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The Best Ballpoint Pens

The Best Ballpoint Pens

June 15, 2021 - Posted by Kristin to Guides, Pens, Ballpoint Pens

The Best Ballpoint Pens

If your perfect pen is one that just works, on every kind of paper and in just about every circumstance, you need a ballpoint pen. Steadfast and dependable, ballpoint pens will write on everything from regular copy paper to glossy receipts. They take much longer to run out of ink than their gel pen cousins and rarely have problems that a quick scribble won’t fix. Watch the video below and keep reading to learn more about these workhorses of the pen world.

Top Ballpoint Pen: Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pens
Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pens
The Uni Jetstream comes in several models and colors.
The Uni Jetstream is our favorite ballpoint pen and a perennial best seller. Its low-viscosity ink is some of the smoothest, darkest, and most consistent ink we’ve encountered in a ballpoint pen, and a pleasure to write with. In addition, the Jetstream is available in several versions so that anyone can find a style they like. Its tip sizes range from a super-fine 0.28 mm to a broad 1 mm, and it comes in a variety of vibrant ink colors. There are even Jetstream multi pens if you can’t pick just one option.

To see the full lineup, peruse our comprehensive Jetstream guide.

What is a Ballpoint Pen?

Ballpoint pens use a small, revolving ball to dispense oil-based ink. Rollerball and gel pens use the same ball mechanism but are filled with liquid and gel-based ink instead of oil-based. “Ballpoint” and “ball pen” are occasionally used to refer to any pen with a rotating ball in the tip, but we will use “ballpoint” only to refer to oil-based ink pens.

Ballpoint ink is typically quite viscous, like a paste. This helps it last longer between refills and reduces the chance of ink bleeding through the paper, as less ink comes out with each stroke. The thickness of the ink generally requires you to apply more pressure to the paper when you write. This can make ballpoints tiring to write with for long periods, but some people appreciate the controlled action ballpoints provide. You can read more about ballpoint ink in our Ballpoint and Gel Pen: Best Practices guide.

Emulsion, Hybrid, and Low-Viscosity Inks
Low-viscosity inks are smoother and often darker than standard ballpoint inks.
Low-viscosity inks are smoother and often darker than standard ballpoint inks.
Some ballpoint pens are labeled as “emulsion,” “hybrid,” or “low-viscosity.” These terms are used to describe ballpoint inks that are formulated to combine the best features of ballpoint and gel ink. The ink formulas used to make these special ballpoint inks are proprietary, so we can't be certain how manufacturers achieve their results. You can learn more about low-viscosity ballpoint pens in our dedicated guide.
Why Use a Ballpoint Pen?
Ballpoint pens are perfect for signing receipts.
Ballpoint pens are perfect for signing receipts.
Ballpoint pens write well on synthetic paper like Field Notes Expedition.
Ballpoint pens write well on synthetic paper like Field Notes Expedition Memo Books.

Ballpoint pens have a number of advantages over gel, rollerball, and fountain pens. They are:

  • Low maintenance.
  • Highly reliable.
  • Long-lasting.
  • Unlikely to bleed through paper.
  • Generally water resistant.
  • Generally fast drying, which is good for left-handed writers.
  • Able to sign credit cards without excessive smearing.
  • Able withstand enough writing pressure to be used with carbon copy paper.
  • Able to write well on many different papers, including copy paper, cardboard, glossy paper, synthetic paper, and receipts.
Ballpoint Pen Considerations
Smoothness & Writing Pressure
Choose ergonomic pens to reduce hand strain from writing pressure.
Choose ergonomic pens to reduce hand strain from writing pressure.
Ballpoints aren’t usually scratchy, but they often do produce a feeling of friction, or “feedback.” They may also feel “grippy” due to the thickness of their ink. Some pens are formulated for a smoother, more lubricated feel. These are usually called “low-viscosity,” “hybrid,” or “emulsion” inks.

Ballpoint pens typically require the writer to use more pressure to leave a dark line, which can cause hand fatigue. If this bothers you, try smoother options that don’t need to be pressed down as hard or choose ergonomic pens that reduce hand strain.

