9+ Best Drawing Pencils to buy in 2024 | Guide & Products Overview

Are you looking for Best Drawing Pencils?

Do you become good at drawing with the right pencil?

Not necessarily. There is no magic pencil that makes you an artist. With the right pencil, however, it is easier to learn the basics of drawing and train your hand to achieve what you have in mind.

One thing is certain: to learn how to draw you need to have the right tools.

Best Drawing Pencils to Buy in 2024

There are many questions before starting to study drawing. When you get carried away, all students develop their own drawing techniques and know which pencils are best suited to their style.

Beginner students, however, can have many doubts, especially if they have to buy the material par excellence without which it is impossible to give life to their drawings: the pencil. So let’s see how to choose the Best Drawing Pencils according to the work you want to do.

Pencil for drawing: how was it born?

Let’s take a little step back. To understand how to choose a pencil we must first remember how this tool is produced. The drawing pencil as we know it today, which is a lead inserted in a wooden casing, made its first appearance in England in the sixteenth century.

Konrad Steiner was the creator of the wooden pencil concept in 1565, following the discovery of graphite. Over time this tool has undergone significant improvements.

These are some of the characters who have marked the history of drawing pencils and the professional or amateur artists who have used them:

• Nicolas-Jacques Conté: In 1794, when graphite became difficult to find due to a commercial blockade with England, this French scholar invented a pencil by mixing graphite and clay, which were pressure cooked at high temperatures. Even today it is the process used to produce pencils. Conté patented his invention and started producing the pencils that are still on the market today.
• Lothar Faber: a few years later, in 1840, another inventor made changes that improve the pencil. Lothar Faber tries to work on the hardness of the mines, developing different cooking procedures. It is this German manufacturer who gives the stick that holds the lead the typical hexagonal shape, thus preventing the casing from rotating around the graphite.

Colored pencils only appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Previously, colored wax crayons were used. These pieces of wood with a colored core were invented by another German manufacturer, still the market leader: Johann-Sebastian Staedtler. Without his invention, kindergarten and primary school children would not have been able to use colors as a basis for the drawing.

Even though graphics tablets are catching on today, nothing can replace a good pencil! However, hand-drawing and technology are by no means antagonistic; find out how much a drawing course for beginners can be interesting online for example! There is something for all tastes, for beginners, adults, even high school!

Best Drawing Pencils | Comparison Table 2024

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Best Drawing Pencils | 2024 Products Overview

1. Castle Art Supplies Graphite Drawing Pencils

The showcased product is a comprehensive art set designed for artists of all levels. It includes a range of top-quality graphite pencils, wood-encased pastel pencils, willow charcoal, blending stumps, and a dual-tipped rubber blender, among other tools.

The set comes in a multi-functional zip-up case, providing a convenient on-the-go workspace. A 5-step tutorial is included for creating a gargoyle sketch, making it suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike. The product is backed by a worry-free Money Back Plus Guarantee.

Product Overview:

The Castle Art Supplies Graphite Drawing Pencils and Sketch Set is a complete artist’s kit that includes 40 pieces of high-quality art supplies. The set is designed to make drawing and sketching easy and convenient with its robust, zipper case that opens up into sections that stand up for simple selection. The set is perfect for both seasoned and beginner artists, with a variety of graphite, charcoal, and pastel pencils, charcoal and graphite sticks, blenders, and tools.

The art supplies in the set are balanced and shaped for comfortable holding and control, with premium quality for smooth application and reliable performance. The set also comes with a detailed, 20-page guidebook that is packed with tips and demonstrations to help artists make the most of the art supplies and techniques.

2. Nicpro Art Mechanical Pencils

The Nicpro Mechanical Pencil Set includes 6 drafting pencils with 8 tubes of lead in various sizes, along with additional accessories like erasers and lead sharpeners. The pencils feature a non-slip grip for ergonomic comfort, and the lead advances with a simple click, eliminating the need for sharpening.

Ideal for artists, professionals, teachers, and students, this set is perfect for writing, drafting, drawing, and sketching. The compact and lightweight design, coupled with a 100% risk-free purchase guarantee, makes it a convenient and reliable choice for everyday use.

Product Overview:

The Nicpro 6 PCS Art Mechanical Pencils Set is a comprehensive set of drafting pencils that includes everything you need for a variety of writing, sketching, and drawing tasks. This set includes six mechanical graphite pencils in different lead sizes (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm) as well as a 2mm lead holder in four grades (4B, 2B, HB, 2H). Additionally, the set comes with eight tubes of lead refills, two erasers, two lead sharpeners, eight eraser refills, and a storage case.

