Graphite Grade (H/B) Guide
Compare any graphite grade from 9H to 9B on a simple hardness-to-darkness scale, or work backwards from a target darkness to the grade that will get you there.
HB on the graphite scale
General purpose — everyday sketching and light shading
Suggested grade
General purpose — everyday sketching and light shading
How the scale works
The standard graphite scale runs 9H, 8H, 7H … 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B … 8B, 9B — twenty grades from hardest to softest. HB sits at the exact middle. This tool assigns each grade a position on that line (negative on the H side, positive on the B side) and converts the position into a 0–10 darkness index using a plain linear formula, so you can see at a glance how far apart, say, a 2H and a 4B really are.
Because the position-to-darkness mapping is linear and symmetrical around HB, it’s a comparison tool rather than a colorimetric one — useful for planning a value range across a drawing or picking the next grade up or down from what you already own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the H and B letters mean?
H stands for "hard" and B stands for "black." Pencil hardness runs on a single scale from 9H (the hardest, lightest-marking grade) through F and HB in the middle, down to 9B (the softest, darkest-marking grade). Harder leads hold a point longer and lay down a lighter line; softer leads wear down faster but produce a richer, darker mark.
Why does a softer pencil make a darker mark?
Pencil "lead" is really a mix of graphite and clay. More clay makes the core harder and lighter-marking; more graphite makes it softer and darker. A 9B core is mostly graphite, which is why it smears easily and produces deep blacks, while a 9H core is mostly clay, which is why it scratches a pale, precise line.
Is the darkness index an exact measurement?
No — grading is not standardised between manufacturers, so a 2B from one brand can be slightly darker or lighter than a 2B from another. The darkness index here is a simple, transparent linear scale (0–10) built from the grade's position in the standard 9H-to-9B ordering, meant as a teaching reference for comparing grades relative to each other, not a spectrophotometer reading.
Which grade should I start with?
HB or B is the most common all-purpose choice for sketching. Add a 2H or 4H for light, non-smudging construction lines, and a 4B or 6B for shading and dark accents. Most drawing pencil sets are built around exactly this spread.
Educational tool only. Grading is not standardised between manufacturers — treat the darkness index as a relative guide, not an exact measurement, and test a new brand's grades on scrap paper first.