--- title: "Zebra Z-Grip: Retractable Ballpoint, Sizes & Ink" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-z-grip/" description: "Zebra Z-Grip retractable ballpoint explained: 1.0 mm Medium and 0.7 mm Fine points, low-viscosity ink, the 68% recycled version, Flight and Max, and origin." category: "Pens" type: "Ballpoint" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "Zebra Z-Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, 1.0 mm Medium (item 22218, black, 18-pack)" brand: "Zebra" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "China" material: "Plastic barrel (68% recycled content in the Z-Grip Recycled), latex-free rubber grip, metal clip" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation" mpn: "22218" gtin: "045888222182" url: "https://www.zebrapen.com/pages/discover-z-grip" --- # Zebra Z-Grip: Retractable Ballpoint, Sizes & Ink > The Zebra Z-Grip is a cheap, clear-barreled retractable ballpoint with a rubber grip and a metal clip, which Zebra Pen calls the #1 retractable ballpoint. It writes with low-viscosity oil-based ink in a 1.0 mm Medium or 0.7 mm Fine point, and since 2025 its barrel is made with 68% recycled material. US spec sheets list China as the origin. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-z-grip/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Zebra Z-Grip 1.0 mm retractable ballpoint with black ink drawn in proportion, with an inset of the point](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/zebra-z-grip-16x9.png) *The black-ink Zebra Z-Grip, 1.0 mm Medium, drawn in proportion.* 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) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Zebra Z-Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, 1.0 mm Medium (item 22218, black, 18-pack) | Zebra (by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation) | Japan | China | Plastic barrel (68% recycled content in the Z-Grip Recycled), latex-free rubber grip, metal clip | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Zebra Z-Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, 1.0 mm Medium (item 22218, black, 18-pack)): China. Per OnTimeSupplies' spec sheet for item 22218 (country of origin China) and Unsharpen's spec table (China). A search-result summary of an Austrian RS listing for a Z-Grip gave Japan; we couldn't confirm it on the page. Zebra Pen's US site doesn't state it. Source: https://www.ontimesupplies.com/zeb22218-z-grip-ballpoint-pen-retractable-medium-1-mm-black-ink-clear-barrel-18-pack.html ### Zebra Z-Grip Retractable Ballpoint Pen, 1.0 mm Medium (item 22218, black, 18-pack) colors - Ink colors (3 standard, 0 special edition): Black; Blue; Red. - Per Zebra Pen (US) (https://www.zebrapen.com/products/z-grip-recycled), checked 2026-10-24. Zebra Pen's Z-Grip Recycled page lists Black and Blue in 1.0 and 0.7 mm and pictures a red dozen (20630); on the standard pen the grip matches the ink. Pastel and bright versions are separate products. Tints were sampled from Zebra Pen's product photos; black was set by hand. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - Two point sizes: 1.0 mm Medium, the standard Z-Grip, and 0.7 mm Fine; the Z-Grip Flight uses a 1.2 mm point. - Zebra Pen says the Z-Grip Recycled, listed from June 2025, uses 68% recycled material in the barrel, clip holder, clip dot and cone. - Unsharpen measures an 11.1 mm barrel, a 10.3 mm grip and 11 g; Zebra doesn't publish a length. - The black 18-pack (item 22218) ranked #7 in Amazon's Ballpoint Pens best sellers on October 21, 2026. - OnTimeSupplies' spec sheet for item 22218 lists China as the country of origin and the pen as not refillable. ## What is the Zebra Z-Grip? **The Zebra Z-Grip is a low-cost retractable ballpoint with a clear barrel, a ribbed rubber grip and a metal clip.** Zebra Pen, the US arm of Japan's Zebra Co., calls it the "#1 Retractable Ballpoint". That is the maker's claim, but it is consistently a best seller: the black 18-pack ranked #7 in Amazon's Ballpoint Pens best sellers on October 21, 2026. Since June 2025 Zebra Pen has listed the Z-Grip Recycled, which uses 68% recycled material in the barrel, clip holder, clip dot and cone. Zebra says the grip, clip and ink are the same as before. ## Zebra Z-Grip specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Brand | Zebra (Japan); US seller Zebra Pen Corporation, Edison, New Jersey | | Type | Retractable ballpoint | | Point sizes | 1.0 mm Medium · 0.7 mm Fine (Zebra Pen) | | Ink | Low-viscosity ballpoint ink (Zebra); oil-based (Amazon) | | Grip | Latex-free rubber; on the standard pen its color matches the ink | | Clip | Metal | | Barrel | 11.1 mm (Amazon, Unsharpen); grip 10.3 mm (Unsharpen) | | Weight | 11 g (Unsharpen) | | Length | Not published by Zebra in the sources we found | | Recycled content | 68% (Z-Grip Recycled, per Zebra Pen) | | Black 18-pack | Item 22218, UPC 045888222182 | | Made in | China (per US spec sheets) | ## Which point size should you choose? **Choose the 1.0 mm Medium for a bold, easy line and the 0.7 mm Fine for smaller handwriting and forms.** The 1.0 mm is the standard Z-Grip and the size most packs carry. A ballpoint's line is usually narrower than its ball, so the 1.0 mm writes a finer line than a 1.0 mm gel pen. ![Zebra Z-Grip ball sizes 0.7, 1.0 and 1.2 mm drawn at 120 times](https://stationerytimes.com/images/zebra-z-grip-point-sizes.svg) *The three Z-Grip point sizes, from Fine to the Flight's 1.2 mm.* ## Which Z-Grip versions are there? **Zebra Pen sells several Z-Grip ballpoints that share the name but differ in barrel and point.