Genuine brand-name mechanical pencil leads · retail & wholesale
Mechanical Pencil Leads Wholesale & Retail
Lead refills in 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm from Pentel, Paper Mate and uni-ball
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- ✔ New, genuine brand-name products in original packaging
- ✔ Ships nationwide from Rancho Cordova, California
- ✔ Free retail shipping on $60+ · $9.99 under
- ✔ Wholesale & case-pack pricing for business members
SNILLC sells 75+ genuine mechanical pencil lead refills from Pentel, Paper Mate, Rotring and uni-ball at retail prices to shoppers and at wholesale case-pack prices to approved business members, shipped nationwide from California.
Mechanical pencil leads are the thin graphite sticks that refill any mechanical pencil of the matching diameter. SNILLC stocks over 75 genuine lead refills from Pentel, Paper Mate, Rotring, uni-ball and BIC in 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm and 0.9 mm sizes and grades from 2H to 2B, in tubes of 12 to 30 leads and bulk packs of 100 or more. Schools, offices and drafters buy single tubes at retail or by the dozen and case at wholesale.
Mechanical Pencil Leads are being restocked
We are adding mechanical pencil leads to the catalog. Tell us what you need and we will quote it, or browse related categories below.
Request a quoteWhat we carry in mechanical pencil leads
Pentel Super Hi-Polymer
The most-stocked lead line on SNILLC, with nearly 70 Pentel items. Super Hi-Polymer leads in 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm are strong, smooth and smudge-resistant, in tubes of 12 to 30 and packs of 144.
Pentel PPB-7 0.7 mm Refills
The Pentel 0.7 mm lead refill in a 12-tube pack with blue tubes is the most-ordered lead on SNILLC, a classroom and office staple for BIC, Pentel and Paper Mate 0.7 mm pencils.
HB, 2B and Other Grades
HB is the standard writing grade equal to a #2 pencil. Pentel Super Hi-Polymer 0.9 mm HB 30-piece tubes and 0.7 mm 2B 144-piece packs are customer favorites; 2H and 4H leads suit drafting.
Paper Mate and BIC Leads
Paper Mate 0.5 mm HB leads in 105-count value packs and BIC lead refills fit disposable and refillable pencils from any brand in the same diameter.
Rotring and uni-ball
Rotring Tikky leads and uni-ball Nano Dia leads in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm are made for drafting and Kuru Toga pencils and give darker lines with less breakage.
About mechanical pencil leads
Mechanical pencil lead is a thin rod of graphite mixed with polymer binder, sized to a precise diameter so it feeds through the pencil's clutch and sleeve. Leads are universal by diameter: any 0.7 mm lead fits any 0.7 mm mechanical pencil, regardless of brand. Modern polymer leads such as the Pentel Super Hi-Polymer are stronger and smoother than older clay-bound leads, break less and erase cleanly. Leads are sold in plastic tubes of 12 to 30 and in value packs of 100 or more.
Diameter and grade are the two things to match. The 0.5 mm size gives a fine line for math and drafting; 0.7 mm is the standard for notes and office work; 0.9 mm is thicker and more break-resistant for students and heavy-handed writers; 1.3 mm fits pencils like the Paper Mate Handwriting. Grade describes hardness: HB equals a standard #2 pencil and suits everyday writing and test bubbles, B and 2B are softer and darker for sketching, and H, 2H and 4H are harder and lighter for drafting.
Buying leads instead of new pencils keeps refillable pencils in service and costs very little per lead. Offices should keep 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm HB on hand to cover most pencils. Schools often buy bulk packs of 100 or more 0.7 mm or 0.9 mm HB leads. Lead does not dry out or expire, so it stores indefinitely in its tube at room temperature; the only risk is breakage from dropping or crushing the tube.
Mechanical Pencil Leads buying guide
How to pick the right mechanical pencil leads and pack size.
Match the lead diameter exactly
Check the pencil barrel or clip for its size, usually printed as 0.5, 0.7 or 0.9. Lead must match that diameter; a 0.7 mm lead will jam a 0.5 mm pencil and will rattle and break in a 0.9 mm pencil. The diameter is printed on every Pentel, Paper Mate and uni-ball lead tube.
Pick the grade for the job
HB is the all-purpose grade and matches a #2 pencil, so it is right for notes, forms and scanned answer sheets. Choose B or 2B for darker lines and sketching, which smudge more easily. Choose H, 2H or 4H for light, crisp drafting lines. When in doubt, stock HB.
