The Best Sketching Pencils for Artists and Beginners in 2024

The Best Sketching Pencils Brand: Our Choices
Some Background about the Best Type of Pencil for Sketching
Why we love Graphite Pencils
Factors to Consider Before Buying Graphite Pencils
Why You Can Trust Our Ratings
The Best Graphite Pencils for Drawing and Sketching
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Sketching Pencils

No matter what kind of artistic field you engage in, it is most likely that you won’t get away from one crucial tool – good art pencils. You might be an architect, a professional artist, or a beginner at drawing – good-quality pencils will be part of your essentials when it comes to art supplies.

In a previous article, we have covered how to choose the best colored pencils. However, there is an entire set of separate considerations when it comes to getting to know the best drawing pencil brands and finding the best graphite pencils for your collection of art supplies so that you can create the perfect pencil drawing. What are the best art pencils? There are many answers as to what the best brand for drawing pencils is. Most likely, you will end up using a variety of pencils according to your specific needs.

It can be quite a challenge to find out, what the best quality pencils are to infuse your designs or sketches with life. So, what is the best brand of pencils, and what is the best graphite pencil for sketching? We will both introduce the best artist pencils and the best drawing pencils for beginners alike.

No matter if you are rather new to the medium or are looking to advance your sketching skills, in this post, we will help you find out which are the best pencils to use for drawing so that you can create the best drawing in pencil possible. The best graphite drawing pencils might look simple, but there are many factors that you should pay attention to. We will look at key parameters like the wood, the graphite, the shape, the country of origin, the ferrule, the lacquer, and the imprint.

The Best Sketching Pencils Brand: Our Choices

Popular
Faber-Castell 9000 Pencils
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencils
Popular
Caran d’Ache Graphite Line
Koh-I-Noor Progresso Woodless Graphite Pencils
Prismacolor Premier Turquoise Graphite Pencils

Qualities	Popular Faber-Castell 9000 Pencils	Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencils	Popular Caran d’Ache Graphite Line	Koh-I-Noor Progresso Woodless Graphite Pencils	Prismacolor Premier Turquoise Graphite Pencils
Qualities	Qualities	$$	$$	$$$	$	$$
Graphite	firm	smooth	versatile	smooth	glossy
Design	classic	elegant	sleek	unique	innovative
Overall Satisfaction	very good	very good	excellent	very good	very good
	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
Blick Studio Drawing Pencils
Popular
General’s Kimberly Drawing Pencils
Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Pencils
Popular
Palomino Blackwing Pencils

Qualities	Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils	Blick Studio Drawing Pencils	Popular General’s Kimberly Drawing Pencils	Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Pencils	Popular Palomino Blackwing Pencils
Qualities	Qualities	$	$	$	$$	$$$
Graphite	smooth	firm	firm	smooth	smooth
Design	classic	simple	classic	elegant	chic
Overall Satisfaction	very good	good	very good	very good	excellent
	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

Some Background about the Best Type of Pencil for Sketching

The modern pencil goes back a long way before the popular pencil brands were established. It was invented in 1795 by a scientist serving the army of Napoleon Bonaparte called Nicolas-Jacques Conte. The material that was ideal for the purpose of drawing was a form of pure carbon which is known as graphite. Originally it was believed to be a form of lead and called “plumbago” or black lead. This misnomer is still echoed when we refer to pencil “leads”. It was called graphite only towards the end of the 18th century using the Greek word “graphein”, which means “to write”.

Conte’s original process of manufacturing pencils involved mixing water, clay, and graphite and roasting this mixture in a kiln at 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit. Afterward, it was encased in a wooden surround. The hardness of the final pencil “lead” could be determined by adjusting the fractions of graphite and clay in the roasting mixture.

Today, most good pencil brands market 20 different grades of pencil, starting with the softest, 9B, and ending with the hardest 9H. The most popular is the intermediate value of HB, which lies in the middle of H and B. The letter “H” stands for “hard”, and “B” stands for “black”. The higher the number for B, the darker the pencil will be, with more graphite being left on the paper, making them the best lead pencils for drawing. Furthermore, there is also an “F”, which stands for “fine point”. This pencil is very hard, making it the best lead pencil for writing and the best pencil for calligraphy.

Why we love Graphite Pencils

Besides their versatility, the best pencils for drawing are quick and clean. You just need to pick up your graphite pencil set to use them, no need to care for special clothes or to make sure the windows are open. You don’t have to prepare other tools or supplies like brushes, water, and binders! The best graphite pencils for drawing are light and portable so that you can take them with you to any location. To be fully prepared, just take your set of the best art drawing pencils, a sharpener, and a simple sketchbook. After you are done, there is nothing to wash or clean up. You are good to go just with this minimal equipment and a lot of enthusiasm for drawing.

You can draw with high precision with your pencils. And the best is, the best brand of sketching pencils is easy to erase and correct, which is also important if you are looking for the best pencil to write with. Even a soft eraser will take away what you don’t like about your drawing, just make sure not to press too hard onto the paper with your pencils so that no dents are created. No matter what you fancy drawing, your best quality sketching pencils are ideal for creating intricate patterns or photorealist art in grayscales.

High-quality pencils are ideal for creating tonal gradations. You can create a large variety of intensities by layering pencil marks and by shading. Furthermore, you can combine really good pencils with other mediums such as watercolors, crayons, pastels, and acrylics. If you like planning your paintings ahead of applying wet paint, a slight sketch with graphite pencils will be a great way of preparing your masterwork. We will recommend the best pencil for sketching before painting for you and will show you what makes the world’s best pencil!

Factors to Consider Before Buying Graphite Pencils

The Wood

High-end wood is an important component of good-quality drawing pencils. While the best wooden pencil will be made from genuine incense-cedar, budget range wooden pencils use poplar or basswood. Incense-cedar wood pencils are known for their smoothness. These best wooden pencils can be sharpened evenly without splinters. Since cedar is soft, it causes only minimal sharpener wear. Basswood, poplar, and white fir on the other side also sharpen adequately, but splinters will be part of the drawing experience with these plain wooden pencils. These kinds of woods are harder and will therefore cause more sharpener wear.

