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Quick answer
The Tombow MONO R is the standard pencil of Tombow's MONO series, a hexagonal wood pencil in 8 grades from 2H to 6B, sold since 1975 in a box of 12 made from recycled paper. The R stands for Regular. It costs 924 yen with tax (about US$5.85) a box in Japan, about 77 yen (about US$0.49) a pencil.
$under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
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Notes on these facts
Made by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Tombow's Japanese product page lists grades, the paper box and the price but no country of manufacture. Check the box. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Tombow says it launched the MONO R in 1975 to make the MONO quality pencil wider and cheaper; the R means Regular.
It comes in 8 grades, 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B and 6B, coded MONO-RS2H to MONO-RS6B.
Tombow lists an ultra-fine core that writes smooth and dark, fixes firmly to paper and resists breaking.
A recycled-paper box holds 12 hexagonal pencils for 924 yen with tax (about US$5.85), about 77 yen (about US$0.49) each.
Tombow's page gives no pencil length, diameter, eraser or country of manufacture.
What is the Tombow MONO R?
It is the “regular” MONO: a high-grade core in a plain, affordable pencil. Tombow’s page calls it the standard model of the MONO series, for office and study, built on the same very fine core as the top models. We read Tombow’s Japanese product page on November 3, 2026. For the cheaper office model see the MONO J; for the 12-grade drafting model see the MONO.
Why is it called MONO R?
R stands for Regular. Tombow says it added the R in 1975 out of a wish to make the high-grade MONO pencil reach more people more easily. It has been on sale since then, according to the page’s “Since 1975” line.
What is the core like?
Very fine, dense and firm. Tombow says the particles are extremely small, so the structure is dense. The core writes smoothly and darkly, fixes firmly to the paper and does not break easily. These are maker claims, with no test behind them.
Which grade should you buy?
Eight grades, from 2H to 6B.
Grade
Model
2H
MONO-RS2H
H
MONO-RSH
HB
MONO-RSHB
B
MONO-RSB
2B
MONO-RS2B
3B
MONO-RS3B
4B
MONO-RS4B
6B
MONO-RS6B
Each box holds 12 hexagonal pencils of one grade. The page does not describe the grades, so use the standard scale: H is harder and lighter, B softer and darker. For how brands compare see pencil grades explained.
What about the box?
It is paper, made from recycled paper. Tombow’s page states that the pencils come in a paper box of recycled paper It names no recycled share.
How does it compare with the MONO J and the MONO?
It sits in the middle on price and reaches the softest grades of the two cheaper models.
Tombow’s pages call the MONO R the standard model and the MONO J the basic office and study model. Choose the R for soft grades such as 4B or 6B at a modest price, or the J for the lowest cost.
Who is the MONO R for?
It suits people who want a well-known graded pencil at a modest price, in a recycled-paper box.
Everyday writing: Tombow positions it as a study and office pencil, at 924 yen for 12, about 77 yen (about US$0.49) each.
Skip it if you need very hard 3H or 4H grades: the MONO R starts at 2H, while the MONO J and the MONO reach 4H. For other picks see our best wooden pencils for writing.
What should you watch out for?
Use it only for writing. Tombow’s single caution is that the pencil is not for any other use.
Where is it made, and what does it cost?
Tombow’s page doesn’t state a country of manufacture. At 924 yen with tax for 12 (about US$5.85), a pencil is about US$0.49, in our $ band (under $5 a pencil).
Frequently asked questions
What does the R in MONO R mean?
Regular. Tombow says it created the R in 1975 so the MONO high-grade pencil would be wider and easier to get.
What grades are sold?
Eight: 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B and 6B, coded MONO-RS2H, MONO-RSH, MONO-RSHB, MONO-RSB, MONO-RS2B, MONO-RS3B, MONO-RS4B and MONO-RS6B.
How good is the core?
Tombow says the particles are very fine and dense, so the core writes smoothly and darkly, fixes firmly to the paper and does not break easily.
What is the box made of?
Tombow says it is a paper box made from recycled paper.
How much does it cost?
924 yen with tax (about US$5.85) for 12 in Japan, 840 yen before tax, about 77 yen (about US$0.49) a pencil.
How is it different from the MONO J?
The MONO R costs more (924 yen against 792 yen, about US$5.85 against US$5.01), comes in a paper box and spans 2H to 6B; the MONO J spans 4H to 3B.