One of the standout features of this set is its anti-skid firm grip, which provides ergonomic comfort and support. The lead advances easily with a click, so there's no need to sharpen the pencils, and the set also includes two lead sharpeners for the 2mm lead. This set is ideal for artists, professionals, teachers, and students, and is perfect for everyday use.

3. Staedtler Mars Lumograph Art Drawing Pencils

The showcased product is a premium quality drawing pencil known for its unbelievably break-resistant lead. It is suitable for various applications such as writing, drawing, sketching, hatching, and professional graphic and artistic work on paper and matte drawing film.

The set includes 12 finely graded consistent degrees, ranging from 6B to 4H, conveniently stored in a portable metal tin. The super-bonded lead wears evenly, making it easy to erase and sharpen. The product is crafted with first-class materials and manufacturing processes, ensuring outstanding quality.

Product Overview:

The STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Art Drawing Pencils is a premium quality set of graphite pencils designed for all levels of artists and writers. This 12-pack set comes in a sleek metal storage tin and includes pencils with a range of fine grades, from 6B to 4H. The pencils are particularly suitable for writing, drawing, sketching, and hatching and are ideal for professional graphic and artistic applications on paper and matte drawing film.

The lead of these pencils is made to be incredibly break-resistant, which means you won't have to worry about constantly having to sharpen them. The lead also wears evenly and is easy to erase and sharpen, making it perfect for making changes or corrections to your work. The STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Art Drawing Pencils are made from first-class materials and undergo rigorous manufacturing processes, ensuring outstanding and unbeatable product quality.

4. Mr. Pen Best drawing pencils 2024

The showcased product is a comprehensive set of graphite sketch pencils designed for pencil artists. The set includes 14 pencils ranging from 6H to 10B, catering to various drawing styles. Suitable for writing, drawing, sketching, and hatching, these pencils are ideal for both amateur and professional artists working on paper or matte drawing films.

The high-quality materials and manufacturing processes ensure durability and unbeatable product quality. The super-bonded lead wears evenly, making it easy to erase and sharpen. This set is a versatile choice for graphic and artistic applications.

Product Overview:

The Mr. Pen Sketch Pencils for Drawing is a set of 14 graphite pencils that offers a wide range of graphite harnesses for pencil artists. This set includes 14 graphite pencils with varying degrees of hardness, ranging from 6H to 10B. The hardness levels included in this set make it particularly suitable for writing, drawing, sketching, and hatching, as well as for professional graphic and artistic applications on paper and matte drawing film.

Made from high-quality materials and through a rigorous manufacturing process, the Mr. Pen Sketch Pencils for Drawing guarantee durable and unbeatable product quality. The super-bonded lead wears evenly, making it easy to erase and sharpen. With 4.8 out of 5 stars and 4,224 ratings on Amazon, the Mr. Pen Sketch Pencils for Drawing is a highly rated and popular choice among artists and pencil enthusiasts.

5. Norberg & Linden XL Best drawing pencils mechanical

The product is a comprehensive drawing kit by Norberg & Linden, suitable for both beginners and professionals. The set includes 12 premium graphite pencils of varying hardness, a 100-page sketch pad, an ultra-soft all-graphite woodless specialist pencil, sharpeners, charcoal pencils and sticks, erasers, blending stumps, a pencil extender, an art knife, and more.

The travel-sized zippered pencil case keeps all supplies organized. The set is designed to cater to a range of drawing techniques and comes with a 100% quality guarantee from the manufacturer.

Product Overview:

The Norberg & Linden XL Drawing Set is a complete art kit that includes everything you need to start sketching. The set features 12 premium graphite pencils ranging in size from 8B to 5H, allowing you to create precise lines and develop your technical skills. The set also includes 3 charcoal pencils in soft, medium, and hard, 3 graphite and charcoal sticks, a kneaded eraser, a plastic/vinyl eraser, a sandpaper block, 3 paper blending stumps, a pencil extender, and an art knife.

In addition to the pencils and erasers, the set also comes with a 100-page sketch pad, 2 sharpeners for graphite and charcoal pencils, and an ultra-soft all-graphite woodless specialist pencil. The kit is designed for both novice and professional artists and is suitable for kids, teens, and adults. The travel-size case is equipped with a zippered pencil case, compartmentalized to hold all your supplies. Norberg & Linden is confident in their superior quality and customer service, offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee or money back.

