Best Fountain Pens for Regular Paper

We often stress the importance of using fountain pen-friendly paper when using fountain pens for the best quality and writing experience. But the reality is that most paper isn’t designed for use with our favorite writing instruments. Many documents, notebooks, and regular pieces of paper that we write on are more suited for ballpoint pens. That doesn’t mean, however, that we have to limit ourselves. There are ways to use fountain pens with regular paper, and part of that is choosing the right pen. Here, we’ll explore the best fountain pens for regular paper. 

Why Nib Size and Ink Matter

Finding a good fountain pen that can work on inexpensive or regular paper comes down to two things: the nib size and the type of ink you use. This is because the problems that writers usually encounter when using fountain pens on regular paper are feathering and bleeding. Both of these issues result from incompatibilities with the ink and paper used, usually because of a more lubricated ink and paper that doesn’t have surface sizing. 

The best combination you can opt for in this case would be to find pens with a moderate to conservative ink flow and a drier fountain pen ink. You can accomplish great results on regular paper with many fine nibs and less lubricated inks.

Here are some of our recommendations on the best pens (and inks) to use with regular, inexpensive, non fountain pen-friendly paper:

Best Pens For Regular Paper

Most pens with a fine nib will do the trick, but some of our favorites to use on copy paper are the following: 

Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

The LAMY Safari is used by many fountain pen enthusiasts for their everyday needs, including writing on regular paper that isn’t designed for fountain pen use. The extra fine nib helps control ink flow to minimize feathering and bleeding on paper. 

Sailor Hi Ace Neo Fountain Pen

Japanese nibs are known to run finer than their Western counterparts, and this is true for the Sailor Hi Ace Neo. It comes with an extra fine Japanese nib, so you can achieve a thinner, drier line than you would with other pens. 

Pilot Custom Heritage 912 Fountain Pen

The Pilot Custom Heritage 912 has one of the most extensive nib ranges available for a fountain model on the market. The best part is that they are interchangeable, so if you need to swap out your regular nib for a finer option to write with on regular paper, you can do so and have a beautiful writing experience as well.

Pilot Kakuno (Extra Fine)

The Pilot Kakuno is another great option for writing on regular notebook or copy paper. Similar to the Sailor, it comes with a Japanese extra fine nib that allows you to write without worrying about feathering or bleeding.

Best Inks For Regular Paper

Ink choice is just as important when writing on regular paper. Here are our top picks:

Pelikan 4001 Ink Bottle

Pelikan 4001 inks tend to run on the drier side of things, making it perfect for writing on paper that does not take wet inks too well. It comes in 10 colors, but we recommend Brilliant Black or Blue Black. 

Waterman Serenity Blue Ink Bottle

Waterman Serenity Blue is known for performing well with pretty much any pen and paper. Pair it with a fine nib and you’re good to go, whether you’re using copy paper or regular notebook paper. 

Platinum Carbon Black Ink Bottle

Those who want a more budge-proof ink will enjoy using Platinum Carbon Black for writing on regular paper. This is a pigment ink that behaves very well on paper with the added bonus of being highly water-resistant. 

Diamine Registrar’s Ink Bottle

If you’re looking for the best permanent fountain pen ink to use with regular paper, then your best bet is to go with an iron gall variety. Diamine Registrar’s ink is a great option that is dry enough to write well on most kinds of paper that aren’t necessarily fountain pen-friendly. 

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, choosing the best fountain pen for regular paper involves considering factors like nib size, ink flow, and overall performance. The pens and inks we discussed in this post offer a great writing experience with minimal bleeding or feathering on standard paper. Whether you're a seasoned fountain pen enthusiast or a newcomer, you can definitely enjoy using fountain pens with different types of paper.

Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting