Pencil World Records

Dominick D. broke 50 pencils with his neck in one minute.

Ben fit 201 pencils in his t-shirt at once while he was wearing it.

Raja Thapa placed 138 pencils in his mouth at once.

Yanhao Deng of Chenzhou, Hunan, tucked five pencils into the crease behind one ear and let go, the way a carpenter parks a pencil, only five at once. In one unedited phone clip filmed in a bedroom, Yanhao first shows the bundle end-on so every pencil end can be counted, then works the bundle in behind the ear and drops both hands for about six seconds while the pencils settle and stay put. RecordSetter counted the five ends in that opening view and checked the hold frame by frame. Five pencils, zero hands.

Yanhao Deng of Chenzhou, Hunan, tucked 22 pencils sideways under the chin and pinned them against the chest with both hands down, like a striped bow tie. In one unedited phone clip filmed in a bedroom, Yanhao first turns the bundle end-on to the camera so every pencil end shows, then stacks the pencils flat, clamps them under the chin and lets go for about five seconds without one slipping. RecordSetter counted the 22 pencil ends in that opening view and checked the hold frame by frame. A rainbow bow tie, no hands.

Yanhao Deng of Chenzhou, Hunan, held a bundle of 7 orange pencils lengthwise between the tips of two index fingers, one on each end, with the rest of both hands curled clear. In one unedited phone clip filmed in a bedroom, Yanhao first turns the bundle end-on to the camera so all seven pencil ends show, then pinches it between the two fingertips and keeps it level for more than three seconds before the first pencil slips loose. RecordSetter counted the pencil ends in that opening view and checked the hold frame by frame. Two fingertips, seven pencils, nothing else touching.

Yanhao Deng and Jingxiang Lei of Chenzhou, Hunan, held a bundle of 7 yellow pencils lengthwise between two thumbtips, one from each of them. In one continuous phone clip filmed in their classroom, Yanhao first turns the bundle end-on to the camera so all seven pencil ends show, then the pair press it end to end between their thumbs and keep it level for more than three seconds while the camera swings over to Jingxiang. RecordSetter counted the pencil ends in that opening view and checked frame by frame that only the two thumbs touch the bundle during the hold. Two people, two thumbs, and not a pencil out of line.

Yanhao Deng of Chenzhou, Hunan, held 30 pencils wedged between the index and middle fingers of one hand, with the thumb spread well clear of the bundle. In one unedited phone clip filmed in a bedroom, Yanhao packs the round bundle of orange, yellow, white and teal pencils into the gap between two fingers, takes the other hand away, and turns the open palm to the camera so the flat pencil ends face the lens. RecordSetter counted the pencil ends in that end-on view, and the bundle is consistent with the claimed 30. That is most of a pencil case parked in one finger gap.

Dinesh Shivnath Upadhyaya held 301 pencils in his hand at once.

Dave G. laid 1,220 pencils end to end in Beverley Library in Yorkshire, England. He set the record to celebrate National Libraries Day. Oxford University Press provided the pencils he used for the attempt.

Yanhao Deng of Chenzhou, Hunan, lifted 28 pencils off a classroom floor in a single grab with a litter picker. In one continuous phone clip, the metal jaws close around a spread of orange, yellow, white and teal pencils, squeeze them into a bundle and raise it into the air, where it hangs for about seven seconds without a pencil falling. The bundle is packed too tightly to count pencil by pencil on camera, but about two dozen pencils show on its outside with more hidden inside, consistent with the claimed 28. Litter pickers are usually trusted with one wrapper at a time.

Emily Wilson[] sharpened five completely unsharpened pencils in one minute, a new world record. To confirm that the pencils were sufficiently sharp, Wilson successfully popped balloons with each one when the minute was complete. The feat was achieved on November 24, 2008 at the World Record Appreciation Society’s first-ever event. It took place at Asia Roma[], a karaoke bar in New York City. Event organizers Corey Henderson and Dan Rollman were on hand to witness and document the achievement.

Grace N. shoved 23 pencils into her French braid in 40 seconds.

Mickey N. snatched 62 pencils from the back of his hand simultaneously.

Alexander T. snatched 53 pencils from the back of his hand.

Viktor O. stacked 107 pencils on a Nintendo 3DS.