--- title: "uni PIN Fineliner: 0.03 to 1.2 mm Pigment Pens" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-pin-fineliner/" description: "uni PIN fineliner explained: pigment ink sold as water and fade proof, 13 sizes from 0.03 to 1.2 mm, brush and chisel tips, colors, length, and PIN vs Micron." category: "Pens" type: "Fineliner" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 10 products: - name: "uni PIN fineliner, 0.03 mm (PIN003-200)" brand: "uni" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Not stated" material: "Polypropylene barrel and cap, fiber point in a steel sleeve, pigment ink (uni-ball UK)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)" model: "PIN003-200" mpn: "PIN003-200(S)" url: "https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-pin-003-line-drawing-pen/" --- # uni PIN Fineliner: 0.03 to 1.2 mm Pigment Pens > The uni PIN is Mitsubishi Pencil's capped pigment-ink drawing pen, sold outside Japan under the uni-ball name. It comes in 13 line widths from 0.03 to 1.2 mm, plus brush and chisel tips, with ink uni-ball calls fade-proof and water resistant. JetPens lists it at 13.9 cm capped and about 10 mm across. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-pin-fineliner/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Black uni PIN fineliner with its cap off, drawn to scale, with the steel-sleeved point inset](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/uni-pin-fineliner-16x9.png) *The PIN uncapped, drawn to scale from JetPens' 12.5 cm length.* 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) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | uni PIN fineliner, 0.03 mm (PIN003-200) | uni (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)) | Japan | Not stated | Polypropylene barrel and cap, fiber point in a steel sleeve, pigment ink (uni-ball UK) | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (uni PIN fineliner, 0.03 mm (PIN003-200)): Not stated. uni-ball UK, JetPens and the Swiss Post shop pages we read don't state a country, and the PIN isn't in Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese catalog. Search snippets showed a Galaxus listing giving Germany and Japan and a UK office supplier giving Vietnam, but we couldn't open either page, so check the pen. ### uni PIN fineliner, 0.03 mm (PIN003-200) colors - Ink colors (6 standard, 0 special edition): Black; Blue; Red; Dark Grey; Light Grey; Sepia. - Per uni-ball UK (https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-pin-05-line-drawing-pen/), checked 2026-10-24. Colors of the PIN 05 per uni-ball UK; its finest sizes, including the 0.03 mm in this guide, are black only. Tints are the hex codes of uni-ball UK's own color chips. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - uni-ball UK sells 13 PIN line widths, from 003 (0.03 mm) to 12 (1.2 mm), plus a brush tip and 1, 2 and 3 mm chisel tips. - JetPens lists the pen at 13.9 cm (5.5 in) capped, 12.5 cm uncapped, 15.9 cm posted and 9 g. - The 05 comes in six ink colors on uni-ball UK (black, blue, red, dark grey, light grey and sepia); the finest sizes are black only. - JetPens says one pen writes about 2,000 meters of line. - We didn't find the PIN in Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese catalog, and none of the pages we read state where it is made. ## What is the uni PIN? **The uni PIN is a capped fineliner with pigment ink from Mitsubishi Pencil, sold as a drawing pen for artists, architects and designers.** uni-ball UK says its "uni Super Ink" is fade-proof and water resistant, so you can paint watercolor over the lines once they are dry. The point is a fine fiber tip supported by a steel sleeve. Outside Japan the PIN carries the uni-ball name; Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese catalog doesn't list it. ## uni PIN specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., Tokyo (uni brand) | | Model | PIN-200 series, e.g. PIN003-200(S) | | Type | Capped fineliner, fiber point in a steel sleeve | | Line widths | 0.03 to 1.2 mm, 13 sizes; brush; 1, 2 and 3 mm chisel | | Ink | Pigment, water-based; fade-proof and water resistant (uni-ball) | | Length | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) capped, 12.5 cm uncapped, 15.9 cm posted (JetPens) | | Diameter | 10.0 mm grip, 10.9 mm max (JetPens) | | Weight | 9 g (JetPens) | | Barrel | Polypropylene, black (uni-ball UK) | | Refillable | No | | Made in | Not stated | uni-ball UK lists a 138.5 mm dimension, close to JetPens' 13.9 cm capped length. ## What sizes does the uni PIN come in? **uni-ball UK sells 13 line widths: 003, 005, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 12, from 0.03 to 1.2 mm.** The size code is the nominal width, so 005 is 0.05 mm and 12 is 1.2 mm. ![The 13 uni PIN line widths from 0.03 to 1.2 mm drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/uni-pin-fineliner-sizes.svg) *Nominal PIN widths, 003 to 12, at 20×.* JetPens labels the 01, 02 and 03 as 0.28, 0.33 and 0.38 mm, wider than uni-ball UK's 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mm. Nominal widths aren't measured lines, so compare pens on your own paper. - **003 and 005:** hairlines, stippling and fine hatching. - **01 to 05:** everyday drawing, lettering and outlines. - **08 to 12:** bold outlines and filling small areas. ## Is the uni PIN waterproof? **uni-ball says its pigment ink is fade-proof and water resistant and won't smudge under watercolor; JetPens calls it waterproof and acid-free.