Pencil Grades Explained: A Kiwi Student's Guide (HB to 9B)

Walk into the drawing aisle at any art store and you'll see pencils labelled HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 9B, F, H, 2H… and that's before the brand variations. If you're new to drawing — or buying for an NCEA art student — the labels feel like code. They're not. Here's the plain-English version, with concrete recommendations for what NZ buyers actually need.

A note from the shop floor — half the Year-13 students who walk into the shop ask me for 'just a 2B'. Most walk out with four pencils once we've talked through what they're actually drawing. The list below is the conversation we usually have.

What the H/B scale means

Every drawing pencil has graphite mixed with clay. The ratio determines hardness:

• H = Hard (more clay) → lighter line, holds a sharp point longer
• B = Black (more graphite) → darker line, smudges more, dulls faster
• HB = the middle — balanced; this is your standard "school pencil"
• F = Fine — slightly harder than HB, less common

The numbers are a multiplier. 2H is harder than H. 9B is way softer (and darker) than 2B. That's it.

The full scale, visualised

Picture a line that goes from "barely visible" to "almost charcoal":

9H · 6H · 4H · 2H · H · F · HB · B · 2B · 4B · 6B · 9B

9H is so light you'd struggle to photocopy it. 9B is dense, velvety black. Most artists use a small handful of these — not all 19 grades.

What each section is for

The H grades (4H–9H): technical and very light

Architects, draughtspeople, and engineers. Light construction lines. Almost no one uses these for art unless they're doing precise underdrawing.

2H, H: light underdrawing

This is where artists actually start using H pencils. Use 2H or H to sketch the outline of your subject before you commit to darker tones. Light enough to erase cleanly. Won't muddy your final drawing.

HB and F: the everyday range

HB is the school standard for a reason — it's a balanced mid-range pencil. Good for note-taking, basic sketching, and testing ideas. F is similar but a touch harder; less common in NZ.

B, 2B: the workhorse drawing range

If you only buy two pencils, make them 2B and 4B. 2B is dark enough to read clearly but soft enough to shade with. Your everyday sketching pencil.

4B, 6B: shading and darks

This is where the magic happens for portrait work, value studies, and dramatic shadow areas. Smudges intentionally for soft transitions.

9B: pure darkness

Reserved for the deepest shadows. So soft it dulls in seconds. Use sparingly.

What NCEA Visual Arts students need

NCEA Levels 1–3 art programmes don't mandate specific brands, but most NZ schools recommend a "drawing set" covering 2H to 6B. The minimum kit:

• 2H × 1 (light underdrawing)
• HB × 1 (mid-range work)
• 2B × 1 (shading)
• 4B × 1 (darker shading)
• 6B × 1 (deepest shadows)
• Eraser (kneaded for blending, plastic for clean lifts)
• A3 or A4 sketch pad (130 gsm minimum)

Our NCEA Art Student Kit includes this exact range plus brushes, paint, and canvas — built for the way NZ art classes actually run.

Best pencil sets available in NZ

Mont Marte Signature Drawing Set: 12 pencils ranging 4H to 6B plus a sharpener. Excellent value, recommended for beginners.

Mont Marte Premium Graphite Pencils: 12-piece set with a softer, smoother lay-down. Slightly more expensive, noticeably better for portrait work.

Coloured Charcoal Pencils: Not strictly graphite, but sit alongside in most kits. Great for adding warmth or coolness to monochrome drawings.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need every grade?

No. Most working artists use 4–6 pencils max. The sets exist for completeness; reach for what you actually use.

Can mechanical pencils replace these?

For technical work yes; for art no. Mechanical pencils give you one fixed grade and a uniform tip. Traditional pencils sharpen to a chisel point, an angled point, or a stub — flexibility you can't replicate.

What about charcoal?

Charcoal is a separate medium that goes much darker than 9B. Use it after you've mastered graphite shading. We stock both willow charcoal and compressed charcoal pencils.

Where to start

For your first set, get a 6-pencil starter (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, plus an eraser) — that's all you need for 90% of drawing work. Browse drawing supplies or grab a sketching pencil set for the no-decision option.

About the author — Namra Shah is the owner of Handy Mandy Craft Store in West Auckland. We stock Mont Marte across NZ with same-day dispatch before 11am NZT and free shipping over $75. Questions? Email hello@handymandy.co.nz or DM us on Instagram @handy_mandy_stores_.