---
title: "hb pencils — Niche Verdict: Skip it (42/100) | Amazon United States - Flapen"
canonical_url: "https://flapen.com/amazon/research/us/arts-crafts-sewing/hb-pencils"
last_updated: "2026-07-14T04:04:12.216Z"
locale: en
meta:
  description: "brand-locked demand (top 5 brands take 95% of clicks) — hb pencils doesn't clear our bar today."
  "og:description": "brand-locked demand (top 5 brands take 95% of clicks) — hb pencils doesn't clear our bar today."
  "og:title": "hb pencils — Niche Verdict: Skip it (42/100) | Amazon United States - Flapen"
---

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# **hb pencils**

**Skip it**

Brand-locked demand (top 5 brands take 95% of clicks) — this niche doesn't clear our bar today.

Market size 38Growth 16Conversion 63Competition 47Returns 99Price range 40Avg price 95Brand share 12Review moat 21Quality gap 15

**Returns**

**Incredible****0.3%**

return rate — above 6% kills the launch gate

**Avg price**

**Incredible****$27.17**

avg listing price — sweet spot $15–$100

**Conversion**

**Good****5.5%**

search→purchase rate — share of searches ending in a sale

**Competition**

**Okay****57%**

top-5 click share — leaders hold, buyers still browse

**Price range**

**Okay****$2.65–$212.74**

cheapest to priciest tracked listing — scored on the share inside $15–$100

**Market size**

**Okay****$194K**

$194K/yr · 129K searches

**Review moat**

**Bad****10,892.62**

avg incumbent reviews — the moat a new listing must climb

**Growth**

**Bad****-18.2%**

90-day search growth — must beat 0% to launch

**Quality gap**

**Bad****4.8★**

avg incumbent rating — lower means beatable quality

**Brand share**

**Bad****95%**

top-5 brand share — brand-locked demand

## **Competition**

The top 5 products take 57% of clicks — established leaders, but buyers still shop beyond them.

**Brands**

**8 **—flat

**Sellers**

**92**

**Top-5 brand share**

**95%**

**Open market**

**3%**

- Faber-Castell70% - STAEDTLER13% - Amazon Basics7% - Ticonderoga3% - HAIHAOMUM2% - Aenir2% - Open — no brand owns it (2 brands, 3%)

## **Product shelf**

Each bubble is one product — market share against review moat; bubble size tracks estimated sales, color grades how beatable the incumbent looks.

0%5%$10K10%$19K15%$29K20%$39K1001K10K100K1.0M Reviews — right = deep review moatMarket share (90d) ≈ est. sales

Beatable (≤4.3★) Contested Strong incumbent (>4.7★)

All 26 tracked products in this niche — three views at once, no toggling.

### **Top sellers**

by 90-day click share

[1![Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencil Sets Art 8B - 2H set of 12](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41LaxB8+Z4L.jpg)**Faber-Castell 9000 Graphite Sketch Pencil Sets Art 8B - 2H set of 12**Faber-Castell**$12.95**4.9★12,410 rev](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I5MNC0) [2![Faber-Castell Graphite Sketch Pencil Set - 6 Graphite Pencils (2H HB B 2B 4B 6B) Drawing Pencils and Sketching Supplies](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MVefxkHOL.jpg)**Faber-Castell Graphite Sketch Pencil Set - 6 Graphite Pencils (2H HB B 2B 4B 6B) Drawing Pencils and Sketching Supplies**Faber-Castell**$8.28**4.8★4,869 rev](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQJYNW2) [3![STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph HB Graphite Art Drawing Pencil 6 Pencils](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Xcj+T1SZL.jpg)**STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph HB Graphite Art Drawing Pencil 6 Pencils**STAEDTLER**$9.19**4.8★833 rev](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX76ZCRD) [4![Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte Pencil Set Metal Tin of 8 Graphite Pencils and Sketching Accessories (HB 2B 4B 6B 8B 10B 12B 14B) Pencil Sharpener Eraser and Blending Stump](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Fq2B9lRPL.jpg)**Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte Pencil Set Metal Tin of 8 Graphite Pencils and Sketching Accessories (HB 2B 4B 6B 8B 10B 12B 14B) Pencil Sharpener Eraser and Blending Stump**Faber-Castell**$21.84**4.8★3,650 rev](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096FWFNP6) [5![Faber-Castell - Castell 9000 Art Set Pencil (Pack of 6) Green](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41i-0FgAx+L.jpg)**Faber-Castell - Castell 9000 Art Set Pencil (Pack of 6) Green**Faber-Castell**$9.13**4.8★6,801 rev](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COMESOQ)

