The best mechanical pen and pencil combo, and how to match a pair
Written by the team at Everyman. We make both halves of the pair we recommend, so weigh our pick with that in mind. We'll also tell you where it falls short.
The short answer
The best pen and pencil combo is a matched pair: two separate tools built to the same length, weight and grip, so you can put one down, pick up the other and your hand doesn't have to adjust. Our pick is the Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil, $54, with the Original Grafton pen, $54. Both are 145 mm long and 11 mm across, machined from 6061-T6 aerospace aluminum.
- Bought together: they count as two Graftons, so 15% comes off at checkout. $108 becomes $91.80.
- Want a non-shiny finish: the Super Matte pen and pencil, $64 each, $108.80 for the pair.
- The pen must take Pilot G2: both full-size pens do.
- You want one tool, not two: this isn't that. More on that below.
Both carry the same promise: if either one ever fails, we fix it or replace it.
Our pick for the pair
Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil
$54
"The Grafton pencil is the perfect size diameter with weight and balance." Travis S., Grafton pencil owner
Shop the Grafton pencil Add the Original Grafton pen, $54Why a matched pair beats two random tools
Most people who carry a pen and a pencil carry two things that were never meant to sit together. One is thin, one is fat. One is light, one has some heft. Every time you switch, your fingers hunt for a new grip and your hand recalibrates. It's a small thing, until you're switching twenty times a day between a sketch and the notes beside it.
A matched pair takes that friction away. Same length, same diameter, same grooves under your fingers, nearly the same weight. You stop thinking about the tool and keep thinking about the work. That's the whole case for buying them together, and it's why the Grafton pen and pencil are machined from the same 6061-T6 aluminum to the same 145 by 11 mm.
A pair also looks right. Clipped side by side in a shirt pocket or across a notebook, two tools in the same finish read as a decision rather than an accident. Owners tell us the pen starts conversations. One wrote, "It's often a topic of conversation when my customers see it."
The pairs we make, side by side
Every pairing below uses full Grafton build quality and the same guarantee. The differences are finish, length and what you pay for the two together.
| Pair | Finish | Matching colors | Pen length / weight | Pencil length / weight | Bought apart | Together (15% off) | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Grafton pen + Grafton pencil (our pick) | Anodized | Black, Crimson, Taipan, Aegean | 145 mm / 0.9 oz | 145 mm / 1 oz | $108 | $91.80 | You want the classic pair at the best price. |
| Super Matte pen + Super Matte pencil | Super Matte, non-reflective | Black, New Oxblood, OD Green, Midnight, Military, Amber | 145 mm / 0.9 oz | 145 mm / 1 oz | $128 | $108.80 | You want a velvety, no-glare surface and a deeper color range. |
| Super Matte pen + Grafton pencil | One of each | Pair Black with Black, or mix on purpose | 145 mm / 0.9 oz | 145 mm / 1 oz | $118 | $100.30 | You write in ink all day and only reach for the pencil sometimes. |
| Grafton Mini + Grafton pencil | Anodized | Black, Gunmetal, Silver, Crimson, Aegean | 125 mm / 0.8 oz | 145 mm / 1 oz | $108 | $91.80 | The pen has to ride in a pocket and the pencil stays at the desk. |
Prices, specs and colors come from each product page on everyman.co. The 15% applies automatically when two Graftons are in your cart. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
Original Grafton pen and Grafton pencil: our pick
Pick up the pencil and then the pen and you'll feel how little changes. Both sit at 11 mm, both have the same machined grooves above the tip, and both rest in the web of your hand at 145 mm. The pencil is a tenth of an ounce heavier, and that's about the only difference your hand will notice.
The pencil takes 0.5 or 0.7 mm lead with the matching reservoir. Spare lead, erasers and the 0.7 mm reservoir are sold separately, so you replace parts, never the pencil. The pen ships with our 0.7 mm black Metal Gel and also takes Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen and Monteverde.
Both clips are bolted on with hex screws, not pressed in. They hold to a shirt pocket, a notebook spine or a clipboard edge. The colors line up too: Black, Crimson, Taipan and Aegean come in both.
"I absolutely LOVE the set. I am picky about my 'writing instruments' and the pen is comfortable in the hand, and the pencil is absolutely AMAZING! Good pencils are hard to find. I highly recommend these pens!!!"Jerome M., Grafton pen and pencil owner
"As a surveyor constantly sketching field notes and taking notes I love this pencil. All the ones I used in the past made my hand cramp. The Grafton pencil is the perfect size diameter with weight and balance. Great product."Travis S., Grafton pencil owner
"The pen practically floats across the page."Grafton owner
"I'll never have to buy another pen, just the refills."Grafton owner
Where it falls short. This is two tools, not one. If you want a single barrel that does ink and lead, a multi-pen is the better fit, and the Grafton pair won't give you that. The pencil is solid aluminum at 1 oz, so if you want a featherweight drafting pencil, this isn't it. It holds one lead size at a time; moving from 0.5 to 0.7 mm means swapping the reservoir. And the pen's gel refill is water-based, which doesn't love a year in a dry drawer. If the pair lives in a truck or a carry-on, put a 1.0 mm ballpoint refill in the pen.
