The best sketching pencils
From the first doodles to charcoal portraits: the pencil sets worth giving to someone who draws.
A good set of drawing pencils is one of the cheapest ways into art, and one of the most satisfying. The difference between a school HB and a proper set is the range: hard grades for light lines, soft ones for rich shadows.
H means hard and pale, B means soft and dark. Most people need something from each end. We've picked sets from a stocking filler to a full kit with charcoal.
What matters
- A spread of grades: some H for guide lines, several B for shading.
- Leads that don't snap when sharpened.
- A tin or case to keep them together.
- Extras like erasers and blending stumps for beginners.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Faber-Castell Castell 9000 Art Set (12 pencils in a tin)
£21.50 RRP
The classic green pencils: twelve grades from a pale 2H to a velvety 8B, in a tin that lives happily in a school bag. Faber-Castell first made the Castell 9000 in 1905.
What owners say: Owners praise the professional quality for the price, find the leads smooth and say they sharpen to a fine point without snapping.
A closer look: Start a drawing with the hard end of the set (2H, H) for light guide lines, then build up shadows with the soft B grades. A sharp craft knife gives a longer point than a sharpener for shading on the side of the lead.
- 12 graphite pencils, 8B to 2H
- Break-resistant leads
- Sharpens to a fine point
- Metal tin
- Made in Germany
Best for: Students and serious hobbyists
- Pencils
- 12, 8B to 2H
- Extras
- Tin only
#2 of 5
Best for shading
STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Drawing Pencils (tin of 6, 8B–HB)
Under £10 Price range
Six soft grades from HB down to a deep 8B: the set for someone who loves dark, moody shading and portraits. The bonded leads are made to resist snapping when sharpened.
What owners say: Owners rate them among the best pencils for artists, with smooth leads that don't break when sharpened.
Heads up: There are no hard grades in this tin, so pair it with an ordinary HB or 2H for light guide lines.
A closer look: Soft 6B–8B graphite smudges easily, so rest your hand on a scrap of paper as you work, and blend with a tissue or paper stump rather than a fingertip.
- 6 pencils: 8B, 7B, 6B, 4B, 2B, HB
- Break-resistant bonded leads
- Easy to erase
- Metal tin
- Made in Germany
Best for: Dark shading and portraits
- Pencils
- 6, 8B to HB
- Extras
- Tin only
#3 of 5
Best budget
Drawlish Sketching Pencils (set of 8)
Under £10 Price range
Eight grades from 4H to 8B for less than a sandwich: an easy stocking filler for a child who's always drawing, or for anyone trying out a sketching hobby.
What owners say: Owners find them great value and easy to sketch and shade with, and say they don't break easily and sharpen nicely.
A closer look: The grade is printed on every pencil, so keep them in order from hard to soft in a pot and you'll grab the right one without looking.
- 8 grades: 4H, 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
- Pre-sharpened
- Hexagonal grip that doesn't roll
- Grade printed on each pencil
Best for: Beginners and stocking fillers
- Pencils
- 8, 4H to 8B
- Extras
- Pencils only
#4 of 5
Best starter kit
KALOUR 18-Piece Sketch Pencil Set
Under £10 Price range
Fourteen pencils from 5H to 14B, plus the bits beginners forget to buy: a kneaded eraser, a vinyl eraser, a sharpener and a paper blending stump.
What owners say: Owners find it good value for beginners and artists alike, with a wide range of grades.
A closer look: Use the kneaded eraser for lifting out highlights: press and lift rather than rubbing. It can be pulled into a point for tiny details like the glint in an eye.
- 14 pencils, 5H to 14B
- Kneaded and vinyl erasers
- Double-hole sharpener
- Paper blending stump
Best for: Learning to shade
- Pencils
- 14, 5H to 14B
- Extras
- 2 erasers, sharpener, blending stump
#5 of 5
Most complete
HIFORNY 42-Piece Drawing and Sketching Kit
£10–£20 Price range
Graphite and charcoal together, in a zipped canvas case: everything for a sketching class or drawing outdoors, and a proper present for someone who's just taken up drawing.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and value for money, with plenty of variety, and say it's ideal for beginners and makes a great gift.
A closer look: Charcoal is much messier than graphite: work from top to bottom (or left to right if you're right-handed) so your hand doesn't drag through it, and spray finished drawings with a fixative.
- 12 graphite pencils, 5H to 8B
- 4 charcoal pencils and 6 sticks
- Woodless graphite pencil
- Blending stumps, erasers and sharpener
- Zipped canvas case
Best for: Graphite and charcoal together
- Pencils
- 12 graphite + 4 charcoal, 5H to 8B
- Extras
- Sticks, stumps, erasers, sharpener, case
How they compare
| Feature | #1Faber-Castell 9000 | #2Staedtler Lumograph 6 | #3Drawlish 8 | #4KALOUR 18-piece | #5HIFORNY 42-piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for shading | Best budget | Best starter kit | Most complete | |
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Price | £21.50 RRP | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £10–£20 Price range |
| Pencils | 12, 8B to 2H | 6, 8B to HB | 8, 4H to 8B | 14, 5H to 14B | 12 graphite + 4 charcoal, 5H to 8B |
| Extras | Tin only | Tin only | Pencils only | 2 erasers, sharpener, blending stump | Sticks, stumps, erasers, sharpener, case |
| Best for | Students and serious hobbyists | Dark shading and portraits | Beginners and stocking fillers | Learning to shade | Graphite and charcoal together |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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