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: Newton Recycled Brass Ballpoint Gel Pen
Ballpoint vs. Rollerball vs. Gel Pens
For this list, we’ll break options down by type, which generally reduces to ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, 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
Geneva Ballpoint Pen
Packaged in a velvet pouch, this twist-action pen is ready for client gifts and executive kits. Laser etching gives your logo a crisp, permanent look.
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
Cougar Ballpoint Pen
Lightweight and easy to hand out, the Cougar fits conferences, front desks, and everyday office use. Its straight barrel keeps printed branding easy to read.
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
Recycled Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen
An FSC-certified sleeve complements the recycled steel construction, while an 800-meter cartridge handles everyday writing. Laser etching creates a durable, high-contrast mark.
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
SoHo Roller Ball Pen
A solid brass body adds weight in hand, and the rubber-coated barrel stays comfortable during longer writing sessions. The included gift box suits branded recognition gifts.
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
Luna Roller Ball Pen
Glossy enamel, carbon-fiber accents, and a slim brass barrel give the Luna a formal, desk-ready feel. Laser-etched names make it a natural choice for leadership gifts.
For a roller ball pen that makes an impression, look to the Luna. A glossy black enamel barrel, carbon fiber accents, and polished chrome detailing give it a sophisticated, executive feel, and the smooth black ink writes with style. It arrives in a 2-piece gift box, so it's a natural pick for client gifts or a standout desk pen.
- Style: Roller Ball
- Mechanism: Cap
- Weight: .08oz
- Minimum Quantity: 30
Recycled Stainless Steel Rollerball Pen
Its recycled steel barrel pairs a fine 0.7mm tip with 400 meters of black ink. Laser etching keeps sustainability-focused branding clean and durable.
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
Bamboo Quick-Dry Gel Ballpoint Stylus Pen
Gunmetal accents sharpen the natural bamboo barrel, while the 800-meter semi-gel cartridge supports daily use. Laser-etched artwork takes on a warm, tonal look.
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 semi-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
FUNCTION Stone Quick-Dry Gel Pen
A stone-and-polypropylene barrel keeps this click pen light, while quick-dry gel helps reduce smears. Printed branding makes it practical for large giveaways.
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: 125
3. Remark RPET Gel Pen
The lightweight RPET barrel and 200-meter gel cartridge work well for onboarding kits and conferences. Choose a barrel color that complements your printed design.
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
Tuscany Ballpoint Pen
Laser 360 decoration can carry artwork around the brass barrel, making the Tuscany a strong choice for milestone gifts, awards, and executive kits.
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
Eco Recycled Paper Gel Pen
Natural variations in the recycled paper barrel make each pen slightly different. A simple printed mark fits sustainability campaigns, school events, and eco-conscious giveaways.
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
Nash Antimicrobial Ballpoint Stylus Pen
A 500-meter black ink cartridge and rubberized touchscreen stylus make this useful at shared desks and check-in counters. Match the barrel to your brand palette.
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
Axel Inkless Stylus Pen
The aluminum barrel and ink-free graphite tip make this a low-maintenance choice for notebooks, travel kits, and fieldwork. Laser etching provides permanent branding.
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
Hyde Recycled Brass Rollerball Gel Pen
Recycled brass and leather barrel details give the Hyde a substantial feel, while its 0.7mm tip lays down precise black lines. Laser etching suits premium gifts.
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: Rollerball / Gel
- Mechanism: Cap
- Tip Width: .7mm
- Weight: 1.12oz
- Minimum Quantity: 20
Best Pen for Taking Notes
Nash Ballpoint Highlighter Pen
A secure clip keeps the ballpoint and highlighter attached to notebooks, planners, or lanyards. Printed branding turns it into useful conference or campus gear.
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: 125
Best Pen for a Gift
Newton Recycled Brass Ballpoint Gel Pen
At nearly one ounce, the recycled brass barrel has a substantial feel suited to executive gifts. A centered print stays clear beside the chrome accents.
Looking for the perfect pen for a corporate gift with a conscience? The Newton is built from recycled brass with chrome accents for a hefty, executive feel, and its smooth blue gel ink writes up to 400 meters from a fine 0.5mm tip. It ships in an FSC-certified sleeve, and through EcoSmart and 1% For The Planet, part of every sale supports environmental nonprofits, so your gift makes an impression and does some good.
- Style: Gel / Ballpoint
- Mechanism: Twist
- Tip Width: .5mm
- Weight: .96oz
- Minimum Quantity: 20
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 customizable pens for yourself, your team, 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 logo pens right here at RushOrderTees today.
About the Author
Based in New Mexico, Bryce Emley is a seasoned content writer and expert in the realms of custom apparel and eCommerce. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing, he seamlessly blends his passions, specializing in insightful content that bridges the gap between innovative apparel solutions and digital commerce trends. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bryce is an avid creator, channeling his creativity into poetry, screenplays, and creative nonfiction. In his leisure time, he has a penchant for collecting unique, vintage anime t-shirts, showcasing his love for both rare finds and the artistry of apparel design.