Best picks · Accessories
Best Stationery 2026: Gift Picks by Person & Budget
The best stationery gifts for the 2026 holidays by person and budget: under $20, first fountain pen, planner fans, artists, luxury, Japanese stationery fans.
Today’s edition1214 guides · 59 stories and roundupsPrices checked October 2026Every guide, A–Z →Latest ↓
Top stories
Best picks · Pens
Best Gel Pens: G2, EnerGel, Sarasa & More
The best gel pens compared by use: Pilot G2, Pentel EnerGel, Hi-Tec-C, Sharpie S-Gel, FriXion, ZENTO, Signo 207 and Sarasa Clip. Tip sizes, ink, refills, price.
Best picks · Pens
Best Fountain Pens for Beginners: 6 Starter Pens
Which fountain pen should a beginner buy? Six starter pens compared, from the Pilot Metropolitan and Platinum Preppy to the LAMY safari and TWSBI ECO.
Best picks · Notebooks
Best Planners for 2027: Hobonichi, Day Designer & More
The best 2027 planners by use: Hobonichi Cousin, Day Designer, Erin Condren, Passion Planner, Hobonichi Weeks and Blue Sky. Layouts, sizes and paper.
More best picks
- Notebooks Best Notebooks (2027): Leuchtturm1917, Midori & 6 More
- Pencils Best Mechanical Pencil: 9 Picks, 0.2 to 0.9 mm
- Pens Best Pens for Note-Taking (2027): 7 Picks by Use
- Pens Best Pens for Left-Handed Writers (2027): 6 Picks
- Notebooks Best 2027 Journals: Hobonichi Techo, Moleskine & 3 More
- Notebooks Best Notebooks for Fountain Pens (2027): 9 Compared
- Accessories Best Fountain Pen Inks: Blue, Black & More
- Pens Best Japanese Pens: Sarasa Clip, Jetstream & 7 More Picks
- Notebooks Best 5 Year Journal (2027): Some Lines a Day & More
- Cases Best Pencil Cases: Stand-Up, Slim & Leather
- Paper Best Sketchbooks: Stillman & Birn, Croquis & More
- Accessories Best Eraser for Pencil & School: Mars Plastic, MONO & More
- Stickers Best Journaling Stickers & Washi Tape (2027)
- Pens Best Fountain Pens Under $100 (2027): 8 Picks
- Pens Best Luxury Pens (2027): 10 Gift & Heirloom Picks
- What size is an A5 notebook?
- What is the best gel pen?
- What is the best pen for taking notes?
- What’s the difference between gel, ballpoint and rollerball pens?
- What do pencil grades like HB, 2B and No. 2 mean?
- What is the best fountain pen for beginners?
- What are the best stationery gifts for 2026?
- What is the best planner for 2027?
- What does paper weight (gsm and lb) mean?
- How does Moleskine compare to Leuchtturm1917?
Best picks · Pens
Best Fineliner Pens: Micron, Point 88 & More
The best fineliner pens by use: Sakura Pigma Micron, Stabilo Point 88, Paper Mate Flair, uni PIN, STAEDTLER pigment liner, triplus and Sign Pen compared.
- Ballpoint pen HMM Ballpoint: 22 g Twelve-Sided Aluminum Click Pen
- Fountain pen Kaco Master Fountain Pen: Acrylic Pen, Gold-Colored Nib
- Gel pen Kaco Pure Gel Pens Set: 10 Retractable 0.7 mm Pens
- Gel pen Stilform ARC Gel Pen: Aluminium Pen, Pilot Refills
- Fountain pen Stilform INK Fountain Pen: Aluminium, Magnetic Cap
- Ballpoint pen The Completist Palau Pen: Gold-Plated Slimline Ballpoint
- Double-ended ballpoint pen Tools to Liveby Dual-Tip Ballpoint Pen: Yutu Two-Color Pen
- Fountain pen Fonte biiro Fountain Pen: Mix-and-Match Two-Color Pen
Paper & Notebooks
Notebooks · Paper · Systems
Lay-flat notebook
Showa Note Suiheibiraki Notebook: B5, Opens Flat
Showa Note's Suiheibiraki notebook opens 180 degrees flat: B5 portrait, 10 mm squares with 5 mm leader lines, five cover colors, made in Japan, per the maker.
Notebooks
- Exercise book Showa Note Japonica Sansu Notebook: B5, 7 Squares
- Grid notebook Showa Note Japonica Section: B5 5 mm Grid, 60 Pages
- Notebook VENT for Change Make a Mark A5 Leather Notebook
- Wooden-cover pocket notebook Woodhi Wood Notebook, Pencil Design: 50 Eco Pages
Paper
- Wood postcard Woodhi Art Deco Grey Hypnosis Wood Postcard: 10 × 15 cm
- Letter writing set World Craft Letter Set: 20 Designs, 8 Sheets + 4 Envelopes
- Mini greeting card Pencil Mini Card by You've Got Pen On Your Face: A7
- Ink swatch cards Nouto Nuritakurie Ink Card: 25 Cards, 91 × 55 mm
Story
Stationery in MoMA: Pens, Pencils, Post-it Notes
Which pens and office tools MoMA has collected or shown, from the Bic Cristal and the Hastil fountain pen to Post-it Notes, from MoMA's own records.
