#10 Best Drawing Pencils for Artists 2023
With the best drawing pencils for artists, you can handle your projects with ease. If you're looking for the best, check out our recommendations below.
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Drawing pencils are the most common tool used by beginner artists and professional artists for drawing and sketching. It is a versatile drawing tool to be used in your various projects. Suppose you're looking for the best drawing pencils for artists on the market. In that case, you can start by reading our recommendations below. We have compiled ten of the best artist drawing pencils for you. Read on!
Table of contents
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1.Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils: Best Overall
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2.Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils: Best Versatile
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3.Blackwing Matte Pencils: Best for Soft and Dark Line
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4.BIC Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils: Best Mechanical Pencils
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5.Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils: Best for Great Precision
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6.Arteza Woodless Graphite Pencils: Best for Broad Strokes
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7.ALVIN DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil: Best Lightweight
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8.Faber-Castell PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set: Best Premium
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9.Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils: Best for Multiple Use
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10.Tombow 2558-HB Rubber Pencils: Best Japanese Quality
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cant find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our Q&A community.
How to choose the best drawing pencils for artists?
There are several factors you should consider before choosing an artist drawing pencils, such as drawing style and pencil grades. You should determine what kind of drawing style you prefer because that will lead you to find the best one for you. And the next factor is the pencil grades. Once you know your drawing style, this factor has to do with your drawing style. Generally, pencil grades usually vary from 9H to 9B. Choose the set that suits your drawing style.
How much should I spend on the best drawing pencils for artists?
You may need to spend around $5 to $30 for a set of drawing pencils. And quality is the main factor that affects the price of a set of drawing pencils. There are also factors such as brand and quantity that contribute to the price variation of artist drawing pencils.
What is the average lifespan of the best drawing pencils for artists?
Just like most pencils on the market. The lifespan of an artist drawing pencil generally ranges from 1 to 3 years. And the lifespan of these drawing pencils also depends on your usage and how you store them. If you want your drawing pencil to last longer, you need to store it properly.
What is the best artist drawing pencil to have?
Based on our recommendation here, we choose Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils as the best artist drawing pencils. It comes with 6 sets of pencils; if you’re feeling short, you can opt for the 12-set option. This drawing pencil set is also suitable for use in various projects such as drawing, sketching, architectural layout, writing, and many more.
Name | Rank | Check Prices |
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Staedtler
Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils | #1 | Amazon Dickblick.com eBay |
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Faber-Castell
9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils | #2 | Amazon Fabercastell.com eBay |
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Blackwing
Matte Pencils | #3 | Amazon Blackwing602.com eBay |
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BIC
Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils | #4 | Amazon Walmart.com eBay |
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Derwent
Graphic Drawing Pencils | #5 | Amazon Derwentart.com eBay |
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Arteza
Woodless Graphite Pencils | #6 | Amazon Arteza.com eBay |
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ALVIN
DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil | #7 | Amazon Dickblick.com eBay |
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Faber-Castell
PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set | #8 | Amazon Fabercastell.com eBay |
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Lyra
Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils | #9 | Amazon Dickblick.com eBay |
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Tombow
2558-HB Rubber Pencils | #10 | Amazon Jetpens.com eBay |
10 List of Best Drawing Pencils for Artists
- Have a problem
with this product?#1Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils
Best Overall
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Manufactured in Germany, most artists love the quality given by these Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils for writing, drawing, and sketching. It also comes with six pencils with different thicknesses ranging from HB to 8B. With its thickness in the B range, this pencil is ideal for portrait drawings and dynamic landscapes. In addition, this artist drawing pencil is break-resistant and easy to erase.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Versatile
Comes with six grades of thickness
Ideal for portrait drawings and dynamic landscapes
Easy to eraseCons (reasons to avoid)
ExpensiveWhat other experts liked
This set has a good range of lead varieties and comes in a sturdy storage case.What other experts didn't like
Pricey for pencils but very good quality. - Have a problem
with this product?#2Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils
Best Versatile
1 readers vote1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Next is Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Penci, a versatile set of pencils which perfect for drawing students, designers, and also artists. It is crafted from premium quality that will deliver smooth drawings. Even better, this artist drawing pencil comes with 12 levels of thickness, from 2H to 8B. And that means you have many choices to draw and sketch with this set of 12 pencils.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Versatile
Crafted from premium quality
Includes 12 levels of thicknessCons (reasons to avoid)
The B pencils are a bit hard to sharpenWhat other experts liked
I am a beginner at drawing and bought these a few months back. They have been awesome and are of higher quality than I expected for the price.What other experts didn't like
The pencil set is great, but the B pencils were a little hard to sharpen because they kept on breaking. - Have a problem
