Pen (2015)
The Best Pen
The researchWhy you should trust usWho this is forHow we picked and testedOur pick: Uni-ball Jetstream RTAlso great: Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-ColorAlso great: Pilot Dr. Grip Center of GravityAlso great: Pilot Precise V5 RTAlso great: Pentel EnerGel RTXAlso great: Uni-ball Signo RT1Also great: Sakura Pigma MicronOther good pensThe competitionFrequently asked questionsSourcesWhy you should trust usWirecutter senior staff writer Melanie Pinola has researched and written about all types of home-office gear, including notebooks, since 2011. For years, she has written most things in longhand, including article drafts, journal entries, and short stories. And although she’s not as fanatical about stationery as some people, her favorite type of store is an office-supply store.Our panel of testers included Wirecutter staffers who are fanatical about stationery—they collect pens as a hobby, and they’re more knowledgeable and opinionated about pens than most people. In testing our ergonomic pen options, our panelists included two medical professionals (one who has had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years).Who this is forLike notebooks, pencils, and other everyday stationery essentials, pens are a utilitarian tool that most people don’t think much about when they’re buying them. Sometimes you can go long stretches without purchasing any pens, relying instead on freebies from hotels, offices, conferences, and other places to stock your home or desk.But if you spend about $2 to $3 to get a good pen, your handwriting could be more attractive—and possibly more readable—thanks to the darker and better-flowing ink.And since people have different hand sizes, comfort preferences, and aesthetic sensibilities, it’s worth it to find and invest in a pen with a comfortable grip, a tip size you prefer for your specific handwriting, and a design you like.The majority of pens we recommend all have refillable ink, too, so you can keep the pen body and replace the ink when the original dries up. By using a refillable pen—and actually remembering to refill it—you will reduce the number of pens you buy (or otherwise acquire) and create less waste for the environment.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTHow we picked and tested  Photo: Michael HessionFor this guide we focused on inexpensive pens—$5 or less for a basic pen and $15 or less for a specialty pen (including ergonomic and multicolor models). We also targeted pens that can be purchased at big-box retailers, office-supply stores, or major online vendors, such as Amazon.Following feedback from readers and experts (as well as our own conscience), we also focused on pens that are refillable and therefore more eco-friendly than disposable pens.These pens may seem boring, but they’re meaningful upgrades over giveaway pens and are great for everyday carry (EDC). If you want something a bit fancier, we’ve also included, in our Other good pens section, a few recommendations for nicer-looking or more-distinct (yet still under-$20) pens that you might keep at your desk.And though we love fountain pens, that’s a whole can of worms we’re saving for another time. Our pen picks’ tips range from sharp needlepoints for writing with thin, precise lines to traditional conical shapes best suited to writing at various angles. From left to right: Pilot Precise V5 RT, Pentel EnerGel RTX, Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity, Uni-Ball Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, Uni-ball Jetstream RT, and Uni-ball Signo RT1. Photo: Michael HessionHere’s a quick primer on a few pen terms you’ll see throughout this guide: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.Skipping refers to ink not consistently connecting lines or letters, particularly when you’re writing in script.Smudging is when the ink smears and the letters you write blur. It’s particularly noticeable if you write left-handed or try to highlight something you just wrote. (Slow-drying inks that typically smudge can even transfer to other paper.)Blotting refers to the pooling of ink in one spot when you’re writing, because the paper hasn’t yet absorbed the ink.When completing evaluations, each tester used every pen to write at least four pages in a notebook filled with paper that works well with all types of ink. Testers considered:Ink smoothness: How freely did the ink flow, and how much pressure was needed to write clearly?Precision and consistency: We looked for pens that create uniform, crisp lines. Was there any smudging, feathering, skipping, or blotting? Did the ink bleed through to another sheet?Comfort: For example, how easy was it to grip the pen when writing for an hour at a time?Here we list some of the pens we tested. These samples (and others later in this guide) are written on a Maruman Mnemosyne N166 steno pad.  