--- title: "Best Stationery Gifts 2026: Picks by Person & Budget" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-stationery-gifts-2026/" description: "The best stationery gifts for the 2026 holidays by person and budget: under $20, first fountain pen, planner fans, artists, luxury, Japanese stationery fans." category: "Accessories" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-21 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 11 products: - name: "mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single roll" brand: "mt" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Washi (Japanese paper) masking tape" released: "2008" price_band: "$ (under $5 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (Kurashiki, Okayama)" model: "MT01P206R (mt basic 1P, silver, 15 mm × 7 m)" gtin: "4971910271001" url: "https://www.masking-tape.jp/about/brand/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/mt-washi-tape/" - name: "Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame)" brand: "Midori" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Cream MD Paper, 80 g/m² (text, cover and endpapers); glassine jacket" released: "2008" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT" model: "15385006 (A5, lined)" mpn: "15385006" url: "https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-a5" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/midori-md-notebook-a5/" - name: "Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Brass body and cap (painted; per Pilot Japan for the Cocoon and JetPens for the Metropolitan), resin section, steel nib" released: "2012" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan/" - name: "Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027 (English or Japanese; January or April start)" brand: "Hobonichi" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Tomoe River paper (Tomoe River S since the 2024 edition), thread-sewn binding" released: "2001-10-05" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Hobonichi Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)" url: "https://www.1101.com/store/techo/ja/2027/pc/detail_cover/ob27_jan_en/" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/hobonichi-techo-original/" - name: "Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011)" brand: "Faber-Castell" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "Cedar wood case, oil-based pigment core" released: "1908" price_band: "$ (under $5 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany" model: "Polychromos" mpn: "110011" gtin: "4005401100119" url: "https://www.faber-castell.de/produkte/PolychromosFarbstift120erMetalletui/110011" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-polychromos/" - name: "LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen (L01, black Makrolon)" brand: "LAMY" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "Makrolon (fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate) body and cap, brushed stainless steel section and clip, platinum-coated 14k gold nib" released: "1966" price_band: "$$$$ (over $75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)" model: "L01" mpn: "1201351" gtin: "4014519270287" url: "https://www.lamy.com/de-de/p/lamy-2000-fountain-pen/54912761233752" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-2000/" - name: "TRAVELER'S notebook, Regular Size, leather cover starter kit (Brown, Blue, Olive and other colors)" brand: "Traveler's Company" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Thailand (cover); Japan (refill)" material: "Cowhide leather cover, elastic band, MD Paper refill" released: "2006-03" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Designphil Inc. (Tokyo)" model: "13715006 (Brown); 15239006 (Blue)" url: "https://www.travelers-company.com/products/trnote/starter-kit-regular" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/travelers-notebook-regular/" - name: "Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil (M5-450, 0.5 mm)" brand: "uni" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "PC resin (plastic) body, per The Journal Shop" released: "2008-03" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd." model: "M5-450 (0.5 mm); M3-450 (0.3 mm)" mpn: "M54501P.24" gtin: "4902778028179" url: "https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/mechanical_pencils/sharp_pen/kurutoga/standard.html" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-kuru-toga/" --- # Best Stationery Gifts 2026: Picks by Person & Budget > Based on published specs, the best stationery gifts for 2026 are a Midori MD Notebook A5 or an mt washi tape roll under $20, a Pilot Metropolitan for a first fountain pen, a Hobonichi Techo for planner fans, Polychromos pencils for artists, a LAMY 2000 for luxury and a TRAVELER'S notebook for Japanese stationery lovers. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-stationery-gifts-2026/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-21 ![To-scale drawing of eight stationery gifts with their price bands: mt washi tape roll ($), Midori MD Notebook A5 148 × 210 mm ($$), Pilot Metropolitan 138 mm ($$$), Hobonichi Techo Original A6 ($$$), Polychromos pencils 176 mm ($ each), LAMY 2000 140 mm ($$$$), TRAVELER'S notebook 120 × 220 mm ($$$) and uni Kuru Toga 142 mm ($$)](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-stationery-gifts-2026-16x9.png) *The eight gift picks at 1 mm = 0.85 px, with the price band for each.