When buying the best drawing shading pencils, try to avoid pencils made with tropical and pitted woods. These pencils can be identified by the small pits in the wood, which means that they sharpen unevenly. Even worse, some pencils are made with extruded plastic. Unlike real wood pencils, they are not biodegradable and tend not to sharpen well.

The Graphite

As we have seen prior, even if often referred to as “lead pencil”, there is no lead in good shading pencils. While colored pencils are made with pigment and wax, the best graphite pencils for artists are a mixture of clay and graphite. In the best graphite pencils for drawing, the combination of these two materials allows for smooth strokes. Yet professional graphite pencils will create different lines depending on how much clay is used in the core. As a general rule, the more clay is included in the core, the harder the pencils will be. The harder the pencil, the lighter the stroke will be.

In the United States, a common number scale for pencil hardness is 1 to 4, with the standard pencil used in schools and for tests being number 2, a good notes pencil. Yet internationally another grading scale is used: Most manufacturers stick to the HB scale, with “H” standing ford hardness and “B” standing for blackness. The American number 2 pencils are equivalent to HB wooden pencils on the international scale, which are the best pencils for note-taking. However, there can be huge differences between an ordinary HB pencil for writing and the best HB pencil for drawing. The HB scale includes pencils that range from 9H, a hard pencil for light marks, to 9B, a softcore with a high percentage of graphite and low clay ratio, leaving dark, bold marks. Which is the best pencil for sketching and shading for you will come down to personal choice in the end. Once you get a feeling of what types of lines you can expect from what number pencil, you will be able to put together a set of the best sketching pencils that will be just right for your artistic needs.

The Shape

While hardness and material are crucial aspects to be considered when picking the best sketch pencils, pencil shape is often overlooked. Although it might seem secondary, the pencil shape will affect such aspects as grip, comfortability, and technique. Choosing the right shape for your best pencils for sketching and shading is not as daunting as it might sound. Let us look at their advantages and drawbacks so that you can find the best pencil ever for your needs.

The hexagonal pencils are used for drawing and writing. The hexagonal casing is easy to use due to the well-defined edges, allowing the user to establish a firm grip. Another advantage is that the pencil won’t roll off the desk as easily as its rounded counterparts. Hexagonal pencils are ideal for artists, they are the best pencils for portrait drawing, the best pencil for outlines, and other detail work, and most premium pencils will have this shape. However, when it comes to children who want to use a pencil, triangular versions will be the best pencils for learning to write, since they are easier to grip. The hexagonal options are considered the best pencils to write with and the best pencils for journaling.

The close neighbor to the hexagonal pencil is the semi-hex. It has rounded edges for less rigid handling. A lot of drawing pencils are semi-hexagonal, allowing the artist to twirl them between their thumb and index finger so that all sides of the sharpened point can be used.

The round pencil is often seen in design pencils or themed pencils, exuding simplicity. The sleekness makes it easier to print on than on hexagonal pencils so that you can find cool pencils for kids among the round variants. A disadvantage is that round pencils are the hardest to hold. The lack of grip leaves the artist more susceptible to dropping and slippage.

Triangular pencils are seen in elementary school pencils, some drawing pencils, and some writing pencils. They are the best pencils for toddlers, the best pencils for preschoolers, the best pencils for kids in general, and the best beginner drawing pencils. With three wide edges, the triangular pencil is perfect to use for beginners with a lack of finesse. Besides being the best school pencils, some artists also prefer triangular pencils since it is easier to do shading.

The pencil diameter can vary slightly between manufacturers, and there are mini-jumbo and jumbo variants for those who prefer larger pencils.

Country of Origin

You can find top pencil brands all over the world. What is the best pencil company? The countries most widely recognized for high-end pencils are the UK, Japan, Switzerland, and Germany. Even if it is possible to find awesome pencils in the US, American-made pencils are rare and pencil manufacturing has dwindled in America in recent decades.

Among the famous pencil brands, the Derwent Cumberland Pencil Company from the UK has a long tradition, with the history of the manufacturer going back to 1832. You can explore the background of the company and the history of pencil making in the Cumberland Pencil Museum in the UK.

Good graphite pencils from Japan are known for their smooth graphite and the best finishing in the world. They are traditionally crafted by artisans. Among the best Japanese pencils are those manufactured by Blackwing, Tombow, and Mitsubishi.

Switzerland has long been known for its great technology and ingenuity. Not only does this show in great watches and clocks, but also in some of the best professional drawing pencils. One of the best graphite pencils brands for the best artist graphite pencils and colored pencils is Caran d’Ache.

Germany has a long history of manufacturing some of the best drawing pencils for sketching. For example, the company Faber-Castell has been in business for over 200 years. You might as well try some of the best pencil sharpeners from Germany, which boast excellent quality.

Lacquer & Imprint

The number of lacquer coatings on the best carbon pencils can vary from three coats in entry-level versions to seven or even more coats in premium professional pencils such as the amazing pencil Blackwing 602. Most pencils are imprinted with a foil stamping method using finely tuned machinery.

The Ferrule

The small piece that attaches the eraser to the pencil is called a ferrule. The majority of ferrules are round, others are crimped, leaving small indentations in the ferrule. The best quality graphite pencils have glued ferrules, which gives the pencil a cleaner appearance.

Why You Can Trust Our Ratings

We at Pigment Pool take testing of art supplies very seriously. We spend a lot of time assessing art supplies and we update our pencils reviews every year. It goes without saying that none of the items in our list has been paid for by the pencil manufacturing companies, which means we are completely unbiased.

All the products you find in our graphite pencil review passed our trials, which means you are on the safe side when choosing one or more of the products. We promise that you won’t waste your money when relying on our recommendations for the best brands of pencils. You will create your top pencil drawing in no time with the pencils on our list!

