“The Best Pencil in the World” is a contentious title. Pencils come in an extraordinary number of varieties, and no two people need quite the same thing from their pencil. A student looking for the best mechanical pencil for math has very different needs from an artist looking for professional colored pencils.
To help you find your personal best pencil, we’ve chosen recommendations for specific categories rather than arranging all of the pencils in an arbitrary list. We also link to more in-depth guides so that you can learn more about why we chose what we did and see the competition. We encourage you to look around, evaluate our selections, and pick your own favorites.
To choose our recommendations, we referenced the many tests we’ve put our pencils through over the years for our topical guides and videos. These include overviews of full product lines, detailed product comparisons, and other educational resources. We use different tests depending on the guide, but we often evaluate pencils on qualities like consistency, darkness, vibrancy, erasability, and comfort.
We’ve picked what we think are the best pencils for each category, but your favorites may be different depending on your particular needs and preferences. Try our JetPens Pencil Samplers and Starter Kit to test a selection of our best and most popular pencils so that you can pick the best pencil for yourself! You can also use our Comparison Tool to take a closer look at multiple pens at once. Try comparing some of our most popular pencils here.
If you prefer to leave the cap off, simply push the button on the body of the pencil to advance the lead. When you do post the cap, it snaps securely into place with no risk of it flying off during use. Posting reveals a push button on top of the cap that lets you advance the lead even though the cap is covering up the main push button on the body of the pencil. It’s no wonder that the Sharp Kerry is the top pick in our guide to The Best Mechanical Pencils!
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart
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The black model also comes in a mini size. We don’t recommend it for long writing sessions, but it’s a nice option for people with smaller hands or who want a pocketable pencil.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Kaweco Special Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm, 2.0 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Kaweco Special Brass Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm, 2.0 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Kaweco Special Mini Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm, 2.0 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Sliding lead sleeves are highly effective, but they require you to write with the end of the lead pipe touching the paper at all times. Since the Zebra DelGuard protects your pencil lead no matter how you write, we believe it’s the best unbreakable pencil for most people.
The Zebra DelGuard comes in several different styles, including the lightweight standard plastic version and the ergonomic Type-GR. If you appreciate being able to write in ink or pencil at a moment’s notice, try the Zebra DelGuard +2C Multi Pen. It combines the DelGuard’s lead guarding features with smooth black and red Zebra Surari Emulsion ballpoint ink refills.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Zebra DelGuard Standard Mechanical Pencil | 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Zebra DelGuard Mechanical Pencil Starter Kit | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Zebra DelGuard Type-ER Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Zebra DelGuard Type-GR Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Zebra DelGuard Type-Lx Mechanical Pencil | 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Zebra DelGuard +2C Multi Pen | 0.5 mm (Pencil) & 0.7 mm (Ballpoint Pen) | Add Items to Cart |
- The Best Lead Guard Mechanical Pencils
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- Zebra DelGuard: The Unbreakable Mechanical Pencil
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 1
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 2
- Video: Best Mechanical Pencils Of All Time
- Video: Zebra DelGuard Lineup
- Video: Pencil Versus Pencil: Kuru Toga vs DelGuard
- Video: Mechanical Pencil Comparison
- Video: The Best Mechanical Pencils Part 1: Innovative Lead Mechanisms
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The Uni Kuru Toga comes in several versions, but two of our favorites are the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette and the Uni Kuru Toga Advance. The Uni Kuru Toga Roulette is consistently the most popular Kuru Toga on our site for its premium look, knurled metal grip, and comfortably low center of gravity. If you’re looking for a fancy mechanical pencil, the Roulette is it. The Uni Kuru Toga Advance features a “W Speed” rotating mechanism that turns the lead twice as fast as standard Kuru Togas. This faster speed is better for people who write in cursive since they don’t lift the pencil from the paper as often as people who print. The Advance also has a sliding lead sleeve that protects against lead breakage and can be retracted to prevent the pencil tip from damage when it’s not in use.
