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If you’re an artist, an architect, or a person who prefers much more analog ways of note-taking, chances are you have at least one mechanical pencil in your arsenal. These tools are versatile little pieces of engineering that come in a wide range—from the most basic, plastic designs, to more sophisticated, metallic models. Not all writing tools are created equal, and diving into a market as varied as this one can certainly be overwhelming. Worry not—even though the best mechanical pencil for you will ultimately depend on what you particularly like, there are certain specs you need to look out for. In the meantime, here are our favorites.
How we selected the best mechanical pencils
Newcomers to the pencil world might get their senses saturated with the sheer amount of mechanical pencils available in the market right now. After all, a pencil is a pencil. Except that it’s not. That’s why we scoured the internet, including office-supply stores and specialized sites, to see what’s out there, read dozens of user reviews, and tried product after product to find the best one in each category.
We considered design and comfort, paying special attention to how these tools feel in your hand, and if their weight and girth make it easy to write and draw. We also took into account precision, durability, extras such as erasers and rubber grips, and price points.
To make decisions easier, we broke down the winners into different categories—best overall, best value, precision, for art and drawing, and comfort.
Best Mechanical Pencils Reviews & Recommendations
Pentel GraphGear 500
Why it made the cut: Yes, Pentel already launched the GraphGear 1000, an allegedly better and improved version of this classic mechanical pencil. But the original GraphGear 500 is really all you need—it’s more affordable, reliable, and unlike its successor, still looks like a classic mechanical pencil. There’s a reason why Japanese retailer Muji made their gravity mechanical pencil line look (and feel) exactly like it.
Specs
- Metallic mesh grip
- Weighted at the tip
- Long 4mm sleeve design
- Color-coded for 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm sizes
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Incredibly durable | The body is made out of light-duty plastic |
| Precise | The metallic tip is one piece, so it’s not the easiest to clean |
| Built-in lead hardness indicator |
The metallic mesh grip in the GraphGear 500 allows for great control and embeds the pencil with added weight towards the tip, providing a low center of gravity. This feature is super pleasant to the touch and stays cleaner for longer, unlike those gunk-gathering rubber grips. The metal tip also allows for great precision and incredible durability—I’ve been writing and drawing with my GraphGear 500 for more than five years and it still feels like it did on the first day.
The GraphGear 500 releases the lead through a 4mm lead sleeve, which provides greater visibility of the paper, making it perfect to work on small details or using rulers. This mechanical pencil comes in four different sizes (0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm), and the writing on the barrels is color-coded to reflect that, making it easier to find the exact tool you need for the job. To help with this, the GraphGear 500 also has Pentel’s signature lead grade indicator built into the eraser cap, so you can know exactly what you’ve loaded your pencil with at all times.
No matter how many iterations of this pencil are out there, the original GraphGear 500 is a true classic. If you don’t lose it first, it’ll be putting your ideas on paper for a long time to come.
Tombow MONO Graph
Why it made the cut: The Tombow MONO graph mechanical pencil is a durable writing tool full of features you won’t have to splurge on.
Specs
- Shaker mechanism
- Plastic body, metallic tip
- Long twist eraser
- Comes in 0.5mm and 0.7mm sizes
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Lead lock | Full plastic body |
| Shaker mechanism | No grip |
| Twist eraser | Weak clip |
| Affordable | Non-retractable lead sleeve |
Tombow is well-known among artists and stationery enthusiasts for their brush pens and markers, and the Japanese company has also developed its own line of mechanical pencils and erasers under the brand MONO. Their signature MONO graph is a comprehensive writing and drawing tool that will give you a lot of bang for your buck.
It’s designed with a shaker mechanism that pushes the lead out when you move the pencil rapidly up and down. This feature is very convenient, as it doesn’t require you to change your grip on the pencil. If you’re just too used to using your thumb to push the lead, then you can use the clip as a push button. To avoid any mishaps, you can also push the clip up to block the mechanism altogether. This is perfect for storage, as you won’t have to worry about any lead breakage.
Another great feature of the MONO graph is its eraser, which you can twist in and out easily. The eraser is over an inch long and you can buy eraser refills, so you’ll always be able to fix your mistakes.
The body of the Tombow MONO graph is almost entirely made out of plastic, which is something some people just don’t like. Still, the material is durable and the body is on the thicker side, so the pencil has a certain heft that provides control and comfort. The tip is made from a light metallic alloy, and the lead sleeve is not retractable, which may be a bother if you carry the MONO graph in your pocket.
rOtring 600 Black-Barrel Mechanical Pencil
Why it made the cut: rOtring established a new benchmark of precision in 1989 with the launch of the 600-series pencils. These writing tools were designed specifically for technical drawing and durability, a standard that continues today.
Specs
- Hexagonal shape
- All metallic body
- Built-in lead hardness indicator
- Available in sizes 0.5mm and 0.7mm
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Extremely durable | Expensive |
| Lead hardness indicator | Hefty |
| Gnarled grip | Non-retractable lead sleeve |
The rOtring mechanical pencil can easily last you a lifetime. It’s designed with a full metal body that gives it its 0.8-ounce weight heft. This provides a clear center of gravity, which results in cleaner, more precise lines. Still, this mechanical pencil is more than twice as heavy as the Pentel GraphGear 500, so if you’re not used to this kind of weight, it may take you a bit longer to get used to it.
In addition, the hexagonal shape of the rOtring 600 prevents it from rolling if you’re using an inclined surface, and makes it easier on your hands to draw or write for hours. The gnarled metallic grip is comfortable and makes it easy to hold the pencil without slipping. A lead guidance sleeve helps prevent breakage and gives you an unobstructed view of the page, which is perfect for working out details. Finally, the rOtring 600 has a brass internal mechanism that provides high precision in lead advancement. This means the pencil will push the same length of lead with every press of the button and will keep the lead in place regardless of the pressure you apply.
Koh-i-Noor Mechanical Hardtmuth Lead Holder
Why it made the cut: OK, technically, a lead holder is not a mechanical pen, but it shares enough characteristics that it can pass as one. The Koh-i-Noor Mechanical Hardtmuth Lead Holder is a must-have if you don’t want to get your hands dirty while you sketch.
Specs
- Metal body
- Holds 5.6mm x 80mm leads
- Built-in metal clip
- Built-in sharpener
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Durable | Little control over lead advancement |
| Thick and steady | Short |
| Full metal body | Hefty |
At only 4-and-a-half inches long, the Koh-i-Noor Mechanical Lead Holder may be a little short, but it’s thick enough to provide great grip and control. Its inner metallic mechanism holds 5.6mm leads in place no matter how far out you’re using it—you won’t be able to push it or twist it without engaging the push button. This feature can easily make up for the short length of the barrel if you need to handle your pencil from a greater distance.
The full metal body of the Hardtmuth gives it an impressive 1.48-ounce weight—this can be a problem if you’re not used to such a chunky tool, but it’ll be right up your alley if you need a lower center of gravity for your sketching and shading. And the metal clip on the Koh-i-Noor Mechanical Hardtmuth Lead Holder is also sturdy, so you can take it anywhere you want without fear of losing it.