Read Pentel lead codes
Pentel codes tell you the size and grade. In C25-HB or C27-HB, the last digit is the diameter (5 for 0.5 mm, 7 for 0.7 mm, 9 for 0.9 mm) and the suffix is the grade. PPB-7 is the 0.7 mm classroom refill sold in 12-tube packs. Standard tubes hold 12 leads; 30-piece tubes suit busy desks.
Tubes for desks, bulk packs for classes
A 12-lead tube is enough for a single student or desk for months. Offices and schools should buy 12-tube packs or value packs of 100 to 144 leads, which cost far less per lead. Business members can request a bulk quote on 6 or more packs to supply a whole school or department.
Reduce breakage
If leads keep snapping, move up a size from 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm or 0.9 mm, advance less lead at a time and choose a polymer lead such as Pentel Super Hi-Polymer. Keep tubes closed and stored flat; a crushed tube or one dropped on a hard floor is the usual cause of leads that arrive in pieces.
Business members
Mechanical Pencil Leads wholesale & bulk
Business members buy mechanical pencil leads from SNILLC at wholesale and case-pack prices with a $49 per year membership. Leads are typically sold in tubes of 12 to 30, in 12-tube packs such as the Pentel PPB-7, and in bulk packs of 105 to 144 leads; cases usually hold 12 packs. For 6 or more packs or pallet quantities, use Request a bulk quote in the cart. Members pay by ACH, Zelle or card (3 percent card fee), and a resale certificate or EIN may be required. Orders ship with tracking from the Rancho Cordova, California warehouse.
Shoppers
Buy mechanical pencil leads at retail
Retail shoppers can buy a single tube of lead or a multipack at retail prices with guest checkout or a free account, paying by card. Shipping is free on retail orders of $60 or more and $9.99 under $60. Check the weekly deals page for discounted Pentel leads, and set a back-in-stock alert for any size or grade that is sold out.
Mechanical Pencil Leads: questions, answered
Straight answers about buying mechanical pencil leads from SNILLC.
Are the mechanical pencil leads on SNILLC genuine brand products?
Yes. Every lead refill on SNILLC is a new, genuine product from Pentel, Paper Mate, Rotring, uni-ball or BIC in the manufacturer's original packaging. SNILLC does not sell generic or unbranded lead.
Can I buy mechanical pencil leads in bulk or wholesale?
Yes. Business members with a $49 per year membership get wholesale and case-pack pricing on leads, sold in 12-tube packs and bulk packs of 100 or more. For 6 or more packs or pallet quantities, add the leads to your cart and choose Request a bulk quote for a custom price.
Which brands of mechanical pencil leads does SNILLC carry?
SNILLC carries over 75 lead refills, most of them Pentel Super Hi-Polymer and Pentel classroom refills, plus Paper Mate, Rotring, uni-ball and BIC leads. Sizes run from 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm and grades from 2H to 2B, with HB the most common.
Do you ship mechanical pencil leads nationwide and how fast?
SNILLC ships lead refills to every US state from its Rancho Cordova, California warehouse, with tracking on every order. Leads are light and ship in padded packaging. Items marked Ready to ship leave fastest; transit time depends on the carrier and your distance from Northern California.
Is there a minimum order for mechanical pencil leads?
No. Retail shoppers can buy a single tube. Shipping is free on retail orders of $60 or more and $9.99 under that. Business members buy by the pack or case at wholesale prices, and bulk quotes start at 6 or more packs.
What does HB mean on mechanical pencil lead?
HB is the hardness grade in the middle of the scale, equal to a standard #2 pencil. H grades (H, 2H, 4H) are harder and lighter and suit drafting; B grades (B, 2B) are softer and darker and suit sketching. HB is the right choice for everyday writing and for answer sheets read by scanners.
Will Pentel lead work in a BIC or Paper Mate mechanical pencil?
Yes. Lead is universal by diameter, so 0.7 mm Pentel Super Hi-Polymer lead works in any 0.7 mm pencil from BIC, Paper Mate, uni-ball, Zebra or Rotring. Only the diameter has to match. Eraser refills, by contrast, are specific to the pencil model.
Which lead size is best for students?
For elementary students, 0.9 mm or 1.3 mm HB lead is the most break-resistant and writes dark enough for test bubbles. For middle and high school, 0.7 mm HB is the standard and fits the most pencils. Use 0.5 mm for math, science and drafting classes that need a finer line.
Does mechanical pencil lead expire?
No. Graphite lead does not dry out or degrade, so sealed tubes can be stored for years at room temperature. The only risk is physical breakage, so store tubes flat in their packaging and avoid crushing them. Schools can safely buy a year's supply at once.
Pentel
Paper Mate
uni-ball
BIC