Have you ever admired beautiful, flowing handwriting and wished you could create it yourself? Learning calligraphy is exciting, but picking the right tools can feel like a maze. So many pens promise perfection, but which ones actually deliver smooth lines and vibrant ink?
Choosing rated calligraphy pens often leads to frustration. You might buy a pen that scratches your paper or leaks ink everywhere. Finding a pen that feels comfortable and works well for beginners *and* experts is a real challenge. We know you want reliable tools that make your lettering look professional without the guesswork.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We have tested and ranked the top calligraphy pens available. By reading on, you will discover exactly which pens offer the best performance, value, and comfort for your next beautiful project. Get ready to ditch those frustrating tools and pick a pen that truly earns its rating!
Top Rated Calligraphy Pens Recommendations
- Faber-Castell-Three black calligraphy pens made of India ink waterproof permanent acid free archival and smudge proof
- Comes with a 2.0mm Chisel nib
- Conforms to ASTM d 4236
- Perfect for calligraphy and journaling
- DIFFERENT SIZE CALLIGRAPHY PENS: It comes with 10 pens with different sizes and types of nibs for hand lettering and calligraphy (0.5mm, 0.8mm, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, soft Brush, extra-Small, Small, Medium, Large), Kinds of sizes can meet all your requirement.
- ARCHIVAL QUALITY PIGMENT BLACK INK: This calligraphy set for beginners has water based, pigmented black ink, waterproof, fadeproof, non-bleeding. Use our hand lettering pens or drawing pens to harness your creativity and impress your peers.
- MULTI-PURPOSE AND WIDE USAGE: Contains both the soft and hard tip black calligraphy Ink brush pens, features a flexible brush Multiliner tip for different lettering and drawing techniques, create extra-fine, fine or medium strokes by a change in brush pressure.
- THE IDEAL GIFT: Calligraphy markers great for signature, greetings card, calligraphy practicing, art drawings, Illustration, hand lettering beginners. The ideal gift for family, neighbors, friends, teachers or hand lettering beginners.
- PURCHASE WITHOUT RISK - Your satisfaction is always our highest priority. If you don't feel satisfied, please Email us freely. If you love it, add it to cart today! The ideal gift for a Birthday, Anniversary, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
- Smooth Writing: The calligraphy pens provide a smooth writing experience with no smear. The water-based ink flows out nicely and is odorless, acid-free, non-toxic, dry fast, waterproof, fade-proof, and non-bleeding.
- Flexible Nibs: The set includes extra fine tips to soft brush tips, allowing you to create different sizes of lines and strokes for your different lettering needs. The pens are great for lettering, calligraphy, and art drawings.
- Wide Applications: The calligraphy pens are suitable for calligraphy practicing, writing, hand lettering, art drawings, signature, design, outlining, doodling, drawing, sketching, graphic, coloring, greetings cards, invitations, illustrations, journaling, and artwork. They are great for both adults and kids.
- Great Gift: The calligraphy pens make beautiful personalized gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays like Christmas, New Year's, and more. They are suitable for artists, hobbyists, and beginners.
- Non-Toxic: The calligraphy pens are non-toxic and safe for kids and adults. They do not contain any harmful chemicals and are easy to clean.
- 10-SIZE VERSATILITY: Master every stroke with 1mm angled, 2mm flat, brush tips, and more—perfect for delicate hand lettering, bold signatures, or art illustrations. Switch effortlessly between extra-fine lines and sweeping flourishes!
- PRO-GRADE ARCHIVAL INK: Our waterproof, fade-proof black ink stays crisp on paper, canvas, or greeting cards. Safe for kids and ideal for framing artwork or designing wedding invitations.
- FLEXIBLE BRUSH CONTROL: Create thick or thin lines with a single pen! The soft and hard brush tips respond to pressure changes, making calligraphy practice intuitive for beginners and pros alike.
- PERFECT FOR GIFTING: Packaged in a sleek case, this 10-piece calligraphy set is a hit for birthdays, Teacher Appreciation Week, or Christmas. Loved by students, artists, and hobbyists!
- MULTI-SURFACE MASTERPIECES: Write on paper, leather, wood, or scrapbooking journals—these pens handle it all. Ideal for bullet journal headers, holiday cards, or sketching workflows.
- Quick drying and water-based ink: Once written, it stays written! No Bleed Through and Fadeproof - Designed to prevent ink bleed(minimal bleed on thin paper) and doesn't fade nor smear. NOTE: This set DOES NOT include a chisel/angled brush. Please see our other packs for the chisel/angled variant
- Fadeproof Black Ink: This calligraphy set for beginners has premium quality ink which ensures minimal dry pens arriving at your doorstep. Smooth consistent strokes and long-lasting ink is our forte
- Multi-Purpose: Our offering of diffrent brush sizes allows maximum creativity in your art drawings, journaling & more!
