The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Pen

By Samantha Di Nardo

Parker Jotter personalized pen

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Pen

By Samantha Di Nardo

If you are looking at the millions of awesome pens out there in the world and wondering, "How the heck do I choose the best pens among all these?", then look no further!

In this comprehensive guide, I'm going to talk about everything pen-related: writing style, ink, construction, the paper you normally use, the reasons for buying, and even some of the ecological aspects of pen shopping.

At the end, I also have a list of some of the best pens that have been tested out if you need some recommendations for your pen selection.

Let's jump in!

We'll start with...

Writing Style

Cross gold pens with different writing styles

Writing style is just an easy way of saying how the pen delivers ink to the writing surface. There are quite a few styles out there.

Ballpoint

Woman sitting in the grass writing notes with a engraved hemisphere black ballpoint

Just like Step Up taught me: a good ballerina can adapt to any dance style.

The ballpoint pen is the hip-hop ballerina of pens. It's the most versatile and works for pretty much any writing surface.

Basically, ballpoints have small ball rolls at the tip of the pen which spread oil-based ink when pressure is applied.

They tend to be less expensive, easily accessible, and ready to go at any moment... Like those little packages of orange peanut butter crackers.

Fountain Pen

Multiple fountain pen nibs displayed

Fountain Pens, on the other hand, are the Cinderella of the pen world. Magnificent to look at, functional, but maybe not always the most practical (Who in their right mind runs away from true love with only one high heel on?).

Fountain pens use a feed to bring liquid ink down to the tip of the pen (what's called the nib). They are flexible and adapt to the handwriting of the user, and they make your signature look awesome.

Their only downfall (for some users) is they require a level of upkeep and maintenance.

Some users love that feeling of being involved in the maintenance of their pen. But, if not attended to, the water-based ink will dry up like those guys that took the cursed jars in the Mummy.

Fortunately, with little cleaning and ink refilling, a fountain pen is right back to work.

While they feel fancy and delicate, the best fountain pen can stand up to a lot of daily use like any other pen. So don't let the glass shoes fool you: they deliver.

Rollerball

Cross Century II Rollerball Pen White Lacquer

I came in like a Rooooolller Ballllll.

-a completely real and not at all altered quote from Miley Cyrus*

Rollerballs (sometimes called rolling ball or select tip pens) are the best of both worlds between a ballpoint and a fountain pen.

They have the same small ball mechanism of the ballpoint with the liquid based ink of a fountain pen so you get a smooth writing experience without the upkeep.

*Not a real quote from the Miley Cyrus hit tune Wrecking Ball

Gel Pen

Jotter Gel Pen

Gel pens are technically, basically, mostly just rollerballs.

The term is often used interchangeably in luxury pens. They have the same writing mechanism as a rollerball.

What makes gel pens different? Well, gel ink.

We'll revisit this bit when we talk about inks, but the differences are important to mention here.

Gel pens have ink that is gel/water-based, and that makes it just the slightest bit sticky, so it adheres to pretty much any surface. Unlike water-based inks, gel ink doesn't need to sink as deep into the surface to catch and come out clear.

That said, a lot of rollerball pens have the same ink as gel pens too. At that point, gel pens and rollerball pens are different in name only.

Gel pens are key to writing in that old Lisa Frank notebook you still have in the back of your closet. (If you aren't journaling about your 6th grade crush with a gel pen, what's even the point?)

Felt Tip Pen

pencils pens in container

A felt tip pen can mean anything from an archival pen to the Crayola scented markers.

Porous fibers are pressed together to form the writing tip. The fibers soak up the ink and voila! writing. Markers, highlighters, even the fantastic Micron Pens are all prime examples of Felt Tip Pens.

Stylus

Get out your clay tablets and your Palm Pilots everybody! The stylus is back.

Now focused on all our fancy tablets, stylus pens are ideal for writing on computer screens and the like.

Unless you are buying one with your tablet, it is much more common to see styluses as an added on feature to a ballpoint pen.

On a final note about the basic pen types, check out this incredible pen type chart by Kyrsten Ledger breaking down the different types of pens and their uses. Top notch stuff.


What kind of ink works best for you

Noodlers Red Black Fountain Pen Ink with Eyedropper fountain pen

Selecting the right pen for you can often depend on the type of ink inside the pen.

How quickly it dries, if it smears, what color it is—all this comes down to the ink style.

Water-Based Ink

Up until the early 20th century, all writing ink was some formula comprised of at least water and a coloring agent.

While effective for the times, water based ink historically had some problems.

