Compiled from 6 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Paper Mate Profile is a retractable ballpoint best known for its 1.4 mm Bold point, which lays down a dark, wide line with oil-based ink. It has a cushioned grip and a barrel that matches the ink color. Paper Mate says it introduced the 1.4 mm Profile in 2005; a 1.0 mm Medium version is also sold.
On this page10 sections
The Paper Mate Profile in black, drawn in proportion; Paper Mate doesn't publish its length.
Product facts
Product
Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pen (1.4 mm Bold / 1.0 mm Medium)
Plastic barrel and clip in the ink color, cushioned rubber grip
Released
2005*
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
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Notes on these facts
Made by Newell Brands. Made in South Korea: OnTimeSupplies lists South Korea for the black 1.4 mm 2-pack (89468), and PartsSource lists the Republic of Korea for a blue 1.4 mm pack (2083008). Distributor ADI Global lists the United States for the same 89468, noting that country of origin is subject to change. Paper Mate's own site blocked our reader. Check the pack. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Paper Mate's product page, as shown in search results on October 22, 2026, says it introduced the 1.4 mm Profile in 2005; the page itself blocked our reader.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
The classic Profile has a 1.4 mm Bold point, 40% wider than a standard 1.0 mm Medium ballpoint; Paper Mate also sells a 1.0 mm Profile.
Amazon US ranked the Profile Bold 12-pack in assorted colors #10 in Ballpoint Pens on October 22, 2026, with 30,411 ratings averaging 4.7 stars.
Paper Mate says it introduced the 1.4 mm Profile in 2005 and that the pen uses oil-based ink.
Paper Mate says the Profile ballpoint is not refillable, though some distributor listings call it refillable.
Two US business suppliers list South Korea as the country of origin; a third lists the United States.
What is the Paper Mate Profile?
The Paper Mate Profile is a click-retractable ballpoint with an extra-wide 1.4 mm Bold point, sold in the US by Paper Mate, a Newell Brands company. Paper Mate describes it as giving a bold line with dependable, vivid ink and a cushioned grip, and says it introduced the 1.4 mm Profile in 2005.
It’s one of the most-reviewed ballpoints in the US. On October 22, 2026, Amazon ranked a 12-pack in assorted colors #10 in Ballpoint Pens, with 30,411 ratings averaging 4.7 stars, and the black 12-pack #24.
Paper Mate Profile specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Paper Mate (Newell Brands, United States)
Type
Retractable (click) ballpoint
Points
1.4 mm Bold (the classic Profile) · 1.0 mm Medium
Ink
Oil-based, per Paper Mate; quick-drying, per distributors
Colors
Black, blue, red, plus assorted packs; barrel matches ink
Grip
Cushioned rubber
Refillable
No, per Paper Mate (some distributors say yes)
Launched
2005 (1.4 mm Profile, per Paper Mate)
Length and weight
Not published by Paper Mate in our sources
Made in
South Korea per two suppliers; one lists the US
Paper Mate’s site blocked our reader, so the maker facts come from its page text as shown in search results on October 22, 2026; codes and origin come from distributor spec sheets we read in full.
How bold is a 1.4 mm line?
A 1.4 mm ball is 40% wider than the standard 1.0 mm Medium ballpoint, so the line is clearly heavier and darker. That’s the Profile’s appeal: signatures, labels, sticky notes and handwriting you want to read from arm’s length.
The trade-off is detail. Small letters fill in, and the line can show through thin pages. For tight handwriting, the 1.0 mm Profile or a 0.7 mm pen suits better.
The Profile Bold sits between a standard 1.0 mm ballpoint and BIC's 1.6 mm Xtra Bold.
Who should buy the Paper Mate Profile?
Buy it if you want a heavy, dark line and a soft grip; skip it if you write very small or want a pen you can refill. The bold point suits marking papers, signing forms, writing lists and labels, and notes you need to read at a glance.
Because the ink is oil-based rather than gel, the line usually sets faster on ordinary copy paper than a wet 1.0 mm gel pen, which matters to left-handers. That is a general property of ballpoint ink, not a figure Paper Mate publishes for the Profile.
The barrels match the ink, and assorted packs add colors beyond black, blue and red, so a set doubles as a color-coding kit for planners and to-do lists.
Can you refill a Paper Mate Profile?
Treat it as disposable: Paper Mate’s own product page says the Profile ballpoint has no refillable cartridge. Some distributor spec sheets, such as OnTimeSupplies and ADI Global, mark it “refillable”, but Paper Mate doesn’t list a Profile refill in the sources we found.
If you want a bold, refillable click pen, the uni-ball Jetstream RT takes refills in 1.0 mm, and its low-viscosity ink is also dark.
How does the Profile compare with other everyday ballpoints?
The Profile is the bold, comfortable choice; the BIC Cristal is the cheapest stick pen, and the Jetstream is the smoothest refillable one.
Two US business suppliers list the Profile as made in South Korea, while a third lists the United States. OnTimeSupplies gives South Korea for the black 1.4 mm 2-pack (89468), and PartsSource gives the Republic of Korea for a blue pack. ADI Global lists the United States for the same 89468, adding that origin is subject to change, so check the pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Paper Mate Profile gel pen?
Yes. Paper Mate sells the Profile Retractable Gel Pen with a 1.0 mm point as a separate model; the classic 1.4 mm Profile is a ballpoint with oil-based ink.
What colors does the Profile come in?
Paper Mate lists the ballpoint in black, blue and red ink, plus assorted packs with extra colors. Each pen's barrel matches its ink color, so you can find the right one in a cup.
When did Paper Mate introduce the Profile?
Paper Mate says it introduced the 1.4 mm Profile in 2005. We couldn't open the page ourselves; the date comes from its text in search results.
Who makes Paper Mate pens?
Newell Brands, the US company that also owns Sharpie, Parker and Elmer's. Paper Mate is an American brand and one of Newell's writing-instrument brands.
How much does a Paper Mate Profile cost?
It's in our lowest $ band, under $5 per pen, when bought in the usual multi-packs of 4 to 12.
Does the Profile write well on glossy or thin paper?
The wide ball puts down a lot of ink, so on thin paper the line can show through more than a 0.7 mm pen's, and on glossy paper oil-based ink takes longer to set. We haven't tested either yet.
