The 9 Best Sidewalk Chalks
Updated by · How we research
Nine sidewalk chalk sets for toddlers, parties, classrooms and murals, from jumbo buckets to pucks. The Crayola Ultimate Collection leads for most families. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Most sidewalk chalk is gypsum, the soft mineral inside drywall, tinted with pigment. That softness is why it glides over rough concrete, and also why sticks snap and rain carries drawings away. Stick shape matters more than brand: fat pieces fit a toddler's fist, while slimmer ones draw finer lines. These sets suit toddlers, classrooms and grown-up mural makers.
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Crayola Ultimate Collection stays on top: every stick is a different color, and the flat sides keep it from rolling down a driveway. Almost everything around it changed. The Creative Kids Premium set, the Walkie Chalk holder, the Crayola Spiral Art Kit and the Kinia Unicorn Horn have all disappeared from sale, and we couldn't find current sellers for the Alex Art Mandala or Fat Zebra Designs sets. We also dropped the Crayola Glitter five-pack, which now costs about as much as a whole bucket.
New here are the Colorations Jumbo Bucket for its patterned sticks, the Crayola Super Chalk Tray for covering big areas, the Crayola 130 Collection for grown-ups who want more colors, and a few low-cost buckets. No lab has put sidewalk chalk through a public test, so we leaned on each maker's lead and art-safety statements, the 2003 federal recalls of store-brand chalk for lead, and what parents report about snapping and stained clothes.
Earlier notes
July 10, 2020, by Melissa Harr:
Doodling with sidewalk chalk is a creative and fun way to spend an afternoon, but we'd be remiss if we didn't note that in some areas, drawing on public sidewalks and property is illegal. For this reason, it is probably a good idea to stick to decorating your own driveway and property, unless you are sure you aren't contravening local regulations. Also, while sidewalk chalk is designed to wash away, it could potentially stain newly poured concrete — or any very porous surface, for that matter. You can test the chalk out on a small, inconspicuous area first, and ensure that it washes away, before embarking on a large-scale art project.
With that said, we still find that the Crayola Outdoor and the Joyin Jumbo make fine choices for those who want a big pack of robust chalks with which to create. They each have plenty of color variety, and the sticks are relatively large and easy to grip. We also opted to keep the Fat Zebra Designs 52-Pack, after some consideration. Although the quality is good, the colors seem washed out, which can be frustrating to artists looking to make a splash.
If you're looking for a kit with a twist, the Crayola Spiral Art Kit or the Alex Art Mandala might just do the trick. These have stencils that can help encourage those who are shy about their drawing skills, the way that adult coloring books encourage creative skills in those who feel intimidated by pastels or watercolors. The stencils do add a layer of complexity that young kids might have trouble with, however. For these little ones, consider instead the Urban Infant Toddler, created specifically for tiny hands. These sticks are chunky, tough, and, most importantly, non-toxic.
December 20, 2018, by Taber Koeghan:
We've made sure to include options suitable for both home and schoolyard environments. Included some basic sets and several that come with extra tools for sparking inspiration, like stencils, holders, compasses, and more. Primarily sought out choices that offer a wide variety of colors to select from.
Special Honors
Twee Handmade Sidewalk Chalk Twee, a small studio in Philadelphia, makes sidewalk chalk by hand in playful shapes such as unicorn horns and holiday pieces, so no two come out exactly alike. It's more of a gift or party favor than an everyday supply, and it isn't sold through the big chalk sellers. tweemade.com
Match The Stick To The Hand Holding It
The Urban Infant Chunky goes further, with a crayon shape and flat sides so it can't roll away.
Young kids do best with thick chalk. A fat stick or a cone-shaped piece fits in a fist, breaks less often and causes fewer tears, which is why Workspace for Children points parents of preschoolers toward jumbo and oversized chalk. The Urban Infant Chunky goes further, with a crayon shape and flat sides so it can't roll away.
