Staedtler Noris 120: The Yellow-and-Black HB Pencil
The Staedtler Noris 120 is a hexagonal wood-cased graphite pencil with yellow and black stripes and a colored end cap that marks its grade. HB, close to a US #2, has the red cap. Staedtler's German site lists five grades from 2H to 2B and marks it made in Germany; retailers give a core of about 2 mm.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Staedtler Noris 120 graphite pencil, HB (120-2)
- Brand
- Staedtler
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- Upcycled Wood case (recycled wood chips; wood share PEFC-certified), hard-bonded graphite core
- Released
- 1955*
- 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 product page for the Noris 120 carries a "Made in Germany" mark, and the German office supplier Office Partner lists "Made in Germany" for the HB 12-pack (EAN 4007817105047) and the 2H. Source. Released: Year the yellow-and-black Noris came out, then as No. 1100, per the German pencil blog Lexikaliker, which dates the first striped Noris to 1934. Staedtler's 125th-anniversary page dates the Noris trademark to 1901 but not the design.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Staedtler registered the Noris trademark in 1901; the yellow-and-black Noris arrived in 1955, then numbered 1100, per the German pencil blog Lexikaliker.
- Staedtler lists five grades: 2B, B, HB, H and 2H; the HB (item 120-2, EAN 4007817105047) has the red end cap.
- The graphite core is about 2 mm across, four times the width of 0.5 mm mechanical pencil lead.
- Staedtler's German site says today's Noris 120 is made from Upcycled Wood, recycled wood chips, with the wood share from PEFC-certified forests.
- Staedtler's German product page carries a Made in Germany mark; the Norica, Staedtler's US school pack pencil, is listed as made in Thailand.
What is the Staedtler Noris?
The Staedtler Noris 120 is a hexagonal wood-cased graphite pencil with yellow and black stripes, made for school and everyday writing. Staedtler, based in Nuremberg, Germany, registered the Noris name as a trademark in 1901. The German pencil blog Lexikaliker says the yellow-and-black Noris came out in 1955, then numbered 1100, after an earlier striped Noris in 1934.
The colored end is part of the design: each grade has its own cap color, and the common HB grade has a red cap. Lexikaliker notes the HB cap was yellow at first, and that Staedtler UK long used orange.
Staedtler Noris 120 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Article number | 120 (HB = 120-2, EAN 4007817105047) |
| Grades | 2B, B, HB, H, 2H (Staedtler) |
| Core | Graphite, hard-bonded; about 2 mm (retailers) |
| Shape | Hexagonal |
| Colors | Yellow and black stripes; colored end by grade (HB red) |
| Eraser | None (Noris 122 has one) |
| Wood | Upcycled Wood (recycled wood chips), PEFC-certified wood share (Staedtler) |
| Length | Not published by Staedtler; eBay.de catalog 176 mm |
| Sharpeners | Noris tubs 511 004 or 511 120, or 510 50 (Staedtler) |
| Made in | Germany (Staedtler) |
Grades, wood and origin come from Staedtler’s German product page, which also credits a special lead recipe and hard bonding for break resistance. The 2 mm core comes from European retailers such as Bruneau.
What grades does the Noris come in?
Staedtler’s German site lists five grades for the Noris 120: 2B, B, HB, H and 2H. HB is the middle, everyday grade, close to a US #2. Japan’s equivalent everyday pencil, the Tombow 8900, adds an F grade for six in all.
For shading, try 2B; for light lines that erase cleanly, try H or 2H. If you need more grades, the Staedtler Mars Lumograph runs from 12B to 10H.
What is the Noris 122, and which should you buy?
The Noris 122 is the same striped HB pencil with an eraser tip, which retailers describe as PVC- and latex-free. Buy the 122 for school and note-taking, where an eraser on the pencil saves time.
Pick the 120 if you sharpen from both ends, draw, or prefer a separate eraser that won’t dry out or smudge. The 120 is also the one sold in all five grades in the listings we found.