  • It took longer to dry which lead to smearing.
  • It would dry out in the pen over time if not properly maintained.
  • It was water soluble (so if your page got wet, there goes your writing).
  • And lastly, it couldn't handle pressure (only a big problem when flying became a thing).

Modern science and technology has done a lot to make water based ink a more usable and enjoyable medium, resolving a good bit of these issues. So what are the pros and cons of using water-based ink in your pens?

Pros:

  • smooth, flowing ink writing lines
  • limited skipping
  • doesn't clog inside the pen
  • comes in the largest variety of colors

Cons:

  • ink dries slower
  • water soluble
  • will dry out inside the pen if the pen is left uncapped for a long period of time
  • can freeze in colder climates

Luckily, all of the cons happen in extenuating circumstances; they're not built-in problems with the ink itself.

Oil-Based Ink

Oil-based ink is the most common form of ink used in the modern world because...

drumroll, please...

It's in the type of ink found in ballpoint pens!

Fun fact! Oil-based ink was invented by mimicking the type of ink used to print newspapers.

It's thicker and sludgier which prevents it from drying out quickly inside the pen, but also means it doesn't smear on the page.

Pros:

  • quick drying time
  • can write on almost any surface
  • does not leak in pressurized environment
  • takes much longer to dry out if uncapped
  • can handle colder climates since oil has a lower freezing point

Cons:

  • requires more writing pressure
  • skips more
  • leaves harder to clean stains if leaks
  • limited colors

Writing Hand

Are you right-handed or left-handed? This will have a major impact on how you write.

Right handed writing is the most common so all pen styles are easily functional for all the righties out there.

To all the Southpaws out there: apologies for the inconveniences! We see you; we feel your pain.

Left handed writers have much more to consider before purchasing a pen. Ink drying times can be tantamount to their writing experience since their hand follows behind the pen while writing.

Because of this, ballpoints and oil-based ink pens tend to be the most user-friendly pens for lefties since they dry almost as soon as they come in contact with the paper.

If you are a lefty interested in using a liquid-based ink pen, there are definitely options out there with special fast drying inks.

You can also change up how you hold your pen so you hand either rests above or below the writing line. This method will take some getting used to, but ensures the safety of your palm from getting covered in ink stains.

Pen Barrel (aka How the Pen Should Feel in Your Hand)

Blue Lacquer Cross Bailey Ballpoint Pen

You could have a writing style you love in a pen you paid a good chunk of change for with nice ink flow... and hate the experience of writing with it.

It might just not feel good in your hand.

This is all because of the design of the pen itself.

Here are a few things to consider to help make sure when you are holding the pen it feels comfortable, easy to use, and doesn't give you a raging hand cramp after 3 minutes of writing.

Thick vs Thin

Barrel size of your pen is the largest factor in hand-crampage avoidance.

For example, if you have the hands of a professional arm wrestler, you are probably not going to enjoy writing with a slimmer barrel.

Think of Jeff Dabe's trying to hold something the width of a Pixy Stix

On the other side of things, it would be challenging for a child to write with a Cross Edge.

Think about your hand size, finger length, and dexterity.

Thin Barrel Pens: 15-25mm in diameter 

Great for more slender fingers, smaller hands, and people who use their fingers for precision tasks.

Medium Barrel Pens: 25-32mm in diameter

The Goldilocks size of pens, this is a great average size if you aren’t sure what to try or you are buying for someone else.

Thick Barrel Pens: 33mm+ in diameter

Ideal for the larger handed or who like to grip things loosely. 

Weight & Balance

How heavy do you like your pen to be?

For some, the lighter, the better.

For others, they feel like the pen will go flying out of their hands like Vader is using the Force on their pen. 

Weight factors into balance and how the weight is distributed across the cap and barrel. 

Some people like a lot of weight towards the front or back of the hand, and that makes comfortable writing for them.

But an even balance of weight from front to back is arguably the best for most writers.

When getting a feel for the weight of your pen, try it with the cap posted (placed on the end of the barrel) and unposted.

Do you like the feel of the extra length and weight or does it bog down the pen in your hand?

Grip

The final major factor for how a pen feels in your hand is the grip.

The grip can be differentiated from the barrel by material or shape. 

Some pens like the Stick Bic, do not distinguish the grip at all while others make the grip rubber or a softer material for comfort.

In luxury pens, you probably will not find rubber grips, but the shape of the grip is often tailored to the design. The grip might taper to be smaller, flair out towards the tip for a natural hand hold, or might even be triangular or square.

There's a whole host of pens to choose with a million different grips, so don't feel overwhelmed; feel free to try different ones out and find the best one for you!