Image: Melanie PinolaFinally, we asked testers which pen they would buy for themselves or recommend to others, based on the qualities above and the pen’s design and aesthetics.Our pick: Uni-ball Jetstream RT  Photo: Michael HessionTop pickOur testing group agreed with our experts: The Uni-ball Jetstream RT is the best pen for most everyday writing tasks. It’s smoother to write with than nearly any other ballpoint, and its ink flows without blobbing, skipping, feathering, or bleeding through pages. And it dries quickly, without smudging.It’s been a panel favorite for a decade. Our testers unanimously selected the Jetstream RT as the best ballpoint pen, with two testers choosing it as their favorite pen overall. This has been the case since we made our initial pen recommendations, back in 2013.“The Jetstream just feels like such a solid, trusty pen—the ink is dark, it flows well, it’s sturdy, and feels good in the hand,” said Wirecutter’s Janet Towle. “It’s not an exciting pen, but maybe I’m making my peace with that.”Other ballpoint pens we tested, such as the Zebra Pen F-301, were less expensive, but they were also less comfortable to write with, felt cheap, or inked fainter lines. The Uni-Ball Jetstream RT has a soft rubber grip that covers almost the entire pen body. Photo: Melanie PinolaIts ink dries quickly and almost never smudges. You may have been turned off of ballpoint pens in general because their inks aren’t satisfyingly dark, or because they’re not as smooth to write with as other types of pens. The Jetstream RT could change your mind.Our testers noted that this pen’s dark ink dried quickly and smudged the least of all the pens we tested. And the Jetstream RT’s ink was the least visible on the other side of a notebook’s page. In our testing, we used the 0.7-mm medium-to-large point size, yet our writing still felt precise. The Uni-ball Jetstream RT has dark ink for a ballpoint pen. Image: Melanie PinolaIt comes in a wide range of tip sizes and colors. If you don’t love the feel of the standard Jetstream RT’s barely there grip or the width of its tip, there are a lot of other options, if you’re willing to venture outside your office-supply store or shop online.The standard 0.7-mm “fine” tip comes in black, blue, and a black/blue/red multipack. Uni-ball sells a 1.0-mm “bold” tip, but it produces only a subtle change in line size. Although 0.5-mm and 0.38-mm tips do exist, they don’t write as smoothly, according to our experts. Still, if your handwriting is extremely small, you may enjoy their precision. Or you could consider our gel pen picks, the Pilot EnerGel RTX and the Uni-ball Signo RT1, which write smoothly with fine tip sizes.Uniball ink is forgery-resistant and works well on all kinds of paper. Jetstream pens feature Super Ink, which is resistant to removal with acetone as well as more-mundane threats, like water spills and fading. In addition, this ink writes well on glossy paper, including receipts.Flaws but not dealbreakersThe most consistent complaint among our staff testers was that even though the Jetstream RT produces darker lines than most ballpoint pens, its ink still isn’t as saturated or dark as ink from rollerball and gel pens.The Jetstream RT won’t turn heads. If its humble, utilitarian looks aren’t to your liking, some of the Jetstream variants are arguably better looking. And you can find other pen bodies that will take Jetstream refills.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAlso great: Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatMost multicolor pens—including the nostalgic BIC 4-Color pen from the ’70s and ’80s—have thick bodies that can feel unwieldy. Not so the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, an elegant pen that’s the size of a single-ink ballpoint pen, like the Jetstream RT.It’s a color-changing pen without the bulk. For annotating documents or color-coding your notes, you can switch between black, blue, and red. And the ink is as smooth-flowing and consistent as ink in other Jetstream pens.We found this pen’s soft rubber grip comfortable to hold, and we thought the subtle pattern on the monochromatic body was aesthetically pleasing. In our tests, switching between colors was seamless. And because of this pen’s size and versatility, we think it’s a great option