The Best Graphite Pencils for Drawing and Sketching

There is a unique charm to the best drawing pencils for professional artists that isn’t matched by any writing pencils or the best pencil for journaling that you might use in everyday life. Naturally, you shouldn’t judge a sketching pencil only by its beauty, as we have seen above. Therefore, let us unravel the best pencil to draw with that will provide you with all the best options to get you sketching!

Faber-Castell 9000 Pencils and Sets

One of the most renowned pencil brands is Faber Castell. Their Faber-Castell 9000 pencils have a long history, having been launched by Count Alexander von Faber-Castell in the year 1905. Over the years, the quality and the graduated range of hardness degrees have made them an absolute favorite among artists and illustrators, making them rank among the best pencils for drawing. The pencils are loved for the smooth lead, even transitions, and the high-quality wood encasing, as well as the break-resistant leads that are fully bonded to their casings. Faber-Castell is one of the best shading pencils brands. The harder pencils don’t show any scratchiness due to the finely ground graphite and just the right portion of clay, and even the softer pencils hold a point for a long time. This set of 12 pencils includes one each starting from 5H to 5B, providing a great range of options for your sketching masterworks.

Get Faber-Castell Pencils now!

Staedtler Mars Lumograph Drawing and Sketching Pencils

The serious sketcher will highly appreciate the extended range of values that the German brand Staedler provides, starting with a very soft 9B to extremely hard 10H professional drawing pencils – much more than most other high-quality lines offer. The graphite pencils glide smoothly over the paper and are very break-resistant, thanks to the graphite being bonded firmly to the wood to avoid breakage, especially when sharpening. Don’t worry if you make a wrong mark with your pencils, since they are the easiest pencil to erase. The soft leads are great for sketching and blending, while the harder ones are the best pencils for drawing portraits, the best pencils for fashion sketching, and other detail work when you need to hold sharp points.

Which one is the best Staedtler pencil for sketching? We recommend this set of 24 pencils which does not only include the common hardness degrees but also Lumograph Black pencils in 8B, 6B, 4B, and 2B. The cores of these special pencils mix graphite with carbon for dark, velvety tones that absorb all light without a hint of shine, making it one of the best pencils for shading. A nice extra is the golden printed information that is legible on each of the hexagonal pencils.

Get Staedtler Lumograph Pencils now!

Caran d’Ache Graphite Line

The best artist pencils are undoubtedly the ones from the Caran d’Ache Graphite Line – even if they are more expensive than their counterparts. The best pencil to use for sketching was developed and perfected in the manufacturer’s Geneva workshops to explore all the diverse shades of grey and black. These high-quality drawing pencils feel smooth on the paper, it is easy to create both thick and thin lines, which makes them the best pencils for realistic drawing. The best quality drawing pencils are ideal for shading, gradation, flat wash, and blurring effects.

This set with a series of 15 extra-fine graphite pencils by the best pencil brand includes the darkest 9B, enabling the user to produce a great range of techniques – all the way from darkening larger surfaces to intense line drawing. The hexagonal design of these best pencils for artists makes them easy to hold for ideal artistic control.

Get Caran d’Ache Pencils now!

Koh-I-Noor Progresso Woodless Graphite Pencils

The best woodless graphite pencil is produced by the Japanese manufacturer Koh-I-Noor and is rated the coolest pencil ever by many. They are good drawing pencils for beginners and advanced artists alike. The so-called “woodless” high-quality pencils are just a graphite core. They are usually thicker than the standard artist pencil and are coated in a protective layer. Compared to wooden pencils, they offer a full range of advantages: Naturally, you get more of the graphite, so that your woodless pencils last for a longer time. Since more lead is exposed, they are the number 1 pencil for shading and are the best pencils for grayscale colouring. You can sharpen the Progessos with any electric or manual pencil sharpener.

However, you need to be aware that woodless graphite pencils also have one disadvantage compared to wooden pencils: They lack the shock-absorbing casing so that they are more prone to breakage. If you like to sketch while you are traveling, you should rather go with a wood pencil.

For use in your studio or at home, we recommend this woodless graphite pencil set of 12, which includes two each of 9B, 8B, 6B, and the best HB pencil for sketching.

Get Koh-I-Noor Woodles Graphite Pencils now!

Prismacolor Premier Turquoise Graphite Sketching Pencils

These best Prismacolor Pencils – professional art pencils with a retro look – have a long history and are proof that good drawing pencils don’t have to be expensive. The Eagle Turquoise dates back to 1901 and is even mentioned in Petroski’s “The Pencil” alongside pencil companies. While these best cheap drawing pencils were originally made by Eagle, it was eventually acquired by Sanford. The turquoise pencil has silver stamping and showcases a noticeable metal cap, which is quite an uncommon feature among the best graphite pencils for sketching.

With these Turquoise pencils, best results in sketching, portraiture, and precision drawing can be achieved. Furthermore, they are some of the best pencils for shading and the best pencils for portraits. They offer a smooth laydown in a wide variety of grades. Sharpening your pencils will create a perfect point, that will glide scratchless over the paper. This sketch set of 12 Turquoise pencils can be used for many different sketching and drawing techniques. The set includes 12 of the best pencils for drawing and shading in the middle range from 4B to 6H. The harder ones are the best wooden pencils for writing.

Get Prismacolor Turqoise Graphite Pencils now!

Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils

The Cumberland Pencil Company has been making some of the best drawing pencils for artists in the Cumberland Valley in England since 1832. This century-long experience of the pencil brand fully comes through in the quality of its Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils line. They are made from the best pencil graphite and pure clay for an extra smooth drawing experience. They are no. 1 pencils of choice when you want to create crisp, detailed illustrations and tonal drawings, and they are the best pencil for drawing outlines.

