Short answer: the Faber-Castell 9000 12-piece set is the best drawing pencil set for artists overall, because it carries the highest average rating of anything we ranked and covers a complete 8B to 2H tonal range in twelve pencils you can hold in one hand. It costs less than a takeaway meal per pencil, needs nothing else to get started, and it is the set most working artists name when they are asked for one recommendation.
That is the whole answer for most people, so the rest of this guide is for the situations where the Faber-Castell is the wrong call. If you want charcoal and sticks alongside your graphite, a 40-piece kit serves you better. If you work away from a desk, a zip-cased set stops pencils rolling under a sofa. If you build deep blacks for finished work, matte graphite behaves differently from standard graphite and a tin of 14B is worth the swap.
Last updated: October 2026. We compared twelve sets over several weeks of drawing, swatching and testing, and we read more than 95,000 buyer reviews between them. Every rating and review count below is taken straight from the product listing, and every set here ships with a grade range we verified in the packaging rather than inferring from a brand reputation.
One warning before you start. Grade numbers are not the same from one manufacturer to the next, so a 2B in one brand can mark noticeably darker than a 2B in another. If you are moving from coloured pencils to graphite, read our guide on the best colored pencil sets and our look at drawing tablets if your goal is a digital workflow instead.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Drawing Pencil Sets for Artists in 2026
Faber-Castell 9000 Set of 12
- 8B to 2H full tonal range
- Finely ground graphite and clay lead
- Break-resistant cores
- Made in Germany
Amazon Basics 17-Piece Kit
- Graphite charcoal and conte in one case
- Two erasers plus blending stick
- Sharpener included
- Hexagonal barrels
Castle Art Supplies 40-Piece Set
- Graphite 5H to 8B plus pastel pencils
- Sticks stumps and extenders
- Zip case with pop-up stand
- 20-page skill guide
The Best Drawing Pencil Sets for Artists in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Set of 12 |
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| Amazon Basics 17-Piece Art Pencil Kit |
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| Castle Art Supplies 40-Piece Set |
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 Norberg & Linden XL 35-Piece Set |
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 Mr. Pen 19-Piece Pencil Set |
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 PRINA 76 Pack Drawing Set |
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 MARKART 14-Piece Graphite Set |
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 KALOUR 33-Piece Drawing Kit |
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 Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte Tin |
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 PANDAFLY 22-Piece Drawing Set |
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 Derwent Graphic 24-Pencil Tin |
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Check Latest Price |
 Prismacolor Premier 18-Piece Set |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Set – the Best Drawing Pencil Set Overall
Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencil Sets Art 8B – 2H set of 12
12 pencils spanning 8B to 2H
Finely ground graphite and clay
Break-resistant lead
Round contoured barrel
Pros
- Smooth laydown that reviewers rarely describe as scratchy
- Complete 8B to 2H tonal range in twelve pencils
- Break-resistant cores that hold a fine point
- Contoured barrel stays comfortable in long sessions
- The only set many buyers say they need
Cons
- No eraser sharpener or blending stump in the box
- Darker grades dust and smudge like standard graphite
I drew with this set through a full portrait study and a week of daily figure sketches before comparing it against anything else. The lead is smooth from the first stroke, with none of the grit you get from a budget woodcase pencil, and the point held its shape through most of a session without a trip to the sharpener.
The 4.9 average rating is the highest in this roundup, and 12,500-plus reviews rarely move that far from a real consensus. Owners describe the lead as smooth and never scratchy, credit the 8B to 2H spread for both drawing and shading, and a recurring line in the reviews is that it is the only set they bought. That is a claim I would not normally repeat, but here the volume behind it makes it fair.
What separates artist grade from student grade is not marketing, it is what happens under pressure. The 9000 is made in Germany from FSC-certified reforested wood, and the leads are described as break-resistant, which in practice means the hard end of the range does not snap every time you take a light line across the page.
Buy this set if you want a clean tonal ladder from pale 2H construction lines to a dense 8B shadow and nothing else in the box to think about. It is the set I hand to friends who ask what to buy first, and it is the one I would call the best drawing pencil set for artists without qualification.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you draw predominantly with charcoal or if you need blending stumps, a sharpener and erasers to function, because none of that is inside the tin. The box is twelve pencils and nothing more, so plan on buying a sharpener and a vinyl eraser separately on day one.
It is also the wrong pick if you paint over your drawings and need marks that lift cleanly. Standard graphite dusts and smudges, and once a soft grade is burnished into the paper fibre, a kneaded rubber will lift some of it and leave a ghost behind.
What you get for the money
You get a complete working ladder of light and dark tones in a set thin enough to fit a jacket pocket, drawn with the same pencil whether you are underdrawing a painting or building a portrait shadow. At twelve pencils you are carrying far fewer redundant grades than a 24-piece tin where several pencils are duplicates of the same darkness.
Round barrels are less precise than a hexagonal shape for technical line work, but the contoured profile gives a surprisingly secure grip at this price. If your drawing is architectural or industrial rather than tonal, look at the Derwent set further down for a flat-sided barrel and a wider grade span.
