--- title: "Best Pens for Teachers: Grading, Marking & Worksheets" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-for-teachers/" description: "Best pens for teachers on published specs: erasable FriXion for grading, red and green gels that don't bleed through worksheets, and fine tips for margins." category: "Pens" type: "Pen" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-23 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 9 products: - name: "Pilot FriXion Clicker erasable gel pen (0.7 / 1.0 mm)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" mpn: "31450" url: "https://powertothepen.com/pens/frixion-ball-clicker/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-clicker/" - name: "Pilot FriXion Ball Switch (3 erasable inks + 1 permanent; LB31FBS)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Resin body with rubber grip; FriXion thermo-sensitive gel ink and oil-based pigment ink" released: "2026-03-05" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan)" model: "LB31FBS" mpn: "LB31FBS-2-B" gtin: "4902505697197" url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100005839" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-ball-switch/" - name: "Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm, JF refills)" brand: "Zebra" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Plastic barrel (76% recycled plastic by Eco Mark calculation in standard colors), rubber grip, movable binder clip" released: "2003" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation" model: "JJH15 (0.3), JJS15 (0.4), JJ15 (0.5), JJB15 (0.7), JJE15 (1.0)" mpn: "JJ15-BK" gtin: "4901681143115" url: "https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/detail/sarasa-clip/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-sarasa-clip/" - name: "Pilot Juice gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm, 48 colors)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Recycled resin body and sleeve, rubber" released: "2012-11" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan)" model: "LJU-10EF (0.5 mm)" mpn: "LJU-10EF-B" gtin: "4902505450679" url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000989" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-juice/" - name: "uni-ball Signo DX / UM-151 gel pen (0.28 / 0.38 / 0.5 mm)" brand: "uni-ball" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Clear plastic barrel, rubber grip, plastic cap and clip; water-based pigment gel ink" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd." model: "UM-151" mpn: "UM151.24" gtin: "4902778556108" url: "https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/gel/signo/signo/um_151.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-dx-um-151/" - name: "uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm)" brand: "uni-ball" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Translucent PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip, stainless steel clip, chrome-finished plastic tip cone" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd." model: "UMN-207" url: "https://uniball.co.uk/brands/signo/uni-ball-signo-207-umn-207/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-207/" - name: "Pentel EnerGel RTX retractable gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm)" brand: "Pentel" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan or Mexico" material: "54% recycled plastic body, latex-free rubber grip" released: "2001" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand" model: "BLN73, BLN75, BL77, BLN77, BL80" gtin: "072512200544" url: "https://www.pentel.com/products/energel-rtx-gel-pen" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-energel/" - name: "Pilot G2 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Plastic barrel, rubber grip" released: "1997" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-g2/" - name: "Pilot FriXion Light erasable highlighter (SFL-10SL)" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Recycled resin barrel and cap, felt chisel tip, FriXion thermo-sensitive ink (Pilot Japan)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" model: "SFL-10SL" mpn: "SFL-10SL-Y" gtin: "4902505375057" url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100002431" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-light-highlighter/" --- # Best Pens for Teachers: Grading, Marking & Worksheets > On published specs, the best pens for teachers are the Pilot FriXion Clicker for grading you may need to change, the Zebra Sarasa Clip and Pilot Juice for red, green and purple marking in dozens of colors, the uni-ball Signo DX for small margin notes, and the Pentel EnerGel for fast comments that don't smear on handed-back work. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-for-teachers/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-23 ![Eight pens for teachers drawn to scale, from the Pilot FriXion Clicker in red to the Sarasa Clip in green and the capped uni-ball Signo DX, with a price-band key](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-pens-for-teachers-16x9.png) *Drawn to scale · 1 mm = 1.2 px · click pens retracted* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot FriXion Clicker erasable gel pen (0.7 / 1.0 mm) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Not stated | – | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pilot FriXion Ball Switch (3 erasable inks + 1 permanent; LB31FBS) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan)) | Japan | Not stated | Resin body with rubber grip; FriXion thermo-sensitive gel ink and oil-based pigment ink | 2026-03-05 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm, JF refills) | Zebra (by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation) | Japan | Japan | Plastic barrel (76% recycled plastic by Eco Mark calculation in standard colors), rubber grip, movable binder clip | 2003 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pilot Juice gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm, 48 colors) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan)) | Japan | Not stated | Recycled resin body and sleeve, rubber | 2012-11 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | uni-ball Signo DX / UM-151 gel pen (0.28 / 0.38 / 0.5 mm) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Not stated | Clear plastic barrel, rubber grip, plastic cap and clip; water-based pigment gel ink | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Translucent PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip, stainless steel clip, chrome-finished plastic tip cone | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pentel EnerGel RTX retractable gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm) | Pentel (by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand) | Japan | Japan or Mexico | 54% recycled plastic body, latex-free rubber grip | 2001 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pilot G2 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Plastic barrel, rubber grip | 1997 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | Pilot FriXion Light erasable highlighter (SFL-10SL) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Not stated | Recycled resin barrel and cap, felt chisel tip, FriXion thermo-sensitive ink (Pilot Japan) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pilot FriXion Clicker erasable gel pen (0.7 / 1.0 mm)): Not stated. Pilot's US product page and Pilot Japan's catalog don't state the country, and the Amazon listing for item 31450 we read on October 20, 2026 gives none. An earlier version of this guide cited Japan from McKesson and OnTimeSupplies listings, but on October 20, 2026 the McKesson page required a business login and the OnTimeSupplies page was gone, so we couldn't confirm it. - Made in (Pilot FriXion Ball Switch (3 erasable inks + 1 permanent; LB31FBS)): Not stated. Pilot's Japanese press release and web catalog, JetPens and the Amazon.com listing we read on October 22, 2026 don't state a country of manufacture. - Made in (Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm, JF refills)): Japan. Per retailer spec sheets: FairPrice (Singapore) lists Japan for the 0.7 mm pen and the JF-0.5 refills, Carrefour UAE lists Japan for the Sarasa Push Clip, and SM Stationery (Philippines) says made in Japan. Zebra's Japanese and global product pages don't state a country of manufacture. Source: https://www.fairprice.com.sg/product/zebra-sarasa-clip-gel-pen-0-7mm-b-jjb15-fb-navy-blue-ink-10-pc-90118544 - Made in (Pilot Juice gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm, 48 colors)): Not stated. Pilot's Japanese web catalog and press releases for the Juice don't state a country of manufacture, and the US importer listings we read don't either. Check the packaging. - Made in (uni-ball Signo DX / UM-151 gel pen (0.28 / 0.38 / 0.5 mm)): Not stated. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page doesn't state a country of manufacture, and the JetPens listing as shown in search results doesn't either. Check the pen or package. - Made in (uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm)): Japan. OnTimeSupplies gives country of origin Japan (JP) for the 0.7 mm black 8-pack and a 0.5 mm 4-pack. uni-ball UK and Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese pages don't state it. Source: https://www.ontimesupplies.com/ubc1756584-signo-207-gel-pen-retractable-medium-07-mm-black-ink-translucent-black-barrel-8-pack.html - Made in (Pentel EnerGel RTX retractable gel pen (0.3–1.0 mm)): Japan or Mexico. Pentel of America's 2022 product catalog gives the origin of the EnerGel RTX (BL77 metal tip and BLN73/75/77 needle tips) as 'Japan / Mexico' without saying which SKU comes from where. Retailer listings match: OfficeSupply.com lists Mexico for one RTX listing. Pentel's Japanese product page doesn't state a country. Check the package of the exact pen you buy. Source: https://pentel.mywestamerica.com/2022_Product_Catalog/20 - Made in (Pilot G2 retractable gel pen (0.38–1.0 mm)): Japan. Per