Best Professional Pens
Best Professional Pens
If you're an entrepreneur, corporate professional, or just generally mean business, you need the right tools for your trade—especially one of the best pens for writing.
But how do you know which pen is the most professional? Or which pen is best for you?
Before I get to my actual list of the 25 best pens for professionals, I want to take some time to talk about why professionals need good pens and why they're good for business (just in case you weren't convinced already).
Let's begin.
Why do I need a pen for work?
We all need pens for our workplace to perform daily tasks. But we also might need them in order to establish a kind of tone that communicates the caliber of excellence with which we approach our various occupations.
Finding the right pen for you is as much about function as it is about communicating the kind of professional you are.
Learn more: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Pen |
What are the benefits of a high quality pen for the workplace?
Going for a higher quality writing instrument is about your enjoyment in writing and performing daily organizational tasks. However, that comes with a feeling and a general atmosphere of purpose and efficiency.
Sometimes it's great to shell out a lot for a pen that makes a statement.
That said, quality writing doesn't always have to cost; Bic Cristals, which we'll talk about later, are just as "professional" as the fanciest Mont Blanc fountain pen, but it's a different kind of professionalism from the one to the other.
Does writing things down by hand affect my workplace performance?
Indeed, the best thing about being intentional with the pens you buy for work is that writing things by hand actually increases productivity.
Studies show that people who take notes by hand are far more likely to recall information than people who take notes on a computer. This goes for scheduling and organizing tasks as well. Writing just connects the memory to your actions better.
What are the best pens for writing: My top 25
In this list of top 25, I am going to bounce around quite a bit in price points. Additionally, I wanted to give an honest look at pens that I love, that are objectively good, and have a reputation that makes them professional.
25.) Prismacolor Premier Felt-Tip Pen
For fans of felt-tip pens, I present the queen of all felt-tips.
In terms of writing, she's beauty and she's grace. In terms of looks, its hard to find a great felt-tip pen that looks as professional as it writes.
It's the writing experience that truly matters for a felt-tip, and the Prismacolor Premier offers something perfect.
You can also find a variety of colors and point sizes so if your work needs a little more than black, blue, or red try these out. I'm a sucker for the 01 fine tip myself.
24.) Uni-Ball Signo 207 Premier Gel Pen
JetPens named The Signo 207 Premier as the best ergonomic pen:
Its free-flowing ink helps you hold the pen lightly as it glides across the page. The pigmented ink is satisfyingly dark regardless of how lightly you write, but if you do still grip the pen hard, its delightfully squishy grip section will relieve your achy fingers. In addition, the 207 Premier’s light weight and low center of gravity won’t tire your hand as you write.
The negative of the Uni-Ball is that it just doesn't look particularly appealing, but it writes so well that someone borrowing it will want to get one for themselves.
23.) Pilot Precise V5
The Pilot Precise V5 falls heavily into the category of "not a looker, but a daggon great pen". The V5 will only be impressive to fellow lovers of this pen. For those who are loyal to it, when you see someone using it, you respect the user.
With multiple options available for ink color and tip size, this rollerball pen will always write smoothly and ink dries quickly. The bleed through is very limited on this gel ink (I use it for my crossword puzzle and newspapers are notoriously savage for gel pen ink feathering).
This pen is professional because it just works so well. If only it looked and felt as spectacular when you hold it...
22.) Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen
The Platinum Preppy has often been dubbed "The Welcome to Fountain Pens" fountain pen. It is the perfect entry level fountain pen or daily writer. It is simple and easy to use, wont break your bank, and has surprising longevity for a plastic pen.
I particularly enjoy the stainless steel nib fine. It has some flex, but gives clear precise lines.
It's refillable either from cartridges or you can turn it into an eyedropper pen.
It's the kind of quality that someone in the know sees on your desk and can easily say, "oh you know good fountain pens" at just dollars.
21.) Cross Calais Ballpoint Pen
The Cross Calais Ballpoint is the best selling pen at Dayspring Pens for a couple of reasons. It's a pleaser for buying in bulk, it's affordable, and it has the reputation and solid construction of AT Cross.
This pen will look nice in your pocket, engrave well for a statement piece, and do the job, whether you sign a contract or take notes.
20.) Bic Cristal
The Bic Cristal is arguably the greatest pen ever made.
With over 100 billion sold since 1950, the Cristal is the best selling pen in the world.
