The 10 Best Mechanical Pencils 2020

Students and artists love this Kokuyo FitCurve mechanical pencil for its great price and comfort-factor.

• The wide, firm rubber grip is comfortable to use
• Sliding lead sleeve helps to avoid lead breakages
• Great price for such high-quality

Kokuyo dates back to 1905 and is a master of stationery, and their FitCurve pencil demonstrates years of know-how.

This is a pencil designed for lengthy note-taking or sketching sessions. The 0.64 oz. weight combines with a generous thickness to feel great when in use, and the rubber grip will help avoid hand fatigue during long days at school or work.

Lamy pencils aren’t cheap, but the convenient and stylish design of the Multisystem makes it worth the investment.

• Pen and pencil combination gives you the best of both worlds
• The slim design is comfortable to use for long time periods
• Comes in a presentation box making it a great gift

The main selling point of this option is that it doubles as a refillable ballpoint pen. This is a handy addition if you like to use both pen and pencil for your work or studies, and switching between the two functions couldn’t be simpler.

This pencil operates with a twist mechanism, and writing is comfortable with the slim and well-weighted design.

This Rite in the Rain all-weather mechanical pencil is the best option on the market for outdoor sketching and note-taking.

• Durable design is robust enough to work in any weather
• Lead is smooth yet bold, making it a pleasure to use
• Comes with extra leads and erasers for long-term usage

The obvious selling point of this pencil is that it functions in the rain. This is a great feature of artists who like working with landscapes, or engineers and anyone else that work in unpredictable conditions. The patented tip is built to expand so the lead won’t break, and the strong barrel is as durable as they come.

Design is at the heart of the Kaeco Special, and you won’t find a better-looking pencil on the market.

• The striking all-metal design looks and feels professional
• Available in various lead-sizes for different uses
• Fixed metal lead pipes are great for using with a ruler or template

The Special is easily the most elegant mechanical pencil on our list. The golden metal design screams “high-end”, and the octagonal construction is minimalist perfection. The untreated brass will get better with age as it tarnishes, and it’s deceptively light at just 0.7 oz. Available in four different lead-sizes from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm there’s a perfect version available for delicate sketches, clear note-taking, and bold design-work. 

My personal favorite. Marketed as an unbreakable pencil, the DelGuard system from Zebra could last you a lifetime however you choose to use it.

• DelGuard design is built to be unbreakable
  
  
• The textured grip gives greater comfort
  
  
• Great weight for a thin pencil

Made in Japan, the cleverly engineered patent-pending system is designed to avoid annoying lead-breakages. The double spring mechanism ensures that the lead is secure which helps to stop it snapping in vertical and angled positions.

Pilot’s Dr. Grip mechanical pencil is the perfect everyday option for work, school, and pretty much everything else you can think of.

• Commended by the Arthritis Foundation for comfort and ease-of-use
  
  
• Metallic design is practical and stylish
  
  
• 0.9 mm lead is the perfect thickness for everyday usage

Comfort is the key selling point of this pencil, so much so that it’s been commended for ease-of-use by the Arthritis Foundation. The shake or knock mechanism is an easier way to get more lead and is perfect for users with less dexterity.

• Ideal for clear and accurate technical drawings among other uses
• Lightweight and comfortable for long work sessions
• Dual action lead protection system prevents breakages

The Graph Gear 1000 is a robust multitasker. High-polymer lead refills deliver strong and precise lines for clear note-taking, accurate technical drawings, and wherever else you need accuracy.

The tapered 4 mm tip makes it great for use with rulers and straight edges, so craftspeople would do well to consider this option. 0.8 oz. is a good weight for an everyday mechanical pencil and the chiseled metallic grip with soft latex pads keeps you comfy through long writing and drawing sessions.

German engineering, quality materials, and thoughtful features combine to make the ROtring Rapid PRO one of the best mechanical pencils on the market.

• The metal body feels great during prolonged usage
  
  
• 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm models have a sliding sleeve design to avoid lead breakages
  
  
• 2.0 mm design includes a sharpener to keep the lead at its best

The full metal body has a great weight to it and is perfectly balanced for a great in-hand feel. The non-slip metal knurled grip also feels comfortable against the fingers and helps to relieve pressure and fatigue during prolonged usage.

This classic Sharp Kerry pencil from Pentel has been a firm favorite since its unveiling over two decades ago, and it’s a worthy runner-up on our list.

• Built using watchmaker’s tools for incredible precision
  
  
• Careful engineering makes this pencil robust and long-lasting
  
  
• Surprisingly low price for such high quality

The high-end design is actually made with watchmaker’s tools for more precision and accuracy than you might have previously considered possible in a mechanical pencil. In terms of aesthetics, it actually looks more like a pen than a pencil: the nicely-sized resin barrel is comfortable in the hand and the cap will protect against accidental pencil marks when not in use.

The Kuru Toga from Uni tops our list of mechanical pencils for its innovative features and super-low price.

• Patented twist mechanism protects the lead while keeping it sharp
  
  
• Light and stylish design looks and feels great
  
  
• Incredibly low price for such impressive quality

The issue of lead breakage has been resolved by several of the manufacturers on our list, but Uni has taken this one step further and has figured out a way to stop the lead becoming blunt and your writing inconsistent. Their patented twist and turn lead mechanism rotates the high-quality 0.5 mm lead every time you lift it off the page, keeping it sharp and ready to deliver crisp and clean lines.