** Those are maker and retailer claims. Testers differ in detail. The roundup on our [best fineliners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fineliners/) page cites a crafter's mixed-media test in which the PIN shed a little ink under water but handled washes better than the Micron. ## What colors are there? **Black comes in every size; blue and red come in 01 to 05 and 08, and the 05 adds dark grey, light grey and sepia, per uni-ball UK.** JetPens stocks a similar spread in the US, including sepia and greys in the 01. ## How does the uni PIN compare? **The PIN covers the widest size range; the Micron is the archival classic; the STAEDTLER pigment liner is the German alternative with a long metal tip.** | | uni PIN | [Sakura Pigma Micron](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/) | [STAEDTLER pigment liner 308](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-pigment-liner-308/) | [Stabilo Point 88](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/stabilo-point-88/) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Ink | Pigment | Archival pigment | Pigment | Water-based | | Sizes | 0.03–1.2 mm, 13 | 0.15–0.70 mm (003–12) | 0.05–1.2 mm, plus chisel | 0.4 mm | | Water resistant | Yes (uni-ball) | Yes (Sakura) | Yes, on paper (STAEDTLER) | No | | Capped length | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) | Not published | 13.6 cm (5.4 in) | 16.7 cm (6.6 in) | The Pen Addict's Jeff Abbott (May 1, 2024) found the PIN and Micron hard to tell apart and the PIN about 30% cheaper. For color work rather than ink drawing, the [STAEDTLER triplus fineliner](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-triplus-fineliner/) is the cheaper, water-based option. In a journal, it is our drawing pick among the [best pens for journaling](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-for-journaling/). ## Where is the uni PIN made? **None of the pages we read state where the uni PIN is made.** Mitsubishi Pencil is based in Tokyo, but the PIN is an export line, and search snippets for European retailers named Germany, Japan or Vietnam; check the pen or package. ## How much does it cost? **Single pens sit in our lowest band, $ (under $5).** In Switzerland, the Swiss Post shop lists the 003 at CHF 2.90 (about US$3.50). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the uni PIN better than the STAEDTLER pigment liner? They overlap closely: the PIN runs from 0.03 to 1.2 mm and the STAEDTLER from 0.05 to 1.2 mm, and both makers call their pigment ink water resistant. The PIN goes one step finer, while the STAEDTLER is known for its long metal tip. ### What is the finest uni PIN? The PIN 003, labeled 0.03 mm. It's black only; the 005 (0.05 mm) is the next size up. ### What do the uni PIN size numbers mean? The code is the nominal width: 003 is 0.03 mm, 05 is 0.5 mm and 12 is 1.2 mm, per uni-ball UK. JetPens labels the 01, 02 and 03 as 0.28, 0.33 and 0.38 mm, so the small sizes vary by seller. ### Is the uni PIN as good as the Sakura Pigma Micron? The Pen Addict's Jeff Abbott (May 1, 2024) found them hard to tell apart in writing, with the PIN about 30% cheaper. The PIN also goes finer (0.03 mm) and bigger (1.2 mm). ### Can you refill a uni PIN? No. uni-ball UK lists the PIN as not refillable, so it's replaced when the ink runs out; JetPens rates one pen at about 2,000 meters of line. ### Is the uni PIN sold in Japan? We didn't find it in Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese catalog. It is sold in the UK and Europe under uni-ball and in the US through retailers such as JetPens and Blick. ### What colors does the uni PIN come in? Black in every size. uni-ball UK also sells blue and red in several sizes, and dark grey, light grey and sepia in the 05. ## Sources - [Mitsubishi Pencil (Japan): 商品情報 (Japanese product catalog; the PIN is not listed)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/) - [uni-ball UK: uni PIN 0.03 Line Drawing Pen (nib size, black only, dimensions, polypropylene barrel)](https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-pin-003-line-drawing-pen/) - [uni-ball UK: uni PIN 0.5 Line Drawing Pen (fade-proof, water-resistant pigment ink; six colors; steel-supported nib)](https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-pin-05-line-drawing-pen/) - [uni-ball UK: PIN range (13 line widths, brush and chisel tips, sets)](https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/) - [uni-ball UK: Sketching essentials 5-piece set (01 to 08, 0.1 to 0.8 mm)](https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-ball-sketching-essentials-5-piece-uni-pin-fineliner-drawing-pens-black/) - [JetPens: Uni Pin Pens, Pigment Ink (sizes and colors sold in the US)](https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Pin-Pens-Pigment-Ink/ct/5271) - [JetPens: Uni Pin Pen, Pigment Ink, Size 03, 0.38 mm, Black (lengths, diameters, weight, 2,000 m)](https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Pin-Pen-Pigment-Ink-Size-03-0.38-mm-Black/pd/7287) - [Swiss Post shop: UNI-BALL Fineliner Pin 0.03 mm, PIN003-200(S), black](https://shop.post.ch/en/stationery/writing-utensils/felt-tipped-fibre-tipped-pens/uni-ball-fineliner-pin-0-03mm-pin003-200-s-black-schwarz/p/807591) - [Blick: Uni Pin Fine Liner Pen, set of 12, black](https://www.dickblick.com/items/uni-pin-fine-liner-pen-set-of-12-black/) - [The Pen Addict: Uni Pin 0.38 mm fineliner pen review (Jeff Abbott, May 1, 2024)](https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2024/5/1/uni-pin-038mm-fineliner-pen-review)