Which Pencil Should You Use?

Choosing the right pencil makes all the difference. A clear and accurate mark is the foundation of quality workmanship, whether you're marking wood, concrete, sheet metal or working deep inside a narrow hole. If the mark is misplaced, unclear or fades away, the entire task can be affected. In construction, even small mistakes can have major consequences.

At Hultafors, we design our pencils in close collaboration with professional tradespeople and continuously gather feedback from users to improve the range. To make your choice easier, we’ve brought together all the information about our different models in one complete guide to the Hultafors pencil range. Here, you’ll find answers to the most common questions about the differences between the pencils and guidance on choosing the right pencil for the job.

Quick Guide: Choose the Right Pencil for the Job

It can be tempting to use the same pencil for everything, but work is often easier and more efficient when you choose a pencil designed for the job.

Are you marking out cuts or drill positions in wood or plasterboard?

• Dry Marker. A versatile option for marking wood, plasterboard and other building materials, featuring a built-in sharpener and replaceable leads available in various colours and hardness grades.
• Carpenter’s Pencil. The classic construction pencil for clear markings on wood and plasterboard.

Do you require extreme precision on smooth surfaces, for example during kitchen installation or fine woodworking?

Precision Dry Marker. Fine leads for precise and consistent markings.

Do you work with rough materials in demanding environments such as framing or tiling?

Rough Dry Marker. A robust mechanical pencil built for tough working conditions.

Do you need to quickly distinguish between two things using colour coding, such as hot/cold water or flow/return pipes?

Carpenter’s Pencil Dual Red Blue. Two colours in one pencil for quick and clear marking.

Are you marking on stone or concrete?

Concrete Pencil. Hard graphite for precise markings on hard surfaces.

Do you need permanent marking on plastic, glass, metal, brick or tiles?

• Permanent Marker Set. Available in blue, green, red and black for easy colour coding of materials, installations and components.
  
• Permanent Markers. Available with fine and chisel tips for everything from detailed marking to bold, highly visible lines on larger surfaces.

Do you need to make a mark in a narrow or deep hole?

Deep-Hole Marker. The slim tip reaches places where ordinary pencils cannot.

What Is the Difference Between a Mechanical Pencil, Carpenter's Pencil and Marker Pen?

Mechanical pencils, carpenter’s pencils and marker pens solve different problems, even though they are often found in the same toolbox. Mechanical pencils such as the Dry Marker and traditional carpenter’s pencils are suitable for many of the same applications, while marker pens are used when markings need to be permanent and resistant to moisture, dirt and weather. The Dry Marker also offers practical features such as a built-in sharpener, holster and replaceable leads in various colours and hardness grades.

The carpenter’s pencil is made from wood and contains a graphite core, just like a traditional pencil. It is primarily intended for wood and plasterboard, where the marking often needs to be removable.

A marker pen uses ink to create clear and permanent marks, even on smooth and uneven surfaces such as plastic, glass, metal, concrete and brick. Unlike graphite, the ink remains visible regardless of moisture and dust, making it the right choice when markings need to stay visible for longer periods of time, such as during installations or when marking out work that will be completed later.

• Choose a Dry Marker or Carpenter’s Pencil when marking for sawing or drilling in wood or plasterboard.
• Choose a Marker Pen when you need a marking that remains visible and durable on virtually any surface and in all weather conditions.

Below, we take a closer look at the different Hultafors pencils and markers, organised by application and material.

Mechanical Pencils for Construction, Precision and Durability

Dry Marker – Ergonomic with Built-In Sharpener

Our popular Dry Marker is an ergonomic pencil supplied in a holster with an integrated sharpener. This means you always have a sharp lead ready to use without needing a knife. The holster design keeps the pencil securely in place even when bending down, while anti-roll features on both the pencil and holster prevent it from rolling away on the workbench.

As with several other Hultafors pencils, dirt and moisture are channelled out through an opening at the bottom of the holster, improving durability. The lead is optimised for durability and moisture resistance, and refills with 10 leads are available separately. Leads are available in multiple colours and hardness grades, allowing you to adapt your marking to the material and application.

Precision Dry Marker – For Accurate Marking and Fine Detail Work

Precision Dry Marker delivers accuracy without the need for sharpening, thanks to its fine 0.9 mm lead that creates precise markings on smooth surfaces. Because the lead never needs sharpening, line thickness remains consistent from the first mark to the last, which is essential when multiple measurements need to align perfectly.

The ergonomic triangular grip fits comfortably in the hand during detail work, while the shorter, balanced body provides excellent control. The design also prevents rolling.

The Precision Dry Marker is ideal for kitchen installation, fine carpentry and trim work, anywhere that highly accurate marking is critical.

An eraser hidden beneath the cap makes quick corrections easy, and the pencil is stored securely in a practical holster for convenient one-handed use. Lead refills with eraser and lead refills without eraser are available separately.