Fun fact: you and I tend to think of the Bic Cristal as a cheap throwaway, but Eliot Noyes included it in the first ever exhibit of industrial design at the MoMA. Noyes was the head of the MoMA's industrial design department in the 1930s and 1940s, and he later went on to become the head of IBM's design department from the late 1940s to the 1960s, designing iconic pieces of technology like the Selectric Typewriter.
Noyes and many other industrial designers were very impressed with the Cristal's minimal, functional design, so much so that it now has its own dedicated collection at the MoMA.
But the Cristal is widely popular now mainly because it doesn't suffer from the usual issues with ballpoints: too much pressure needed to write and line skipping. It is the top pick for Ballpoint Artists (like the one in the video above) because it is so easy to write with and the fine writing line can be manipulated for the most detail.
Ink starts the second you put it to paper. It will give you a long time of writing (Bic advertises 2km of lines). You can find the point size of your preference. The pen writes incredibly well. Its hard to say too much about the Bic Cristal because it is what it is: one good pen.
19.) Cross Classic Century Ballpoint
Cross is an American pen company that often gets the reputation for the pen of professionals...for good reason. They write well and price in the lower luxury range up to fancy pants luxury.
The Classic Century line has been in production since the 1930s and are often considered heirloom pieces that will stay in the family for 30+ years. It's a slim pen so if you are looking for heft, this isn't your pen. Available as a ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pen, I chose the ballpoint version for its ease and convenient twist action.
18.) Dayspring Pens Abingdon Rollerball
The Abingdon is the kind of professional pen that is perfect for giving as a gift.
Does it write well? Yes, it does.
It also presents as a perfect everyman pen, which is exactly what you need when you are giving a pen for signing the purchase of your first house or celebrating a corporate milestone.
It also has a ton of engravable space and comes with a free line of standard engraving. Hard to beat.
17.) Ohto Dude Ceramic Ballpoint Pen
Full disclosure, I saw this pen and the Ohto Horizon (you'll see it later) pop up on different forums, so I got both to try out for myself. Now, I'm obsessed with Ohto, and the real debate amongst the staff is who likes which Ohto pen better.
Luckily I am writing this article, so my opinion wins.
The Dude Ceramic Ballpoint writes like a heckin' dream. The grip is insanely comfortable, it looks professional and comes in at a whopping under $20 on Amazon.
Do not be deceived by the ballpoint title. Turns out Ohto invented the water-based ballpoint (AKA the rollerball) so this pen is really a rollerball. It's got a medium sized barrel, and it's Waterman-refill compatible (although why you would swap the ink out in this pen baffles me.)
16.) Fisher Space AG7 Original Astronaut Space Pen
Are you looking for a conversation starter? The Fisher Space Pen is definitely that.
Capable of working in zero gravity, underwater, in extreme temperatures, and writing at any angle (including upside down). Consequently, this pen was used by NASA for the Apollo space missions. It is a little piece of history.
Now the pen itself is decent. It has a nice weight and durability to it and will look relatively unique in the hand or pocket. I would say it is a solid ballpoint, but not one I am inclined to wax poetic about it. I personally wish the ink was darker.
Ultimately, if you are a scuba diver, construction worker, or on board a Deadliest Catch Crabber, this is a great pen choice. If you are looking for something to talk about with a client, go for it. If you are simply looking for an awesome cool looking ballpoint, see some of our subsequent options.
15.) Dayspring Pens Monroe Set
It clicks. It has a rich metal or lacquer finish. It is weighted and durable. And the ink inside the pen is some of the most solid Schmidt ink out there.
The Dayspring Pens Monroe is a great little ballpoint pen that also comes available as a set with a mechanical pencil and custom engraving included.
It's definitely not a pen to sleep on and is an entry level price for luxury professional pens with 18k gold...
The only reason its not higher up the list it that the ergonomic rubber grip that makes it so comfy is quite as luxurious/professional looking as some of the following pens.
14.) Parker IM Rollerball
Parker has always been associated with professional writing instruments. The Parker IM Rollerball is one of the best pens for professionals, and it's super affordable, too.
D.P. at the Strategist said it best:
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. An important person who doesn’t have time for smudging or bleeding. Granted, its relative heft isn’t great for writing over extended periods. But this pen approximates what a luxury pen offers, at a much lower price point.
