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Graphite pencils have been the go-to writing and drawing tool for many artists over the past 500 years. Their smooth lead and even transitions are perfect for a variety of uses, whether that's drawing, writing, or sketching. As a key material in most pencils, graphite is mixed with clay to give different degrees of hardness. So, if you’ve recently sparked an interest in graphite pencils, you may be wondering what all the different pencil lead grades are and which ones you should choose. Read on to learn more!
Overview:
- Different types of pencil lead grades
- How to choose the right pencil lead grades
- FAQs
Different types of pencil lead grades
To choose the right art pencil for your needs, a European grading system has been developed. The European system combines letters and numbers to represent each grade. This starts from the lightest H grades containing higher clay content, all the way to F, HB, and the darkest B shades. Although there is an American grading system, the most referenced scale to go by is the European system.
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H grades
Starting at the top of the scale, ‘H’ for hard-grade pencils is your lightest option when it comes to choosing your pencils. They are made with a higher clay content, making them extremely smudge-resistant and ideal for precise thin lines. These are a great choice for those who are interested in light sketching and technical drawings.
F grades
The F-grade pencil is placed in the middle of the scale and is great for a variety of uses. Similar to a HB pencil, this pencil sharpens to a fine point and contains less clay, meaning it can produce dark and light marks. This is the optimal tool for writing as it features a pointy tip that can stay sharp for a long period of time. However, it is also ideal for drawing due to the precise lines you can produce.
HB grades
The HB pencil stands for hard and black. This is the most commonly used writing tool as it can produce soft and medium-hard marks. This is also a great go-to pencil if you’re looking to draw or sketch.
B grades
As the highest grade in the chart, B stands for black. These pencils are extremely smooth to draw and write with. Although they are prone to smudging, they can easily be erased with an art eraser. These are the best choice for drawing as you can create brush-like marks and smoother transitions and tones.
How to choose the right pencil lead grades
With a variety of different pencil lead grades to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right ones. Your choice will also depend on the art paper you're looking to use, the type of art you would like to create, and the heaviness of your hand. And, no matter what you’re aiming to achieve, many people find that using a combination of pencil grades will give you the best results.
Writing
When it comes to choosing the best pencil lead for writing you want to make sure your pencil has minimal smudging, whilst still producing a dark tone. The best writing pencils to choose from include grades F, HB, 2B, and 3B. Anything higher or lower than this may smudge or produce marks that are too light. These pencil grades are also suitable for use on all kinds of surfaces, from art paper to canvas and more!
Drawing and sketching
With drawing and sketching you have more free reign to choose from a variety of pencils, however, your choice will also depend on the type of surface you prefer to work with. For drawing and sketching on soft surfaces we recommend choosing pencil grades 8B all the way to H. And, if you’re looking at technical drawing pencils you may want to opt for grades B up to 6H. Lastly, for drawing on hard surfaces like wood, walls, and metal choose pencils H to 6H. To make things a bit easier, you can also grab a graphite pencil set so you will be equipped with all the staple pencils for your piece.
We’re your one-stop shop for art pencils
Now that you know about all the different pencil lead grades, you should feel confident picking your next art pencils! At Art to Art, we stock a wide variety of graphite pencils and other drawing accessories. From markers and colour pencils to pastels and more - we’ve got you covered! Shop our art supplies online today and get same-day dispatch Australia-wide and free shipping when you spend over $100. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us now.
Pencil lead grades FAQs
What lead is darker, HB or 2B?
HB are known as medium-dark pencils and are the best choice for writing as they produce medium hard lines, whilst also creating soft marks. 2B pencils are a dark lead as they contain less clay. These are a great choice for all types of drawing.
What do the numbers mean on pencils?
The numbers and letters on the scale represent the hardness and softness of each lead grade. When a pencil is marked with an H, this means it has a hard lead. Pencils marked with F have a hard point. HB represents a hard and black lead. Whilst B stands for black and is the best choice for drawing.
Which pencil lead is the softest and which is the hardest?
The hardest pencil lead grade available is the 6H pencil which is great for sketching and watercolour painting. The softest pencil on the scale is the 8B which is ideal for drawing, shading, and sketching.
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FAQs
Graphite pencils are classified as either soft black (B), hard (H), hard black (HB), and firm (F). The degree of soft black, hard, hard black, and firm are then further classified by numbers, the higher the number the higher the intensity.
What are the different grades of pencil leads? ›
Graphite pencils are classified as either soft black (B), hard (H), hard black (HB), and firm (F). The degree of soft black, hard, hard black, and firm are then further classified by numbers, the higher the number the higher the intensity.
