Wirecutter

This is the only triangular pencil we recommend. It writes, sharpens, and erases about as well as our other picks, and its uniquely textured grip area was beloved by many of our testers.

Best for Most

walmart

bazaarvoice

amazon.com

powerreviews

This pencil has a buttery-soft exterior, a replaceable eraser, an incense-cedar barrel, and a smooth, dark core. But it costs more than twice as much as most writing pencils, and you can’t use it on standardized tests.

yotpo

shopify

Quality control for this iconic pencil seems to have gone downhill over the years, but it’s still the best cheap pencil you can buy. It has a decent eraser, it writes and sharpens smoothly, and it’s comfortable to grasp and write with for long periods of time.

expert-review

Is Dixon’s Ticonderoga Truly ‘The World’s Best Pencil’? We Don’t Think So.

This pencil is made of premium incense-cedar wood, despite being one of the least expensive pencils we tested. It is comfortable to hold and has a neatly painted exterior, and its eraser removes marks cleanly.

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