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/best-stationery-gifts-2026-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single roll | mt (by Kamoi Kakoshi Co., Ltd. (Kurashiki, Okayama)) | Japan | Japan | Washi (Japanese paper) masking tape | 2008 | $: under $5 per item | | Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame) | Midori (by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT) | Japan | Japan | Cream MD Paper, 80 g/m² (text, cover and endpapers); glassine jacket | 2008 | $$: $5–20 per item | | Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Brass body and cap (painted; per Pilot Japan for the Cocoon and JetPens for the Metropolitan), resin section, steel nib | 2012 | $$$: $20–75 per item | | Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027 (English or Japanese; January or April start) | Hobonichi (by Hobonichi Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)) | Japan | Not stated | Tomoe River paper (Tomoe River S since the 2024 edition), thread-sewn binding | 2001-10-05 | $$$: $20–75 per item | | Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011) | Faber-Castell (by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany) | Germany | Germany | Cedar wood case, oil-based pigment core | 1908 | $: under $5 per item | | LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen (L01, black Makrolon) | LAMY (by C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)) | Germany | Germany | Makrolon (fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate) body and cap, brushed stainless steel section and clip, platinum-coated 14k gold nib | 1966 | $$$$: over $75 per item | | TRAVELER'S notebook, Regular Size, leather cover starter kit (Brown, Blue, Olive and other colors) | Traveler's Company (by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo)) | Japan | Thailand (cover); Japan (refill) | Cowhide leather cover, elastic band, MD Paper refill | 2006-03 | $$$: $20–75 per item | | Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil (M5-450, 0.5 mm) | uni (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | PC resin (plastic) body, per The Journal Shop | 2008-03 | $$: $5–20 per item | - Made in (mt masking tape (washi tape), mt basic 1P, 15 mm single roll): Japan. Kamoi Kakoshi's company page describes its head-office factory in Kurashiki and a second factory in Yakage, Okayama, shipping mt from Japan to the world. Maruzen Junkudo's listings for mt basic 1P rolls give 原産国 (country of origin) Japan, and Jenni Bick, Hunter Paper Co. and Tacto Studio say made in Japan. Source: https://www.masking-tape.jp/about/company/ - Made in (Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame)): Japan. Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store gives 原産国 (country of origin) Made in Japan for the A5, as did the older Midori online store listing for the lined A5 (15294006). The Journal Shop, Galen Leather and Boston General Store agree. Source: https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-a5 - Made in (Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen): Japan. Per Milligram's listing (made in Japan). Pilot's Japanese catalog page for the Cocoon (read in full on October 20, 2026) doesn't state a country. eBay and Rokomari listings cited earlier blocked our access on that date, so we dropped them. Source: https://milligram.com/products/pilot-pen-metropolitan-fountain-pen - Made in (Hobonichi Techo Original Book, A6, 2027 (English or Japanese; January or April start)): Not stated. Hobonichi's Japanese store listing for the 2027 English Original gives size, weight, pages and paper but no country of manufacture (it names one only for a free charm, made in China), and we found no retailer spec sheet that states it for the Original Book. Hunter Paper Co. says its Original Avec book is made in Japan by Hobonichi, but that is a different product. Check the back of the book. - Made in (Faber-Castell Polychromos artists' colored pencils, tin of 120 (110011)): Germany. Officeworks lists Germany as the country of manufacture for the 120-pencil tin. Faber-Castell's German and other product pages we read don't state a country. Source: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/faber-castell-polychromos-coloured-pencils-120-pack-fa18110011 - Made in (LAMY 2000 Fountain Pen (L01, black Makrolon)): Germany. LAMY's own product listing (India storefront) gives Germany as the country of origin and names C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Grenzhöfer Weg 32, Heidelberg, as the manufacturer. LAMY's German page names no country but calls LAMY a Heidelberg company and one of Germany's leading pen makers. Source: https://www.lamy.com/en-in/p/lamy-2000-fountain-pen/45435421917370 - Made in (TRAVELER'S notebook, Regular Size, leather cover starter kit (Brown, Blue, Olive and other colors)): Thailand (cover); Japan (refill). Traveler's Company says the leather cover is made in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the notebook refill in Japan; its Japanese product page for the Brown Regular marks the cover MADE IN THAILAND. Retailer spec sheets (Pulp Addiction, Paper Whisper) give the same split. Source: https://www.travelers-company.com/?p=158 - Made in (Uni Kuru Toga Standard mechanical pencil (M5-450, 0.5 mm)): Japan. Per retailer spec sheets (The Journal Shop: country of origin Japan; Bungu Store: made in Japan). Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product pages don't state it. Source: https://www.thejournalshop.com/products/mitsubishi-kuru-toga-mechanical-pencil-standard-model-0-5mm ## Key takeaways - Three picks fall under $20 at US retail: an mt washi tape roll ($, under $5), a Midori MD Notebook A5 and a uni Kuru Toga ($$, $5–20). - The Pilot Metropolitan ships with a cartridge and a converter in a 26.0 g brass body, per Goulet Pens, so a first-timer can start writing out of the box. - The Hobonichi Techo 2027 Original packs 464 pages of Tomoe River paper into an A6 book of about 195 g. - The LAMY 2000 has been made since 1966; LAMY's German shop lists it at €280 (about US$314), in our $$$$ band (over $75). - The TRAVELER'S notebook Regular leather cover is 220 × 120 mm and takes 210 × 110 mm refills, so the gift keeps working after the first notebook is full. ## What are the best stationery gifts for 2026? **On published specs, the best stationery gift depends on who it's for: a Midori MD notebook or mt washi tape under $20, a Pilot Metropolitan for a first fountain pen and a LAMY 2000 when you want to spend more.** Picks are based on published specs and maker claims; we haven't tested them yet. Every pick has its own guide on Stationery Times. - **Best under $5:** mt washi tape. A 15 mm roll of Japanese paper tape, 7 m long in current Japanese listings, that Kamoi says tears by hand and peels off cleanly. - **Best $5–20:** Midori MD Notebook A5. 176 pages of cream 80 g/m² MD Paper in a thread-sewn book made in Japan; our [best notebooks roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-notebooks/) has more. - **Best for a fountain pen beginner:** Pilot Metropolitan. A 26.0 g brass body, a fine Japanese steel nib and a converter in the box, per Goulet Pens; see our [beginner fountain pen picks](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fountain-pens-for-beginners/). - **Best for a journaler or planner person:** Hobonichi Techo 2027 Original. 464 pages of thin Tomoe River paper, one page per day, in an A6 book of about 195 g; compare it in our [2027 planner roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-planners-2027/). - **Best for an artist:** Faber-Castell Polychromos. Oil-based 3.8 mm cores in up to 120 colors, with a lightfastness rating on every pencil; our [colored pencil roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-colored-pencils/) covers the alternatives. - **Best luxury gift:** LAMY 2000. A 1966 Makrolon and brushed-steel fountain pen with a 14k gold nib and a piston that holds about 1.35 ml; more in our [luxury pen roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-luxury-pens/). - **Best for a Japanese stationery lover:** TRAVELER'S notebook Regular. A 220 × 120 mm cowhide cover with an MD Paper refill, which the owner can refill and fill with inserts for years. - **Best for a student:** uni Kuru Toga. A 0.5 mm mechanical pencil that turns its lead about 9° per stroke so the point stays sharp; see our [mechanical pencil roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-mechanical-pencils/). ## How do the gifts compare by price? **Three picks fall under $20 and one costs over $75; the rest sit in our $$$ band ($20–75).** Price bands are typical US retail, per item. | Gift | For | Price band | Made in | Key spec | |---|---|---|---|---| | mt washi tape | Anyone, stocking stuffer | $ | Japan | 15 mm × 7 m roll | | Midori MD Notebook A5 | Writers, under $20 | $$ | Japan | 176 pages, 80 g/m² | | uni Kuru Toga | Students | $$ | Japan | Turns lead 9° per stroke | | Pilot Metropolitan | First fountain pen | $$$ | Japan | Brass body, converter included | | Hobonichi Techo Original | Planner fans | $$$ | Not stated | 464 pages, A6 | | TRAVELER'S notebook Regular | Japanese stationery fans | $$$ | Thailand (cover), Japan (refill) | 220 × 120 mm leather cover | | Faber-Castell Polychromos | Artists | $ per pencil; tins of 12 to 120 | Germany | 3.8 mm oil-based core | | LAMY 2000 | Luxury | $$$$ | Germany | Piston filler, 14k nib | Japanese list prices are lower than US prices: ¥1,210 (about US$7.70) for the Midori MD A5, ¥495 (about US$3.10) for the Kuru Toga and ¥6,160 (about US$39) for the TRAVELER'S notebook starter kit. ## Is a fountain pen a good gift? **A fountain pen is a good gift for someone curious about them, and a risky one for an enthusiast who hasn't named a pen.** The Gentleman Stationer advises against buying unrequested fountain pens for collectors, because they have very specific preferences. For a first pen, it suggests an inexpensive cartridge pen or a gift card. The Pilot Metropolitan fits that brief: it takes Pilot cartridges and comes with a converter for bottled ink. ## Is a planner a good gift? **A dated planner suits someone who already plans on paper; for anyone else, a refillable cover with blank refills is safer.