Best Mechanical Pencils of 2025
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Mechanical pencils are a popular writing tool that eliminates the need for sharpening. These pencils have a refillable lead that automatically advances as the previous lead is used up. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, ranging from slim and sleek for everyday use to larger, more durable models for drafting and technical drawing. The lead size can also vary, with common sizes including 0.5mm and 0.7mm. Mechanical pencils are a great choice for anyone who wants a consistent writing experience without the hassle of constantly needing to sharpen their pencil.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Mechanical Pencils
BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils with Erasers
BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils with Erasers, also known as the BIC Xtra-Smooth Pencils, are a must-have for all your writing needs. This 40-count pack of medium point mechanical pencils is perfect for school or office supplies. The 0.7mm medium point is versatile and suitable for a variety of everyday writing activities. The high-quality lead ensures that your writing doesn't smudge and erases cleanly, giving your work a neat and professional appearance. The best part is that these pencils are always ready to use and never need sharpening. To advance the lead, simply click the built-in eraser. These pencils are also great for school, as they come with No. 2 lead that's compatible with most standardized tests.
Paper Mate Clearpoint Pencils
Paper Mate Clearpoint Pencils, also known as Paper Mate Clearpoint, are mechanical pencils designed to create clear and precise lines. With their side lead advance feature, you can easily load lead without losing your grasp. The 0.7mm, #2 leads are perfect for standardized tests, ensuring that your answers are accurately marked. The jumbo twist-up eraser makes erasing mistakes a breeze, saving you time and effort. The soft grip design adds comfort and ease, allowing for extended use without discomfort. This set includes 10 mechanical pencils, making it a great value for both students and professionals.
BIC ReVolution Mechanical Pencil
Introducing the BIC ReVolution Pencil, the perfect tool to join the ReVolution and help write our planet's future. This mechanical pencil features a barrel made from 65% recycled plastic and packaging made of 100% recycled content, making it an environmentally friendly choice. With its long-lasting lead, you can enjoy hours of writing, sketching, doodling, and journaling without interruption. The BIC ReVolution Pencil also creates smooth, dark strokes that are always the same width, eliminating the need for resharpening. This high-performance pencil is sturdy yet lightweight, providing both durability and comfort. Experience the convenience and benefits of this eco-friendly mechanical pencil and make a positive impact on the environment.
BIC Xtra Smooth Mechanical Pencils
BIC Xtra Smooth Mechanical Pencils are the perfect choice for the classroom, standardized testing, and back to school. With their smooth dark writing lead, these pencils provide neat and clear results, making them ideal for all your writing needs. The fun pastel-colored barrels add a pop of color to any desk, bringing a touch of joy to your study or work space. Additionally, the mechanical design eliminates the need for sharpening, making them a smart choice for math class, standardized tests, art class, and more. The smooth-writing lead does not smudge and erases cleanly, ensuring that your work stays clean and professional. Upgrade your writing experience with BIC Xtra Smooth Mechanical Pencils.
Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils, SharpWriter Pencils
Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils, SharpWriter Pencils provide a shock-absorbing tip that reduces lead breakage. The twistable tip eliminates the need to stop and sharpen, while the #2 lead is perfect for standardized tests. The pink eraser makes it easy to make do-overs. This set includes 36 mechanical pencils with 0.7mm #2 lead.
BIC Xtra-Precision Mechanical Pencil
The BIC Xtra-Precision Mechanical Pencil is a high-quality writing instrument that offers precise and clean writing. With a simple click, you can advance the 0.5mm lead to ensure sharp and accurate lines. The lead on these pencils is of exceptional quality, allowing for clean erasing without smudging, keeping your hands clean. These pencils are perfect for standardized tests and writing activities that require neat penmanship. Additionally, they can be used for sketching or as mechanical drafting pencils. The BIC Xtra-Precision Mechanical Pencil is a reliable tool that brings convenience and accuracy to your writing needs.
BIC Xtra-Strong Mechanical Pencils, 24-Count Pack
BIC Xtra-Strong Mechanical Pencils are the perfect choice for school supplies. These thick lead mechanical pencils offer dependable performance with break-resistant 0.9mm lead. Lead advances quickly and erases easily for tidy writing and note-taking. The colorful barrel design makes these pencils ideal for sharing.