- Full Control: Our calligraphy marker’s premium pressure sensitive tips allow you to achieve full control of your strokes to create magical pieces of art
- Ease of Use: Using our calligraphy set easy and will come to you naturally. Compared to a dip pen this is a frustration free experience. Tap into your inner artist and create amazing art with ease
- Contains both the soft and hard tip Fudenosuke Brush Pens
- Features a flexible brush tip for different lettering and drawing techniques
- Create extra fine, fine or medium strokes by a change in brush pressure
- Great for calligraphy and art drawings
- Soft tip and hard tip water based, pigmented black ink
- Perfect for both beginners and experienced calligraphers
- Broad nib (3.0) that gives sharp definition
- Acid free and non-toxic
- Improved ink flow
- Easy to follow instructions
- 6 Pitt Artist Pens – contains 6 Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens that feature 2.5 mm chisel-edge nibs that are available in green gold, sanguine, pink Carmine, indanthrene blue, chromium green and black
- Premium quality ink – Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens feature High quality India ink that is highly pigmented, lightfast (resistant to fading), water and smudge resistant, permanent, odor-free, acid-free and ph neutral
- Versatile calligraphy pens – Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are ideal for a variety of art projects: calligraphy, lettering, mixed media, card making and hand lettering
- Calligraphy for beginners – set includes an instructional on proper angles, hand positioning and various calligraphy techniques for beginning artists
- Premium art supplies – Since 1761, Faber-Castell has proudly manufactured The best arts and crafts materials. Watch your art projects and skills be elevated by the best supplies on the market!
Finding Your Perfect Strokes: A Buying Guide for Rated Calligraphy Pens
Calligraphy pens let you write beautifully. They make letters look fancy and artistic. Choosing the right pen matters for your writing. This guide helps you pick a great one.
Key Features to Look For
Good calligraphy pens have features that help you write well. Look closely at these things.
- **Nib Variety:** Nibs are the metal tips. Different nibs create different line thicknesses. Some pens come with many nib sizes. This lets you practice various styles.
- **Ink Flow:** The ink must move smoothly onto the paper. If the ink skips or blobs, it is frustrating. A good pen provides a steady, even flow.
- **Ergonomics (Comfort):** How the pen feels in your hand is important. A comfortable grip lets you write longer without getting tired. Look for pens with a nice weight and shape.
- **Cap Seal:** The cap keeps the nib wet. A tight seal prevents the ink from drying out when you are not using the pen.
Important Materials
The materials used affect how the pen performs and lasts.
The **body** of the pen can be plastic or metal. Metal pens often feel sturdier and more balanced. Plastic pens are usually lighter and cheaper.
The **nib material** is crucial. Most quality nibs are made of stainless steel or brass. Gold-plated nibs offer a very smooth writing experience but cost more. Cheaper pens sometimes use softer metals that wear out faster.
The **ink reservoir** holds the ink. Cartridge systems are easy to refill. Converter systems allow you to use bottled ink, giving you more color choices.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of a calligraphy pen shows up in its performance.
Things that improve quality:
- **Precision Manufacturing:** When the nib is cut perfectly, it writes cleanly. High-quality pens have very accurate tips.
- **Good Balance:** A pen that feels balanced in your hand makes controlling your strokes easier.
- **Durable Materials:** Strong materials mean the pen lasts a long time, even with daily use.
Things that reduce quality:
- **Rough Edges:** If the nib has rough edges, it will scratch the paper instead of gliding. This ruins the writing experience.
- **Poor Sealing:** If the cap does not seal well, the nib dries out quickly. Then, you have to spend time getting the ink flowing again.
- **Cheap Metal:** Nibs made from very soft or thin metal bend too easily or break down after writing a few pages.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you plan to use your new pen.
For **beginners**, a pen with a medium, flexible nib is often best. These pens are forgiving. They let you learn pressure control without immediately demanding perfect technique. Fountain pens with pre-filled cartridges are excellent starting points.
For **experienced calligraphers**, look for dip pens or fountain pens with interchangeable, highly flexible nibs. These pens give you maximum control over thick and thin lines, which is needed for advanced scripts like Copperplate or Spencerian.
If you write **quickly**, choose a pen with a consistent ink flow that won’t skip. If you write **slowly** for detailed work, focus more on the nib’s smoothness and weight.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Rated Calligraphy Pens
Q: What is the difference between a dip pen and a fountain calligraphy pen?
A: A dip pen needs you to dip the nib into an ink pot for every few words. A fountain pen holds ink inside its body, letting you write longer without stopping.
Q: Are expensive calligraphy pens always better?
A: Not always. Many mid-range pens offer excellent quality and smooth writing. Price often reflects brand name or very fancy materials, not just performance.
Q: How do I keep my calligraphy pen from drying out?
A: Always put the cap on tightly after you finish writing. If you use a fountain pen, clean it regularly to prevent old ink from clogging the feed system.
Q: What nib size is best for learning cursive handwriting?
A: Start with a medium or broad point nib, usually around 0.7mm or larger. These give you a visible line variation as you practice pressure.
Q: Can I use regular fountain pen ink in a calligraphy pen?
A: Yes, for most fountain-style calligraphy pens. However, some specialty pens might need specific, thinner inks for best results.
Q: What should I do if my new nib scratches the paper?
A: First, check if there is any plastic protector still on the nib. If not, the nib might need gentle “breaking in.” Sometimes, writing slowly on a piece of scrap paper helps smooth the tipping.
Q: What is “flex” in a calligraphy nib?
A: Flex means how much the tines (the two halves of the nib tip) separate when you press down. High flex creates very thick downstrokes and very thin upstrokes.
Q: Should I choose a cartridge or a converter system?
A: Cartridges are simple for travel or quick changes. Converters let you use bottled inks, which offer endless color and often better value over time.
Q: Are calligraphy pens good for drawing or sketching?
A: Yes! Many artists use them for inking comic books or detailed sketches because they offer great line control.
Q: How often should I clean my calligraphy pen?
A: If you switch ink colors often, clean it every time. If you use the same ink daily, cleaning it every few weeks keeps the ink flowing freely.