Staedtler Mars Lumograph: 24 Grades From 12B to 10H
The Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 is a wood-cased graphite drawing pencil sold in 24 grades, from the soft, dark 12B to the hard, pale 10H. Staedtler makes the lead thicker in the softest grades: about 4.5 mm in 12B and 2.0 mm from 2B to 10H. Staedtler and retailers say it is made in Germany.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 graphite drawing pencil (12B–10H)
- Brand
- Staedtler
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- PEFC-certified wood (Staedtler doesn't name the species), hard-bonded graphite core
- Released
- 1930*
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg). Made in Germany: Staedtler's German and international product pages carry a "Made in Germany" mark. Galaxus lists Germany as the country of origin for the 2B, and JetPens also describes it as made in Germany. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Brand Name Pencils says the Mars Lumograph (then No. 2886) replaced the Mars 1225 in 1930; we found no Staedtler-published date.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- 24 grades in a single line: 12 B grades (12B to B), then HB, F and 10 H grades (H to 10H), per Staedtler's German site.
- Lead diameter steps down in four bands: about 4.5 mm for 12B, 3.6 mm for 11B–6B, 2.5 mm for 5B–3B and 2.0 mm for 2B–10H.
- JetPens lists the body at 17.5 cm (6.9 in) long and 7.4 mm at its widest; Galaxus also gives 17.5 cm.
- The common 12-pencil tin, 100 G12, covers 6B to 4H, half of the 24-grade range.
- Staedtler recommends its Mars plastic eraser (526 50) and its 511 001 tub or 510 10 metal sharpener.
What is the Staedtler Mars Lumograph?
The Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 is a wood-cased graphite pencil made for drawing and drafting, sold one grade at a time or in sets. Staedtler, based in Nuremberg, Germany, lists it under article number 100 and calls it a “Premium-Zeichenbleistift”, a premium drawing pencil. Its German page credits a special lead recipe and hard-bonded lead for break resistance; there is no eraser on the end.
The name is old. A pencil retailer’s history says the Mars Lumograph 2886 replaced Staedtler’s earlier Mars 1225 in 1930, and that J. S. Staedtler set up his Nuremberg pencil factory in 1835. Staedtler’s own pages we found don’t give those dates, so treat them as the retailer’s account.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Article number | 100 (e.g. 100-HB, 100-2B) |
| Grades | 24: 12B to B, HB, F, H to 10H |
| Lead diameter | ≈4.5 mm (12B) · ≈3.6 mm (11B–6B) · ≈2.5 mm (5B–3B) · ≈2.0 mm (2B–10H) |
| Length | 17.5 cm (6.9 in) |
| Diameter | 7.4 mm at widest (JetPens); Galaxus lists 8 mm |
| Wood | PEFC-certified, from sustainably managed forests (Staedtler) |
| Eraser | None on the pencil |
| Made in | Germany (Staedtler) |
Grades, lead diameters, the wood claim and the origin come from Staedtler’s German product page; length and diameter come from JetPens and Galaxus, which differ slightly on diameter. Staedtler doesn’t publish a length.
What grades does the Mars Lumograph come in?
Staedtler sells the Lumograph in 24 grades, from 12B to 10H. B grades are softer and darker; H grades are harder and lighter. HB and F sit in the middle and behave most like an everyday writing pencil.
That range is wider than most drawing pencils. In practice, few people need all 24: artists use the soft end for shading, and drafters use H grades for fine, light construction lines.
Why are the soft grades thicker?
Staedtler makes the softest Lumograph cores thicker, about 4.5 mm in 12B compared with 2.0 mm from 2B up. Staedtler doesn’t explain the reason in the sources we found, but the effect is that the dark grades lay down a much broader stroke.
| Grades | Lead diameter (Staedtler) |
|---|---|
| 12B | ≈4.5 mm |
| 11B to 6B | ≈3.6 mm |
| 5B to 3B | ≈2.5 mm |
| 2B to 10H | ≈2.0 mm |
For sharpening, Staedtler’s German page recommends its 511 001 tub sharpener or its 510 10 metal sharpener, and its Mars plastic eraser (526 50) for erasing.
Which Lumograph set should you buy?