with this product?#3Blackwing Matte Pencils
Best for Soft and Dark Line
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Each pencil of these Blackwing Matte Pencils is crafted from a soft and smooth Japanese graphite core, ideal for an artist who desires to draw a soft and dark line without excessive sharpening. It comes with an iconic design that is easily recognizable. How to recognize it? It’s easy because this pencil has a city-shaped eraser holder. And even better, you can change the eraser to your heart’s content with a variety of colors.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Crafted from a soft and smooth Japanese graphite core
Iconic design
Equipped with city-shaped eraser holderCons (reasons to avoid)
The pencils are too long for someWhat other experts liked
Soft and silky experience sketching out ideas with these pencils.What other experts didn't like
These pencils are too long. This is something that will only affect some people. - Have a problem
with this product?#4BIC Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils
Best Mechanical Pencils
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:If you’re in the market for mechanical pencils, just take your eyes to BIC Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils. A great drawing pencil for those seeking a pencil to create dark and smooth drawings. Moreover, this mechanical pencil has a soft gel grip that will provide a comfortable grip when drawing on your sketchbook. Even better, it is equipped with a large eraser, 75% larger than standard drawing pencils.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Ideal for creating dark and smooth drawings
Comes with a soft gel grip
Equipped with large eraserCons (reasons to avoid)
The grip is too high for someWhat other experts liked
This lead pencil glides across the paper like gel ink. Produces great thick dark marks.What other experts didn't like
If you keep it in your backpack, you’ll notice a lot of small lint particles all over the grip. - Have a problem
with this product?#5Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
Best for Great Precision
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils is a great choice for artists who love to create great precision for their drawings. Why? Because this pencil comes with a hexagonal barrel that will give sharp or even soft lines. More about that, this set of drawing pencils contains 12 ranges of thickness, from 4H to 6B. With their comprehensive range, these drawing pencils are perfect for blending, shading, and drawing.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Ideal for making great precision
Comes with a hexagonal barrel
Contains 12 ranges of thicknessCons (reasons to avoid)
The hardness grades are not consistentWhat other experts liked
These are great and cover the whole range of grays. I had heard these are the best.What other experts didn't like
My only complaint is that the hardness is not consistent in the upper H pencils. - Have a problem
with this product?#6Arteza Woodless Graphite Pencils
Best for Broad Strokes
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Are you looking for a drawing pencil to create shade in large areas and broad strokes? If that’s what you are looking for, then these Arteza Woodless Graphite Pencils are for you. They come in six grades of thickness, including HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, and EE. Better yet, these drawing pencils are made from woodless black charcoal coated with lacquer for mess-free experiences.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Ideal for making shade in large areas and broad strokes
Comes in six grades of thickness
Made from woodless black charcoalCons (reasons to avoid)
Some pencils break easilyWhat other experts liked
These are great for shading since they can be tapered very long. Wood pencils need to basically shave for a point, but they break easily.What other experts didn't like
Use for sketching. It is good but it comes with one pencil broken. - Have a problem
with this product?#7ALVIN DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil
Best Lightweight
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Another mechanical pencil that hit our list of the best drawing pencils for artists is ALVIN DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil. The body of this artist drawing pencil is made of steel, making it heavy-duty to use on many of your projects. Moreover, this DM03 contains tough lead that will never break when you use this pencil to write and draw.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Heavy-duty pencils
Contains tough lead
LightweightCons (reasons to avoid)
A bit difficult to find the erasure refillWhat other experts liked
A serious pencil for someone who is serious about pencils.What other experts didn't like
It's very difficult to find erasure refills. - Have a problem
with this product?#9Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils
Best for Multiple Use
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:When you buy this drawing pencil set, you will get 12 grades of thickness, ranging from 4H to 6B. So, these Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils would be ideal for artists looking for a set for drawing, sketching, architectural layouts, and various projects. Each pencil also has a smooth texture that can produce consistent and rich strokes for your drawings. On the other hand, this pencil set comes with highly break-resistant leads for great durability on every project.
Pros (reasons to buy)
There are 12 grades of thickness
Features a smooth texture
Comes with highly break-resistant leadsCons (reasons to avoid)
Not dark enough for someWhat other experts liked
An exceptional pencil set. Smooth as silk. Wonderful touch and feel. Excellent craftsmanship, typical of German goods.What other experts didn't like
The graded color didn't go dark enough for me. - Have a problem
with this product?#10Tombow 2558-HB Rubber Pencils
Best Japanese Quality
1 experts agreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Made in Japan, which is well-known for the quality of its pencils, so is the Tombow 2558-HB Rubber Pencils. It has a hexagonal design that can provide sharp and soft lines for your drawings. What makes it even better is that this artist drawing pencil comes with 12 pencils with different thicknesses ranging from H to B.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Made in Japan
Comes with a hexagonal design
Includes 12 pencils from the setCons (reasons to avoid)
Inadequate eraser qualityWhat other experts liked
These are my favorite affordable wood case pencils. They write with a nice touch of feedback and erase cleanly.
Conclusion: Best Drawing Pencils for Artists
You have come to the end of our article. Drawing pencil is the most versatile tool to be used by various artists. With drawing pencils, you can use this tool for drawing, sketching, and your various projects. And we hope that our recommendation of the best drawing pencils for artists above can help your search.