Pilot G2: Tip Sizes, Refills & Ink Colors
The Pilot G2 is a retractable, refillable gel pen that Pilot launched in 1997 and markets in the US as America's #1 selling gel ink brand. It comes in four tip sizes: 0.38 mm Ultra Fine, 0.5 mm Extra Fine, 0.7 mm Fine and 1.0 mm Bold. US retailer listings give Japan as the country of origin.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Pilot G2 Premium Retractable Gel Pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm)
- Brand
- Pilot
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Plastic barrel, rubber grip
- Released
- 1997
- Price range
- $under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America. Made in 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. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Four tip sizes, with names that run one step finer than many brands: 0.38 mm Ultra Fine, 0.5 mm Extra Fine, 0.7 mm Fine and 1.0 mm Bold.
- Pilot launched the G2 in 1997; Pilot USA calls it America's #1 selling gel ink pen brand, citing Circana dollar sales (older packaging cites NPD).
- US refills come in 2-packs by item number, e.g. 77240 (0.7 mm black) and 77232 (0.5 mm black); outside the US they are sold as BLS-G2.
- Pilot USA says the G2 comes in 4 point sizes and up to 41 core ink colors.
- US retailer spec sheets list the country of origin as Japan; a few grocery listings say Japan and USA.
What is the Pilot G2?
The Pilot G2 is a retractable, refillable gel pen made by Pilot Corporation of Japan and sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America. Pilot launched it in 1997; Pilot’s UK site still calls it “the original since 1997”. Gear Patrol credits its click-to-retract design as a first among gel pens of that era.
Pilot USA calls the G2 America’s #1 selling gel ink pen brand, citing Circana dollar sales (older packaging copy cites NPD, “data on file”), and says independent ISO testing found it writes longer than the average of competing gel ink brands. These are Pilot’s claims; we haven’t seen the underlying data. Pilot’s US About page lists the G2 among its top-selling brands.
Pilot G2 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Pilot Corporation (Japan); US seller Pilot Corporation of America |
| Type | Retractable gel pen (Pilot calls it a “gel roller” or “gel ink rolling ball”) |
| Tip sizes | 0.38 mm Ultra Fine · 0.5 mm Extra Fine · 0.7 mm Fine · 1.0 mm Bold |
| Ink type | Gel ink (Pilot doesn’t give the formula in the sources we read) |
| Ink colors | Up to 41 core colors across all sizes, per Pilot USA |
| Grip | Latex-free comfort grip (per retailer copy) |
| US refills (black, 2-pack) | 77287 (0.38) · 77232 (0.5) · 77240 (0.7) · 77289 (1.0) |
| International refills | BLS-G2-5 · BLS-G2-7 · BLS-G2-10 (color suffix -B black, -L blue) |
| Launched | 1997 |
| Dimensions and weight | Not published by Pilot in the sources we found |
| Made in | Japan (per US retailer spec sheets) |
Size names, colors and the sales claim come from Pilot USA; refill item numbers from Pilot’s US brochure and retailer listings. The country of origin comes from retailer spec sheets.
What do the G2 tip sizes and names mean?
Pilot names the four G2 sizes Ultra Fine (0.38 mm), Extra Fine (0.5 mm), Fine (0.7 mm) and Bold (1.0 mm). The names run one step finer than many brands: what Pilot calls “Fine” is 0.7 mm, a size other makers often call Medium. Goldspot calls the 0.7 mm Fine the most popular G2 size.
The number is the diameter of the ball in the tip. The line on paper is usually a little different from the ball size, depending on paper and pressure.
Which G2 size should you choose?
Choose 0.7 mm Fine for everyday writing, 0.5 or 0.38 mm for small handwriting and thin paper, and 1.0 mm for signatures and bold lines.
- 0.38 mm Ultra Fine: the finest line and the least ink. Good for planners, margins and small notebooks such as a mini composition book.
- 0.5 mm Extra Fine: a crisp line with a little more flow.