Story
KOKUYO Meaning & History: Pride of the Province, 1905 to Campus
What does KOKUYO mean? The pride of the province. Its 1905 Osaka ledger-cover shop, the 1917 mark, the 1975 Campus Note and 3.7 billion sold.
Story
Is Mitsubishi Pencil Owned by Mitsubishi? Its History
Is Mitsubishi Pencil owned by Mitsubishi? No: Niroku Masaki founded it in 1887 and registered its three-diamond mark in 1903, long before uni and Jetstream.
Pencils & Desk
Pencils · Accessories · Cases
Best picks · Pencils
Best Colored Pencils: Polychromos to Luminance
The best colored pencils by use: Faber-Castell Polychromos, Prismacolor Premier, Caran d'Ache Luminance, Goldfaber, Albrecht Dürer and Holbein compared.
Pencils
- Pencil VENT for Change Make a Mark Recycled Pencils (3)
- Mechanical pencil Kaco Rocket 0.5 mm Mechanical Pencil in Six Colors
- Magnetic-tip pencil Stilform AEON Pencil: Aluminium Body, Magnetic Tips
- Watercolor pencil Viarco Aqua Watercolor Pencils: Set of 12, Dry or Wet
Accessories
- Ruler Möbius + Ruppert Aluminium Ruler 30 cm: cm and Inch Scales
- Pencil sharpener Möbius + Ruppert Eternity: Glass Jar Pencil Sharpener
- Pencil sharpener Möbius + Ruppert Granate: Brass Pencil Sharpener Guide
- Clipboard VENT for Change Ocean A5 Clipboard and Notepad
Stickers & Stamps
Stickers · Stamps
Masking tape
World Craft Tatemasu 15 mm Masking Tape: 12 Designs
World Craft Tatemasu 15 mm masking tape explained: 12 tall-motif designs in Food, Fun and Decoration, 15 mm × 7 m rolls, ¥187 (about US$1.20) a roll.
Stickers
- Vinyl sticker sheet A5 Retro Vinyl Sticker Sheet by You've Got Pen On Your Face
- Die-cut vinyl sticker Pigeon Post Holographic Glitter Sticker: 78 mm Vinyl
- Labeler seals Stamp Marche Five-Star Rating Seals: 1,000-Label Roll
- Flake stickers BGM Coordinate Seal: Outfit Flake Stickers (OOTD, Cherie)
Best picks · How To
How to Erase Pencil Cleanly Without Smudging or Tearing the Paper
How to erase pencil cleanly: Tombow's tips on pressure, holding the paper, a shield and crumbs, plus sand erasers for ink and how to store erasers.
- Best picks How to Stamp on Glass, Plastic and Metal with StazOn Ink
- Best picks How to Remove Fountain Pen Ink Stains: What Makers Say
- Best picks How to Use Correction Tape: Lay It Straight, Fix Jams
- Best picks How to Glue Paper Without Wrinkling: What Makers Say
- Best picks How to Swap a Fountain Pen Nib: LAMY, Kaweco, TWSBI
- Best picks How to Revive a Dried-Out Pen or Marker: What Makers Say
- Best picks How to Write Left-Handed Without Smudging: 3 Methods
- Fountain pen How to Care for a Brass Pen: Patina, Polish and Flushing
- Ambiente 2027 (with Christmasworld and Creativeworld)Frankfurt, Germany · Trade only
- NY NOW Winter Show 2027New York, United States · Trade only
- California Pen Show 2027Torrance, California, United States · Public
- Chicago Pen Show 2027Lombard, Illinois, United States · Public
- 121st China Stationery Fair (CSF 2027)Shanghai, China · Trade only
- Washington DC Fountain Pen SUPERSHOW 2027Falls Church, Virginia, United States · Public
- San Francisco International Pen Show 2027Millbrae, California, United States · Public
- Paperworld Middle East 2027Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Trade only
NYC
Best Stationery Stores in NYC
10 stores · Midtown, Nolita, West Village
Tokyo
Best Stationery Stores in Tokyo
10 stores · Ginza, Marunouchi, Nihonbashi
London
Best Stationery Stores in London
10 stores · Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell
Paris
Best Stationery Stores in Paris
9 stores · Le Marais, Opéra, Madeleine
Kyoto
Best Stationery Stores in Kyoto
9 stores · Kyoto Station, Shijo-Karasuma, Rokkaku