Writing with a pen that feels like it was made just for you is a small pleasure unlike any other. However, finding that elusive best pen can take a little trial and error. In fact, there's a lot to take into consideration: Variables like ink type, pen width, writing purpose, and paper type all subtly affect the writing experience differently for every person.
In this guide, we're thoroughly breaking down everything you need to know about the best pens and how to differentiate among types, so you can make the best choice for you.
What to Consider
Pen Types
Although the judgment of a pen's performance is somewhat subjective, it's important to understand the differences between the five most prominent pen categories and their respective ink types so that you know which ones are most compatible with your writing style.
Ballpoint, rollerball, and gel pens typically all have a rolling ball mechanism at their tips, which distributes ink from their internal cartridge onto the page. However, the ink type differs slightly among them.
- Ballpoint pens contain ink that is oil-based and is the most viscous of all pen-ink types. This means that the ink dries quickly, but you may find yourself pressing down hard on the page in order to write with it.
- Rollerball pens contain water-based ink, which allows them to glide far more smoothly over the page. However, this type of pen can be troublesome for left-handed people to use since the ink is slower to dry and has the tendency to smudge.
- Gel pens also contain water-based ink, but this ink is pigment-based rather than dye-based, so the consistency is slightly thicker than rollerball-pen ink. These pens are a little more user-friendly than rollerballs, and they can also be found in a rainbow spectrum of colors. Cheap gel pens are prone to clumping and drying out, so this pen category is worth spending a little more on.
- Felt-tip pens are also known as marker pens or porous-point pens due to the porous material of their tips. These pens actually encompass a wide group of marker-type utensils — both permanent and nonpermanent – but the ones that are used for writing on paper contain water- or pigment-based dye.
- Fountain pens are sophisticated writing utensils that require a little more know-how to fill and use. They are typically used with dye-based inks, which are contained in disposable cartridges or refillable converters. The tip of a fountain pen is called a nib, and the size of the nib affects the flow of ink from it. The fountain pens in this guide are equipped with medium nibs, which produce a line width of about .8 mm. Though fountain pens can be used on regular paper, a thicker paper is recommended because the pen's higher output of watery ink is likely to bleed through a thin page.
Price
The price of your pens can also be a major factor as you’re looking since the price per pen can range anywhere from less than a dollar to well into the thousands for a designer or rare piece. Some of the most highly regarded pens are incredibly expensive, so we narrowed our focus to pens around $25 each — though the top-rated pens from our test are even more affordable than that!
How We Tested
We researched pens within each of the above categories individually. Due to each pen category's unique ink type and design characteristics, we decided that the pens within them should be judged against each other, not across categories.
Once we honed in on 22 reviewer-favorite pens, we then drew up the criteria for the testing phase. These criteria were based on the most common features found in our research, along with our own gut-check instincts of whether or not this was a pen that we'd recommend to others:
- Comfort in hand
- Writing smoothness
- Level of ink smearing (also when highlighted)
- Level of ink bleeding through paper
- Ease of left-handed use
To test, we asked 15 of our site editors and staffers to write with pens on regular office paper and rate them. The fountain pens were tested on thicker notebook paper and were judged mainly on comfort in hand and ease of use. Based on the responses from our test, we were able to narrow our candidates down and rank the best pens in each category.
The results of our testing are below. Find out which of the best pens earned top marks!
1
Best Ballpoint Pen
Uni-Ball Jetstream Retractable Ballpoint Pen (3-Pack)
1
Best Ballpoint Pen
Uni-Ball Jetstream Retractable Ballpoint Pen (3-Pack)
Pros
Writes very smoothly without skipping- Comfortably wide grip for a fine-tip pen
Cons
- Requires pressure to create darker lines
What may seem like a no-nonsense retractable pen at first glance is actually a total delight to use. The majority of our testers gave a perfect rating to the Uni-Ball Jetstream’s comfortable grip and bleedproof ink quality.
While the smoothness of this ballpoint pen is not as slick as other types, testers still found that it wrote easily and effortlessly; as one editor said, “It writes without a hiccup, making it a great everyday pen. Smooth to the touch and steady on the paper.”
This particular Uni-Ball Jetstream pen has a fine .7-millimeter tip (for comparison, the standard BIC ballpoint pen has a 1-millimeter tip), and three out of four of our left-handed testers gave it top marks for its smearproof quality.