Consistency
Although reliable, ballpoints are often slightly inconsistent.
Although reliable, ballpoints are often slightly inconsistent.
Ballpoints are generally very reliable, but they can also be inconsistent. It’s common for ballpoint writing to vary slightly between darker and lighter hues and thinner and thicker lines. It is also common for ballpoint ink to build up on the pen tip as you write, where it is eventually deposited on the page as a thicker “blob” of ink. These blobs can have a significant effect on drying time. In our tests, the vast majority of clean lines from ballpoint pens dried in about three seconds. With a blob, however, they could take 20 seconds or more to dry fully. Some pens are more susceptible to these kinds of inconsistency than others.
Tip Size
Ballpoint pens usually make thinner lines than gel and rollerball pens with the same tip size.
Ballpoint pens usually make thinner lines than gel and rollerball pens with the same tip size.
Ballpoints typically come in larger tip sizes, like 0.7 mm and 1 mm. Very few ballpoint pens come in tip sizes under 0.5 mm. However, they tend to make thinner lines than gel and rollerball pens that nominally have the same tip size. This is likely because their thicker ink does not spread out very far on the paper. If you’re particular about tip size, choose a ballpoint with a larger tip than you usually use with gel and rollerball pens.
Ballpoint Pen Recommendations
Best Ballpoint Pens for Drawing
Rotring colors, tip, and end.
The Rotring 600 is sturdy and reliable.
A close cousin to Rotring drafting pencils, a Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen boasts the same lightweight metal construction, perfect for toting around to sketch on the go. Their 1.0 mm tips are equally good for shading in large areas and crafting fine details, and their ink is skip-free with minimal blobbing. Drawing in ink creates energetic sketches, and this pen can keep up easily. This ink isn’t low-viscosity, but we found its “inconsistency” to be a virtue: non-emulsion ink darkness can be controlled with careful pressure, almost like drawing with a pencil.

If you like to combine ink colors in your work, this design is also available as a multi pen, so you can add red ink and a mechanical pencil to your art without additional bulk in your pencil case.

Zebra pen, tip close-up, and end
The Zebra Stainless Steel Retractable Ballpoint Pen comes in a wide 1.6 mm tip size.
Zebra Stainless Steel Ballpoints offer something special: a chunky 1.6 mm tip option. This tip shades in large areas with ease and responds beautifully to pressure, letting you create delicate pale grays. We noticed that this pen blobbed a little more than we liked, but this can be reduced by wiping the tip of the pen or intermittently scribbling on scrap paper. The compact size of this pen tucks into any pencil case, and its sturdy design will last through many years and refills.
Best Cheap Ballpoint Pens
The Zebra Surari writes with a smooth, dark line.
The Zebra Surari writes with a smooth, dark line.
Many excellent ballpoint pens are inexpensive, but for pens under $2, the Zebra Surari is a remarkably good option. Its smooth emulsion ink is pleasant to write with and delivers a dark line. The Surari has a modest body style with a firm rubber grip. It’s a delightful writing experience with no blow to your budget if a borrower decides to keep it.
The Dong-A Anyball comes in an astonishing amount of tip sizes
The Dong-A Anyball comes in an astonishing amount of tip sizes.
The Dong-A Anyball comes in at just a little over $1 but has an amazing range of tip sizes available. You can choose a fine 0.5 mm tip, a bold 1.6 mm tip, or anything in between. Its contoured rubber grip makes it easy to hold, and its shape, which is thicker at the top, gives it nice balance and rests on your hand comfortably. It comes in three standard colors and may need to be primed before use.
Best Colored Ink Ballpoint Pens
The Pilot Acroball writes smoothly and comes in eight colors.
The Pilot Acroball writes smoothly and comes in eight colors.
If they don’t come in just one ink color, most ballpoint pens are only available in black, blue, and red. The Pilot Acroball is a notable exception. Its smooth, low-viscosity ink is a pleasure to write with and comes in eight vivid hues, including purple and turquoise. It’s great for color-coding notes or just writing in your favorite color.

If you like how Acroball ink writes but prefer a more professional body style, it is also available as a metal body pen known as the Pilot Acro Drive. Refills for the Acro Drive only come in three colors.

