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Must have pens and markers for bullet journal writing and drawing
If you are here, you are probably asking yourself:
“What pens are good for bullet journaling?”
So if you are looking for incredible pens and markers for your bullet journal that:
- Are good quality
- Won’t bleed
- Draw beautifully and easily
You’ve come to the right post to get the writing tools you need for your bujo. Not only will you get specific items to add to your bullet journal toolbox, but you’ll also get some tips and tricks for picking out bullet journal pens for yourself… because there are tons of great options that I haven’t had the opportunity to get my hands on yet!
Let’s get started!
(This post contains affiliate links. Check out the disclosure for more information.)
How to Select the Best Bullet Journal Pens and Markers
Personally, there are a lot of amazing options for pens and markers in the bullet journaling world. Obviously I can’t get to them all in one post- and just because the item isn’t here doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase it.
But does the pen make the bullet journaler?
Not really. It’s so important to find great ways to get into the bullet journal habit, and while buying pretty pens, notebooks, and stationery is fun- it doesn’t create the routine for you.
But if you are ready to commit, it’s important than your pens are good quality and well-rated. While I won’t tell you to go buy the $100 set of beautiful bujo pens if you’re a beginner, don’t let cost fool you. Generally, the best pens for journaling aren’t the cheapest.
So if you found an option that:
- Cost-wise is middle of the road or greater
- Are well reviewed
- Have good quality
You’ll probably be happy with just about any pen and marker for your bullet journal.
But that said, there is one point I want to cover quickly before diving into the best bujo pens to purchase.
Are There Pens That Don’t Bleed?
Does such a thing really exist? Are there pens and markers that don’t bleed through paper?
Honestly, not really. A lot of people panic about their pens and markers causing bleeding and ghosting in their bullet journal. But the problem is that ghosting and bleeding are very rarely caused by the writing tool itself (unless the pens and markers are alcohol-based).
If you really care about bleeding, you need to get paper that is nice and thick.
My favorite choice for a notebook that pretty much handles any pen like a champ is the Archer and Olive A5 Dot Grid Journal. It’s white, bright, and thick.
You pretty much won’t deal with any bleeding unless you:
- Use too much water
- Use alcohol-based pens/markers
Ok, Rachel, great tips! But what supplies do I need for a bullet journal?
So now that you have the starter information on pens and markers, let’s dive into the best writing tools to purchase for your bullet journal!
Best Black Pens for Bullet Journals
If you’re going to have any pen for your bullet journal, then you need black pens at the very least. I’ve seen some gorgeous spreads done in black and white if you want to stick to something a bit more minimal.
This is what I recommend for the best black bullet journaling pens.
Tombow Mono Drawing Pen
I absolutely love these pens for my bullet journal. Very sturdy, good quality, minimal smearing are all things that I’m looking at for a great black pen.
As a Tombow Brand Ambassador, their products are always among a favorite recommendation because they are multipurpose, affordable, and terrific for all art/writing levels. These are must-have pens for bullet journals.
Faber Castell Pitt Artist
My second favorite black bullet journal pen is the Faber Castell Pitt Artist pens. These pens are glorious and I use them just as much as the Tombow pens! They are easy to carry everywhere and they do have more nib sizes, so I often rely on my Pitt Artist pens for thinner or thicker black lines.
I highly recommend picking up a set of these for your bullet journal.
Staedtler Triplus Black Fineliners
If you love their colored triplus fineliners, then you’ll definitely want to pick up a pack of their black fineliners as well. These reliable pens are perfect for drawing, doodling, and creating boxes and lines.
Even better? They now come in lots of nib sizes, from super thin to very thick.
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens
These pens are also a big favorite of mine. They come in multiple nib sizes, they last a long time, and minimal smearing when you use them with rulers and stencils.
I have shied away from using these as my to-go pens, however, because I have experienced some pens leaking. But I use these in my office all the time. As long as they have pretty consistent shelf temperature, the Sakura Microns are a perfect bullet journal pen choice.’
Get your set of Sakura Pigma Micron Pens today!
Best Colored Pens for Bullet Journals
If only using black pens isn’t your thing, that is ok! There are tons of great color options for pens in your bullet journal.
