The Darkest Pencils You Can Actually Buy
Everyone eventually asks it: what is the darkest pencil I can actually buy? Here's the honest answer, the records, and the exact pencils we'd put in your hand — from smooth Japanese luxury to a special-formula American black that goes darker than the scale is supposed to allow.
The short answer
On the standard graphite scale, darkness climbs B → 2B → … → 9B. Most premium lines stop at 6B–9B. Two pencils break the ceiling:
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph 12B — the highest B-grade in any mainstream wood-cased graphite pencil, so on paper the darkest "normal" pencil made.
- General's Kimberly 9XXB — a special extra-soft matte-black formulation that lays down denser than its number suggests.
If you want dark and beautiful to use, the Japanese flagships (Hi-uni 10B, Mono 100 6B) are the connoisseur's pick. If you want the maximum black on the page, reach for the two above.
Our picks for the darkest pencils
1. Mitsubishi Hi-uni 10B — the best dark pencil to actually draw with
Creamy, deep and astonishingly smooth, the Hi-uni 10B is the one most artists fall for. It's the darkest grade of Japan's finest pencil line — rich without being gritty, and it sharpens to a clean point. About £3 a pencil and worth every penny.
→ See the Mitsubishi Hi-uni 10B
2. General's Kimberly 9XXB — the darkest you can buy
General Pencil's "extra-extra-black" core is purpose-built to be the darkest matte graphite going. Softer and blacker than a normal 9B, it's a specialist tool for the deepest shadows.
→ See the General's Kimberly 9XXB
3. Staedtler Mars Lumograph (up to 12B) — the record-holder
The Lumograph range officially extends to 12B, the highest B-number on the market — a break-resistant, consistent German classic that's a studio staple. The 8B is the easiest UK buy and already very dark; the 12B is the trophy.
→ See the Staedtler Mars Lumograph range
4. Caran d'Ache Grafwood 9B — Swiss precision, very dark
A luxury hexagonal pencil with a buttery 9B that holds detail better than most soft grades. The choice when you want darkness without losing control.
→ See the Caran d'Ache Grafwood 9B
5. Derwent Graphic 9B — the dependable British dark
Derwent's Graphic 9B is a reliable, affordable deep-black workhorse from the Cumberland pencil house — a great-value way into the soft end of the scale.
How dark is "dark"? A quick reality check
Graphite has a ceiling: even a 12B can't match the matte black of charcoal or a carbon/"black" pencil, because graphite reflects light with a slight sheen. If you're chasing the absolute darkest mark and don't need to erase cleanly, charcoal goes further. But for drawings you can refine, lift and blend, soft graphite (8B–12B) is the sweet spot — and it sharpens to detail in a way charcoal never will.
Getting the most from a very soft pencil
- Use a light hand. Soft graphite lays down fast; let the pencil do the work to avoid shiny, over-burnished darks.
- Keep it sharp, or use the side of the tip for broad tone.
- Work light-to-dark and save the 9B/10B for your final, deepest accents.
- Mind the smudge: very soft grades transfer easily — use a bridge or barrier sheet.
Frequently asked
Is 9B or 12B darker? 12B is the higher grade and, in the Lumograph, the darker of the two. Beyond the number, the binder formulation matters — which is why General's 9XXB can out-black a nominal 9B.
What's the darkest Japanese pencil? The Mitsubishi Hi-uni 10B — the darkest grade of the Hi-uni line and a perennial favourite.
Darkest for everyday writing? You don't want 9B for notes — it smudges. A 2B or 4B gives a dark line that still behaves.
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