My Favorite Pens for Planners
It's no secret that I'm a bit of a planner and printable addict, but I also love pretty pens! After all, no planner is complete without something to write with. I'm happy to share my favorite pens for planners and printables.
This is only the favorite parts of my pen collection. I tend to go in phases of using one type of pen for a while and then switching to another.
We have the Pilot G-2 pens.* These are my favorite pens that write like a pen (as opposed to a marker). They're available in lots of pretty colors and they write very smoothly and are fairly inky.
Next, the Inkjoy Gel pens. The colors are beautiful and they write with a very rich and smooth pigment. These are definitely my go to pens.
Next up, we have the Staedtler fineliner marker pens. First of all, I love the cases that come with pens, and I also love the colors. I even found a neon set. They write like markers, but the point is very fine, so it's great for writing even in small planners.
Next, I love the Le Pen marker pens. They come in a beautiful array of colors and write like a very thin marker (similar to the Staedtler fineliners). I would say they are just a tad more pigmented than the fineliners, but it's hard to tell.
We also have the tropical set of Papermate Flair pens. I just got these, and I've been using them more than I thought I would. They are a marker, and they're quite a bit thicker than the Le Pen or Staedtler pens. However, I love the colors, and I've been finding that the thickness is not a bad thing for certain things (like filling in checkboxes in my planner). I might not want to use them in small blanks, and they do bleed quite a bit on thinner paper.
Next, I love these Stabilo pens. They are super affordable, they come in a large range of colors, and they have a thin marker tip. I also love how cute they are.
What are you favorite pens?
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Taylor Says
Hello, I love your simple to the point post. I have recently purchased the Erin Condren Planner and am trying to decide what pens to purchase to go with it. For right now I have a pack of the Pilot Frixion Pens but I am thinking I might pick up the Staedtlers or the PaperMate Flair pens. I also love the simple and sweet layout of your blog!!
LauraJane Says
Post authorThanks. My husband’s favorite are the Frixions, since they are erasable.
Veronica Says
Frixion is definitely my favorite pen, also!!
Sharon S Says
Mine too!!!
michelle Says
My fave too!
Sharon S Says
Mine too!!!
Tammy @ SkipperClan Says
I love the pilot g2 pens and the starter for my Erin Condred products and my Purposeful Planner too.
Stella Says
I’ve been part of your blog for a little more than a year now. I appreciate the simplicity, too. Oh, Taylor, like she said, the Flair pens do bleed more. I prefer NOT to use them in my Erin Condren. I adore the LePen. They seem to write a lot smoother, to me, than the Staedlter ones.. 🙂
LauraJane Says
Post authorThe LePen’s are nice.
Dana Says
Oh my gosh, have you tried the new UniBall Air?? Thicker than the Staedtler but dark black and amazing!!?
I love to see gave pens, thanks 🙂
xoxo
LauraJane Says
Post authorI haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds interesting.
matt Says
Easy to use, too. Writes like a space pen — all angles. Smoother, though
Judy Says
I like these, too. For everyday use, I am very loyal to Ener-gel.
Judy Says
For everyday/anytime use,I am loyal to Ener-Gel.
Emilie Says
I also love the Staedtler fineliners, I love to color code all the areas I am planning. My new favorite pens are the Frixion Ball Slim .38 (Very Fine Point!). They come in a variety of colors AND they are erasable!
LauraJane Says
Post authorThanks for sharing! My husband use the Frixion’s. I love how they are erasable.
Yvonne L. Says
I love this I think it is wonderful.
Pam Says
I’m picky about my pens. For the most part, I prefer retractable pens. I don’t like having to take the end cover off a pen and wondering where that little thing went! But I do love the finer point, colored pens I get at Michaels craft store. They don’t ‘bleed’ on any of the papers I use.
LauraJane Says
Post authorRetractable pens are nice
Hulagirl Says
Happy Birthday to your little girl! What a great milestone for you all. You sure have managed to do both mommy and blogger well. I enjoy your work very much. Thank you!
LauraJane Says
Post authorThank you.
Tabitha Says
Do the Le Pen or Staedtler pens bleed through to the other side of the paper?
LauraJane Says
Post authorThey don’t bleed on thicker papers.
Heather Says
Hi!
What a post – straight to one of my favorite things ????. I have a HUGE pen collection dating back to high school when I worked for Things Remembered and drooled over the Mont Blanc and Waterman pen we sold back then (talking 30 years ago…). So – started with using employee discounts and have a Mont Blanc ballpoint and fountain own that I love, a Waterman ballpoint, many ballpoints from Levengers, too many Cross ballpoints to count, LOVE my newest Cross Sauvage collection roller balls – animal print pens that are just beautiful! (Stingray, giraffe, zebra, and more!), two awesome Space Pens, and then I also have a love of Uni Jetstream, and so many Pilot styles – B2P (recycled plastic bottle gel pens), G2, Profile Elite… Can you tell I have a hoarding, um, collecting habit? ;-). If a pen writes smoothly and the ink is bold, I am all for it!!! Oh, and don’t get me started on Sharpies…
LauraJane Says
Post authorYou definitely have quite the collection. I’d love to see the collection. I haven’t tried an fountain pens, but I have some on my Amazon wishlist.
DK Says
I really enjoyed this pen posting. For years, I only wrote with Precise V5 pens with blue ink. As I have expanded into journaling and mixed media, I have had to update my pen wardrobe. Actually, I had forgotten about Papermate Flairs. I remember how “revolutionary” they were when they first entered the marketplace. Keep up the good work. Your blog is outstanding.