to carry every day. You might not be able to tell just from glancing at this minimalist-looking pen that it can write in three colors. Photo: Melanie PinolaIt writes better than other multicolor pens. After testing two other multicolor options, we found that the Jetstream Slim Multi-Color offered the best writing experience overall. The 0.5-mm version we tested laid down crisp, smooth lines that never skipped or blobbed. The Uni-ball Slim Multi-Color ballpoint puts down solid lines in three colors. Image: Melanie PinolaIt’s easy to change colors. This pen’s angled, wide knocks made switching ink colors easier than the tinier knocks on the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto or the Uni Jetstream 4&1.The Jetstream Slim Multi-Color’s knocks also operated smoothly, with a satisfying click, and they held their position (unlike the Hi-Tec-C Coleto’s knocks).It’s comfortable to hold. Thanks to its relatively light weight and soft grip section, the Jetstream Slim Multi-Color doesn’t wear out your hand during extended writing periods.It looks great, too. We appreciated the subtle, stylish, light colors the pen comes in (including white, pink, mint green, and lavender).It has one notable flaw. Our main complaint about the design is that the color of each ink is imprinted on the body of the pen, not on the knock. So if you reload the pen with different colors or gel inks, you’ll have to remember which knock belongs to which color.Also great: Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatIf you prefer a larger grip than typical pens offer, if you have arthritis, or if you get hand fatigue when writing, the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity is the pen you should turn to.Of the pens we tested, it’s the most comfortable to use. Our testers—including a physical therapist who takes a lot of patient notes and a 76-year-old retired physician who’s had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years—unanimously chose the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity as their favorite pen.The wide, rubbery grip section is easy and comfortable to grasp, and the unique weight distribution close to the pen nib makes writing less stressful on the hand and wrist, compared with standard pens that have slim grips (including our other picks). The weight balance and thick grip of the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity help you to write with as little pressure as possible. Photo: Melanie Pinola“This is one pen that helps manage the many challenges of rheumatoid and other arthritis,” said the retired physician on our panel.It writes smoothly, too. The physician noted that the pen wrote well at all angles, including upside down while she was lying in bed. In our tests, the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity’s ink never smudged (as the Dr. Grip Limited’s did), and it skipped less than the Jetstream Alpha-Gel’s ink. The Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity’s “medium” 1.0-mm tip is for those who like bold lines from a pen that’s very comfortable to hold. Image: Melanie PinolaThe squishy grip does have one downside. The rubber grip collects lint, which is an annoyance. But that is a small price to pay for a pen that writes so well and so comfortably.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAlso great: Pilot Precise V5 RT  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatThe Pilot Precise V5 RT is worth considering if you prefer a darker, richer line than the Jetstream RT provides, if you write smaller letters or draw with fine lines, or if you like a bit of resistance between your pen and the paper.It delivers on the promise of its name. Experts and Wirecutter testers praised this pen’s needle-point tip, its comfortable grip, its smooth ink flow, and the way some friction made handwriting more, well, precise. With a slightly slimmer body than our other picks, the Pilot Precise V5 RT has the finest needlepoint tip of all the pens we tested, for very accurate and sharp writing or drawing. Photo: Melanie PinolaIt was a panel favorite. All but one of our seven testers gave the Precise V5 RT either four or five stars (with five being the best), and two chose it as their top pick overall.