Super Matte pen and pencil: the same pair, softer to the touch
Same dimensions, same grip, same refills, Pilot G2 included. The difference is the surface. Super Matte is a velvety, non-reflective finish over the aluminum. It doesn't throw glare back at you under a desk lamp, and your fingers notice the texture more than you'd expect. The pen and the pencil come in the same six colors we only make in this finish: Black, New Oxblood, OD Green, Midnight, Military and Amber.
"I love everything about these pens. The color is great, the quality of the instruments is great and the customer service is, you guessed it, great. I write with one of my 5 Graftons everyday." Tim H., Super Matte Grafton owner
Where it falls short. You pay $10 more per tool for the finish, $20 for the pair, and it writes exactly like the standard pair. The Super Matte pen has 12 reviews and the pencil 6, so there's less to go on than the 179 behind the standard pencil.
Super Matte pen with the standard pencil: when ink does most of the work
If you write in ink all day and only pull the pencil out for a sketch or a number you'll change later, put the money where your hand spends its time. A Super Matte pen and a standard Grafton pencil come to $118, or $100.30 with the 15% off. Black pairs with Black cleanly. You can also mix on purpose, say an OD Green pen with a Crimson pencil, so you can tell them apart at a glance in a pen cup.
Where it falls short. The finishes feel different, so it isn't a true match. If what you want is two identical tools, buy both in the same finish.
Grafton Mini with the pencil: a pocket pen and a desk pencil
The Grafton Mini is 125 mm and 0.8 oz, the lightest Grafton we make, with the same 11 mm grip and a click top. It's the easiest Grafton to carry all day. Pair it with the Grafton pencil if your pen goes everywhere and your pencil mostly stays on the desk.
Where it falls short. It's 20 mm shorter than the pencil, so the two won't sit level in a pocket and the pair doesn't feel matched in the hand. The Mini also takes its own Mini Click refills, not Pilot G2. If G2 matters to you, stay with a full-size pen.
How to choose, in four questions
How often do you switch between them? Many times a day, get a true match: both standard or both Super Matte, same length and grip. Once in a while, mixing is fine.
Where will they live? In a pocket all day, consider the Mini for the pen. On a desk, in a bag or clipped to a notebook, go full length for both.
Which lead size? 0.5 mm for fine notes, numbers and technical lines. 0.7 mm for sketching and a bolder line. You can switch later with an $8 reservoir.
What's the budget? $91.80 for the standard pair, $108.80 for Super Matte, after the 15% that comes off when both are in your cart. Either clears $75, so US shipping is free.
If your Grafton ever fails, we fix it or replace it. The pen and the pencil both. No expiry, no registration, for as long as you own them.
Orders placed before 2pm EST usually ship the same business day. Questions about lead, refills or which colors match go to real people at info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday.
"In 10 years you will still be loving it." Grafton owner
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mechanical pen and pencil combo?
A matched pair: one click pen and one mechanical pencil built to the same size, weight and grip, so switching between them feels like nothing changed. Our pick is the Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil ($54) with the Original Grafton pen ($54). Both are 6061-T6 aerospace aluminum, 145 mm long and 11 mm across. Bought together they take 15% off, so the pair comes to $91.80.
Do the Grafton pen and pencil really match?
Yes, in size and build. Both are 145 mm long and 11 mm across, with the same deep-groove grip and a clip bolted on with hex screws. The pen weighs 0.9 oz and the pencil 1 oz. They match in color too: Black, Crimson, Taipan and Aegean in the standard finish, and six colors in Super Matte.
Is there a discount for buying the pen and pencil together?
Yes. A Grafton pen and a Grafton pencil count as two Graftons, so 15% comes off automatically at checkout. The standard pair goes from $108 to $91.80 and the Super Matte pair from $128 to $108.80. US orders of $75 or more ship free.
What lead does the Grafton pencil take?
0.5 mm or 0.7 mm lead, with the matching lead reservoir. Spare lead is $7, the 0.7 mm lead reservoir is $8 and spare erasers are $5, so nothing about the pencil is disposable.
What refills does the Grafton pen take?
It ships with a 0.7 mm black Everyman Metal Gel. It also takes Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde Ballpoint and Everyman Metal Gels in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm.
What happens if the pen or pencil breaks?
If your Grafton ever fails, tell us and we will fix it or replace it, for as long as you own it. That covers the pen and the pencil. There is no expiry and no registration. Write to info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.
Our pick for the pair