The Derwent Graphic Pencils are available in a full range of hardness for you to create the best pencil art, with 9B being the softest and 9H being the hardest. While most pencils have 2.2 mm graphite cores, the softer pencils starting from 4B have extra thick cores of 3.5 mm. Which Derwent pencils are the best? We recommend the Soft Sketch Set with 12 of the best shading pencils, which is perfect for drawing and sketching.

Get Derwent Graphic Pencils now!

Blick Studio Drawing Pencils

The Blick drawing sets are the best brand of pencils when it comes to the educators’ choice, the best sketching pencils for beginners, the best pencil for students, and the best pencils for kids. They come in a standard range of 6B to 6H, which is all a drawing student will need. The pencils on the harder side of the range are nice and crisp and blend seamlessly, while the soft pencils smoothly leave pigment on the page, making them ideal for the creation of dramatic effects in your illustrations and drawings. The leads of these best pencils for school are professional-quality, highly opaque, lightfast, and at the same time easy to erase. The hexagonal lacquered cedar casing prevents the pencils from rolling off the table. We recommend the Blick Studio Drawing Pencil Set of 12, which includes all pencil strengths from 6B to 6H. The middle range of the pencils is not only great for drawing but are also some of the best pencils for writing!

Get Blick Studio Drawing Pencils now!

General’s Kimberly Drawing Pencils

The General Pencil Company is an American manufacturer that makes some of the best wood pencils in the United States – and they have been doing so since 1889. This is rare since good pencils of professional-grade are mainly made overseas. Kimberly uses a dense, non-porous Ceylon graphite core which is “Carbo-Welded” for its made in USA pencils. Treated cedar encases the core to withstand a good deal of pressure and sharpens smoothly. You will love the green body with the gold lettering and a metal cap on the end, which gives this best drafting pencil a vintage feel. We recommend the General’s Kimberly Assorted Hardness Set of 10, which includes pencils in the range of 8B all the way to 4H, with the best HB pencil in the middle. You will be creating amazing drawings with pencil and the best pencils portraits in no time with these tools!

Get General’s Kimberly Drawing Pencils now!

Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Pencils

The Lyra Rembrandt hexagonal design pencils are ideal when you want to hone your shading skills since they rank among the best drafting pencils. These good sketching pencils are ideally suited for design, graphics, and they are the best pencils for architects, laying down smoothly and blending easily. Once sharpened, they hold the point nicely making them great professional sketching pencils. They feature consistent grading and outstanding resistance to breaking since they are encased in pure Cedarwood. We recommend a set composed of 12 pencils, starting with 6B all the way up to 4H.

Get Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Pencils now!

Palomino Blackwing Pencils

Palomino Blackwing Professional Artist Pencils have a very impressive standing in the pencil domain and are rated the best drawing pencils in the world among others. Artists all over the world celebrated it as the best lead pencil in the world, highly appreciated the brand, and developed a cult following before the line was discontinued in 1998. In 2010, Palomino decided to buy the brand and redeveloped the cult tools making them some of the best pencils in the world.

You can choose between three major Palomino Blackwing Pencils categories: There is the Blackwing in the softness 5B (best art pencils for sketching, great for illustrating and scoring), the Blackwing Pearl in 4B (the best drawing pencils, good pencils for writing), and the Blackwing 602 in 3B (for everyday use). Different from most professional pencils, which include graphite and clay in their leads, the Blackwings have wax added to them. This makes this best drawing pencils brand extremely smooth to use – they float over the paper surface and leave velvet dark marks. The semi-hexagonal shape of this coolest pencil in the world is easy to grip and includes a flat eraser on the pencil top.

Get Palomino Blackwing Pencils now!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Sketching Pencils

Having looked at the best brands of wooden graphite pencils, we are sure you still have many questions for us to answer around this basic but fascinating tool. From charcoal pencils, to sharpeners, and to further related art supplies, keep reading to find out!

What’s the Difference Between Graphite Pencils and Charcoal Pencils?

After having looked at graphite pencils, you might be wondering what the best charcoal pencil brand is. Basically, charcoal pencils are very similar to the standard pencil with graphite in the center, but instead of a mix of graphite and clay, the core is a combination of charcoal and wax. Usually, the hardness of the best charcoal pencils for drawing ranges from HB to 6B, which makes them rather soft and expressive. The best charcoal pencils are loved by professional artists since charcoal can make even stronger, more intense black marks than the softest graphite pencil. Many artists prefer to use good charcoal pencils with large paper or even canvas to create the best charcoal art since charcoal pencils are great for laying down large dramatic swaths of black. Ideally, you can always have some of the best charcoal for drawing along with your regular pencils on hand.

So, which is the best charcoal pencil set? We highly recommend General’s Charcoal Kit. This trusted brand has been manufacturing pencils since 1889 and produces some of the best charcoal pencils for sketching. Their drawing tools champion for their uniform, smooth quality at an affordable price. These best charcoal pencils for sketching are made of highly refined willow charcoal and fine organic blacks, encased in smooth cedar casings to prevent breakage.

Get General’s Charcoal Kit now!

Derwent is not only one of the best brands of drawing pencils, but also one of the best charcoal pencil brands, offering individual pencils and some of the best charcoal drawing sets. They are slightly harder than the General’s and therefore produce cleaner lines and are less susceptible to smudging. Due to the absence of imperfections, they are scratch-free and easy to sharpen. These best charcoal pencils for artists are available in light, medium, and dark shades, and most sets include a white pencil for highlighting. Encased in a round, 8-millimeter barrel of clear cedar as protection against breakage, the grip of this best charcoal for drawing is comfortable and easy.

Get Derwent Fine Art Charcoal now!

The Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Charcoal Pencils are perfect for the seasoned charcoal user. These professional charcoal pencils lay down in rich colors and have a satin-like finish, making them some of the best charcoal pencils for portraits. You can choose a set with black, charcoal, sepia dark, red chalk, and white chalk pencils to work on dark and light paper for beautiful tonal studies. The micro-pulverized natural colors are highly pigmented and smooth like butter, showing outstanding characteristics on dark and light surfaces. You will enjoy creating the best charcoal art such as drawings, sketches, and portraits, either alone or combined with other art media.