“Of the pens we tested, the Pilot Precise V5 RT is my favorite,” senior staff writer Kimber Streams said. “It writes smoothly and evenly and has a crisp, dark ink, but the line isn’t too thick like the Lamy Safari. The grip is comfortable enough, and the body doesn’t feel cheap or rattly like the EnerGel and Signo do. It also has the crispest, most satisfying click of the clicky pens.” The Pilot Precise V5 RT writes with crisp, solid lines, but it requires some care to not smudge the ink. Image: Melanie PinolaIts ink is wetter than the Jetstream RT’s ink, but it still creates sharp lines. The Precise V5 RT (and its sibling, the V7, with a 0.7-mm pen-tip width) produces a crisp, dark line, one that is wetter or “inkier” than the Jetstream RT’s.But unlike other rollerball pens that flow very quickly (making you feel like you have to keep up with the pen to control the writing), the V5 RT’s point offers more control.It can smudge more than the Jetstream RT. Our main concern with the V5 RT is that the ink doesn’t dry as quickly as that of the Jetstream RT or gel pens, including the Pentel EnerGel and Uni-Ball Signo RT1.This is an issue for those who write on slick paper, like receipts or labels, or for those who write very quickly and don’t want the ink to transfer to other pieces of paper. Lefties should probably avoid this pen.The V5 RT’s ink bled through cheap paper, and its ink showed on the other side of paper more than our gel pen picks did.Its knock’s tactility is extremely satisfying. If clicking the knock on a pen provides you with some stress relief or general satisfaction, the V5 RT is the pen for you. It gives the most clicking feedback of all the pens we tested, except for the Parker Jotter.It has a compact, attractive design. Our panelists appreciated that this pen is about a quarter of an inch shorter than the Jetstream RT, with a thinner body. They also thought the silver-and-black color scheme was fairly attractive, for a pen that costs just a couple of bucks.Also great: Pentel EnerGel RTX  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatIf you’re seeking an especially versatile pen, the Pentel EnerGel RTX has the most refill options of the pens we tested: There are over a dozen ink colors and four tip sizes (from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm) to choose from.Its gel ink is crisp and smudge-free. This pen writes with crisp, dark lines similar to those of the Pilot Precise V5 RT, but it never smudged in our tests. It was our left-handed tester’s top pick because of how fast the ink dried. The Pentel EnerGel RTX doesn’t smudge, and its ink is smooth and dark. Image: Melanie PinolaIt’s comfortable to use, but its looks are divisive. All testers found this pen’s textured grip section pleasant to hold, but they disagreed on the pen’s looks. It has a very busy design, with a lot of chrome and bright accents reflecting the color of the ink. It also rattles a bit more than our other picks. The Pentel EnerGel RTX and the Uni-ball Signo RT1 perform similarly, but they couldn’t look more different. Photo: Michael HessionThose refills, though. You can get refills in a 0.3-mm size (for small lettering), 0.5-mm and 0.7-mm (medium) sizes, and a 1.0-mm (thicker) size—and all come in a rainbow of colors.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAlso great: Uni-ball Signo RT1  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatThe Uni-ball Signo RT1 is a great option for people who have small handwriting and like to write with dark lines.It writes well and comes in lots of colors. The RT1 has satisfyingly saturated ink and comes in 0.28-mm, 0.38-mm, and 0.5-mm pen-tip sizes. And in those small pen-tip sizes, the Signo RT1 has more color options than similar pens. The Uni-ball Signo RT1 barely smudges, but it’s not the best for using with a highlighter immediately after writing. Image: Melanie Pinola“No smudging. No hard starts. No skips,” Wirecutter’s Erin Moore remarked. Like our other gel and rollerball pen picks, the Signo RT1 writes darker and “inkier” than the Jetstream RT ballpoint. The Uni-ball Signo RT1’s monochromatic design might fit better in minimalist workspaces. Photo: Melanie PinolaIts minimalist design won’t be for everyone. Although the ink performs well, the Signo RT1’s short, plastic clip makes the pen feel cheaper than similar pens that have metal clips.But some testers preferred its monochromatic body to those of more-decorated pens, and they liked its smooth rubber grip. The non-black versions of this pen have a clear window to show the ink level, which is handy.Like the Pentex EnerGel, the Signo RT1 also rattles more than our other picks.Also great: Sakura Pigma Micron  Photo: Michael HessionAlso greatIf you want a technical pen for precise drawing and/or writing, we recommend the Sakura Pigma Micron.It produces saturated, predictable lines. The Micron’s needlepoint tip produced the most stable, consistent strokes—ones that don’t vary in width—of the fineliners and felt-tip pens we tested. Other fineliners we tested, including the Staedtler Pigment Liner, were streaky at times. The Micron is available in widths from ultrafine (0.15 mm) to broad (0.7 mm).  