21 Best Black Pens
Have you been searching for the best black pens? I have been searching since I could write my name and draw a doodle. If you’re like me and you wander down the pen aisle at the store looking for the next new arrival, this post is for you!
I’ve tested countless pens, from rollerballs to felt tips and ink to gel pens. If you are curious about what I’ve found to be the best pens, I encourage you to read on. If that sounds good to you, let’s dive in!
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Table of Contents
Here is a lineup of what you will find in this post.
Best black ballpoint pens
Best rollerball pens
Best black gel pens
Best black felt tip pens
Best black fineliners
What is the smoothest pen to write with?
What is the best pen for drawing and art?
What are the least expensive pens?
Best paper to use for black pens
Best Black Ballpoint Pens
Bic Crystal Ballpoint - Extra Smooth (Fine & Bold) - The Bic Crystal pens are great for daily writing and things like receipt signing. An affordable choice for bulk buying and school supplies. I do like this pen for specific types of art I create.
Pentel RSVP Fine - The RSVP pens are my favorite ballpoint pen for note-taking and daily writing. These pens are also long-lasting. The pen is long and weighted for comfortable writing.
Best Black Rollerball Pens
Uni-ball Jetstream - This pen is rated at the top of many charts for a great writing pen with black ink. I love the smoothness of the ink and have it in multiple colors as well.
Uni-ball Vision Elite - The Vision Elite pen has a unique grip and an excellent shape. The ink has a consistent flow and a bold line.
Pilot Precise V5 - Pilot’s V5 pen is a smooth writing pen and is quick to dry.
Staples Optiflow - The barrel of this pen is a little thicker than your average writing pen. I find that it fits nicely in my hand and stays comfortable if you are writing for an extended period of time. The quick-dry ink has a crisp, bold line.
Best Black Gel Pens
Gelly Roll by Sakura - The Gelly Roll pen has a unique gel formula that flows beautifully onto the page. It is a waterproof gel and never budges once it’s completely dry. It has a bold line and is excellent for writing and art/journaling.
Uni-ball Broad Signo Pen - The Broad Signo Gel Pen is a reliable pen that delivers smooth gel whether you are writing or using it for art.
Uni-ball 207 Signo - This pen has a unique textured rubber grip that is comfortable to hold. It is a retractable pen and has a fine point. When you are writing, it has an impressively consistent flow. You can write at any angle and not get line skipping or scratching! Quick-drying ink is also a plus for this pen.
Pilot G2 - The Pilot G2 gel pens are amongst the most popular gel pen choices for daily writing. They are stylish, retractable, and have a great design. I am impressed with the gel formula they have. It dries quickly and never floods the tip of the pen.
Pentel Energel - The Energel pen has a unique needlepoint tip that does not scratch the paper. It is a retractable pen with a comfortable grip, and the gel is incredibly smooth.
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel 0.7 - The InkJoy gel pens are great for journaling and note-taking. The retractable feature is quick and convenient. The gel is smooth to write with and is excellent for doodling!
Pen + Gear - The Pen + Gear pens were a surprising find for me. I paid $0.88 for a two-pack. They write so well that I kept writing just to make sure! These are a fantastic option for note-taking at school or work. I also think it would make a great journaling pen!
Best Black Felt Tip Pens
Paper Mate Flair Medium - I like the tip on these pens because they are sturdy and don’t fray under pressure. They have no smell to them, and they are quick-drying! I like these pens for note-taking and adding art to my journals.
Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen - This pen is made for hand lettering. The tip is flexible but firm at the same time. Made with archival ink, it is fade-resistant and waterproof.
Best Black Fineliners
Fineliners are my favorite pens for bullet journaling! Fineliners typically have a crisp line and come in various sizes. These pens are fantastic for line art, stippling, cross-hatching, detail work, and more.
Micron by Sakura 01 - The 01 nib size is an extremely fine line. Great for daily writing and most art projects. All Micron pens are made with archival ink (Fadeproof and waterproof). Best of all, NO BLEEDING!
Micron by Sakura 05 - The 05 nib size is a medium line and has all of the same characteristics listed above.
Micron by Sakura 12 - The 12 nib size is the largest size made by Sakura in the Micron family. It is a very bold line compared to the 01 pen size.
Copic Multiliner 0.1 - The Copic Multiliner is similar to the 01 Micron pen mentioned in number one. It has a fine line and is also a permanent ink.
Staedtler Triplus Fineliner - The barrel of this pen is a triangle instead of round. It fits comfortably in hand and writes smoothly like a fineliner with a sturdy tip. These are perfect for art, doodling, and journaling.
LePen Fineliner - This fineliner has a slim body for a pen and a fine plastic nib. They are acid-free and smudge-resistant. Great for doodling!
What is the Smoothest Pen to Write With?
This was a difficult choice. There are so many amazing pens in this post that I recommend using! If I had to pick, I would recommend the Uni-ball 207 pen. It’s conveniently designed as a retractable pen with a clip, and it has a comfortable grip. The ink is fast drying and super smooth with no line skipping. I love the fine tip and the no-bleed features as well!
What is the Best Pen for Drawing and Art?
Hands down, the best pens for drawing and art are the Micron pens from Sakura of America! These pens are reliable, durable, waterproof, fadeproof, non-bleeding, and they can be used under or over other art mediums! I have not found an art pen I like better.
What Are the Least Expensive Pens?
In this pen post, the least expensive pens are the Pen + Gear pens. I got a 2-pack for $0.88 at Walmart! Even though they were inexpensive, I loved how smooth the gel was when I wrote with it.
The Uni-ball 207 pens and the Paper Mate InkJoy pens were very affordable options as well.
Best Paper to Use for Black Pens?
Most of these pens are non-bleeding, so they work well on most paper! I love paper as much as I love pens. However, I always prefer to use 100 to 160 gsm quality paper. This is a thicker paper found in high-quality journals like Archer & Olive and Dingbats Notebooks. (Affiliate Links) This is not required for black pens, but it is my favorite choice!
Wrap Up
Black pens are the most used writing utensil. So why not know what is the best? Do you have a favorite pen that is not on this list? I would love to hear about it! Hop over to Contact Me and let me know. I’m always excited to hear about new pens and try them out.
I hope you found some pens to try for yourself, or maybe some that would make an excellent gift for the stationery lover in your life! If you would like to check out my Amazon Shop I’ve gathered these pens into one easy place for you! (Affiliate Link).
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I hope you have a joy-filled day!
Holly
