6 Best Fountain Pen Ink for Cheap Paper [Buyer’s Guide 2024]

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We are always in a look for good-quality papers, which can absorb the ink efficiently to prevent issues like feathering or bleed-through. But the paper we use can’t be of good-quality every time. And this is the reason you require the best fountain pen ink for cheap paper.

When writing with good fountain pen ink, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the paper. You can write on them without facing any issues, no matter the quality.

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6 Best Fountain Pen Ink for Cheap Paper Reviews

It is quite essential to choose the right fountain pen ink. We have reviewed some of the best ones, so let’s check them out.

1. J. Herbin Fountn Pen Ink 30Ml Violette Pensee

If you are looking for something vibrant, then this is it. The Violette Pensee fountain pen ink from J. Herbin is an excellent choice for daily use. The brand has been making fountain pen ink for a long time and they are the oldest ink-producing brands right now. Let’s have a look at its features:

Vibrant Color

The violet ink looks too gorgeous on paper. It is quite bright, which can grab anyone’s attention. You can absolutely use it for writing special notes. The color looks good on cheap papers too as they come with a darker hue.

Non-Toxic

The water-based and light-fast ink was formed using all-natural dyes and no chemical was used, so it is non-toxic. Also, it is pH neutral, so it is quite safe to use it.

Smooth Flow

The flow of the ink is smooth and consistent without any skip. It dries within a few minutes, which also prevents smudging of the ink.

The ink doesn’t feather or bleed through even in low-quality paper, which makes it one of the best fountain pen inks for cheap paper.

Design

The ink comes in a 30ml glass bottle, which is quite simple and nothing extra-ordinary. It might be easy to refill the ink from the bottle.

What we liked:

  • Excellent flow.
  • Vibrant color.
  • Dries fast.
  • Non-toxic.

What we didn’t like:

  • Some complaints about its proper water resistance.

Also Read: Best Picks for Ballpoint Pens for Drawing

2. PARKER QUINK Ink Bottle, Blue-Black

Parker is a brand known for fine craftsmanship, innovation, and a unique style of excellent writing instruments.

So, you can expect their Parker Quink ink bottle to be worthy as well. The ink works well with parker pens and might work with other fountain pens too.

Luxurious Writing

The ink comes with added lubricity to offer smooth and flawless writing. It flows without any friction and dries quickly even when writing on cheap quality papers or notebooks.

It can be regarded as one of the best fountain pen inks for cheap paper in 2022 for its unique formula that prevents feathering and smearing of the ink.

Color

The blue-black color of the ink is deep and intense. The black is not too dark and the blue is not light. So, the contrast is beautiful.

The rich pigmented ink looks amazing on the page and makes your writing look precise and clean. It is water-resistant, so you have to be careful while writing with this ink.

Elegant Bottle

It comes in an elegant-looking bottle, which will look attractive on your desk. The bottle has a wide base and is integrated with a tight-sealing screw-top lid.

Refilling

Refilling the pen is not difficult. All you have to do is unscrew the nib, take the empty plunger, dip it into the ink bottle, and twist the plunger to draw the ink and you are done.

What we liked:

  • Flawless writing.
  • Dries out moderately fast.
  • Rich and vivid color.
  • Elegant bottle with screw-tight lid.

What we didn’t like:

  • Water-resistant, so should be refilled carefully.

Keep Reading: Top Picks of 0.9 mm Mechanical Pencils

3. PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink (69204)

The brand Pilot has been producing various writing instruments like ballpoint, gel pens, fountain pens to suit the needs of the writers.

It also offers excellent fountain pen inks like the Pilot Iroshizuku fountain pen ink. Let us look at the features:

High-Quality

There is no doubt regarding the quality of the ink as it is made with higher standards of color.

The name of the ink “iroshizuku” is taken from the Japanese words “iro” and “shizuku”, which means coloring and droplet respectively.

Color Options

The brand comes with different color fountain pen inks, from which we have chosen the best blue fountain pen ink – Tsuyu-Kusa, which means Asiatic Dayflower.

The names of the inks are derived from the natural plants and landscapes of Japan. Each color is subtle and rich and you will love every stroke of your pen when writing.

Flow of Writing

The ink flows nicely and dries pretty fast, so it won’t smudge while quickly writing your notes or documents. As it is a water-resistant ink, your writings won’t vanish when it gets wet.

Price

The price of this luxurious ink is a little higher than the other inks. As this ink is premium and comes in a classy bottle, it is higher in price. But the price is definitely worth it.

What we liked:

  • Rich and bright colors.
  • Less feathering.
  • Classy bottle.
  • Smooth flow.

What we didn’t like:

  • A little higher in price.

