9 BEST Mechanical Pencil for Drawing: You WISH You Got Sooner!

Written by: Dalia Abdalla

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Time to read 7 min


As artists, we know that when it comes to the world of drawing, a reliable mechanical pencil can be your steadfast companion.  It's not just about a fine point or comfortable grip; it's about finding that precise balance between innovation and tradition, form and function. I have created my all time list of the best mechanical pencil for drawing, exploring the top contenders that promise to elevate your drawing experience to new heights. 

The Best Mechanical Pencil for Drawing

1. Kuru Toga Advance 0.5mm 2. Nicpro 2 PCS 0.7 mm 3. Pentel GraphGear 500 4. Pentel Arts GraphGear 300 5. Uniball Kuru Toga Elite HB #2 6. Pentel Smash Drafting Mechanical Pencil (0.5mm) 7. BASTION® Premium Mechanical Pencil 0.77mm 8. Nicpro 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 2mm 9. Four Candies 3PCS 2MM Mechanical Pencils

Here is our list of the best mechanical pencil for drawing

1. Kuru Toga Advance 0.5mm

  • Lead Size: 0.5mm
  • Item Weight: 0.64 ounces

  1. Rotating Lead Mechanism: The uni-ball KuruToga features a rotating lead mechanism that keeps the pencil's writing tip sharp and precise. This prevents lead dull spots and helps prevent lead breakage.

  2. Diamond-Infused Lead: The pencil uses exclusive diamond-infused #2 lead, which creates dark, crisp lines with fewer lead dull spots, ensuring your writing looks clean and professional.

  3. Replaceable Eraser: It comes with a replaceable eraser that can easily clean up mistakes, ensuring your work remains neat.

  4. Refillable: The KuruToga mechanical pencil is refillable, making it a long-lasting and cost-effective writing tool. 

2. Nicpro 2 PCS 0.7 mm

  • Lead Size: 0.7 mm
  • Package Contents: 2 metal mechanical pencils, 4 tubes of HB lead refill (60 lead refills per tube), 2 4B soft erasers, 9 cap eraser refills, and a plastic pencil case.

  1. Value Package: This set includes two 0.7 mm metal mechanical pencils, which are ideal for writing, sketching, drawing, and drafting. It also comes with a plastic pencil case for storage.

  2. Durable Construction: The mechanical pencils feature a metal threaded anti-skidding pen tube, making them sturdy and resistant to breakage and drops. This durability ensures they can withstand everyday use.

  3. Efficient Lead Advancement: These pencils have a convenient click mechanism for advancing the lead, eliminating the need for sharpening. This makes them highly convenient for tasks that require a consistent lead size.

  4. Balanced Weight: The full-metal body of the pencils provides an ideal weight balance, ensuring comfortable and fatigue-free writing and drawing. This feature is particularly useful for extended use. 

3. Pentel GraphGear 500

  • Lead Size: Available in 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm
  • Tip Length: 4mm, ideal for use with rulers and templates

  1. High-Quality Drafting Pencil: The Pentel GraphGear 500 is designed for professionals and enthusiasts, making it an excellent choice for precise drafting and template work.

  2. Variety of Lead Sizes: It is available in various lead sizes (0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm), allowing you to choose the one that suits your needs for different projects.

  3. Ideal for Precision Work: The 4mm tip length makes it perfect for use with rulers and templates, ensuring accuracy in your drawings and designs.

  4. Never Needs Sharpening: The GraphGear 500 comes pre-loaded with Pentel Super Hi-Polymer HB lead, which never needs sharpening. This lead is super strong and produces a clear, dark line. 

4. Pentel Arts GraphGear 300

  • Lead Size: 0.5mm
  • Point Type: Fine
  • Line Size: 0.5mm

  1. Professional Grade Drafting Pencil: The GraphGear 300 is part of Pentel's legendary GraphGear line, known for its high-quality drafting pencils.

  2. Concealed Eraser: It features a cap that conceals and protects a latex-free eraser, ensuring that your eraser stays clean and ready for use.

  3. Sturdy Metal Clip: The sturdy metal clip is designed to withstand repeated use, making it easy to secure the pencil to your pocket or notebook. 

5. Uniball Kuru Toga Elite HB #2

  • Lead Size: 0.5mm (HB #2)
  • Package Dimensions: 7.6 x 2.83 x 0.55 inches

  1. 0.5mm Lead Pencil: This mechanical pencil comes with a 0.5mm lead size, which is perfect for various tasks such as school work, art projects, note-taking, and more. The lead used is diamond-infused HB #2 lead, known for delivering crisp and vivid lines.

  2. Premium Performance: The pencil is designed with state-of-the-art engineering, featuring a knurled pen grip for comfortable handling and providing a precise and smooth writing experience. It includes a rotating lead mechanism to keep the lead sharpened and prevent breakage.

  3. Exclusive Lead: The mechanical pencil uses unique diamond-infused 0.5mm lead refills that create dark and fine lines, enhancing your writing and drawing experience.

  4. Replaceable Eraser: The product includes an eraser and mechanical pencil eraser refills, allowing you to easily correct mistakes without the need for a separate eraser. 

6. Pentel Smash Drafting Mechanical Pencil (0.5mm)

  1. Durable Construction: The pencil is made of metal, ensuring its durability and longevity, making it suitable for everyday use.

  2. Retractable Mechanism: It comes with a retractable mechanical pencil mechanism, allowing you to extend and retract the lead with ease, reducing the risk of lead breakage.

