When you start working with journaling or bullet journaling, you quickly discover that the choice of pen can make a big difference. Some pens provide sharp and precise lines, while others are better for headings, decorations, or colours.
The right pen depends both on your style and on the type of notebook you use. The thickness of the paper, also known as GSM, has a major impact on how the ink behaves on the page.
If you want to understand paper thickness better, you can read our guide to GSM stands for grams per square metre..
In this guide, we go through the three most popular types of pens for journaling: fineliners, gel pens and brush pens.
Quick overview: which pens are used for what?
If you are in doubt about which pen to choose, this overview can help:
| Pen-style | Best for | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Fineliners | Text and structure | bullet journal layouts, trackers, lists |
| Gelpenne | Smooth writing and colours | diary, notes, colour-coding |
| Brush pens | Headings and decoration | lettering, titler, creative layouts |
Many journaling enthusiasts use a combination of all three types so they have something for precise writing, colours and decorative elements.
Fine-tip pens for journaling
Fineliners are amongst the most popular pens for journaling. They provide thin, precise lines and work well for text, layouts and small illustrations.
One of the advantages of fineliners is that they usually dispense a controlled amount of ink. This means that they often work well in many notebooks without causing too much ghosting or bleed-through.
You can view our selection of Fineliners her.
Fineliners are especially good for:
daily journaling
bullet journal layouts
trackers and lists
small illustrations
structure in layouts
One tip is to use different tip sizes. A thin fineliner is perfect for text, whilst a slightly thicker one can be used for headings or borders.
Gel pens for journaling
Gel pens are known for their smooth writing experience and vibrant colours. Many people use them for diaries, planners and creative journals.
Gel ink can, however, be slightly wetter than standard ink, and therefore the paper can play a greater role. In thin notebooks, gel pens can sometimes cause ghosting or, in rare cases, bleed-through.
You can view our selection of Gel pens her.
Gel pens are particularly well suited to:
diary and longer text
coloured headings
markings in layouts
colour-coding in planners
Many journaling enthusiasts use gel pens to add colour to their pages without having to use felt-tip pens.
Brush pens for headings and decoration
Brush pens have a flexible tip that allows you to vary the thickness of the line. They are therefore perfect for headings, lettering and decorative elements in a journal.
As brush pens often release more ink, the quality of the paper can be more important. If the paper is thin, you may experience ghosting or bleed-through.
If you’d like to find out more about how to avoid this, you can read our guide to How to avoid ghosting in your journal.
You can view our selection of Brush pens her.
Brush pens are mainly used for:
Headings
lettering
decoration
creative layouts
Many people also use them to create small illustrations or coloured elements in their bullet journal.
Which pen should you choose?
The best pen for journaling depends on what you want to use your journal for.
Fine-tip pens are great for creating texture and precise lines
Gel pens are good for writing and colours
Brush pens are perfect for headings and decoration
Many journaling enthusiasts therefore use a combination of different types of pens in their notebooks.
A typical combination might, for example, be:
a fine-tip pen for writing
a gel pen for colouring
a brush pen for headings
This combination makes it possible to write, structure and decorate pages in your journal.
Paper and pen work together
When choosing a pen for journaling, it is also important to think about the paper in your notebook.
If the paper is thin, some pens can cause ghosting or bleed-through. If you find that the ink goes through the paper, you can read our guide to what bleed-through is and how to avoid it.
You can view our selection of journals for journaling her.
If you work very creatively in your journal, it can be an advantage to choose a notebook with thicker paper.
Test your pens in your diary
A good habit is to test new pens at the back of your notebook. That way, you can quickly see how the ink behaves on the paper.
Many journaling enthusiasts make a small pen-test page where they test:
Fineliners
Gel pens
Brush pens
Here you can write short samples, draw lines and test how much ink the different pens release.
It makes it easier to choose the right pen for each type of layout or page.
Popular pens for bullet journal
There are many different pens that work well for bullet journaling. Some of the most popular choices among journaling enthusiasts are fineliners, gel pens and brush pens from well-known brands.
A classic for bullet journals is Sakura Pigma Micron. They are known for their pigment ink, which gives sharp lines and does not smudge once dry. Therefore, they are often used for layouts, trackers and writing.
If you’d like to work more creatively with headlines and lettering, then Tombow ABT Dual Brush a very popular choice. The flexible brush tip allows you to vary the thickness of the line and create attractive headings in a journal.
For general writing, many people also prefer gel pens because they provide a very smooth writing experience. You can, for example, find several variants of Sarasa gel pen from Zebra which is often used for diaries, notes and colour-coding in bullet journals.
Many people therefore choose a combination of several pens in their journal, so they have something for text, structure and creative elements.
Frequently asked questions about journaling pens
Which pen is best for bullet journaling?
Fineliners are often the most popular choice because they provide precise lines and work well in most notebooks.
Can gel pens be used in bullet journals?
Yes, but in some notebooks they can cause a bit of ghosting depending on the paper thickness.
Are brush pens good for journaling?
Yes, especially for headings, decorations and creative layouts.
Which pens cause the least ghosting?
Fine-tip pens often cause the least ghosting, as they dispense a more controlled amount of ink than many other pens.
Which pens are best for beginners in journaling?
Many people start with a good fineliner for text and a brush pen for headings. This strikes a good balance between structure and creativity.
