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Pencils

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Writing, drawing, mechanical and speciality pencils from Staedtler, Columbia, Milan and Warwick. HB and 2B for school and office, full graphite grade sets for drawing, mechanical pencils and leads, plus chinagraph and multi-surface marking pencils.

H stands for hardness and B stands for blackness. An HB pencil sits in the middle of the scale, which makes it the general-purpose choice for writing. Harder grades (H, 2H) write lighter, finer lines, while softer grades (B, 2B and up) write darker and smudge more.

Use H or 2H for fine technical lines and light sketching, HB for everyday writing and school, and B or 2B for darker lines, exam answer sheets and general sketching. For shading and tonal drawing, step up to 4B and softer.

A 2B pencil is the usual choice for exam answer sheets and multiple-choice bubbles, because the soft, dark lead is read clearly by scanners and erases cleanly. For written answers, a standard HB is fine. Pack a sharpener or a spare in case of breakages.

Match the lead to your pencil. 0.5mm is the most common everyday size, 0.7mm is stronger and snaps less, 0.3mm gives a fine technical line, and 0.9mm writes bold. Also match the grade, usually HB, and check the size printed on the pencil before buying refills.

A chinagraph or grease pencil, such as the Staedtler Lumocolor Glasochrom, marks smooth, non-porous surfaces that ordinary pencils slide off, including glass, metal, plastic, laminate and photographs. They come in permanent versions and non-permanent ones that wipe off, so choose by whether the mark needs to stay.

Pick your pencil by grade and what you're using it for

Most of the range is graphite, graded on the HB scale. Hard H pencils write light, fine lines and hold a point, HB sits in the middle for everyday writing, and soft B pencils go darker for shading and sketching. Beyond that you will find mechanical pencils and leads in four sizes, artist grade sets, and speciality pencils that mark glass, metal and plastic. Bulk boxes suit schools and offices.

HB Pencil Warwick 12's Pack CX117402
HB Pencil Warwick 12's Pack
$3.65 inc. GST or as low as $3.29
QTY inc. GST
1-4 $3.65
5-11 $3.55
12-23 $3.40
24+ $3.29
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CX117402
HB Pencil with Eraser Warwick 6's Pack CX110194
HB Pencil with Eraser Warwick 6's Pack
$4.75 inc. GST or as low as $4.28
QTY inc. GST
1-4 $4.75
5-11 $4.61
12-23 $4.42
24+ $4.28
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CX110194
Stabilo All Pencil White - 12's pack AO0080525
Stabilo All Pencil White - 12's pack
$36.99 inc. GST or as low as $34.04
QTY inc. GST
1-2 $36.99
3-5 $35.89
6-11 $35.15
12+ $34.04
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO0080525
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal 20's Pack AO61500HHB
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal 20's Pack
$11.35 inc. GST or as low as $10.11
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $11.35
6-11 $10.79
12-23 $10.45
24+ $10.11
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61500HHB
GBP Pencil Grip Assorted Colours, Pack of 6 FPPG06
GBP Pencil Grip Assorted Colours, Pack of 6
$3.29 inc. GST or as low as $2.80
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $3.29
6-11 $3.06
12-24 $2.93
25+ $2.80
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Auckland. Pick up in 2-4 hours.
Sku: FPPG06
2B Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal 20's Pack AO61500H2B
2B Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal 20's Pack
$12.49 inc. GST or as low as $11.12
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $12.49
6-11 $11.87
12-23 $11.50
24+ $11.12
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61500H2B
Schneider 565 0.5mm HB Mechanical Pencil CXS156501
Schneider 565 0.5mm HB Mechanical Pencil
$3.39 inc. GST or as low as $3.12
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $3.39
6-11 $3.29
12-23 $3.23
24+ $3.12
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CXS156501
Stabilo All Pencil Black - 12's AO0080460
Stabilo All Pencil Black - 12's
$35.99 inc. GST or as low as $33.12
QTY inc. GST
1-2 $35.99
3-5 $34.92
6-11 $34.20
12+ $33.12
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO0080460
HB Pencil Columbia Copperplate - Hexagonal 20's Pack AO61700HB
HB Pencil Columbia Copperplate - Hexagonal 20's Pack
$18.20 inc. GST or as low as $16.20
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $18.20
6-11 $17.29
12-23 $16.75
24+ $16.20
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61700HB
2B Pencil Milan Graphite Triangular x 12 CX214171
2B Pencil Milan Graphite Triangular x 12
$8.99 inc. GST or as low as $8.10
QTY inc. GST
1-4 $8.99
5-11 $8.73
12-23 $8.37
24+ $8.10
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CX214171
Columbia Copperplate Lead Pencil Hexagonal HB Pack of 2 AO61700CHB
Columbia Copperplate Lead Pencil Hexagonal HB Pack of 2
$2.80 inc. GST or as low as $2.50
QTY inc. GST
1-11 $2.80
12-23 $2.66
24-35 $2.58
36+ $2.50
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61700CHB
Lumocolor Permanent Glasochrom Pencil Black x 12's pack ST108-20-9
Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent Glasochrom Pencil Black x 12's pack
$46.99 inc. GST or as low as $39.01
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $46.99
6-11 $44.18
12-23 $41.83
24+ $39.01
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: ST108-20-9
Lumocolor Non-permanent Omnichrom Pencil White x 12's pack ST108-0
Staedtler Lumocolor Non-permanent Omnichrom Pencil White x 12's pack
$46.99 inc. GST or as low as $39.01
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $46.99
6-11 $44.18
12-23 $41.83
24+ $39.01
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: ST108-0
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Round 20's Pack AO61500RHB20
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Round 20's Pack
$11.35 inc. GST or as low as $10.11
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $11.35
6-11 $10.79
12-23 $10.45
24+ $10.11
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61500RHB20
Columbia Cadet Lead Pencil Round Half Length HB Box of 400 AO615005HB
Columbia Cadet HB Lead Pencil Round, Half Length, Box of 400
$123.89 inc. GST or as low as $110.27
QTY inc. GST
1 $123.89
2-4 $117.70
5-9 $113.98
10+ $110.27
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO615005HB
Milan HB Hexagonal Pencils with Eraser Pack of 12 CX214279
Milan HB Hexagonal Pencils with Eraser Pack of 12
$8.39 inc. GST or as low as $7.56
QTY inc. GST
1-4 $8.39
5-11 $8.14
12-23 $7.81
24+ $7.56
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CX214279
2B Pencil Columbia Copperplate - Hexagonal 20's Pack AO617002B
2B Pencil Columbia Copperplate - Hexagonal 20's Pack
$18.20 inc. GST or as low as $16.20
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $18.20
6-11 $17.29
12-23 $16.75
24+ $16.20
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO617002B
Lumocolor Permanent Glasochrom Pencil White x 12's pack ST108-20-0
Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent Glasochrom Pencil White x 12's pack
$46.99 inc. GST or as low as $39.01
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $46.99
6-11 $44.18
12-23 $41.83
24+ $39.01
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: ST108-20-0
Icon HB Hexagonal Natural Pencil, Pack of 12 FPIHBP12
Icon HB Hexagonal Natural Pencil, Pack of 12
$5.18 inc. GST or as low as $4.41
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $5.18
6-11 $4.82
12-24 $4.62
25+ $4.41
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Auckland. Pick up in 2-4 hours.
Sku: FPIHBP12
Milan HB Hexagonal Pencil Pack Of 12 CX214280
Milan HB Hexagonal Pencil Pack Of 12
$7.65 inc. GST or as low as $6.89
QTY inc. GST
1-4 $7.65
5-11 $7.43
12-23 $7.12
24+ $6.89
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as today from Hastings or Auckland.
Sku: CX214280
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal x 60's Pack AO61560HHB
HB Pencil Columbia Cadet - Hexagonal x 60's Pack
$37.49 inc. GST or as low as $33.37
QTY inc. GST
1 $37.49
2-4 $35.62
5-9 $34.50
10+ $33.37
FREE Delivery. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: AO61560HHB
Staedtler Tradition Graphite Pencil HB x 12's pack ST110-HB
Staedtler Tradition Graphite Pencil HB x 12's pack
$19.99 inc. GST or as low as $16.60
QTY inc. GST
1-5 $19.99
6-11 $18.80
12-23 $17.80
24+ $16.60
FREE Delivery over $30. Dispatch as early as Friday from Auckland.
Sku: ST110-HB
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What the HB grade actually means