LauraJane Says
Post authorI do really like the Precise V5 pens as well. Thanks.
Gina Says
I love the Pilot G2 for other stuff (note-taking, letter writing, etc) but not in my planner. I also love the FriXion for when I’m taking notes for work.
In my planner, I prefer Pigma MICRON 05 in black or the Staedtler’s – I have the 20-marker set and the pastel set (the light grey is in both) Love those neon ones, too! They may have to come live with me. 🙂
LauraJane Says
Post authorI haven’t tried the Pigma Micron 05 ,but it sounds interesting.
Lyn Says
Thank you for sharing.your faves. I love Pilot G2 pens as well – in Bold as I can see it better. ;). Just wish they would make them in more colors, as I would buy every one!
LauraJane Says
Post authorMore colors would be great.
Maureen Says
Thank you for your post. I been trying to find pens that won’t leak through my planner pages but are fine enough to write in small blanks. I had purchased Sharpie fine point markers, but they bleed through. I will have to try the Pilot and Staedetler pens too.
LauraJane Says
Post authorGlad to help.
Lisa Says
Did you try the Sharpie pens or the fine line markers? In my experience, the Sharpie pens don’t bleed, but the markers do.
LauraJane Says
Post authorI have tried the Sharpie pens. I like them.
Lisa Stalder Says
I use most of these same pens resorting mostly to the Flair marker pens & the Staedtlers.
Do you have a recommendation or preference on a white gel/marker pen? I haven’t been able to find one that I like.
LauraJane Says
Post authorI don’t have any strong preferences. I have an UP & UP one from target that I use to write on chalkboard vinyl.
maria helena Says
All of these made my list of favourite pens too 🙂
See my list here: http://marelden.com/?p=2808
LauraJane Says
Post authorGreat. Thanks for sharing your list – it made me want to try some more pens!
TinaK Says
I really like Uniball Jetstream and BLX, Microns and Platinum Preppy fountain pens for general writing. FriXion pens and highlighters for erasable color writing and highlighting.
Amy Says
I use the Staedtler pens too. Like you, I love the case :O)
I use a lot of washi in my planner and I find the only pens that don’t smudge are Sharpie markers. I use the extra fine point for that. I’m always looking for a good washi pen…
Iris Ria Dickinson Says
I used Pilot G2 pens a while back, then must have run into a bad batch in the medium tip where the ink would come out quite blotchy. Have not had trouble with the fine point version of this pen, though. However, I now pretty much exclusively use the Sharpie Pens in fine point. They are a porous tip pen which for me is just the right mix of pen and marker. Plus they come in a rainbow of colors! They do have a cap; so if they were retractable, I’d say they’d be close to perfect. The Flair pens are good when I am sketching. http://www.jetpens.com is where I go to drool over cool pens.
Karen McNamara Says
I love the .03 Staedtler pens, Sharpie pens, Bic for Her pens, Pentel RS.V.P pens, the Pilot 2 and the PaperMate InkJoy pens. I also love pens as you can see.
LauraJane Says
Post authorSounds like some great recommendations.
Taylor Says
Hello, I love this simple to the point post on pens, I recently got the Erin Condren Life Planner and have been trying to find pens that I like that do not bleed through the pages, for right now I have the Papermate Flairs in the ultra-fine point. They work pretty well but I have really been considering trying the staedtlers as well. On a different note, if you really like the Pilot G-2, have you ever tried the Uniball Signo pens?
Nubia Says
Frixion erasable pens. You can normally only find a 3 color set at target or staples, but I ordered the 24 color set and love them.
LauraJane Says
Post authorYes, I think my husband has the full color set – I really like them.
Emily Says
I also love pens! However, my biggest challenge is being left-handed and finding one that writes smoothly and won’t smear. I have tried several different brands, more than I can name. I have recently discovered frixion pens and they are working for now. Any suggestions other than what is listed in your post?
LauraJane Says
Post authorI think the Frixion ones would be great.
Lauren Says
I made the mistake of buying ONE pack of frixion pens in Singapore and I can’t find them anywhere in the US :'( They are very thin and multi-colored… if you have any suggestions I’d be eternally grateful.
LauraJane Says
Post authorWe get ours on Amazon.
Samantha Says
Do these markers and/or pens bleed through? My FIRST EC planner is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow and I want to make sure the pens and markers I get don’t bleed through.
LauraJane Says
Post authorIt really depends mostly on the paper. The marker like ones bleed through more than the others.
ashleigh Says
Can someone tell me a planner that has pages made of poater board material so i can use my sharpies????
Blayne Smith Says
Hi. I am in Canada and I am also a lefty. I have a huge collection of pens as I doodle alot. I find I like the LePen for how small the tip is. But they aren’t the easiest to find.
I also love how you posted. To the point. Thanks for sharing.
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Eileen Says
Do any of the pens bleedhough? I made the mistake of buys the sharpie fine points and hey bled through.
Thank you
LauraJane Says
Post authorIn my experience that depends a lot on the type of paper you use.
Tiana Senn Says
New to the Planner community and trying to get my supplies in order to make my first book! Researching which pens would be my best fit in a myriad of possibilities is hard! lol If I might make a recommendation? …when you take a photo of each pen, include a picture of a line or whatnot to show how the pen looks when it writes… Just my humble suggestion because that’s what I am really trying to find right now! lol
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Leila Says
I was so excited to see my favorite pens – the Le Pen! Although, I don’t like them when I’m doing a lot of writing so I am going to check out some of the others you mentioned for my longer writing projects! 🙂
Rachel Says
I LOVE G2’s. They’re what I always use in my planners. Le Pens are also great!
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