Rough Dry Marker – The Specialist for Rough Materials and Tough Conditions

Rough Dry Marker is developed for the most demanding work environments, where ordinary markers are not sufficient. The pencil body is inspired by the shape and size of a traditional carpenter’s pencil.

Its robust 2×5 mm rectangular lead delivers clear markings even on rough materials such as concrete, brick and timber. The pencil is stored in a holster designed to allow dirt and moisture to exit through the bottom, improving durability and ensuring the pencil is always ready to use.

This is the pencil for professional tradespeople who require maximum durability and practicality, for example when framing, tiling, installing plasterboard or performing carpentry work. Replacement leads in different colours and hardness grades are available separately.

Wooden Pencils for Construction and Workshop Use

Carpenter’s Pencil SNP – A Classic for Timber

Our Carpenter’s Pencil is a true toolbox classic and an essential construction pencil for anyone working with wood. It is manufactured from lime wood, a soft timber with minimal cross-grain fibres, making it easy to sharpen with a knife without breaking the tip.

Its medium-hard HB graphite is ideal for marking wood and plasterboard. The characteristic oval shape prevents the pencil from rolling away and provides a stable grip for longer markings, such as along a stud or trim piece.

The pencil is available in several lengths and formats, allowing users to choose the version that best suits their pocket or holster. It can also be used together with a pencil extender, enabling the entire pencil to be used right down to the last piece.

Carpenter’s Pencil Dual Red Blue – For Quick Colour Coding

In addition to the classic carpenter’s pencil, Hultafors also offers the Carpenter’s Pencil Dual Red Blue, featuring a red lead at one end and a blue lead at the other.

It is designed for situations where you quickly need to differentiate between two things, for example hot and cold water pipes or supply and return lines during plumbing installations. The same pencil is equally useful for general corrections and marking internal and external dimensions.

The 6 mm wax-based leads are strong, pre-sharpened and highly visible on a variety of materials, creating clear marks without excessive pressure or frequent sharpening.

Concrete Pencil – For Marking Stone and Concrete

The Concrete Pencil is built on the same platform as the carpenter’s pencil, using a limewood body and a significantly harder graphite core designed for marking stone, concrete and other hard surfaces.

This makes it the preferred choice for marking hard materials such as stone and concrete, where a traditional carpenter's pencil would quickly become blunt or where the graphite could break.

The harder graphite also helps maintain thin, precise lines, which is especially valuable in bricklaying and tiling where marking accuracy directly affects the final result.

Like the carpenter’s pencil, the Concrete Pencil is easy to sharpen with a knife and can also be used together with a pencil extender.

Workshop Pencil – For Marking and Sketching in Workshop Environments

The Workshop Pencil is designed for marking, sketching and technical drawing, where clear and precise lines are essential. It is available in two hardness grades, Medium (H) and Hard (2H), enabling users to choose the version that best suits the material and task.

The harder graphite provides thin, precise markings with excellent durability, making the pencil well suited to workshop and technical applications.

Marker Pens for Permanent Marking

Permanent Marker Set – For Marking Plastic, Metal and Other Materials

These permanent markers are developed for clear and durable markings on a broad range of materials and surfaces. The alcohol-based ink adheres to everything from plastic and metal to timber and common building materials, making them a versatile choice for workshops, construction sites and installation work.

Available in blue, green, red and black, they make colour coding and organisation simple. Precision tips provide excellent control, while bodies made from recycled paper and Swedish manufacturing offer a more environmentally conscious choice.

Permanent Markers – Permanent Marking on Virtually Any Surface

Our Permanent Markers are developed for tradespeople who require reliable marking regardless of surface type. Available in black and red, they offer excellent visibility.

Choose a fine tip for detailed marking or a broad chisel tip for bold lines across larger areas. The durable acrylic tip maintains its shape and precision even under demanding conditions. Fast-drying ink delivers clean results without smudging.

These markers perform in all weather conditions on surfaces such as plastic, glass, metal, concrete, brick and tiles. They can also be left uncapped for up to 96 hours without drying out.

Deep-Hole Marker – When Accessibility Is Limited

Sometimes a standard pencil simply cannot reach. When marking deep inside drilled holes or in narrow spaces where neither a carpenter’s pencil nor a standard marker will fit, the Deep-Hole Marker is the ideal solution.

Its slim, elongated tip reaches areas that other marking tools cannot access. The permanent ink works on most materials and surfaces, and the marker is available in both red and black to maximise visibility on different materials.

Typical applications include drilling, fitting hardware and marking screw positions inside installed cabinets or trim.

A Pencil for Every Material and Task

No matter what material you work with or how demanding the environment is, there is a pencil in the Hultafors range designed specifically for the job. From versatile mechanical pencils like the Dry Marker to classic carpenter’s pencils and permanent markers, the right tool helps you work faster, more accurately and with greater confidence.