The Pentel RSVP has a smooth and long-lasting refill.
The Pentel RSVP has a smooth and long-lasting refill.
Featuring eight fun colors, the Pentel RSVP was a favorite of our childhoods, and still remains consistently popular. It puts down a smooth and fairly dark line with a ballpoint’s characteristic grippiness, although it is sometimes inconsistent in darkness. It has an extra-long refill that allows the pen to keep writing for a long time.
Best Eco-Friendly Ballpoint Pens
Acroball M body colors, tip closeup and end.
The Pilot Acroball M Series Ballpoint Pens is mainly made of recycled materials.
The Pilot Acroball M is made from 77% recycled plastic. We appreciated its comfortably textured grip and the precision of its 0.5 mm tip. Its smooth-flowing, low-viscosity ink combined with its lightweight construction make the Acroball M perfect for writers who need to quickly capture their thoughts.
The Zebra Tapli Clip has a binder clip and high recycled content.
The Zebra Tapli Clip has a binder clip and high recycled content.
The Tapli Clip is a great eco-friendly option for writers who appreciate a strong, bold line—it’s available in 1 mm and 1.6 mm tip options. It is made from 74% recycled material, with a clear plastic body and simple rubber grip. Its namesake binder clip is a nice bonus for securing the pen to papers and pockets.

Read our Guide to Eco-Friendly Pens for more suggestions.

Best Ergonomic Ballpoint Pens
The Pilot Dr. Grip is perfectly balanced and offers a firm, yet comfortable grip.
The Pilot Dr. Grip is perfectly balanced and offers a firm, yet comfortable grip.
You can’t go wrong with the Pilot Dr. Grip. Its contoured grip features a firm outer layer over a soft inner layer for the perfect amount of cushioned support. The pen’s thick body is perfectly balanced to reduce fatigue, and it is filled with smooth Acro ink to reduce the pressure needed to write. Read our guide to The Best Ergonomic Pens for more recommendations.

If you prefer a squishy grip, we suggest trying the Uni Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint Pens. Its soft, squishy grip is like a pillow for your fingers.

The Sakura Grosso has a comfortably wide body
The Sakura Grosso Ball has a comfortably wide body.
Featuring a wider diameter for comfort, the Sakura Grosso Ball is great for helping to relax your grip. It has a firm, slightly contoured grip that is easy to hold and a large push button that requires minimal effort to press. Our favorite feature is its sturdy binder clip that can attach to thick items like book covers and clipboards. You can take it anywhere you go! The ink is fairly standard and may require some priming if you don't use it for a while.
Best Fine Tip Ballpoint Pens
Jetstream Edge body colors, tip and end.
The Uni Jetstream Edge Ballpoint Pen has an incredibly fine 0.28 mm tip.
The Uni Jetstream already got a shout-out in our Top Pick section, but the fine-tipped Jetstream Edge deserves more attention here. It writes with an ultra-fine 0.28 mm tip that can squeeze into the tiniest planner square or scrap of blank page space. Jetstream ink creates dark lines that are easily readable even at small scale, though the pen may skip slightly if you write with a light hand. For us, applying more pressure fixed the issue.
The Traveler’s Company Brass pen has a vintage-inspired design and an extra fine tip.
The Traveler’s Company Brass pen has a vintage-inspired design and an extra fine tip.
The extra fine TRAVELER'S COMPANY BRASS pen makes a line that’s very similar to a line from a 0.28 mm gel pen. It features a nostalgic bullet design with a brass jacket that will develop a tarnished, vintage look with handling. Its needle tip allows for easy use with a straightedge.
Best Luxury Ballpoint Pens
The Lamy 2000 ballpoint pen is elegant and modern.
The LAMY 2000 ballpoint pen is elegant and modern.
A triumph of modern design, the LAMY 2000 ballpoint pen features the same elegantly functional form as its legendary fountain pen cousin. The torpedo-shaped curve of the pen body continues gently from one end of the pen to the other with nothing to interrupt your grip. This ballpoint pen retracts with a push button mechanism and features a smooth and relatively dark refill.

If you prefer a twist mechanism, the LAMY Aion is a handsome alternative that uses the same refill as the LAMY 2000. To learn more about the LAMY 2000, check out our guide.

The Waldmann Eco has an elegant design.
The Waldmann Eco has an elegant design.
Made of sterling silver, the Waldmann Eco is a work of art. It features a fine barley or pinstripe design, both of which are smooth, but not slippery. The pen is elegant and well constructed. It comes with standard blue ballpoint ink and is refillable with some of our favorite inks, like the Ohto Flash Dry Gel Pen Refill and Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Refill, if you prefer a smoother writing experience.
Best Metal Ballpoint Pens
The Fisher Space Pen Backpacker attaches to your key ring and is always ready to write.
The Fisher Space Pen Backpacker attaches to your key ring and is always ready to write.
The Fisher Space Pen Backpacker is always ready for action. It conveniently attaches to your key ring so that you’ll never leave it behind, and comes with the original pressurized ink developed by Paul Fisher and used by NASA. This allows it to write at awkward angles, in hot and cold weather, and on wet and greasy paper.

If you like the Fisher refill but not the Backpacker’s key ring style, try the sleek Fisher Space Pen Bullet Ballpoint Pen or the machined Schon DSGN Classic Pen. Both are sturdy metal pens that come with a Fisher Space Pen refill and can stand up to hard use.

The Colte Brass pen is highly durable and features a ruler on its side.
The Zebra X-701 Ballpoint Pen features a loop so you can carry it with you.
The rugged, yet lightweight Zebra X-701 is made of stainless steel with an anti-reflective matte black finish. It has a loop for attaching to a backpack, belt loop, or climbing gear, perfect for carrying with you anywhere. Plus, it features a pressurized barrel so that the pen can write at unusal angles, on wet paper, or in extreme temperatures. The knurled grip makes the pen easy to hold.
Best Pocket Ballpoint Pens
The Zebra Techo  Mini can fit just about anywhere.
The Zebra Techo Mini can fit just about anywhere.
At just 3.9 inches long and 6 mm wide, the Zebra Techo Mini fits just about anywhere. It’s made to be a compact planner pen—“techo” means “planner” in Japanese—but it works just as well tucked into a pocket, or even a pocketbook-style wallet. Its clip is small but strong enough to keep it in place. You might not want to write with this pen for long periods due to its diminutive size, but it’s ideal for quick notes and pen emergencies. The Techo Mini is also well built, with a sturdy metal body and push button that does not rattle during use.

If the Zebra Techo Mini is just a bit too small, try the similarly-styled Pilot Birdy. It’s about half an inch longer, which makes it more comfortable for people with larger hands but reduces the number of places it will fit. The Pilot Birdy also comes in a double-sided pen and pencil version called the Pilot Birdy Switch.

The Monteverde Poquito comes with a stylus.
The Monteverde Poquito comes with a stylus.
If you like using a stylus with your phone or tablet, go for the Monteverde Poquito. This handsome, compact pen fits in all but the shallowest of pockets and comes equipped with a stylus on the rear of the pen. It features a well-made twist mechanism with a satisfying feel, and easily produces a dark line.
Best Pressurized Ink Ballpoint Pens
The Pilot Down Force is comfortable to hold and writes in all conditions.
The Pilot Down Force is comfortable to hold and writes in all conditions.
The Pilot Down Force is the top choice in our Guide to The Best Pressurized Space Pens for its consistent performance and comfortable design. Its lightweight, chunky body has a rubber grip that makes it easy to hold, and it is equipped with pressurized ink that lets it write at awkward angles, on wet paper, and in both hot and cold weather. This pen is especially good for carrying on work sites and in offices due to its large binder clip, which fastens securely to notebooks and clipboards. The clip also has a hole for stringing a lanyard through.

If you like the functionality of the Down Force’s clip but find that the pen is too large, try the pocket-sized Tombow AirPress.

