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Some paper is just plain delicate. One example of this is the paper in a Hobonichi planner, and another is engineering paper. If you’re dealing with a notebook, pad, or other source of delicate paper, you know how difficult it can be sometimes. If you love to bullet journal, you may have also faced this tough issue. As someone who has used all these types of paper and more, I have learned the best pens for thin paper through a ton of trial and error.
Common Issues With Pens and Thin Paper
When it comes to writing on thin paper, there are a number of common issues when it comes to what pen you are using. The most common problems are:
- Ink bleeding through pages
- Pens leaving indents on the next page
- Pen tips ripping pages
With thin paper these issues may not just impact the page you are writing on, but the back of the page and page after as well. Generally, if you bleed through to the next page you will ruin that page, as well as the back of the page. If you are writing only on one side of the page, you may be able to get away with a little bit more than the average person writing on thin paper.
The same goes for some fine tip pens. If your tip is too fine it may have a tendency to rip through the pages, think a of pen tips less than .5 mm and extra fine fountain pen tips.
Tips for Working With Thin Paper
When it comes to thin paper, one of the easiest ways to avoid issues is to avoid certain types of pens. Avoiding permanent markers, as well as most gel pens (even if they are quick drying and smear resistant) and fountain pens will go a long way. Personally, I absolutely love both of these, so I have also learned a couple of tips to get away with using them.
First, write fast and light. If you write slow and hard, more ink will be absorbed by the pages, increasing the chances of the ink bleeding through. This took some trial, error, and well, ruined pages to figure out. If you write light, you will also be less likely to rip pages or make indents on the next page.
These Pens Are Also The Best Pens for Bullet Journaling
One common source of thin paper is bullet journals. If you aren’t familiar with bullet journaling, it is an amazing style of journaling that can really send your productivity through the roof. Most bullet journal users create a number of different views, some daily, some weekly, and some monthly.
The best part of bullet journaling for me has always been looking back through my bullet journal. One of the reasons bullet journals have such thin pages is to that we can use the same journal for a long time!
These pens for thin paper are also the best pens for bullet journaling. Bullet journals often have thin pages, so everything we talked about in this guide holds true.
The Best Pens and Markers for Thin Paper and Bullet Journals
In this list you will see a number of different types of pens, both black and colored, as well as markers for thin paper and bullet journals. This list has a little bit of everything to help you get on your way when it comes to working with thin paper.
Now, for my favorite pens to use with thin paper and bullet journals.
Best Pens for Thin Paper
Looking for the best pens for thin paper? This is my go to guide for pens I have tested that will not bleed through thin paper or damange thin paper.
Becaus these pens are so great for thin paper, they are also the best pens for bullet journals too!
Sakura Pigma Micron Fine and Medium Colored Set
Pigma Micron pens are the gold standard if you don't want to bleed through pages. Even at their finest, they have a very soft tip that won't rip through pages. The only caution to these pens is that if you press to hard on the tip you will ruin the pens themselves.
While these are called pens, they really are almost a hybrid of a pen and a marker. Their high quality ink makes them perfect for bullet journaling.
Sakura Pigma Micron Black Set in Assorted Sizes
If you are looking for the best black pen for your bullet jorubal, the answer is this set.
This Sakural Pigma Micron Black set is amazing since it has six different tip sizes of the pen.
It will help you decide which one you like the best for general purpose writing, and which ones you like for more genarelized tasks.
Once again, these pens are the gold standard for thin pages, so you don't need to worry about anything.
They are also great for drawing grids in a bullet journal.
Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Colors
The Pentel R.S.V.P. is an all around great ballpoint pen, and comes in a wide variety of colors to help you plan your day and coordinate your tasks.
This pen writes ultra smooth on any paper, and has a Medium with tip that will not damage delicate pages.
It also comes in a fine point making it a great choice for drawing in bullet journals.
Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Pen, Medium, Black Ink
If multiple colors aren't your thing, you can just buy yourself a whole pack of these ballpoint pens in black or orther singualr colors.
This is my favorite ballpoint pen ever, and I tend to buy a 12 pack because I do alot of writing, and these are so great that people may borrow them and forget to give them back!
Remember, it comes in both fine and medium poins.
Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Retractable Liquid Gel Pen, 0.5mm
This is my favorite workhorse of a gel pen ever.
While it does have a fine point of .5mm, it is not sharp. If you write quick and light, you also will not need to worry about this ink bleeding through pages.
Best of all, it just feels nice to write with. This is the only gel pen I reccomend for thin paper since I use it so much.
This is also my go to gel pen for writing in my bullet journal.
Tombow Fudenosuke Colors Set 10-Pack
If you want a brush pen for thin paper, the Tombow Fudenosuke brush pens are an absolute must. I can't say enough about the quality of their ink, it won't bleed through your pages.
While the tip is harder than most brush pens, these are some of the ones I prefer the most.
If you are using a smaller form factor bullet journal, the classic Tombow brush pens really have too big of a brush tip.
This is a great balance between size and functionality when it comes to the size of the brush.