Photo: Melanie PinolaThe permanent ink is archival. The pigment in the Micron resists water, fading, and chemicals, making the pen ideal for writings or drawings that you want to last forever—or checks that you want to secure from check washing. Unlike our other picks, the Micron is labeled as having pH-neutral ink, which means it won’t degrade paper over time.It’s great for use with a ruler or stencils. Because of the long metal tip, you can use the Micron along the edge of a ruler or template without harming the plastic nib.  Photo: Melanie PinolaIt offers feedback without being sticky. The Micron doesn’t glide over paper as smoothly as the Jetstream—there’s some friction or feedback similar to the Pilot Precise V5 RT. That can make for more careful and deliberate writing or sketching. It doesn’t have as much friction as marker-like felt-tip pens such as the Sharpie Felt Tip and Paper Mate Flair pens do.But it’s not refillable. This high performing pen is the only one we recommend that is disposable. If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a refillable fineliner, consider the Copic Multiliner SP.The pen labeling can be confusing. These pens are labeled from 003 to 12, but those numbers don’t match up with the pens’ tip sizes. For example, the Micron 02 has a 0.3-mm tip and the 05 has a 0.45-mm tip, according to Sakura. Be aware that the stated tip sizes lay down thicker lines than you might expect; the Micron 08’s 0.5-mm tip is closer to the 1-mm or wider tip of other pens. In clothing terms, these pens can “run large.”AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTOther good pensIf you sometimes like to write in pencil and want colors other than the standards: The Uni Jetstream 4&1 offers that versatility. It adds a green ink and a mechanical pencil (as well as an eraser) to the barrel. However, the 4&1 can cost a bit more than the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, and it has a thicker barrel, which some people may not prefer.If you want a relatively inexpensive pen that’s attractive enough to give as a gift: Consider the Parker Jotter. With its slim, tapered design, this iconic, all-metal pen has the most satisfyingly clicky knock of any pen we tested. It’s remarkably affordable compared with other aficionado-approved “high-end” pens, such as the Retro 1951 Tornado and the Baron Fig Squire. Because it’s a bit shorter than other pens, the Parker Jotter is great for everyday use, but we wouldn’t want to lose it. We tested the ballpoint and gel ink versions, and we covet both.If you want a pretty pen with a lower center of gravity: Check out the Pilot Acroball 1000. It has a slim and tapered design, similar to that of the Parker Jotter, but only its lower grip section is metal. This moves the pen’s weight toward the bottom and makes it more comfortable to hold and write with than most slim pens. However, this pen doesn’t have as many color- or tip-refill options as the Parker Jotter or our other pen picks.If committing to writing in pen makes you nervous: Consider Pilot’s FriXion Clicker Erasable Retractable Gel Pen. It’s the best erasable pen we’ve tested, with quick-drying ink and an easy-to-hold body. It erased more cleanly than the other erasable pens we tested, too. However, it does leave a trace of writing behind, and its overall performance is just okay, with some skipping.If you want a refillable fineliner for drawing and writing: The Copic Multiliner SP fits the bill. Not only is the ink refillable, but you can replace the tips as well, whether you need to because the tip has worn down or you need a different size. The Copic wrote smoothly in our tests and it has an attractive metal body, but in one instance the tip bent (be careful with how much pressur you use). It also needs a bit more drying time than the Sakura Pigma Micron.If you like the feel of a marker on paper but want a fine nib size: Take a look at the Sharpie Felt Tip Pen. It was the only pen in our felt-tip and fineliners tests that didn’t smudge at all. It’s available in a rainbow of colors and writes with that slightly scratchy marker-like feel. We found the black and colored pens to be less vibrant than we were expecting.There are other pens we tested and loved that exceeded our (admittedly arbitrary) $20 limit, including the Tombow Rollerball, the OHTO Horizon