The Complete Guide to Graphite Pencil Lead Grade - Interwell (2024)

FAQs

What are pencils HB 2B 4B 6B for? ›

'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.

From there, pencils are graded as “B” through “10B” for softer, darker pencils that contain more graphite, and H through 10H for harder, lighter pencils that contain more clay. (Of course, there's also the outlier “F” pencil, which is the equivalent of the rare “2.5” pencil and sits somewhere between HB and H.)

The preference between B and HB pencils depends on the intended use and personal preference. HB pencils offer a balance between darkness and hardness, suitable for general writing and sketching. B pencils are softer, providing darker lines and smoother shading, ideal for artistic applications.

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.

Well, 2B is lighter and 4B is MUCH darker, so I'd be depending on what kind of look your after. use them both . IMO 2B is best for starting, creating and shadowing in.

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.

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.

For deep, dark shading use a grade from 3B upwards. For a very light mark – such as for when you are suggesting an outline for a watercolour – use a grade around the 2H mark. Use various grades in a drawing to give a range of mark-making to achieve depth and interest. It is also important to use an appropriate surface.

The term 2B stands for “soft black leads.” 2B pencils have a small quantity of clay, making them a soft lead. It has a fairly darker shade which is harder to erase. Generally, 2B pencil forms a very dark line density and is ideal for bold and thick lines. They are used mostly by artists for drawings.

The degree of hardness of a pencil is printed on the pencil.

These pencils are soft. H stands for "hard". HB stands for "hard black", which means "medium hard". F stands for "firm".

What is the most popular pencil grade? ›

Even though darkness and hardness varies among brands, No. 2 and/or HB pencils are widely considered to be the ideal lead grade for writing (and they're required for many standardized tests), which makes this Golden Bear pencil a perfect choice for elementary school and beyond.

Graphite pencils come in a range from 9H, 8H etc to 1H, and H. It then moves into HB and then B1, B2 etc towards B9. B9 is the softest and darkest. 9H is the lightest and hardest graphite pencil.

A "4B" pencil for example can produce lighter marks by reducing pressure, but is also capable of producing darker marks with additional pressure. Take your pencil drawings to the next level. Learn how to master the medium of graphite in this comprehensive video course.

2B is much softer and won't stay sharp, but it is smoother. It can produce variation between light and dark with different levels of pressure. It's good for filling in dark areas, like shadows and facial contours. You can see the different ways we use graphite drawing pencils here.

Softer lead gets a B grading, with a number to say how soft the lead is. B on its own is just a little softer than HB. 2B, 3B and 4B are increasingly soft. Further up the range, 9B is the very softest lead available, but so soft and crumbly that it's rarely used.