FAQs
A pencil with a B rating relates to the softness of the lead. The higher the number next to the B, the softer the lead. A 6B is softer than a 4B, which is softer than a 2B. If the pencil has an H letter designation, as the number increases next to the H, the graphite will be harder.
What do the codes on pencils mean? ›
Historically, pencil makers also use combinations of letters to tell us about the graphite — a pencil marked “HB” is hard and black, a pencil marked “HH” is very hard, and a pencil marked “BBB” is really, really black!
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.
What does f mean on a drawing pencil? ›
The F pencil grade means Fine. This pencil is hard which means that it maintains a fine point. What makes a pencil grade harder or softer? The core of a graphite pencil is a mix of graphite and clay filler.
What do H and B mean 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".
What does #2 mean on a pencil? ›
Generally, an HB grade about the middle of the scale is considered to be equivalent to a #2 pencil using the U.S. numbering system. In reality however, there is no specific industry standard for the darkness of the mark to be left within the HB or any other hardness grade scale.
What do the letters and numbers mean on pencils? ›
The higher the number, the harder the lead and, therefore, the lighter your mark will be. For example, a “2H” means that your pencil has a hard lead which makes it suitable for drawing light lines or writing lightly. On the other hand, if you want bolder lines, you should choose a softer lead like “4B” or “6B”.
Is there a #1 pencil? ›
1 Pencil (B Grade): Higher in graphite, softer, prone to smudging, and ideal for artistic or bold writing. No. 2 Pencil (HB Grade): A balanced mix of graphite and clay, offering versatility for writing and drawing, making it a popular choice for schools and offices.
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.
Which pencil is harder 2B or HB? ›
HB pencils are lighter than 2B pencils. The "H" indicates hardness, and the "B" indicates blackness or softness. HB is considered a medium grade, while 2B is softer and darker, making marks with more graphite.
HB pencils are in the middle, as the number increases to the left like H, 2H,3H…the pencils get lighter and harder, but when the B side gets higher ( 2B,3B,4B…), the pencils get softer and darker to 9B (the darkest I know).
What is the softest pencil? ›
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.
What does AF mean in drawing? ›
Engineering drawing abbreviations and symbols
| Abbreviation or symbol | Definition |
|---|
| A |
| AC | across corners |
| AF | across flats |
| AFF | above finished floor |
142 more rowsStrong Graphite Lead
The pencils #3 glide smoothly over paper and have break-resistant number two cores. Their HB (no 3) hardness grading makes them perfect for most types of writing, drawing, and sketching.
Is HB2 good for drawing? ›
The best pencils for drawing and sketching are a HB, 2B, 6B and 9B. Far better than buying a whole set of pencils, most of which will never be used. Please read my companion post for top tips for drawing and sketching with pencil.
What pencil is best for sketching? ›
Harder H grade pencils are perfect for light sketching, especially if you are drafting ideas. They allow you to create precise lines as their points are extremely hard and firm.
What is the darkest pencil code? ›
For graphite drawing pencils on the market, the lightest is 6H, while the darkest available is 8B. The higher the number in each grade, the lighter or darker it is. So a 6H will be lighter and harder than a 2H, and a 8B will be much darker and softer than a 2B. F and HB are middle-grade pencils.
What does the No 2 on a pencil stand for? ›
2 pencil is towards the middle when it comes to the hardness of lead (graphite) and the darkness of the shade. If a pencil has a number higher than 2 it means it has a harder graphite core, a harder point, and a lighter shade. These pencils are often used by engineers or architects.
Which pencil is darker 8B or 10B? ›
from 10B to H to 8H shades get lighter and lighter. 10B is darkest, HB is our normal pencil,8H is very very light.
What do the pencil ratings mean? ›
The "grade" or "hardness" of the pencil indicates the ratio of graphite to clay. The more graphite that is in a pencil, the softer it is. This means that it's darker, smoother, smudgier and doesn't hold as sharp of a point. The more clay that is in a pencil, the harder it is.
