Paper Mate Clearpoint: Side-Click Pencil with Jumbo Eraser
The Paper Mate Clearpoint is a US-made mechanical pencil with a side-click button on the barrel that feeds lead without shifting your grip, a jumbo twist-up eraser and a textured grip. It takes 0.5 or 0.7 mm HB #2 lead. Paper Mate's product data gives a 5.75 in (146 mm) length and about 9 g.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Paper Mate Clearpoint mechanical pencil, 0.7 mm HB #2 lead, black barrels (4-pack)
- Brand
- Paper Mate
- Brand origin
- United States
- Made in
- United States*
- Material
- Plastic barrel and clip, textured grip, vinyl twist-up eraser (Paper Mate, Staples)
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Newell Brands. Made in United States: Paper Mate's product data record for the Clearpoint 0.7 mm (material 56043, blue) gives United States as the country of origin. We assume the black 4-pack shares it; check the pack. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Paper Mate's product data lists a Clearpoint 0.7 mm at 5.75 in (146 mm) long and 0.009 kg (about 9 g), with the United States as the country of origin.
- A side-click button on the barrel advances the lead; a jumbo twist-up eraser sits at the top.
- It comes in 0.5 and 0.7 mm with HB #2 lead, in packs of 2 to 12 and in colored barrel editions.
- The black 4-pack ranked #28 and an assorted pack #6 in Amazon US Mechanical Pencils on October 22, 2026, with 16,172 ratings on the 4-pack.
- Packs work out to under $5 a pencil, our $ band.
What is the Paper Mate Clearpoint?
It is Paper Mate’s refillable mechanical pencil with a side-click lead button and a big twist-up eraser. Paper Mate describes it as having “the feel of a pen and the look and performance of a pencil.”
It is one of the best-selling mechanical pencils in the US: on October 22, 2026, an assorted Clearpoint pack was #6 in Amazon’s Mechanical Pencils best sellers, and the black 4-pack had 16,172 ratings.
Paper Mate Clearpoint specs
| Spec | Clearpoint 0.7 mm |
|---|---|
| Lead | 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, HB #2 |
| Lead advance | Side-click button on the barrel |
| Eraser | Jumbo, twist-up, refillable |
| Grip | Textured soft grip |
| Length | 5.75 in (146 mm), unit length in Paper Mate’s product data |
| Weight | 0.009 kg (about 9 g), Paper Mate’s product data |
| Made in | United States, Paper Mate’s product data |
| Black 4-pack UPC | 071641100428 |
Paper Mate’s data record covers the blue 0.7 mm pencil (material 56043); we use its size and weight for the black barrel too.
How does the side-click work?
A button on the side of the barrel feeds lead when you press it, so your fingers stay on the grip. Paper Mate and Staples both say this lets you advance lead “without losing your grasp,” which matters during long tests and lectures.
Most budget pencils, such as the BIC Xtra Smooth, feed lead from the top instead, so you shift your hand or use the other one.
How good is the jumbo eraser?
It is much bigger than the eraser on a typical clicker, and it twists up as it wears, so it lasts longer between refills. Paper Mate calls it a jumbo twist eraser that erases cleanly without smudging or tearing.
The Pentel Twist-Erase III is built around the same twist-up eraser idea, and Pentel’s separate Twist-Erase CLICK even adds a side button, per its guide.
What sizes and packs can you buy?
0.5 and 0.7 mm, in black or colored barrels, from 2-packs to 12-packs. Amazon and Staples list 2-, 4-, 10- and 12-count packs, 0.5 mm packs with break-resistant lead and eraser refills, and colored editions such as Color Block.
For classrooms, the bigger packs bring the price per pencil well under $5.
How does the Clearpoint compare with other school pencils?
It’s the comfort pick: side-click feed and a big eraser, at a small premium over disposables.
| Clearpoint | BIC Xtra Smooth | Pentel Twist-Erase III | Zebra M-301 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead feed | Side click | Top click (eraser cap) | See guide | Top click |
| Eraser | Jumbo, twist-up | Top cap | Jumbo, twist-up | Under the cap |
| Barrel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Stainless steel |
| Lead sizes | 0.5, 0.7 mm | 0.7 mm | 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 mm | 0.5, 0.7 mm |
Figures for the other pencils come from their guides. For more picks, see our best mechanical pencils.
Who should buy the Paper Mate Clearpoint?
Students and note-takers who write for long stretches and want to feed lead without breaking their rhythm. The big eraser also suits math and anyone who corrects a lot.
It is a school-supply pencil, not a drafting tool: it has no lead-grade indicator or metal grip. If you want a drafting pencil, look at a Pentel Sharp P205. If you lose pencils often, the cheaper bulk packs make the Clearpoint easy to replace.
Where is the Paper Mate Clearpoint made?
In the United States, according to Paper Mate’s own product data for the Clearpoint 0.7 mm. Paper Mate is a Newell Brands company based in the US; check your pack, since packs can be sourced differently.
Frequently asked questions
How do you advance the lead on a Clearpoint?
Press the side-click button on the barrel with your index finger. Paper Mate says this feeds lead without changing your grip, unlike a top-click pencil.
Can you replace the Clearpoint eraser?
Yes. Paper Mate calls the jumbo eraser refillable, and some Clearpoint packs on Amazon include eraser refills.
How much does a Clearpoint weigh?
About 9 g. Paper Mate's product data gives 0.009 kg for a single 0.7 mm pencil, about the same as a Zebra M-301.
Clearpoint 0.5 or 0.7 mm?
0.7 mm is the common school size and breaks less; 0.5 mm writes finer. Paper Mate also sells a 0.5 mm Clearpoint with break-resistant lead.
Is the Clearpoint good for the SAT or other bubble tests?
It uses HB #2 lead, the grade most tests ask for. Check the rules for your test, since some require wood pencils.
Is the Paper Mate Clearpoint made in the USA?
Yes, according to Paper Mate's product data, which gives United States as the country of origin for the Clearpoint 0.7 mm.
Sources
- Paper Mate (Newell) product data: CLEAR POINT 0.7MM MP BLUE, material 56043 (country of origin US, unit 0.5 × 5.75 × 0.63 in, 0.009 kg, GTIN 00071641560437; read October 22, 2026)
- Paper Mate: Clearpoint Mechanical Pencils, 0.7mm, HB #2 Lead
- Staples: Paper Mate Clearpoint Mechanical Pencil, 0.7mm, #2 Hard Lead, 4/Pack (side-click advance, textured grip, jumbo twist-up eraser)
- Amazon US: Paper Mate Clearpoint Mechanical Pencils, 0.7mm HB #2 Lead, Black Barrels, 4 Count (UPC 071641100428; 16,172 ratings, #28 in Mechanical Pencils on October 22, 2026)
- Amazon US Best Sellers: Mechanical Pencils (Clearpoint assorted pack at #6, read October 22, 2026)