Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens: It can be a bit worrisome to bring even a $20 pen to the office because they usually aren’t treated as something of value.You can choose either a fine or extra-fine nib. This cartridge pen is also compatible with the Z24 converter. Its understated design won’t draw any stares, but it still looks good. Lamy Safari Fountain Pen: One of the most highly regarded budget options out there, the Safari is available in black with a black-coated steel nib, or a red, white, and blue combination.You can also choose either a medium or fine nib. It’s a cartridge pen but is compatible with Kaweco’s converter if you want to use jarred ink. Kaweco Perkeo Fountain Pen: This entry-level fountain pen looks nice and is available in four color combinations (blue and white, gray and yellow, pink and gray, or pink and black).If you’ve never used a fountain pen before or don’t want to spend a lot on one, none of these will break the bank: Either way, your pen should be comfortable for you to use and made of a material that’s worth the price you pay for it.

Some people want something sleek and smooth, while others might prefer something that offers a better grip. Material: This largely depends on your preference.We note on the lists below which pens include a converter or recommend a specific model for those to which this applies. Note that you can use an ink-converter on a cartridge pen so you can also dip it in jarred ink, but you usually have to buy that separately.

All the pens on our list have either piston-filler (the kind you dip into an ink jar to refill) or cartridge (the kind with replaceable ink cartridges) mechanisms.

Refilling mechanism: You refill the ink in a fountain pen, and there are quite a few different mechanisms for doing so.

Think about your writing style, and which size would work the best for you. Some people might prefer the ultra-precision of an extra-fine nib, while others appreciate the easier to use wider nibs. They’re typically available in quite a few sizes, including 1.1 mm, extra-fine, fine, medium, or broad.

Nib: The end of the pen where the ink comes out is the nib.

If you’re new to fountain pens, there are a few things you need to know before you can decide which one to buy. Things to Consider Before You Choose a Fountain Pen

We’ve organized our list of fave fountain pens by price to help you narrow things down and choose the best one for you. Whether you’ve never used a fountain pen before or use one every day, the vast amount of options can be overwhelming.

Fountain pen scribe sword