We also tested the Skilcraft U.S. Government Ballpoint Pen, the Zebra F-402, and the Fisher Bullet Space Pen in the ballpoint pen category.
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Key Specs
| Pen type | Ballpoint |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .7 mm |
2
Best Pen for Highlighting
Zebra F-402 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pens (2-Pack)
2
Best Pen for Highlighting
Zebra F-402 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pens (2-Pack)
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Pros
- Metal body feels luxurious and sturdy
- Fine tip produces smooth lines
Cons
- Slightly weighty
We wanted to make sure that we included a highlighting component in our testing criteria since some pen inks, even when dry, can smear from the added layer of wet ink. We tested this with all pen categories except for fountain pens.
Unsurprisingly, the viscous-ink ballpoint pens performed the best, and the Zebra F-402 was the top pen in this test. Almost instantly, after writing with it, we found that the text could be highlighted without any smearing whatsoever.
This 0.7-millimeter fine-point retractable pen has a stainless steel build and velvety grip, and it struck most of our testers as being a substantial writing utensil. One tester said, “This one felt sturdy and comfortable; not too fussy.”
A few testers did critique the weightiness of the pen, though, and felt that the ink flow was too thin for it to be their top choice.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Ballpoint |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .7 mm |
3
Best Rollerball Pen
Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pen (3-Pack)
3
Best Rollerball Pen
Uni-Ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pen (3-Pack)
Pros
- Produces smooth, fluid lines
- Lightweight and has a comfortable grip
Cons
- Wet ink smears easily
As far as writing smoothness goes, the Uni-Ball Vision Elite may be the best of the bunch. Our testers found its fluid ink flow quite exceptional, with one person saying, “I thought it wrote very smoothly. I also love how dark and rich the ink appears.”
As is expected with rollerball pens, this pen’s ink takes slightly longer to dry and is unfortunately prone to smearing. One of our left-handed testers said, “I want to like this pen because I love how thick the ink comes out, but it is just not meant for left-handed people.”
The design of this rollerball pen can also be a point of contention with users. A few of our testers loved the substantial flow of ink from its slim 0.8-millimeter tip, but they found that the pen's crosshatched grip was uncomfortable to hold for longer periods of time. Others found this design to be a major plus and actually conducive to the writing experience.
In any case, you may want to reserve these pens for thicker, non-glossy paper to enjoy them to their fullest.
In the rollerball pen category, we also tested the Pilot Precise V5RT and Uni-Ball ONYX rollerball pens.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Rollerball |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .8 mm |
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4
Best Gel Pen
Pilot G2 Retractable Gel-Ink Pen (12-Pack)
4
Best Gel Pen
Pilot G2 Retractable Gel-Ink Pen (12-Pack)
Pros
- Produces dark ink without extra pressure
- Feels comfortable in the hand
Cons
- Ink tends to smear
Gel pens were a popular category with our testing group, thanks to the gel ink's smooth writing flow and quick-drying properties. The fine-point 0.7-millimeter tip of this particular Pilot G2 model was highly rated for its comfort in hand, smooth writing, and bleedproof qualities.
Our left-handed testers were split on whether the ink’s smear factor was a problem for them. One noted, “It’s fairly trusty with a smooth tip and solid ink flow, but if you aren't cautious, it does smear."
This retractable pen is equipped with a comfortable, contoured grip, making it an ideal choice for longhand writing. It's also available in 0.38-, 0.5-, and 1-millimeter tip sizes.
We tested this gel ink pen alongside the Uni-Ball Gel Grip, Pilot G-Tec-C, the TUL Gel Pens, the Zebra Sarasa, and the Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Gel |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .7 mm |
5
Best Felt-Tip Pen
Marvy Uchida Le Pen (12-Pack)
5
Best Felt-Tip Pen
Marvy Uchida Le Pen (12-Pack)
Pros
- Smooth and effortless ink flow
- Sleek design
Cons
- Slimmer size may not be comfortable for everyone
Our testers were split on the felt-tip category overall because personal preferences on pen barrel size varied widely. The fine-point 0.3-millimeter Marvy Uchida Le Pen won out for its smearproof ink.