Get Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Charcoal Pencils now!

The Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Charcoal Pencils likewise rank among the best charcoal pencils for drawing. While Winsor & Newton isn’t as well known for its charcoal as it is for its paints, these are very good-quality pencils at a lower price. You will get the best budget charcoal pencil set with pencils of the hardness 2B, 4B, and 6B, each of which lays down beautifully, blending and smudging well. They are brilliantly versatile allowing for evocative shading, ideal for life drawings, still lives, and spontaneous sketching.

Get Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Charcoal Pencils now!

While the tools we recommended above are the best charcoal pencils for professional artists, the Staedler Mars Lumograph Charcoal Pencils are the best charcoal pencils for beginners and educators. Incredibly affordable, they are a great choice for artists who are just starting to use this medium. You can choose a set with everything you need for shading, blending, and subtracting, including a 2B, 4B, 6B, and a soft white chalk pencil. Furthermore, you will get a pencil sharpener, a kneadable eraser, and a paper stump for smudging, which makes the Lumographs the best charcoal drawing set. You will learn to create the best charcoal pencil drawing in no time!

Get Staedler Mars Lumograph Charcoal Pencils now!

What is the Best White Charcoal Pencil?

When you are looking for the best charcoal pencils for drawing, the white pencil should not be missing. According to our tests, the best white pencil for drawing highlights is by the Austrian manufacturer Cretacolor.

For more than 200 years, the brand has dedicated itself to creating the best charcoal pencils for drawing and other drawing tools such as the best white pencil for sketching. The famous Black & White Box drawing set is an excellent example of this dedication. Besides black charcoal pencils, charcoal sticks, black and white pastels, a pencil eraser, sharpener, and polishing leather, it holds 2 white chalk pencils in the strength of soft and medium, a white chalk oil pencil, and a white pastel artist lead. The metal box, therefore, includes everything you need to create dramatic art with great contrasts.

Get the Cretacolor Black & White Drawing Set now!

What is the Best Paper to Use with Drawing Pencils?

The question about the best paper for graphite pencil drawing is a tricky one since the possibilities with drawing paper are truly endless. There are numerous varieties out there and you will find out that each one will create a different look. When choosing the best paper for pencil sketching, the first thing to consider is the medium you are going to use. The paper you need for a graphite drawing won’t be the same kind you use for a colored pencil drawing. And again, the choice for colored pencil wouldn’t be the same as for pen and ink. While experimenting with different kinds of pencil drawing paper can be fun, you can save time and spare yourself unnecessary mistakes by learning what the best paper for graphite drawing is. Yet keep in mind that the choice of paper can also vary according to personal taste, which can be quite different for everyone. The following list includes the best paper for pencil sketching we prefer ourselves in our drawing endeavors and which we appreciate very much. Take them as a guide and on this basis make your own experiments to find your favorites!

As the best drawing paper for graphite pencil, we use smooth Bristol paper. Bristol paper is produced by many brands, it comes in various surfaces and all different sizes. You will find them in single sheets and pads.

For high-quality, professional work, we recommend using the Strathmore 500 Series, which is also called Strathmore colored pencil paper. It works great with graphite pencils, and you can also use it with colored pencils if you like. This is simply the best paper for pencil drawing. It is sold in large, single sheets and is 100 percent cotton, acid-free, 4-ply thick, and beautifully smooth. You will be able to create a very sleek blend with your shading and sketching and won’t have to worry about deteriorating quality. Plate (Hot Press) for fine pen and pencil work is the best paper for hyper-realistic drawings. The Vellum option (Cold Press) is ideal for rougher pencil work, for colored pencil, charcoal, and oil pastel.

Another great option for illustrations and graphite drawings is the Bienfang brand, which offers paper in pads. This is the best paper for pencil shading since it is brilliant white, the contrasts you create will stand out beautifully. It is 2-ply, acid-free, and contains wood pulp. Bienfang Bristol Board Pads come in a smooth quality making it some of the best paper for graphite drawing. A rougher Vellum surface variant is great for charcoal. This makes it the second-best drawing paper for graphite and charcoal for us!

What paper is best for Prismacolor pencils? We also highly appreciate the double-sided Bristol paper by Canson and are convinced this is the best paper for Prismacolor. While one side is very smooth, making it rank among the best paper for pencil portraits, the other side has some texture to it. You can use the smooth side for graphite work and the rougher side for charcoal and colored pencil. You can buy the best paper for graphite pencil drawing by Canson as single sheets or in pads, such as the Canson XL Bristol Pad.

What is the Best Mechanical Pencil?

Mechanical pencils vs wooden pencils – which is better? We are convinced that the question has only one answer: Both are great, each has its unique advantages, and you get the best artistic results when you use wooden and mechanical pencils combined. Nowadays, some artists prefer to work with the best mechanical pencils since they can be more precise, neat, and consistent than their wooden counterparts. The graphite lead is placed in a well built into the pencil – this makes good mechanical pencils handy since you don’t have to sharpen them. Simply click the top as it wears down to extend it and replace it with a new one once the lead is gone.

High-quality, durable mechanical pencils are great for multiple purposes, from writing and drawing to drafting and sketching. They are the go-to-choice not only for engineers and architects who use them for diagrams and plans but also for artists who use them in sketches and full-fleshed drawings. No matter if you use top-rated mechanical pencils for technical drafting, wireframes, mockups, or expressive artwork, a high-quality mechanical pencil will let you create precision lines with great accuracy. In most cases, a 0.5 mm graphite lead will be ideal, choose a 0.7 mm lead if you are working on sketches, in which details are not as important.

So, what are the best mechanical pencils in the world? In to following you will find out that the most expensive mechanical pencil is not necessarily the best, but that there are also many good budget choices. Let us look at some of our favorite good mechanical pencils for drawing and writing!

