Best Compasses of 2025

"I found this compass to be solidly built and comfortable to handle. The 4-inch size does everything I need. However, I wish the tightening knobs were easier to manage, as they can be a bit small. But overall, a great product with a lifetime warranty!"

"I'm impressed with the quality of this compass for high school geometry. It’s sturdy metal and keeps its setting while drawing, which is a big improvement over my old one!"

"This compass is a great value for the price. It marks materials like leather cleanly and feels very reliable. I appreciate the extra lead and the mustache logo is a fun touch, even if it’s not for everyone. Overall, I highly recommend it!"

"This compass is fantastic! It's easy to use, sturdy, and stays in place perfectly. I've tried others, but this one is the best!"

"Both of my kids needed these for school, and they are great! They do everything my kids need."

"I upgraded my high schooler's compass to this one after he struggled with a cheap version. LOVE this compass! It makes his work so much easier. Just a heads up, it comes with 2 leads, but you might want to buy replacements since my son broke one."

"I received mine bent, but the metal is cheap enough to easily straighten it out. It's great for cutting patterns and making jigs. I rate the quality of the instrument at 3 stars, but for utility and price, I’d say it’s 4 stars."

"I’ve had a similar compass in my carpenters pouch for about 10 years, so I decided to try this one after losing it. So far, it seems okay, but I’ll see how it holds up over time."

"This compass isn’t the best I’ve used, but for $2.86, it does the job. It can draw circles, though they aren't always perfect, especially the smaller ones, but it meets my needs."

"I was surprised by the excellent quality of this compass. It feels extremely sturdy, and I'm really happy with my purchase!"

"I opted for the larger size for my carpentry project. It was helpful, but I could have used an extra hand to steady it while scribing. Overall, it performed well, and I would give it 4.5 stars!"

"The Mr. Pen professional compass is fantastic for woodworking and drafting. It's well-built and stays in place for precise circles, making it an excellent tool for anyone in need."

"I teach geometry and HATE most compasses. The all-metal cheap ones loosen up too fast. The plastic ones flex too much. These compasses are PERFECT! They are solidly constructed, hold the pencil well, and just work. Now, these are the ones we buy for our department's class sets."

"I've been searching for a compass that my students won't break quickly while still being precise. I think I've found it! The screw-type pencil holder is easy to use, and there's no worry about the pencil slipping. It's a well-made, inexpensive compass that really reduces the frustrations students often face."

"I bought these compasses for classroom use a week ago, and they are impressive so far. Made of metal and come with golf pencils, they hold their position well. At about $2 each, it's a solid deal. They are valuable enough to count daily but not so expensive that I worry about losing them."

"I find these to be great and they hold up well, especially compared to the metal ones I previously used. They've stood up to frequent class use. However, a few are a bit loose, making them tricky to maneuver, so I sometimes need to grab my tool bag to fix them."

"In my experience teaching high school students, these are very loose and struggle to keep the pencil in place. I instruct my students to clamp them firmly with their hands and move the paper instead of the tool. Unfortunately, we tend to break around 10 of them daily, which adds up to about $10 wasted each day!"

"I purchased these for our search and rescue class, and they performed well. They are a great price when you need multiple units."

"I found that it works great and is bigger and stronger than I expected. I plan to use it for making dovetail joints, and I believe it will last a lifetime. Impressive shipping too!"

"I love that it is 100% metal and very simple to use. I'm really pleased with this purchase and the quality tool it is!"

"I didn't realize how large this compass was, but I’m excited because I can now practice making mandalas of all sizes."

"I was thrilled to find that the compass worked perfectly for my project. It was just what I needed to create two large circles on plywood. The quality is impressive, and the parts fit securely together. For the price, it’s a no-brainer purchase!"

"I had high hopes for the Mr. Pen set as I wanted to delve into mandalas. However, I found myself a bit lost due to the lack of instructions. I was left chasing tiny screws, and even though I managed to figure things out eventually, some written guidance would have been helpful. Despite my struggles, I believe this set will be beneficial once I become more adept at using it."

"I was excited to buy this compass for my son’s geometry class. While it came with great features like extra screws and a large circle drawing leg, I faced a minor issue with the screw that tightens the legs. It’s shallow and hard to tighten, which causes some inconvenience when using it. Nonetheless, the compass has many good features, and once we resolve the screw issue, it could be perfect!"

"These compasses are perfect for classroom use. I love how easily I can swap the pencil for sharpening. They are super durable and have a solid construction."

"I found this compass to be a great scribe. It may not be heavy-duty, but its geometry is just right for my needs. I did wish it was painted differently, as the pot metal appearance was a bit misleading."

"I was pleasantly surprised by this little compass! It's sturdy for its size and the pencil that comes with it is sharp and reliable. It's just perfect for my intricate drawings and drafting projects."

"I received this product for free as a test product, and I must say, I adore the protractor! It's well made and the vivid green color with black writing makes it easy to see and use. I can definitely see myself putting this in my drawing kit for everyday use."

"For the price, these are nice. I used them for my geometry class, and the pencil was nice and sharp. I had to figure out how to tighten the screw to make a steady circle, but overall, it works well and is perfectly sized."

"I got this for my 12-year-old son, and it has held up well. It was really convenient to have it delivered to our home, and it was cheaper than our local Walmart store!"