10 Best Pens for Note Taking 2020 [Buying Guide]

Your Authors and Guides

Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Pen for Note Taking

People tend to be really picky about their office supplies, especially when it comes to pens. If you’re looking for the perfect pen to take to class but can’t seem to find it, you’re in luck. We researched the highest-rated, top-selling options out there to put together this list. Whether you prefer gel tips, felt, or ballpoint pens for note taking, we got you covered. First, let’s look at some of the important features to consider.

Pieces: All of these pens come in multipacks but you’ll be surprised how many options there are. Some come with 10 or 12 but we found some pretty awesome sets with as many as 100 different colors to choose from.

Colors: Truly, you’ll find everything here. Prefer black ink? Metallics? Neons? Pastels? What about white ink? No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a product here to suit your needs. Who knew there were so many different options available?

Waterproof: Some of these inks are waterproof but a lot of them aren’t. If you’re looking for a pen set for kids or are planning to use them for addressing envelopes, waterproof ink is important. For general notetaking, it’s not essential.

Point: Most of these pens feature fine points which allow you to get a lot of detail in whatever you’re writing. Fine tips are especially useful if you’re going to use these pens for coloring as well as notetaking.

Tip: A lot of these pens are gel pens and have a fine ball-point tip. Believe it or not, we found a retractable gel pen, too. Other options include fine felt-tips which give you a completely different look than gel.

Non-Toxic: Not all of these pens have non-toxic ink but generally that only matters if you’re going to allow children to use them. Or, if you have a tendency to put the tip of your pen in your mouth, be extra careful.

Top 10 Products

Now that you know what to look for, let’s move onto our reviews. Here’s the deal. We put our top and budget picks right at the top of the list. That’s the best way to get an idea of the variety that’s available and we wanted to make sure you saw them, even if you’re in a hurry. All of the other products we chose are worth a close look, too. What are the best pens for note taking? Let’s find out together.

Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set

Our top pick is the Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set, the best gel pens for note taking we found in our research. First of all, they come in an impressive range of colors including four standards, six neon, five mixed pastels, five solid pastels, ten glitters, and ten metallics. You really get a little bit of everything. Every pen provides smooth and even color application and uses acid-free, non-toxic ink. Transparent barrels allow you to see how much ink is left and make it really easy to identify and organize your collection in the handy plastic case. These are a great choice if you like to get creative when taking notes because there are so many color options that you can really make the important stuff stick out. Plus, they’re covered by a satisfaction guarantee.

Check Price Now Review Top Pick

MyLifeUNIT Pen Set

Next up is our budget pick, a great choice if you prefer fine tip pens for note taking. The MyLifeUNIT Pen Set comes with 10 pens in a variety of colors, including black and blue as well as bright, bold pinks, purples, and more. The acid-free ink has minimal bleed through and the superfine metal-clad tips are perfect for fine details. These pens are great for handwritten notes as well as finer drawing application like comics or architecture sketches. The ink is water-based and won’t stain most textiles. That’s not all, they can even be left uncapped for a few days without drying up. These pens come in a soft vinyl case that makes it easy to keep them organized. Just use the snap closure to secure them then toss them in your backpack to go to your next class.

Check Price Now Review Budget Pick

Sharpie Art Pens

If you’re familiar with Sharpie, it might surprise you to learn that these Sharpie Art Pens are some of the best we found when looking for pens for note taking no bleed. These aren’t the Sharpie markers you might be used to! The fine point design allows for fine detailed so you can get detailed drawing and lettering when you need it. There are 12 different colors in this set, including black and blue as well as bright colors like coral, hot pink, and clover. The ink is bright and quick drying as well as water, smear, and fade resistant. One of the best things about this set it the stand-up hard case. It doubles as an easel to give you quick and easy access when you’re working and keeps your pens organized and protected when you’re done.

Check Price Now

Colore Gel Pens Set

Another set of the best gel pens for taking notes is the Colore Gel Pens Set. One of the reasons this set is so impressive is that it includes 100 unique colors, including 28 glitter options, 14 neon styles, as well as swirls, pastels, neons, and metallic. There are some classic colors as well. The non-toxic acid-free ink is kid-friendly and archival quality. The gel tips glide smoothly over the paper and release just the right amount of ink for crisp, clear lines without smudges or smears. These pens come in a convenient plastic case that you can slide into your bag when you need to have all your supplies with you. And get this, these pens are actually covered by a 1-year satisfaction guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied in that time, Colore will give you a full refund.