- 0.7 mm Fine: the standard G2 and the widest range of ink colors.
- 1.0 mm Bold: the wettest, darkest line. It puts down the most ink, so it takes longest to dry.
What refills does the Pilot G2 use?
In the US, G2 refills are sold in 2-packs by item number; elsewhere Pilot sells them as BLS-G2.
| Size | US 2-pack (black) | US 2-pack (blue) | International code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.38 mm Ultra Fine | 77287 | ||
| 0.5 mm Extra Fine | 77232 | 77233 | BLS-G2-5 |
| 0.7 mm Fine | 77240 | 77241 | BLS-G2-7 |
| 1.0 mm Bold | 77289 | BLS-G2-10 |
Pilot’s US Fine Writing brochure lists 0.5 mm refills in black, blue and red, and 0.7 mm refills in black, blue, red, green and purple. Internationally, a letter suffix gives the color: BLS-G2-7-B is 0.7 mm black and BLS-G2-5-L is 0.5 mm blue.
OnTimeSupplies’ listing for the 77240 refill says the same refill fits the G2, G2 Limited, G2 Pro, G6, B2P, B2P Gel, MR Gel Roller, Dr. Grip gel models, Q7 and G-Knock BeGreen.
In Europe the pen is written G-2; Pilot’s UK site calls it “the original since 1997” and says it is made from 70% recycled plastic, not counting ink and refills. Pilot’s current Japanese web catalog lists neither the G-2 nor a G-2 refill (we searched it on October 20, 2026), so there is no Japanese spec sheet to compare.
How many ink colors does the G2 come in?
Pilot USA says the G2 comes in up to 41 core colors. Most of them are in the 0.7 mm Fine size; JetPens groups them as basic, metallic, pastel and neon. Pilot’s UK site gives “more than 31 colours” for Europe, so the range varies by size and country.
Does the Pilot G2 smudge?
It can, especially in the 0.7 and 1.0 mm sizes. Pilot’s packaging calls the ink smear-resistant and quick-drying, but doesn’t give a dry time. Reviewers and left-handed writers often report that G2 ink can smear before it dries. In a 2011 blog comparison, Mark Dominus at leancrew.com found the G2 sometimes left a blob of ink that stayed smeary, while the Pentel EnerGel only smudged if touched within a second or two.
If you’re left-handed or write fast, a finer G2 tip lays down less ink and is the safer choice. Our best pens for left-handed writers compares quicker-drying alternatives.
What is the difference between the G2, G2 Limited and G2 Pro?
All three take the same G2 refill; they differ only in the body.
| Model | Body | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | Plastic with rubber grip | The standard pen in four tip sizes |
| G2 Limited | Metal | Sold in red, gold, purple and dark grey; matte black added in 2021 |
| G2 Pro | Plastic | A G2 variant with a contoured rubber grip; not metal |
The G2 Limited is often confused with the G2 Pro, but only the Limited has a metal body.
How does the Pilot G2 compare to other gel pens?
The G2 is the mass-market standard: cheap, widely sold and refillable, with more sizes than most rivals. The Pentel EnerGel is the usual pick for faster drying. If you want a premium, metal-bodied pen with a magnetic cap, the uni-ball ZENTO Signature is a water-based rollerball rather than a gel pen. Pilot’s own liquid-ink rollerball is the Precise V5.
Our best gel pens roundup picks one gel pen for each job, from left-handed writing to erasing.
Where is the Pilot G2 made?
US retailer spec sheets list the Pilot G2 as made in Japan. Stop & Shop’s listings for the 0.7 mm Fine 2-pack and the 1.0 mm Bold 2-pack say “Made in Japan”, and a business supplier lists the 0.7 mm blue dozen (item 31171) with Japan as the country of origin. Some grocery listings for a 4-pack give “Japan, USA”, so origin may vary by pack. Pilot’s US site doesn’t state it in the sources we found; check the packaging of the exact pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What do the Pilot G2 tip size names mean?
