Which pens are best for writing with

For more info on how we tested these pens in-house, scroll to the very bottom to check out our process. 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, but they all contain slightly different types of ink. 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. This type of pen can be troublesome for left-handed people to use, however, since the ink is slower to dry and has the tendency to smudge.

Gel pens also contain a 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 can also be found in a rainbow spectrum of colors.

Cheap gel pens are prone to clumping and drying out, so this category of pen 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 a 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 in 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.

We researched each of the above pen categories individually. These all provided a jumping-off point into which affordable pens across all categories were worth testing for ourselves in-house. All in all, this research took roughly four full work days. Learn more about how we test products , from the questions we ask our testing team, to the types of products we feel are actually worth testing, to the overall time we put in to our testing process.

The results of our testing are below. Read on to find out which budget-friendly pens earned top marks! What may seem like a no-nonsense retractable pen at first glance is actually a total delight to use. Smooth to the touch and steady on the paper. The tip feels like a mechanical pencil dragging across the page, and would not be great for the average user, unless you prefer a very fine point. Smoothness : 3 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 3 Looks : 2. Although the ink is black, it comes out looking light gray, and the super-fine tip means that there is quite a bit of dragging on the page.

A very cool, if not ideal, pen. Smoothness : 3 Smudging : 3. On the pricey side, it would be a handsome and giftable upgrade to your everyday plastic fountain pen. It feels hefty and balanced in the hand. The Sailor fountain pen yields smooth lines and the ink output is consistent — dark and thick. The nib feels a little draggy and scratchy across the paper, but that seems common of fountain pens. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 4 Bleed-through : 4.

This is the retractable version of the also very popular Pilot V5 see It has a needle-fine point that allows for smaller and neater writing. I like the point on this pen. No ballpoint pen will ever leave a mark as smooth as a felt-tip pen, and the BIC Atlantis is no exception. A classic disposable ballpoint pen that everyone has probably tried at some point. No skipping or bleed-through, and smudging is minimal if present at all.

The one thing that really detracts from this one overall is its discomfort. The angular, hard plastic body quickly becomes uncomfortable in the hand. With its bright yellow body other color options are also available , it is a refreshing pop of color among blue and black pens, and the angular body and oversize clip look cool and not at all fussy.

Smoothness : 2. The Uni-ball writes mostly smooth once it gets going, although there is some skipping at first. For a Staples staple the design is not bad: space age-y with an alternating matte and chrome silver finish. There is barely any bleed-through and absolutely no smudging, which is rare for a rollerball.

Smoothness : 3 Smudging : 2. Kaweco is best known for its fountain pens, but this one is a standard ballpoint. You smell mahogany and cigar smoke just looking at it. As for the actual writing: the blue ink comes out more smoothly and easily than it would with a cheaper ballpoint, but it also smudges a bit more than a regular ballpoint does. Perfect for writing checks. This pen from L. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 3 Feel : 4 Looks : 3. But it feels more like writing with a Sharpie than with a pen.

It also sometimes has an uneven flow of ink, with the middle of the line appearing a little lighter than the final flourish. I had no smudging issues. That makes it very easy to tell what color ink to expect when you start writing. Or a calligraphy brush dressed up as a pen. This makes the letter ligaments thicker than most, which will frustrate those who write small.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 4 Feel : 4 Looks : 1. Seriously, you barely need to apply any pressure when writing in order to get a continuous line.

The fast-drying ink also results in zero smudging, which makes this pen ideal for cursive writers. The padded grip is a nice touch and the pen is super light. Unfortunately, what it boasts in comfort, it lacks in aesthetics. The Conklin Duragraph is a big, stately pen. Sometimes that works for it, and sometimes that works against it. While those with larger hands will appreciate the generous size, it might be a bit unwieldy for those with smaller hands.

The biggest issue was skipping, especially when starting to write again after a short rest. Smudging was about average for a fountain pen.

No bleed-through. The Maica is an upgrade to the Hi-Tec C and is supposed to appeal to a more design-conscious user. It has a rounded body with a removable cap that features a jewel-cut dome at the top and a loop on the side — perhaps for attaching a little charm.