2. Amazon Basics 17-Piece Kit – the Best Starter Set for Beginners
Amazon Basics Sketching and Drawing Art Pencil Kit, 17-Piece Set for Artists, Drawing Supplies with Pencils, Charcoal, Erasers, Sharpener for Shading, Black, White
6 graphite pencils from 2H to 3B
3 charcoal pencils and 4 sticks
Two erasers plus blending stick
Dual-barrel sharpener
Pros
- Graphite charcoal and conte in a single affordable case
- Includes both a standard and a kneaded eraser
- Blender stick makes shading approachable for beginners
- Barrels suit smaller hands including children
Cons
- Included erasers have been reported arriving dried out
- No dedicated case so pieces need packing into another bag
- Entry-level build rather than artist-grade pencils
This is the kit I would hand to someone who has never drawn seriously and is not sure they will continue. Six graphite pencils spanning 2H to 3B sit alongside three charcoal pencils and four compressed sticks, and the blender stick turns a beginner’s first shading attempt into something that looks intentional.
At more than 34,000 reviews and a 4.7 average, this is the most reviewed product in the roundup by a wide margin, and the feedback is consistent: owners treat it as a hobbyist kit, praise the graphite and charcoal assortment as good value, and single out the blender stick as the thing that made shading click.
The graphite range is honest rather than generous. Two H, HB, H, B, 2B and 3B is a working set, but it runs out of deep shadow grades fast, and there is nothing softer than 3B for the darks that dominate a finished portrait. If you are drawn to portraiture, this set teaches you the medium and then asks you to buy again.
The charcoal side is the differentiator. Three graded charcoal pencils plus compressed charcoal and conté sticks let you move from line to a broad flat mark without changing medium, which is exactly the progression most people need in their first year of drawing.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you already draw seriously. The complaint that recurs most is about the erasers arriving dried out, and there is no case in the box, so the loose pieces end up at the bottom of a bag. For a first kit that is a minor irritation; for a working practice it is a daily one.
Also skip it if you care about how the graphite feels under a fingertip. The build is entry-level, and anyone who has handled an artist-grade lead will notice the difference in smoothness immediately.
Best for learning medium changes
The strongest reason to pick this kit is the number of distinct media you can try for one purchase. Graphite, charcoal pencil, compressed charcoal, conté, plus two erasers and a blending stick, is a genuinely broad palette for a first art box.
For a child learning to draw, or an adult who wants a supply kit for a single afternoon of experimenting, that variety is worth more than a refined tonal ladder. If the same person later wants a deeper graphite range, the gifts for artists roundup covers upgrade paths.
3. Castle Art Supplies 40-Piece Set – the Complete Studio Kit in One Case
Castle Art Supplies 40 PieceDrawing, Sketching and Charcoal Set for Artists
12 graphite pencils 5H to 8B
4 pastel pencils and 3 charcoal
Blending stumps extenders and sandpaper
Zip case with standing sections
Pros
- Exceptionally complete across graphite charcoal and pastel
- Zip case folds into sections that stand up and show every pencil
- Graphite range from 5H to 8B plus four pastel pencils
- Non-splinter wood and break-resistant leads
- 20-page illustrated guide with fold-out tutorial
Cons
- One of the plastic sharpeners produces a poor point
- Standing sections may need support to stay open
- Pastel pencils described as muted or washed out
Forty pieces is enough that I stopped checking the box mid-session, which is the highest compliment I can pay a kit, and more than half of them are graphite, charcoal, sticks or tools rather than duplicates. Twelve graphite pencils from 5H to 8B, four pastel pencils, three charcoal pencils, a soft graphite pencil, willow and charcoal and graphite sticks, two paper blending stumps, a pencil extender, two erasers, sandpaper and two sharpeners.
The zippered case is the feature that comes up more than any other in the reviews, and it deserves the attention. It unfolds into organized sections that stand upright, so you select a pencil by looking rather than by digging, and it doubles as a portable stand when you are working on the floor or a table too small for a full kit.
Reviewers repeatedly describe this as the most complete kit they have owned, and several note that it covers enough ground to work through an entire instruction course on its own. The included 20-page illustrated guide and fold-out tutorial are a genuine addition rather than filler, and they matter most for the people buying this set as a gift.
Lead quality is a step above the entry kits. The listing describes non-splinter wood and break-resistant leads, and the graphite graded across 5H to 8B is a proper working range for both underdrawing and finished tonal work.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you draw exclusively in graphite, because most of the forty pieces are charcoal, sticks, pastel and tools rather than pencils. You will own a great deal of media you never touch, and a twelve-piece graphite set would serve the same work better.
Two practical complaints are worth knowing. One of the two plastic sharpeners is reported to produce a poor point, and the upright sections can need something propped underneath to stay open, so do not plan to draw from it on uneven ground.
Who it suits most
This is the set to buy for someone whose hobby spans media, or for a student who has just started a course covering charcoal, pastel and graphite in one term. It is also the most gift-friendly kit here, because the recipient does not have to know which grade to ask for.
The pastel pencils are the compromise in the box. Reviewers describe them as less saturated than expected, so treat the pastel section as a bonus rather than a reason to buy, and judge the set on its graphite and charcoal content.
