---
title: "uni-ball ZENTO Standard: 0.7 mm Gel Pen, Refills"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-zento-standard/"
description: "The uni-ball ZENTO Standard explained: the retractable Amazon best seller in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm, pigment ink, UBR-Z refills, 139 mm, 11 g, origin."
category: "Pens"
type: "Rollerball"
published: 2026-10-22
updated: 2026-10-24
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 11
products:
  - name: "uni-ball ZENTO Standard (UBN-ZSC), retractable"
    brand: "uni-ball"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Plastic barrel with recycled material, long rubber grip, metal clip"
    released: "2025-02-03"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "UBN-ZSC (UBN-ZSC-38, UBN-ZSC-05, UBN-ZSC-07)"
    mpn: "UBNZSC07.53"
    gtin: "4902778351314"
    url: "https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/roller/zento/ubnzsc/ubnzsc.html"
---

# uni-ball ZENTO Standard: 0.7 mm Gel Pen, Refills

> The uni-ball ZENTO Standard is Mitsubishi Pencil's everyday retractable ZENTO pen, the muted-barrel 0.7 mm pen that sells as the uniball Zento gel pen on Amazon US. It writes in black water-based pigment ink, comes in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm, takes UBR-Z refills, and JetPens lists it at 13.9 cm and 11 g.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-zento-standard/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Updated: 2026-10-24

![uni-ball ZENTO Standard 0.7 mm in Linen, retractable, drawn to scale at 139 mm with its long rubber grip and metal clip, with an inset of the 0.7 mm tip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/uni-ball-zento-standard-16x9.png)

*The 0.7 mm Linen ZENTO Standard, drawn to scale at JetPens' 13.9 cm.* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/uni-ball-zento-standard-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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uni-ball ZENTO Standard (UBN-ZSC), retractable | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Plastic barrel with recycled material, long rubber grip, metal clip | 2025-02-03 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (uni-ball ZENTO Standard (UBN-ZSC), retractable): Japan. Hunter Paper Co's listing for the 0.7 mm ZENTO (barcodes matching Mitsubishi Pencil's UBN-ZSC-07 codes) says "Made in Japan", and OnTime Supplies' spec sheet for the US dozen box (70660) gives Japan as the country of origin. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page doesn't state it. Source: https://hunterpaperco.com/products/uni-ball-zento-0-7mm-gel-pen

### uni-ball ZENTO Standard (UBN-ZSC), retractable colors

- Body colors (15 standard, 6 special edition): Linen (0.7 mm); Indigo (0.7 mm); Umber (0.7 mm; Umber is how US shops spell it); B Soil Brown (0.38 mm); B Ripple Blue (0.38 mm); Slate Gray (0.5 mm); B Lotus Pink (0.5 mm); Cloud (0.38 mm); Lavender (0.38 mm); Adobe (0.38 mm); Sea (0.38 mm); Coastal (0.5 mm); Canary (0.5 mm); Ivory (0.5 mm); Mist (0.5 mm); Sienna (special edition, 0.38 mm, limited quantity); Chamomile (special edition, 0.38 mm, limited quantity); Blur (special edition, 0.5 mm, limited quantity); Glassy (special edition, 0.5 mm, limited quantity); Creek (special edition, 0.7 mm, limited quantity); Shore (special edition, 0.7 mm, limited quantity).
- Ink in the box: black.
- Per Mitsubishi Pencil Japan (https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/roller/zento/ubnzsc/ubnzsc.html), checked 2026-10-24. Barrel colors and ball sizes per Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese UBN-ZSC page (names translated from its katakana); six are marked limited quantity. All write in black ink. Tints were sampled from Mitsubishi Pencil's product photos. Shops stock different colors; check the listing.

## Key takeaways

- Amazon US ranked the uniball Zento 0.7 mm 4-pack No. 8 among all pens and refills on October 22, 2026, at 4.7 stars from 3,609 ratings.
- Mitsubishi Pencil sells the Standard model (UBN-ZSC) in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm, all with black ink, for ¥275 (about US$1.70) in Japan.
- JetPens lists the 0.7 mm at 13.9 cm (5.5 in) long, 10.9 mm wide at most and 11 g.
- It refills with UBR-Z cartridges, ¥132 (about US$0.80) each in Japan, the same refill as the ZENTO Signature.
- Hunter Paper Co and a US office-supply distributor list the ZENTO as made in Japan.

