What makes a #2 pencil so special?

This pencil is rightfully considered the most popular pencil in the world. It is also the most commonly used one. In the USA it's widely known as a #2 pencil, while the rest of the world calls it an HB pencil. Its lead is not too light and not too dark, and this pencil is not too hard or too soft. So, a #2 pencil can be used both by amateurs and professionals in different cases.

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Well, an American system of pencil grades is quite simple. But what do all of the B's, H's” and HB’s mean? That's also easy. For example, a pencil marked “HB” is hard and black; a pencil marked “HH” is very hard, and a pencil marked “HHBBB” is very hard and VERY black! Sometimes pencil manufacturers also use the letter "F" to indicate that the pencil sharpens to a fine point.

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67 Comments

Jim Redden

lead has not been used in pencils for more than 60 years. pencils are graphite.

Liesl Timms

called HB here in NZ

Fred Mayes

Actually they can range from 9H (like writing with a rusty nail) to 9B (like writing with a black crayon)

Jim Laughner

While you may be technically correct, the graphite sticks used in pencils have been commonly called "pencil leads" for many, many years.

Jim Redden

Jim Laughner did you know that lead has never been used in pencils at all. the only lead in pencils was in the paint on the pencil. they stopped using lead paint on pencils many years ago.

David Holmes

I suspected from the description that it was what the rest of the world calls HB.

Beau Shilkraut

All pencils are special depending on what you plan to use them for. Should be a different wording of the question.

Sean Philips

HB pencil

fdeisner

As Goldilocks once said it's not too hard and it's not too soft, it's just right. 👱‍♀️ 😁

james parrillo

Carole Anderson, It was the final choice for me. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

Wayne Roberts

Said Hamlet to Ophelia, ‘I’ll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?

ToniP

This is a pretty silly question. Not all countries use the same specs.

Carroll Price

The standard lead pencil remains virtually unchanged since invented.

Lawanta

A different version of "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" ... 🙄

michael d engels

HB for me... as a Canadian ;-)

Kat

Being Canadian, it's always been "HB" to me. I also have always had a set of drawing pencils ranging in hardness/softness and darkness.

Jennifer Dyster

Wording is American and not labelled as such. HB pencils are standard for school use, Sketchers prefer B, 2B up to 6B. For geometrical drawing you use H pencils because they stay sharp and the line is cleaner. I think the questions should be worded with a note about country of origin.

tbear

Good information, thank you! 😊👍

teresab

I picked the wishy washy answer and it was correct. Never heard of # pencils. Ours are coded HB.

Louella Wilson

lead has NEVER been the writing part of a pencil. It's been graphite since at least the 1500's. The term lead refers to a time when it was believed that graphite was a form of lead. I can recall when it became illegal to use LEAD BASED paint on pencils, which was about 60 years ago. Why was this? Well, how many people chew their pencils?