US retailer spec sheets (Stop & Shop, OnTimeSupplies for item 31171). Some grocery listings for a 4-pack say "Japan, USA", so origin may vary by pack. Pilot's US site doesn't state it in the sources we found. Source: https://stopandshop.com/groceries/home-office/school-office/office-supplies/pens/pilot-g2-pens-fine-blue-ink-7mm-2-ct-pkg.html - Made in (Pilot FriXion Light erasable highlighter (SFL-10SL)): Not stated. Pilot's Japanese catalogue page and the US Amazon listing don't state a country of manufacture. Some US and European retailers list Japan, but we didn't read a reliable page that says so, so check the pack. ## Key takeaways - Pilot's FriXion ink turns invisible above 60 °C and can return below about −10 °C, so it suits draft grades, not permanent records. - The Zebra Sarasa Clip comes in 0.3 to 1.0 mm and has been Japan's best-selling gel pen for 14 years; the Pilot Juice offers 48 standard colors. - The uni-ball Signo DX writes 0.28, 0.38 or 0.5 mm with pigment ink, in 31 colors at 0.38 mm, and costs ¥165 (about US$1.00) in Japan. - The uni-ball Signo 207's pigment Super Ink is sold as water- and fade-resistant, which suits grade books that must last. - Every pick is in our $ band (under $5) except the FriXion Ball Switch at $$ ($5–20). ## What are the best pens for teachers? **On published specs, the best pens for teachers are the Pilot FriXion Clicker for grades you may revise, the Zebra Sarasa Clip and Pilot Juice for marking in red, green and purple, the uni-ball Signo DX for small margin notes, and the Pentel EnerGel for fast comments that dry before the paper is handed back.** There's no single #1 for grading, so we list the FriXion Clicker first: it's the simplest pen here that lets you change a provisional mark. - **Best for grades you might change:** [Pilot FriXion Clicker](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-clicker/). *Why it's here:* erasable with the end cap, so a provisional mark can change; 0.7 or 1.0 mm, 15 colors in the US. - **Best erasable plus permanent:** [Pilot FriXion Ball Switch](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-ball-switch/). *Why it's here:* the only pick with erasable and permanent ink in one body: three FriXion inks plus an oil-based black, chosen by sliding the clip. - **Best for colored marking:** [Zebra Sarasa Clip](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-sarasa-clip/). *Why it's here:* the most tip sizes here (five), dozens of colors, and a binder clip that holds a stack of papers. - **Most colors:** [Pilot Juice](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-juice/). *Why it's here:* the most colors here, 48 standard colors in 0.38 to 1.0 mm. - **Best for margins:** [uni-ball Signo DX](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-dx-um-151/). *Why it's here:* the finest lines here, 0.28 or 0.38 mm pigment gel, small enough to fit between a student's lines. - **Best for the grade book:** [uni-ball Signo 207](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-207/). *Why it's here:* the only pick sold as water- and fade-resistant, Super Ink for records that must last. - **Best fast comments:** [Pentel EnerGel RTX](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-energel/) and the [Pilot G2](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-g2/), *Why it's here:* the two gel pens every office store stocks in red, and Pentel markets the EnerGel's ink as quick-drying. - **Best for marking texts:** [Pilot FriXion Light](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-light-highlighter/), *Why it's here:* the only highlighter here, erasable, for texts you'll mark again next year. ## How did we choose these picks? **We compiled these picks from published sources, not hands-on testing: makers' current tip sizes, colors and ink claims, US availability and price band.** We chose gel and hybrid inks that sit on copier paper rather than soak through, in the colors and tip sizes grading needs; we haven't graded a class set with them. ## How do the pens compare? **Eight of nine picks sit in our $ band (under $5); the four-ink Ball Switch is $$ ($5–20).** Tip sizes and colors are the makers' current lists. | Pen | Ink | Tip sizes | Colors | Erasable? | Band | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot FriXion Clicker | Thermo-sensitive gel | 0.7, 1.0 mm (US) | 15 | Yes | $ (under $5) | | Pilot FriXion Ball Switch | 3 FriXion + 1 oil-based | 0.38 + 0.5 or 0.5 + 0.7 mm | 4 in one | 3 of 4 inks | $$ ($5–20) | | Zebra Sarasa Clip | Pigment gel | 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm | Dozens | No | $ | | Pilot Juice | Pigment gel | 0.38, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm | 48 | No | $ | | uni-ball Signo DX | Pigment gel, capped | 0.28, 0.38, 0.5 mm | 31 at 0.38 mm | No | $ | | uni-ball Signo 207 | Pigment gel | 0.38, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm | Several | No | $ | | Pentel EnerGel RTX | Liquid gel | 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm | Many | No | $ | | Pilot G2 | Gel | 0.38, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm | Many | No | $ | | Pilot FriXion Light | Erasable highlighter | 3.3 mm chisel | 6 in Japan | Yes | $ | ## Should a teacher grade with an erasable pen? **For drafts and provisional marks, yes; for anything that must stay on record, no.