Paper Mate Handwriting Triangular Mechanical Pencil Set
The Paper Mate Triangular Pencil Set is a perfect choice for kids who are learning to write. With its specially designed features, this set offers great control and guidance to early writers. The thick 1.3mm lead ensures less breakage, allowing kids to write smoothly without interruptions. The triangular shape of the pencils helps to guide finger placement, making it easier for children to hold and control the pencils. The set includes 5 triangle pencils in fun barrel colors, along with a refill set of leads and erasers. With this set, kids can enjoy writing while improving their handwriting skills.
BIC Xtra-Sparkle Mechanical Pencil
The BIC Xtra-Sparkle Pencils are designed to make writing enjoyable and efficient. With their sparkly and colorful barrels, these pencils add a fun touch to your writing experience. The smooth writing lead allows you to create dark, clear lines that won’t smudge, ensuring your notes and answers look neat. Plus, if you make a mistake, you can erase cleanly without leaving traces. The lead advances quickly, so you won’t have to deal with interruptions while you’re working. These features make them an excellent choice for students and professionals alike, especially during test time.
Pentel Twist-Erase Click Mechanical Pencil Set
The Pentel Twist-Erase Click Mechanical Pencil Set includes SIX 0.7 mm mechanical pencils, SIX erasers, and THREE tubes of 0.7 mm lead -- 12 pieces of lead per tube. The quick-click side button allows for easy extension of lead, while the extra long twist-up eraser provides convenience for erasing mistakes. The pencils are made in Mexico, erasers in China, and lead in Japan. The set is perfect for students, professionals, or anyone who prefers a mechanical pencil for writing or drawing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are mechanical pencils used for?
Mechanical pencils are used for tasks such as technical drawing, clean-looking writing, and fine-art drawing. They provide lines of constant width without the need for sharpening, making them popular among students and professionals.
2. Is 0.7 or 0.5 lead better?
The choice between 0.7mm and 0.5mm lead depends on personal preference and writing style. For most people, 0.5mm lead is strong enough and less prone to breaking. However, individuals who write with more pressure may find 0.7mm or even 0.9mm lead more suitable.
3. Why does everyone use mechanical pencils now?
Mechanical pencils have become popular due to their convenience. Unlike traditional woodcased pencils, mechanical pencils do not require sharpening. This saves time, effort, and avoids the mess associated with sharpening. Additionally, mechanical pencils offer a constant sharp point for precise writing or drawing.
4. Why are mechanical pencils not allowed in exams?
Mechanical pencils are often not allowed in exams because their fine, sharp points make them more prone to breaking. Additionally, the constant sharpness can cause students to take longer when filling in answer sheets, leading to potential time management issues.
5. What are the cons of mechanical pencils?
One drawback of mechanical pencils is that the leads are more brittle and can break easily, especially the thin diameter leads. There is also a possibility of lead jams in the lead pipe, requiring a clearing pin to free it.
6. Is 0.5 or 0.7 mechanical pencil better for drawing?
The choice between a 0.5mm and 0.7mm mechanical pencil for drawing depends on the desired line thickness. A 0.5mm lead is generally preferred for writing and most drawing purposes. However, a thicker 0.7mm lead may be better suited for sketching and non-detailed drawing.
During our mechanical pencil research, we found 25 mechanical pencil products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 582,351 customer reviews through our big data system to write the mechanical pencils list. We found that most customers choose mechanical pencils with an average price of $7.08.
The mechanical pencils are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of mechanical pencils, including BIC, Paper Mate, Pentel. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.
Mechanical Pencils Comparison Table
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| Brand | BIC | Paper Mate | BIC | BIC | Paper Mate | BIC | BIC | Paper Mate | BIC | Pentel |
| Writing Instrument Form | Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil | Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil | Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil | Graphite Pencil | Mechanical Graphite Pencil |
| Color | Multi-color | Clear | Blue,Green,Red | Graphite Lead; Pastel Barrels | Yellow | Multicolor | Assorted | Assorted | Black | multi-color |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult | Teen | Adult | Adult | Teen | Adult | Kid,Adult | Teen | Kid, Teen, Adult | Adult |
| Ink Color | Black | Blue | Blue | Pastel | Black | Black | Black | Fun Barrel Colors | Black | - |
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