I have always been a massive proponent of mechanical pencils myself. Sure, a good ol’ traditional lead pencil is good enough for most use cases, but if you want precision and consistency, then nothing beats a mechanical pencil.

Mechanical Pencil, also known as a clutch pencil, is a replaceable pencil that allows you to insert a solid pigment core typically made from granite and clay. The construction of the mechanical pencil is pretty straight-forward. The main body of the pencil looks and feels like a standard pen; however, on the inside, there is a clutch mechanism that takes in the lead core and extends it from the other end when you press the button on the top.

The lead for these pencils comes in many varieties. You can choose from various tip sizes, and you can choose the hardness. Since the lead insert remains the same thickness as you write, it provides greater consistency than a regular pencil that needs sharpening quite often.

There’s plenty to love and so many options that it can be a bit confusing to pick one that is right for you. So I went ahead and curated a list of the 10 best Mechanical pencils for college students.

10. Mr. Pen-Mechanical Pencil in 0.7 mm thickness

To start off our list, I have chosen Mr. Pen’s 0.7 mm Mechanical Pencil. The package includes two mechanical pencils of the same thickness. The body of the pencil is made from thin metal and has a nice durable feel to it.

You also receive two packs of 0.7mm lead, with each pack containing 12 leads. It has a comfortable grip and is not so heavy to tire you out over long writing sessions.

Key Features:

• Metallic body
• Durable construction.
• Includes a total of 24 0.7mm leads.
• Eraser on top with four spare erasers included in the package.
• Pocket-clip

Get it from here.

9. Paper Mate Mechanical Pencil

Paper Mate is a highly regarded mechanical pencil manufacturer. They offer a wide variety of pencils for different use cases. This one comes in different thicknesses such as 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm.

The body is made from plastic and is relatively durable and light. It features an eraser on the top as well.

Key Features:

• Available in 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm.
• Durable plastic body.
• Smudge-free eraser on top.
• Ideal for home, school, and office use.

Get it from here.

8. BIC Mechanical Pencil Variety Pack

Bic is quite a big name for stationery, and their mechanical pencils are known for high quality. This pack features a whopping 60 mechanical pencils. Twenty of the pencils are 0.5mm, 20 are 0.7mm, and 20 are 0.9mm. I have to say I am blown away by the price; this pack of 60 mechanical pencils only cost a fraction of what others cost.

Key Features:

• A total of 60 pencils, 20 0.5 mm, 20 0.7mm, and 20 0.9mm.
• Durable Plastic construction and lightweight.
• Smudge-free eraser on top.
• Very comfortable to hold for long writing sessions.

Get it from here.

7. Pentel Twist-Erase III Automatic Pencil

These Pentel mechanical pencils are ideal for those who need thicker body construction. The Pentel twist-erase III pencils are a fair bit thicker than other pencils I have come across. They feel robust and are very comfortable to use.

This pack contains 2 Pentel pencils and can be had in 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm options.

Key Features:

• Thick body and a rubber grip for better handling.
• Comes in 0.5mm, 0.7mm and 0.9mm.
• Two pencils in a single pack.
• Features an eraser on top and two eraser refills in the pack.

Get it from here.

6. Paper Mate SharpWriter Mechanical Pencils

These Paper Mate pencils are designed to look like actual lead pencils, which is a nice touch. They are made out of plastic and barely weigh anything. This pack includes a total of 36 pencils.

Key Features:

• One pack includes 36 mechanical pencils.
• Designed like a traditional lead pencil.
• Plastic construction. Very light.
• Shock-absorbing tip to reduce tip breakage.
• Pink eraser on top.
• 0.7mm in thickness.

Get it from here.

5. BIC Xtra-Precision Mechanical Pencil

These are my personal favorite from Bic. They have a very sleek design and are very easy on your fingers. This pack contains 24 mechanical pencils in varying colors for an incredible price.

Key Features:

• 0.5mm lead for increased precision.
• Smudge-free eraser on top.
• Metallic construction, thin and feels robust.
• Twenty-four pencils on one pack.
• Five different colors.

Get it from here.

4. Paper Mate ClearPoint Mechanical Pencil

Our fourth entry comes from Paper Mate. This pack contains four mechanical pencils of 0.7mm thickness. These might be the most ergonomic out of all the pencils on this list. They are designed to accommodate your fingers evenly, thanks to the narrow holding area. The plastic construction is thick and feels very durable.

Key Features:

• 0.7mm in thickness.
• Four pencils in one pack
• Ergonomic design for maximum comfort.
• Eraser on top.
• Side-click design lets you extend lead without losing grip.

Get It from here.

3. Uni Core Keeps Sharp Mechanical Pencil

Unicore is the Apple of mechanical pencils. Sure they are expensive, but the cost justifies the premium build and look of the product. This pencil is incredibly well-made and is easily the highest quality mechanical pencil you can buy. It has over 6000 five-star ratings for a reason.

Key Features:

• Metallic tip and resin body deliver the highest quality.
• Very durable and robust grip.
• 0.5mm in thickness.
• Eraser on top.

Get it from here.

2. Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil

This Pentel mechanical pencil is up there with the previous entry in terms of quality and premium feel. It costs more than some of the packs I have listed in this article; however, the quality is exceptionally high and will last a long time.

Key Features:

• Comes in 0.5mm, 0.7mm and 0.9mm.
• Metallic construction.
• Thin design with soft latex-free pads for comfort.
• The Dual-action retractor moves the lead both ways.
• Changeable eraser on top.

Get it from here.

1. BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencil

With over 14,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, the Bic Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencil is one of the most popular websites. A single includes 40 pencils. They have a thickness of 0.7mm, and options for other sizes are not available.

Key Features:

• 0.5mm in thickness.
• 40 Pencils in one pack.
• Meager price.
• Plastic construction. Light and durable.
• Eraser on top.
• Transparent barrel.

Get it from here.