The best pen for journaling, and the ink to put in it
Written by the team at Everyman. We make the pen we recommend here, so weigh our pick with that in mind. We'll also tell you where it falls short.
The short answer
A good journaling pen gets out of the way so the page gets your attention. Look for a barrel wide enough that you don't pinch it, enough weight that it glides, and gel ink that doesn't need pressure. Our pick is the Original Grafton, $54: 145 mm long, 11 mm across, 0.9 oz, with a 0.7 mm black gel refill, and it takes Pilot G2. Rated 4.8 from 922 reviews.
- Small handwriting or narrow lines: swap in a 0.5 mm Metal Gel refill, $11 for three.
- Want a softer, non-shiny feel: the Super Matte Grafton, $64. Same pen, velvety finish.
- You sketch as much as you write: add a Grafton mechanical pencil, $54. Any two Graftons take 15% off at checkout.
- You journal with a fountain pen for the nib: the Grafton isn't that pen. More on that below.
Every Grafton carries the same promise: if it ever fails, we fix it or replace it.
Our pick for journaling
The Original Grafton Pen
$54
"Great quality and easy to refill with a variety of ink inserts. The quality will outlast me for sure." Geoffrey S., Grafton owner
Shop the Original Grafton Super Matte, $64Why the pen matters more in a journal
A journal is the one page nobody else reads. There's no form to fill in and no one waiting on it. You sit down, and the whole point is to get what's in your head onto paper before you start editing it.
That's why small things matter more here than anywhere else. A thin barrel you have to pinch. A grip that slides once your hand warms up. Ink you have to push. None of it is a big deal on a sticky note, but in a journal each one pulls you back out of the thought you were chasing. Writing by hand connects what you think to what you feel, and the right pen keeps that line open.
"The analog act of WRITING... allowed me to stop and be in the moment." Grafton owner
What to look for in a journaling pen
A barrel you don't have to squeeze. Very thin pens make most people pinch, and pinching is where the ache starts on page two. Every Grafton is 11 mm across, with deep grooves machined into the metal where your fingers sit.
Some weight, well balanced. A pen with a little weight moves across the page on its own. Too light and you steer it. Too heavy and your wrist notices. The Original Grafton is 0.9 oz, and owners describe it as balanced far more often than heavy.
Ink that doesn't need pressure. Gel ink lays down a dark line with a light touch, which is what you want for long entries. Ballpoint needs a bit more pressure but holds up better in dry air and at altitude.
The right line for your handwriting. A 0.7 mm line is bold and easy to read. A 0.5 mm line suits small writing, narrow ruling and dot grids.
A click and a clip. A click top means one hand and no cap to lose on the desk. A clip that holds to the notebook spine means the pen lives with the journal, so it's there when you open it.
The Grafton line, measured for journaling
Every Grafton below shares the 11 mm grip and the same guarantee. What changes is length, weight and which refills fit, and those decide which one belongs with your journal.
| Grafton | Price | Rating | Length | Weight | Ships with | Also takes | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Grafton (our pick) | $54 | 4.8 (922) | 145 mm | 0.9 oz / 26 g | 0.7 mm black Metal Gel | Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde, Metal Gel 0.5 and 0.7 mm | The journal stays on a desk and the entries run long. |
| Super Matte Grafton | $64 | 5.0 (12) | 145 mm | 0.9 oz / 26 g | 0.7 mm black Metal Gel | Same as the Original, G2 included | Same job as the Original, with a velvety, non-reflective finish. |
| Grafton Mini | $54 | 4.8 (222) | 125 mm | 0.8 oz / 23 g | 0.7 mm black Mini Click Metal Gel | Mini Click Metal Gel 0.5 and 0.7 mm, Fisher Space Pen, Rite in the Rain. Not G2 or Parker | The journal travels in a pocket or bag. |
| Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil | $54 | 4.8 (179) | 145 mm | 1 oz | Lead, 0.5 or 0.7 mm | Spare lead, erasers and lead reservoirs sold separately | Your pages have sketches, plans or anything you'll want to erase. |
Prices, specs and ratings come from each product page on everyman.co. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
Original Grafton: our pick for the desk journal
Pick it up and your fingers land in the grooves above the tip without looking for them. At 11 mm across you aren't pinching, and at 145 mm the back of the pen rests in the web of your hand. Its 0.9 oz is enough to carry the pen across the page without you pushing it. After a few lines you stop noticing the pen, which is the point.
It clicks open with your thumb, so there's no cap to set down. The clip is bolted on with two hex screws and holds to a notebook spine, so the pen stays with the journal.
The refill is where a journaling pen earns its place. It ships with our 0.7 mm black Metal Gel. If you already have an ink you love, it takes Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen and Monteverde, plus our Metal Gels in 0.5 and 0.7 mm, black or blue. Swapping one takes about ten seconds and no tools.
"The pen practically floats across the page."Grafton owner
"The ink rolls onto the page."Grafton owner
"Great quality and easy to refill with a variety of ink inserts. The quality will outlast me for sure."Geoffrey S., Grafton owner
"In 10 years you will still be loving it."Grafton owner
Where it falls short. It isn't a fountain pen. If you journal for the line variation of a nib and bottled ink, a Grafton won't give you that. It writes gel or ballpoint. It's metal, so it's heavier than a plastic pen, and some people need a few days to settle into it. And our gel refill is water-based. That's part of why it writes the way it does, and it's also why it doesn't like a year in a dry drawer. If your journal lives in a car or a carry-on, or you live somewhere arid, keep a 1.0 mm ballpoint refill in it instead.