Our best overall choice is Tikky by Rotring, the best Rotring pencil, which harnesses numerous high-performance features, making it rank among the best mechanical pencils for drawing. No matter if you are drawing up floor plans, making sketches, calculating mathematical equations, or are writing novels, Tikky will manage to casually do it all. The perfectly weighted body and the rubberized grip guarantees that the pencil lies comfortably in your hand. It has a brass mechanism that assures that the 0.7 mm lead is advancing precisely as you want, while the fixed lead guidance sleeve prevents breakage. Don’t worry when you want to correct your drawing: The push-button on the top holds a build-in eraser, which will clean it up for you. Undoubtedly, this is the best Rotring mechanical pencil on the market!

Get Tikky by Rotring now!

When it comes to mechanical pencils, you don’t come past the best Japanese mechanical pencils, which are world-renowned. What is the best mechanical pencil for drawing from Japan? Our favorite is the Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil, which boasts several unique features, and which can be considered the best mechanical pencil in the world. It has an exclusive mechanism that rotates so that you can hold a sharp point continuously. While the lead in ordinary mechanical pencils wears down on one side, forming a slanted tip which leads to irregularities in line thickness, the Uni Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil avoids this by automatically rotating the pencil lead as you write. Every time you lift the pencil from the paper, a spring-loaded clutch twists the lead a small degree, which allows for a uniform wearing down of the lead. This makes it the best mechanical pencil for architects and the best mechanical pencil for engineers. Furthermore, the Kuru Toga Pipe Slide contains Uni-Ball’s Diamond Infused Lead, which is stronger than competing leads, resisting breakage as you write or draw and making it the best lead for mechanical pencils. The Kuru Toga Uni pencil comes with a package of lead and two extra replacement erasers.

Get Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil now!

Our next favorite in the ranks of the best mechanical pencils is the Pentel 500, the best metal mechanical pencil, which offers exceptional value for money. You will enjoy the industrial design features of this high-quality mechanical pencil with the knurled grip pattern, which is extra stable. This best cheap mechanical pencil is light but well balanced, feeling very comfortable in your hand. This makes it one of the best mechanical pencils for artists and at the same time the best mechanical pencils for engineers since it is easy to control. Furthermore, this high-end mechanical pencil includes a top-click and a stationary eraser – of course, both the lead and the eraser of this professional mechanical pencil are refillable. Indisputable, this is the best pentel mechanical pencil we tested so far!

Get Pental Graph Gear 500 Pencil now!

When talking about top mechanical pencils we also must mention the Sakura SumoGrip – the best automatic pencil with a legendary soft-grip. It has a clear barrel with an extra-long twist eraser, which lasts six times longer than an average eraser, and you can choose between a 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm lead. This is the best mechanical pencil for sketching when you work on your pictures for long hours or just like it comfortable. The specially ergonomically designed triangular grip cushion offers a relaxed yet flexible hold and makes your line great to control. It is the best 0.7 mechanical pencil we have tested so far. Therefore, we rate it the most comfortable mechanical pencil in the world! Thanks to its robust shape, it is one of the best mechanical pencils for woodworking and it is also the best mechanical pencil for school.

Get Sakura SumoGrip now!

The Koh-I-Noor Mephisto Profi Mechanical Pencil features a well-balanced, weighty feel. This quality mechanical pencil is great for precision work, also coming in two lead widths of 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm, making it one of the best art mechanical pencils. It features a color-coded barrel and a smooth rubber grip. We rate it the best mechanical pencils for students and professionals alike – you can literally grow with it while you evolve through your artistic career, it will last a long time. Koh-I-Noor is definitely one of the best brands of mechanical pencils we recommend and the best mechanical pencils for school.

Get Koh-I-Noor Mephisto Profi Mechanical Pencil now!

Regarding popular mechanical pencils we must also mention the Alvin line. The Alvin Draft/Matic Pencil is one of the best clutch pencils for professional artists, providing all you need to create intricate fine-line art. This cushion-pointed mechanical pencil, best mechanical pencil 2020, has a metal diamond-cut finger grip at the top and bottom. A push-button cap provides a continuous feed of around 12 leads and includes a built-in eraser. The 4 mm guide of this best drafting mechanical pencil tube supports the lead and makes sure you can draw in the accuracy you want.

Get Alvin Draft/Matic Pencil now!

What are the Best Pencils for Writing?

The best pencils for writing on paper or in a notebook must be made from high-quality wood that sharpens well without splintering. They should have a smooth graphite core that is bonded sturdily to the wooden case, which makes the point break-resistant. The best writing pencil will have a graphite grade of either HB, B, or 2B – which one of those three you choose will come down to personal preference. However, you should avoid pencils harder than HB, since they will be a bit too scratchy to write with and the marks will be too light. On the other side, the best pencil for handwriting should not be softer than 2B, since your writing will be prone to smudging. If you are using a mechanical pencil, go for a 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm lead. According to our tests of regular graphite pencils, these are the four best choices when you are looking for the best writing pencils:

The best brand of drawing pencils, The Palomino Blackwing 602, is indisputable one of the coolest pencils and unsurpassed in quality. It is made of incense cedarwood, and it includes a replaceable eraser. Unlike most pencil erasers, Palomino’s eraser has a rectangular shape that enables highly detailed erasing. The hexagonal body glazed in velvet-silver paint has slightly rounded corners, which makes it highly comfortable to write with. The lead grade is not listed on the pencil, but the hardness is very similar to a good HB pencil.

Although officially a drawing pencil, the Tombow Mono Professional Pencil is also great for writing according to our tests. The brand is another Japanese giant in the pencil world and highly appreciated in all countries of the planet. We like it because it has superior extra-refined high-density graphite, which does not only hold a point very well but is also break-resistant, and – the best – the words you write will be smearproof.

Staedtler is one of Germany’s oldest pencil manufacturers and is a huge multinational company. The Staedler Lumograph Pencil can be used for drawing and writing alike. These best writing pencils glide smoothly over the paper, are highly break-resistant, and are easy to erase. The entire length of the graphite is bonded to the wood to help prevent breakage, especially when sharpening. While there is a broad range of different degrees of hardness available, from very hard to very soft, pick one in the middle to get the best writing experience.

