--- title: "Derwent Graphic Pencils: 24 Grades, Cores and Tins" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/derwent-graphic-pencils/" description: "Derwent Graphic drawing pencils explained: 24 grades from 13B to 9H, the Medium 12 tin (34214, 6B–4H), core sizes, lightfastness and where they're made." category: "Pencils" type: "Wood pencil" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-23 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 7 products: - name: "Derwent Graphic Medium Pencils 12 Tin, 6B–4H (34214)" brand: "Derwent" brand_origin: "United Kingdom" made_in: "United Kingdom" material: "Graphite cores in hexagonal wood barrels; metal tin (Derwent, Amazon)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ACCO UK Ltd." model: "34214" url: "https://www.derwentart.com/en-gb/p/34214/gifts-offers/festive-deals/derwent-graphic-medium-pencils-12-tin" --- # Derwent Graphic Pencils: 24 Grades, Cores and Tins > Derwent Graphic is a British wood-cased graphite drawing pencil sold in 24 grades, from 13B to 9H. The popular Medium tin (34214) holds 12 pencils from 6B to 4H. Hard grades have a 2.2 mm core and soft grades a 3.5 mm core, and Derwent has made pencils in England's Lake District since 1916. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/derwent-graphic-pencils/ - Category: Pencils - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-23 ![Derwent Graphic Medium 12 tin, 198 × 118 mm, open with twelve black hexagonal pencils from 6B to 4H](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/derwent-graphic-pencils-16x9.png) *The Medium 12 tin and its pencils, drawn to scale (1 mm = 1.2 px).* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Derwent Graphic Medium Pencils 12 Tin, 6B–4H (34214) | Derwent (by ACCO UK Ltd.) | United Kingdom | United Kingdom | Graphite cores in hexagonal wood barrels; metal tin (Derwent, Amazon) | – | $: under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Derwent Graphic Medium Pencils 12 Tin, 6B–4H (34214)): United Kingdom. Derwent says it has made pencils in the Lake District, UK, since 1916, and a 2010 PencilTalk review shows a Graphic HB stamped England. Derwent's Graphic page doesn't state a country for current pencils, so check the barrel. Source: https://www.derwentart.com/en-us/p/34202/professional/pencils/derwent-graphic-pencils,-metal-tin,-24-count ## Key takeaways - Derwent sells Graphic pencils in 24 grades, from 13B (softest) to 9H (hardest). - The Medium tin (34214) holds 12 grades: 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H and 4H. - Derwent lists cores of 2.2–3.5 mm: 2.2 mm in the H grades and 3.5 mm in the B grades, per its Amazon listing. - Art Supplies UK says every Graphic grade rates 8 on the Blue Wool lightfastness scale. - Derwent's UK list price for the Medium 12 tin was £17.99 (about US$24) on October 23, 2026. ## What are Derwent Graphic pencils? **They are Derwent's wood-cased graphite pencils for drawing, sold in 24 grades from a very soft 13B to a very hard 9H.** Derwent says the graphite gives a smooth, graduated line that erases easily and a strong core that sharpens well and holds a point. The barrel is hexagonal, which Derwent says stops rolling and gives a comfortable grip. Derwent pitches the range at everything from expressive sketches and portraits to technical drawing. ## What's in the Medium 12 tin (34214)? **Twelve pencils, one each of the middle grades from 6B to 4H, in a metal tin.** It covers light construction lines through to dark shading. | Spec | Derwent Graphic Medium 12 tin | |---|---| | Model | 34214 | | Grades | 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H | | Core | 2.2–3.5 mm (Derwent) | | Barrel | Hexagonal | | Lightfastness | Blue Wool 8 (Art Supplies UK) | | Tin | 198 × 118 × 14 mm (7.8 × 4.65 × 0.55 in), per Amazon | | UK list price | £17.99 (about US$24) | For darker work, the Soft tin holds 12 grades from 9B to H instead. ## How thick is the Derwent Graphic core? **2.2 mm in the hard H grades and 3.5 mm in the soft B grades, per Derwent's Amazon listing and Cult Pens.** A thicker core in soft grades lays down more graphite per stroke and is less likely to snap. ![Derwent Graphic's 24 grades from 13B to 9H with the Medium tin's twelve, 6B to 4H, highlighted, and the 2.2 and 3.5 mm cores drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/derwent-graphic-pencils-grades.svg) *The Medium tin covers the middle 12 of Derwent's 24 grades.* ## Which grades should you use? **Use the H grades for light construction lines and technical work, HB to 2B for general drawing, and the soft B grades for dark tone.** The higher the number before B, the softer and darker the line; the higher the number before H, the harder and paler. In the Medium tin, 4H to H handle guidelines that erase cleanly, HB and F suit writing and detail, and 2B to 6B build shading. If you mostly draw dark, tonal work, the Soft tin's 9B to H is a better fit. Art Supplies UK notes that grades 9B to 2B contain animal fat in the wax blend, while B, HB, F and H to 9H are vegan friendly. Every grade rates 8, the top of the Blue Wool lightfastness scale, so drawings won't fade. ## How do Derwent Graphic pencils compare? **Graphic has the widest grade range and the thickest listed soft core of these four.