Needle Point Knock Ballpoint, the OHTO Horizon Gel, and the Caran d’Ache 849. But despite their higher prices, in our tests they didn’t deliver notably better writing performance than our picks. In other words, you’re mainly paying for look and feel—which is not a small thing if you love writing with pens.The competitionThis is not a comprehensive list of all pens we’ve tested. We have removed pens that are no longer available or that do not meet our testing criteria.The Pilot Dr. Grip Limited, for example, has an ergonomic design similar to that of the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity ballpoint, but the Limited version’s gel ink smudged.The Uni-ball Signo 307, a former pick, produced inconsistent lines (some thick and some thin) and smudged. And, unlike the Pilot Precise V5, it isn’t refillable.The Paper Mate InkJoy wrote with dark gel ink, but it smudged, and it isn’t refillable, unlike the Pentel EnerGel and the Uni-ball Signo RT1.The Lamy Safari rollerball was well liked by only one of our seven testers; most preferred our other picks, with their thinner barrels, which are interchangeable with other brands’ refills.The Zebra Pen F-301 produced fainter lines than other ballpoints, and its ribbed plastic grip was uncomfortable to hold.Similarly, the Pilot The Better Ballpoint’s ink was a bit light, the plastic grip uncomfortable to hold, and the pen body too rattly.The Morning Glory Pro Mach rollerball produced thicker, more-inconsistent lines than its 0.38-mm pen tip should have, and its pen cap required some force to remove.The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto multicolor pen has slots for five ink colors and over a dozen color-refill options—more than our multicolor pen pick, the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color. But it also has a shorter grip section than the Jetstream RT, so it’s less comfortable to hold if you don’t normally hold a pen near the tip. One of its ink slots was impossible to use, and the pen we tested kept getting stuck. This is an issue several owners have reported on Amazon.The Pilot G2, though highly popular, didn’t compare well against other pens. 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, and that made it 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. But these German-made pens aren’t as widely available as our picks, and we found the Basic’s thin grip less comfortable to hold than those of other pens we tested.The Bic Atlantis (available in 0.7-mm and 1.0-mm tips) was recommended to us by commenters as well as by a couple of pen enthusiasts at a coworking space, who called them a good-enough upgrade from traditional Bic sticks and crystal pens. But the Atlantis blobbed and feathered more than any of our picks. It’s better than the cheapest pens at the store, but you can find the far better Precise V5 RT on the same shelf.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 it will likely leave the side of your pinkie or palm shellacked with dark ink. For anyone who wants a bold, colorful pen to do sketches or illustrations, this pen’s color selection and dark, thick ink may appeal.The Zebra Clickart felt-tip pens produced saturated but very thick lines, and they were hard to write precisely with. One of the pens dried out quickly despite marketing claims that the ink is long lasting. (Also, they don’t have a microSD slot with 512 GB of storage, contrary to Amazon’s listing.)The Stabilo Fineliner’s thin, hexagonal body was uncomfortable to hold for several of our testers, and its signature orange color was divisive.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTFrequently asked questionsWhat's the difference between a rollerball and a ballpoint pen?Rollerball pens use a water-based ink that flows smoothly and usually creates a lighter, finer line on the paper. Ballpoint pens use an oil-based ink that’s thicker and usually creates a thicker line. Ballpoint pens also tend to require more pressure when writing than rollerball pens.What's the best pen for lefties?Ballpoint pens, like the Uni-ball Jetstream RT, have ink that dries quickly, so they’re ideal for anyone concerned with smudging. Left-handed people should try to avoid rollerball or gel pens since their ink tends to take longer to dry and smudges more during writing.How do you refill an ink pen?Every pen has its own unique refill cartridge and process, so start by looking up what kind of refill your pen needs. This guide can help you figure out what to look for.SourcesAna Reinert, email interview, July 15, 2021Brad Dowdy, email interview, July 12, 2021