Bullet Journal Pens And Markers
With so many options to choose from when it comes to selecting bullet journal pens and markers, it can be hard to know where to start.
Before you know it you’ve got an army of pens and markers taking over your creative space, and your overdraft is yelling at you to stop buying more!
It’s not necessary to have hundreds of pens or markers when you begin your bullet journal journey, but there are a few pens that will help you on your way.
Choosing the Right Pen for Your Style
Your choice of pens and markers can make or break your bullet journal experience.
In this post, I’ll walk through the different types of pens, their unique features, and how to choose the best ones for your needs.
Fineliners: Precision in Every Stroke
Fineliners are ideal for those who love crisp, clean lines. This type of pen is mostly used for drawing, creating detailed illustrations, note-taking and creating consistent lines. Fineliner tips range from ultra-fine (0.05mm) to thicker options (0.8mm), making them perfect for intricate work and outlining.
I use fineliners to outline all of my bullet journal doodles, grids, banners, fonts, trackers and shapes, and for general writing in my journal. For writing I normally use the Micron 3 or 5. For any sort of outlines I normally use the 2.0, 5.0 or 8.0 tips.
Micron fineliners are my favourite. They give a smooth ink flow, and different sizes enable you to create fine strokes or bold strokes. I have never experienced any bleeding or feathering with these pens. They’ll be a reliable tool for much of your bullet journaling, and they come in a range of sizes.
Best for: Bullet journaling, sketching, outlining and writing small, detailed notes.
My Favourite Fineliners: For sure the Micron range
Top Picks:
- Sakura Pigma Micron
- Staedtler Pigment Liner
- Uni Pin Fine Line
Gel Pens: Smooth and Vibrant Writing
Gel pens for bullet journaling can be used if you want bold, pigmented ink that glides effortlessly.
These pens come in a huge variety of colors, including bright colors, metallics, pastels, glitters and neons. They’re good for note taking, adding pops of color to your planner, or writing on dark paper.
I have a range of gel pens that include neons and glitters, although I don’t use these as often as my other colored pens and markers. The gel pens in the image below were cheap at just £4.00.
I sometimes find that gel pens can release too much ink too quickly, and can therefore be prone to bleeds and smudges. This is why I opt instead to use Mildliners for any colouring in, and microns in black for outlines.
The one key thing about Gel pens is that there are fantastic colour choices to choose from, giving you a range of incredible color options for your BuJo creations. Just be mindful to try and find better quality ones that give a consistent ink flow with minimal or zero bleed.
Best for: Writing, color variety, and creative journaling.
Top Picks:
- Pilot G2
- Uni-ball Signo 207
- Pentel EnerGel
Brush Pens: Adding Artistic Flair
Brush pens allow you to create both thick and thin strokes in a single motion, making them perfect for things like calligraphy, hand lettering, and decorative journaling. The flexible tip lets you experiment with pressure and angles.
I have not yet gone down the route of using brush pens. Because my own bullet journal is mostly made up of doodle style layouts, the calligraphy style writing and expression has never floated my boat. However if you want to investigate and experiment with brush pens, there are some recommendations below.
Best for: Lettering, artistic flourishes, and expressive journaling.
Top Picks:
- Tombow Fudenosuke
- Pentel Touch Brush Sign Pen
- Kuretake Zig Brush Pens
Markers: Bold Colors for Creative Expression
If you want intense, saturated colors, markers are the way to go. Available in alcohol-based or water-based varieties, they are perfect for bold headers, highlighting, and creating colorful illustrations.
Top Tip: Be mindful that markers create a heavier ink on your bullet journal pages that have the potential for bleed through – always test on similar gsm thickness paper before you start to use in your final bullet journal layouts.
Best for: Headers, highlighting, and bold artwork.
Top Picks:
- Zebra Mildliners (for soft highlights)
- Copic Markers (for professional artwork)
- Crayola SuperTips (affordable and versatile)
Waterproof Options: Durability for Every Page
Waterproof pens ensure your work stays smudge-free, even if it gets wet. These are a non-essential, and really only have their use if you plan to add watercolor washes or water blending to your bullet journal layouts.
Best for: Artists, planners, and anyone who wants smudge-proof writing.
Top Picks:
- Sakura Pigma Micron
- Uni-ball Vision Elite
- Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens
Dual-Tip Pens: Versatility for Different Effects
Dual-tip pens offer two styles in one pen – usually a fine tip on one end and a brush or marker tip on the other. They provide flexibility for different writing styles and are a space-saving solution for creatives.
My Favourite Dual Tips: The Mildliners are by far my favourite dual tip pens and are a popular choice for many BuJo enthusiasts. They have a small point at one end which is the end I most commonly use for colouring in, and a broader marker tip at the other end, which I sometimes use for bigger blocks of colouring in, or adding colour to borders and fonts. There are a wide variety of colors you can purchase from Mildliners.
What I love about the Mildliners is I have never experienced bleed through with them and they last ages. By far these are my most used pens in my bullet journals.
Best for: Multi-purpose drawing, outlining and colouring in.
Top Picks:
- Mildliners
- Crayola SuperTips
- Arteza Dual-Tip Markers
Calligraphy Pens: Elevating Your Handwriting
If you want to start to refine your lettering skills, calligraphy pens are a must. Available in dip, fountain, or brush styles, they help create elegant, artistic script.