Honestly, the design elements are a little fussy, especially for Pilot, but the pen itself is a winner. It has a very fine needlepoint tip. The tip drags less than the that of the original Hi-Tec C and allows for very controlled, small, neat handwriting.

For those who prefer a fine-point gel option, the Maica is an ideal choice. The ink comes out neither too thick nor too thin. This pen has a needlepoint tip, but its smoothness factor far surpasses most of its ilk. I can use it to both print and write in cursive, and the line is consistent in both instances.

The point, though extra fine, feels substantial when pressed down, and the ink-flow and smoothness are extremely consistent. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 2. Unfortunately, the same heft that makes the pen as durable as a tank might also make it tire out your hands. And there are traces of smudging.

Design-wise, the all-black body with silver accents lends this pen a cool, minimalist look. But while the pen-release mechanism on the side is a well thought-out design feature, it does catch quite a bit during use. For a ballpoint pen, the Delfonics is surprisingly smooth. The ink comes out nicely and dries quickly, but in many ways the pen is disappointing. You end up having to contort your body a little to the left to make out the text, which makes the whole exercise pretty uncomfortable.

My hand would cramp. Rating the BIC Gel-ocity was a classic case of not judging a book by its cover. Compared to other fine-line pens, the Onyx has a much smoother flow and is more accommodating to writing large, rounded letters. Now this is a sexy pen.

The ink is a bit slow to dry and can smudge if you run your hand over it too soon. This is a fancier ballpoint with a substantial metallic body and a twist mechanism. The point is rather thick and requires more pressure to write, although you can control the ink-flow this way. A light touch yields a finer line, while pressing down harder imparts a thicker line. The body is black with silvery accents and the pen feels weighty in the hand.

It would be a good pen for signing special documents and displaying on a corporate desk. Total Score : 4. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 3. This is in the mid- to high-end range of fountain pens, and it feels like it. The nib glides easily across the page, yielding consistent ink-flow and lines, even though the ink looks a little wet. The blue ink looks almost purple, and it, too, has a watercolor-y aspect. There is a satisfying weight and heft to the pen and it feels nice in the hand.

Another bonus: the ink-flow started immediately after the cartridge was installed. This is a hefty pen made out of solid titanium. When writing with it, the ink flowed in a thick line and was rather smooth, with minimal smudging. Each component screws on and off via threading: the barrel holding the tip of the ink cartridge, the cap, and the back of the pen. Total Score: 4. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4 Looks : 2. I really like the click top — it has such a substantial and satisfying feel and noise.

And the rubber grip is nice. It feels smooth and comfortable in my hand, not too heavy. The Parker IM Rollerball is handsome looking. A smooth operator. The kind of pen that takes itself seriously. One could imagine it on a wooden desk, being used to sign important papers by an important person.

But this pen approximates what a luxury pen offers, at a much lower price point. Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 2. The Pilot Razor Point pen is a lot like a Le Pen, but dressed in American business casual instead of a perfectly cut blazer. Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 4 Bleed-through : 3 Feel : 4 Looks : 4. I have a very intimate working knowledge of this TUL pen, because I own a colored set of these that I use every day.

One of the most unique things about this pen is its triangular-shaped body with rounded edges. Smoothness : 4 Smudging: 3. With a solid and smooth line, this rollerball pen is reminiscent of a fountain pen — with none of the learning curve.

Another cool touch: the dots on the body indicate the ink color. The Sakura Micron pen sticks a tiny bit which slows me down as I write. Another plus? If your hand often gets tired while writing, consider this liquid gel ink pen.

According to Geissler, the comfortable rubberized grip helps with hand fatigue. In addition to the. Geissler calls this a "pen with purpose. Or, if you're in search of a gift , the impressive-looking pen would be a great addition to any present. Zebra Sarasa in. For a slightly bolder line, the.