Pilot names the G2 sizes Ultra Fine (0.38 mm), Extra Fine (0.5 mm), Fine (0.7 mm) and Bold (1.0 mm). The 0.7 mm Fine is the standard G2, and Goldspot calls it the most popular size.
What refill does the Pilot G2 use?
In the US, G2 refills are sold in 2-packs by item number: 77287 (0.38 mm black), 77232 (0.5 mm black), 77240 (0.7 mm black), 77241 (0.7 mm blue) and 77289 (1.0 mm black). Outside the US they are sold as BLS-G2-5, BLS-G2-7 and BLS-G2-10.
Is the Pilot G2 really the best-selling gel pen?
That is Pilot's claim. Pilot USA calls the G2 America's #1 selling gel ink pen brand, citing Circana dollar sales, and older packaging copy cites NPD ("data on file"). We have not seen the underlying sales data.
How many ink colors does the Pilot G2 come in?
Pilot USA says the G2 comes in up to 41 core colors. The widest range is in the 0.7 mm Fine size, which includes basic, metallic, pastel and neon colors; the 0.5 mm refill is sold in fewer colors.
Where is the Pilot G2 made?
US retailer spec sheets list the G2 as made in Japan, with Pilot Corporation of America as the US seller. A few grocery listings say "Japan, USA" for one pack, so check the packaging of the exact pack you buy.
Does the Pilot G2 smudge?
It can. Reviewers and left-handed users report that G2 ink can smear before it dries, especially in the 0.7 and 1.0 mm sizes, which put down more ink. Pilot does not publish a dry time.
What is the difference between the G2, G2 Limited and G2 Pro?
The G2 Limited is a metal-bodied version of the G2, and the G2 Pro is a plastic G2 variant with a contoured rubber grip. All three take the same standard G2 refill.
Do G2 refills fit other Pilot pens?
Yes. OnTimeSupplies' listing for the 77240 refill says it fits the G2, G2 Limited, G2 Pro, G6, B2P, B2P Gel, MR Gel Roller, Dr. Grip gel models, Q7 and G-Knock BeGreen.
Sources
- Pilot USA (Power to the Pen): G2 (4 point sizes, up to 41 colors, #1 selling claim per Circana)
- Pilot Pen (US): About Pilot (G2 among top-selling brands)
- Pilot Pen (US): Fine Writing brochure (G2 refill table and item numbers, PDF)
- Pilot Pen UK: Gel ink pens (G-2 "the original since 1997")
- Stop & Shop: Pilot G2 Pens Fine Blue Ink .7mm, 2 ct (made in Japan)
- Stop & Shop: Pilot G2 Retractable Bold Point Black, 2 ct (made in Japan)
- Hannaford: Pilot G2 Fine Point Black, 4 ct (country of origin Japan, USA)
- OnTimeSupplies: Pilot G2 Fine 0.7 mm, item 31171 (country of origin Japan)
- Stop & Shop: Pilot G2 Fine Black 0.7 mm, 2 ct (#1 selling claim, NPD data on file; ISO write-out claim)
- Goldspot: Pilot G2 pens (tip size names; 0.7 mm Fine the most popular)
- OnTimeSupplies: Pilot 77240 refill (compatible pens)
- Staples: Pilot G2 refill, 0.38 mm Ultra Fine, black, 2-pack (77287)
- OnTimeSupplies: Pilot G2 Bold refill, 1.0 mm, black, 2-pack (77289)
- SPK (Cyprus): Pilot refill for G2, 1.0 mm (BLS-G2-10-L)
- JetPens: Pilot G2 Gel Pen 0.7 mm 10-color set and color chart
- The Pen Addict: Pilot G2 Limited metallic body pen review
- Unsharpen: Pilot G2 Limited (body colors, G2 Pro distinction)
- Gear Patrol: An Ode to the Pilot G2 (history, retractability)
- leancrew.com: G2 vs EnerGel smearing (2011 blog test)