Tool
Graphite Pencil Grade Chart
An interactive chart of graphite grades from 9H to 9B with what each is best for and how to build a basic kit.
Graphite pencil grades run from 9H (hardest, lightest) through HB to 9B (softest, darkest). H pencils give crisp, pale lines for technical work and planning; B pencils give soft, dark marks for shading. HB sits in the middle and is the usual all-round choice.
These are common starting points, not rules - your pressure, paper and preferences all change how a grade behaves.
How to choose graphite pencil grades
- Read the chart. Each grade shows a tone swatch so you can compare the darkness of 9H through 9B.
- Choose what you are drawing. Pick portraits, landscapes, botanical, technical or another subject in the kit builder.
- Build your starter kit. The tool suggests a small set of grades that covers light sketching through deep darks.
Reading the graphite scale
Graphite pencils are graded by how much clay is mixed with the graphite. More clay means a harder pencil (H) that leaves a pale, precise line; less clay means a softer pencil (B) that leaves a darker, smoother, smudgier mark. The scale runs from 9H, the hardest, through F and HB in the middle, to 9B, the softest.
- 9H to 6H - extremely hard. Technical drawing and very faint guide lines; rarely needed for art.
- 5H to 2H - hard. Light underdrawing, construction lines and crisp fine detail.
- H, F, HB - the middle of the range. Sketching, outlines and general work.
- B to 4B - soft. Shading, expressive line and mid to dark tones.
- 5B to 9B - very soft. Deep darks and broad tone; fragile and prone to smudging.
Most artists work with a handful of grades rather than the whole range. Build tone gradually from light grades to soft ones and keep your darkest pencil for the final accents.
Frequently asked questions
What do H and B mean on a pencil?+
H stands for hard and B for black (soft). Harder pencils leave lighter, crisper lines; softer pencils leave darker, richer marks that smudge more easily. HB sits in the middle, and F (fine point) sits between H and HB.
What is the US equivalent of HB?+
A US #2 pencil is equivalent to HB. #1 is roughly B, #2½ is roughly F, #3 is roughly H and #4 is roughly 2H.
How many graphite pencils do I need to start?+
Three or four cover most drawing: for example 2H for light construction, HB for general work, 2B for shading and 4B or 6B for the darkest tones.
Do all brands use the same hardness?+
Broadly, but not exactly. A 2B from one brand can differ in darkness from another, so treat the scale as a guide and test on your own paper.
Which pencil grade is best for shading?+
2B to 6B suit most shading. Use harder grades for light first layers and softer grades for the darkest tones.
How many graphite pencils do I need?+
Four or five cover most work: for example 2H, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B.