Gel pens
Gel pensGel pens compared on tip size, smudge resistance, refills and how they feel on cheap paper. 32 Stationery Times guides, each with a direct answer and sourced specs.
Sakura Ballsign iD Single: Six Blacks, 0.3–0.5 mm
Sakura Ballsign iD Single gel pen, a 2026 Japan Stationery Award winner: its six black inks, 0.3–0.5 mm tips, 145 mm size, refills and US availability.
Zebra Sarasa Nano: Cushioned 0.3 mm Gel Pen
Zebra Sarasa Nano explained: a 0.3 and 0.38 mm gel pen with a spring cushion that softens fine tips, 143.8 mm, 12.8 g, JF refills, colors, and how it compares.
Writech Nebula Gel Pens: Amazon's Pastel Click Pen
Writech Nebula gel pens explained: the Amazon brand's best seller, 0.7 mm black ink, 6-pack, silent click, refills, ratings, rank, and where Writech is based.
Pentel Hybrid Gel Roller K105: Discontinued in the US
Pentel Hybrid Gel Roller K105 explained: why US shops dropped it around 2010, the 0.5 mm Hybrid Japan still sells since 1989, KF5 refills and replacements.
uni-ball One 3: The Stubby Twist 3-Color Gel Pen
uni-ball One 3 explained: the first 3-color pen in the uni-ball One line, a short 129 mm twist body, 0.38 and 0.5 mm, UMR-ML refills, gift version, US sources.
Pentel Slicci: The 0.25 mm Gel Pen for Tiny Writing
Pentel Slicci explained: a 0.25 mm extra-fine capped gel pen, its 144 mm posted size and 9 g weight, ink colors, the Metallic version, and how it compares.
Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto: Build-Your-Own Multi Pen
Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto explained: pick a 2- to 5-color body, fill it with 0.3 to 0.5 mm gel refills, pencil or eraser units; 4-color body 149.9 mm, refill guide.
Pilot Juice+: Pilot's Cheaper Synergy Tip Gel Pen
Pilot Juice+ (Juice Plus) explained: a 0.4 mm Synergy Tip gel pen for students, 142 mm and 9.8 g, 8 colors, LP3RF refills, and how it differs from Juice Up.
uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153: The White Gel Pen
uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 explained: a 1.0 mm capped pigment gel pen, best known in white for black paper, plus gold and silver; size, refills and origin.
uni-ball Signo DX UM-151: Fine Gel Pen in 31 Colors
uni-ball Signo DX (UM-151) explained: a capped pigment gel pen in 0.28, 0.38 and 0.5 mm, 31 colors in 0.38 mm, 13.8 cm, 11 g, UMR-1 refills, US buying tips.
uni-ball Signo RT1: Edgeless Tip, 0.28 to 0.5 mm
uni-ball Signo RT1 (UMN-155) explained: a retractable pigment gel pen with an edgeless tip, 0.28, 0.38 and 0.5 mm, 10 colors each, UMR-82/83/85N refills.
Zebra Sarasa Mark On: The Gel Pen You Can Highlight
Zebra Sarasa Mark On explained: a 0.5 mm (and 0.4 mm) gel pen whose ink resists highlighter smearing after about 5 seconds, 141 mm body, MJF refills, uses.
OHTO GS02: Ceramic Ball Roller Gel in Aluminum
OHTO GS02 roller gel pen explained: 138 mm, 22.5 g aluminum and brass body, PG-M05NP 0.5 mm ceramic-ball gel refill, nuance colors, GS01 vs GS02, and origin.
OHTO Rays: Flash Dry Gel Pen and PG-105NP Refill
OHTO Rays gel pen explained: Flash Dry PG-105NP 0.5 mm needle refill, 138.5 mm and 13.3 g steel-and-plastic body, 11 colors, G2 refill fit, and lefty use.
BIC Gel-ocity Quick Dry: 5-Second Dry Gel Pen
BIC Gel-ocity Quick Dry explained: the 0.7 mm point and 0.3 mm line, BIC's 5-second dry claim, left-handed use, refills, colors, G2 comparison and origin.
Zebra Sarasa Grand: Brass-Barrel Gel Pen & Refills
Zebra Sarasa Grand explained: the US brass-barrel 0.7 mm gel pen vs Japan's 0.3/0.5 mm version, JF refills, size and weight, colors, and where it's made.