13.) Kaweco Sport Classic Fountain Pen
The Kaweco Sport series fountain pen is brilliantly designed writing instrument. I recommend it to professionals because of its cool, German design, the feel of it in your hand, and the ink flow.
The screw-on cap is significantly larger than most pens. When it's on, it takes up over half the pen barrel; the barrel is likewise a bit shorter than most other pens.
The cap is designed to be placed on the back end of the pen during use in order to feel like a full-sized pen.
The pen features a removable clip. When you take it off, the pen looks like a really cool cigar tube.
I absolutely love this pen, but I recommend getting the metal or brass version. I also recommend against getting the Sport with a fine point nib. The ink flow in these fountain pens is amazing, but the fine point can be very scratchy. Opt for the medium nib or even the large nib instead.
12.) Baron Fig Squire Rollerball
The Baron Fig Squire is currently all the rage in the affordable luxury pen scene.
What's great, but also surprising, is that the Baron Fig isn't strictly a pen company. They're a product design company specializing in tools for inspiration and organization, tools like their really amazing Confidant notebook which opens completely flat (I really can't tall you how satisfying that is).
How did the Squire take the #1 spot in The Strategist's master list? Sleek design, solid feel, and world-class branding.
The good folks at Unsharpen have likewise meticulously reviewed this pen and given it a solid four stars.
11.) TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen
The TWSBI (pronounced twizz-bee) ECO is a really popular pen, and when you dig into its design, it's no wonder why.
The ECO stands for both "economy" and "ecology." The fountain pen is super affordable, but it also uses significantly fewer pieces in its construction, reducing general construction waste.
Despite its minimal construction, the ECO is a super well-built and durable fountain pen. Its acrylic barrel is far more stress-resistant than other TWSBI fountain pens, such as the TWSBI 580 which has a polycarbonate barrel.
The houses a piston filler, and this means 1) no need for buying refills or convertors (the ink is housed in the barrel itself), and 2) the ECO has a super generous capacity for ink that outdoes a lot of the competition. You'll just want to be sure to buy a bottle of your favorite ink color and learn a little about cleaning a fountain pen.
10.) Cross Townsend Ballpoint Pen
AKA the Pen of Presidents. No joke this pen was used by Clinton, G.W. Bush, and Obama as the official White House Pen.
The Cross Townsend is a simple, sleek pen with glossy lacquer and lovely appointments. I prefer the Black with Gold Trim.
The pen has smooth writing, quick drying ink, and it is available as both a ballpoint and fountain pen.
One of the things I like the most about this pen is how the cap snaps onto the barrel, softly, with a nice click. A bad cap experience will deter me from a pen.
9.) Parker Duofold Ballpoint Pen
I, for one, am not mad when a company decides to bring a pen back from the vault, especially when its as iconic a design as the Parker Duofold.
I opted for the ballpoint version of the pen over the fountain pen because I have been relatively unimpressed with Parker's fountain pen nibs, but! Their ballpoint quality has steadily grown on me over the years.
This is a pen about prestige so if you are looking for something to knock people's socks off...the Duofold will do it.
8.) Waterman Expert Ballpoint
For me, it is hard to be impressed by the writing of a ballpoint. I tend to find that they all pretty much write the same—unless they are terrible.
However, the Waterman Expert ballpoint is far and away my favorite ballpoint because it writes so smoothly. My father-in-law still gets confused and calls his Waterman ballpoint a rollerball because its oil based ink baffles the mind. My policy towards Waterman writing experience is that there is no wrong answer.
I chose the Expert III for this list (with a big shoutout to the Exception) because its medium cigar shaped barrel is great for all hand sizes and comforts. The Expert III will not only be a statement pen professionally, it is also the kind of pen your client borrows and thinks about later.
7.) Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball Pen
When Pilot first launched the Metropolitan in 2012, its fountain pen version quickly became one of the best entry level fountain pens on the market, but little does the rollerball iteration get the praise it deserves.
I say this because the rollerball Metropolitan is filled with none other than the same ink as the beloved Pilot G2.
That's right. The pen that launched a thousands fights over who didn't return it, not comes in a barrel design that looks professional enough to grace a boardroom. (Also, someone is going to return it cause they know it wasn't a $1 pen).
It's made for everyday writing that can take a quick note or write for hours. The grip is comfy and the cap has a satisfying click.
6.) Mont Blanc Meisterstück Gold-Plated Classique Rollerball Pen
The Mont Blanc Meisterstück Classique is a symbol of excellence for the corporate professional collector.
