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Even since pencils have been invented, they have gone through numerous changes and advancements. The best mechanical pencils are comfortable to use, sturdy, and offer more than the regular ones you’ve gotten used to.
If you are an artist or an architect, you want a long-lasting pencil that suits your needs when it comes to hand-feel, ergonomics, functionality, and more.
Finding the best mechanical pencil isn’t something that can be done in an instant. It is a process filled with plenty of research. Fortunately, we have researched the best mechanical pencils and created this article for you.
8 Best Mechanical Pencils in 2020
Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil P1035A 0.5/0.7 mm
Pentel sharp Kerry 0.7mm is a great mechanical pencil if you are an artist.
It could be the best mechanical pencil for drawing. It has a plastic and metal body, and it is wider than other mechanical pencils. It uses 0.5 and 0.7mm lead sizes.
Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil P1035A 0.5/0.7 mm might be the best mechanical pencil for people with long fingers. It comes with an aluminum cap that protects your pockets from the lead poking through.
It isn’t the fanciest mechanical pencil out there, but at least it doesn’t cost a lot. Fortunately, it is handcrafted with watchmaker’s tools, which gives it precision.
If you purchase the pink version of Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil P1035A 0.5/0.7 mm, five cents will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
This beautiful mechanical pencil comes with a replacement eraser under the cap, and a lead storage tube hidden inside the pen. The problem is that the cap that holds the lead comes off easy, so you might find broken lead in your pocket.
All in all, Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil P1035A 0.5/0.7 mm is a smart choice if you want to save money but also want a sturdy and accurate mechanical pencil.
Pentel Graph Gear 1000 Mechanical Drafting Pencil PG1013E
If you want the best mechanical pencil for fine lines, the Pentel Graph Gear 1000 Mechanical Drafting Pencil PG1013E could be a good choice.
It uses fine 0.3mm lead that creates gorgeous fine lines, but it also offers 0.5, 0.7, and 0.8mm sizes. It has a gorgeous metallic barrel that boasts a comfortable latex-free grip so that the pencil doesn’t slip out of your hands.
We love that this mechanical pencil is comfortable to use. So, you can focus on your work for a long time without feeling any pain.
Pentel Graph Gear 1000 Mechanical Drafting Pencil PG1013E uses the dual-action retractor that protects the lead from breaking. It is a nice feature that makes sure that your work isn’t interrupted.
The best part is that this mechanical pencil isn’t expensive. It has a 4mm long tip that works well with rulers and templates. It even has a lead hardness indicator that tells you the type of lead you are using.
Unfortunately, PG1013E uses a plastic tube, which isn’t the best option. We have also noticed many complaints about refilling problems.
All in all, if you need a mechanical pencil that creates beautiful lines and isn’t expensive, this one might be a good choice.
Uni Kuru Toga Roulette Mechanical Pencil M51017 1P.43 0.5/0.7 mm
This sleek mechanical pencil comes at a low price, without sacrificing quality.
Uni Kuru Toga Roulette M51017 is a light and stylish mechanical pencil that comes with interesting features not seen at its price range.
It boasts a patented twist mechanism that automatically rotates the lead as you write. The mechanism keeps the tip pointy by rotating the lead every time you lift the pencil off the paper. This feature makes sure that your lines aren’t thick and smudgy.
This mechanical pencil uses a ring design on the grip, which makes it a balanced tool that is easy to hold. It is a pencil with an all-metal body that has a nice feel.
The eraser that comes with this pencil is small, but it is solid and long. So, if you need the best mechanical pencil for graphing, this one might be a smart choice.
One of the most common complaints we have noticed is that the tip breaks easily. We have also noticed many users complaining about this pencil not working out of the box.
Finally, if you want a light mechanical pencil with a unique mechanism that rotates the lead, consider the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette.
Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity Mechanical Pencil BHCG7CHAR-MC 0.7 mm
Center of Gravity might be the best mechanical pencil due to its perfect weight distribution.
It is a comfortable mechanical pencil that doesn’t cost a lot. It is a pencil that is commended for ease of use by the Arthritis Foundation.
Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity Mechanical Pencil BHCG7CHAR-MC 0.7 mm is all about balanced writing. It is a mechanical pencil that comes with a balanced gripping axis which reduces writing stress.
Replacing lead is easy. You have to remove the metal cap, then remove the eraser, and finally insert the lead into the hole. It is nice to see that this mechanical pencil can hold more than one piece of lead at a time.
This mechanical pencil writes smoothly and the lead doesn’t break easily. It works pretty great with scantron sheets.
The eraser on this pencil is small, so we recommend you to get an extra one. The barrel is thick, which is an additional comfort factor if you enjoy thick barrels.
