#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!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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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.

*Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. Read more
Name Rank Check Prices
Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils Staedtler
Staedtler
Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils
#1 Amazon Dickblick.com eBay
9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell
9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils
#2 Amazon Fabercastell.com eBay
Matte Pencils Blackwing
Blackwing
Matte Pencils
#3 Amazon Blackwing602.com eBay
Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils BIC
BIC
Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils
#4 Amazon Walmart.com eBay
Graphic Drawing Pencils Derwent
Derwent
Graphic Drawing Pencils
#5 Amazon Derwentart.com eBay
Woodless Graphite Pencils Arteza
Arteza
Woodless Graphite Pencils
#6 Amazon Arteza.com eBay
DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil ALVIN
ALVIN
DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil
#7 Amazon Dickblick.com eBay
PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell
PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set
#8 Amazon Fabercastell.com eBay
Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils Lyra
Lyra
Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils
#9 Amazon Dickblick.com eBay
2558-HB Rubber Pencils Tombow
Tombow
2558-HB Rubber Pencils
#10 Amazon Jetpens.com eBay

10 List of Best Drawing Pencils for Artists

  • Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils
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    with this product?
    #1

    Staedtler Lumograph Graphite Drawing Pencils

    Best Overall

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 erase

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    Expensive

    What other experts liked

    This set has a good range of lead varieties and comes in a sturdy storage case.
    Erica L

    What other experts didn't like

    Pricey for pencils but very good quality.
    Christoph
  • Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils
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    with this product?
    #2

    Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencils

    Best Versatile

    1  readers vote
    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 thickness

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    The B pencils are a bit hard to sharpen

    What 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.
    Person T
  • Blackwing Matte Pencils
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    with this product?
    #3

    Blackwing Matte Pencils

    Best for Soft and Dark Line

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 holder

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    The pencils are too long for some

    What other experts liked

    Soft and silky experience sketching out ideas with these pencils.
    AC More

    What other experts didn't like

    These pencils are too long. This is something that will only affect some people.
    J. Richardson
  • BIC Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils
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    with this product?
    #4

    BIC Velocity Max Mechanical Pencils

    Best Mechanical Pencils

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 eraser

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    The grip is too high for some

    What other experts liked

    This lead pencil glides across the paper like gel ink. Produces great thick dark marks.
    Corey G

    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.
    William S
  • Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
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    with this product?
    #5

    Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils

    Best for Great Precision

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 thickness

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    The hardness grades are not consistent

    What other experts liked

    These are great and cover the whole range of grays. I had heard these are the best.
    Jennifer A

    What other experts didn't like

    My only complaint is that the hardness is not consistent in the upper H pencils.
    Tomlin S
  • Arteza Woodless Graphite Pencils
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    with this product?
    #6

    Arteza Woodless Graphite Pencils

    Best for Broad Strokes

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 charcoal

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    Some pencils break easily

    What 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.
    Champa P
  • ALVIN DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil
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    with this product?
    #7

    ALVIN DM03 Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil

    Best Lightweight

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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
    Lightweight

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    A bit difficult to find the erasure refill

    What other experts liked

    A serious pencil for someone who is serious about pencils.
    S.J Kurtz

    What other experts didn't like

    It's very difficult to find erasure refills.
  • Faber-Castell PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set
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    with this product?
    #8

    Faber-Castell PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set

    Best Premium

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY WE LIKE IT:

    Faber-Castell PITT Graphite Pencils Master Set includes Castell 9000 2B, Castell 9000 Jumbo 2B, Graphite Aquarelle 2B, Graphite Pure 6B, and Pitt Graphite Crayon 6B that are suitable for artists who want to create shade areas and broad strokes. When you buy this pencil set, you will also get an eraser and sharpener. So with a budget of $20, you get the full package for your project.

    Pros (reasons to buy)

    Includes graphite pencils and crayons
    Ideal for making shade areas and broad strokes
    Durable and long-lasting

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    Inadequate eraser quality

    What other experts liked

    I am a professional sketching artist. This Pitt graphite master set gives me a complete set for my artwork.
    Scorpion AZ

    What other experts didn't like

    The pens are great, but the eraser leaves much to be desired.
  • Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils
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    with this product?
    #9

    Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Sketch Pencils

    Best for Multiple Use

    1  experts agree 1  experts disagree
    WHY 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 leads

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    Not dark enough for some

    What other experts liked

    An exceptional pencil set. Smooth as silk. Wonderful touch and feel. Excellent craftsmanship, typical of German goods.
    Syngeskal

    What other experts didn't like

    The graded color didn't go dark enough for me.
    M&W Spoiler
  • Tombow 2558-HB Rubber Pencils
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    with this product?
    #10

    Tombow 2558-HB Rubber Pencils

    Best Japanese Quality

    1  experts agree
    WHY 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 set

    Cons (reasons to avoid)

    Inadequate eraser quality

    What other experts liked

    These are my favorite affordable wood case pencils. They write with a nice touch of feedback and erase cleanly.
    A. Abruzzo

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.

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