There’s nothing quite like using the best fountain pens to get your writing done. The whole experience is rewarding, from purchasing one and unpacking it, to using it for the first time. When you buy yourself a premium fountain pen, you should be able to get years of service out of it as well.
Parker is one of the go-to brands when it comes to fountain pens, but there’s actually a thriving marketplace out there with numerous manufacturers to choose from. What that means is you can find a fountain pen that suits not only your taste but one that has an ergonomic design style to fit any kind of hand.
While the basic concept of a fountain pen might seem pretty straightforward, the models we’ve found below offer up lots of cool variations on the theme too. There are barrels made from a variety of materials and tip options can be tailored to suit your writing style but you’ll want to look out for specific design and build points as you shop.
A quality fountain pen makes a real style statement in the same way as a high-end watch does, and there’s never been a better time to buy one before the academic year begins. Here’s our pick of the best fountain pens.
Best fountain pens 2025
The best overall fountain pen
What with how well they handle chocolate and cheese, we should’ve always left it up to the Swiss to make a thoroughly desirable and beautifully engineered fountain pen. Coated in palladium and engraved all over with an intricate guilloche design (that’s ‘braided’, for those who don’t belong to some kind of pattern-making guild), the Caran D'ache Ecridor Retro Palladium-Coated Fountain Pen is both tough, beautiful and comes with a lifetime international guarantee to back it up. But how does it write? We found that it writes as well as pens double its price, we love this pen's balance, weight, and smooth line.
Pros
- Handsome, unusual design
- Writes beautifully
- Palladium coating
Cons
- Grip can be a little slippery
The best luxury fountain pen
The Montblanc Le Grand 146 Fountain Pen is an indulgence for sure, but its high price tag rewards you with a dreamy handwriting journey. Much of that revolves around the nib, which is a 14k gold and Rhodium combination in the medium format that delivers a precise ink-to-paper experience. Similarly, the body, though fashioned from more conventional black resin, feels nicely balanced and you can tell that this is a quality product. As you’d expect from Montblanc, the Le Grand 146 Fountain Pen comes lavishly presented in a gift box while they also offer a dazzling array of different ink colours to compliment it.
Pros
- High-end look & feel
- Superbly made nib
- Great brand
Cons
- You wouldn't want to lose it!
The best affordable fountain pen
Want to make a style statement without spending the big bucks? The Dryden Luxury Fountain Pen ticks all of the boxes when it comes to delivering a great all-around real ink experience at a fraction of the price. The design is classic, functional, and there’s a medium tip so it’s perfect as a gift or for anyone who doesn’t have a specific preference. The other bonus with this fountain pen is that it comes with an ink converter, which means that you can use it with both cartridges or liquid ink. In fact, we think this one is hard to beat at the lower end of the market.
Pros
- Works well with cartridges or liquid ink
- Looks deceptively upmarket
- Affordable
Cons
- Too light for some
The best unique fountain pen
If you’ve grown tired of black and gold, this wood-cased fountain pen is ideal. With just the right amount of bling courtesy of a mirror-finish cap, nib and collar, the bulk of the pen is given over to smooth pear wood with a beautiful natural grain that we think feels wonderful to write with. Coming with a cartridge/converter system, you can use modern cartridges or an inkwell, and reviewers were pleased to report a smooth writing experience for both.
Pros
- Distinctive wooden barrel
- Feels great to write with
- Unique compared to traditional fountain pens
Cons
- A little tricky to unscrew nib
The best versatile fountain pen
As stationery geeks, we think every fountain pen is beautiful in its own way (don’t laugh), but sometimes the choices can seem a little… well, safe. Refreshingly, this Parker pen takes a little walk on the wild side, offering seemingly endless options for customisation, including a choice of medium or fine nibs, three nib materials, and over 15 colour, print and trim combos. Most importantly, its action is smooth as butter and Parker is reputable as a high quality brand – what’s not to love?
Pros
- Loads of colour options; choice of nibs
- Smooth writing action
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- Finger grip prone to rusting
The best lightweight fountain pen
Building on the success of the original Cross Century pen, the Century II beefs up the profile and adds a contrasting silver and gold colourway to create a new classic. What reviewers loved about the original is still here in full force, though. We commend the leak-proof design, immune to all kinds of bumps and jiggles in transit; the beautifully smooth writing action, and the longevity of the build, with one long-time user noting the impressive lack of wear on the gold plating.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Leak-proof
- Lifetime mechanical warranty
Cons
- Casing prone to fingerprints
How to choose a fountain pen
Keep an eye on weight and dimensions when you’re searching for a fountain pen. Next up, choose the pointy bit – the nib – to match your writing style. There are super fine nibs that range from XF through to broader options right up to 2B. The former is a good bet for finer, small handwriting while the latter is suitable for a more flamboyant style.
Nibs also come in a range of different materials, depending on the cost of the pen, how long you want it to last and your own personal preference. You’ll also want to consider refills and how much they might cost you over time. Nevertheless, a good quality fountain pen is still a cost-effective option as it’ll last you a lot longer than a whole pile of plastic ballpoints.
How we test
All of our tests are done in a real-world environment – not in a lab. This means we are using the best fountain pens in the same way as you would and can give you the feedback that matters to you, not just a series of numbers.
In each review, we look at how the pen sits among its competition, how it compares to other models, as well as how much it justifies its price tag. In addition to providing an honest verdict to help you choose if it's right for you.
For more information on fountain pens, you can read our guide on how much should I spend on a fountain pen? and what should I look for when buying a fountain pen?
