the best lead pencil in the world

The best pencil can work wonders for improving your artwork. But with so many to choose from, it can be tricky to know where to start. The good news is that we've trawled the internet to find the best pencils available. We've divided everything into clear categories, including mechanical, drawing, colouring and wooden pencils, and included options that will suit a range of budgets but still can get the good ones.

Top 10 best pencil in the UK 2021

Here is our recommendations of top 10 best pencil in the UK that help you find what you're looking for, whether you're a total beginner, a professional artist, or somewhere in between.

1. Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide Pencil

Pencil technology hasn't progressed super-quickly over the years, but here's an example of a technical innovation that really does make a difference to the user. Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide uses a spring-loaded clutch to incrementally twist the graphite as you write, creating a uniform wearing of the lead so that it stays pointed. This means you get a beautifully thin line that remains consistent throughout your drawing, and breakage is kept to a minimum.

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2. Pentel P200 Pencil

If you're looking for a cheap mechanical pencil that still delivers a high-quality experience, we'd recommend the Pentel 200 Mechanical Pencil Set of 4. These low-priced pencils might not have any clever features, but they do the job handsomely, and are really nice to hold and draw with. With a plastic barrel, ribbed finger grip and removable metal pocket clip, these are the best pencils for professional drafting purposes.

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3. The Pentel Sharp Kerry Pencil

The Pentel Sharp Kerry is a seriously cool mechanical pencil. It dares to be different with a capped design that is both stylish and supremely practical. When you're not using the pencil, the cap protects the delicate lead sleeve from damage and prevents the lead sleeve from stabbing through your clothes. This makes the Sharp Kerry an excellent pocket EDC pencil. But it's when it's time to write that the true genius of the Sharp Kerry shines through. Every part of the pencil is perfectly integrated for a seamless writing experience regardless of whether the cap is posted or unposted.

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4. Staedtler Mechanical Pencil Silver Series

It's no wonder that the Staedtler Silver Series lead holder is the top choice in our guide to The Best Lead Holders. It combines excellent build quality with all of the features a lead holder should have, all for a thoroughly reasonable price. Its aluminum body is well balanced and sturdy without being heavy. It is equipped with a knurled grip to reduce slipping. The 4 mm long guide pipe provides a clear view of the paper, and a built-in lead grade indicator lets you easily keep track of which lead is installed in which pencil.

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5. Castle Art 120 Coloured Pencils

This selection of 120 premium coloured vibrant pencils have fast become the 'pencil of choice' for thousands of artists and colourists who "love these" pencils and use them to create beautiful artwork in this popular, easy-to-use medium. The rich, velvety leads are highly pigmented and lay down lots of vivid colour with minimal effort, making these popular pencils an absolute must.

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6. Noris colour 185-2 Colouring Pencil

The pencils do sharpen well and don't crumble at all or create dust. The hardness of the lead means it keeps a good point which lasts for ages, mostly because so little of the pigment goes onto the paper when colouring. There has not been any issues with breakages or splintering so the lead and pencil barrel seem to be well-made. These pencils would be ideal for school children but we can't recommend them for anyone else, the colours are so pale, the leads are so hard, and they're so difficult to get colour onto the page how and where you want it.

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7. STABILO CarbOthello Pastel Pencil

The visual appearance of a pencil is not really relevant, especially to the performance, however, occasionally, you come across a pencil that is so eloquent looking that it just makes using that pencil all the more enjoyable, the CarbOthello is one such pencil. These have quite a high pigmentation for a chalk pencil, and as such, they can lay down some pretty good color. This is especially helpful when blending, which you will need to do to achieve many colors if you are going with one of their smaller-quantity sets. Our only issue is that in highly detailed areas, it may be easier to use a traditional wax-based core. This is simply because chalk tends to spread more easily and even an unintentional bump or tap could move the color to areas that you don't want it.

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8. Faber-Castell Jumbo Grip HB 111992 Pencil Set of 2

Triangular pencils also encourage a proper grip, and this one from German company Faber-Castell has raised nubs to prevent slipping. Many customers are also fans of jumbo-size pencils. The size makes it so that your fingers aren't so compressed when writing, and it seems to make it a bit more comfortable in the early learning stages for kids to learn how to write as well.

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9. Staedtler mars lumograph pencils

The finish on these pencils is very good. The paint is thick and consistently applied. The printing is crisp. The barcode, as is usually the case, spoils the look somewhat. The lead grade is printed on each side of the hexagonal body and this is excellent, as it's easy to pick the pencil you're after when swapping about while sketching.

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10. BIC Evolution Original HB Graphite Pencils

BIC Evolution Original pencils that are so popular because the lead is easy to erase and shock-resistant. This pack has 4 woodless pencils that are the perfect instrument for all your everyday writing tasks, plus they are chew-resistant and won't splinter if broken. This is a great pencil to pair with a Field Notes and Fauxdori style cover. The fact that it doesn't smudge while your notebook rides in a hip pocket is a fantastic feature. The pencil is a nice bright teal color. One of our favorite colors.

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How to choose the best pencil

Whether you're creating a masterpiece or taking a test, choosing a pencil can be hard. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision.

Choose wooden pencils for affordability and durability

Traditional wooden pencils with or without erasers are among the least expensive writing implements available. If money is tight, go for this option. You should also select wooden pencil if you press hard while writing, since the graphite in wooden pencils can withstand the pressure.

Select a mechanical pencil for convenience

This variety doesn't need sharpening and is usually refillable. Read the packaging for the length and diameter of lead that fits your pencil. A mechanical pencil might also be a good choice for standardized test, since its thinner lead is good for filling in small blanks.

Choose HB (#2) lead for general use

This is the usual medium hardness of lead in wooden and mechanical pencils. You can use it for writing an essay or bubbling in the answers on a standardized test. If the pencil or the lead is not labeled, there's a good chance this is the hardness

Conclusion

"The Best Pencil in the World" is a contentious title. Pencils come in an extraordinary number of varieties, and no two people need quite the same thing from their pencil. A student looking for the best mechanical pencil for math has very different needs from an artist looking for professional colored pencils. We encourage you to look around, evaluate our selections, and pick your own favorites. Our top 10 best pencil list that we have recommended above for specific categories and in-depth guides to choose the best pencil definitely will help you find your personal best one.