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- Kuru Toga: A Comprehensive Guide
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 1
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 2
- Video: Best Mechanical Pencils Of All Time
- Video: Pencil Versus Pencil: Kuru Toga vs DelGuard
- Video: Mechanical Pencil Comparison
- Video: The Best Mechanical Pencils Part 1: Innovative Lead Mechanisms
- Video: School Supplies For College Students Part 2: Pens & Pencils
- Video: The Best Back to School Supplies for Left-Handers
- The Best Mechanical Pencils
- Kuru Toga: A Comprehensive Guide
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 2
- Video: Pencil Versus Pencil: Kuru Toga vs DelGuard
- Video: Mechanical Pencil Comparison
- Video: The Best Mechanical Pencils Part 1: Innovative Lead Mechanisms
- Video: School Supplies For College Students Part 2: Pens & Pencils
- Video: The Best Back to School Supplies for Left-Handers
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Sun-Star Nicolo Multi Mechanical Pencil | 0.3 & 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Most people use medium lead grades like HB, F, H, and B for writing, but the Mono 100 does come in a wide range of lead grades if you prefer harder or softer options. If you like soft leads and want something with a bit more flair, try a Blackwing Pencil, which was our top pick for writing in The Best Wooden Pencils guide. Its distinctive look and smooth, dark leads make even everyday writing feel special.
Product Name | Lead Grades | Add to Cart |
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Tombow Mono 100 Pencil | 9H, 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B | Add Items to Cart
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Blackwing Pencil | Matte (Soft), Pearl (Balanced), 602 (Firm), Natural (Extra Firm) | Add Items to Cart
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If you want a customized grip and don't mind tinkering with your pencil, we recommend Pilot's Dr. Grip CL Play Balance Mechanical Pencil. It comes with two types of materials for the inner grip: metal and silicone.
The metal parts produce a firmer grip and weighted writing experience, while the silicone parts provide a cushier grip and lighter weight. You can configure the grip in any order with eight different weight and center of gravity combinations! Just twist off the pencil tip, remove the translucent outer grip, then arrange the inner parts to your liking.
Product Name | Tip Size | Add to Cart |
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Staedtler 771 Mechanical Pencil | 1.3 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Pilot Dr. Grip CL Play Balance Shaker Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Product Name | Lead Grades | Add to Cart |
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Staedtler Triplus Jumbo Pencil | 2B | Add to Cart |
Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Pencil Set | 2B, B, HB | Add to Cart |
The Opt also has two handy extras: a shaker mechanism and a binder clip for fastening the pencil to notebooks and pockets. The shaker mechanism lets you advance the lead without readjusting your grip, so you don’t have to break your train of thought. In addition to these practical features, the Pilot Opt comes in fun body colors so that you can express your style.
Product Name | Tip Size | Add to Cart |
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Pilot Opt Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Pilot Fure Fure Me Shaker Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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The Pentel Orenz comes in four different styles, ranging from the lightweight standard Orenz to the premium Orenz Nero. This futuristic pencil is made from a sturdy metal and resin blend and features an automatic advancement mechanism that extends the lead every time you lift the tip from the paper.
- The Best Mechanical Pencils
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- The Mechanical Pencil Equivalent of a No. 2 Pencil
- Top 20 Back to School Supplies
- Video: Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils Part 1
- Video: Best Mechanical Pencils Of All Time
- Video: Mechanical Pencil Comparison
- Video: The Best Mechanical Pencils Part 2: Unique Features
- Video: Top 10 Japanese Stationery Products
If you don't need all the features of the Tombow Mono Graph, another mechanical pencil with a generous twist-up eraser is the Pentel Twist-Eraser III. Its soft, latex-free grip earned it a spot in our Best Ergonomic Pencils guide.
Product Name | Tip Size | Add to Cart |
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Tombow Mono Graph Shaker Mechanical Pencil | 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Pentel Twist Erase III Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart
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- The Best Mechanical Pencils
- Tombow Mono: A Comprehensive Guide
- The Mechanical Pencil Equivalent of a No. 2 Pencil
- Top 20 Back to School Supplies
- Top Affordable Back to School Supplies
- Video: Mechanical Pencil Comparison
- Video: Best Mechanical Pencils Of All Time
- Video: School Supplies For College Students Part 2: Pens & Pencils
For students who like very neat notes or straight lines, take note that you won’t get super precise lines with a pencil highlighter. The Neonpitsu has a waxy texture and makes marks reminiscent of colored pencils. You can lighten the pencil marks using an eraser, but they don’t erase completely.
