Whether for a quick note or a long love letter, we all use pencils almost every day. They have become a staple of our home.
What makes a pencil so unique is that you can remove the writing if you made a mistake. But one of the other interesting features of a pencil is that you can sharpen it.
Each time you sharpen a pencil, however, this will take off some of the original length of your writing device.
But long is a standard pencil? And are there any differences in pencil length based on different pencil types?
In this article, we’ll explore the different sizes of a pencil.
What Is A #2 Pencil?
Before we take a closer look at pencil sizes, let’s find out more about the standard #2 pencil.
If you ever had to sit an official exam where you weren’t allowed to use your own writing materials, chances are that you used a #2 pencil.
A pencil is a long writing tool that is made of graphite and lead in a wooden frame. You can write and draw with it, leaving a trace of the graphite on your paper.
The number 2 refers to the darkness of the graphite lead and kaolin inside the pencil.
The higher the pencil’s number rating, the lighter the shade of the pencil, and the more lead has been added, making it harder.
The hardness and the lead content of the pencil is important as this is what makes the lead stick to your piece of paper.
The different amount of lead in a pencil also determines how light or dark the shade of your writing will be.
A #2 pencil sits right in the middle of both shade and hardness.
How Long Is A Pencil?
A standard #2 pencil is 7.5 inches long, and it typically measures a quarter of an inch in diameter.
However, this is just the traditional #2 pencil length. Other types of pencils come in different sizes where the weight and length can vary.
Pencil Classes
The different size of a pencil also depends on its categorization. Most pencils that are used around our home are marked with an HB symbols.
The HB stands for “hard and black”. This is a very common type of pencil, similar a #2 pencil.
However, there are also plenty of other types and symbols depending on the amount of graphite in the pencil.
Pencils with more graphite are graded and marked with the symbol B, B2, B3 and so on, whereas pencils with a higher amount of kaolin are marked H, H2, H3 and so on.
The digit indicates the higher amount of graphite or kaolin.
In addition, pencils can also be classed based on their usage, with soft pencils being marked as B for artistic drawing, and hard pencils marked with H for technical drawings.
Lastly, there is also the number categorization that we mentioned with #2 pencils. Number 1 pencils relate to a soft 2B, whereas #3 pencils are a hard H.
Types Of Pencils
Pencils come in all different shapes and sizes, which impacts the length and weight of the pencil.
Also, each manufacturer has its own individual standards which differ from each other.
Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils
These pencils are commonly used for sketching and writing. They come in a variety of grades depending on the purpose.
Graphite Pencils
Graphite pencils are pencils that contain a mix of graphite and clay. As these pencils are much softer, they typically wear quicker and you will need to sharpen them more often.
Charcoal Pencils
Made with a high amount of charcoal, this type of pencil produces well-defined lines in a rich color tone.
Charcoal pencils are typically used by artists for drawings and sketches.
Carbon Pencils
Another popular type of pencil, a carbon pencil contains a mix of charcoal and graphite. As it is relatively soft, it creates gentle lines that blend in well.
Colored Pencils
Pencils aren’t just gray or black. There are also a large range of color pencils that are made of a mix of pastels, charcoal and chalk.
Colored pencils are a big favorite with children and for anyone who wants to add some color to their artwork.
Mechanical Pencils
Mechanical pencils often have a plastic or metal frame that can be refilled with lead sticks. These pencils vary greatly in size and weight.
They are typically used to write or produce thin lines for technical drawings.
What Is The Weight Of A Pencil?
The weight of a pencil depends very much on the type of pencil and its dimensions.
Also, different manufacturers use different materials for their pencils, which can result in a difference of a few grams.
Pencils are designed to be extremely lightweight, so writing with pencils is very easy.
Generally, a #2 pencil only weighs between six and seven grams when it has not been sharpened before and the eraser hasn’t been used.
As a rule of thumb, cheaper pencils are much lighter because manufacturers use aerated pieces of wood which are more lightweight.
This means that you can spot a good quality pencil when holding it and measuring its weight.
When it comes to the heaviest pencil, then mechanical pencils have a much higher weight than other types of pencils.
Depending on their frame and casing, they can weigh anything between 14 and 57 grams.
This is just the weight of the pencil itself, not the lead sticks inside. The lead sticks also vary in size in weight, typically measuring between 0.2 and 5.6 millimeters.
However, the majority of lead sticks for mechanical pencils do measure between 0.5 and 0.6 millimeters.
Read More: How Big Is A Bed Bug?
Final Thoughts
The length of a pencil varies depending on the type of the pencil and how it has been manufactured.
However, a standard #2 pencil we’ve all used before finally graduating is usually 19 centimeters long which is a practical size to use as a writing tool and also store in a pencil case.
What Size Is It started because of that passion, but I have also chosen to write about other size, weight, and value related topics that have interested me.
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