6. Rapify Art Set Colored Drawing Pencils

This Drawing Art Set is a comprehensive kit for artists, featuring 120 colored pencils, 12 sketch pencils, 3 charcoal pencils, blending paper stumps, a graphite pencil, and various accessories, all neatly organized in a portable zipper case. Made of 100% original wood, the pencils are durable and provide smooth lines.

The set is easy to carry, making it ideal for sketching, coloring, or drawing on the go. With its thoughtful organization, this kit is suitable for beginners and professionals alike, making it a perfect gift for various occasions.

Product Overview:

The Rapify Art Set is a comprehensive art kit that is perfect for both beginners and professional drawing artists. The kit contains a total of 96 pieces, including 72 colored pencils, 12 sketch pencils, 3 charcoal pencils in soft, medium, and hard variations, 1 graphite pencil, 3 blending paper stumps in large, medium, and small sizes, 1 sandpaper block, 1 dual head pencil extender, 1 rubber eraser, 1 sharpener, and 1 A5 sketchbook. All of these items come packaged in a convenient zipper case, making it easy to carry and store all of your art supplies in one place.

The Rapify Art Set is designed to be both portable and multifunctional. The zipper case keeps all of your art supplies organized and in one place, so you can easily find what you need when you're ready to create. The pencils are made of 100% original wood and are designed to be durable and long-lasting.

7. Dyvicl Professional Drawing Pencil Set

The product is a set of drawing and sketching pencils by Dyvicl, featuring 12 pre-sharpened professional-quality graphite pencils with varying hardness levels. The pencils are hexagonal, ensuring durability and ease of use. They are non-toxic and eco-friendly, adhering to strict standards. With excellent shading and blending capabilities, the set is suitable for detailed illustrations and textured shading.

Ideal for artists of all levels, the set is versatile for drawing, sketching, hatching, doodling, and writing on various mediums. Dyvicl offers a satisfaction guarantee, promising a replacement or immediate refund if not completely satisfied. Great as a gift for budding artists and amateurs.

Product Overview:

The Dyvicl Professional Drawing Sketching Pencil Set is a versatile and comprehensive set of graphite pencils that is perfect for artists of all skill levels. The set includes 12 pre-sharpened professional quality graphite pencils, ranging from soft to hard, including 10B, 8B, 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, 2H, 4H, and 6H. This allows for a variety of tones to be used in drawings, helping to create depth and dimension.

The pencils are of premium quality, with a sturdy hexagonal barrel and smooth, even graphite that blends easily. The pencils are non-toxic and eco-friendly, meeting both ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards. This set gives artists the freedom to express themselves in a variety of mediums, including paper, sketchbooks, and sketch pads. The versatility of the set makes it perfect for drawing, sketching, hatching, doodling, and writing, making it a great gift for budding artists, family members, neighbors, and friends.

8. Kasimir Best pencils for drawing and shading

The showcased product is a set of high-quality artist pencils that cater to various lead hardness levels, allowing for versatile drawing styles. The set includes pencils ranging from 12B to 6H, enabling artists to create lines of different thicknesses and color saturation.

Made from natural and environmentally friendly wood, these pencils feature precisely centered leads to prevent breakage during sharpening. The product emphasizes its excellent quality and suggests that such quality cannot come at a cheap price.

Product Overview:

The Kasimir Drawing Pencils Set is a professional quality sketch pencils set that includes 14 different lead hardness levels, ranging from 12B to 6H. The set includes graphite sketching pencils that are perfect for artists looking to create a full-fledged drawing with a range of lines of different thicknesses and color saturations. The pencils are made of all-natural and environmentally friendly materials, with the lead precisely centered in the middle of the wooden part to prevent breakage during sharpening. The set includes 12B, 10B, 8B, 7B, 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, 2H, 4H, and 6H.

This artist pencil set is an excellent quality product, as it allows artists to create a variety of drawings with a range of lead hardness levels. The pencils are made of natural materials and are environmentally friendly, making them a great choice for artists who are conscious about their impact on the environment.

9. Castle Art Supplies Best drawing pencils for beginners

This product is a set of 12 high-quality graphite pencils designed for artists of all levels. The set includes pencils ranging from 5H (hardest) to 8B (softest), allowing for a wide range of tones in artwork. The hard graphite range is ideal for technical drawing, while the soft range is great for creating darker, thicker lines. The pencils come pre-sharpened with strong tips that consistently sharpen well.

Encased in top-quality basswood, these pencils eliminate scratching and ensure a satisfying drawing experience. The set comes in a sturdy tin case, making it convenient for on-the-go artists. The product is backed by a money-back guarantee, making it a worry-free choice for both beginners and experienced artists.