What are the different types of lead grade? ›
The five most common grades of hardness in pencil lead: 2B, B, HB, H and 2H and they run in that order, with 2B being the darkest imprint, HB being the middle of the road (used in just about every school in the world) and 2H giving you the lightest imprint of the five grades.
What is an HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil? ›
(The "H" stands for "hard".) "B" pencils feature softer graphite. (The "B" stands for "black".) The number found in front of the letter reveals just how soft or hard the pencil is. In other words, a "4H" pencil is harder than a "2H" pencil while a "4B" pencil is softer than a "2B" pencil.
Which is softer, HB or 2H? ›
A #2 pencil is the same as an HB, with lower numbers for softer pencils and higher numbers for harder. This numbered system only covers a range from B to 2H - enough to cover most office use, but not enough range for drawing and sketching.
Should I get HB or 2B lead? ›
'H' stands for hard leads, ideal for technical drawing due to their fine lines and lighter marks. 'B' represents black or soft leads, known for their darker, bolder strokes, perfect for expressive sketches and shading. The middle ground is 'HB,' balancing hardness and blackness for everyday writing and basic sketching.
What is the best pencil lead hardness for writing? ›
Pencils in the middle of the spectrum, like HB and #2, are usually preferred for writing. They're typically soft enough to write without scratching and dark enough to make a bold mark, but not so soft and dark that they smudge all over the paper.
Which type of pencil lead grade is softest? ›
Pencils are graded according to the hardness or softness of the lead. The hardest pencil is 9H grade and the softest pencil is 7B grade. Selection of the grade of pencils depends on the type of line work required and the paper on which it is used.
What is the best pencil lead for drawing? ›
The best pencil lead size for drawing depends on the desired effect and level of detail in your artwork. Thicker leads, such as 2B or 4B, are suitable for bold lines and shading, while finer leads like 2H or HB are ideal for intricate details and precise linework.
What are the 3 lead types? ›
The 3 Types of Leads
- Information Qualified Leads (IQL) - Individuals who learn about your product at the awareness stage.
- Marketing Qualified Leads (MQL) - Individuals who want to know more about your products.
- Sales Qualified Leads (SQL) - Individuals who provide personal information such as email addresses.
I liked the softer ones, the 4B and 6B best. Soft pencils are good because you can get a good range of marks from them and they'll glide across the paper creating nice gestural curves.
What is a 5B pencil used for? ›
The 5B pencil is softer than a standard HB pencil, making it suitable for shading, creating mid-tone values, and adding depth to drawings. Artists commonly use 5B pencils for sketching, outlining, and adding details with darker lines.
What is the hardest pencil grade? ›
9H has the hardest graphite lead. The letter “H” is used to indicate the hardness of a pencil's mark. The letter “B” is used to indicate the blackness of a pencil's mark (a darker mark means a softer lead). The Higher the number next to the 'H', harder the pencil lead.
What does f stand for in pencils? ›
The degree of hardness of a pencil is printed on the pencil.
B stands for "black". These pencils are soft. H stands for "hard". HB stands for "hard black", which means "medium hard". F stands for "firm".
What is the darkest pencil lead? ›
The grades run from 9H, the softest and lightest lead, through to 9B which is the darkest lead. You will also see an 'F' rating that sits between H and HB on the scale, this is a hard pencil that maintains a fine point.
What is an 8B pencil used for? ›
8B pencil is used to get thicker lines and textures..it is way darker than other pencil grades , This pencil can be used to draw dark parts of sketches .. specially shadowed areas, background , eye ball, hair etc..
Which pencil is darker, HB or 2B? ›
The 2B pencil has a higher blackness, and the marks drawn are relatively black, while the HB pencil has a lower blackness, and the color of the marks drawn is relatively light, which is very different. ... 2B pencil is darker in color and lower in hardness.
What are the pencil grades in order? ›
Pencils that fall into the B grade, on the other hand, make a darker mark because they're softer and don't contain as much filler. Pencils are graded in the following order: 9H, 8H, 7H, 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B, 9xxB.
What do b and h mean in pencils? ›
The H in pencil grades stands for hardness, and the B stands for blackness. The harder a pencil lead is, the lighter the lines they produce will be. Conversely, softer leads make darker marks, and thus fall into the 'B' side of the HB Graphite Scale.
What is the difference between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm pencil lead? ›
For writing, a 0.5mm lead is versatile and widely used. Sketching often benefits from a slightly thicker lead like 0.7mm for a balance between precision and durability. Technical drawing, which requires clear and precise lines, may call for 0.3mm or 0.2mm lead sizes.
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