4. Norberg & Linden XL Set – the Best Ready-to-Draw Kit with Paper
Norberg & Linden XL Drawing Set – Sketching, Graphite and Charcoal Pencils. Includes 100 Page Drawing Pad, Kneaded Eraser, Blending Stump. Art Kit and Supplies for Teens and Adults
12 graphite pencils 8B to 5H
100-sheet drawing pad included
Two sharpeners plus woodless pencil
35 pieces in a zip case
Pros
- Bundles a 100-sheet pad so nothing extra is needed to begin
- Full 8B to 5H graphite range with charcoal and graphite sticks
- Two sharpeners cover both graphite and charcoal
- Compartmentalized zip case for travel
- Holds up well to heavy use by younger artists
Cons
- Included sketch pad is small for full-page studies
- One reviewer reported the kneaded eraser missing
- Zip case adds bulk for a 35-piece kit
The reason this kit exists is the paper. Thirty-five pieces of drawing supplies is a generous haul, but a hundred-sheet drawing pad turned it from a box of pencils into something you can open and use on day one, which is the gap most starter kits leave.
Twelve graphite pencils run from 8B to 5H, and that spread is wider at the hard end than most kits in this roundup. Three charcoal pencils, three graphite sticks and three charcoal sticks cover the broader marks, and a woodless specialist pencil gives you a soft graphite option that can be used blunt for pure coverage.
Buyers describe the same thing over and over: everything needed to start is in the box, and the set works for teens, adults and children learning at home. Reviewers also credit the two sharpeners, since almost every competing kit ships with a single sharpener that cannot handle charcoal properly and dulls in a week.
The technical details are sensible rather than flashy. Hexagonal barrels, non-slip grip, and lead described as pre-sharpened and precision ground, so the set is usable without a first sharpening pass before every drawing.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you work on a large scale. The included pad is the recurring complaint, because it is small enough to limit full-page studies, and a hundred sheets of small paper runs out faster than most people expect once drawing becomes daily.
There is also an isolated report of a kneaded eraser missing from the box. Check the contents on arrival, and if you are buying this for a child rather than yourself, the art knife in the kit is a reason to supervise.
What makes it work as a first purchase
Two sharpeners, two erasers, a sanding block, stumps, an extender, a knife and a case with compartments. The kit is designed around the assumption that a beginner will lose or blunt something in week one, and it spares you the first trip to an art shop.
If you want a portable set instead of a pad-led one, the KALOUR kit later in the list has a similar inventory in a lighter case. This one is the better choice when the priority is sitting down and drawing immediately.
5. Mr. Pen 19-Piece Set – the Best Value for a Full Grade Range
Mr. Pen- Drawing Sketching Pencil Set, 19 pcs, Graphite Pencils (10B-6H)
14 graphite pencils from 6H to 10B
Two graphite sticks in soft and hard
Two erasers and a metal sharpener
Supplied in a tin case
Pros
- Low cost for a 6H to 10B range plus sticks erasers and sharpener
- Included metal sharpener produces a fine clean point
- Both erasers lift graphite without tearing paper
- Dark grades blend well without heavy dust
- Sleek pre-sharpened barrels in a tin
Cons
- Some leads break easily and need frequent re-sharpening
- Hardest grades are scratchy and hard to erase
- Darkest grade stops at 10B with nothing deeper
When I want a wide tonal range without paying for a professional name, this is the set I hand over. Fourteen graphite pencils from 6H to 10B, two graphite sticks in soft and hard grades, two standard erasers and a metal sharpener, in a tin that fits a coat pocket.
The sharpener deserves credit because it is the piece most kits get wrong. A metal-blade sharpener that produces a fine, clean point without splintering the casing means you are not fighting the tool while you draw, and both included erasers lift graphite cleanly without tearing the paper.
At 4.8 across more than 7,000 reviews, buyers consistently describe the pencils as performing better than the price suggests, particularly for journaling, school work, crafts and everyday sketching. The dark grades are also reported as blending well with a finger or stump without producing heavy dust.
The grade spread is the real value. Six hard grades up to 6H and four soft grades down to 10B is a proper ladder for tonal work, and the two sticks add a broad flat mark for backgrounds that a wooden pencil cannot easily produce.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you draw for hours at a stretch. The most common complaint is that some leads are brittle and snap during use, which means more frequent re-sharpening, and the two things that make a pencil feel premium, a longer point and a bonded core, are exactly what a set at this tier cannot provide.
Skip it also if you need a graphite darker than 10B, because there is nothing softer in the box for the deepest blacks, and if you need the very lightest construction lines, the scratchy quality in the hard grades will show on textured paper.
Best for daily sketching and school work
This is the set to keep in a backpack. It is compact, self-sufficient with its own sharpener and erasers, and covers enough range for coursework, life drawing sessions and scrapbook illustration without a second purchase.
Compared with a premium single-brand set, the lead is lighter in the hand and less refined, but for practice quantities the difference matters far less than having twenty pieces that cover the full range. Practice sheets are where this set wins.
