For “penthusiasts,” the hunt for the perfect writing instrument is endless. There are hundreds of options out there, and some are better suited for certain needs than others.

Whether it’s for the avid note-taker, the hand-drawn artist, the dedicated student, or simply someone who appreciates the tactile pleasure of penmanship, this guide to the year’s best pens showcases our favorite custom pen options that serve as both great branding opportunities and handy writing implements.

Our Best Pens for Writing

• Best Ballpoint Pen: Geneva Ballpoint
• Best Rollerball Pen: SoHo Roller Ball
• Best Gel Pen: Bamboo Quick-Dry Gel Ballpoint Stylus
• Best Premium Pen: Tuscany Ballpoint
• Best Eco-Friendly Pen: Eco Recycled Paper Gel Pen
• Most Hygienic Pen: Nash Ballpoint Stylus with Antimicrobial Additive
• Best Inkless Pen: Axel Inkless Stylus Pen
• Best Pen for Writing: Hyde Recycled Brass Rollerball Gel Pen
• Best Pen for Taking Notes: Nash Ballpoint Pen-Highlighter
• Best Pen for a Gift: Baronfig Squire Precious Metals Brass Pen

Ballpoint vs. Rollerball vs. Gel Pens

For this list, we’ll break options down by type, which generally reduces to ballpoint, rollerball, and gel pens. Here’s how they compare:

• Ballpoint: These pens use a thicker, oil-based ink that dries quickly and is more resistant to smudging on most surfaces.
• Rollerball: These have water-based ink that flows well over paper, providing a smoother writing experience than ballpoints.
• Gel: These use gel-based ink available in colors that tend to be more vibrant and offer smoother writing on various surfaces, but they can take longer to dry than ballpoint or rollerball pens.
• Combination: Some options below combine gel and ballpoint, bringing together the benefits of each: striking color, a smooth writing experience, and reduced smudging.

Best Ballpoint Pens

1. Geneva Ballpoint

Best Overall

This twist-action ballpoint pen combines a superior writing experience with a sleek, elegant silhouette. With two-tone matte coloring, the Geneva is an excellent choice for ballpoint enthusiasts.

Style: Ballpoint

Mechanism: Twist

Weight: .22oz

Minimum Quantity: 63

2. Cougar Ballpoint Pen

Budget Pick

Looking for a value option that writes like a premium pen? The Cougar Ballpoint features a retractable 1.0mm ballpoint tip and comes in multiple colors and color schemes for a stylish yet dependable writing experience at a low price.

Style: Ballpoint

Mechanism: Click

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Weight: .02oz

Minimum Quantity: 125

3. Recycled Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen

Eco-Friendly Pick

Think a pen can’t be both sustainable and durable? This ballpoint pen is constructed of recycled stainless steel and offers a robust 800m of writing length. This piece will write for the long haul while demonstrating the dependability of your brand with your custom logo.

Style: Ballpoint

Mechanism: Click

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Weight: .03oz

Minimum Quantity: 35

Best Rollerball Pens

4. SoHo Roller Ball

Best Overall

With a luxuriously thin .7mm tip, the SoHo Roller Ball offers a smooth writing experience with a long-lasting reservoir. Its rubber coat finish and large diameter make it exceptionally comfortable in the hand while boasting a robust surface for custom designs of your choosing.

Style: Roller Ball

Mechanism: Cap

Tip Width: .7mm

Weight: .04oz

Minimum Quantity: 36

5. Luxe Redmond Roller Ball

Premium Pick

For a roller ball pen that can make an impression, look to the aptly titled Luxe Redmond. This pen comes with premium blue ink and Luxe gift box. With its laser chrome finish and branded removable cap, it’s the perfect gift pen.

Style: Roller Ball

Mechanism: Cap

Tip Width: .7mm

Weight: .04mm

Minimum Quantity: 30

6. Recycled Stainless Steel Rollerball Pen

Eco-Friendly Pick

Boasting 400m writing length housed in a barrel made from recycled stainless steel, this pen is built to last—and help the planet last. As an EcoSmart® product, one percent of each sale of this pen goes back to environmental nonprofits in cooperation with 1% For The Planet.

Style: Roller Ball

Mechanism: Cap

Tip Width: .7mm

Weight: .06oz

Minimum Quantity: 30

Best Gel Pens

7. Bamboo Quick-Dry Gel Ballpoint Stylus

Best Overall

Not quite sure which kind of pen you’re looking for? How about one that does a little of everything? Made from sustainable bamboo to boot, this model combines the smoothness of sem-gel ink with a ballpoint tip and features a rubber capacitive touch stylus on top for touchscreens.

