If you’re a regular journaler, you know how important it is to have an effective writing tool — and you also know that the best journaling pens can make it even more fun or satisfying to jot down your thoughts. But with so many pens out there, it can be difficult to narrow down the best options for journaling. Where does one even begin?
The most obvious thing to look for when you’re shopping for a journaling pen is one that writes smoothly without skipping or bleeding through the page, and every pen on this list will fit that bill. Beyond that, you should think about which type of pen you prefer and what kind of journaling you tend to do. Rolling ball ink pens are many journalers’ go-to type for everyday writing because they’re simple but smooth. You can also find pigmented gel pens for livening up your journal pages with punches of color, and even erasable gel pens. If you like the way markers feel as you write, you should opt for a fine-point felt-tip pen. And a pen set that offers you different tip options will give you lots of versatility.
Another factor to keep in mind when choosing a pen is the width of the tip. Tip sizes most commonly range from 0.5 millimeter to 1 millimeter, and the size you should choose depends wholly on personal preference. If you write small or like to include more detailed doodles in your journals, you’ll want to aim for a finer line width. On the other hand, if you tend to write in larger print, you have the flexibility to write with a thicker pen. Most of the pens I’ve chosen for this article are solidly midrange (0.7 millimeters) to accommodate many writing styles.
From no-frills pens for everyday use to brightly hued sets, here are some of the best journaling pens on Amazon.