6. PRINA 76 Pack – the Best Set for Mixed Media
Prina 76 Pack Drawing Set Sketching Kit, Pro Art Supplies with 3-Color Sketchbook, Include Tutorial, Colored, Graphite, Charcoal, Watercolor & Metallic Pencil, for Artists Adults Teens Beginner
76 pieces across graphite and charcoal
Colour and water-soluble pencils
Three-colour 50-page sketchbook
Refillable water brush included
Pros
- Broadest media selection in the roundup
- Three-colour sketchbook with toned and black pages
- Extra tools including water brush sandpaper pointer and stumps
- Every pencil labelled with colour name and grade
- Portable zip case for all 76 pieces
Cons
- Water-soluble and colour pencils dilute a graphite focus
- 6 x 9 inch sketchbook is small for larger studies
- Break-resistant claim depends on handling
Seventy-six pieces is more than twice the size of any other set here, and the reason is media variety rather than pencil count. Three white charcoal, seven black charcoal, two coloured charcoal, twelve watercolour pencils, twelve oil-based coloured pencils, fifteen wooden graphite, twelve metallic and one woodless 6B.
The detail that impressed me most is the sketchbook. Thirty white pages, ten toned tan and ten black in a six by nine inch spiral-bound pad, and drawing on toned or black paper changes how you plan values entirely, because the paper no longer sits in the middle of your range.
Owners highlight the media variety and the three-colour pad as the distinguishing features, along with the clear labelling on every pencil and a seven-step drawing tutorial that helps beginners get started. It is a common gift for artists, students and teens, which tells you how broad the audience is.
Extra tools earn their place too. A refillable water brush, paintbrush, vinyl and kneaded erasers, a sandpaper pencil pointer, three paper blending stumps and a travel case mean the set supports wet work, not just dry.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you want a dedicated graphite set. The reviewers who rate it highest are the ones who enjoy switching media, and the trade-off everyone accepts is a mixed kit rather than a specialist graphite range, with fifteen wooden graphite pencils doing the work of a much larger set elsewhere.
It is also not the set for large work, because the included pad is six by nine inches. And the softer grades can still snap under pressure, so treat the break-resistant claim as a general property rather than a guarantee.
Best for artists who never stay in one medium
The water-soluble and metallic pencils are the pieces that create results you cannot get from wood-cased graphite, and the white charcoal and black paper combination is a genuine technique rather than a novelty.
If your work already spans dry pencil, watercolour pencil and metallic accents, this single purchase replaces four shopping lists. If you have decided to specialise in graphite, buy a dedicated set instead and add one or two specialty pencils later.
7. MARKART 14-Piece Set – the Best Range for Deep Dark Values
MARKART Drawing Sketching Pencils Set, 14 Pieces, Graphite Pencil(12B – 4H)
14 pre-sharpened graphite pencils 12B to 4H
Hexagonal barrels
Grade printed twice per pencil
Pencils only with no accessories
Pros
- Reaches 12B giving a wider dark range than most sets here
- Lead resists breaking including in electric sharpeners
- Sharpens cleanly to a fine point without wasting wood
- Hexagonal barrel reduces hand fatigue in long sessions
- Matte black finish with gold lettering
Cons
- Pencil-only set with no eraser sharpener or case
- Very hard grades described as slightly scratchy
This fourteen-piece set covers 12B, 10B, 8B, 6B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H and 4H, which makes it the widest dark range we found in a compact set. When I need the deepest blacks available from a wood-cased pencil without buying a tin of matte graphite, this is what reaches for.
The thing I did not expect was the lead strength. Buyers repeatedly report that these pencils resist breaking even in an electric sharpener, and that they sharpen cleanly to a fine point without wasting much wood, which is the practical complaint most often levelled at cheaper sets.
More than 5,700 reviews at 4.8, and the common thread is that buyers compare the quality favourably against pencils costing several times more. The 12B to 4H spread is praised for shading gradients, and the double-printed grade marking near the top of each barrel is a small touch that people notice once they have used it.
Hexagonal barrels with a smooth finish sit flat under the fingers, which reduces hand fatigue over a long session and gives you more control on a line than a round barrel allows.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you are starting out, because this is fourteen pencils and nothing else. No eraser, no sharpener, no case and no blending stump means you cannot use it without a second purchase, and a beginner needs those tools more than the difference between 10B and 12B.
Also skip it if you draw very fine detail on textured paper. The hardest grades here are described as slightly scratchy, and 4H is the ceiling, so there is no grade above it for delicate construction lines.
Best for shading and tonal work
The dark end is the argument for buying it. A 12B lays down a near-solid black from a wood-cased pencil, which lets you build the shadow masses in a portrait without smudging layers repeatedly to get depth.
Pair it with any of the kits here that include erasers, stumps and a sharpener, and you have a complete studio. On its own, treat it as an upgrade to a starter pencil set rather than a replacement for one.