This pen writes incredibly smoothly, requiring virtually no force to make a vivid, bold mark on the page. As one tester put it, “It may be a little slimmer than the average writing utensil, but it makes writing by hand really fun.”
We also tested the Pilot Razor Point II Marker Stick Pen, the Prismacolor Premier Illustration Marker, the Paper Mate Flair Felt-Tip Pen, and the Sharpie Pen in this category.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Felt tip |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .3 mm |
6
Best Beginner Fountain Pen
Gullor JinHao X750 Medium-Nib Fountain Pen
6
Best Beginner Fountain Pen
Gullor JinHao X750 Medium-Nib Fountain Pen
Pros
- Looks and feels more expensive than it is
- Writes beautifully
Cons
- Too heavy and thick for longhand writing
Every one of our testers actually said “whoa” upon picking up the JinHao X750 fountain pen — and that was before they found out how inexpensive it is! This pen was undoubtedly the thickest and weightiest pen of the group, but its surprisingly comfortable grip made it easy and enjoyable for beginner fountain-pen writers to use.
One tester said, “The heft makes it feel expensive and substantial. Aesthetically, it’s very pleasing, and the writing is easy and smooth.”
While this is not a pen for extended longhand writing, its included medium-size nib gives a nice flourish to handwritten notes, calligraphy, and of course, your signature on important documents. If the provided medium nib doesn’t work for you, you can always swap it out for a compatible model in your preferred size.
It’s worth noting that the JinHao X750 comes equipped with a piston converter, so users will need to have their own inkwell on hand to be able to refill it. We used ink from a Parker Quink inkwell. The pen’s converter mechanism worked without any issue, and we found this video tutorial from JetPens to be a fantastic guide for first-time users.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Fountain pen |
|---|---|
| Tip size | Medium nib (around .8 mm) |
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7
Best Pen for Lefties
Pilot Razor Point II Marker Stick Pen (12-Pack)
Pros
- Smudge- and bleedproof ink
- Comfortable pen width
Cons
- Feels scratchy to write with
Of the 15 testers in our group, four are left-handed, and each type of pen category seemed to present its own set of challenges for them. The fountain pens and gel pens were tough categories in terms of ink smudging. Intriguingly, their only unanimous vote went to a pen in the felt-tip category.
The Pilot Razor Point II is technically a porous-point pen with a super-fine 0.2-millimeter tip that writes like a very slim marker without looking as dark or unwieldy. One tester even said, “It doesn’t feel like a felt-tip! More like a ballpoint.”
This pen also got high marks on its bleedproof quality and comfort in the hand. While it definitely doesn't write as smoothly as the Le Pen, it may be more versatile in terms of the paper thickness you're able to use.
Our lefties also liked the Uni-Ball Jetstream Ballpoint Pen, Pilot Precise V5RT Rollerball Pen, and the Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Rollerball Pen.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Felt tip |
|---|---|
| Tip size | .2 mm |
8
Best Luxury Pen
Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen
8
Best Luxury Pen
Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen
Pros
- Sturdy but not heavy feel
- Aesthetically pleasing and professional-looking
Cons
- Cap feels slightly clunky
When it comes to buying a luxury pen, the sky is truly the (price) limit. We found the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen to be one of the most affordable yet high-quality and reviewer-beloved pens out there, clocking in at just around $25 from most retailers.
Our testers voted that this model was the easiest and most intuitive of the fountain pens to use. One person noted, “This is a great pen. It’s on the slim side but still elegant, and it writes very well. Very smooth.”
This particular pen comes with a medium nib but is also available to buy in a fine-nib size. It comes equipped with an ink cartridge, as well as a squeeze converter that can be used to fill it from an inkwell. For our purposes, we tested it using the provided ink cartridge.
We tested this fountain pen alongside the JinHao X750 Fountain Pen, the Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen, and the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen.
Key Specs
| Pen type | Fountain pen |
|---|---|
| Tip size | Medium nib (around .8 mm) |
Melanie Yates
Senior Service Editor
Melanie Yates is the senior service editor of Best Products, where she writes and reports pieces pertaining to the etiquette, dilemmas, and how-tos of gift-giving for different occasions. Previously, she was the site's senior home editor, covering all things decor- and bedding-related since 2015. Her digital byline can also be found on Bustle, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor. A longtime classical-music enthusiast, Melanie spends her off-hours enjoying performances big and small across New York City.