Crayons are a staple art supply for children that have been popular for over a century. While early crayons were simply made of pigmented wax, modern crayons from companies like Crayola contain a variety of ingredients to improve color vibrancy and strength. Though crayons come in many sizes and forms, the standard crayons are 3.5 inches long and 0.5 inches in diameter. But what are the official colors of classic crayons from top brands like Crayola? Let’s take a closer look.
History of Crayons
Crayons have been used by artists for centuries, but crayons designed specifically for children first emerged in Europe in the early 1800s. These early crayons were made of charcoal and oil mixed with powdered pigments. They were rough drawing tools that had to be sharpened like pencils.
Wax crayons entered mass production in the United States in the late 1800s. These were safer and less messy for children to use. Binney & Smith, founded in 1885, created some of the earliest wax crayons, but they were still primarily marketed to artists. Their Crayola brand of crayons made specifically for children launched in 1903 with just 8 colors.
Growth of Crayola
Over the decades, Binney & Smith, which later became Crayola, steadily expanded the number of crayon colors they offered as their crayons grew in popularity. Here are some key milestones:
| 1903 | First Crayola crayons released with 8 colors |
| 1958 | Crayola releases first 64-color box |
| 1990 | 100th crayon color “Bluetiful” introduced |
| 1992 | So Big crayons with larger diameter launched |
| 1996 | Crayons given ergonomic shape |
| 1998 | 120th crayon color “Timberwolf” introduced |
Today, Crayola produces over 100 billion crayons each year and estimates that a child in the United States will wear down 730 crayons by their 10th birthday. Clearly, crayons are an integral creative tool for kids.
Standard Crayola Crayon Colors
The iconic standard size Crayola crayon that comes to mind for most is 0.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches long. These crayons are sold in a variety of box counts from just 8 colors to massive sets with 200 colors.
Here are all the colors found in a classic 64 count Crayola crayon box, first released in 1958:
| Apricot | Green Yellow | Scarlet |
| Bittersweet | Indigo | Silver |
| Black | Lavender | Sky Blue |
| Blue | Lemon Yellow | Spring Green |
| Blue Bell | Magenta | Tan |
| Blue Green | Mahogany | Thistle |
| Blue Violet | Maroon | Turquoise Blue |
| Brick Red | Melon | Violet (Purple) |
| Brown | Midnight Blue | Violet Red |
| Burnt Orange | Navy Blue | White |
| Burnt Sienna | Olive Green | Yellow |
| Carnation Pink | Orange | Yellow Green |
| Cerulean | Orange Red | Yellow Orange |
| Chestnut | Orchid | |
| Copper | Periwinkle | |
| Cornflower | Plum | |
| Forest Green | Raw Sienna | |
| Fuchsia | Red | |
| Goldenrod | Red Orange | |
| Gray | Red Violet | |
| Green | Royal Purple |
As you can see, the original 64 box covered the spectrum with colors like Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Black, Brown and more. However, there were gaps in the initial formulation. For example, there was no pink crayon, with the closest options being “Fuchsia” and “Carnation Pink.”
The 16 Basic Crayola Crayon Colors
In 1949, Crayola standardized their classic crayon offerings into a 16 count box. This contained (and still contains) the following basic crayon colors:
| Apricot | Green | Orange | Violet (Purple) |
| Blue | Magenta | Red | White |
| Brown | Olive Green | Yellow | Black |
| Carnation Pink | Orange Yellow | Yellow Green |
These 16 hues established the core crayon palette from which darker, lighter, brighter, and multicolored crayon varieties eventually expanded. The 16 crayons provide a versatile mix of primary, secondary, tertiary, and neutral colors for basic art projects.
Most Recent Crayola Crayon Colors
While the 16 standard colors have stood the test of time, Crayola continues to add striking, innovative new crayon shades to their lineup every year. These extensions allow for more diverse self-expression.
Here are some of Crayola’s most recent crayon color debuts:
| 2017 | “Bluetiful” |
| 2018 | “Narwhal” |
| 2019 | “Caddy Shack” |
| 2020 | “Vivid Tangerine” |
| 2020 | “Rhythm ‘n Blues” |
| 2021 | “Chillin’ Out” |
Crayola frequently turns to crowd-sourcing over social media to name new colors. Children and families around the world participate by submitting ideas and voting on favorites.
Additional Crayola Crayon Types
Beyond their standard size crayons, Crayola has also created specialty crayon lines over the years. Some examples include:
– Neon crayons – These provide intense bright neon shades like Atomic Tangerine and Hot Magenta.
– Metallic crayons – These crayons have a shimmery metallic sheen and come in colors like Gold Fusion and Sterling Silver.
– Pearl crayons – These are designed to emulate pearlescent effects with softly iridescent shades.
– Fabric crayons – These can be used to add color to fabrics and clothing. The colors are set by ironing.
– Washable crayons – These easy-to-clean crayons are great for younger kids prone to messes.
– Twistable crayons – These mimic the shape and functionality of twistable colored pencils.
Number of Official Crayon Colors
With new specialty crayons constantlybeing developed, the total number of official Crayola crayon varieties currently sits at around 200 distinct colors. However, the classic standard crayon lineup that most people associate with the brand consists of 120 colors.
The 16 standard colors form the core, followed by the 64 classic crayons in the standard box, and 40 more shades spread across supplemental boxes. Other sizes like the 96 count box also use existing shades.
Global Availability
While Crayola crayons originated in the United States, they are now popular worldwide. However, the exact colors available vary slightly in different countries. For example, the UK version of the 120 color box contains 12 colors not available in the U.S. version, while also excluding 12 shades only included in American boxes.
Reasons for these minor regional variations can include differing color name preferences based on local dialects and alternative formulations designed to use locally sourced materials. However, the classic 16 standard crayons remain consistent worldwide.
Conclusion
Crayons continue to evolve with new specialty formulas and shades, but their elementary appeal endures. The 16 standard colors form the definitive crayon experience for generations of children. Classic colors like Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, and Periwinkle Blue evoke childhood creativity and expression. Whichever colors you grew up with, crayons provide colorful building blocks essential for any budding artist.