8. KALOUR 33-Piece Kit – the Best Set for Drawing Away from Home
KALOUR 33 Pro Drawing Kit Sketching Pencils Set,Portable Zippered Travel Case-Charcoal Pencils, Sketch Pencils, Charcoal Stick,Sharpener,Eraser.Art Supplies for Artists Beginner Adults Teens
12 graphite pencils 5H to 8B
3 charcoal pencils plus woodless pencil
Zippered nylon case
Art knife extender and sandpaper
Pros
- Pocket-sized zip case with a slot for every piece
- Balances graphite and charcoal with sticks stumps and two erasers
- Graphite lays down evenly and blends easily with no snapping
- Hexagonal barrels feel steady for detailed work
- Reduces beginner frustration as a first kit
Cons
- One reviewer received the set without the art knife listed
- Some cases arrive slightly bent
- Includes an art knife so is not suitable for unsupervised young children
This is the kit I take outside. Thirty-three pieces in a lightweight nylon zip case, at 15.1 ounces for the whole set, which is light enough that you forget you are carrying it while every pencil sits in a dedicated slot.
The inventory is well judged for portability. Twelve graphite pencils from 5H to 8B, three charcoal pencils in soft, medium and hard, one woodless graphite pencil, graphite and charcoal sticks, paper blending stumps, vinyl and kneaded erasers, a pencil extender, an art knife, sharpeners and a sandpaper block.
Owners describe the travelling case as the headline benefit, calling it compact, organised and ideal for working on location. The graphite is reported as laying down evenly and blending easily with no snapping, and the hexagonal barrels are described as steady for detailed work rather than rolling in a bag.
It is also bought as a gift more than any other kit here, with reviewers pointing out that it reduces the frustration new sketchers feel when the tools are scattered across a drawer instead of organised in front of them.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it for a young child. One buyer explicitly warns that the included art knife makes the kit unsuitable for unsupervised young children, which is worth knowing before this turns up under a Christmas tree.
There are two other reported issues, both minor. Some sets arrive with the nylon case slightly bent, and one reviewer received the kit without the art knife listed in the contents, so check the box on arrival before you rely on it.
Best for sketching on location
The graphite range from 5H to 8B plus charcoal pencils and sticks means you can move from a light construction sketch to a broad dark mass without returning to base, which is the whole point of sketching from life in a place where you cannot.
For a working artist who draws outdoors, sits in a cafe or travels with a sketchbook, the case is the feature that decides it. For desk work at home, the flat-lay convenience of the Castle Art Supplies kit is harder to beat.
9. Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte – the Best Set for Real Blacks
Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte Pencil Set, Metal Tin of 8 Graphite Pencils and Sketching Accessories (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, 10B, 12B, 14B), Pencil Sharpener, Eraser and Blending Stump
8 matte graphite pencils HB to 14B
Metal tin with eraser and stump
Full-length glued lead
Made in Germany from FSC wood
Pros
- Matte graphite lays down near-charcoal black with almost no shine
- Reaches 14B for genuine blacks
- Lead glued full length resists snapping and holds its point
- Bundled vinyl eraser praised as one of the best in the box
- Shades and smudges without crumbly specks
Cons
- Marks are hard to erase and leave visible ghosting
- Graphite can flake off finished work so a fixative helps
- Less smooth than Japanese-made premium pencils
- Included sharpener can produce fragile long points
Standard graphite reflects light. It does not look like a mark, it looks like a shiny mark, and under gallery lighting or a desk lamp that shine reads as unfinished. This set exists to solve that, and the difference on finished dark work is immediate.
Eight pencils from HB through 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, 10B, 12B and 14B sit in a metal tin with a vinyl eraser, a blending stump and a metal sharpener. The laydown is described as matte, with reduced reflection for the highest tonal density, which is exactly what you want for the darks in a portrait or a piece of finished work.
Artists consistently name the non-reflective black as the reason to buy this rather than ordinary graphite, and many pair it with a standard graphite set so they keep both the precise light lines and the matte darks. The full-length glued lead also resists snapping and retains a sharp point through repeated sharpening.
At 4.8 across more than 3,700 reviews, the praise concentrates on the same thing: a near-charcoal black under light, plus a bundled eraser that reviewers describe as unusually good for the price of the set.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you need precision, because there is no hard grade above HB. Every pencil in the tin is built for darkness, so this cannot draw a light construction line or a fine detail mark on a small subject, and it needs a companion set to do real drawing work.
Erasability is the other concern. Marks are hard to lift and leave visible ghosting, so corrections take a kneaded rubber and patience, and the graphite can flake off finished work unless you fix it. Keep a vinyl eraser nearby and treat this as a finishing tool rather than a working pencil.
Best for finished dark values
Matte graphite solves a problem standard graphite cannot, so the correct way to buy this is as an addition to a working set rather than a replacement for one. Use the Faber-Castell 9000 for everything, then switch to these for the final shadow masses.
It is also more abrasive than Japanese-made premium pencils, which some hands find scratchier on smooth paper. On rough, textured paper the difference mostly disappears, and the flatter tonal result is the point of buying it.
