your hand.
The sanded grit is fantastic for deep color saturation on a large scale. Just ensure your workspace is large enough to accommodate the 11 x 14 inch footprint of these thick, sturdy sheets.
- Brand:Somime
- Paper Type:Sanded Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:11 x 14 inches
- Sheet Count:12
- Weight:600gsm
- Surface Texture:Sanded
- Additional Feature:Light color tones
- Additional Feature:Professional grit quality
- Additional Feature:Rigid board structure
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Somime 5×7 Mixed Color Pad
This set offers a wide variety of colors in a convenient, small size. It is perfect if you want to experiment with background hues without committing to a full-sized sheet of expensive, sanded paper.
The high-grit surface is excellent for creating vibrant, punchy works where color contrast is the main focus. Since the sheets are small, they are best suited for quick studies or final sketches that require a lot of texture.
- Brand:Somime
- Paper Type:Sanded Pastel Paper
- Dimensions:5 x 7 inches
- Sheet Count:12
- Weight:600gsm
- Surface Texture:Sanded
- Additional Feature:Twelve different colors
- Additional Feature:Heavyweight board weight
- Additional Feature:Professional grit grade