Super Matte Grafton: the same pen, softer to the touch
Everything above holds: 145 mm, 11 mm, 0.9 oz, the same grooves, the same click and the same refills, Pilot G2 included. The difference is the surface. Super Matte is a velvety, non-reflective finish over the aluminum, and your fingers notice it more than you'd expect. On a desk under a lamp it doesn't throw glare back at you.
It comes in six colors we only make this way: New Oxblood, OD Green, Black, Midnight, Amber and Military.
"Just the feel of it in my hand has upped my game." Grafton owner
Where it falls short. You pay $10 more for the finish, and it writes exactly like the Original. Its page has 12 reviews so far, all five stars, which is less to go on than 922.
Grafton Mini: for the journal that goes where you go
If your journal is a pocket notebook that rides along all day, a full-size pen can be more than you want to carry. The Grafton Mini is 125 mm and 0.8 oz, the lightest Grafton, with the same 11 mm grip and a click top. It fits a shirt pocket and clips to a notebook cover.
"Clean lines, smooth writing, perfectly balanced and super easy to carry." Mark, Grafton Mini owner
Where it falls short. For a page or two it's excellent. For a long entry, the shorter body sits further forward in your hand and you'll notice. It also uses its own refills: Mini Click Metal Gels in 0.5 and 0.7 mm, Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain. Pilot G2 and Parker don't fit this one.
Grafton mechanical pencil: for the journal with drawings in it
Plenty of journals are half words, half sketches: a floor plan, a route, a diagram of the thing you're building. For those pages you want something you can erase.
The Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil is built like the pen: 6061-T6 aluminum, 145 mm, 11 mm, 1 oz, the same grooved grip and a bolted clip. It takes 0.5 or 0.7 mm lead with the matching lead reservoir, and spare lead and erasers are sold separately, so nothing about it is disposable. It's $54, or $64 in Super Matte to match a Super Matte pen.
A pen and a pencil count as two Graftons, so 15% comes off at checkout, applied automatically.
"As a surveyor constantly sketching field notes and taking notes I love this pencil. All the ones I used in the past made my hand cramp. The Grafton pencil is the perfect size diameter with weight and balance. Great product." Travis S., Grafton pencil owner
Where it falls short. Graphite can smudge when pages rub together over the years. For the entries you want to keep, write in ink and sketch in pencil.
Which refill to put in it
The pen is half the decision. The other half is the ink. These fit the full-size Grafton; the Grafton Mini takes its own Mini Click version of the Metal Gel.
| Refill | Price | Line | Ink | Colors | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyman Metal Gel 0.7 mm | $11 for 3 | 0.7 mm | Water-based gel | Black, blue | You want a bold, easy-to-read line. Every Grafton ships with this one. |
| Everyman Metal Gel 0.5 mm | $11 for 3 | 0.5 mm | Water-based gel | Black, blue | You write small, or your journal has narrow lines or a dot grid. |
| Grafton Ballpoint 1.0 mm | $11 for 3 | 1.0 mm | Oil-based ballpoint | Black | You fly often, write outdoors, or live somewhere dry. |
| Pilot G2 | Not sold by us | Varies | Gel | Varies | It's already your favorite. It fits the Original and Super Matte only. |
The Metal Gel refills are rated 4.9 from 428 reviews. Each set of three includes the spacer and spring for the Grafton.
How to choose, in five questions
Where does the journal live? On a desk or nightstand, get the full-size Original or Super Matte. In a pocket all day, get the Mini.
How long are your entries? A few lines, anything works. A page or more, go full length. The extra 20 mm is what lets the pen rest in your hand.
How small do you write? Large or loose handwriting, keep the 0.7 mm refill it ships with. Small handwriting or a dot grid, switch to 0.5 mm.
Do you draw? Add the pencil. Pen and pencil together take 15% off.
Do you already love an ink? If it's Pilot G2, choose the Original or the Super Matte. They're the Graftons it fits.
If your Grafton ever fails, we fix it or replace it. No expiry, no registration, for as long as you own it.
Orders placed before 2pm EST ship the same business day. US shipping is free on orders of $75 or more. Questions about refills or which Grafton suits your journal go to real people at info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pen for journaling?
For most people, a pen around 11 mm across with a little weight, a grip your fingers don't slide on, and gel ink that writes without pressure. Our pick is the Original Grafton at $54: 145 mm long, 0.9 oz, with a click top, a bolted clip that holds to a notebook spine, and a 0.7 mm black gel refill. It also takes Pilot G2. It is rated 4.8 from 922 reviews.
Is gel or ballpoint ink better for a journal?
Gel lays down a dark line with a light touch, which suits long entries, so every Grafton ships with a 0.7 mm gel refill. Gel is water-based, though, and doesn't like dry air. If your journal lives in a car or a bag, you fly often, or you live somewhere arid, the oil-based 1.0 mm Grafton Ballpoint refill is the better choice.
Should I use a 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm pen for journaling?
Use 0.7 mm if your handwriting is large or loose and you want a bold, easy-to-read line. Use 0.5 mm if you write small or your journal has narrow lines or a dot grid. Everyman Metal Gel refills come in both sizes, in black or blue, at $11 for three.
Does the Grafton take Pilot G2 refills?
The full-size pens do. The Original Grafton and the Super Matte Grafton take Pilot G2, Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde and Everyman Metal Gels in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm. The Grafton Mini does not take Pilot G2 or Parker.
Can I journal with a mechanical pencil?
Yes, and it's the better tool for sketches and anything you may want to erase. Graphite can smudge when pages rub together over time, so many people write in ink and sketch in pencil. The Grafton EDC Mechanical Pencil is $54 and takes 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm lead.
What happens if my Grafton breaks?
If your Grafton ever fails, tell us and we will fix it or replace it, for as long as you own it. There is no expiry and no registration. Write to info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.