Best Pencil Reviews 2023

Pencils can be found for prices that range from $2 to $30 or more; it all depends on the brand, the number of pencils per pack, and the features. You’ll pay more for a mechanical pencil with replaceable lead and erasers than you will for a simple wooden pencil. You’re sure to find pencils that promise more for less, so, we’ll take the time to tell you right now that if you’re looking for a superb writing or drawing utensil, then cheap pencils aren’t worth your time or money.

What do you intend to do with your pencils – sketching or taking notes? Knowing this will determine what features your pencil should have. We’ve listed some of the important ones below:

• Type: wooden or mechanical
• Design: stacking, refillable, or non-refillable
• Size: dimensions of the pencil
• Lead grade and size
• Material
• Count: number of pencils per pack
• Extras like grips, scent, etc.

What makes a pencil the best is dependent on your intended use and personal preferences. If you’re an architect, you’ll probably need a mechanical pencil with fine lead for consistent and accurate markings. For an artist, a wooden pencil is a better idea because you can control how thick the marks are by simply increasing or reducing the applied pressure.

Wooden pencils generally share a common structural design. They can come with or without erasers, unsharpened or pre-sharpened, and with varying decorative elements, but the differences usually end there. With mechanical pencils, there are a few more options. Some contain lead in stackable tips, while others may have twisting tips or side buttons.

Superior-grade wooden pencils are made from Incense-Cedar while mid-range pencils are made with Poplar, Fir, or Basswood. Pencils made from Incense-Cedar have smooth, straight grain and a smooth finish. The wood is soft and sharpens easily without forming splinters or wearing out the sharpener. The Basswood, Fir and Poplar pencils aren’t as easy to sharpen, but they are better quality than pencils made from other woods that often splinter or sharpen unevenly.

The lead used in pencils comes in different shades of black. To differentiate them, the powers that be have taken the time to separate them into the grades. So, pencil lead ranges from 9H to 9B (there is also a 10H and 10B but they aren’t as popular). “B” refers to the blackness of lead. The blacker the lead, the darker it’ll write. The higher the number before the “B”, the darker the mark the pencil will make. “H” refers to hardness of lead. The higher the hardness marking, the lighter the marks it’ll make. There are also leads marked “F” and “HB”, these are in-between grades. #2 pencils are usually HB and, since there isn’t a standard grading scale for graphite, the overall quality differs by brand. “H” pencils are great for making outlines and tracing while “B” pencils are better for writing.

Lead sizes are measured in millimeters and can be as tiny as 0.3-millimeters. The finer lead sizes create thin lines and perform best with light pressure, but can break easily if you apply too much pressure. The larger sizes are better suited to those of us who put a lot of pressure on our pencils; they’re tough and will handle it better. The lead size for a pencil is usually indicated on the pack. Most of them are refillable but there are number of them that aren’t.

The size and shape of pencils is also important. Smaller pencils are not as easy to control as pencils with a larger diameter, which makes the latter more suitable for young children. Wooden pencils come in round, hexagonal, and triangular shapes. The hexagonal or round ones are more popular while the triangular ones are touted to offer better grip. If you’re going to be using your pencils for long periods at a time, it’s a good idea to consider those with comfortable rubber grips. For an extra-sensory writing experience, you can check out scented pencils as well.