Product Overview:

The Castle Art Supplies 12 Piece Graphite Drawing Pencils Kit is a comprehensive set of drawing tools aimed at both adult artists and beginners. The kit comes presented in an attractive and compact metal case that is sturdy and easy to carry, making it perfect for artists on the go. The writing instrument form of the pencils is graphite, with a black color and ink color of black. The age range for the product is adult.

The kit includes 12 pure graphite, super-bonded leads that range from 5H (hard) to 8B (soft). This allows artists to experiment with various techniques and styles of drawing, from technical to creative. The pencils have a high lacquer finish and a hexagonal easy-grip shape, which makes them comfortable to hold and control.

Drawing pencils: how to choose the best ones in 2024

Even today, the pencil is a fundamental tool for many people, from an elementary school pupil to an established architect, without forgetting an artist or a simple art lover.

For designers or aspiring designers taking a drawing course, it is important to have pencils of different designs and materials.

Our advice for choosing the right pencil is to learn to distinguish mines that are classified according to their hardness :

• H (Hard): they are the hard tip pencils, also called dry. They allow you to make precise strokes and last a long time. The color varies from light gray to medium gray. Pencil H can be easily erased because it has a thin and clear stroke. This is why it is ideal for technical drawing.
• B (Black): they are greasy pencils, with a soft tip. They leave a dark stroke, but their tender lead wears out quickly. Furthermore, they are difficult to erase. The designers correct the strokes made with this pencil thanks to the gum pane. For the pasty and dark strokes, Pencil B is one of the pencils for artistic drawing.
• HB (Hard Black): these are medium-hard pencils and are widely consumed. The traits obtained can be erased without difficulty. They are the most requested pencils for school children.
• F (Fine Point): these are the pencils that are halfway between HB and H for hardness level.

You will have understood, the choice of the pencil is very wide. The problem certainly does not arise for a virtual whiteboard! To summarize: an H-type hard lead is used for technical drawing. That B, or soft, is typical of pencils for artistic drawing.

So far, it all seems very simple. Things get complicated when you have to choose between type B pencils from different brands.

The pencils from the harsh H mina are accompanied by a number ranging from 1 to 9. The higher the number the more the tip of the pencil will be dry.

The same goes for type B fat pencils. The higher the figure, the greasier the tip will be.

B pencils, due to their softness, are difficult to erase.

Our advice is to proceed step by step. To make a sketch you could use a 2H type pencil with a rather hard tip. Remember that H pencils can be erased with the white eraser. This way you can correct the sketch without difficulty before moving on to the actual art drawing.

When you are sure of your sketch, you can start using pencil B, choosing a more or less greasy tip depending on the stroke you want to make.

There is no ranking of the best drawing pencils; the choice depends on the preferences of each designer who evaluates the pros and cons of a pencil based on the use he wants to make of it.

The advantage of a pencil B is that you can go over the drawing pad several times. Depending on the inclination of the pencil and the pressure exerted on the paper, you will get a more or less thick or dark stroke. With a type B pencil, you can get shades ranging from gray to black. Remember, however, that to erase drawings made with a pencil B you need the rubber and not a common eraser.

If you have a specific project in mind, you can ask your drawing teacher for more information, even by opting for an online drawing course. There are also professional ones and for all tastes, for children and adults, for beginners and artists.

Types of pencils for drawing in drawing class

It is important to choose the brand of your drawing pencils well, their quality depends on them!

Some mines may contain harder grains and are likely to leave marks that are difficult to erase from the sheet. Also, a bad quality mine tends to break quickly.

How to recognize the best pencils for drawing

You can recognize a quality pencil by the homogeneity and strength of graphite.

If when you temper the new pencil the tip breaks constantly, even if you have been careful to put it back correctly in the case, it is obvious that you have to look for a higher quality product.

Mind you: the pencils have a very affordable price, even if they are produced by the best houses. The point is not to interrupt the artist in you because you don't have the right pencil.

Choosing a well-known brand is already an indication of quality, but it is not enough. Sometimes, even if you buy two pencils of the same type, their degree of hardness will not be the same because the yield on the sheet of paper depends on the manufacturer.

It is therefore important to try out different models of different brands before figuring out which are the best drawing pencils. If this is your first purchase, the best thing to do is go to a shop that specializes in fine art. Not only will you be able to try the best drawing pencils, but also take advantage of the advice of professionals in painting and art in general.