Look at the end of a drawing pencil and you will find a code such as 2H, HB or 4B. The code tells you how hard the pencil's core is, and so how light or dark its line will be.
H stands for hard. B stands for black, and B pencils are soft. HB sits in the middle; most writing pencils are HB. F (for fine) sits between H and HB. The full range runs from about 9H, the hardest and lightest, to about 9B, the softest and darkest.
Key idea
For H pencils, a bigger number means harder and lighter. For B pencils, a bigger number means softer and darker. So 6H is lighter than 2H, and 6B is darker than 2B.
Why it works
A pencil "lead" is not lead. It is graphite mixed with clay and baked. More clay makes a harder core that leaves less graphite on the paper: a lighter, crisper line that keeps its point. More graphite makes a softer core that leaves more behind: a darker line that smudges and wears down faster.
| Grades | The line | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 4H to 2H | light, crisp, hard to smudge | light layout lines, technical drawing |
| H, F, HB | middle | writing and everyday sketching |
| 2B to 4B | darker and smooth | sketching and most shading |
| 6B to 8B | very dark and soft; smudges | the darkest darks |
Worked example: Compare two grades
Which pencil makes the lighter line, a 6H or a 2H?
- Both are H pencils, so the number counts hardness.
- The bigger number, 6H, is harder.
- A harder core leaves less graphite, so its line is lighter.
Answer: The 6H.
Common mistake
Many people think a 6H is darker than a 2H because 6 is bigger than 2. For H pencils it is the other way around: the bigger the number, the harder and lighter. Check by asking which letter you have. H numbers go up toward light; B numbers go up toward dark.
You do not need a big set. An HB, a 2B and a 4B or 6B cover most drawings in this course.