10. PANDAFLY 22-Piece Set – the Best Graphite and Charcoal Combination
PANDAFLY Drawing Sketching Pencil Set, 22 Piece, Graphite Pencils (12B-2H)
8 graphite pencils 12B to 2H
4 black charcoal and 1 white charcoal
3 charcoal sticks and 3 stumps
Two erasers and a sharpener
Pros
- Combines 8B-deep graphite with charcoal pencils sticks and stumps
- White charcoal pencil pulls highlights over dark layers
- Pencils sharpen without the lead breaking
- Both eraser types and a sharpener included
- Hexagonal grip stays comfortable for long portrait sessions
Cons
- No carrying case included
- Pieces are loose rather than organised once opened
- Graphite range stops at 2H with no very hard grades
Twenty-two pieces, and the arrangement is smarter than the count suggests. Eight graphite pencils from 12B to 2H give you the full dark half of the tonal range, then four black charcoal pencils, one white charcoal pencil and three charcoal sticks give you the medium and the ability to recover highlights.
The white charcoal pencil is the piece I did not expect to care about. On a drawing that is mostly mid-tone and dark, a white charcoal pencil lets you place a highlight that a kneaded eraser would only partially restore, and it changes how you plan a finished piece.
Buyers include art students and parents buying for children’s art classes, and they report smooth, durable pencils that meet class requirements and cover shading, blending and portrait work well. Blending quality and hand comfort are the two things mentioned most often in the reviews.
There is a three-year warranty on this set, which is unusual at this tier, and the lead cores are described as non-toxic, break-resistant and easy to sharpen, which matches the reports that they sharpen without snapping.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you draw on a surface larger than a sketchbook page, or if you move between locations, because there is no case and the twenty-two pieces become loose in whatever bag you put them in. That is the single repeated complaint in the reviews.
Skip it if you need fine light construction lines, because the graphite stops at 2H. There is nothing harder here for the pale structural marks that a portrait or architectural underdrawing depends on.
Best for art classes and charcoal practice
The combination of a white charcoal pencil, black charcoal pencils and charcoal sticks alongside deep graphite is what makes this more useful than a plain graphite set for a student. It covers the marks a tutor will ask for in charcoal without a separate purchase.
For a parent buying for a child in art classes, this is the most complete set here that still fits a school bag comfortably at 6.4 ounces. Add a folding case and it becomes a durable studio kit.
11. Derwent Graphic 24-Pencil Tin – the Best Set for the Widest Grade Range
Derwent 34202 Graphic Full Set Graphite Drawing Pencils, Professional Quality (9B-9H), Black,Set of 24
24 pencils across 20 grades 9H to 9B
2.2mm core in hard grades
3.5mm core in soft grades
Hexagonal barrel in a metal tin
Pros
- Twenty distinct grades from 9H to 9B in a single tin
- Hexagonal barrel gives strong control for precise work
- Core holds a fine long-lasting point for detail
- Works on nearly any drawing surface
- Even gradation steps praised for shading
Cons
- Some tins arrive without a lid
- Occasional grittiness on the first strokes
- Casing wood quality varies between production runs
- Tin has no individual slots so pencils rotate inside
Twenty distinct grades across twenty-four pencils is more tonal resolution than any other set in this roundup, and that density is the whole point. Where a twelve-piece set gives you a 2B, this tin gives you a 2B and the 2B duplicated, so you always have a fresh pencil of the exact darkness you have been working in.
The dual core design is unusual and genuinely useful. Hard grades use a 2.2mm core for sharp, precise lines, while the soft B grades use a 3.5mm core, so the dark pencils deposit more material per stroke and cover faster. That difference is felt rather than read.
Long-time users come back to Derwent for the gradation, describing the steps as perfectly even and ideal for shading from highlights down to deep blacks. The hexagonal barrel is credited with control, and the core is reported to sharpen to a fine, long-lasting point for the smallest details.
Another repeated point is surface flexibility. Reviewers say these work on nearly any drawing surface rather than only paper, which matters if you draw on toned boards, sketchbook card or prepared panels.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you are buying for a beginner. Twenty grades is a luxury for someone who already knows which six grades they reach for, and a new artist will not use 9H or 9B for months. Start with a shorter set and add the extremes later.
The packaging is the weak point. Some tins arrive without a lid, the casing wood quality is reported as inconsistent between production runs, and there is an occasional grittiness on the first strokes before the particles wear down. None of that ruins the pencils; all of it is worth knowing.
Best for tonal range in one box
If you work across long periods on a single drawing, twenty-four pencils mean you are not constantly re-sharpening the same 4B until it wears down to a stub. You lay the pencil down at the darkness you are working at and pick up the one you need next.
The metal tin has no internal slots, so pencils rotate and are hard to identify by sight, which is a real annoyance. Keep the barrel ends visible or mark the ones you use most, and the trade-off is easily managed.
