where to buy pencils
You can buy pencils almost anywhere that sells basic stationery, but some options are much better depending on what you want (cheap bulk, fancy brands, or custom designs). Below is a quick, practical guide.
Main places to buy pencils
1. Big, general retailers (easy and fast)
These are best if you just need normal school or office pencils.
- Large online marketplaces like Amazon carry almost every common brand (e.g., Ticonderoga and other standard school pencils) and are convenient for mixed orders of pens, journals, and other supplies.
- Officeâsupply webshops often have full âPencilsâ categories where you can filter by lead type, material, and pack size and order for home, school, or business use.
Example: A teacher needing a box of 144 basic HB pencils can usually find bulk packs cheaply on these large sites.
2. Specialist pencil & stationery shops (for âniceâ pencils)
If you care about quality, specific brands, or want to try different pencils, specialist stores are a big upgrade.
- JetPens is repeatedly recommended by pencil and mechanicalâpencil enthusiasts for its broad selection and the ability to buy individual pencils instead of full dozens.
- Pencils.com focuses on higherâquality pencils and related stationery, including popular Blackwing products and curated âbest sellersâ for writers, students, and artists.
- Dedicated art and stationery shops (such as St. Louis Art Supplyâs pencil section) stock carefully chosen drawing and writing pencils with highâquality cedar, wellâcentered graphite, and good sharpeners.
Illustration: A sketch artist wanting smoother, darker graphite or premium cedar wood is much more likely to find it at a specialist pencil or art shop than at a supermarket.
3. Brandâdirect and niche manufacturers
If you already know the brand you like, buying directly can give better selection, limited editions, or custom options.
- Some brands like Blackwing and Musgrave sell from their own online stores, including special runs and distinctive models.
- Musgrave, for example, focuses on madeâinâUSA pencils and offers personalized and custom carpenter or hex pencils for events, schools, and companies.
- Pencils.com also offers custom printed or screenâprinted pencils, including custom Blackwing runs through select partners.
Example: A company ordering branded pencils for a conference might go straight to a manufacturer like Musgrave or a custom section on Pencils.com instead of a generic retailer.
4. Bulk and custom suppliers
For large quantities (schools, events, promotions), bulk specialists can be cheaper and more flexible.
- Bulk pencil suppliers like Graphite Pencil Co. sell blank school pencils, painted pencils, and other styles in large quantities, often with color and finish options aimed at schools and organizations.
- Personalizedâpencil shops let you choose colors and imprint text (for weddings, baby showers, brand promos, teacher gifts, etc.) and order in eventâsized batches.
- Some Etsyâstyle shops focus on niche or vintage pencils and smallâbatch âpencil groceryâ offerings for collectors.
5. Collector and enthusiast sources
If youâre hunting for rare, discontinued, or unusual pencils, enthusiast communities and resellers are helpful.
- Enthusiasts on pencil forums mention sites like ebay and Yahoo Japan for vintage or hardâtoâfind models, sometimes recommending specific sellers with large inventories of pencils and fountain pens.
- Specialty shops such as The Thackery and Boston General Store are praised for having curated selections and sometimes unique or artisan pencil lines.
- Community trading (within forums or hobby groups) can also be a way to find collectible or mint vintage models.
Quick HTML table: types of places to buy pencils
| Where to buy | Best for | Typical pros | Typical cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big online marketplaces / office suppliers | [4][2][5][1]Everyday school and office pencils, mixed stationery orders | Convenient, fast shipping, wide availability, bulk packs | Less curated quality, fewer rare or specialty options |
| Specialist pencil & art stores (e.g., JetPens, St. Louis Art Supply, Pencils.com) | [9][3][1]Higherâquality writing and drawing pencils, trying different brands | Curated selection, expert focus, individual pencils available | Often higher prices than big marketplaces, narrower general range |
| Brandâdirect shops (e.g., Blackwing, Musgrave) | [7][3][1]Specific brands, limited editions, madeâinâcountry products | Full brand range, special editions, direct support of maker | Less variety across brands, may require higher minimum orders |
| Bulk & custom suppliers (e.g., Graphite Pencil Co., custom pencil boutiques) | [8][10]Events, school supplies, promotional or personalized pencils | Bulk pricing, customization (colors, text, icons) | Higher minimum quantities, not ideal for oneâoff personal use |
| Resale & enthusiast sources (e.g., ebay, Etsy âpencil groceryâ) | [5][1]Vintage, collectible, unusual or discontinued pencils | Unique finds, wide global marketplace | Variable condition, counterfeits possible, more effort to search |
If you want a superâshort answer
- For basic, cheap pencils: big online marketplaces or officeâsupply websites.
- For nicer pencils and trying different brands: JetPens, Pencils.com, and dedicated art supply shops.
- For custom or bulk (events, schools, promos): brandâdirect makers and bulk/custom pencil companies such as Musgrave, Graphite Pencil Co., and personalized pencil boutiques.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