The Uni Power Tank is inexpensive and effective.
The Uni Power Tank is inexpensive yet highly effective.
Economical yet rugged, the Power Tank gets the job done despite its unimpressive looks. Like other pressurized ink pens, it writes well at all angles, on wet paper, and in hot and cold temperatures. The Power Tank is a good pen for stashing in several locations, like cars and emergency kits, so you know you’ll always have a working pen when you need one.
Best Professional Ballpoint Pens
The classy Faber-Castell Essentio has wonderfully dark ink.
The classy Faber-Castell Essentio has wonderfully dark ink.
The Faber-Castell Essentio’s clean, modern style and high-quality construction give an impression of seriousness and good taste that suits any professional environment. Its straight body is equipped with a grooved grip section that makes it comfortable to hold, so you won’t be distracted at work. The Essentio puts out a smooth, dark line that is a bit wetter than most ballpoints. It took about 30 seconds to dry completely on Rhodia and 20 seconds to dry on copy paper.
The Ballograf Epoca is attractive, lightweight, and can write for up to 8,000 meters.
The Ballograf Epoca is attractive, lightweight, and can write for up to 8,000 meters.
The Ballograf Epoca is stylish but not extravagant, with a classic design set off with attractive details like a faceted barrel and shiny metal trim. It comes in a variety of muted body colors that allow for self-expression without being too loud for work. Its lightweight body is equipped with a classic blue ballpoint refill that is fairly smooth and grips the paper as you write. Each refill meets stringent archival requirements and can write for 8,000 meters before running out of ink.

If you like the Ballograf’s tapered profile but prefer a slimmer barrel, you can’t go wrong with the iconic Parker Jotter.

Best Student Ballpoint Pens
The Pilot Opt has a sturdy clip and comes in fun body colors.
The Pilot Opt has a sturdy clip and comes in fun body colors.
The Pilot Opt is great for long study sessions. Its relatively thick body and firm rubber grip make it comfortable to hold, and its smooth ink is easy to write with. The refills are extra long to hold about 45% more ink than typical retractable ballpoint ink refills, so you don’t have to replace them as often. The Pilot Opt comes in fun body colors to suit your personal style and has a sturdy binder clip so that you can attach it to notebooks and pockets.
The Zebra bLen is thoughtfully engineered
The Zebra bLen is thoughtfully engineered for stress-free writing.
Students have busy schedules that can lead to stress as they juggle homework, classes, and extracurriculars. Something as simple as a rattly pen can have a huge impact on frayed nerves. Enter the Zebra bLen. Created in collaboration with Sato Oki (a renowned Japanese-Canadian designer), the bLen has been carefully engineered to eliminate all the little distracting rattles that happen as you write. Even the sound of clicking the pen is soft and gentle. Plus, it features pigmented emulsion ballpoint ink that's darker than normal ballpoint ink. You won't have to press as hard to get clear, legible writing.
History of the Ballpoint Pen

As modern as they seem, ballpoint pens were actually early alternatives to the fountain pen. The first pen that could be described as a ballpoint was patented in 1888 by an American tanner named John Loud. It had an ink reservoir and a rolling ball in the tip to dispense the ink, but Loud’s ink was too viscous, and his design was never commercially developed. Other inventors tried to develop similar pens throughout the early 1900s, but they all failed due to the difficulty of finding an ink that would flow consistently and evenly around the ball without clogging, leaking, or smearing.

Eventually, Hungarian newspaper editor László Bíró noticed that the viscous ink used in newspaper printing dried quickly without smearing. He worked with his brother György, who was a chemist, to develop a similar ink for use in a pen with a freely-rotating ball in the tip. They patented this successful design in 1938. A few years later during World War II, the Bíró brothers moved to Argentina to escape the Nazis. There they founded a company to sell their pen, which they named the Birome. To this day, ballpoint pens are commonly called a “birome” in Argentina and a “biro” in Britain.

Ballpoint pens are now the most popular pens in the world. Although details of their design have changed over the years, modern ballpoints remain remarkably similar to the humble ballpoint pen developed by László and György Bíró.

Compare These Pens

Do you want to review all of our recommended ballpoint pens at once? Use our comparison tool to see their specifications side by side.

How We Approach Research & Testing

Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.

Conclusion

Ballpoint pens offer unparalleled reliability, longevity, and versatility. Do you have a favorite ballpoint pen? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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Are you still not sure which ballpoint pen is for you? Our Ballpoint Pen Samplers let you try several of our most popular ballpoints in a variety of tip sizes so that you can find your absolute favorite.

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