Product Name | Tip Size | Add to Cart |
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Kutsuwa Neonpitsu Knock Highlighter Pencil | 3.8 mm | Add Items to Cart |
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Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils | Add Items to Cart
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As a bonus, Polychromos pencils are color-matched with other Faber-Castell products for easy mix media work.
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Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils | Add Items to Cart
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Uni Arterase Color Pencils | Add Items to Cart
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Their colors dissolve into even more intense hues when touched with water, allowing you to blend new colors and spread them into lovely watercolor washes.
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Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils | Add Items to Cart
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For a more extensive and interesting color selection, check out the Uni EMOTT Color Mechanical Pencils. These minimalist pencils feature unique colors like Khaki Green and Vermilion. However, they're only available in three 4-color sets, and their thin diameter may not be ergonomic to hold for long drawing sessions.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Pilot Color Eno Mechanical Pencils | 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Uni EMOTT Color Mechanical Pencils | 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart |
You can swap out the preloaded colors with other colored leads or even graphite lead in different lead grades. Plain 0.5 mm mechanical pencil components with graphite lead are also available so you can easily tell the difference between colored and graphite lead components.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Uni Color 3 Multi Mechanical Pencils | 0.5 mm | Add Items to Cart |
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Uni No.888 Color Pencils | Add to Cart |
Tombow Irojiten Color Pencils | Add Items to Cart |
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Kokuyo FitCurve Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 mm | Add to Cart |
Product Name | Lead Grades | Add to Cart |
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Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencils | 10H, 9H, 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B, 10B | Add Items to Cart
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Product Name | Add to Cart |
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Uni Vermilion and Prussian Blue Pencil | Add Items to Cart
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Unlike many lead holders that use a drop clutch mechanism, this 2.0 mm lead holder has an easy-to-use incremental advance clutch that works just like a 2.0 mm mechanical pencil would.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Staedtler Silver Series Lead Holder | 2.0 mm | Add to Cart |
Kaweco also came out with a refillable eraser version of the Sketch Up Holder that uses the same clutch mechanism.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Kaweco Sketch Up Lead Holder | 5.6 mm | Add Items to Cart |
Kaweco Sketch Up Corrector Eraser Holder | 5.6 mm | Add to Cart |
One of the Graph Gear 1000’s unusual features is a spring-loaded binder clip that fastens easily onto thick notebook covers and pockets. Opening the clip retracts the pencil tip, so there’s no danger of accidentally poking yourself through your clothes. The Pentel Graph Gear 1000 comes in tip sizes from 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm for artists and engineers who need a wide range of sizes at their disposal.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Pentel Graph Gear 1000 Drafting Pencil | 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm | Add Items to Cart
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The Staedtler Mars Lumograph is also a genuine pleasure to use. It sharpens and erases easily, so your work will always look tidy. The Lumograph comes in a full range of lead grades if you prefer harder or softer options, which is great for both architects and artists.
Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencil | 10H, 9H, 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B, 10B, 11B, 12B | Add Items to Cart
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Even the best pencil sharpener is only as good as its blades, so KUM Automatic Brake Sharpeners come with spare blades to replace the originals when they get dull.
As a bonus for those who use lead holders, the blue sharpener also has built-in lead pointers for sharpening 2 mm and 3.2 mm leads.
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KUM Automatic Brake Sharpener | Add Items to Cart |
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Uni Color Pencil Sharpener | Add to Cart |
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Sakura Sumo Grip Eraser | Add Items to Cart |
Product Name | Lead Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Pilot Neox Graphite Lead | 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Uni Smudge-Proof Lead | 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.9 mm | Add Items to Cart
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Product Name | Tip Sizes | Add to Cart |
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Uni NanoDia Color Lead | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm | Add Items to Cart
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We hope you’ve enjoyed this exploration of the best pencils for 2023! Check out our companion Best Pens for 2023 guide if you also write or draw in ink, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be updated on new guides, videos, and products.