What is your budget?

white Canon cash register

Your budget is a huge determining factor in your shopping.

If you are looking for your favorite cheap, disposable pen (something under $10), it’s always good to give the classics a try (Uniball Roller, Pilot G-2, or a Zebra F-301). 

If you are looking for something more along the luxury side of pens anything $20 and beyond, check out our other articles on the subject for ideas on what to find in your budget:

How much do you use a pen?

Century II Black Gold Trim Rollerball Pen

You've got to consider how much use you're going to get out of the pen.

Is the pen just for looks? (by the way, it's COMPLETELY okay to buy a luxury pen for looks)

Do you use your pen for hours at a time or for small notes throughout the day?

If you are sitting down to write a letter, something formal, or are trying to get the most out of your signature, try a fountain pen or a rollerball at least.

For journaling, I'm a big fan of a rollerball, felt-tip, or gel ink pen since I am not worried too much about drying time, and I want my handwriting to look real nice with no hand cramps along the way.

Doing a cross word puzzle? Go fine tip gel pen, ideally fine enough that there is still room in the box if you make a mistake and have to write over your letter.

Writing periodically throughout the day (all my teachers out there grading papers!)? I'd go ballpoint so you never have to worry about getting your ink flowing.

Most high quality pens can handle a lot of use, so don't be worried about spending a lot on a pen that will only work for like a week. That won't happen.

But some pens are constructed out of—and finished with—materials like gold which can tarnish; that'll just require some cleaning, but it might mean you just use that pen for special occasions.

And this leads us now to talk about...

Construction Material

Cross Classic Gold Ballpoint Pen

The construction material is what the body of the pen and the internal workings are made up of versus the finish of the pen.

Construction materials will have a huge impact on how long your pen lasts and its weight/feel.

Cheaper pens will rarely have a distinction between the internal construction materials and the finish. What you see is pretty much what you get.

More expensive pens are going to invest quite a bit in the internal workings and materials (especially since, at a certain price point, they start to come with warranties). 

Construction materials are predominantly made up of plastic or metal.

Some are made of wood or solid gold, but this means the inner workings are likely from various metals or plastics.

The quality of the plastic or metal is going to change exponentially based on price.

Pen Finish (aka The Look of the Pen)

Lustrous Chrome Cross Classic Century Pen & Pencil Set

Welcome to a mad, mad, mad, mad world. Really, what can’t be a pen finish nowadays. To list a few pen finishes:

  • gold of a variety of karats
  • wood of a variety of varnishes
  • chrome of a variety of chromieness
  • lacquer of any color your heart desires
  • titanium (please note buying a titanium pen automatically comes with the hit song by David Guetta featuring Sia being stuck in your head for approx. 18.3 hours)*

The look of the pen is going to come entirely down to preference. Find something you think is real sharp and go for it. 

(Also! Don’t forget about appointments aka accents. This is what the clip, banding, tip, all that kind of stuff looks like.)

*Don't believe me? Just listen to it once.

Novelty Pens

Dayspring Personalized Blue Lumen Light Up Pen

Novelty pens are here to either be bought in bulk cheap and passed out at the teller of your bank or to be something crazy and fun (shoutout to those awesome wood animal pens they had at the zoo gift shop).

Promotional pens are novelty pens bought in bulk that are used for advertising. They usually have a company name or logo printed or engraved on them. 

The fun ones will come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They might light up or turn into a laser point. They are meant to be a gimmick more than anything (but I love a good gimmicky pen; down with snobbery!).

Who are you buying a pen for?

This is one of those questions that's really going to direct your shopping efforts.

There's two general categories for who you might buying for: yourself or someone else.

Buying a pen for yourself

Buying a pen for yourself is the simplest category.

You only need to focus on what you want, and that means just following a lot of what we've said here already and matching it up with things you intuitively feel you want.

Do you want a fountain pen?

Do you want it engraved?

What construction material and finish do you want it to have?

Just go through my checklist and check the availability of the company from which you wish to buy your fancy-schmancy new pen.

Buying a pen as a gift

Here's the real kicker.

Trying to buy the best pen for someone else can feel really daunting at first, but I'll break it down really easy.

(Our checklist also includes a section on buying for someone else, so everything I'm about to say can be found there, but let's talk a bit more in-depth about it.)

Here's 4 questions to ask yourself when buying for someone else:

  1. What is their relationship to you?
  2. What is the occasion for buying?
  3. What's the purpose of getting them a pen?
  4. What will they do with the pen?

First, and this is obvious, you need to consider the person you're buying for. what is their relationship to you? Are they a family member? A friend? A romantic partner? A fellow professional?