**~~View all top sellers →~~**

### **Newest**

by launch date

[![Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Drawing Pencils Set of 18 10B4H Graphite Pencil Vinyl Eraser Kneaded Eraser Sharpener Blending Stump Sketch Set for Artists Art Supplies.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tK8FiotpL.jpg)**Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Drawing Pencils Set of 18 10B4H Graphite Pencil Vinyl Eraser Kneaded Eraser Sharpener Blending Stump Sketch Set for Artists Art Supplies.**Aenir**$10.64**632 rev8mo ago](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCBQF4ZM) [![Amazon Basics Sketch and Drawing Art Supply Kit 17-Piece Charcoal and Pencil Set Black White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UyG6lUV8L.jpg)**Amazon Basics Sketch and Drawing Art Supply Kit 17-Piece Charcoal and Pencil Set Black White**Amazon Basics**$212.74**34,230 rev1y ago](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C58QNDB6) [![Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Set of 12 Drawing Pencils for Sketching Medium (6B - 4H) Artist Graphite Pencils Sketch Set for Artists for Sketching Supplies Art Supplies.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pa1C-SLJL.jpg)**Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Set of 12 Drawing Pencils for Sketching Medium (6B - 4H) Artist Graphite Pencils Sketch Set for Artists for Sketching Supplies Art Supplies.**Aenir**$7.07**632 rev1y ago](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHCV5167) [![STAEDTLER Norica #2 HB Wood-Cased Pencil Set: 18 Pre-Sharpened Graphite Pencils with 1 Eraser & 1 Sharpener Break-Resistant Lead For Writing & Drawing Blue Ideal for Classroom Home & Office](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MxVV8R7GL.jpg)**STAEDTLER Norica #2 HB Wood-Cased Pencil Set: 18 Pre-Sharpened Graphite Pencils with 1 Eraser & 1 Sharpener Break-Resistant Lead For Writing & Drawing Blue Ideal for Classroom Home & Office**STAEDTLER**$4.92**181 rev1y ago](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ1NSR41) [![Faber-Castell Graphite Pencils Drawing Set | Back to School Art Supplies | 12 Art Pencils for Sketching (4H 3H 2H H F HB B 2B 3B 4B 5B and 6B) Shading Kit](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zhfAbfJRL.jpg)**Faber-Castell Graphite Pencils Drawing Set | Back to School Art Supplies | 12 Art Pencils for Sketching (4H 3H 2H H F HB B 2B 3B 4B 5B and 6B) Shading Kit**Faber-Castell**$14.00**217 rev2y ago](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6D4FNNF)

**~~View all new products →~~**

### **Trending**

90-day click momentum

[![Amazon Basics Sketch and Drawing Art Supply Kit 17-Piece Charcoal and Pencil Set Black White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UyG6lUV8L.jpg)**Amazon Basics Sketch and Drawing Art Supply Kit 17-Piece Charcoal and Pencil Set Black White**Amazon Basics**$212.74**4.7★**▲ 392%**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C58QNDB6) [![Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils Pre-Sharpened 2 HB Soft Yellow 12 Count](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Q77bmCSNL.jpg)**Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils Pre-Sharpened 2 HB Soft Yellow 12 Count**Ticonderoga**$3.04**4.8★**▲ 209%**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JEAAP2) [![Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Drawing Pencils Set of 18 10B4H Graphite Pencil Vinyl Eraser Kneaded Eraser Sharpener Blending Stump Sketch Set for Artists Art Supplies.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tK8FiotpL.jpg)**Aenir Sketch Pencils for Drawing Drawing Pencils Set of 18 10B4H Graphite Pencil Vinyl Eraser Kneaded Eraser Sharpener Blending Stump Sketch Set for Artists Art Supplies.**Aenir**$10.64**4.8★**▲ 165%**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCBQF4ZM) [![V-Opitos Wood-Cased #2 HB Pencils 50 Pack Bulk Yellow Pencils with Erasers Pre-Sharpened School Classroom Teacher Supplies for Writing Drawing and Sketching](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZYPUn4SZL.jpg)**V-Opitos Wood-Cased #2 HB Pencils 50 Pack Bulk Yellow Pencils with Erasers Pre-Sharpened School Classroom Teacher Supplies for Writing Drawing and Sketching**V-Opitos**$8.27**4.8★**▲ 98%**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZRFK5B6) [![Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils Unsharpened #2 HB Soft Black 12 Count](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41JUbs3bGVL.jpg)**Ticonderoga Wood-Cased Pencils Unsharpened #2 HB Soft Black 12 Count**Ticonderoga**$2.65**4.8★**▲ 94%**](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HI5H8S)

**~~View all trending →~~**

## **Demand & seasonality**

Weekly Amazon search volume, last 104 weeks — -18.2% search growth over the last 90 days.

20K15KPrime Day '24Holiday '24Spike '25Prime Day '25Black Friday '25Spike '26 seasonSepDecMarJunAugNovMarMay

Peak months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov · busiest ÷ quietest = 4.4×

## **Reviews**

What buyers praise and complain about, mined from review topics.

### **What buyers love **

**Quality-Overall**18%

*“Excellent product”*

**Value For Money**14%

*“Affordable price”*

**Pen/Pencil Quality**12%

*“Great Pencils”*

**Sharpness**10%

*“Sharp and easy to sharpen”*

**Erasability**5%

*“Eraser works great too which is really important for me”*

**Color**5%

*“I love the colors”*

**Advertised Vs Actual Product**5%

*“As advertised”*

**Durability**4%

*“they do not break easily”*

**Ease Of Use**4%

*“easy to work with thank you”*

**Drawing Experience**3%

*“My 10 year old son loves to draw”*

### **What buyers complain about **

**Quality-Overall**16%

*“Bad quality”*

**Sharpness**13%

*“Not even one pencil sharpened decently, at all, using the standard size pencil sharpener”*

**Value For Money**11%

*“At over $1 a piece, thats unacceptable”*

**Erasability**10%

*“the eraser is not very good”*

**Color**5%

*“They are fine they do feel a little light colored for the rating”*

**Nib/Tip Quality**3%

*“Nice pencils, not soft tip”*

**Writing Experience**3%

*“I practically tore through a sheet of paper trying to fill in a bubble”*

**Durability**2%

*“not that easy to break”*

**Smell**2%

*“the cedar doesnt smell as nice as other brands”*

**Hard Feel**2%

*“The letter is relatively hard”*

### **Top return reasons **

**Value For Money**25%

**Size-Overall**10%

**Quality-Overall**9%

**Advertised Vs Actual Product**9%

**Color**9%

**Ease Of Use**6%

**Defective Material/Parts**5%

**Sharpness**4%

**Erasability**3%

**Writing Experience**2%