Most of the users complain about the cheap feel of this pencil, and we have seen some complaints about a rattling noise.
All in all, if you want perfect weight distribution in a low-price mechanical pencil, then Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity is worth considering.
rOtring Rapid PRO Mechanical Pencil 0.5/0.7 mm
German engineering is world-famous, but not without a good reason. Rapid PRO is a great rOtring mechanical pencil with a gorgeous metal body.
If you want the best mechanical pencil with an awesome weight to it, rOtring Rapid PRO might be the best choice. It has an awesome in-hand feel and boasts a non-slip metal knurled grip. The grip feels comfortable and it helps to relieve fatigue during long writing sessions.
This technical pencil is a great professional tool, but it does not come cheap. The precise cushion lead advance mechanism is amazing. It offers high levels of break resistance, but it also brings much-needed comfort.
This retractable mechanical pencil is very precise, which is awesome for artists, as well as architects. It is also a very solid pencil that can survive plenty of abuse.
The eraser isn’t anything special, but it isn’t as bad as in the majority of other mechanical pencils. The automatic mechanism pushes the lead in small steps, which is to be expected from rOtring.
Unfortunately, the insides of this pencil are plastic. Moreover, the insides can’t be disassembled to allow for proper cleaning.
All in all, this expensive mechanical pencil looks great and has a premium feel to it. It is comfortable to use, but we are left wishing for premium manufacturing on the inside as well.
Paper Mate Clearpoint 34666PP Mechanical Pencil 0.5/0.7/0.9 mm
If you need the best mechanical pencil for school, then Paper Mate Clearpoint 34666PP might be worth thinking about.
It is a great pencil for the kids because it has a unique technology that helps prevent internal lead breakage. Other mechanical pencils tend to suffer from lead jamming when they are dropped, but not this one. So, if you have kids who don’t pay a lot of attention to their pencils, the Paper Mate Clearpoint is a good choice.
We love that this mechanical pencil has a visible lead supply. There is nothing worse than being left with no lead, but this pencil prevents that from happening.
The grip is textured and comfortable to hold, which is awesome for students who have to write a lot. The eraser is large and it doesn’t leave awful smudges.
Another neat feature is the side-click lead advance. It lets you extend the lead without losing the grip on the pencil.
Not everything is perfect with this mechanical pencil. Unfortunately, many customers complain that the design is clunky. Moreover, this is a plastic pencil, which makes it look and feel cheap.
In conclusion, this is a great mechanical pencil for kids and everyone who tends to be a bit on the clumsy side. It doesn’t cost a lot, but it performs its job fairly well.
rOtring 600 Black Barrel Mechanical Pencil 0.5/0.7 mm
If you need the best mechanical pencil for sketching, then the rOtring 500 Black Barrel is a good choice.
This mechanical pencil is an excellent choice for artists, but it is also a smart choice for writers. It is designed for professional use, but it isn’t extremely expensive.
This beautiful mechanical pencil is sturdy. It has a full metal body, and it utilizes a knurled metal grip. So, you can hold this pencil without worrying that it might slip out of your hand.
The ergonomic design makes sure that you don’t suffer a lot of fatigue, and the lightweight body gives you comfort during long hours of writing. We love the hexagonal shape of rOtring 500 as it prevents it from sliding down flat surfaces.
If you tend to use a ruler, the guidance sleeve on this pencil makes sure that you never lose sight of what’s on the paper in front of you. This feature ensures that your drawings are precise and that you don’t break the lead.
The lead hardness indicator is an awesome feature that helps you identify the grade of the lead. The biggest complaint we have noticed is that this pencil is not sturdy.
At the end of the day, we think that this is the best mechanical pencil. It is not expensive and has plenty of useful features that will help you work more with less fatigue.
Zebra M-701 Mechanical Pencil 59411 0.7 mm
Zebra M-701 is a stainless steel mechanical pencil that can take a beating. It is rugged and sturdy, but it won’t empty your wallet. If you need the best mechanical pencil that also looks stylish, then this one is worth thinking about.
It has a comfortable grip that lets you write or draw for a long time without suffering fatigue. It also provides you much-needed steadiness. Bear in mind that the grip is not smooth, but it doesn’t dig into your hands.
Zebra M-701 is heavy. Some of you will love it’s weight, while the others won’t. We think that it is worth trying out, especially if you are a writer.
The top push mechanism offers a tactile feel, which we love. It feels solid, but you might need to exert a bit more effort than you like to push it.
The biggest problem we have noticed is that the tip seems to bend slightly after prolonged use. When the tip bends, the lead stops feeding through, which renders the pencil useless.
Taking everything into consideration, Zebra M-701 is an awesome mechanical pencil. It is sturdy, yet inexpensive. It comes with a great grip, and it looks absolutely stunning.