Different relations may dictate how much you spend on a pen (don't break the bank when buying for a coworker or a boss). Dad might like a black lacquer ballpoint pen with gold accompaniments, but a friend might be completely happy with a fully chrome rollerball.

You can usually intuit a good pen by referencing what you know of their personality.

Are they hardworking? Are they into high fashion? Are they serial note writers?

This is all helpful to consider when buying for someone else.

Second, consider the occasion for buying. Is it a holiday? A birthday? A graduation? A promotion? Or is it a completely gratuitous gift?

Gratuitous gifts are the best! It's like saying, "No reason, I just want to celebrate you without occasion!" I'm a big encourager of this kind of gift-giving behavior.

But definitely get the best pen that fits the occasion. A promotion means you should get them something that looks professional. A birthday might mean you get them something either symbolic, useful, or both!

Just take a second to think about the day!

Third, why are you getting them a pen specifically? Gift pens are great for all occasions; they're super flexible as far as conveying your intended meaning to your recipient by way of a useful and luxurious object.

But you should also consider why your recipient needs a gift in the first place.

There are two reasons for this:

1.) you want to make sure that a pen is going to say without words what you want it to say (It's got to have enough meaning to really hit home), And

2.) if you can figure out why they need a pen, you can write a really meaningful gift note to go along with it, like "To write your list and check it twice" (in this case, the gift recipient is none other than Santa Clause) or "For when someone asks you for an autograph" (for someone special in your life whose totally fame-bound).

Finally, what will your recipient do with the pen? Is this a useful tool for them? Or is it more of a symbolic gift?

If it's a useful gift, then trying to get the highest quality writing tool for a lower price point is totally acceptable. Again, don't break the bank.

If it's a symbolic gift, you might want to aim for more glitz and glam. Go for gold; gold never fails.

These are the questions I ask myself when I'm buying a pen for someone else.

What kind of paper do you write on?

Dayspring Pens 100gsm paper in the Leather Journal with three fountain pens

This is in no way meant to cause undo stress, but paper actually does matter quite a bit in your pen experience. That being said,

With a few exceptions, pretty much any pen can write on most paper surfaces.

The most notable exception is with any paper that has a glossier finish. For these, I recommend you go with a ballpoint. Ballpoints work great on glossy surfaces, and any surface for that matter.

However, aside from glossy paper, it's really just a question what type of pen with which you are writing.

For ballpoints, really any paper is just fine. But for liquid ink pens like rollerballs and especially fountain pens, paper matters.

 Pro Tip: Paper will make or break your experience writing with a fountain pen. To learn more about why paper matters and which paper to use, check out What is the Best Paper for Fountain Pens.

So, here's just two general points to consider about paper for an optimized writing experience:

Paper Color

You can get a varying range of paper color.

The color will vary for either aesthetic or material purposes.

The standard color is either white or off-white, but of course you can find a TON of different, fun colors to keep as your usual writing base.

You might also consider which ink color you use and think about which paper color would look best with it.

Black and red inks pop on pretty much any white or off-white page, but blue and browns look best on pure white.

Ink Bleed

Ink Ghosting through a page to the other side

Ink bleed happens when the ink from a pen seeps into the page and soaks through to the other side.

This happens for two reasons which are interlinked:

  1. The ink is probably water-based or something else that is slow-drying

    because it doesn't dry before it sinks into the page. Water-based inks look best on paper precisely because they sink into the page, but if it seeps too much it becomes blotchy.

  2. The paper does not have enough weight.

    Weight/thickness is a reference to how tightly the paper pulp is pressed together. Looser paper means ink sinks through faster and feathers out.

Try to get paper that's especially crafted for the ink style that you tend to use; you can avoid ink bleed that way.

What are your priorities in a pen?

Now that we have talked about all the different features to consider when looking for a pen, the last major thought comes down to priorities. 

What do you care the most about?

Are you looking for a pen that writes smoothly, but you could care less how it looks?

Are you walking into business meetings with clients who are going to notice a beautifully lacquered pen? 

Think about how you are going to be using your pen and if you need it to be an extension of how you present yourself.

A great cheap plastic ballpoint and a luxurious gold-inlaid fountain pen can both be the right choice for you depending on your situation.

Customizing your pen

Here are some thoughts on personalizing your pen:

There are a ton of different ways this can be done. If you are looking for a specific color or finish, companies like AT Cross will happily accommodate by customizing one of the pens in their catalogue for a fee.

A cheaper and easier way to customize is through imprinting or engraving.

Imprinting will print the image directly onto the surface or the pen.

