How To Choose The Right Pencil Lead: A Simple Guide For Beginners
You want to start making graphite art. So you head to your local art supply store, thinking you’ll be in and out in five minutes. Easy. Instead, you find yourself frozen in front of the graphite aisle, staring at a wall of pencils labeled with numbers like “2H, HB, H, 2B, 3B, 4B, 6B, 8B, 9B…”
“Do I need them all?” you ask yourself.
The short answer is: No, you don’t. After nearly two decades of sketching, I can confidently tell you that for most drawing purposes, you only need 2 lead types: HB & 2B. And honestly? 95% of the time, I just use 2B.
What The Numbers Mean
Simply put, the H and B numbers correspond to how soft or hard the lead is. This affects how dark you can draw. The higher the numbers, the more extreme the effect.
H = Harder lead (lighter, finer, and scratchier lines)
B = Softer lead (darker, softer, and easier to smudge)
HB = The middle ground. Think “neutral”.
The “mm” (millimeter) numbers—0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm—refer to the diameter of the lead itself. Here’s a simple breakdown:
.3mm = ultra-fine technical drawings, super precise lines, breaks easily.
.5mm = common for writing/sketching, precise lines, widely available.
.7mm & .9mm = looser sketching, darker thicker lines, less prone to breaking.
2mm = feels closer to a traditional wooden pencil, requires sharpening, allows for expressive lines and faster shading.
What To Choose?
When starting, you don’t want to get caught up in finding the “perfect tool”—in this case, the “perfect” lead type. You need something that makes a clear mark on paper and can be easily erased.
In my experience, HB and 2B are the most versatile. Their softness gives you enough range to get deep darks and light grays without too much effort. Anything harder than HB (like 2H or H) tends to scratch the paper and leave deep grooves that are difficult to erase. On the other end, when the lead is too soft (like 8B or 9B), it breaks more easily, gets messy, and the graphite particles embed themselves deep into the texture of the paper—unless you’re highly controlled with your pressure. Those softer leads are more useful for heavy shading studies or large, expressive work.
Conclusion
If you can only choose one lead type to start sketching and drawing, I’d pick a 2B lead to start. I recommend between 0.5mm, 0.9mm, and 2mm for lead thickness. See which results feel and look best after you’ve tried drawing with them. Everyone has their unique preferences.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need the whole set. Less is more.