For most people, the 12-pencil tin (100 G12), which Yoseka lists as 6B to 4H, covers the useful range. Single pencils fill gaps at the ends; a “soft degrees” tin, 100 G12 S, runs from 8B to 2H.
- Sketching and shading: 2B, 4B, 6B, and 8B for the darkest tones.
- Writing and general drawing: HB, F or B.
- Drafting and fine lines: 2H to 4H; the 5H and harder grades make very light, precise lines.
Staedtler’s German site also lists metal tins of 24 (100 G24, all grades, per JB Hi-Fi) and 6, plus cardboard sets with an eraser and sharpener, so check the grade list on any set before buying.
How does the Mars Lumograph compare to other pencils?
Against the Faber-Castell 9000, the Lumograph offers more grades; against a Ticonderoga #2, it is a specialist art pencil rather than a school pencil.
| Mars Lumograph 100 | Faber-Castell 9000 | Ticonderoga #2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades | 24 (12B–10H) | 16 (8B–6H) | HB (#2) only |
| Length | 17.5 cm | 17.3 cm (JetPens) | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Eraser | No | No | Yes |
| Made in | Germany | Germany | China |
If you want a firm writing pencil with an eraser instead, the Blackwing 602 is a different kind of pencil, made for writing more than for graded drawing. The closest Japanese rival in range is the uni Hi-Uni, with 22 grades from 10B to 10H.
Where is the Staedtler Mars Lumograph made?
Staedtler’s German product page marks the Mars Lumograph 100 “Made in Germany”. Galaxus lists Germany as the country of origin for the 2B, and JetPens describes the pencil the same way. Staedtler, the brand, is based in Nuremberg.
Frequently asked questions
How many grades does the Staedtler Mars Lumograph come in?
Staedtler lists 24 grades, from 12B (the softest and darkest) to 10H (the hardest and lightest). That counts 12 B grades, HB, F and 10 H grades.
Is the Mars Lumograph lead the same thickness in every grade?
No. Staedtler gives about 4.5 mm for 12B, 3.6 mm for 11B to 6B, 2.5 mm for 5B to 3B and 2.0 mm for 2B to 10H. The thickest cores go to the softest grades.
Which Staedtler Lumograph grades are in the 12-pencil set?
The usual tin of 12, item 100 G12, runs from 6B to 4H. If you need the extreme grades such as 12B or 10H, buy them as single pencils.
Is the Staedtler Mars Lumograph good for writing?
Staedtler sells it as a drawing pencil, but its HB, F and B grades work like ordinary writing pencils. It has no eraser on the end, so you need a separate eraser.
Mars Lumograph or Faber-Castell 9000: which is better?
They are the two standard German drawing pencils. The Lumograph has more grades (24 against 16) and goes softer and harder at both ends; choose by the grades you need and which feel you prefer.
How long is a Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencil?
JetPens and Galaxus list it at 17.5 cm (6.9 in) long. That is about 15 mm shorter than a standard 7.5 in US #2 pencil.
Where is the Staedtler Mars Lumograph made?
Staedtler's German product page marks it "Made in Germany", and retailers such as Galaxus list Germany as the country of origin. Staedtler is based in Nuremberg.
Sources
- STAEDTLER (DE): Mars Lumograph 100 Zeichenbleistift (Staedtler's German page: 24 Härtegrade, Minendurchmesser, PEFC, Made in Germany, sets 100 G24/G12/G6)
- Staedtler: Mars Lumograph 100 drawing pencil (24 grades, lead diameters, made in Germany)
- Staedtler UK: Mars Lumograph 100 drawing pencil
- JetPens: Staedtler Mars Lumograph graphite pencil, 5H (length and diameter)
- Galaxus: Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100, 2B (length, diameter, country of origin)
- Yoseka Stationery: Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100, set of 12 (6B to 4H)
- The Online Pen Company: Staedtler Mars Lumograph soft degrees, tin of 12 (100 G12 S, 8B to 2H)
- JB Hi-Fi: Staedtler 100 Mars Lumograph sketching pencils, tin of 24
- Brand Name Pencils: Mars Lumograph 2886 HB (history of the Lumograph and Staedtler)
- JetPens: Faber-Castell 9000 graphite pencil, 8B (for comparison)