Ballpoint pens utilize a fast-drying, oil-based ink which provides the primary advantage over the fancier types of pens. This ink is much less likely to smudge, bleed, or clog — all disadvantages of rollerballs. Of course, fountain pens are messy and fussy in their own way, which means you have to really want to put in the work to use them. Both rollerballs and fountain pens will leak or otherwise spill ink, which is an extreme rarity for ballpoints. If you’re a fan of this workhorse implement, which will ably guide you through your studies, here’s our list of the top 11 best ballpoint pens for students.
This is my favorite pen in the world. I think I got my first box of these at the start of my junior year in high school and I’ve sworn by them since. All of the InkJoy line uses low-viscosity ink that writes smoothly in bold lines. The wider barrel at the rubber grip is excellent and eases some of the extra effort for you rollerball fans out there.
When you first remove one of these from the box, you’ll find a small plastic ball affixed to the tip, which preserves the freshness of the ink after manufacture. I majored in creative writing and wrote not only my own stories, but long-form critiques on others’ stories with these pens. I highly recommend them. If you fall in love with them like I did, 12 packs are available here.
An acceptable alternative is the 300 RT, which is cheaper and has a straight grip. They’re fine, but the clip tends to break free from the plastic attachment, which is kind of annoying. There’s also the even cheaper 100 RT or the up-range 700 RT if you want to explore all your options. Trust me, though: go with the 500 RT.
If Paper Mate discontinue the 500 RT, I’ll have a moment of silence and then order up a box of these. Like the Paper Mate version, BIC uses their “Easy Glide System” ink in these pens, and the name Velocity is apt, because they write very quickly, indeed.
They’re a very close competitor to my beloved 500s, but I find that these use ink fairly quickly for a ballpoint. They are refillable, though, so don’t make that the reason you don’t try them. If you prefer a thicker line, these also come in Velocity Bold with a 1.6mm tip.
If you must sneak into rollerball territory, BIC offers the Gel-ocity in 0.7mm tip, which can be found in bright colors. Or, if these fancy retractable pens aren’t for you, there’s always the evergreen BIC Round Stic pens for good old-fashioned capped ballpoint action.
Some of you just can’t get on board with a one millimeter pen tip. Pilot have created this ballpoint that edges very closely to rollerball territory with a 0.7mm tip in a sophisticated looking pen. The ball is made of stainless steel which provides very good writing consistency for long note-taking sessions.
If the rubberized grip of the other pens on this list is a dealbreaker for you, perhaps you’ll prefer the textured barrel of this model. It reads a bit like a nice technical mechanical pencil, but underneath is a familiar, reliable ballpoint. Very sturdy clip on these, too.
Like its gel-inked stablemate the 207, which made our best pens for writing post, the Jetstream system uses uni-ball’s “Super Ink.” This ink was developed to prevent check fraud by being water and fade resistant.
These are excellent pens for lefties since that same ink is very fast drying to reduce smudges. Aesthetically, they look a bit like the 500 RT at the top of this list, and is available in both 1mm and 0.7mm widths. Boxes of one dozen are available here.
The company also makes the Jetstream Premier, which is pitched as a midrange refillable pen to compete with the next segment on our list.
The Dr. Grip was the first more-serious pen I ever bought. At the time, I was writing enough that I’d developed a grooved callus on my middle finger and had some repetitive stress pain in my arm. After looking around for something suitable, I stumbled upon this, which is ergonomic enough that the Arthritis Foundation recommends it for folks with a lot more chronic pain than I ever had. These are also excellent for people with larger-than-average hands, as the grip is quite wide and will feel a lot more comfortable than the normal stick ballpoints. It feels quite substantial, as well, with a solid click on the retraction mechanism.
The Dr. Grip was released in 1995 (I got mine about 1997, if I recall correctly), and since then, they’ve expanded the line somewhat. They now offer the Dr. Grip FullBlack, which is similar in construction, but with a refined black-and-silver scheme. Since this pen is on the heavy side, some folks might find it unbalanced. They’ve addressed this, too, with the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity, which distributes the weight a bit better.
One of the primary drawbacks to ballpoint pens is that they require gravity for the oil ink to flow freely. This means that you can’t write upside down with the vast majority of them. Why would you want to write upside down? Perhaps you’re working under a car, or doing a crossword puzzle while laying down, or maybe you’re in space.
Yes, these pens were developed in 1966 and rode with the Apollo 7 astronauts into space. This is made possible by a pressurized, Parker-style ink cartridge. You can write in zero gravity, as well as underwater and in extreme temperatures down to negative 30F and up to 250F. This particular model is a lovely matte black and includes a removable clip. There are many colors of the pen to choose from, though ink colors are limited to blue and black. I also like the Chrome Bullet Space Pen.
We included a nice Parker fountain pen gift set in our best office gifts post because they make some really great writing utensils. As an upgrade from the Dr. Grip, you might consider this elegant, but still relatively inexpensive option. Choose from 16 different color options for this stainless steel pen, which will come in a gift box.
The included pen color is black, but with refills, you can change it to red or blue. Additionally, if you ultimately find you prefer rollerballs with gel ink, Parker has made it so these refills are interchangeable with the ballpoint tips.
Specs:
Colors available: Black, blue, red (comes with black)
While all ballpoint pens exceed other pen types when it comes to extreme conditions, the folks over at Rite in the Rain specialize in this sort of thing. As we discussed in our best paper notebooks post, their notebooks can be used even when wet, making them ideal for rainy environments or really any sub-par conditions.
This All-Weather pen made by the company uses a pressurized cartridge that allows you to write in temperatures ranging from minus 30 to 250 or under water up to 35 feet. They use a proprietary ballpoint ink that reduces skipping and writes a bit finer than the 0.9mm tip would indicate. Choose between black, blue or red ink colors.
For the price, this will probably outperform the majority of ballpoints in the world, but certainly when paired with Rite in the Rain notebooks in unfavorable situations, this is a strong option to consider.
Even if you’re not much into fine pens, you’ll likely know Cross as a company and maybe this pen in particular. The Classic Century is a staple of fine writing implements, available at an entry-level budget. I had one of these and loved it. The weight is very satisfying, as is the ultra-smooth twist retraction mechanism. The ball is carbide and rolls extremely smoothly. These pens come with a lifetime mechanical warranty, so you needn’t worry about your investment.
Like the Parker above, you can choose your finish here from among the pictured Lustrous Chrome, 10 Carat Gold, 14 Carat Gold, Black Lacquer, Medalist, Satin Chrome, and Sterling Silver. If you’re a purist and absolutely must have either a fountain or rollerball, the Classic Century comes in those formats, as well, in addition to a mechanical pencil.
Separately, Cross acknowledge that the time of writing on tablets are upon us and offer the Tech3+, which includes a conductive silicone stylus you can use on your iPad or Android device.
An intriguing step up from Cross would be Waterman, which are handmade in France. The namesake of the company, Lewis Edson Waterman, invented one of the first stable fountain pens in 1883 after working on it for 10 years. The Expert is described by the company as having a cigar-shaped silhouette, and like the Cross, uses a twisting retraction mechanism. I chose to feature the black lacquer finish with gold trim, but there are nine other colors to choose from, as well. Ships in a gift box.
Like all things in life, there’s really no upper limit to how much you can spend on an item. German-made Montblanc pens are decidedly a jeweler’s staple, using fine materials crafted together to create a statement piece.
The StarWalker line is meant as a contemporary yet timeless collection, updating fine pen design into the modern age. The body is made of black resin, with the metallic elements being plated with ruthenium, part of the platinum group. Each pen gets its own serial number to highlight its uniqueness.