And lastly, the Faber-Castell Grip Pencil must be mentioned when talking about the best pencils to write with. Faber-Castell is another old German pencil manufacturer, and the Faber-Castell Grip is an outstanding example of superb quality. It has an ergonomic triangular-shaped barrel with a soft-grip zone. The result is highly comfortable, tireless writing. The lead is not only break-resistant but also dermatologically tested and easy to sharpen. While available in five different grades of hardness – from 2B to 2H – again we recommend picking one that lies in the middle of the range for pleasant writing results.

What is the Best Pencil Sharpener?

The best sharpener for pencils literally makes or breaks your graphite pencil’s ability to draw and write. Even the smoothest, most perfect pencil cannot make a single mark until a sharpener shaves off its wood casing, revealing the graphite underneath. Inferior sharpeners may allow pencils to write, yet only with chipped tips and frayed wood. On the other side, high-quality sharpeners will reliably sculpt pencils to a sharp point, so that you can effortlessly write or sketch as you desire.

What is the best way to sharpen colored pencils, manual or electric? Both have their respective advantages, and neither is objectively better than the other. It will come down to personal preference and to what kind of pencils you prefer to use.

For some, the best pencil sharpener will be manual, since these sharpeners have the advantage that you have full control over the sharpening process and that you can be extra careful to minimize the risk of breaking your graphite pencils. However, manual sharpening is more tedious and slower than sharpening your pencils with an electric sharpener.

The best mechanical pencil sharpener on the other side guarantees quicker and more efficient sharpening. The best electric pencil sharpener will provide multiple settings so that you can achieve the desired sharpness. On the flip side, automatic sharpeners are more likely to break the tip of your graphite pencil, especially when the lead is on the softer side. Furthermore, the best automatic pencil sharpener requires either power cables or batteries.

When buying a good pencil sharpener, watch out for ones made with stainless steel, since they will be more resistant to damage and durability. Further consider how many blades you want your sharpener to include, single-blade or double-blade. A double blade sharpener will be the best pencil sharpener for artists since it provides different sharpness levels.

So, which is the world’s best pencil sharpener? Keep reading to find out!

There is a reason why X-Acto has become a flagship when it comes to rating high-quality pencil sharpeners. It is designed for personal use, but is also ideal for studio and office environments and even rated the best electric pencil sharpener for classroom. Its durable construction makes it ideal for a great volume of sharpening without the need to rest. This heavy-duty electric pencil sharpener is wall-powered, but it does not draw any electricity when not in use so that you can continuously leave it plugged in. This best sharpener for graphite pencils has two solid steel cutters with 30 cutting edges. You will love the feature that the cutting action stops once the pencil is sharpened to a point. A pencil guide in the form of a spinning wheel further permits the sharpening of all sizes of pencils – six different diameter sizes to choose from.

Get X-Acto Pencil Sharpener now!

We rate the Faber-Castell Grip Trio Sharpener the best manual pencil sharpener and the best portable pencil sharpener. It is three sharpeners in one and is perfect for keeping different sizes of pencil sharp to the point, besides standard pencils also including the triangular Faber-Castell Jumbo Grip and the Art Grip. This best art pencil sharpener is fitted into a triangular setting, which makes it easy to grip both for children and adults. Furthermore, this best handheld pencil sharpener folds itself and clicks for easy and clean transport, keeping shavings neatly contained in two separate reservoirs.

Get Faber-Castell Grip Trio Sharpener now!

The Bostitch Super Pro Glow Electric Pencil Sharpener is also one of the best pencil sharpeners for classroom and likewise great for home and studio use. With its dual-cutter technology, it provides for a 50 percent faster sharpening experience for both graphite and colored pencils. This good pencil sharpener is equipped with a robust fan-cooled motor, guaranteeing continuous quiet operation. Another great feature is the SharpStop technology, which prevents your pencils from being oversharpened.

Get Bostitch Super Pro Glow Electric Pencil Sharpener now!

The Mobius & Ruppert Pencil Sharpener is one of the best battery-operated pencil sharpeners. It is a good choice when you want to sharpen both your graphite and colored pencils when you are on the go since it is super portable. This best battery pencil sharpener features one metal hole for different sized pencils along with a see-through plastic receptacle to catch the shavings, and it operates smoothly on two AA batteries.

Get Mobius & Ruppert Pencil Sharpener now!

The X-Acto Quiet Pro Electric table-top pencil sharpener sharpens any type of pencils, including colored pencils, graphite pencils and it is one of the best sharpener for charcoal pencils. It is further a good quality pencil sharpener for studio and classroom use alike. As special features, it has an auto-adjust dial, an LED indicator light, and a smart-stop technology to prevent oversharpening. For extra security, the motor stops automatically when the shavings bin is removed for emptying. To minimize distractions in the classroom or workplace, the motor operates super quietly.

Get X-Acto Quiet Pro Electric Sharpener now!

What is the Best Pencil Case?

In the amazing world of pencils, pencil cases don’t get the attention they deserve. Yet they are the ones that bring order into your pencil collection and keep them safe. No matter if you are a student, an artist, or a working professional, read on the find out about the coolest pencil cases in the world.

This Global Art Classic Leather Pencil Case is made from real leather incredibly versatile. It has two main compartments and the ability to hold a large proportion of your stationery collection. Shaped like a medium-sized book, it will fit nicely into your bag or backpack. The genuine leather material has a beautiful touch to it and offers a long-lasting solution for organizing, storing, and transporting your nice pencils. Loops inside the case will hold your pencils in groups of threes. You will get this best pencil case for artists in two finishes, smooth black or saddle brown.

