Its weight feels good in the hand, and it's light enough to be comfortable over long sessions. So whether you work in architecture, engineering, or any other role that requires drafting, we recommned the Pentel Graphgear 500. One of the most obvious reasons to invest in the best mechanical pencils is for precise drafting.

That's why mechanical pencils are popular with artists, illustrators, designers, architects and engineers, or indeed anyone wanting to write neatly and clearly in graphite. And because replacement leads are cheap it saves you money over time, because you won't have to buy new pencils. And crucially, the pencil itself stays the same length, unlike wooden pencils which get shorter as you sharpen them. This means the best mechanical pencils (also called automatic pencils or propelling pencils) make it easy to produce even, consistent lines. Mechanical pencils are popular with artists, illustrators, designers, architects and engineers, as well as anyone wanting to write neatly and clearly in graphite Then when it's all used up, you just insert a replacement. As it wears down, you can keep extending it simply by clicking a button. Instead the graphite (what's commonly known as the 'lead') sits in a well inside the pencil. With mechanical pencils, there's no need for a pencil sharpener.

Best mechanical pencil