Staedtler’s German site now describes the Noris 120 as “Made from Upcycled Wood”, produced from recycled wood chips, so a new Noris isn’t cut from a solid slat. Some UK listings, such as Hunt Office, still call it cedar.
Noris or Norica: which Staedtler pencil is sold in the US?
Both are sold in the US; the Noris is the one with the striped design and the one we cover.
The Norica is Staedtler’s budget HB pencil with an eraser, sold at Staples, Walmart and in class packs from School Specialty. Monk Office lists it as made in Thailand.
How does the Noris compare to other #2 pencils?
The Noris is the German, eraser-free alternative to the classic American Ticonderoga #2 and the Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior.
| Staedtler Noris 120 HB | Ticonderoga #2 HB | Mirado Black Warrior | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Hexagonal, yellow and black | Hexagonal, yellow | Round, matte black |
| Eraser | No (122 has one) | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | 2H to 2B | HB (#2) | HB (#2) |
| Core | ≈2 mm | 2.2 mm | 2.2 mm |
| Made in | Germany | China | Mexico |
Specs for the other two come from our guides to each. If you want an eraser, buy the Noris 122, or keep a Staedtler Mars plastic eraser on the desk.
Where is the Staedtler Noris made?
In Germany: Staedtler’s German product page marks the Noris 120 “Made in Germany”. The German office supplier Office Partner lists the same for the HB and 2H. Staedtler, the brand, is based in Nuremberg; the US Norica, by contrast, is listed as made in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Staedtler Noris HB the same as a #2 pencil?
Close to it. HB is the letter grade most US #2 pencils correspond to, and US listings sell the Noris HB as a #2. Makers don't share one exact standard, so darkness varies by brand.
What does the red end on a Staedtler Noris mean?
It shows the grade: each of the five grades has its own cap color, and HB is the red one in most markets. Lexikaliker notes that Staedtler UK long used an orange cap on its HB.
Does the Staedtler Noris have an eraser?
The Noris 120 doesn't. The Noris 122 is the same pencil with a PVC- and latex-free eraser tip, according to retailers.
What is the difference between Staedtler Noris and Norica?
The Noris is Staedtler's yellow-and-black pencil listed as made in Germany. The Norica is a cheaper eraser-tipped HB pencil sold in US school and class packs, listed as made in Thailand.
How many grades does the Noris come in?
Staedtler's German site lists five: 2B, B, HB, H and 2H. For a wider range for drawing, Staedtler's Mars Lumograph has 24 grades.
How long is a Staedtler Noris pencil?
Staedtler doesn't publish it. eBay Germany's catalog listing for the HB 12-pack gives 176 mm (6.9 in), but we haven't measured it ourselves.
Where is the Staedtler Noris made?
In Germany: Staedtler's German product page marks the Noris 120 "Made in Germany". Staedtler is based in Nuremberg.
Sources
- STAEDTLER (DE): Noris 120 Bleistift (Staedtler's German page: Upcycled Wood, 5 Härtegrade, PEFC, Made in Germany)
- Lexikaliker: Vorne schwarz, hinten bunt (German pencil blog: Noris 1100 in 1955, stripes 1934, cap history)
- Office Partner (DE): STAEDTLER Bleistift Noris 120 HB 12er (EAN 4007817105047, Made in Germany)
- Staedtler: 125 years of Noris, an icon celebrates its anniversary
- Staedtler UK: Celebrating 125 years of Noris
- Hunt Office: Staedtler 120 Noris pencil HB, red cap, pack of 12 (lists cedar wood)
- Bruneau: Staedtler Noris H pencil (lead about 2 mm)
- Cromwell: Staedtler Noris 122 HB, eraser tip, pack of 12
- eBay.de: 12x Staedtler Noris 120-2 HB yellow-black (catalog length 176 mm)
- Monk Office: Staedtler Norica pencils HB, 12/box (country of origin Thailand)
- Staples: Staedtler Norica #2 HB woodcased pencils, black, 36-pack