10 Best Mechanical Pencils (Review) In 2021

The Pentel Graph Gear 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil is our top choice for the best mechanical pencil available right now. Not only is it affordable for whoever wants one, but it’s also stylish, sleek, and delivers the high-quality performance you need from your stationery. While a lesser drafting pencil can cause hand fatigue over time, and sometimes as fast as 10 minutes, this is comfortable enough to encourage long use, ensuring there are no breaks during your work and allowing you to stay focused. It’s also easy to use, with a dual-action retractor to keep the lead protected when not in use.

The barrel also boasts a see-through chamber to check which lead you’re using, and the lead and eraser are straightforward to replace without the danger of losing parts. It’s well-balanced and perfect for artists, writers, and anyone who uses a pencil but is sick of standing over the trash sharpening standard ones. Make sure you check our guide to the best tactical pens for more great options.

The Uni Core Keeps Sharp Mechanical Pencil is a sleek and futuristic option for busy writers and artists. It boasts lead rotating technology with a Kuru Toga mechanism to ensure there’s no downtime during projects. This keeps the lead sharp, and shaves hours of your work.

The grip is also comfortable, so even if you’re working late into the night you won’t feel the sting of fatigue, and it’s balanced well enough you won’t struggle to control even on sloped surfaces. The gun metallic body is smart, making it a great gift for professionals, and unlike some products that focus more of style than functionality, it performs perfectly every time. The thin lead prevents cramped words and numbers in compact areas, ensuring your notes and ideas are always visible and easy-to-read. 

The Pentel Twist III Mechanical Pencil 12-Pack arguably the best mechanical pencil for drawing because of its versatility. While other options are good for specific applications, this boasts the capability to handle a variety of demands comfortably and helps it fit seamlessly into any pencil case. Sold in a 12 pack, you’re getting the best value for money around and won’t need to order several packages to keep up with your high work demand. But it’s more than just a great price. The Pentel Twist III is also comfortable, using the famous latex-free grip and reducing drawing fatigue so it’s nothing but a mere memory.

It slots easily into wire-bound notebooks and the clip keeps it secure. You’ll also get a 0.7mm lead that never needs sharpening, and when this runs all the way down, you can just dip into your box and pick out the next one without sacrificing consistency in your lines.

Durable and effective, the Rotring 600 Black Barrel Mechanical Pencil is an awesome option for those looking for something with a unique style. The black barrel contrasts perfectly with the red logo and makes it easy to identify in your pencil case, and its quality performance will make it a staple of your work for years to come.

While it’s heavier than most pencils, this doesn’t hinder your projects and the fully balanced frame provides the necessary control for more intricate designs. If you work on sloped tables, its hexagonal design prevents slippage, which further contributes to high-quality results. With it, you’re guaranteed consistent perfection and once it first presses against the paper, we challenge you to want to take it off.

A simple and nostalgic option, the Bic Velocity Original Mechanical Pencil (sold in a 12 count pack) is reminiscent of your school days where all the coolest kids had this on-hand ready for the work (or just mess about). If you need replacement leads, this offers 3 (at least) along with an eraser. It’s easy to switch them out, and the vibrant colors may not boast the sophistication of other options, but they’re fun, and sometimes that’s all that matters. The soft rubber grip is comfortable for all-day use, and the 0.9mm mechanical pencil lead delivers strong lines.

However, they’re not as high quality as other options, but for a simple, no-nonsense click pencil, this is a sound option for anyone looking for note taking or quick sketches that doesn’t flood your pencil case with pencil shavings.

The WSD Aviation Aluminum Mechanical Pencil helps take you to the skies (sorry) with its modest and minimalist design that does a lot more than what you’d expect from a mechanical pencil. The innovative construction controls the lead length to eliminate the need for clicking, while it’s soft touch feel is comfortable, and it’s also easy to hold and carry. The lead is held securely, which allows it to function perfectly for both writing and drawing, so you can switch between the two seamlessly.

Our favorite feature, though, is the decompression tool, which helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and also helps keep you focused on your tasks, allowing for a little distraction here and there. If you’re one who struggles with completing tasks, you’ll not find a pencil that offers such support, which is awesome.

The sleekly designed Tombow Zoom 505 Mechanical Pencil is not just beautiful to look at but also easy to hold and marvelously weighted to ensure excellent control and consistent lines whether you’re writing, doodling, or working hard to complete projects. It’s also durable, but this doesn’t make the pencil any less elegant, and the full-metal construction provides consistent quality and reliability whether you’re carrying it in your backpack or clipping it to your chest pocket.

Those who need thicker leads to tackle more demanding projects will find a lot to love with this, too. The 0.9mm lead is tough but also careful, so while it’s a little thicker than average, it still makes it useful for delicate designs with no risk of snapping halfway through.

The Lamy Multi System Twin Ballpoint Pen and Mechanical Pencil is without a doubt the perfect option for those working with a variety of mediums and who need seamless migration between them. It’s more than just a high-quality mechanical pencil, it’s also a high-quality pen, too, and along with looking good it feels good, too.

The cylindrical body is weighted perfectly and is comfortable to hold even without padding, although you may feel a pang of pain if using it for too long. The flow is smooth, so it won’t feel bogged down on your paper, and any mistakes are easily fixed with the built-in eraser. Versatile, unique, and ready for anything, there’s a reason we consider this the best mechanical pencil you’ll find for a variety of needs, and we’re sure you will feel the same way, too.

If you need a reliable and easy to use retractable pencil, the Uni Writing Neatly Mechanical Pencil is a good option to consider. Like other Uni products, it boasts lead rotating technology to ensure consistent sharpness by rotating every 40 strokes. This also makes it resistant to breakage to minimize downtime and keeps your work looking perfect throughout. The clip is also solid and reliable, ensuring you won’t lose it when on the move.

It’s comfortable to hold, and despite its bright lime green color (which at least is easy to identify), it’s still a great working pencil, and if you’re into neon colors, it’s probably your favorite pencil we’ve identified.

The always-classy Parker Jotter Mechanical Pencil is an excellent gift option for the modern professional. Smart and sleek, it belongs in the boardroom, and will make all other pencils there (mechanical or not) feel like the peasants of the stationery world.

The stainless steel construction keeps it looking great even after years of use, while the click function is smooth and quiet to prevent distractions. It’s perfectly weighted for comfortable use and the lead is resistant to bending and breaking, while the arrow clip keeps it secure on your pocket to let everyone know you mean business. It also comes in a smart gift box, which matches the quality and is exactly what you’d expect from a Parker. Gift it to others or get one for yourself, you’ll feel like a success whenever it’s in your hand.