The letters on a pencil are a code for how the lead behaves. H stands for hardness and B stands for blackness. A hard pencil writes a light, fine line and keeps its point; a soft pencil writes a dark, broad line that smudges more easily and wears down faster. HB sits in the middle, which is why it is the standard for writing. Pick the grade for the job rather than the brand, and you will get the result you want first time.

Grade Feel Line Best for
2H, H Hard Light and fine Technical drawing, light sketching, neat margins
HB Medium Clean mid-grey Everyday writing, school and office
B, 2B Soft Dark, easy to erase Exam answer sheets, general sketching
4B to 6B Very soft Deep black, smudgy Shading and tonal drawing
7B to 9B Softest Densest black Bold artwork, dramatic contrast

Writing and school pencils

For writing, an HB does almost everything: notes, forms, classroom work and exams. We stock the everyday HB packs from Warwick, Columbia Cadet and Staedtler alongside bulk boxes of 60, 144 and 400 for schools and offices that get through them. Many come with an eraser tip so corrections are quick. Keep them sharp with our pencil sharpeners and tidy mistakes with our erasers.

Graphite pencils for drawing

Drawing uses a ladder of grades rather than a single pencil, so artists build tone by switching from hard H grades for fine outlines to soft B grades for deep shadow. Grade sets like the Staedtler Mars Lumograph tins give you the full range in one box, and Milan triangular graphite covers the popular degrees in twelve-packs. See these next to the rest of our art supplies.

Mechanical pencils and leads

A mechanical pencil never needs sharpening and holds one consistent line width, which suits note-taking and technical work. The number that matters is the lead diameter: 0.5mm is the everyday standard, 0.7mm is stronger and less prone to snapping, 0.3mm gives a fine technical line, and 0.9mm writes bold. Buy leads to match both the size and the grade, usually HB. Browse barrels and refills in our mechanical pencils range.

Marking and speciality pencils

Some jobs need a pencil that writes where graphite will not. Chinagraph or grease pencils such as the Staedtler Lumocolor Glasochrom mark glossy, non-porous surfaces like glass, metal, plastic and photographs, and come in permanent and wipe-off versions. The Stabilo All writes on almost any surface, and a flat carpenter pencil marks timber without rolling off the bench. For other surface-marking tools, see our markers.

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