Every teacher has been there – we need to write something down, and we’re missing a pen to take these critical notes – or even worse, the ink is dry! There are so many pens out there, and it may be hard to navigate the difference between gen pens and felt tip pens, why you should choose ballpoint pens over other pens, and so on. The options are almost limitless, but we’re here to make your job a little bit easier and share the best pens for you.
Best Pens for Teachers Reviewed
1. Paper Mate Flair – Best Overall
Highly reviewed, writes well with great color options, this one pen set is ready for you to make and write all things! And bonus, many teachers love this pen set for grading because it doesn’t bleed or have a long dry time. These felt tip pens are available in various options to meet teachers’ needs. From different color options to different quantities, there is a set of flair pens for you. Do you love to color code? What if you are looking for more standard picks of black or blue? The great part about using a trusted and established brand is a choice that makes sense for you and how you plan to use the pens.
The felt tip helps you write in smooth, bold lines in different colors that are easy to see. These pens are great because they are smear- and fade-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about smudges when you write – and many teachers back up that claim! There is a point guard that prevents the tip from fraying, and the water-based ink will not bleed through your paper, so you don’t have to sacrifice paper for design. They even can be used well – without smudging – over white-out, which is a great feature to have when you don’t have time to start from scratch if you make a mistake!
These are good pens that can be used for writing or drawing, adding flair to any page. The pens have more than 27,000 reviews on Amazon, 90 percent of which are five stars. That is a lot of happy customers! Many teachers love the choice of colors, readability, and durability of these pens.
2. PILOT G2 Premium – Best for Everyday Use
This one has the Good Housekeeping Seal for a reason. It is a smooth, smudge-free writing pen with great ink flow, the ink dries quickly, and it is convenient for all your writing needs, including grading. This pen is listed as America’s #1 selling pen and has proven to be the #1 longest writing gel pen, and there are more than 49,000 reviews, most of which are five stars on Amazon to back up why people love them. The pens are good gel pens in black ink, or you can choose one of the 27 plus colors available. In addition to colors and quantity, you can choose the style from an ultra-fine point, extra-fine point, fine and bold point, and the finish from metallic, mosaic, and fashion gel ink.
They are smooth while writing, quick to set, refillable when you run out of ink, and have a comfortable grip pad to help you feel at ease while writing. The sturdy clip on this retractable gel pen will help you keep track of it, and you can clip it on your notebook, papers, pockets, and anywhere else you want to put it. In addition to standard gel pens, Pilot offers fountain, ballpoint, retractable, erasable gel pens, and more. With more than 100 years in the business, this trusted name will surely deliver for teachers.
3. uni-ball Jetstream RT – Best Pens for Lefties
This one does not smudge thanks to a quick drying time, making it the best teacher pen for lefties and the one who writes while dragging their hand. The uni-ball pens are ideal for left-handers because the quick-drying ink helps to minimize smudging.
Its special, uni super ink protects against water, fading, and fraud, with minimal bleeding. The grip fits comfortably in your hand, and the trendy, stainless steel accents will stylishly complement all sorts of things – grading, writing, drawing, and more.
The pens come in bold or fine points and in black, blue, or multicolor. You can choose the quantity, as these pens are refillable if you want to include refills when you buy them. Most importantly, because it does not take a long time for the ink to dry, this pen is best for lefties. It will not smudge during your grading, like many others.
4. PILOT FriXion Fineliner – Best Erasable Pens
This one is a great hybrid, a mix between a pencil’s erasability with the strong finish of a pen. You can easily start over if you make a mistake! The erasable marker pens are the first of their kind, an erasable fine marker pen with a unique thermo-sensitive ink. Because of that, you can erase and re-write without tearing the paper. There are 12 gel ink colors for you to choose from, as well as different quantities.
These can be used to color, write, or grade – anything that teachers use pens for. They are a hybrid between pens and pencils, but it is one that you can write clearly with, no matter what you are using them for! You get all the benefits of a pencil with the stronger finish of a pen, making it the best of both worlds!
5. Paper Mate InkJoy – Best Gel Pe
These pens have a smooth stroke with many colors to choose from – perfect for the well-organized teacher. These gel pens come in a fun multi-colored pack. The ball is mid-range in size, so you’ll be able to complete all tasks with ease with this pen. It dries 3x faster when compared to competitors – even within its own brand! This transparency is another reason to check out what they can offer you.
The smooth ink doesn’t skip across the page like others, and the colors are truly those of the rainbow. Because of the variety, this set is made for those who want to organize by color. It has an ergonomic comfort grip making the pens sit comfortably in your hands.
Buyer’s Guide
When you’re looking to buy teacher pens, you’ll want to keep some of the following key features in mind. This will help you buy the right pens for you, helping you save time and money by finding the one you love best quicker,
Type
The type of pen is one thing you will want to keep in mind when you’re looking to purchase. For example, you can choose a fountain pen or gel pen. The type of pen will give you a different style of ink, stroke, finish, and more. They may bleed through the paper depending on the pen and paper you are using.
Width
The higher the mm of the pens, the thicker the stroke. The thicker the stroke, the easier or harder it may be to read, depending on what it is for. There are many options, so you will have to choose what works best for your things, including grading, writing, and more.
Colors
Different pens have different colors available outside of the standard black and blue. This may influence what set you want to buy because you can make more things with more choices – and you won’t need to buy another set for all your needs!
Drying time
Good pens don’t take a long time to dry; instead, they are set immediately to prevent smudging. This is important because they are easy to use, and you won’t make your writing illegible if you forget to let it dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about the best teacher pens.
Why Do Teachers Like Flair Pens?
Flair pens are easy to read because of their thickness and come in several colors and styles. They do not take a long time to set, writes smoothly, and are easy to use.
Are Teachers Allowed to Use Red Pen?
Yes. While some have stopped using it if the red feels too harsh for their students, teachers can use whatever color pens they want.
Why Should I Use Different Colored Pens?
Different colored pens will help keep you organized! Not only will you use different colored pens to grade, but also you can use them for different tasks or appointments.
