Some of the gorgeous but more intimidating (and more costly) fountain pens at my local pen spot, Shorthand, in Los Angeles. Photo: Martha Tuber
I’m not anti-tech per se, but there are certain modern “conveniences” that I will never choose over their traditional analog predecessors. I’d rather lug around a hardcover copy of The Power Broker than read anything on a Kindle, and I will always choose pen and paper over the Notes app on my phone. It’s both a tactile and visual thing: I love feeling and seeing the weight and texture and drag of different types of pens on different types of paper. The perfect combination gives me that tingly ASMR feeling. You can’t get that with a stylus, and you definitely can’t get it on a keyboard.
As a writer, former footwear designer, amateurish artist, compulsive doodler, and avid list-maker, I’ve been doing things by hand for years. As such, I know my pens. And I have my favorites.
Here’s what makes a good pen: black ink only, whenever possible. An ultrafine nib for writing and a range of nib sizes for drawing, all of which should be as sturdy, pointed, and precise as possible without digging into the paper. The ink should be intensely pigmented and smudge-free, and it should glide smoothly over the paper with zero hint of friction or drag. Rollerballs, felt-tips, fine-liners, and ballpoints (for writing) are all welcome, but I tend to stay away from gel pens and anything with variable-shaped nib (no chisel tips or calligraphy pens). And because I’m buying a range of pens and/or ink refills with some regularity, price is key — unless I’m buying a bulk pack, I prefer my price points in the single digits.
Below are the ten pens I stand by for writing, drawing, or both. Having tested and vetted all of them, plus countless others, I can say with certainty they’re all objectively great pens that write and/or draw beautifully time after time. Once you find your favorite, I invite you to join my neo-Luddite movement. We can be pen pals.
My favorite pens for writing
The very best pen for writing: Anterique’s Ultra-Low Viscosity Ballpoint
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From $8
Style: Ballpoint | Nib size: 0.5 mm | Ink type: Mach Ball | Closure: Retractable | Available ink colors: One (black) | Refillable: Yes | Best for: Writing
The Anterique is hands down the best for writing if, like me, you want a very fine line with a seriously smooth flow and ink that doesn’t smudge even a little bit. This smudge-free smoothness is due to the combination of nonsticky, oil-based Mach Ball ink and Anterique’s ultraprecise pen tip. It’s affordable, refillable, and retractable (no cap to lose), and the body comes in some amazing colors — like this beautiful translucent blue, a fun Italian flag–inspired color block, and a split brass version. (The ink, however, is available only in black.) I have several in rotation at all times.
The best cheap pen for writing: BiC’s Cristal Original Ballpoint
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BiC Cristal Original Ballpoint Pen
$35 for 100
$35 for 100
Style: Ballpoint | Nib size: 1.0 mm | Ink type: Oil-based, water-resistant | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: Four (black, blue, red, green) | Refillable: No | Best for: Writing
The ballpoint is utterly rudimentary, and the BiC Cristal is its platonic ideal. It’s even part of the MoMA’s permanent collection, recognized as an exemplary balance of form and function (alongside other products such as LEGO bricks, Band-Aids, and the safety pin). Aesthetics aside, it writes incredibly well — consistent, smudgeless, and vibrant, with a moderate but not-too-thick line that practically begs to be used in a composition notebook (or to create an absolute work of art — Google “ballpoint pen drawings” and prepare to be amazed). And while the aforementioned Anterique ballpoint is relatively inexpensive, it’s admittedly elevated. The Cristal, on the other hand, belongs in every tote-bag pocket, junk drawer, glove compartment, and miscellaneous-pen cup out there.
One caveat: The best Cristal Original is made in France (it says so on the packaging). I’ve linked to the French version below, but if you’re shopping in the U.S., you’re more likely to come across the Cristal Xtra Smooth. It’s not my favorite, but it’s absolutely fine for the not-so-picky.
