PNA | What Is The Difference Between H, HB and B Pencils?

The letters on the pencil are indicative of the type of pencil. 

 

“H” stands for the hardness of the pencil. 

 

These pencils are light-marking and provide its owner with sharp, crisp lines. Softer grades pencils are usually preferred by artists.

 

“B” is representative of the blackness of the pencil. 

 

These pencils are very soft and black-marking. Harder pencils are chosen mostly for drafting purposes.

 

 

 “HB” is the most frequently used, because it is both hard and black and finds itself in the middle of the range of leads . 

The HB pencil is most often the preferred grade for general purpose writing.