Best Fountain Pen Inks In 2022

Delivering both sublime elegance and functionality that both experienced and novice fountain pen users will adore, the Montblanc Midnight Blue Ink Cartridges is the undisputed top choice of the best fountain pen inks around. It’s suitable for a variety of applications ranging from sleek, ambitious, and considered calligraphy to jotting down characters arcs of your first novel. If you want to impress the boss, it’s also excellent for signing important documents, or just leaving a note for your coworkers to let them know you’re treating them to a sushi lunch.

The quick drying properties reduce smudging, while the smooth writing is effortless to prevent your hand cramping and straining after a long, long day of signing off on budgets and other boring office nonsense. The pack of 8 gives you plenty of replacements, ensuring excellent value, and its international short size means it’s suitable for most fountain and calligraphy pens. More convenience than ink bottles and with a friendly anti-clogging design, it’s no surprise this is a preferred ink of fountain pen collectors of all kinds.

Coming in a pack of 12, the Thornton’s Luxury Goods Short Standard International Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges boasts a combination of excellent value for money and quality to ensure everyone who’s ever owned (or thought about owning) a fountain pen can find the right ink for them. There are 14 colors to choose from – including classics like black and blue to green, yellow, or pink – perfect for you guys who love to color code your days, hours, or even minutes, and the cartridges are suitable for (nearly) all cartridge/converter fountain pens. However, before making your choice, ensure you’re picking the right one.

The supplied case clips closed to ensure fresh ink every time you need a replacement, while the neutral ink pH prevents reactions against the wrong paper. It provides excellent coverage with little to zero scratched or missed lines, and the smooth flow will make you feel like a proper lord signing off on letters to other world leaders. The ink may not be as reliable as others when it comes to longevity, but for hobbyists, it’s an excellent, low-cost choice to get you started before you move up in the fountain pen ink world. For those of you who prefer tougher writing instruments, we have prepared the selection of the best tactical pens.

Although slightly pricier than other options the Kaweco Fountain Pen Short Ink Cartridges is arguably the best value for money of all the ink cartridges we’ve picked out today. There are 8 colors in this comprehensive pack of 48 with all the usual suspects and more unique colors to add a splash of color and variety to your notes.

Unlike some inks, these do not bleed and leak when making the switch to ensure clean, vibrant letters every time without interference from the previous color, and there are no leaks when using them, either. The cartridges are suitable for almost all fountain pen brands, but we understand they won’t work with the Lamy AllStars. Still, if you’ve got a fountain pen in the international short style, these could just be the inks for you, especially if you’re looking for a range of colors without breaking the bank. They’re ideal for newbies or those wanting to experiment, and despite the price, the performance is smooth and consistent. Our guide to the best EDC pens features some handy options you may like, so be sure to chek them out.

The special edition Lamy T10 Fountain Pen Ink Cartridge boasts bronze ink for anyone who feels they were royalty in a past life and it would make the perfect gift for coworkers or your fountain pen loving friends and family, and if you want to treat yourself, that’s okay, too. It comes in 4 packs of 5, giving you ample replacement opportunities and ensuring it will outlive the limited run (once it’s gone, then it’s gone), and it will fit most Lamy pens, but it won’t fit in the Lamy 2000, so owners of that should steer clear.

As for writing and performance; the ink is reliable, and the cartridge is large to ensure longevity. Unlike cheaper, low-quality cartridges, there are little if any leaking issues, so you won’t find your hand smeared with bronze link a low-budget Goldfinger cosplayer.

The Dryden Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges boast a range of superb colors and inks to ensure to-quality use and performance the next time the creative itch gets to be too much for you. Customers can take their pick from the classic black or blue, or explore new avenues with an assortment of vibrant colors to make your notes stand out in your notebook. The smooth ink flow feels just as easy as using a high quality bolt action pen, while the non-toxic formula ensures safety for you and any kids you may have hanging around your creative space. The ink is also pH neutral while also being fast-drying, ensuring one of the best and most reliable inkings around.

The longevity of the ink is where it really stands out, though, and not simply because you get so much with each investment. For the best results, pair it with the stunning bamboo fountain pen to really impress those around you, and even strangers, too. 

Our final pick of the top fountain pen ink cartridges is the Lamy T10 Black Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges which is available in 4 packs of 5 to give you (for those who never went to Math class) a wonderful 20 cartridges for all your handwritten notes, memos, and more. While similar to the special edition bronze above, these are suitable for all Lamy fountain pens, and are both easy to fit and swap out when empty to ensure a seamless, straightforward process. Like any high-quality cartridge, there’s also zero leaking issues, which will keep your notebooks looking fresh and finished with no unfortunate mistakes.

The letters, numbers, and symbols are clear without feeling too bulky on the page, and the writing feels smooth and simple to save you needing to take a break every 3 sentences. At just under $12, they are a fantastic and reliable choice for anyone looking for a straightforward and professional (long as they’ve got a Lamy fountain pen, otherwise tough luck). You may also like some of the best old-fashioned mechanical pencils from our list, so be sure to check them out.