Here are some of my favorite recommendations for the best pens for bullet journals that have a little more color and pizzazz.
Staedtler Triplus Fineliners
These delightful color fineliners were part of my first supplies when I purchased my bullet journal, and I still use these pens for my bullet journal to this day! They are nice to use, easy to draw with, good quality, and make for a lot of fun lettering and doodling options.
Faber Castell Color Pens
If you love Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens- then good news! Their pens also come in bright, vivid colors that pop and draw very smoothly.
Paper Mate Ink Joy
Looking for more of a traditional pen option? These Paper Mate Gel Pens come in a variety of fun colors but are also perfect for doodling, stencils, and writing.
Pilot Juice Pens
These pens are great for taking notes and doodling in tons of different colors. While they are technically gel pens, these don’t work well with blackout paper, so I decided to stick them into this category.
The Pilot Juice pens are great because not only are there dozens of fun colors to pick from, but they also come in different nib sizes. I love these for doodling and for writing colorful notes!
Stabilo Fineliners
These popular fineliners are great for coloring, drawing, and notes. They are perfect for somebody who wants a lot of fun colors yet are good for any budget.
Best Coloring Markers for Bullet Journaling
While any of the markers and pens are excellent for coloring, I did want to cover a few more traditional coloring markers that are must-haves for bullet journaling pens.
More traditional markers do have more concern when it comes to bleeding and ghosting, but if you’re looking for markers that don’t bleed through paper, these are my picks.
Crayola Supertips
I spent way too long not using supertips in my bullet journal that I have to say right now- GET THEM IF YOU DON’T HAVE THEM!
Crayola Supertips are a great choice because:
- Color beautifully
- They offer tons of beautiful colors
- The markers hand-letter phenomenally
- They don’t bleed or ghost (permitting you don’t have a heavy hand)
- Markers blend nicely
And my comment earlier about avoiding the cheapest bullet journal pens? These are high quality and low cost. So if you don’t have them, buy your Crayola Supertip Markers right now!
Tombow Twintone Markers
I’ll admit, Tombow Twintone markers do take a little bit of time to get used to because of the very different nib styles, but once you do- you NEED them in your repertoire.
They are great for coloring, but also for adding simple flairs to doodles and handwriting. I love that it includes a thin tip marker as well as a broad tip marker.
Best White Pens for Bullet Journals
It seems like a strange item to have, but a white pen is a must-have bullet journaling tool.
Here are the top white gel pen options for your bullet journal.
Uniball Signo
This has been a staple part of my bullet journal pen collection from the beginning. Not only can you add fun flourishes to lettering, and extra dimensions to doodles, but you can also use this handy tool to fix very small mistakes.
If you want a bullet journal or you have one and don’t have this white gel pen yet, GET IT!
Sakura Gelly Roll
For a long time, I only used the first gel pen mentioned above. While I was happy with that product, I finally wanted to see what other white gel pens were capable of.
So I immediately picked up these Sakura Gelly Rolls the instant I laid my eyes on them. And they are WONDERFUL! What
Pandafly Gel Pens
These beautiful white gel pens are also a great compliment for your bullet journal. If you’re looking to get a little more bang for your buck, this package would be a terrific choice (that, or if you lose pens frequently!).
Related: Learn how to fix mistakes in your bullet journal
Best Gel Pens for Bullet Journals
Are gel pens good for bullet journaling? Um, heck yes! Who doesn’t want a little shimmer and shine that you can’t quite get from other pens and markers?
What’s great is that whether you have a traditional white bullet journal or a blackout book, gel pens work wonderfully for both types of paper.
Not to mention, the middle school nostalgia (at least for me!).
Sakura Gelly Roll
I absolutely ADORE these fun gel pens in both my white and blackout notebooks. They are fun, glittery, glimmery, and oh so pretty. They are a perfect addition to any bullet journal pen collection.
Uniball Signo
I always have a set of these gel pens on me at all times because they are beautiful and add a lot of fun flair to any bullet journal spread.
Not to mention, I already said you need to have the white version, so you may as well get gold, silver, and white in one convenient package!
If you’re looking for more pretty gel pen color options from the Uniball Signo brand, these pretty Angelic Colors offer a bit more variety and fun.