Check Price Now

iBayam Fineliner Pens

When it comes to pens and highlighters for note taking, we have to recommend the iBayam Fineliner Pens. These fine point felt pens provide a smooth writing experience that’s perfect for note taking, bullet journaling, and more. There are 24 colors in all, including standard black and blue as well as plenty of bright, bold options. Each pen has a thin, dark grey body with a strip around the top and a spot on the tip of the cap to indicate the color. They come in a soft vinyl double case and each side has a snap closure to help keep everything organized and secure. The ink is water-based, acid-free, and non-toxic plus it has minimal bleed through. They’re covered with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, too. If you’re not satisfied, you can request either a replacement set or a full refund.

Check Price Now

Gel Pens for Passion Planner

These Gel Pens for Passion Planner can be used for a variety of things and will turn your lecture notes into something really special. There are 20 different colors in all including some that you don’t always find in sets like this such as various browns and greens for landscape drawing or coloring. The ink is archival quality and won’t bleed, smear, blot or fade. It comes out smoothly and precisely and won’t clog. That’s not all, these pens were designed with a widened inner that holds 150% more ink than comparable items. What does that mean? These pens will last about twice as long. Each pen features a rubbery latex-free grip for comfort, too. They come in a large soft vinyl case with a double snap closure for easy transport plus they’re covered by a satisfaction guarantee.

Check Price Now

Tanmit Planner Pens

Some of the best fine point pens for note taking are these Tanmit Planner Pens. This set of 24 features no duplicate colors and really give you a nice selection of bright, colorful inks. The fine tip is perfect for detail work and the water-based ink is acid-free, non-toxic, and has minimal bleed through. Each pen has a black body with the ink color indicated at the base and on the top of the lid. They come in a convenient soft vinyl case with an easy to use snap closure so you can easily tuck them into your work bag or backpack without having to worry about losing one. If you have any problems with damaged pens or if you’re just not satisfied, you can contact the manufacturer for a free replacement or request a refund.

Check Price Now

ParKoo Retractable Erasable Gel Pens

The ParKoo Retractable Erasable Gel Pens are unique in a few ways. First, they’re retractable which is a really great feature for gel pens because you don’t have to worry about losing the cap and having the pen dry out. The other thing that makes these pens special is they’re erasable. The ink is thermosensitive and disappears when friction is applied. Just use the rubber tip to erase the ink without damaging the paper. They’re the best of both worlds, they write like a gel pen and erase like a pencil! This set includes 10 different colors including black, blue, red, turquoise, and orange. They use non-toxic, acid-free ink that won’t bleed through the paper and come in a clear plastic case that’s the perfect size to take with you to class or to work.

Check Price Now

Dainayw Ink Pens

The most interesting type of pen we found in our research is the Dainayw Ink Pens. Why do we say that? All of the pens in this 12 pack have white ink. If you’re looking for a cool way to take notes, try white ink on black paper! The ink is archival quality, acid-free, non-toxic, and waterproof. And, let’s face it, they’re pretty darn cool. Plus, since you get 12 of them, you don’t have to worry about running out of ink in the middle of class or an art project. The fine tips let you get really detailed, too. White ink pens aren’t for everyone but if you’re looking to make an impact, you might want to give them a try. One more thing, if you aren’t satisfied, they have a 90-day money back policy.

Check Price Now

ARTEZA Fineliner Pens

If you’re the kind of person who prefers black ink pens for note taking, this is the set for you. These ARTEZA Fineliner Pens feature water-based, smudge-proof, odor and acid-free ink and here’s the kicker: they’re all black. That’s right, you get 12 black gel pens so when one runs out, there are plenty of backups. Each pen in this set has a triangular barrel. This unique shape is not only ergonomically designed to fit in your hand but also won’t roll off your desk. You can write for hours without pain or discomfort. This is a great set for lefties, too. The ink dries really fast so you won’t have to worry about any smudges as you write. Tuck a few in your backpack or purse and keep the rest in your desk drawer so they’re handy when you’re ready for another.

Check Price Now

About the Author

Jennifer Trimbee

Expert Researcher and Writer

Jennifer Trimbee, a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped, is an expert writer with many years of experience. Jennifer writes about technology, sports, outdoor, and gear products.

Learn more about Jennifer

Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

See more reviews:

Best Pens for Note Taking

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set

MyLifeUNIT Pen Set

How to Choose the Best Pen for Note Taking

Top 10 Products

Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set

MyLifeUNIT Pen Set

Sharpie Art Pens

Colore Gel Pens Set

iBayam Fineliner Pens

Gel Pens for Passion Planner

Tanmit Planner Pens

ParKoo Retractable Erasable Gel Pens

Dainayw Ink Pens

ARTEZA Fineliner Pens

About the Author

TOP PICK

Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set