Adult Coloring Book Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity and Forecast, By Product Type (Mandalas, Nature & Animals, Architecture, Others), By Material Type (Paper Based, Digital Downloads), By Distribution Channel (Store-Based, Non-Store Based), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 152.57 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.71%
Fastest Growing Segment	Non-Store Based
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 266.04 Million

Market Overview

The Global Adult Coloring Book Market will grow from USD 152.57 Million in 2025 to USD 266.04 Million by 2031 at a 9.71% CAGR. Global Adult Coloring Book Market Overview

The global adult coloring book market consists of printed publications featuring intricate line art, mandalas, and complex patterns designed specifically for adult consumers to color as a form of creative expression and relaxation. The primary drivers supporting this market’s growth are the increasing consumer demand for stress-relief tools and the widespread adoption of mindfulness practices, which position these products as accessible therapeutic aids rather than mere recreational items. Furthermore, the tangible nature of coloring offers a necessary respite from screen time, fostering a steady reliance on physical hobbyist materials among professionals and the aging population.

Despite this engagement, the market faces a significant challenge in the form of fierce competition from digital coloring applications and the recent saturation of online marketplaces with low-quality, mass-produced content. This continued demand for physical trade books is reflected in broader industry performance. According to the Association of American Publishers, in 2025, trade (consumer books) revenues reached $1.1 billion in October, marking a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year. However, maintaining consumer trust amidst an influx of subpar product options remains a critical hurdle for established publishers seeking sustainable expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The proliferation of social media sharing and digital community engagement has fundamentally reshaped consumer discovery and purchasing habits within the adult coloring book sector. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have created viral loops where users showcase completed pages, driving immediate demand for specific titles and supplies. This digital word-of-mouth is particularly potent for visual products, as high-engagement content translates directly into sales volume for both backlist and new releases. According to Forbes, April 2025, the BookTok hashtag has accumulated 370 billion views, effectively skyrocketing bestsellers and informing reading and activity habits worldwide. This connectivity allows publishers to rapidly identify trending aesthetics, such as "cozy" or "horror" themes, and adjust production to meet real-time market interest.

Simultaneously, the diversification of product themes and pop culture licensing has expanded the market's reach beyond traditional mandalas into fandom-driven and demographic-specific categories. Publishers are increasingly positioning adult coloring titles within adjacent genres, such as young adult nonfiction, to capture a broader audience interested in fandoms and creative relaxation. According to Publishers Weekly, July 2025, the top four bestsellers in the young adult nonfiction category during the first half of the year were adult coloring books, which sold a combined total of about 200,000 copies. This strategic placement leverages existing fan bases for music icons and media franchises, ensuring consistent turnover even when general book sales fluctuate. According to Publishers Weekly, April 2025, the robust performance of adult coloring books was the primary factor driving an 8.4% increase in sales for the young adult nonfiction segment during the first quarter.

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Key Market Challenges

The fierce competition from digital coloring applications and the saturation of online marketplaces with low-quality, mass-produced content presents a substantial barrier to market expansion. Digital platforms offer consumers an infinite array of reusable templates and correction tools, creating a convenience gap that physical books cannot easily bridge. Simultaneously, the influx of inferior, often generic content into major retail channels severely erodes consumer trust. When enthusiasts encounter physical books with poor paper quality or repetitive designs, their willingness to invest in legitimate trade publications diminishes. This market noise complicates discovery for established publishers, effectively stifling organic growth within the physical sector as buyers become hesitant to purchase without visual verification.

This downward pressure on the physical format is evident in broader industry performance data, which contrasts with temporary monthly spikes. According to the Association of American Publishers, in 2025, year-to-date revenues for the Paperback format—the primary medium for adult coloring books—declined by 6% to $2.7 billion during the first ten months of the year. This contraction indicates that despite isolated periods of seasonal activity, the core physical segment faces sustained headwinds. The combined effect of digital migration and quality dilution directly hampers the ability of the market to maintain consistent, long-term momentum.

Key Market Trends

The surge in "Bold and Easy" large-print formats is fundamentally altering product design strategies, prioritizing accessibility for seniors and beginners over the intricate complexity that previously defined the sector. These publications feature thick lines, spacious illustrations, and simplified themes that accommodate users with visual impairments or motor skill limitations, offering immediate gratification with reduced cognitive load. This shift toward low-pressure, accessible creativity has rapidly secured a dominant retail position, validating the consumer preference for uncomplicated leisure activities. According to The Bookseller, August 2025, in the 'Chart of 2025: value flat, volume down as booksellers feel the heat' report, the "Cozy Corner" and "Cozy Cuties" coloring titles were the highest-ranking new entrants to the Top 50 chart, securing the 12th and 13th positions respectively.