As mentioned earlier, I have never gone this route, but there are some amazing bullet journalers out there who create extraordinary designs using calligraphy pens.
Best for: Calligraphy, fancy headings, and decorative writing.
Top Picks:
- Pilot Parallel Pen
- Pentel Pocket Brush Pen
- Speedball Calligraphy Pen
Pens for Black Paper: Unique Contrasts
Writing on black or dark-colored paper requires special pens that provide high contrast. White, metallic, and pastel gel pens work beautifully for this purpose.
Whilst your BuJo may have white paper, this does not mean there isn’t scope to add other coloured card and paper into your BuJo in lots of creative ways. You might then want to have drawings or text that stands out on any dark added paper, and using a contrast pen in white, silver, gold and other metallics can take care of this.
I have not done this in my own bullet journal yet – but it’s something I for sure want to experiment with, at some point.
Best for: Writing on black pages, dark journaling, and scrapbooking.
Top Picks:
- Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen
- Sakura Gelly Roll Metallics
- Posca Paint Pens
Specialty Inks: Exploring Unique Textures
Want to try something different? Specialty inks like glitter, shimmer, or erasable ink add a fun and unique touch to your writing.
I have got glitter gel pens but use them rarely. This is mostly because the pens I have tend to drop a lot of ink onto the page, and they seem to take a long time to dry. Perhaps I need to purchase some better glitter or shimmer gel pens (top picks below), and I’ll probably experiment with these again at some point.
Best for: Adding creative flair, experimenting with textures, and unique effects.
Top Picks:
- Pilot FriXion (erasable ink)
- Kuretake Wink of Stella (glitter brush pen)
- Diamine Shimmer Inks (for fountain pens)
Recommendations: Top Picks for Every Budget
Finding the perfect pen doesn’t have to break the bank. And this is especially important as a beginner to bullet journaling, when much of what you do is testing and starting to find your own unique style and methods of creating in your bullet journal.
Here are some recommendations for pens and markers based on a user friendly budget:
Budget-Friendly:
- Pilot G2 Gel Pen
- Zebra Mildliners
- Crayola SuperTips
Mid-Range:
- Sakura Pigma Micron
- Tombow Dual Brush Pens
- Uni-Ball Signo 207
Premium:
- Copic Markers
- Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pens
- LAMY Safari Fountain Pen
Ink Quality: Why It Matters
A high-quality pen isn’t just about how it feels; ink quality plays a crucial role. Using good quality ink pens in your journal will for sure help your layouts look better. So when you’re looking to purchase pens, try to find ones with with:
Quick-drying ink (to avoid smudging) Waterproof ink (for durability) Fade-resistant ink (for longevity)
I’d suggest always reading reviews for the pens and markers you intend to buy – they can provide invaluable feedback about how good the pen or marker is, and this is how I found out about Micron Fineliners and Mildliner Pens.
Line Width: A Guide to Choosing the Right Size
Different pens offer various line widths, and over time you’ll find the line widths you want to use for all of your bullet journal designs. Here’s a guide to get you started:
- 0.3mm or below: Ultra-fine, precise lines (great for tiny details).
- 0.4mm-0.6mm: Standard writing width (perfect for journaling and note-taking). I tend to use 0.3mm, 0.4mm and 0.5mm for most of my bujo designs and for writing.
- 0.7mm or above: Bold, thicker strokes (ideal for headers and emphasis). I’ll sometimes use this size and above for doodles I draw in my bullet journal, for example if I draw a doodle tree, or doodle flowers, I typically use a 0.8mm.
Color Selection: Creating a Cohesive Palette
This is an interesting point, because my bullet journal is a riot of colour, without any standard colour palette or aesthetic to it. I go free hand and free style. I love to create journal pages that are full on, filled and contain all sorts of designs and colours. But you can choose a cohesive color palette if you want to maintain a clean, aesthetic look in your journal or planner. Or have particular colour schemes for different layouts in your journal.
Neutrals give a minimal look Pastels give a soft aesthetic look Brights create an energetic feel Monochrome shows a more a professional touch
Personalized Style: Making It Your Own
Your handwriting style, favorite colors, and line preferences all play a role in choosing the perfect pen. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of pens and markers to find what works best for you.
I always have a spare bullet journal I use as a practice journal, along with a couple of other cheap plain paper journals I use to practice in. Having these gives me free reign to create, test and use all of my pens and markers to find which ones I feel most comfortable using in final designs.
Maintenance and Care: Keeping Your Pens in Top Shape
This may seem simple, but making your pens last longer will help your BoJo budget! Follow these care tips:
Pens and markers are best stored horizontally (especially dual-tip pens). Keep pens and markers capped tightly to prevent drying out, and do not leave them lying around without caps. Use the right paper by purchasing the right bullet journal to prevent feathering or bleeding which can be really frustrating and ruin your bullet journal if this happens.
Conclusion: Crafting Your Perfect Bullet Journal
Choosing the right pens and markers to use is a very personal journey, but your pens and markers will be integral to your bullet journal success. It’s worth taking the time to find the right ones to suit your personal style of bullet journaling.
For me, this is Microns and Mildliners. They pretty much do the job for everything I need in my bullet journal.
I would love to test some metallics on dark paper at some point in the future, but I have not got there yet!
Key to a successful and happy bullet journal journey is to use the best tools for your creativity and comfort.
Don’t be afraid to test different options, find your favorites, and enjoy the process of creating with the perfect pens and markers!