By far the most expensive writing instrument on our list, it nevertheless comes with Mont Blanc’s high quality construction, luxury writing experience, and unsurpassably beautiful design. That’s what landed this pen at the #27 spot on The Strategist’s top 100 list.
It is, however, more of a distinct symbol of luxury than a tool with particularly efficient features. With the Meisterstück, you’re getting a pen that communicates value status to others rather than something that writes better than this or that rollerball or ballpoint.
5.) Ohto Horizon Gel Ink Ballpoint
I love this pen. Again, this is labeled by Ohto as a ballpoint, but it has gel ink inside, so it's essentially a rollerball and my oh my! what a rollerball! It's just nice to stumble across a cheaper pen (you can find it for as low as $8 depending on your website of preference) that is so well crafted.
The geometric design feels modern and fresh without sacrificing comfort.
It's a needle tip pen which means it has a very fine tip and the gel ink version of this pen comes with a .5mm refill.
All-metal construction means it's super durable. Taking this pen apart, you can see the thought that when into the construction design. Its click action has a delightful snap.
I would highly recommending trying the Horizon and the Dude together and comparing.
4.) Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen
When it comes to a professional fountain pen you cannot top Pilot.
The Vanishing Point, a retractable fountain pen, highlights all the best things of a high-quality fountain pen (an incredible gold nib, steady flow of ink, precious metal exteriors) and delivers a pen that doesn't have to flash to show off how good it is.
(You would be surprised how many gaudy luxury fountain pens there are out there).
It's the epitome of a professional fountain pen in design and execution.
The Vanishing Point is just a really really great pen.
3.) Parker Jotter Gel Ink Pen
The Parker Jotter came in at #7 on The Strategist's top 100 list, and it's my personal favorite pen.
Jotters are gel ink pens with impeccable design sense and construction quality. The sleek design is coupled with one of the best clip designs out there by far.
Nothing feels clunky or loose, and it has probably the most satisfying click of any pen I've ever used.
The gel ink makes for a super smooth writing experience across the page.
I honestly have around 6 of these in my backpack because I really consider this the best pen for daily writing ever.
2.) Uni-Ball Jetstream Prime
Wirecutter ranked the Uni-Ball Jetstream as the best pen out there for every day writing, and it has long been a favorite of users despite its underwhelming exterior.
But! Uni has created the Prime version of the Jetstream, which takes the same unbelievable writing experience and puts it in a barrel that is refillable, durable, and pleasantly designed.
Easy to find, quick-drying, and comfortable are the top factors of this pen. Moreover, if you write often and frequently or for left handed people looking for a gel pen, the Uni-Ball Jetstream Prime is definitely worth the cost upgrade from the standard Jetstream.
1.) Waterman Hemisphere Rollerball Pen
The Waterman Hemisphere is one of the best pens of all time. No matter the model (ballpoint, rollerball, fountain pen), it just rules.
The rollerball pen version, however, is my top professional pen.
Here's why:
- The design is simply superb (especially in black and gold), very sleek, regal, and distinct.
- The smooth writing quality is unmatched in every single writing style.
- The range of prices for different styles and materials is pretty much unbeatable for the quality.
- The size of the barrel is perfect in every dimension: it's neither too long nor too short, nor is is too slim or too fat.
- For water-based ink rollerball pens, this one has a surprisingly quick drying time, so it smudges very little.
These are pretty much all the reasons I really love this pen.
Opt for One of these Best Pens for Writing
That's all for my list of the 25 best professional pens.
I hope one or two on this list pique your interest and complete your professional tool belt.
For more, read about how promotional pens can grow your business.
But now I want to hear from you!
What's your favorite pen for work? Let me know in the comments!
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. |
3 Comments
Thank you for such an informative article. I have the Waterman Expert fountain and ballpoint pens. The fountain pen is flawless. The ballpoint has two issues: (1) A slight clicking sound while I write, and (2) the ink flows SO smoothly it leaves tiny blotches along the way. Any suggestions? – Ed
@Derrick From what I can tell in my research, the Pentech 2000+ was a fountain pen produce in the UK. The warranty sheet for the pen says it takes a Parker style plastic cartridge refill so maybe start there and see if that fits your pen!
I have a pen set with three pieces it is a PENTECH 2002 and I need a refill and I am wondering if you have such in your inventory and if you have would you sell a refill for the pen? How much would it cost.?