MUJI Gel Ink Pen: 0.38 mm Cap Type, Refills & Colors
MUJI Gel Ink Ballpoint Pen, cap type, explained: 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm sizes, 10 US colors, 140 mm long, the refill that fits both bodies, and where it's made.
uni Style Fit: Build-Your-Own Multi Pen and Refills
uni Style Fit explained: 3-, 4- and 5-color holders, Signo gel refills in 0.28, 0.38 and 0.5 mm, Jetstream and pencil refills, 146.2 mm size and Japan prices.
Pilot Juice Up: Synergy Tip, Sizes & LP3RF Refills
Pilot Juice Up gel pen explained: the Synergy Tip, pigment gel ink, 0.3/0.4/0.5 mm sizes, 142.8 mm body, LP3RF refills, Juice Up vs Hi-Tec-C, and origin.
Zebra bLen: Low-Vibration Pen, Gel vs Emulsion Ink
Zebra bLen pen explained: the vibration-damping body with a metal weight, US gel vs Japanese emulsion ink, 143.6 mm size, 0.5/0.7 mm points and multi pens.
Sakura Gelly Roll: White Gel Pen Sizes & Moonlight Inks
Sakura Gelly Roll gel pen explained: 05, 08 and 10 sizes with ball and line widths, the opaque white ink, Moonlight colors for dark paper, and where it's made.
uni-ball One: Pigment Gel Ink, Sizes & Refills
uni-ball One gel pen explained: pigment ink that sits on the paper, 0.38/0.5/0.7 mm tips, US item numbers, UMR refills, One F and One P versions, and origin.
Pilot Hi-Tec-C: Needle Tips from 0.25 mm Explained
Pilot Hi-Tec-C gel pen explained: 0.25 to 0.5 mm needle tips, LH-20C model codes, biopolymer ink, skipping fixes, G-Tec-C4 name, refills, and where it's made.
uni-ball Signo 207: Fraud-Resistant Gel Pen Guide
uni-ball Signo 207 gel pen explained: pigment Super Ink for checks, 0.38 to 1.0 mm tips, UMR-87 refills, 142 mm size, 207 vs 307, and where it's made.
Zebra Sarasa Clip: The Binder-Clip Gel Pen Explained
Zebra Sarasa Clip gel pen explained: 0.3 to 1.0 mm tips, pigment gel ink, the binder clip, JF refills, how it compares with the Pilot G2, and where it's made.
Pentel EnerGel RTX: Liquid Gel Ink, Tips & Refills
Pentel EnerGel RTX explained: liquid gel ink, 0.3–1.0 mm needle and metal tips, LR and LRN refills, RTX vs Pearl vs EnerGel-X, and where it's made.
Pilot G2 Gel Pen: 4 Tip Sizes, Refills & Ink Colors
The Pilot G2 gel pen comes in 0.38 mm Ultra Fine, 0.5 mm Extra Fine, 0.7 mm Fine and 1.0 mm Bold, in up to 41 ink colors, with refill codes and G2 vs G2 Pro.
Sharpie S-Gel: Tip Sizes, Smear Claims & Refills
Sharpie S-Gel gel pen explained: 0.38 to 1.0 mm tip sizes, smear claims, refills, colors, how it compares with the Pilot G2, and where it's made.
Shuttle Art 120 Gel Pens: Colors, Tips and Refills
Shuttle Art 120 Unique Colors gel pens explained: 120 colors in 7 ink types, 0.8–1.0 mm tips, refills, ratings, who makes them and vs Sakura Gelly Roll.
Zebra Sarasa Dry X20: Quick-Dry Gel Pen for Lefties
The Zebra Sarasa Dry X20 explained: Rapid Dry Ink claims and tests, 0.5/0.7/1.0 mm sizes, refills, Japan's Sarasa Dry, left-handed use and where it's made.
Pilot Juice: Pigment Gel Pen, 4 Sizes & 48+ Colors
Pilot Juice gel pen explained: pigment gel ink in 0.38 to 1.0 mm, 48 colors plus 2026's ash shades, 143 mm body, LP2RF refills, Juice vs Juice Up and Juice+.
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel: Sizes, Dry Time & Color Packs
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel pen explained: 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm points, the 3x-faster-drying claim vs the Pilot G2, color packs, refills, size, and where it's made.