** The Gentleman Stationer makes the same point: some people prefer undated pages. That makes the TRAVELER'S notebook a flexible choice. Its cover holds 210 × 110 mm refills, from lined, grid and dot notebooks to undated diaries, joined with Traveler's Company's connecting bands. ## What makes a good stocking stuffer? **Small consumables make the best stocking stuffers: washi tape, a notebook, or a pencil the person will use every day.** mt washi tape is our $ pick, and a single Kuru Toga or Polychromos pencil also sits low in our bands. ## What do other reviewers recommend? **Other gift guides split gifts by person and budget, as we do.** Pen Chalet's 2025 guide is sorted into beginner fountain pens, everyday carry, luxury and collector pens, and stocking stuffers under $50, and it highlights the LAMY safari for beginners. The Gentleman Stationer's November 22, 2025 post says its owner keeps gifts simple and inexpensive, so people aren't afraid to use them. His favorites are pocket pens, pocket notebooks, wood pencils, bookmarks and the LAMY Swift rollerball, and he names the Kuru Toga KS among pencils for people who like technology. ## When should you order stationery gifts? **Order by early December and give delivery 10 days' grace, as the Gentleman Stationer advises for holiday gifts.** The shop says it ships within 2 business days but can't control carrier delays. Popular Hobonichi covers can also sell out before the holidays. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a good stationery gift under $20? A Midori MD Notebook A5 or a uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencil, both in our $$ band ($5–20). For a stocking stuffer under $5, an mt washi tape roll. ### Should I buy a fountain pen for a fountain pen enthusiast? Only if they asked for a specific pen. The Gentleman Stationer warns that enthusiasts have very particular tastes; a gift card or a bottle of ink they named is safer. ### What is a good first fountain pen to give? The Pilot Metropolitan: a brass body, a Japanese steel nib and a converter in the box. For a child, the lighter Pilot Kakuno is designed for young hands. ### Is a dated planner a good gift? Only for someone who already uses one; not everyone plans on paper. A refillable cover like the TRAVELER'S notebook, with blank refills, is safer for anyone else. ### What do you get a stationery lover who has everything? Consumables they will use up: a notebook in a paper they like, washi tape, refills or ink. A Japanese pick such as the TRAVELER'S notebook or a Hobonichi cover also tends to be new to them. ### What is a good stationery gift for an artist? A tin of Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils: oil-based 3.8 mm cores in up to 120 colors, each rated for lightfastness. Tins start at 12 colors. ### What is a good luxury pen gift? The LAMY 2000, a 1966 design in Makrolon and brushed steel with a 14k gold nib and a piston filler. For a pen that isn't a fountain pen, our luxury pen roundup includes a ballpoint pick. ## Sources - [mt ブランドについて (mt brand page, Japanese: tears by hand, peels without residue)](https://www.masking-tape.jp/about/brand/) - [MDノート［A5］ (MD PRODUCT Japanese online store: 176 pages, 80 g/m², ¥1,210, made in Japan)](https://md-product.com/products/md-notebook-a5) - [パイロット ウェブカタログ「コクーン」 (Pilot Japan catalog: Cocoon, the Metropolitan's Japanese twin; 138 mm, brass body, CON-40)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000151) - [手帳本体オリジナル 英語版 - ほぼ日手帳 2027 (Hobonichi Japanese store: 2027 English Original, 464 pages, about 195 g, ¥2,860)](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/ja/2027/pc/detail_cover/ob27_jan_en/) - [Faber-Castell (Germany): Polychromos Farbstift, 120er Metalletui (3.8 mm core)](https://www.faber-castell.de/produkte/PolychromosFarbstift120erMetalletui/110011) - [LAMY (Germany): LAMY 2000 Füllhalter (€280, 8 nib widths, 13 × 13 × 140 mm, 26 g)](https://www.lamy.com/de-de/p/lamy-2000-fountain-pen/54912761233752) - [TRAVELER'S notebook Regular Size Brown (Traveler's Company: cover 220 × 120 × 10 mm made in Thailand; refill 64 pages MD Paper made in Japan; ¥6,160)](https://www.travelers-company.com/products/trnote/starter-kit-regular/brown) - [三菱鉛筆: クルトガ スタンダードモデル ラインナップ (Mitsubishi Pencil: M5-450 / M3-450, ¥495)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/mechanical_pencils/sharp_pen/kurutoga/standard/m5_650.html) - [The Gentleman Stationer: Ask TGS, Five Bad Stationery Gift Ideas (December 4, 2024)](https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2024/12/4/ask-tgs-five-bad-stationery-gift-ideas) - [The Gentleman Stationer: The 2025 TGS Holiday Gift Guide Is Live (November 22, 2025)](https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2025/11/22/the-2025-tgs-holiday-gift-guide-is-live) - [Pen Chalet: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Pens & Inks](https://www.penchalet.com/blog/2025-holiday-gift-guide-for-pens-inks-pen-chalet/)