Style: Gel / Ballpoint

Mechanism: Click

Tip Width: 1mm

Weight: .01oz

Minimum Quantity: 144

8. FUNCTION Stone Quick-Dry Gel Pen

Budget Pick

The FUNCTION Stone is a deceptively simple gel pen that dries quickly while supplying a long lifespan of 300m of ink. With a fine .7mm tip and ultra-lightweight construction, it provides a smooth, comfortable writing experience that minimizes smudging while displaying your custom design on the barrel.

Style: Gel

Mechanism: Click

Tip Width: .7mm

Weight: .02oz

Minimum Quantity: 250

9. Remark RPET Gel Pen

Eco-Friendly Pick

The Remark RPET gel pen offers the easy handling you’d expect from a quality gel pen, but this model is also made from recycled plastic. Available in a range of colors, it’s also well suited to showing off company logos as a company swag.

Style: Gel

Mechanism: Cap

Weight: .02oz

Minimum Quantity: 125

Best Premium Pen

10. Tuscany Ballpoint

Featuring distinctive cutaways along the shaft affixed with chrome inlays, the Tuscany is a refined pen for those who like a more formal writing instrument. With premium 1.0mm ink and a twist-action retraction, it writes as sharp as it looks and even shows off your custom design with laser finish on the barrel.

Style: Ballpoint

Mechanism: Twist

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Weight: .01oz

Minimum Quantity: 35

Best Eco-Friendly Pen

11. Eco Recycled Paper Gel Pen

When it comes to sustainable writing instruments, this option takes the cake. Both the barrel and the cap are made from 100% recycled paper, meaning it’s both constructed from eco-friendly material and represents less landfill waste. Incorporating your custom graphic on the side shows your brand cares about the environment.

Style: Gel

Mechanism: Cap

Weight: .01oz

Minimum Quantity: 125

Most Hygienic Pen

12. Nash Ballpoint Stylus with Antimicrobial Additive

With an extra-soft grip and antimicrobial additive, the Nash offers a comfortable, safe option for ballpoint lovers. Available in a ton of colors and boasting an additional stylus tip, it’s a perfect companion for the office, campus, or other public places.

Style: Ballpoint

Mechanism: Click

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Minimum Quantity: 125

Best Inkless Pen

13. Axel Inkless Stylus Pen

For a truly unique writing experience, look no further than an inkless pen. With a 1.0mm tip boasting 700-800m of writing distance, it offers hours and hours of writing time with erasable graphite and features a convenient removable eraser top.

Style: Stylus

Mechanism: Graphite Tip

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Weight: .03oz

Minimum Quantity: 80

Best Pen for Writing

14. Hyde Recycled Brass Rollerball Gel Pen

Crafted from recycled brass, this pen combines sustainability with elegance, making it an eco-friendly choice for professionals and creatives alike. Its smooth black gel ink ensures a fluid writing flow, while the rollerball tip offers precision and comfort.

Style: Gel / Ballpoint

Mechanism: Cap

Tip Width: .7mm

Weight: 1.12oz

Minimum Quantity: 20

Best Pen for Taking Notes

15. Nash Ballpoint Pen-Highlighter

Whether it’s for class or the office, this versatile pen has everything you need to take great notes. With a smooth ballpoint pen on one end and a handy highlighter tip on the other, the Nash Ballpoint Pen-Highlighter packs two essential notation tools into one implement.

Style: Ballpoint / Highlighter

Mechanism: Twist

Tip Width: 1.0mm

Weight: .02oz

Minimum Quantity: 188

Best Pen for a Gift

16. Baronfig Squire Precious Metals Brass Pen

Looking for the perfect pen for a corporate gift? The Baronfig Squire is constructed from industrial-grade brass and features an ultra-fine .06mm tip, combining precise penmanship with long-lasting durability. It comes delivered in a premium two-piece gift box and displays your custom design along the barrel.

Style: Roller Ball

Mechanism: Twist

Tip Width: .06mm

Weight: .11oz

Minimum Quantity: 4

How We Picked the Best Pens

To pick the best pens, we selected the best options from a pool of custom office products and balanced features including:

• Overall value
• Pen style (ballpoint, roller ball, gel, hybrid)
• Opening mechanism (twist, click, cap)
• Weight
• Minimum order quantity
• Customization capability

Customize the Best Pens for Writing

Once you’ve picked the best pens for your, your team’s, your clients’, or your prospects’ writing needs, you’re ready to customize your writing instrument with your company logo or custom artwork.

Just select your pen and add your design in our responsive and intuitive Design Studio. This shows your design in real-time so you can see exactly what your pen (or other promotional products) will look like once it prints. Then, just choose your quantity and make your purchase.

Create your own custom pens right here at RushOrderTees today.