Top 5 Drawing Tools Every Cartoonist Should Have

Whether you’re sketching your first cartoon character or working on a full comic strip, the right tools can make a world of difference.
While you don’t need an expensive studio setup to get started, having a few trusted drawing essentials will boost your creativity — and make the process a lot more fun!

Here are the Top 5 Drawing Tools Every Cartoonist Should Have.

 
1. A Good Pencil (or Two)
Every masterpiece begins with a simple pencil.

Mechanical pencils (like Pentel or Uni-ball) are great for clean, consistent lines.
Traditional wood pencils give you flexibility — you can choose softer leads (2B, 4B) for darker, sketchier work or harder leads (H, 2H) for lighter construction lines.
Tip: Always keep a few extra pencils nearby — you'll use them more than you think!

 
2. Quality Erasers
Mistakes aren't failures — they're part of the magic of cartooning.
A good eraser helps you clean up rough drafts without damaging your paper.

Types of erasers to have:

Kneaded Eraser: Soft, moldable, perfect for lifting light lines.
Vinyl Eraser: Stronger, ideal for erasing darker, more stubborn marks.
Tip: Avoid cheap pink erasers — they often smudge your work instead of cleaning it.

 
3. Inking Pens or Fineliners
Once your sketch is ready, inking brings your cartoon to life.

Micron pens (Sakura Pigma Micron) are a favorite among artists for crisp, permanent black lines.
Brush pens (like Pentel Pocket Brush) are excellent for adding dynamic, varied line weights.
Waterproof ink is important if you plan to color later with markers or paints.
Tip: Experiment with different pen thicknesses (from 0.1 to 0.8) to find your style!

 
4. A Sketchbook You Actually Like
Your sketchbook is your playground, your laboratory, and your museum all at once.

Look for a sketchbook that:

Lays flat when open (easier to draw across two pages)
Has thick paper (at least 80lb or 120gsm) to handle ink without bleeding
Feels right in your hand (size matters — small for portability, larger for more freedom)
Tip: Don’t treat sketchbooks like they have to be perfect. Fill them with doodles, mistakes, notes — that's how you grow!

 
5. Digital Drawing Tablet (Optional, but Awesome)
For cartoonists venturing into the digital world, a drawing tablet is a game-changer.

Popular options:

iPad + Apple Pencil (great for apps like Procreate)
Wacom One or Wacom Intuos (affordable, beginner-friendly drawing tablets for PC or Mac)
XP-Pen and Huion tablets (good alternatives for smaller budgets)
Digital tablets let you:

Undo mistakes instantly
Experiment with colors easily
Save and share your work online
Tip: Start with free or low-cost apps (like Autodesk Sketchbook or Krita) before investing in expensive software.

 
🎨 Final Thoughts
You don’t need a room full of expensive gear to create amazing cartoons.
With just a pencil, eraser, sketchbook, and a few inking pens, you can start building your cartooning skills today.

The most important tool you have?
Your imagination.
The rest just helps bring it to life.