The pens are known for their delightfully crisp writing experience. Expect no smudging or bleeding from the ink. The colors are bold, too—even the yellow. With a built-in alligator clip, the pen can be attached to notebooks or that coloring book.

For more variety, try a pack. Your Best Life. Type keyword s to search. Temi Oyeyola. Most Popular. Good for Lefties. Fisher Space Pen. The Pilot Dr. Grip Limited , for example, has an ergonomic design similar to that of the Dr. The Uni-ball Signo , a former pick, produced inconsistent lines some thick and some thin and smudged. Most of the pens we dismissed had ink issues and comfort or design issues. The Zebra Pen F produced fainter lines than other ballpoints, and its ribbed plastic grip was uncomfortable to hold.

The Morning Glory Pro Mach rollerball produced thicker, more-inconsistent lines than its 0. One of its ink slots was impossible to use, and the pen we tested kept getting stuck. This is an issue several owners reported on Amazon. It skipped, feathered, and blobbed more than our picks, and it also took a notably long time to dry.

The Sharpie Pen is technically a marker with a very fine tip, so it feels different from nearly any other pen. That feeling was divisive for our testers. Schneider pens, including the Slider Rave XB and Slider Basic , are smoother and faster-drying than a typical cheap office pen.

The Bic Atlantis available in 0. In our experience, the Atlantis blobbed and feathered more than any of our picks, although it was smooth. But the Precise V5 RT is likely to be on the same shelf and is better still. Office Depot sells an exclusive line of pens under the TUL brand, in rollerball , gel pen , and ballpoint.

Their exclusivity makes them less interesting as a generally recommended pen and you can buy all of our other picks at Office Depot. Reviewers ding the gel pen for its long drying time, and they recommend the line more for stocking an office than for buying a nice pen for yourself.

We considered the very wide array of Uni-ball pens for this updated guide, and we tried the Vision Elite with BLX inks. For everyday writing, this pen is very, very wet, and will likely leave the side of your pinkie or palm shellacked with dark ink. For anyone who wants a bold, colorful pen for sketches or illustrations, the color selection and the dark, thick ink may appeal. Melanie Pinola is a Wirecutter senior staff writer covering all things home office.

A primer on pen types Ballpoint pens. Our pick. Uni-ball Jetstream RT The best everyday ballpoint pen With its fast-drying ink, the Jetstream is a go-to pen for everyday writing on any kind of paper. Also great. Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color A multicolor pen for enhanced note-taking As slim as a typical ballpoint pen, this Jetstream lets you switch between writing with black, blue, and red ink—without having to carry multiple pens.

Pilot Dr. Pilot Precise V5 RT An inexpensive pen for writing with dark, precise lines This rollerball pen is a great choice for fine lettering or drawing, and it costs less than similar pens. Uni-ball Signo RT1 A minimalist-looking gel pen for fine-tip lovers This pen has an understated, single-color barrel design. Everything we recommend. Why you should trust us. Who this is for. How we picked and tested. Feathering refers to ink bleeding from the edge of letters, versus crisp lettering.

Bleeding refers to ink coming through to the other side of the paper or even to the next sheet. Smudging is when the ink smears and the letters you write blur. Slow-drying inks that typically smudge can even transfer to other paper.

There were a lot of pens to consider. In round one, over the course of about three weeks I tested all 26 pens, grouping them by category for example, ballpoint pens and starting with the least expensive pens. I eliminated the pens that skipped, blotted, felt uncomfortable to hold, or had other flaws compared with their peers. Comparing the three multicolor pens we called in for testing, I had clear picks based on their size, knock or clicking mechanism, and overall comfort.

In round two, I tested three ergonomic pens and also sent them to two panelists—my mom, a retired doctor with rheumatoid arthritis, and my brother, a physical therapist who also has opinions about pens. In round three, I sent six potential picks in the other categories ballpoints, rollerballs, and gel pens to our five Wirecutter staff panelists.

Two of them also recruited their partners—one a southpaw, the other a pen enthusiast—to help with the testing. These are some of the pens we tested. These samples and others later in this guide are written on a Maruman Mnemosyne N steno pad.