BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils Review – Thick 0.9mm
BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils with Erasers, Thick Point (0.9mm), 24-Count, Mechanical Pencils for School or Office Supplies
BIC
- One 24-count pack of BIC Xtra Strong No. 2 Mechanical Pencils With Erasers
- Strong 0.9 mm thick point is ideal for school supplies
- BIC pencils with high-quality lead that doesn’t smudge and erases cleanly, so your work looks neat and professional
- These lead pencils are always ready and never need sharpening; to advance the lead, simply click the built-in eraser
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Thick 0.9mm point handles heavy-handed use without constant lead breakage
- No. 2 lead compatible with most standardized tests and Scantron forms
- 24-pack provides excellent value for classrooms or back-to-school supply lists
- Lead advances with a firm click on the built-in eraser — no sharpening ever
- Erases cleanly on standard copy paper without smudging the surrounding text
Cons
- Eraser cap requires deliberate downward pressure to advance lead — takes adjustment
- Plastic clip on the eraser cap can catch on pocket edges when pulling from a bag
- Thick point too broad for technical drawing or fine detail work
- Lead formulation is medium-hard; not ideal for artists seeking rich shading layers
Quick Verdict
The BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils are a no-nonsense workhorse built around a durable 0.9mm thick point. After two weeks of daily use — scribbling notes, filling out forms, and handing them to a sixth-grader who grips like she's trying to snap off the competition — they held up without a single snapped lead. The 24-pack pricing is genuinely competitive, and the No. 2 lead means these pass the standardized test check. My score: 4.5 out of 5. They're not going to win any art-studio accolades, but for school, the office, or anyone who just wants a pencil that works without babysitting, these deliver.
What Is the BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils?
Let's be precise about what you're actually getting: a 24-pack of disposable-style mechanical pencils, each loaded with 0.9mm No. 2 lead and a built-in eraser cap. The "Xtra Strong" naming refers to the thick point — it's less likely to break under pressure than a standard 0.5mm or 0.7mm mechanical pencil. BIC markets these squarely at the school-supply aisle, and the packaging even nods to standardized testing compatibility. The body is lightweight plastic, the clip is functional if unremarkable, and the whole unit is designed to be cheap enough to not mourn if one walks off someone's desk. They arrive pre-loaded with lead and are ready to use straight from the package.
Key Features
- 24 pencils per pack — practical for classrooms, families, or shared office supply drawers
- 0.9mm thick point resists breakage better than standard 0.5mm or 0.7mm mechanical pencils
- No. 2 lead (HB grade) accepted on most standardized tests and Scantron-style bubble sheets
- Built-in eraser cap advances lead with a click — never needs sharpening
- Lead formula resists smudging on standard copy and notebook paper
- Lightweight plastic body keeps them comfortable during extended writing sessions
- Consistent line width from first mark to last without degradation
Hands-On Review
I unboxed these on a Thursday afternoon — rainy, nothing romantic about it, just a coffee-stained notepad and a growing to-do list. The first thing I noticed was how solid they feel in hand without being heavy. The plastic has a slight texture to it, not slick, which matters when you're logging hours at a desk. I clicked the top a few times to get a feel for the mechanism: the advance requires a deliberate downward push on the eraser cap. Not stiff, exactly, but firm enough that you won't accidentally click away half your lead if you brush past it in a bag.
On day one I used them exclusively on copy paper, a legal pad, and a thin notebook I keep for random measurements and sketches. The 0.9mm line is noticeably bolder than what I'm used to with 0.5mm pencils — think bold instead of crisp. It writes smoothly, without the scratchiness that plagued cheap school pencils when I was a kid. By day three I handed a few to my neighbor's sixth-grader, who is a known pencil abuser. She uses them like she's trying to intimidate the lead into compliance. Two weeks in, not a single snapped tip. The erasers wore down at a normal pace — nothing dramatic, they just smoothed out like any eraser does.
What surprised me was the lead consistency. Some mechanical pencils start strong and progressively lighten as the lead shortens in the tube, but the BIC Xtra Strong maintained a steady line throughout each refill cycle. The eraser cap can catch slightly on notebook edges if you're pulling the pencil from a tight binding — a minor annoyance, not a dealbreaker. I also tested shading strokes to see if the medium-hard lead formulation could double for light art work. It works in a pinch, but the 0.9mm width makes controlled gradients difficult. You'd want a finer point for anything beyond quick sketching.
Who Should Buy It?
These pencils earn their keep in a few specific scenarios:
- Students in elementary through high school — the thick point survives heavy-handed grip, and the No. 2 lead passes standardized testing requirements without question
- Teachers and classroom supply buyers — a 24-pack at this price point is genuinely efficient for bulk replenishment at the start of a semester
- Office workers who prefer pencils — for forms, quick notes, or anyone who finds ballpoints too permanent, these are a reliable grab-and-go option
- Anyone who loses pencils — the affordable per-unit cost means losing one doesn't sting the way losing a $15 artist-grade mechanical pencil does
Skip these if you're looking for precision drafting tools or need a fine point for technical drawing. And if you do a lot of shading or gradient work, the thick 0.9mm line will frustrate you — it's built for durability, not nuance.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If the BIC Xtra Strong doesn't feel like the right fit, here are two alternatives worth a look:
- Paper Mate SharpWriter Mechanical Pencils — also a thick 0.9mm No. 2 option, but with a twist-top advance mechanism instead of an eraser cap. Better if you prefer not to sacrifice eraser function for lead advancement.
- Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencil — a step up in build quality with a finer 0.7mm tip and a retractable tip design that keeps pockets clean. Better for precision work, though pricier per unit and not sold in bulk packs at this price point.
FAQ
They use a 0.9mm thick point, which is the broadest standard size for mechanical pencils. This makes them more durable for heavy-handed writers and ideal for filling in bubbles on standardized test answer sheets.
Final Verdict
The BIC Xtra Strong Mechanical Pencils aren't glamorous, and they don't try to be. What they are is reliable, affordable, and well-suited to exactly the use case they advertise: school and office writing without the drama of constant lead breakage or sharpening. The 0.9mm thick point is the star feature — it forgives grip pressure that would destroy a finer mechanical pencil, which makes these particularly practical for younger students or anyone who tends to bear down while writing. The eraser cap advance mechanism works, though it takes a small adjustment period. At 24 pencils per pack and the current price point, you're looking at solid per-unit value that competes well with both name-brand and house-label alternatives. Would I recommend them? Yes — with the caveat that they're built for function, not artistry. If you need bold, durable lines and a pencil that just works, these deliver.