--- title: "MUJI Compact Gel Ink Pen 0.5 mm: 11 cm, 12 Colors" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-compact-gel-ink-pen/" description: "MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen 0.5 mm explained: 11 cm long, capped with a clip, made for A7 notebooks, 12 cap-type colors, price band and made in China." category: "Pens" type: "Gel pen" published: 2026-11-01 updated: 2026-11-01 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 3 products: - name: "MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Cap Type 0.5 mm" brand: "MUJI" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "China" material: "Polycarbonate body; aqueous gel ink (per MUJI USA)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd." model: "Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Cap Type 0.5mm - Black" gtin: "4550344162446" url: "https://www.muji.us/products/compact-gel-ink-ballpoint-pen-cap-type-0-5mm-black" --- # MUJI Compact Gel Ink Pen 0.5 mm: 11 cm, 12 Colors > The MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen is a short capped 0.5 mm gel pen made to go with A7 notebooks. MUJI USA lists it at 11 cm (4.3 in) with a clip and aqueous ink, sells cap-type and knock-type versions in many colors, and gives China as the origin. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-compact-gel-ink-pen/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-11-01 - Updated: 2026-11-01 ![MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen 0.5 mm capped, drawn to scale at 11 cm with a frosted barrel and clip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/muji-compact-gel-ink-pen-illustration-16x9.png?v=6b12a1eb) *The capped compact pen at MUJI USA's listed 11 cm (1 mm = 7.95 px).* Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times. 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) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Cap Type 0.5 mm | MUJI (by Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.) | Japan | China | Polycarbonate body; aqueous gel ink (per MUJI USA) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Cap Type 0.5 mm): China. MUJI USA's product details give "Country/Region of Origin: China" for the black cap-type pen. Source: https://www.muji.us/products/compact-gel-ink-ballpoint-pen-cap-type-0-5mm-black - Good for: Everyday carry, Left-handed writers. ## Key takeaways - MUJI USA lists the compact pen at 4.3 in (11 cm) long with a 0.5 mm nib, a clip and a polycarbonate body. - MUJI says it is the perfect size for an A7 notebook, and its Compact Notebook A7 has a loop for it. - The cap type comes in 12 US colors (black, blue, blue black, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, cyan, gray, brown, purple); a knock-type version also exists. - MUJI calls the ink quick-drying water-based gel that suits left- and right-handed writers; that is a maker claim. - MUJI USA gives China as the origin, unlike the full-size gel pens made in Japan, and each pen is in our $ band (under $5). ## What is the MUJI Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen? **It's a short, capped 0.5 mm gel pen with a clip, made to match MUJI's A7 notebooks.** MUJI USA calls it a compact version of its best-selling 0.5 mm gel pens, cute, portable and available in many colors. MUJI is the brand of Ryohin Keikaku, the Japanese retailer. It belongs to MUJI's compact range, which also includes a [fountain pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-compact-fountain-pen/), a [line marker](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-compact-line-marker/) and the [A7 Compact Notebook](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-compact-notebook-a7/). ## MUJI compact gel pen specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | MUJI (Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.), Japan | | Type | Capped gel pen with clip | | Length | 4.3 in (11 cm) | | Nib | 0.5 mm | | Ink | Aqueous (water-based) gel | | Body | Polycarbonate | | Colors (cap type, US) | 12 | | Barcode (black) | 4550344162446 | | Made in | China (MUJI USA) | MUJI USA gives no weight or barrel width, so the barrel in our drawing is drawn by eye. ## Who is the MUJI compact gel pen for? **It suits people who carry a small notebook and want a pen that is shorter than the notebook is tall.** - **Everyday carry:** it is 110 mm (4.3 in) long, and MUJI USA says the clip fits a pocket, lanyard or closed notebook. - **Left-handed writers:** MUJI USA calls the quick-drying aqueous gel ink suitable for left- and right-handed writers, at a 0.5 mm nib. Skip it if you want a full-length grip: at 11 cm it is 3.5 cm shorter than MUJI's knock pen. ![The 11 cm capped MUJI compact gel pen drawn above the 14.5 cm knock pen, to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/muji-compact-gel-ink-pen-length-vs-full-size.svg?v=eee06efb) *The compact pen is 3.5 cm shorter than MUJI's 14.5 cm knock pen (1 mm = 4 px). Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.* ## Which is better, the capped or knock compact pen? **MUJI USA lists both at the same price; each has 12 colors in the listings we found.** The knock type is quicker to use with one hand. We haven't measured the knock pen's length: MUJI USA's listing for it was not read in full, so treat the 11 cm as the cap type's figure. ## Does it fit the A7 notebook? **MUJI USA says so: the Compact Notebook A7 has a loop made to hold the compact pens.** The notebook is 10.5 cm tall and the pen 11 cm long, so the pen sits half a centimetre taller than the notebook, according to the listed sizes. ## How does it compare with MUJI's full-size gel pens? **It's shorter and made in China, where the full-size pens are made in Japan.** | | Compact cap type | [Knock pen 0.5 mm](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-gel-ink-knock-pen-0-5mm/) | [Cap-type gel pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/muji-gel-ink-pen/) | |---|---|---|---| | Length | 11 cm | 14.5 cm | 14 cm | | Nib | 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm | | Made in | China | Japan | Japan | | Price band | $ | $ | $ | Our [best pocket pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pocket-pens/) roundup covers short pens from other brands. ## Where is it made, and what does it cost? **In China: MUJI USA gives China as the country or region of origin.** Each pen is in our $ band, under $5. MUJI USA sells it as Final Sale, with no refunds or exchanges; we read the page on November 1, 2026, and prices change. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the MUJI compact gel pen? MUJI USA lists 4.3 in (11 cm), which is 3.5 cm shorter than the 14.5 cm MUJI knock pen. ### What colors does the MUJI compact gel pen come in? MUJI USA lists the cap type in black, blue, blue black, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, cyan, gray, brown and purple. ### Does the MUJI compact pen fit the MUJI A7 notebook loop? MUJI USA says the Compact Notebook A7 has a loop on the side that perfectly fits its Compact Pens. ### Is the MUJI compact gel pen refillable? MUJI USA's listing for the compact pen doesn't mention refills. MUJI's full-size refills are not stated to fit it, so don't assume they do. ### Is the MUJI compact pen made in Japan? No. MUJI USA lists China as the country or region of origin. ### Is there a knock-type MUJI compact pen? Yes. MUJI USA lists a Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Knock Type 0.5 mm in 12 colors, at the same price as the cap type. ### Can I return a MUJI pen bought online? MUJI USA marks it Final Sale, with no refunds or exchanges, on its product page as we read it. ## Sources - [MUJI USA: Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Cap Type 0.5mm - Black (length 11 cm / 4.3 in; nib 0.5 mm; aqueous ink; polycarbonate body; China; read in full November 1, 2026)](https://www.muji.us/products/compact-gel-ink-ballpoint-pen-cap-type-0-5mm-black) - [MUJI USA: Compact Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen Knock Type 0.5 mm - Black (listing seen in the stationery collection)](https://www.muji.us/products/compact-gel-ink-ballpoint-pen-knock-type-0-5-mm-black-nbe1cc4s) - [MUJI USA stationery collection (product list, read November 1, 2026)](https://www.muji.us/collections/stationery)