Different Types Of Pencil Lead Grades

pencil lead grades (Source)

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.

pencil lead grades scale

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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.