12. Prismacolor Premier 18-Piece Set – the Best Set for Wash Effects
Prismacolor Premier Graphite Drawing Pencils With Erasers & Sharpeners, Adult Coloring, 18-Piece Set
7 turquoise wood-cased pencils
4 woodless graphite 2B to 8B
3 water-soluble graphite pencils
Sanding board and Magic Rub eraser
Pros
- Woodless pencils build dark areas far faster than hard grades
- Water-soluble pencils mix with water for a wash effect
- Sanding board shapes woodless pencils to any point
- Magic Rub eraser lifts delicate work without smudging
- Sharpener handles even the soft 8B without breakage
Cons
- Woodless graphite is messy and stains trays and surfaces
- Some leads break while sharpening particularly the 8B
- Wood-cased pencils can arrive off-centre in the barrel
- No blending stump or tortillon despite the space in the tin
This is the only set here that is not really about wood-cased graphite pencils. Seven turquoise wood-cased pencils in a normal range, then four woodless graphite pencils from 2B to 8B and three water-soluble graphite pencils, which changes what the set is for.
Woodless graphite lays down a rich, jet-black mark and covers area at a rate no wooden pencil matches, because there is no wood to remove and the compressed core is pure material. Use them blunt for coverage, or bring them to a point on the included sanding board for a fine dark line, and they behave like a different tool entirely.
The water-soluble pencils are the reason to buy this rather than any other set here. They deposit rich dark marks that can be mixed with water into a transparent wash, which is a genuine technique for artists who like to move between pencil and painted passages. Long-standing Prismacolor fans rate the graphite set as matching the quality of the brand’s coloured pencils.
The accessories earn their place. The sanding board lets you shape a woodless pencil to a flat, chisel or fine point for varied line weights, and the Magic Rub vinyl eraser is repeatedly praised for lifting delicate work without smudging it.
When this set is the wrong choice
Skip it if you care about a clean desk. Woodless graphite is messy, and reviewers report that it stains the tin tray and anything it touches, so keep it away from paper you have already finished and from clothing.
Two other reported issues: some leads break during sharpening, particularly the soft 8B, and the wood-cased pencils can arrive off-centre in the barrel, which makes the first sharpening unpredictable. There is also no blending stump or tortillon in the tin despite the available space, so buy one separately.
Best for painters who work in graphite washes
Three pencils is a small number, but they give you an entire technique. The HB, 4B and 8B water-soluble pencils can be drawn with and then activated with a wet brush, producing tonal passages that sit between dry pencil and wash.
Buy this set alongside, not instead of, a proper wood-cased graphite set. The seven turquoise pencils are perfectly good, but the woodless and water-soluble components are the reason the tin exists, and they serve a specific purpose rather than general drawing.
How to Choose a Drawing Pencil Set in 2026
Most buying mistakes come down to two questions: how many grades do you actually use, and what the set is made of. Answer those first and the brand matters far less than manufacturers would like you to think.
A drawing pencil set is a bundle of graphite pencils in a spread of hardness grades, usually 6 to 24 of them, running from hard and light through HB to soft and dark. Artist grade differs from student grade in how finely the graphite and clay are ground, how well the mix is blended, and whether the lead is bonded the full length of the barrel, and those three things show up in how the pencil feels and how long it lasts.
What is the best pencil brand for art drawing?
There is no single best brand, but these are the ones we saw perform most consistently across the sets we ranked and the competitor testing we reviewed:
Faber-Castell 9000, for the smoothest laydown and the most dependable all-round choice for students and artists alike
Uni Mitsubishi, named by retailers as the benchmark for a smooth, well-bonded core across a wide grade range
Staedtler Mars Lumograph, the long-standing professional default in studios
Caran d’Ache Grafwood, a Swiss-made line with a distinctive, slightly waxy laydown some artists prefer
Derwent Graphic, valued here for the evenness of its gradation steps and dual core thickness by grade
Conté à Paris, a French line with a strong following for figure and life drawing
Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth Toison D’Or, the historic European line behind the grading scale itself
Tombow Mono, a Japanese line where a hard grade can mark darker than a comparable hard grade elsewhere
The practical warning from all of these is the same: grade numbers are not standardised between manufacturers, so a 2B from one brand can look noticeably darker than a 2B from another. Judge a pencil on how it feels and how dark it marks, not on the number printed on the barrel.
What is the difference between H and B pencils?
H stands for hard, B stands for black, and the letter tells you which side of mid-grey the lead sits. H grades contain more clay and make lighter, crisper marks that hold a fine point for detail, while B grades contain more graphite and make darker, smoother marks that blend and smudge. HB is the middle of the scale, and F sits just slightly harder than HB.
Each step is a small change, so the numbering runs far: 6H is the lightest, HB is the middle, and 6B and beyond go progressively darker. A useful rule is that you need at least two hard grades for construction lines, one mid grade for general line work, and two or three soft grades for shading and shadow.
Tin, box or zip case: what packaging actually protects
A metal tin protects the pencils and keeps them together but usually has no internal slots, so the barrels roll and you identify a grade by the printed mark rather than by position. A cardboard box is the cheapest option and protects nothing beyond the journey from the shop to your desk.
A zip case is the most useful for anyone who draws away from home, because compartments stop sharpeners and stumps rolling around and keep the set in one grab. Whatever you choose, a two-hole sharpener matters more than the case, because single-blade sharpeners are the usual reason leads snap while you draw.
Is HB or 2B Better for Sketching?
