Tombow MONOgraph MG Pencil Lead: 0.5 and 0.3 mm Refills

Product facts

Product

Tombow MONOgraph MG pencil lead (R5-MG 0.5 mm, R3-MG 0.3 mm)

Brand

Tombow

Brand origin

Japan

Made in

Not stated^*

Material

Mechanical pencil lead in a case with at least 70% recycled plastic (Tombow)

Price range

$under $5 per item

Colors

Mono color

• Mono color
• Navy
• Gray

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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 model numbers, grades, counts and prices but no country of manufacture, so check the case. Price: example listing.
• Colors: names per Tombow (Japan), checked November 2, 2026. Only the 0.5 mm HB case is sold in matching colors: Mono color (R5-MGHB01), Navy (R5-MGHB42) and Gray (R5-MGHB72). The other grades are Mono color cases. Tints were sampled from Tombow's product images and are representative, not measured. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
• How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
• 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• Tombow says 0.5 mm HB MG was the smoothest in its own comparison of four makers' leads; the test is Tombow's and unpublished.
• A 0.5 mm case holds 40 leads and a 0.3 mm case holds 20, at 220 yen with tax each (about US$1.39).
• Sliding the case cap left or right chooses single-lead or bulk dispensing; at 0.3 mm it dispenses a small amount.
• The 0.5 mm HB comes in case colors Mono color, navy and gray to match MONOgraph pencils.
• The case uses at least 70% recycled plastic by weight, with the Eco Mark and Green Purchasing Law compliance, per Tombow.

What is Tombow MONOgraph MG?

It is the premium lead Tombow makes to go with its MONOgraph pencils. Tombow describes a high-performance lead that satisfies “smooth writing”, “lead strength” and “line darkness” together. It is the lead made for the MONO Graph family, and it fits any mechanical pencil of the matching size; see our best mechanical pencil lead roundup for comparisons. We read Tombow’s Japanese page on November 2, 2026.

How smooth is it?

That is Tombow’s claim, from its own test. Tombow says MG is the smoothest in a comparison of 0.5 mm HB leads from four makers, with low writing resistance, while keeping strength and darkness. It does not publish the method, the other makers or the numbers, so treat it as a maker claim.

How does the case dispense leads?

A cap that dispenses leads one at a time or in bulk. Tombow says you slide the cap left or right to choose single-lead or bulk dispensing. That is true for 0.5 mm; for 0.3 mm the mode dispenses a small amount rather than a single lead.

What grades and sizes can you buy?

HB, B and 2B in 0.5 mm; HB and B in 0.3 mm.

Model	Lead	Grade	Count	Price with tax
R5-MGHB01 / 42 / 72	0.5 mm	HB	40	220 yen (about US$1.39)
R5-MGB01	0.5 mm	B	40	220 yen (about US$1.39)
R5-MG2B01	0.5 mm	2B	40	220 yen (about US$1.39)
R3-MGHB01	0.3 mm	HB	20	220 yen (about US$1.39)
R3-MGB01	0.3 mm	B	20	220 yen (about US$1.39)

Tombow offers 0.5 mm HB in three case colors (01 Mono color, 42 Navy, 72 Gray) so the case can match a MONOgraph pencil.

Who is MONOgraph MG for?

It suits MONOgraph owners and anyone who wants a smooth, dark 0.5 mm lead in a tidy case. The fact behind that is Tombow’s smoothness claim plus the colored 0.5 mm HB cases. Per lead it costs about 5.5 yen at 0.5 mm (our arithmetic: 220 yen over 40 leads).

What is the case made of?

Partly, per Tombow. The page lists it as a Green Tombow product using at least 70% recycled plastic by weight in the case, with an Eco Mark certification (number 16112059), compliance with Japan’s Green Purchasing Law and a listing on the GPN eco-products site. Tombow gives no recycled share for the lead itself.

What should you watch out for?

Use it only in a mechanical pencil. Tombow says not to use the lead for anything else, to keep it from small children and to use it for writing only. Do not overfill your pencil: Tombow’s pencil pages suggest no more than four leads at a time.

Where is it made, and what does it cost?

Tombow’s page doesn’t state a country of manufacture. At 220 yen with tax (about US$1.39), a case is in our $ band (under $5).

Frequently asked questions

What grades and sizes are sold?

0.5 mm in HB, B and 2B, and 0.3 mm in HB and B, per Tombow.

How many leads are in a case?

40 in a 0.5 mm case and 20 in a 0.3 mm case.

What is the double guide case?

Slide the cap left or right to dispense one lead or several at once. At 0.3 mm Tombow says it dispenses a small amount rather than one.

Is it really the smoothest lead?

Tombow says its own survey of 0.5 mm HB leads from four makers ranked MG first for smoothness. We haven't verified it and Tombow doesn't publish the test.

What case colors are there?

0.5 mm HB comes in Mono color, navy and gray cases to match MONOgraph pencils.

Is the case recycled?

Tombow says it uses at least 70% recycled plastic by weight and carries the Eco Mark.

How much does it cost?

220 yen with tax (about US$1.39) per case in Japan.

Where is it made?

Tombow's page doesn't say; check the case.

Sources (1)

1. Tombow (Japanese): MONOgraph MG pencil lead product page (smoothness claim, double-guide case, grades, counts, model numbers, prices, eco certification; read November 2, 2026)

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