Pentel Milky Pop Gel Pen
These colorful gel pens from Pentel are beautiful and leave a fun effect in any bullet journal spread, both with white or blackout paper.
Best Brush Pens for Bullet Journals
When I think bullet journal, brush pens naturally come to mind as a must-have. Pretty lettering is so much easier in a bullet journal with brush pens. That said, many options work wonderfully for coloring, doodling, and even drawing lines and boxes. Learn which are the best pens for bullet journals!
Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Ok, if you don’t own any Tombow Dual Brush pens, these are a staple you need for your bullet journal.
Not only can you create beautiful brush lettering, ombre effects, and gorgeous flourishes with the brush pen tip, the broad tip allows you to kick it up a notch for stenciling, doodling, and writing.
Also- they have tons of color palettes- so it’s easy to find a package that suits your needs perfectly! Find one you love below (or buy them all!).
Kelly Creates Brush Pens
I had the fun opportunity to try out Kelly Creates Brush Pens when I attended PlannerCon 2019 and I have to admit, I adore that these double-sided brush pens offer two slightly brushes than the Tombow. They also offer some fun colors, like these metallic brush pens!
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
The Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens are a must-have for any new brush pen enthusiast. The tips are small and harder, which makes controlling your handlettering much more simple.
What’s awesome is that there are three different color options. I highly recommend getting the black ones because they are classy, but they also feature a rainbow color pack and a neon color pack.
Faber Castell Brush Pens
These brush pens are also a bit smaller and easier to control compared to some other brush pens. The colors are fun, vibrant, and lovely- perfect for decorating your bullet journal!
Zebra Mildliner Brush Pens
I just got the opportunity to try these newer brush pens out and I love them. The colors are bright, the tips are very easy to control, and it adds a different flavor to many of the other types of brush pens listed in this post.
Best Highlighter Pens for Bullet Journals
If you are a student who uses bullet journals, chances are you rely on highlighters for your class notes. Why not get a multifunction tool that works great for highlighting notes AND writing or drawing in your bullet journal?
Here are the top choices for highlighter pens for bullet journals.
Zebra Mildliners
Another classic staple of many bullet journalers! These dual-tip highlighter and marker sets are great for doodling but also perfect for highlighting! What is extra nice is none of the colors are too dark, so you can easily use these for your schoolwork or for doodling and highlighting in your bullet journal.
Tombow Highlighters
These highlighters are FABULOUS because like the mildliners, they are also double-tipped! But what I really enjoy about the highlighter tips for these pens is that the ends are covered better, which makes it much easier to keep a consistent line as you draw across the page (it’s also easier to use with rulers).
Stabilo Highlighters
These bullet journal pens are a popular highlighter option amongst the bullet journal community. The colors are beautiful, they are simple to use, and the wider pen makes it easier to grip.
Review Video: Bullet Journal Pens and Markers
If you’d like to see some of these pens in action, I highly recommend checking out this video below! Almost all of the options in this video are some of my top picks for each category, so it’s a great starting point to see everything in one place and in live-action.
Final Thoughts on Best Markers and Pens for Bullet Journals
As I said earlier, this barely scrapes the surface for pen possibilities in the bullet journaling world, but I can say with a fact that everything listed here is lovely and incredible to use.
Remember- the pen doesn’t make the bullet journal– it’s all about you and what you do with your bullet journal.
And if you haven’t gotten your Archer and Olive notebook to help eliminate the likelihood of bleeding, get it here. If it’s not your cup of tea, look for notebooks that have at least 100gsm paper thickness to help prevent and eliminate bleeding and ghosting concerns.
Oh- one last tip! Make sure to get pen cases so you have an easy way to bring your bullet journal pens and markers ANYWHERE! This case is my absolute favorite because it’s compact, easy to store, and stands so you can easily keep your pens organized while you use them.
Dove into starting your first bullet journal yet? If you’re starting to gear up for your very first bujo, make sure to check out this ultimate guide to starting your very first bullet journal!
What is your favorite pen or marker to bullet journal with? Make sure to comment below because I’m always looking to try new stationery supplies.
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Leuchtturm1917 vs Scribbles that Matter Notebook: Which is Best for Bullet Journaling?
The 7 Best Bullet Journal Tools for Beginners
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