Other basic ballpoints to consider: BiC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen, BiC Orange Original Fine Ballpoint Pen, Uni-ball Jetstream RT Ballpoint Pen
The best rollerball-esque pen for writing: Pilot’s Juice-Up 0.4
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Pilot Juice-Up 0.4
$9 for 5
$9 for 5
Style: Gel | Nib size: 0.4 mm | Ink type: Water-based pigment gel | Closure: Retractable | Available ink colors: Ten | Refillable: Yes | Best for: Writing
If you want the same fine line and flow of the Anterique in non-ballpoint form, I suggest Pilot’s Juice-Up. It’s technically a gel pen (one of my least favorite pen types), but it handles more like a rollerball thanks to a very fine 0.4-mm. nib and a water-based gel ink that doesn’t feel greasy. In short, it’s a pleasure to use.
Other rollerball and rollerball-esque pens to consider: Energel Clena Gel Pen, Uni-ball Rollerball Micro Point, Uni-ball Vision Rollerball Micro Point
The best fountain pen for writing: Craft Design Technology’s Tradio Fountain Pen
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Style: Fountain pen with felt nib | Nib size: 0.4 mm–0.7 mm (variable depending on pressure) | Ink type: Water-based | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: Two (black and blue) | Refillable: Yes | Best for: Writing
Fountain pens are foundational to the world of contemporary writing implements, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t include one on this list. My dad has used one (a Montblanc Meisterstuck) for as long as I can remember, which is about as elegant as it gets; unfortunately, I can’t help but associate it with errant ink splotches, stained fingers, and constant precarious refills. As a result, I’ve long avoided fountain pens altogether. But this fountain pen is different: It writes like a traditional fountain pen but has a plastic-encased felt tip that’s incredibly easy to control and helps the ink flow smoothly. The ink itself is water-based and is on the liquid-y side, but it dries instantly. It’s refillable with cartridges, not stand-alone ink pots. It’s also incredibly affordable at around $8 for the pen and $4 for refill — vastly more so than other non-disposable fountain pens I’ve seen. I’ve been scribbling away with mine for a while now, and there’s not an accidental ink splotch in sight.
My favorite pens for drawing and art
The very best pen for art: Sakura’s Pigma Micron Fineliner
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Style: Fineliner (needlepoint nylon tip) | Nib size: 0.15 mm–0.7 mm | Ink type: Pigma (Sakura’s proprietary pigment-based, permanent, light-fast, water-resistant ink) | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: 15 | Refillable: No | Best for: Art
Fine-line Microns are my first line of defense for anything art-related. The intensely pigmented ink doesn’t smudge, run when wet (perfect for using with watercolors), or fade, and the metal-reinforced nylon nibs come in a range of sizes, from the super-fine (and easily broken) 005 (0.15 mm) to the moderately thick 12 (0.7 mm). Every size works beautifully, but I usually stick with the finer tips because there’s truly nothing better for creating a precise and delicate line. For something thicker, I opt for the Super Petit, Flair, or Faber-Castells below. If you’re new to the Micron game, start with a variety pack (this one also comes with my beloved Micron PN) and decide for yourself.
Other fineliner art pens to consider: Marvy Uchida LePen Technical Drawing Pens, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen S (superfine nib)
The best beginner pen for art: Pilot’s Super Petit Pen S
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Style: Felt tip | Nib size: 0.4 mm | Ink type: Water-based pigment ink | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: Three (black, blue, red) | Refillable: No | Best for: Art (and writing)
Despite having a fine line that’s negligibly thicker than the Micron PN’s, the Super Petit Pen S has a felt tip that feels and handles more like a marker, so I always want to use it for strictly artistic purposes. (It’s particularly great for sketching.) But it also writes so perfectly — smooth, sharp, bleed-free — that I can’t help but reach for it all the time. There’s also the Super Petit Pen M, which is excellent but has a thicker nib akin to a classic sign pen, and is therefore an art pen only.