Engraving will carve into the finish which will be more permanent. 

Many companies will include engraving as a free or affordable addition with the purchase of a pen.

You can even get logos or signatures engraved into your pen if you want to get real fancy!

Pens and the Environment: The Ecological Aspects of Shopping for a Pen

Concentrated senior man writing on notepad

The last thing I want to talk about before we get to some actual recommendations for the best pen for you is the environmental impact of pens.

It's best to be eco-conscious when you're looking to buy new pens, and there's simple ways to do that.

First, see if any pen companies you like have anything to say about the environmental impact of their pens.

A lot of this has to do with waste in construction materials and the purpose of the pen (whether it's a one-and-done, throwaway pen or not).

Fountain pens are probably the best overall for the environment because there's less waste in their construction.

Plus, you can get bottled ink for fountain pens, so you're not buying plastic cartridge after plastic cartridge and adding to landfills unnecessarily.

Be sure to do your ecological research on your pens before you buy!

5 Recommendations for the Perfect Pen

Ballpoint pens:

Waterman Hemisphere

Waterman Hemisphere Ballpoint Pen Black Gold Trim Finish

For a high quality ballpoint, I’m obsessed with Waterman. If you are looking for something slim like the Hemisphere, the ink flow is shockingly smooth and consistent for a ballpoint. 

They are also shockingly durable for such a high-end brand.

Rollerball pens:

The Baron Fig Squire

The Squire may be the rollerball to end all rollerballs. The reviewers are raving about this one.

If anyone has an extra lying around, send it my way.

Best Fountain Pen:

TWSBI Eco

When it comes to fountain pens, I love the Eco as an affordable fountain pen that hits all the best parts of a fountain pen.

The TWSBI Eco Twist resting on a Dayspring Pens Desk Wedge with Name Plate

From the capacity of the piston filled body to the double lined cap that keeps the nib from drying out to the spring, precise fine point, the Eco Twist is my favorite fountain pen on the go.

For something fancier, the Franklin Christoph Model 20 is exceptional.

Best Gel Pen:

Parker Jotter

Parker Jotter Pen

The Parker Jotter Gel Ink Pens are the ones for me. I love them.

And its all-metal construction is a blessing when it tumbles around at the bottom of my bag or gets chucked across the room by my overzealous toddler.

They also have it available as a ballpoint (which ranked 7 out of top overall 100 pens by the Strategist).

Best Felt Tip Pen:

Sakura Pigma on notebook

In all honesty when it comes to felt tip pens, I am pretty sold out on the Sakura Pigma Micron Pens. I bought the colored variety pack to have people sign the guest book at my wedding so I would have an excuse to have them around after the fact.

Conclusion

Pen buying doesn't have to be overwhelming! Even though I brought up a lot of things to consider when buying a pen, at the end of the day the best pen is the one you love and love to share.

Pick your writing style, decide how much you want to use the pen, and go out there and find a pen that makes you say "why hello there...you look like a real grand ol' time".

Don't forget to use our checklist is you need a little extra help in your search and if you have any questions or thoughts, let me know in the comments below! 

You can also think about getting your pen personalized!

Tell us about your favorite pen in the comments!

Sam Di Nardo

Sam Di Nardo is an author for Dayspring Pens, where she has honed her expertise in ballpoint, rollerball, gel and fountain pens since joining the team in 2018.

From her initial role as an Engraver to becoming the Production Manager, Sam's journey has been marked by her passion for the history, manufacturing, and the unique value of gifted writing instruments.

A graduate of Regent University with a degree in English Literature and a special interest in Old Norse literature, dive deeper into Sam's world and discover why she's your trusted guide in the realm of gift pens.

Follow Sam on LinkedIn.

3 Comments

@Angel The bleed through problem is a real one! Especially if you are using a liquid based pen like a fountain pen or a rollerball.

The important thing in selecting a journal that does not bleed through is in choosing a journal with high quality paper. The greater the weight of the paper (the tightness of the fibers), the less bleed through will happen. Something with 100gram weight should do.

Brands like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Apica are great. I know that Rhodia and Clairefontaine both have lots of color varieties for their notebooks as well.

Samantha Di Nardo

This was great. But didn’t help. I love my pilot v ball grip pen work provides. But when I use it in my journal I can see it on the back side of the page. I’m looking to journal. So something you can see on the other side, but it’s smooth and bold like my work back point pen. I would also appreciate a rainbow of colors. Recommendations?

Angel

The only legitimate pen stores in the Midwest are in Chicago…400 miles away from me. How do folks shop/buy online be without test-driving the pens?

Richard Michael Raffesberger

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