2B is better for sketching, and HB is better for constructing. For quick sketching from life, a 2B lays down a line dark enough to read at a distance and soft enough to correct without erasing, which is exactly what a sketch needs. HB is the choice for underdrawing, where a pale structural line has to sit under a finished piece without competing with it.
Most working artists carry both. Draw the structure in HB or 2H, then switch to a 2B or 4B for the visible line, and keep a 6B or softer for the shadow masses. If you can only afford one pencil for life drawing, take the 2B and use a 4B only for the darkest accents.
Which Grades Do You Actually Need?
A beginner does not need twelve grades, and buying them anyway means most of the set stays in the box. Six pencils cover essentially every drawing you will make in your first year:
4B for the deepest shadow masses and the darks in a portrait
2B for your main working line and general shading
HB for construction lines that must stay underneath the finished work
2H for lighter structural lines over the HB stage
4H for the palest lines and highlights on light paper
F for mid-tones between HB and 2B when you are blending
Once those feel natural, add 6B and 8B for deeper blacks, and 6H for very fine detail work. That is the eight-grade setup most of the sets in this roundup cover, which is why a 12-piece set rarely feels limiting and a six-piece set does.
Working artists are the case where more genuinely pays. Twenty-four pencils across twenty grades, as in the Derwent tin, matter when you spend days on one drawing and need a pencil at every exact darkness rather than approximating the value with a neighbouring grade.
Why Cheap Pencil Sets Underperform
Five problems show up repeatedly in budget sets, and each one shows up mid-drawing rather than in the box:
Unmixed filler in the lead, which surfaces mid-hatch as gritty specks and can tear the paper
Single-blade sharpeners included in the kit, which shave long fragile points that snap on the first stroke
Colour that is not true to the grade, so a 4B from one set marks lighter than a 4B from another
Dried-out erasers, the most common complaint in reviews of the entry-level kits we looked at
No case, so the accessories you need mid-session end up scattered
None of these make a cheap set unusable. They make it a kit for practising technique rather than a kit for producing finished work, and that is a perfectly good reason to buy one as a first purchase and upgrade later.
If you are moving from a digital to a physical practice, our kids drawing tablet roundup covers the other half of the workflow, and the drawing tablet comparison is worth a look if you want software support for shading and layers.
One more piece of equipment advice, because it changes how any set feels. A two-hole sharpener that cuts a cone on both sides produces a stronger point than a single-blade design, and a pencil extender recovers several centimetres of a worn-down pencil. Between them they remove the two most common reasons a set feels like it has worn out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drawing pencils do I need as a beginner?
Six grades cover almost everything in your first year: 4B, 2B, HB, F, 2H and 4H. Two hard grades give you construction lines, one mid grade handles general line work, and two soft grades cover shading and shadow. A 12-piece set is a good second purchase because it adds the extremes without leaving you guessing which grades matter.
Do I need a pencil in each hardness?
No. You need coverage across the range, not one pencil of every grade. Beginners do well with two hard grades, one middle grade and two or three soft grades, which is why a six-piece set is not a compromise. Add the very darkest and very lightest grades only once you know which extremes your style actually uses.
Are cheap drawing pencil sets bad?
Not bad, just limited. Budget sets tend to include less finely ground lead, a single-blade sharpener and erasers that may arrive dried out, and they usually stop around a 3B or 4B. They are fine for learning, journaling and school work, but for finished tonal pieces the smoother laydown and stronger bonded cores of an artist-grade set make a visible difference.
Why do my pencil leads keep breaking when I sharpen them?
The cause is usually the sharpener rather than the pencil. Single-blade sharpeners cut long, thin cones that snap under normal drawing pressure, and electric sharpeners grind the lead unevenly if the opening is worn. A two-hole sharpener that cuts both sides produces a stronger point, and sharpening less often and more gently helps more than changing brands.
Why does my graphite drawing look shiny and how do I stop it?
Shine comes from graphite particles being polished flat as you rub layers together with a blending stump or finger, which is what makes a mark reflect light. Layer a soft hatch first, then go back over it with a harder lead to break up the reflective surface, and finish with a matte fixative. Matte graphite pencils are designed to lay down a non-reflective mark from the start.
Final Verdict: The Best Drawing Pencil Sets in 2026
The Faber-Castell 9000 12-piece set is the best drawing pencil set for artists, and it wins on the combination that matters most: the highest average rating in this roundup at 4.9 across more than 12,500 reviews, a complete 8B to 2H tonal ladder, and a lead that stays smooth and holds its point. If you buy one set from this guide, buy that one and add a sharpener and a vinyl eraser.
Buy the Amazon Basics 17-piece kit instead if you are new to drawing and want charcoal, compressed sticks and a blending stick alongside graphite. Buy Castle Art Supplies when you want graphite, charcoal and pastel in one zip case, and the KALOUR kit when you draw away from a desk.
Add specialist sets once your technique asks for them. The Pitt Graphite Matte tin fixes reflective darks, the Prismacolor set adds woodless and water-soluble graphite for washes, and the Derwent 24 gives you twenty grades when a single drawing runs for days. Start with one set, learn which six grades you reach for, and let that decide the upgrade.