The best quasi-brush pen for art: Faber-Castell’s Pitt Artist
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Style: Fude nib (short, bent brush-style) | Nib size: Variable (depending on pressure) | Ink type: India ink (permanent, waterproof) | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: One (black) | Refillable: No | Best for: Art
I like to work with a more precise line for design, illustration, and even freehand sketching, so I tend to stay away from standard brush pens. But when I do want a more feathery, freehanded feel, the Faber-Castell Fude Nibs in Hard (FH) and Medium (FM) are perfect. “Fude” comes from the Japanese term for “brush,” but these nibs are shorter and stiffer than traditional brush tips, so the lines they create are what I would call beautifully haphazard — simultaneously soft, variable, and controlled. I don’t use them too often, but I also couldn’t go without them.
Other brush pens to consider: Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen 1.5, Pentel Touch Sign Brush Pen, Craft Design Technology Brush Sign Pen, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen B Shades of Grey set
My favorite pens for writing and art
The very best pen for writing and art: Sakura’s Pigma Micron PN
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Style: Fineliner (plastic tip) | Nib size: 0.4–0.5 mm (depending on pressure) | Ink type: Pigma | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: Eight | Refillable: No | Best for: Writing and art
Sakura’s Pigma Micron pens are classic. The original nylon-tip versions mentioned above are the most ubiquitous, and I suppose you can consider them all-purpose, but I’ve planted them firmly in the art category because of their comparatively delicate nibs and my tendency to have a heavy hand. The Micron PN (short for “plastic nib”), however, is an across-the-board winner: The nib is sturdy, the fine line is thin but not spindly, and, as with all Microns, the pigment-based ink is intense, colorfast, water-resistant, and smudgeproof. And because it’s a Pigma Micron, it’s also great for art. If I could pick only one pen to take to a desert island, this would be it.
The best cheap pen for writing and art: Paper Mate Flair Medium
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Paper Mate Flair Medium
$17 for 12
$20 now 15% off
$17 for 12
Style: Felt tip | Nib size: 0.7 mm | Ink type: Water-based, nonpermanent | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: At least 36 (including classic, “tropical,” and “Candy Pop” sets) | Refillable: No | Best for: Writing and art
The PaperMate Flair is an artistic powerhouse masquerading as an everyday pen. I like it for writing, but it’s especially great for drawing. It delivers a smooth and saturated line that, despite its relatively substantial 0.7-mm. nib, is actually perfect for outlining, finelining, and detailed artwork — depending on how new the pen is: The Flair’s refined nib almost always wears down well before the pen runs out of ink, which is a big bummer. Still, while this doesn’t happen with aforementioned Pilot Super Petit S, the Flair is also cheap, ubiquitous, and sold in multipacks, so it’s easy to always have a new one at the ready. (I relegate my half-used ones to the household pen stash or pass them along to my much less discerning 4-year-old.) I’m also not alone in my love for this pen: Lesley Arfin, Max Greenfield, and creative director Chris Mahoney also can’t live without them.
Other all-purpose pens to consider: Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner, Marvy Uchida LePen Fine Line, Sharpie Felt Tip Pens
The best permanent marker, for anything: Sharpie (naturally)
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Style: Permanent marker | Nib size: 1 mm | Ink type: Water-based, permanent | Closure: Capped | Available ink colors: 49 | Refillable: No | Best for: Anything and everything
Every household needs a minimum of four functioning fine-tip Sharpie markers on hand at all times. That’s just a rule. Melissa Etheridge, Tommy Chong, and Jinkx Monsoon always have a Sharpie on hand for signing autographs, Betsey Johnson and Christian Siriano use them for design, and I think they’re perfect for anything that requires a clean, bold line, whether it’s labeling a box or sketching a silhouette (though they bleed through all but the heaviest-weight paper, so be aware). As with the Paper Mate Flair, there’s little that compares to the joy of making your mark with a fresh, finely tipped one, so it’s always smart to buy in bulk.
Other permanent markers to consider: Sharpie Permanent Marker – Ultra Fine
Some other pens we’ve written about
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$12
$20 now 40% off
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I Am Very Picky About My Pens. Here Are My 10 Favorites.