** Pilot says FriXion ink turns invisible above 60 °C (140 °F), which is what rubbing with the end cap produces, and that erased writing starts to return below about −10 °C (14 °F). A graded paper left on a car seat in summer or in a cold mailbox can change, so keep the grade book in pigment ink. The [Ball Switch](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-frixion-ball-switch/) solves this in one pen: slide the clip for an oil-based black that Pilot says resists rubbing, water and alcohol, and switch back to erasable for comments. ## Which pen doesn't bleed through worksheets? **Gel and ballpoint inks sit on the surface of copier paper; it is felt-tip markers and fountain pen inks that soak through.** Every pick here is a gel or hybrid with a 0.28 to 1.0 mm ball, which puts down far less ink than a marker. For thin duplicated worksheets, the finer tips, the Signo DX 0.28 or 0.38 mm and the Sarasa Clip 0.3 or 0.4 mm, leave the least ink. We haven't run a bleed test on worksheet paper; our [highlighters that don't bleed](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-highlighters-that-dont-bleed/) guide covers the markers. ## Which color should you mark in? **Red reads as correction, green and purple as comment; the Sarasa Clip, Juice and Signo DX give you all three in the same tip size.** The Juice offers 48 standard colors and the Sarasa Clip five tip sizes, so a teacher can keep one pen per purpose: red 0.7 mm for scores, green 0.5 mm for comments, purple 0.38 mm for margins. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best red pen for grading? For a bold line, the Pilot G2 or Pentel EnerGel in 0.7 mm red; for small margins, the uni-ball Signo DX 0.38 mm; for grades you might change, the FriXion Clicker in red. All are in our $ band (under $5). ### Do erasable pens work for grading? Yes for drafts, with one caution: Pilot's FriXion ink turns invisible above 60 °C and can reappear below about −10 °C, so a graded paper left in a hot car or a cold mailbox can change. Keep permanent records in a pigment gel such as the Signo 207. ### Do gel pens bleed through thin worksheet paper? Gel and ballpoint inks generally stay on the surface of copier paper; felt-tip markers and fountain pen inks are what bleed. The Sarasa Clip, Juice, Signo and EnerGel are all water-based pigment gels that sit on the page, though we haven't tested them on thin worksheets. ### What colors besides red can teachers mark in? Zebra sells the Sarasa Clip in dozens of colors and five tip sizes, Pilot the Juice in 48 standard colors, and the Signo DX comes in 31 colors at 0.38 mm. Green and purple are common choices for students who find red discouraging. ### What is the best pen for writing on sticky notes and labels? An oil-based or hybrid ballpoint such as the uni-ball Jetstream, which grips glossy surfaces; gel ink can skip on coated labels. Our guide to pens that don't smudge covers the quick-drying options. ### Is there an erasable highlighter for marking texts? Yes. The Pilot FriXion Light erases with its rubber end the same way the pens do, leaving no crumbs, with a 3.3 mm line. Like all FriXion ink, the mark can come back in freezing cold. ### Which pen is best for a grade book? A pigment gel that resists water and fading: the uni-ball Signo 207, whose Super Ink is sold as fraud- and fade-resistant, or the Signo DX. Avoid erasable ink in any record you must keep. ## Sources - [Pilot USA: FriXion Clicker erasable gel pen (Fine 0.7 mm and Bold 1.0 mm, 15 colors; ink turns clear above 60 °C)](https://pilotpen.us/collections/frixion-clicker) - [パイロット: フリクションボール スイッチ (LB31FBS, launched March 5, 2026, ¥880)](https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/ballpen/gel/frixion_ball_switch/) - [ゼブラ: サラサクリップ (0.3–1.0 mm; Japan's No. 1 gel pen for 14 years)](https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/sarasa-clip/) - [パイロット: ジュース (48 colors, 0.38–1.0 mm, 143 mm, 9.9 g)](https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/ballpen/gel/juice/) - [三菱鉛筆: ユニボール シグノ UM-151 (0.28 / 0.38 / 0.5 mm, 31 colors at 0.38 mm, ¥165)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint/gel/signo/um151.html) - [uni-ball: Signo 207 retractable gel pen (pigment Super Ink, UMR-87 refill)](https://uniballco.com/products/207-gel-pens) - [Pentel: EnerGel RTX (quick-drying liquid gel ink)](https://www.pentel.com/collections/energel) - [Pilot USA: G2 gel pen (0.38, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 mm)](https://pilotpen.us/collections/g2) - [パイロット: フリクションライト (SFL-10SL, 139.4 mm, 9.8 g, 3.3 mm line, ¥132)](https://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/marker/highlighter/frixionlight/)