## What is the uni-ball ZENTO Standard?

**It's the everyday retractable model of Mitsubishi Pencil's ZENTO line: a plastic pen with a long rubber grip, muted barrel colours and black pigment ink.** In US shops it sells simply as the uniball Zento gel pen, and its 0.7 mm 4-pack was No. 8 among all pens and refills on Amazon US on October 22, 2026, with 4.7 stars from 3,609 ratings.

Mitsubishi Pencil says the ZENTO ink took six years to develop and writes with a smooth, soft feel. Above the Standard sits the metal [uni-ball ZENTO Signature](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-zento-signature/), which uses the same refill.

## uni-ball ZENTO Standard specs

| Spec | ZENTO Standard |
|---|---|
| Maker | Mitsubishi Pencil, Japan |
| Model | UBN-ZSC-38, UBN-ZSC-05, UBN-ZSC-07 |
| Tip sizes | 0.38, 0.5, 0.7 mm |
| Ink | Black only; water-based pigment, water-resistant (JetPens) |
| Mechanism | Retractable, top button; metal clip |
| Length (0.7 mm) | 13.9 cm (5.5 in), retracted (JetPens) |
| Diameter | 10.9 mm max; 10.3 mm grip (JetPens) |
| Weight | 11 g (JetPens, 0.7 mm); 10 g (Well-Appointed Desk, 0.38 mm) |
| Refill | UBR-Z-38, -05 or -07 |
| Barcode (0.7 mm Linen) | 4902778351314 (order code UBNZSC07.53) |
| Price band | $ (under $5 per pen) |

Mitsubishi Pencil says the barrel uses recycled material. US retailers also sell barrel colours in sizes Japan doesn't list them in: Lavender, Snow and Mist on Staples' 0.7 mm listings and Adobe on a US distributor's. Japan lists Lavender and Adobe only in 0.38 mm, Mist only in 0.5 mm, and no Snow.

![ZENTO Standard ball sizes 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm drawn to scale at 200 times, with their UBR-Z refill codes](https://stationerytimes.com/images/uni-ball-zento-standard-tips.svg)

*The three ball sizes at 200×; the 0.7 mm is what Amazon US sells most.*

## Is the ZENTO Standard a gel pen?

**Mitsubishi Pencil calls ZENTO a water-based rollerball (水性ボールペン), while US shops and Amazon sell it as a gel pen.** The Pen Addict reviewed the Basic model and filed it with gel pens because it writes like one.

Either way, the ink is pigment-based, so JetPens rates it water-resistant and fade-resistant. Our [gel vs ballpoint vs rollerball](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/gel-vs-ballpoint-vs-rollerball/) guide explains the difference.


## Which size should you choose?

**The 0.7 mm for a bold, smooth line; 0.5 or 0.38 mm for small handwriting and planners.** Mitsubishi Pencil added the 0.7 mm to the Japanese range on December 23, 2025, after the 0.38 and 0.5 mm.

In the US, Amazon and Staples sell the 0.7 mm in 4-packs and dozens. JetPens sells single pens, including the 0.7 mm Linen.

## How does it compare with the Pilot G2?

**Both are retractable 0.7 mm pens in our $ band; the ZENTO has pigment ink and a longer grip.**

| | uni-ball ZENTO Standard 0.7 | [Pilot G2](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-g2/) 0.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Ink | Water-based pigment | Gel |
| Refill | UBR-Z | G2 refill |
| Ink colours | Black only | Many |
| Price band | $ | $ |

For a fraud-resistant everyday pen, see the [uni-ball Signo 207](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-207/), and for picks by use, our [best gel pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-gel-pens/) roundup.

## What refills does it use?

**The UBR-Z, in the same size as your pen.** Mitsubishi Pencil lists the 0.7 mm refill, UBR-Z-07, at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan, in black, red and blue.

The same refill fits the ZENTO Signature and the other single-colour ZENTO pens, so one refill box serves the whole line. Our [ZENTO Standard vs Signature](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-zento-standard-vs-signature/) comparison sets the two models side by side.

## How is the Standard different from the Basic and Flow?

**The Standard has the long rubber grip and muted barrel colours; the Basic is plainer and the Flow has a metal grip.** Mitsubishi Pencil lists the Standard and Basic at the same ¥275 (about US$1.70) in Japan, and the Flow at ¥1,100 (about US$7).