This innovative ArtBin Pencil Container is the best pencil box in the world, designed for secure and convenient transport. It is perfect for organizing not only your pencils but also holds your cutting tools and other supplies perfectly. Extra sturdy, it is molded from sturdy tinted translucent polypropylene. A layer of foam is inserted to protect your pencil tips and keep the sharp point. It is easy to carry to your art class, workshop, or studio. You will notice that this best pencil box was designed with the artist in mind!

There are many different types of pencil boxes out there. The best pencil case when it comes to aesthetically pleasing design is the Pencil Pod, which is made from beautiful, hand-sanded hardwood. It is designed to hold around 12 pencils and is ideal for storing and protecting other small tools. The Pencil Pod has a sliding lid with a snug, ball-bearing closure.

After having looked at pencil cases, which are the best pencil pouches? We love the Blick “Artists Serving Artists” Zipper Pouch, which comes in super handy when you want to store or transport your pencils. It is made from heavy-duty 12 oz black canvas and features the “Artists Serving Artists” logo. It is just the right size for holding your pencils and other art supplies.

The Global Art Canvas Pencil Case also ranks among the best pencil case brands. It is handcrafted from finely woven 16 oz canvas and is perfect for storage and travel. The spacious compartments feature elastic loops, which can hold up to four pencils each. This is a great way of keeping everything secure, no matter if at home, in your studio, or away.

The Global Art Roll Up Pencil Case gives artists ample space for their pencils and colorful tools. The sturdy canvas material protects the contents, and the roll-up design is conveniently compact, which makes it easy to take your devices anywhere you go. The roll-up holds 36 of your favorite sketching and drawing pencils. Furthermore, it features a zippered interior pouch for holding other small items.

What are the Best Erasers for Pencils?

Mistakes happen – This is true for the most successful artists and the beginner alike. And that is why many pencils have erasers on the top. But you don’t have to rely on the eraser as part of your pencil, you can also opt for the best eraser for pencil drawing on the market. Erasers are available in a variety of materials and formats. You can choose a white artist plastic eraser, a classic pink eraser, or pencil top erasers for your pencils and get rid of unwanted traces by using the best products out there.

Build your supply of white erasers with this pack of 4 Staedtler Mars Plastic Erasers. The Staedtler set includes latex-free, high-quality erasers that cleanly remove graphite pencil marks from the drawing surface, even when using just little pressure. You can use it on paper, vellum, drafting film, and many other surfaces. This best pencil eraser for artists features sharp corners that is great for precisely erasing small areas. It won’t discolor the paper and performs with only minimal crumbling. A sliding sleeve enables you to handle the eraser conveniently.

Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser - Pkg of 4

The Prismacolor Magic Rub Eraser is another one in the ranks of the best pencil erasers. Made from vinyl, you can use it not only on ordinary drawing paper, but also on drafting film, acetate, or tracing paper. Enjoy erasing delicate marks cleanly without any smudging.

The PaperMate Pearl Eraser is great for getting rid of writing or drawing marks. Perfect for everyday writing, exams, essays, or delicate drawings, these large-size erasers are dependable at eradicating marks without the danger to tear or pill your paper. Features that come in handy are the sharp edges for hard-to-reach places and the flat face for covering larger areas.

As the go-to choice for artists, the Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser is great to use with drawing materials such as graphite and charcoal. You can easily mould it into different shapes for creating highlights in your drawing or for erasing little areas. One great advantage is that it is crumbless, meaning that you won’t smear your drawing by brushing off little remnants of your eraser. After usage, you can clean it by pulling and kneading the rubber until all the graphite material has been absorbed.

The best electric erasers for graphite pencils combine the gentleness of a non-abrasive white eraser with the fast-moving motion for more complete erasure. Usually, they will not or only minimally damage the surface of the paper. Electric erasers are a favorite tool of many illustrators and artists for carving white highlights into your work.

You should consider investing in a high-quality electric eraser. We tested some no-name electric erasers which were rather wobbly and unusable. Great erasers are the Derwent Battery Operated Eraser and the Sakura Sumogrip Cordless Electric Eraser. Both are heavy-duty cordless erasers that are ideal for refining your pencil drawings. Just push the button and hold it while you erase or create effects with high precision and ease. The long-lasting eraser cores are easy to replace and there are numerous replacement erasers included with your tool.

The best pencil top erasers are the Pink Pencil Top Erasers by Dixon Ticonderoga, which come in handy when you want to replace worn-out pencil top erasers, or you want a fancy add-on to your pencil. They are 100 percent latex-free and smudge-resistant to keep your drawings fresh. Your cute pencil top erasers further give you a clean finish for your exams, essays, and your everyday writing. The wedge-shaped eraser with its sharp corners and a flat face helps you to erase both details and large areas. One box includes 144 erasers, which is a super deal for the amount you get!

What is the Best Pencil for Tracing?

When specifically looking for the best pencil for tracing paper, for drawing outlines, or for the best pencils for drawing anime, we recommend going for ones by the big brands like Faber-Castell, Koh-I-Noor, Prismacolor, Staedtler, or Caran d’Ache. When picking the right hardness, you need to know that the softer the pencil, the more it will smudge. Therefore, when transferring an outline to other surfaces such as pastel paper using trace down or when drawing comics, we recommend using an HB pencil or even an F pencil. The hardness of an F pencil lies between an HB and a B strength, being one of the best pencils for drawing comics. You can use these best anime drawing pencils to cover over the outline on the pastel paper. If there are delicate areas where you do not want hard lines to appear under your graphite work, you can pick a slightly softer one of your best sketchbook pencils such as B or 2B.

Do You Need Fixative with Graphite Pencils?

You can use a workable spray fixative to seal your graphite pencil work and prevent it from smudging after you have finished drawing. Workable means that you can spray an area and afterward continue to draw on top of it to make further alterations. There is no further protection necessary: Other than pastel drawings or colored pencil works, graphite will not fade in daylight, since it is naturally lightfast. However, make sure to use acid-free paper. While the drawing itself does not degrade, the paper can if it is of bad quality!