Finding a good range in colors and hues is key, says artist and art restoration specialist Sarah Valente. “Sets that have different colors of the same intensity are okay, but not ideal for shading and complex color schemes in fine artwork,” she says. “A good pencil set will have different shades of one color.” These are the best drawing pencils you can buy online. When you buy a pack, you’ll receive a handy storage tin, and each pencil will have a different hardness level, ranging from very soft (8B) to extra-hard (6H). These drawing pencils have ultra-sharp break-resistant tips—even the softest option is surprisingly sturdy. And while they don’t have erasers on the ends, the lead erases effortlessly with a standard eraser. Count: 6 or 12 | Form: Wood | Eraser Included?: No | Variety: 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H Also, the extra-firm Japanese graphite lead is made of a special mixture of clay and wax for the perfect balance of strength and smoothness. Each pencil has a durable cedar casing finished with multiple layers of lacquer, making them easy to sharpen and comfortable to use. Count: 12 | Form: Wood | Eraser Included?: Yes | Variety: Extra firm, firm, balanced, soft The lead in these pencils is great for various applications, from sketching and hatching to writing and illustrating. With an always-sharp, consistently thick tip, a non-slip grip, and a lightweight feel, these pencils are great to use, no matter what the project. While you won’t get a variety of graphite hardnesses in this kit, you will get different thicknesses to help with line weight. Count: 4 | Form: Mechanical | Eraser Included?: Yes | Variety: 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 millimeters This unique concoction makes the tips extra sturdy, and hard cedar casing makes them easy to sharpen. You can buy these pre-sharpened drawing pencils individually to choose the exact hardness you’re looking for, or get a variety pack of six or 12, which come in tin carrying cases. Count: 6 or 12 | Form: Wood | Eraser Included?: No | Variety: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B The soft lead and semi-thick tips are easy to sharpen and resist cracking. The pencils apply smoothly and evenly, making them ideal for shading, shadowing, blending different colors, and free sketching. Count: 26-150 | Form: Wood | Eraser Included?: No | Variety: 72 colors You’ll get eight standard graphite pencils of varying softness, one woodless graphite pencil, three charcoal pencils, three charcoal sticks, three sketching sticks, two types of erasers, and a sharpener. Count: 21 | Form: Wood | Eraser Included?: Yes | Variety: 4H, 2H, H, Hb, B, 2B, 4B, 6B You can try out various leads and utensil styles to see what you like best while you explore the world of drawing. The spiral-bound sketchbook is just 6 x 9 inches, making it a good portable option to take with you wherever you go. Count: 19-piece | Form: Wood, Graphite | Eraser Included?: Yes | Variety: 8B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB, F, H, 2H You’ll also get blending tools, multiple sharpeners, a couple types of erasers, a sandpaper block, and a pencil extender, plus a zip-up carrying case with a place for each piece. The set is great for intermediate and established artists, though ambitious beginners might love it too. Count: 40-piece | Form: Wood, Pastel | Eraser Included?: Yes | Variety: Not Listed “Higher end pencils are very waxy, which can result in your drawing looking hazy after a while if it is not framed and exposed to air,” says Valente. “The wax can easily be rubbed out with a tissue, whereas cheaper pencils are less waxy because they are harder.”
Type
Graphite pencils have a special kind of lead made of ground graphite (crystalline carbon) and clay. Most graphite pencils don’t have attached erasers, but you can find high-quality options that do. Then there are mechanical drawing pencils, which usually come with graphite lead. With the mechanical variety, you can count on a consistent, always-sharp tip, whereas standard pencils need to be sharpened. Both types of drawing pencils come in varying tip sizes.
Firmness
The lead in drawing pencils ranges from very soft to extra-hard. You can buy them individually based on your preference or how dark of a line you need to draw, but sets often come with a variety of options. With high-quality drawing pencils, softness doesn’t equate to flimsiness. You can usually count on even the softest leads to be sturdy and resistant to breaking. The difference has more to do with the effect they create. Softer pencils make darker marks, whereas firm pencils will produce lighter lines. This varies between graphite and colored pencils, says Valente. “When you are buying a set of drawing pencils, you want a set that has either a range of hardnesses(in graphite pencils), or an overall soft quality (in colored pencils). The softer the pencil, the more intense the pigment. If you buy pencils that are too hard, they will be harsh on the paper, dull, and near impossible to erase if you make a mistake,” she says.
Color
Most drawing pencils have relatively dark charcoal-colored lead. However, there are also options in varying shades of gray and pearly white, as well as lead that’s a bit closer to black. And then there are colored pencils, which usually come in sets consisting of a broad range of hues. Colored pencils can be used for drawing and sketching. But since the lead is typically a little softer, they’re better for shading, shadowing, and coloring in illustrations.
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Theresa Holland has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. She’s always loved arts and crafts and has a deep appreciation for high-quality writing utensils. You can check out more of her work on MyDomaine. Additional reporting was done by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce brands covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays. She’s also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more. Where your place your fingers will affect the amount of pressure on the page. “The closer you get to the point, the more pressure on the pencil. That’s how tips break and your fingers cramp. When sketching, it’s better to hold the pencil in the middle or higher, because it prohibits you from pressing too hard. Eventually, you will be covering up those sketch lines and don’t want them to be hard and visible,” Valente says. Valente recommends using hand sharpeners. “Electric sharpeners get dull against colored pencils, and often over sharpen them, causing you to replace them more often,”" she shares. You should look for a different tooth, or texture of the paper, depending on the medium you are using. “Paper with more tooth is for pastels and chalk, because it holds the pigment better. For drawing pencils, it is best to have a smooth, medium weight paper. Pencils amplify texture in paper,” Valente says. Expert advice was provided by Artist and Art Restoration specialist Sarah Valente.
