The full review
Why General's is enough
I've been using General's charcoal for years and it's solid. It's not the fanciest, but it gets the job done, and tons of pro artists use it, At its current price-15 for a set.
If you want to step up, Nitram is smoother and breaks less, that's more the 'super rich' tier, At its current price-20. But General's is honestly good enough. Save your money for better paper instead; that makes a bigger difference to your drawings than the charcoal does.
What I liked
- Used by tons of pro artists
- At its current price-15 a set
- Reliable, consistent charcoal
- Great value for beginners and pros
What to know
- Not as smooth as Nitram
- Pencils can break if dropped
- Basic packaging
- Paper matters more than charcoal grade
Common questions
Is General's charcoal good enough for serious work?
Yes, plenty of pros use it. Nitram is smoother if you want to step up, but General's does the job.
Where should I spend more?
Better paper. It makes a bigger difference to your drawings than upgrading the charcoal.
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Hands-on review by Johnny Alto · Published July 20, 2026