** Grade ranges come from each guide. | | Derwent Graphic | [Staedtler Mars Lumograph](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-mars-lumograph/) | [Faber-Castell Castell 9000](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-9000/) | [Tombow MONO 100](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-100/) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Grades | 24 (13B–9H) | 24 (12B–10H) | 16 (8B–6H) | 17 (6B–9H) | | Soft core | 3.5 mm | About 4.5 mm in 12B | Not listed | Not listed | | Brand from | United Kingdom | Germany | Germany | Japan | | Price band | $ | $ | $ | $ | PencilTalk's 2010 review compared the HB with the Castell 9000, "possibly better in some ways, and worse in others," but found its lacquer "bargain" rather than premium. Our [best drawing pencils](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-drawing-pencils/) roundup picks Graphic for dark shading. ## Which Derwent Graphic set should you buy? **Buy the Medium tin for general drawing, the Soft tin for dark tonal work, or single pencils if you only need a few grades.** Derwent also sells a 24-pencil tin with every grade (34202) and lets you build your own tin. To lift and blend soft graphite, add a kneaded eraser such as the [Faber-Castell Art Eraser](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-art-eraser/). For charcoal on the same drawing, see [General's Charcoal Drawing Kit](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/generals-charcoal-drawing-kit/). ## How much do Derwent Graphic pencils cost? **Divided by 12, a tin works out well under $5 a pencil, our $ band.** Derwent's UK list price for the Medium tin was £17.99 (about US$24) on October 23, 2026. On October 23, 2026, Amazon's Medium tin listing showed 4.7 stars from 3,224 ratings and a 245th-place rank in Drawing Pencils. ## Where are Derwent Graphic pencils made? **In the United Kingdom: Derwent says it has made pencils in England's Lake District since 1916, and PencilTalk's 2010 review shows a Graphic stamped England.** The brand dates its heritage to 1832 in Keswick; its website is run by ACCO UK Ltd. ## Frequently asked questions ### What grades come in the Derwent Graphic Medium tin? Twelve: 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H and 4H. The Soft tin covers 9B to H instead. ### Are Derwent Graphic pencils good for shading? Yes. The soft B grades have a thick 3.5 mm core for broad, dark tone, and the range goes down to 13B for very dark shading. ### Are Derwent Graphic pencils vegan? Only some grades. Art Supplies UK says B, HB, F and H to 9H are vegan friendly, while 9B to 2B contain animal fat in the wax blend. ### Can you buy single Derwent Graphic pencils? Yes. Derwent sells every grade singly and lets you build your own tin; art shops also sell open stock. ### Do Derwent Graphic pencils have erasers? No. Like most drawing pencils they have a plain end, so use a separate eraser, such as a kneaded eraser for lifting graphite. ### How long is a Derwent Graphic pencil? About 175 mm (6.9 in), a standard pencil length, according to a PencilTalk review; Derwent doesn't list the length on the pages we read. ### Who owns Derwent? ACCO. Derwent's website is run by ACCO UK Ltd., and PencilTalk names the maker as the Cumberland Pencil Company, part of ACCO UK Ltd. ## Sources - [Derwent (UK): Derwent Graphic Medium Pencils 12 Tin, 34214 (6B–4H; hexagonal barrels, 2.2–3.5 mm cores; £17.99, read October 23, 2026)](https://www.derwentart.com/en-gb/p/34214/gifts-offers/festive-deals/derwent-graphic-medium-pencils-12-tin) - [Derwent (UK): Graphic pencils range (24 grades, 13B to 9H)](https://www.derwentart.com/en-gb/v/1965/professional-products/pencils/graphic-pencils) - [Derwent (US): Derwent Graphic Pencils, Metal Tin, 24 Count, 34202 (pencils made in the Lake District since 1916; heritage from 1832)](https://www.derwentart.com/en-us/p/34202/professional/pencils/derwent-graphic-pencils,-metal-tin,-24-count) - [Art Supplies UK: Derwent Graphic Pencils Tins of 12 (Soft 9B–H and Medium 6B–4H; Blue Wool 8; vegan grades)](https://artsupplies.co.uk/p/derwent-graphic-pencils-tins-of-12) - [Cult Pens: Derwent Graphic Graphite Pencil (2.2 mm cores in hard grades, 3.5 mm in soft)](https://cultpens.com/products/derwent-graphic-graphite-pencil) - [PencilTalk: Pencil review: Derwent Graphic (2010; about 175 mm long, cedar, stamped England; Derwent founded in Keswick in 1832; Cumberland Pencil Company, part of ACCO UK)](https://www.penciltalk.org/?p=2293) - [Amazon US: Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils, Medium, Metal Tin, 12 Count (34214; core sizes, tin 7.8 × 4.65 × 0.55 in; ratings and rank read October 23, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J69KZQ)