Simultaneously, the expansion of mindfulness-embedded and therapeutic guided content is elevating standard coloring books into holistic mental health tools. Publishers are increasingly integrating coloring pages with structured journaling prompts, breathing exercises, and emotional regulation techniques, effectively positioning these products as essential wellness resources rather than mere recreational items. This functional evolution has bolstered the category's resilience against broader print market headwinds, sustaining engagement among consumers seeking tangible, non-digital therapeutic aids. According to Publishers Weekly, October 2025, in the 'Print Book Sales Dipped 0.9% in First Nine Months of 2025' article, sales in the crafts, hobbies, antiques, and games subcategory increased by 7.7% during the first three quarters of the year, significantly outperforming other non-fiction segments.

Segmental Insights

According to recent market analysis, the Non-Store Based segment is establishing itself as the fastest-growing category within the Global Adult Coloring Book Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the robust infrastructure of e-commerce platforms, which offer significantly wider inventory accessibility compared to brick-and-mortar retailers. Online channels allow consumers to easily browse diverse niche themes and international titles that are often unavailable locally. Furthermore, the convenience of home delivery, combined with the ability to compare competitive pricing and access verified customer reviews, continues to accelerate the adoption of digital retail channels among global consumers.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global adult coloring book market, primarily driven by heightened consumer awareness regarding mental health and stress management. The region benefits from a cultural shift toward mindfulness and the widespread acceptance of art therapy as a supportive method for psychological well-being. Organizations such as the American Art Therapy Association advocate for creative expression to improve mental health, which positively influences consumer adoption. Additionally, established retail distribution channels and higher disposable income levels across the United States and Canada ensure consistent product accessibility and sustained demand for therapeutic leisure materials.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Thunder Bay Press, an imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group, launched Good Vibes Coloring, a new title designed to promote mental wellness and positivity. The book combines 50 spreads of whimsical art and inspiring quotes with functional mood trackers, encouraging users to document their emotional well-being over time. This release highlights the publisher's strategic focus on the therapeutic segment of the market, positioning the product as a tool for stress reduction and mindfulness that integrates artistic activity with personal journaling elements.
• In October 2024, Penguin Random House released a new major title in the adult coloring market, Magical Worlds: An Enchanted Coloring Adventure, by the renowned illustrator Johanna Basford. The book features a collection of immersive fantasy landscapes, including underwater cities, floating islands, and fairytale castles, designed to provide a stress-relieving escape for colorists. This publication marked another significant addition to the author's best-selling series, which has historically driven substantial sales volume in the global coloring book sector through its focus on intricate, hand-inked designs.
• In September 2024, Insight Editions released Beetlejuice: The Official Coloring Book in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The publication, illustrated by Alan Robert, features over 60 pages of hand-drawn scenes from the original cult classic film, allowing fans to color iconic characters and settings like the Maitland’s exorcism and the Deetz’s dinner party. This launch coincided with the theatrical release of the franchise's sequel, capitalizing on renewed consumer interest in the property to expand the company's portfolio of horror and pop-culture themed adult coloring products.
• In June 2024, Disneyland Paris collaborated with the publishing group Hachette to launch a new exclusive adult coloring book featuring intricate illustrations of the theme park. The book, released within the resort's retail locations such as World of Disney, contains 90 drawings by artist Tracy de Sousa that depict iconic landmarks including the Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Disneyland Hotel. This product, part of the "Art Thérapie" collection, was designed to offer visitors a creative and relaxing way to engage with the park's scenery and architecture through high-quality detailed line art.

Key Market Players

• Newell Brands Inc.
• Faber-Castell Aktiengesellschaft
• Hartem Co. Ltd
• Staedtler SE
• Crayola, LLC
• Dover Publications Inc.
• Sitaram Stationers Pvt Ltd
• Fox Chapel Publishing Co., Inc.
• Photobook Worldwide Sdn Bhd
• Arteza LLC

By Product Type	By Material Type	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Mandalas Nature & Animals Architecture Others	Paper Based Digital Downloads	Store-Based Non-Store Based	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Adult Coloring Book Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Adult Coloring Book Market, By Product Type:

• Mandalas
• Nature & Animals
• Architecture
• Others

• Adult Coloring Book Market, By Material Type:

• Paper Based
• Digital Downloads

• Adult Coloring Book Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Store-Based
• Non-Store Based

• Adult Coloring Book Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE