The hardest pencil is the 9H pencil.
Understanding Pencil Hardness
Pencil leads are graded on a scale that indicates their hardness and blackness. This scale utilizes the letters "H" and "B" to represent these characteristics, respectively.
- "H" stands for hardness: Higher numbers before the "H" indicate a harder lead, which produces lighter marks.
- "B" stands for blackness: Higher numbers before the "B" indicate a softer lead, which produces darker and bolder marks.
Pencil Grade Scale
The scale generally runs like this, from hardest to softest:
| Grade | Hardness | Mark Darkness | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9H | Hardest | Very Light | Technical Drawing |
| 8H | Very Hard | Very Light | Technical Drawing |
| 7H | Very Hard | Very Light | Technical Drawing |
| 6H | Hard | Light | Drafting |
| 5H | Hard | Light | Drafting |
| 4H | Hard | Light | Drafting |
| 3H | Moderately Hard | Light | Light Sketching |
| 2H | Moderately Hard | Light-Medium | Writing, Sketching |
| H | Medium Hard | Medium | Writing, Sketching |
| F | Firm | Medium | Writing, Sketching |
| HB | Medium | Medium | Writing, Drawing |
| B | Soft | Medium-Dark | General Use |
| 2B | Soft | Dark | Art |
| 3B | Very Soft | Dark | Art |
| 4B | Very Soft | Very Dark | Art |
| 5B | Very Soft | Very Dark | Art |
| 6B | Very Soft | Very Dark | Art |
| 7B | Very Soft | Very Dark | Art |
| 8B | Very Soft | Very Dark | Art |
| 9B | Softest | Blackest | Art |
Why is 9H the Hardest?
According to the reference material, 9H has the hardest graphite lead. The numerical value next to 'H' increases the hardness. Therefore, a 9H pencil will create the lightest and faintest marks and may even feel scratchy on paper compared to softer leads.
Practical Insights
- Harder pencils (like 9H, 8H, and 7H) are favored for technical drawing and drafting where precision is needed.
- Softer pencils (like 2B, 4B, and 6B) are preferred for art and sketching as they produce darker, richer lines.
- HB pencils offer a good balance between hardness and blackness for general writing and drawing purposes.