The Basic is the only one with red and blue ink in 0.7 mm. Well-Appointed Desk compared the Standard with the Flow in 0.38 mm and preferred the Standard's rubber grip.

## Where is the ZENTO Standard made?

**In Japan, per retailers.** Hunter Paper Co's listing says "Made in Japan", and OnTime Supplies' spec sheet for the US dozen box gives Japan as the country of origin.

Mitsubishi Pencil, the Tokyo company behind the uni and uni-ball brands, doesn't state the country on its own product page.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Amazon uniball Zento the ZENTO Standard?

Yes, as far as we can match it. The 0.7 mm Zento sold in US shops uses barcodes and barrel colours (Linen, Indigo, Umber) that Mitsubishi Pencil lists for the ZENTO Standard UBN-ZSC-07.

### Is the ZENTO ink waterproof?

It's water-resistant, not waterproof. JetPens lists the ink as pigment-based and water-resistant, as well as fade-resistant and quick-drying.

### What refill does the uniball Zento take?

The UBR-Z, sold in 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7 mm; the 0.7 mm comes in black, red and blue. Mitsubishi Pencil lists it at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan.

### Does the ZENTO Standard come in colours other than black ink?

No. Mitsubishi Pencil lists only black ink for the Standard; the cheaper Basic model adds red and blue in 0.7 mm.

### Is the ZENTO Standard good for left-handers?

It may be. JetPens calls the ink quick-drying, which helps a left hand trailing over the line, but we haven't tested it yet.

### Is the uniball Zento made in the USA?

No. Hunter Paper Co and OnTime Supplies list Japan as its country of origin.

### How much does a ZENTO Standard cost?

It's in our $ band, under $5 a pen. In Japan, Mitsubishi Pencil lists it at ¥275 (about US$1.70).

## Sources

- [Mitsubishi Pencil: ユニボール ゼント スタンダードモデル (UBN-ZSC product page: sizes, barrel colours, order codes, JAN codes, ¥275; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/roller/zento/ubnzsc/ubnzsc.html)
- [Mitsubishi Pencil press release: 『uniball ZENTO 0.7mmボール』3モデル新登場 (December 10, 2025; Standard UBN-ZSC-07 in Indigo, Amber, Linen; UBR-Z-07 refill ¥132)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20251210-54129.html)
- [Mitsubishi Pencil press release: 『uniball ZENTO』順次店頭展開開始 (January 15, 2025; on sale in Japan February 3, 2025)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/company/press/20250115-53823.html)
- [JetPens: Uni-ball ZENTO Gel Pen, Standard Model, 0.7 mm, Linen Body (UBNZSC07.53; 13.9 cm, 10.9 mm, 10.3 mm grip, 11 g, pigment water-based ink)](https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-ZENTO-Gel-Pen-Standard-Model-0.7-mm-Linen-Body-Black-Ink/pd/49844)
- [Amazon US Best Sellers in Pens & Refills (uniball Zento 0.7 mm 4-pack at No. 8, 4.7 stars, 3,609 ratings; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/office-products/1069820)
- [Amazon US: uniball Zento Gel Pens, Black Ink, 0.7 mm, 4 Count](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLX3SYLP)
- [Hunter Paper Co: Uni-Ball Zento 0.7 mm Gel Pen (made in Japan; Umber, Indigo, Linen, Black barcodes)](https://hunterpaperco.com/products/uni-ball-zento-0-7mm-gel-pen)
- [OnTime Supplies: uniball Zento gel pen, retractable, 0.7 mm, dozen (UBC70660; country of origin Japan)](https://www.ontimesupplies.com/ubc70660-zento-gel-pen-retractable-medium-07-mm-black-ink-adobe-linen-mist-umber-barrel-colors-dozen.html)
- [Staples: uniball Zento Retractable Gel Pen, 0.7 mm, black ink, dozen (70660)](https://www.staples.com/uniball-zento-retractable-gel-pen-medium-point-0-7mm-black-ink-dozen-70660/product_UBC70660)
- [Well-Appointed Desk: uni-ball ZENTO gel pen 0.38 mm, Standard vs Flow models (October 2025)](https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/2025/10/pen-review-uni-ball-zento-gel-pen-0-38-mm-comparing-the-standard-flow-models/)
- [The Pen Addict: uniball Zento Basic gel (or maybe rollerball?) pen review (June 16, 2025)](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2025/6/16/uniball-zento-basic-gel-or-maybe-rollerball-pen-review)