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Same-day dispatch

on most orders before 3pm

World’s Best range

30,000 items and growing!

PASSIONATE ABOUT PENS

expert knowledge, top service

Penorama newsletter

sign up to get updates!

Same-day dispatch

on most orders before 3pm

World’s Best range

30,000 items and growing!

Mechanical Pencils

403 Results

Sometimes we think we should be called Cult Mechanical Pencils. We have more types of mechanical pencil on sale than anywhere else we know of and there's something about them that excites much interest. There's an amazing variety available, from less than £1 to over £100, but they're all amazingly durable and even the cheapest can give years of service and is endlessly refillable. In the Cult Pens office, mech pencils are frequently used simply because they're reliable, erasable, cheaply refilled and just interesting.

Mechanical pencils can be used for drafting, drawing or writing and we have models suitable for any or all of these. The most interesting mechanical pencils are probably from Japan, where they are hugely popular. Check out the latest development in this field - the amazing Uni Kuru Toga self-sharpening pencil! The wealth of features available can be overwhelming, and we try and make sense of them all for you on our Pencyclopedia page. Highlights in our line-up include the Pentel Kerry and Pentel Graph 1000; the OHTO Promecha range; the Platinum Pro-Use range; the Faber-Castell e-motion and the rotring 600. For the luxury option, it's hard to beat anything by Graf von Faber-Castell.

A full list of mechanical pencils follows. Use the filters to refine this list by lead size, advance mechanism, body colour or material.
 
rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil Chocolate Truffle 0.5mm
£35.00
rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil Dark Stone 0.5mm
£35.00
Diplomat Aero Funky Petrol Mechanical Pencil
£215.00
Pre-order now for delivery in April.

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Mechanical Pencils FAQ

Why should I use a mechanical pencil?

Wooden pencils have plenty of advantages, so we're certainly not opposed to using them, but there are some advantages to mechanical pencils that make them so popular.

  • Unchanging balance. Wooden pencils change their balance as they're sharpened, and spend some of their time too short to use comfortably, but with enough use in them that you don't want to throw them away. A mechanical pencil stays the same all the time.
  • Long lasting. A good mechanical pencil can last many years, maybe even a lifetime. Even cheap ones are usually good for a lot of use.
  • Predictable line width. Especially when held upright, a mechanical pencil will always write or draw in the same width, where wooden pencils change with use.

Do I need to buy lead of the same brand as my pencil?

No, any lead of the same size should work just fine. It does have to be the right size - a 0.5mm pencil won’t work with 0.7mm lead, for example.

Which lead width should I use?

If you already have the pencil, you need the right size for it, which should be marked on it.

If you’re trying to choose a pencil, and you’re not sure what width to go for, it depends on your use. 0.5mm is the most popular for most things, but it does break fairly easily, especially if you’re a bit heavy-handed. 0.7mm is very popular for writing, because it’s a bit stronger. 0.9mm or wider can be good too, if you’re less concerned with a fine line, and want it to be a bit stronger.

Very fine leads like 0.3mm usually need a bit of care in use - such thin leads can snap easily if you’re not gentle with them. They’re great for fine drawing or small writing, though, and many people love them. There are even 0.2mm leads now, but they’re usually only available for specially designed pencils that can protect the lead in use, like the Pentel Orenz and Orenznero.

How do I clear a lead jam?

The little eraser is used up, can I replace it?

Usually, yes. Find your pencil, then see the ‘Refills & Spares’ section under it. Most of the big brands offer spare erasers, it’s just that most shops don’t sell them - but we’re not most shops!