  3. Special Accessories: This special edition pencil includes a special Smash Katakana pencil tube, adding to its aesthetic value and providing convenient storage for extra lead.

  4. Smooth Writing Experience: The 0.5mm lead size ensures a precise and smooth writing experience, making it ideal for sketching, drafting, or note-taking.


7. BASTION® Premium Mechanical Pencil 0.77mm

  1. Sturdy Lightweight Pencil: The BASTION Premium Mechanical Pencil is constructed with heavy-duty metal, specifically 100% genuine aluminum. This ensures long-lasting durability and resistance to corrosion. Despite its sturdy build, it remains lightweight for comfortable use in drawing, writing, and sketching.

  2. Premium Craftsmanship & Mechanism: The pencil is equipped with SCHMIDT Technology, ensuring precision and innovation. The internal mechanism, DSM 2006 Feinminen-System, incorporates bolt action technology to create a luxurious mechanical pencil. It uses non-disposable Schmidt cartridges, which hold a single lead refill. Additionally, it is compatible with the 0.5mm lead system (sold separately).

  3. Medium Point Leads: The pencil comes with 20 x 0.7mm lead refills, eliminating the need for sharpening and allowing for more efficient work. The smooth one-push operation makes it an ideal tool for drafting, technical writing, drawing, and sketching. It's suitable for artists, architects, engineers, professionals, teachers, and students.

8. Nicpro 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 2mm

  1. Value Mechanical Pencils Set: This set offers a variety of mechanical pencils with different lead sizes (0.3mm to 2.0mm) and lead hardness options (4B, 2B, HB, 2H, colored leads). It also includes essential accessories like erasers and lead sharpeners.

  2. Good Weight & Smooth Writing: The full-metal body of the pencils provides a balanced weight for comfortable and fatigue-free writing and drawing. The mechanical pencils come pre-loaded with lead, eliminating the need for sharpening, and they produce clear and dark lines with smoothness.

  3. Colored Lead: The set includes 12 pieces of 2.0mm colored lead refills, allowing you to add color to your writing or drawings. Extra lead sharpeners are provided to maintain a fine point as the leads dull. 

9. Four Candies 3PCS 2MM Mechanical Pencils

rotring 600 mechanical pencil


  • 3PCS 2.0mm drafting mechanical pencils (#2)
  • 2 tubes each of 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and colored lead (120 PCS in total)

  1. Variety of Leads: The set comes with a wide range of lead options, including 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and colored leads. You can choose the right lead for different applications and artistic styles.

  2. Practical Design: Each mechanical pencil has a built-in sharpener, ensuring that your lead stays sharp as it wears down. You can rotate the top of the pencil to select the lead type you want to use.

  3. Metal Non-Slip Grip: The mechanical pencils have a metal grip with a non-slip texture, providing a comfortable and secure hold. This grip ensures the perfect weight balance for smooth drawing.

  4. Various Types of Lead Refills: The included graphite and colored lead refills are break-resistant and provide clear writing or drawing. They are suitable for various creative tasks, including writing, sketching, engineering, and drafting. 

New to Drawing? Not sure where to start? These amazing courses will help!

Enrolling in drawing courses offers a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the canvas. These courses not only refine your artistic skills but also foster creativity, patience, and a keen eye for detail. Through structured instruction and guidance from experienced instructors, you gain valuable techniques and insights that elevate your artwork. Moreover, drawing courses provide a supportive community of fellow artists, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas. They offer a structured learning environment that encourages discipline and regular practice, helping you develop a deeper understanding of art.

Which mechanical pencil do artists use?

Artists often use a variety of mechanical pencils based on their preferences. Some popular choices include brands like Rotring, Pentel, Staedtler, and Uni-ball. The specific model depends on factors like line thickness, comfort, and durability.

Is 0.5 or 0.7 lead better?

The choice between 0.5mm and 0.7mm lead size depends on your personal preference and the type of work you're doing. 0.5mm leads produce finer lines and are ideal for detailed work, while 0.7mm leads are thicker and may be preferred for bolder lines and shading.

Are mechanical pencils okay for drawing?

Yes, mechanical pencils are suitable for drawing. They offer precision, consistent line width, and don't require sharpening like traditional pencils. Many artists appreciate them for their convenience and versatility.

How do I choose a mechanical pencil?

To choose the right mechanical pencil for your needs, consider factors like lead size, comfort, grip, durability, and any specific features you prefer. Trying out a few different options can help you find the one that suits your drawing style best.

What is the disadvantage of mechanical pencils?

While mechanical pencils offer many advantages, they also have some disadvantages. They can be more fragile than traditional pencils, with the lead breaking easily if dropped. Additionally, the cost of refilling lead and potential for lead jams can be minor drawbacks.

Why do artists like mechanical pencils?

Artists appreciate mechanical pencils for their consistency, precision, and the ability to maintain a fine point. They also eliminate the need for sharpening and provide easy access to different lead hardness levels. Many artists find them convenient and suitable for various drawing styles.

Modern Pink Paper Author - Dalia Abdalla

Dalia Abdalla

Owner & Head Designer, Modern Pink Paper

Dalia is the creative force behind Modern Pink Paper. With a keen eye for detail and a love for all things stationery, she embarked on this journey to provide personalized stationery solutions. When she's not crafting beautiful paper creations, Dalia is sharing her insights and inspirations on this blog, ensuring that her readers always have a touch of beauty and creativity in their lives.

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