** | Version | What differs (per Zebra Pen) | |---|---| | Z-Grip Recycled | The current standard pen: 68% recycled parts, 0.7 or 1.0 mm | | Z-Grip Pastels | Pastel barrels, black ink, 1.0 mm | | Z-Grip Recycled Bright | Barrel color matches the ink color, 1.0 mm | | Z-Grip Flight | Bolder 1.2 mm point, low-viscosity ink | | Z-Grip Max | Wider barrel (Amazon listing) | ## How does the Z-Grip compare with other cheap ballpoints? **The Z-Grip is the cushioned, retractable step up from a stick pen; for a smoother line, the [uni-ball Jetstream RT](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-jetstream-rt/) is the usual upgrade.** | | Zebra Z-Grip | [BIC Cristal](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/bic-cristal/) | Jetstream RT | [Zebra F-301](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-f-301/) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mechanism | Click | Cap | Click | Click | | Grip | Rubber | None | Rubber | Rubber grip, steel barrel | | Refillable | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Price band | $ | $ | $ | $ | Our [best ballpoint pens roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-ballpoint-pens/) compares more everyday ballpoints, and the [best pens for left-handed writers](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-for-left-handed-writers/) covers smear-resistant picks. ## Who is the Z-Grip for? **It is a pen for people who lose pens: cheap enough to buy in bulk, comfortable enough to write with all day.** Packs of 18 to 48 make it a classroom and office staple, and the clear barrel shows when the ink is running low. If you write a lot by hand and want a smoother, darker line, step up to a hybrid-ink pen such as the Jetstream. If you want a pen to keep, a metal-bodied refillable such as the F-301 lasts longer than a disposable. ## Is the Z-Grip refillable? **Not officially.** OnTimeSupplies lists the Z-Grip as nonrefillable, and Unsharpen notes that it isn't sold as refillable, though the refill can be pulled out if the pen is damaged. If you want a refillable Zebra, the steel-barreled F-301 takes F-refills. Why a recycled but disposable pen still ends up in the bin is weighed in our [sustainable pens vs disposable](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sustainable-pens-vs-disposable/) guide. ## Where is the Zebra Z-Grip made? **OnTimeSupplies' spec sheet for the black 18-pack, item 22218, lists China as the country of origin.** Unsharpen also gives China. Zebra is a Japanese company, and Zebra Pen Corporation sells the pen in the US from Edison, New Jersey; its site doesn't state where the pen is made. ## How much does a Zebra Z-Grip cost? **It falls in our lowest band, $ (under $5 per pen).** Zebra Pen sells it in packs from 5 to 48 pens. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Zebra Z-Grip a gel pen? No, the standard Z-Grip is a ballpoint. Zebra describes its ink as a low-viscosity ballpoint ink, and Amazon lists the ink base as oil. Zebra sells gel pens separately, such as the Sarasa Clip. ### What point sizes does the Z-Grip come in? Zebra lists 1.0 mm Medium and 0.7 mm Fine for the Z-Grip Recycled. The Z-Grip Flight uses a bolder 1.2 mm point, and the Z-Grip Max is a wider-barreled version with a 1.0 mm point. ### How heavy is the Zebra Z-Grip? Unsharpen measures it at 11 g, with an 11.1 mm barrel and a 10.3 mm grip. Zebra doesn't publish a length. ### Why does the Z-Grip grip have different colors? On the standard Z-Grip, the rubber grip matches the ink color, so a black grip means black ink, per OnTimeSupplies' listing. Pastel and bright versions use colored barrels instead. ### Is the Zebra Z-Grip better than the BIC Cristal? It's the step up if you want a click mechanism and a rubber grip, while the Cristal is a capped stick pen with no grip. Neither is refillable, and both sit in our $ band. ### What is the Z-Grip Recycled? The current Z-Grip, which Zebra Pen lists from June 2025, is made with 68% recycled material in the barrel, clip holder, clip dot and cone. Zebra says the grip, clip and ink are unchanged. ### Is the Z-Grip good for left-handed writers? Its ballpoint ink smears less than wet gel or liquid inks, which helps left-handed writers. Our left-handed pen roundup compares quicker-drying options. ## Sources - [Zebra Pen (US): Z-Grip Recycled Retractable Ballpoint (#1 retractable ballpoint claim; 68% recycled; 0.7 and 1.0 mm; item numbers)](https://www.zebrapen.com/products/z-grip-recycled) - [Zebra Pen (US): Z-Grip Pastels Retractable Ballpoint (low-viscosity ink; latex-free grip and metal clip; 1.0 mm)](https://www.zebrapen.com/products/z-grip-pastels-retractable-ballpoint) - [Zebra Pen (US): Z-Grip Flight Retractable Ballpoint (1.2 mm)](https://www.zebrapen.com/products/z-grip-flight-retractable-ballpoint) - [Zebra Pen (US): Discover Z-Grip (Zebra Pen Corp., Edison, New Jersey)](https://www.zebrapen.com/pages/discover-z-grip) - [Amazon: Zebra Pen Z-Grip Retractable Ballpoint, Black, 1.0 mm, 18-Pack (22218; UPC 045888222182; 11.1 mm; oil-based; #7 in Ballpoint Pens on October 21, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M382RJO) - [Amazon Best Sellers: Ballpoint Pens (October 21, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Office-Products-Ballpoint-Pens/zgbs/office-products/6156513011) - [OnTimeSupplies: Zebra Z-Grip 1 mm, Black, 18-pack, 22218 (country of origin China; nonrefillable; grip color matches ink)](https://www.ontimesupplies.com/zeb22218-z-grip-ballpoint-pen-retractable-medium-1-mm-black-ink-clear-barrel-18-pack.html) - [Unsharpen: Zebra Z-Grip (11.1 mm body, 10.3 mm grip, 11 g, China)](https://unsharpen.com/pen/zebra-z-grip/)