Slimmer sticks, like Crayola's flat-sided ones, draw finer lines and suit older kids who write names or draw faces. Pucks are a third option: the Crayola Super Chalk Tray's pucks fill large shapes with the flat bottom and draw thinner lines on the edge, which helps with murals and game boards.
Count matters too. A family of two or three kids can get through a summer with 20 to 30 pieces, while a classroom, a party or a camp group needs 100 or more so nobody waits for a color. A chalk holder, a plastic sleeve that grips the stick, keeps hands cleaner and lets kids use the last stubby inch instead of throwing it out (Workspace for Children).
What It's Made Of, And What Nontoxic Means
Sidewalk chalk is usually gypsum (calcium sulfate) mixed with pigment and a binder. Blackboard chalk is more often calcium carbonate, which is harder. Some natural brands add flour and vegetable dyes (The Filtery). Makers don't have to list every ingredient.
In the U.S., art materials fall under a federal labeling law. Every art material must be reviewed by a toxicologist, and a label that says it conforms to ASTM D-4236 means that review was done, not that the chalk is edible (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). The AP seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute is a voluntary certification that a product is nontoxic, and Crayola's art supplies carry it.
Lead was a real problem once. In 2003, Target and Toys "R" Us recalled imported sidewalk chalk after tests found high lead levels (CPSC Target recall, CPSC Toys "R" Us recall). Children's goods sold today must meet federal lead limits, and some makers, including Urban Infant, say their chalk is tested for it. Even nontoxic chalk is not food: it can upset a stomach, and small pieces can choke a child under 3, so stay close when toddlers draw.
Washing It Off, Stains And Where To Draw
Most sidewalk chalk comes off sealed concrete and asphalt with a garden hose, and rain does the job for free. Rough, porous concrete holds pigment longer, so a faint ghost of a drawing can linger after the first rinse. Dark colors and patterned sticks are the ones most likely to leave marks on clothes and pale pavers, so try a small corner first if you care about the surface.
Chalk goes on best on dry pavement. Chalk dust is mostly an indoor problem, so kids with asthma are better off drawing outside, where it blows away (The Filtery).
Your own driveway is fair game. Shared sidewalks, school grounds and homeowners association property can have their own rules, so ask before a big project on ground you don't own.
How we researched this
We compared 15 sidewalk chalk sets, read each finalist's maker details on stick shape, count and safety labeling, studied owner feedback on breakage, color and staining, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. We found no independent lab tests of sidewalk chalk.
Sources (7)
- The Filtery: non-toxic sidewalk chalk
- Workspace for Children: best sidewalk chalk gift guide (2026)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: art materials (LHAMA)
- CPSC: Target recall of multicolored sidewalk chalk (2003)
- CPSC: Toys "R" Us recall of sidewalk chalk (2003)
- Art and Creative Materials Institute
- Twee
Frequently asked questions
What is sidewalk chalk made of?
Most of it is gypsum, a soft mineral also called calcium sulfate, mixed with pigment and a binder. Blackboard chalk is usually calcium carbonate, which is harder. Some natural brands use flour and vegetable dyes.
Does sidewalk chalk wash off?
On sealed concrete and asphalt, a garden hose or the next rain removes most of it. Porous concrete, dark colors and patterned sticks can leave a faint tint, and patterned sticks can stain clothes.
Is sidewalk chalk safe for toddlers?
Sets labeled nontoxic are made for kids to handle, but chalk isn't food, and most sets are labeled for ages 3 and up. For younger children, choose fat sticks that are hard to bite or snap, like the Urban Infant Chunky, and stay close.
What's the best sidewalk chalk for adults?
Grown-ups usually want more colors to shade and blend. The Crayola 130 Collection has 26 colors with spares of each, and the Crayola Super Chalk Tray fills big areas quickly for murals.
How much sidewalk chalk do I need?
About 20 to 30 pieces is plenty for one family. For a class, a camp group or a party, plan on 100 or more so kids don't wait for colors.
