We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Imagine taking a pop quiz at school or drawing up a proposal at work and all of a sudden, snap! Your pencil lead breaks, and unfortunately for you, there isn’t a sharpener or a backup pencil in sight. This is a great time to have a mechanical pencil on hand.
Instead of panicking to find a replacement pencil or sharpener, you simply hit a button on your pencil and fresh lead appears. Crisis averted! Mechanical pencils are versatile, affordable writing tools that have become a popular replacement for standard wood pencils. Their durability matches that of ink pens, and they have the erasable convenience of a pencil. Some mechanical pencils are refillable as well, making them low-maintenance office items you can count on.
Before hurrying out to buy a mechanical pencil, you’ll want to understand how they work, why they’re special, and the various features of mechanical pencils that affect your user experience.
As mentioned, many mechanical pencils are refillable, meaning you replace the lead and eraser as needed instead of buying an entirely new pencil. Mechanical pencils offer a large variety of capabilities for drawing, and their consistent lead diameters produce clean, neat writing.
Mechanical pencils are made from recyclable materials, whereas standard wooden pencils are made from non-renewable resources. This means mechanical pencils are not only more durable than standard pencils, but they are also more environmentally friendly if recycled.
Whereas mechanical pencils are long-lasting writing utensils, wood pencils are single-use items. Wood pencils are higher-maintenance than mechanical pencils because they need to be sharpened regularly and replaced once they reach a length too short to be realistically used. Further, some writers dislike the fact that the diameter and thickness of wood pencil lead is inconsistent and ever-changing.
A spring mechanism in a mechanical pencil gradually releases lead in small increments through the writing tip. The lead chamber stores the lead pieces until they’re needed. Once the used lead piece is finished, a new lead piece is fed through.
The main components of a mechanical pencil, such as the writing tip and barrel, are often made of a combination of plastic and metal. Higher-end mechanical pencils may be made almost entirely of metal.
The “lead” used to write is actually solid non-toxic graphite. It’s still referred to as “pencil lead” because original wooden pencil cores were made of lead. The eraser, located at the top end of the mechanical pencil, is made of synthetic rubber.
Lead sizing refers to the maximum diameter a mechanical pencil can accommodate and is measured in millimeters. Diameters range from as small as 0.1 millimeters to as large as 5.6 millimeters. Larger lead diameters result in a thicker mark on your writing surface. The most commonly used mechanical pencil lead sizes are 0.5 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters. These sizes have the widest variety of hardness choices.
Different lead diameters are useful for varying drawing needs, such as fine details and shading. Notably, your lead size must be matched appropriately to your mechanical pencil. That’s because the feed mechanism of a mechanical pencil is sized to accommodate a specific lead diameter.
Lead “hardness” is a term referring to the varying levels of softness or hardness of graphite, which results in lighter or darker marks. Lead hardness is denoted with a combination of numbers and the letters “H” and “B”. “H” stands for hard, while “B” stands for “black”. The “blackest” or darkest marks come from softer graphite. This means that soft lead has higher “B” ratings. Harder lead makes lighter marks and is graded with “H” ratings.
The most common hardness is “HB.” You’ll find many lead packs of 0.5 or 0.7 millimeters with an “HB” rating. “HB” is the most middle-ground hardness for lead.
The barrel is the most sizable part of a mechanical pencil. It is a hollow cylindrical piece that houses the lead chamber. The barrel connects and holds the other pieces of the pencil together, so it’s an important component.
This button controls the lead piece being fed in and out of your writing tip. The feed mechanism button is used to adjust the exposed length of the lead piece. It may make a small clicking noise as it feeds.
Some mechanical pencils have a clip on the end, near the eraser. This clip can attach to various items: notebooks, shirt pockets, laptop sleeves, and such. Pencil clips are convenient because they help prevent your mechanical pencil from getting lost.
The eraser for most mechanical pencils is located on the top tip of the barrel, over the clip. Erasers are made from synthetic rubber, often in a cylindrical shape. Cheaper mechanical pencils are equipped with small erasers that must be replaced frequently. Pricier mechanical pencils often boast retractable erasers that are controlled with a simple button or lever. This adjusts the exposed length of the eraser and feeds more as it depletes from use.
The grip of a mechanical pencil is where your hand grasps the bottom of the barrel in order to write. Some mechanical pencils come with built-in grips made from rubber or foam. These are ergonomically designed to make the pencil more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time.
Consider ordering some cleaning rods to clear your mechanical pencil in the event of a jam. Also known as cleaning pins, these long, thin needles are designed to push any obstructions, like small pieces of lead, out of the way.
Whether you need school supplies, office supplies, or just prefer to use mechanical pencils at home, there are a few accessories you might find useful.
Pencil case: Keep your mechanical pencils and spare lead in one convenient place.
Erasers: While mechanical pencils come with erasers, having a larger eraser available can come in handy.
The most affordable mechanical pencils cost $5 to $15. These are made largely from plastic, and depending on the brand, they may come in multipacks. You can also buy single mechanical pencils made from metal or high-quality plastic in this price range.
Cheap mechanical pencils are simple in design, often with solidly colored barrels and small erasers that aren’t retractable.
Mid-range mechanical pencils sell for $15 to $35. These pencils are larger in size and often feature transparent barrels so the user can see how much lead is left in the chamber.
Mid-range mechanical pencils often have retractable erasers and are more durable than cheaper models.
High-end mechanical pencils range from $35 to $60. For this amount of money, you can find singular pencils made of high-quality metal. You can also find larger sets of high-quality plastic pencils here.
If you’re splurging, you might consider a mechanical pencil that sells for as much as $100 to $300. These pencils are made with platinum or titanium and are uncommon.
A.Unless it gets lost, smashed, or permanently jammed, a mechanical pencil should last for many years. Its durable materials and refillable design extend its lifespan much longer than that of standard pencils or pens.
A. Mechanical pencils are classified as #2 pencils and can be used on scantron sheets. However, because of the lead’s thinner design, mechanical pencils have been shown to be more difficult and time-consuming to use (an important consideration for timed tests) than standard wood pencils.
A. Mechanical pencils may be refilled with as many as two to six lead pieces at a time. This number depends on the lead sizing.
BestReviews wants to be better. Please take our 3-minute survey,
and give us feedback about your visit today.