4. Rohrer & Klingner Bottled Fountain Pen Ink – Scabiosa (50mL)

The Rohrer and Klingner is an old brand based in Germany. It was established way back in 1907 in Leipzig. It comes with a dark purple fountain pen ink called Scabiosa, which can be used for various writing purposes.

High-quality Colors

The ink is made using brilliant and high-quality colorants, natural ingredients, and specially-treated water following traditional recipes.

It is permanent ink, so there is no issue of fading. Moreover, the color of the ink intensifies when it oxides in the air.

Well-behaved

This waterproof fountain pen ink is well-balanced, which allows it to flow smoothly even when writing on cheap papers. There will not bleed-through or feathering while writing on various notepads, legal pads, etc.

The drying time is also quick. It absorbs quickly, so the lines won’t smudge while writing quickly.

Color Options

Even though we have chosen the dark purple ink, there are also other colors like old golden green, sea blue, black, etc.

Each of these colors has beautiful shade and contrast. You can use them for artistic purposes.

Old-Style Bottle

The bottle in which the ink comes in is quite ordinary and nothing like other fountain pen ink bottles. It resembles the supplementary bottles, so there is a possibility that the users may not like the bottle.

What we liked:

  • Brilliant and high-quality colors.
  • Permanent ink.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • Affordable.

What we didn’t like:

  • Ordinary bottle.

5. Noodlers Ink 4.5Oz Heart of Darkness

Made in the USA, Noodler’s Ink Heart of Darkness is something you should try out when starting your writing journey with a fountain pen.

It is the best fountain pen ink for beginners as it comes with a rich color and amazing consistency.

Intense Color

When writing on notes, journals, or official documents, most of them prefer using black ink. This ink from Noodler’s has an intense, dark color, which will give your writing an attractive look no matter if you write with a fine or a broad nib.

Smoothness

The smoothness of the ink is excellent, the pen glides well on the paper when writing at a fast pace. If you are new to the fountain pen world, then you can definitely try this ink as it is beginner-friendly fountain pen inks.

The consistency of the ink is a little juicy, so it might take time for it to dry. It might bleed on cheap papers a bit but the results are acceptable.

Forgery-resistant

The ink is resistant to an increased array of bleaching agents, industrial solvents, lasers, and alcohol. Moreover, it is water-proof and fade-resistant, so your lines will remain legible even if it gets wet.

Refill Process

The 50ml bottle of ink is quite simple. It is integrated with an eyedropper so that you can refill the pen with ease. The disadvantage of this type of bottle is it is specifically made for dropper filling, so you cannot refill any other ordinary fountain pens.

What we liked:

  • Lubricated and well-behaved.
  • Excellent smoothness.
  • Easy to refill.
  • Affordable.

What we didn’t like:

  • Can only be used with drop-filling fountain pens.

6. Sailor 50ml Bottled Black Pigmented Ink for Fountain Pen

There isn’t a better black fountain pen ink than the Sailor’s Kiwaguro ultra-black pigmented ink. This pure black ink is pigmented and writes in a nice flow.

This ink can be used by students, writers, artists, and others who are looking for the best black fountain pen ink.

Reliable Ink

This ink is refined and less prone to smudging and smearing. It flows pretty well on thick, watercolor, cheap and thin papers, and bleeds considerably. You can pair this ink with any fountain pen and it will work perfectly.

Maintenance

The ink comes with specially-made nono-particles that prevent the ink from clogging the fountain pen. So, it requires low maintenance.

But you have to take extra care and make sure not to leave the ink in your pen for a long time without cleaning it.

Bottle Design

You get a 50ml bottle, which has a unique design. It is square-shaped, quite different from other fountain pen inks bottles. The bottle looks attractive and small, so it can also be a perfect gift for a closed one.

What we liked:

  • Works well with most fountain pens.
  • Bleeds considerably on cheap papers.
  • Low maintenance.
  • Attractive bottle design.

What we didn’t like:

  • Takes time to dry.
  • Some users found it watery and not permanent.

Things to Consider when Choosing the Fountain Pen Ink for Cheap Paper

Choosing the best fountain pen ink can be a little tough as now there are so many fountain pen inks to choose from.

Therefore, it will be wise to consider the qualities you require in your fountain pen ink to make it easier to choose the right one for writing on cheap papers. These factors are:

Ink Flow: Make sure to check the consistency of the ink you want to purchase. If the ink you choose is wet, then you have to pair it up with a dry or fine nib. And if you go for dry ink, then you should pair it up with a broader nib to prevent feathering and bleed-through.

Lubrication: For smooth writing, the ink should be lubricated to prevent skipping and to ensure continuous flow without any issue. This also helps to prevent clogging.

Composition of the Ink: Inks are of two types, dye-based ink and pigment-based ink. Pigment-based ink consists of solid colorant particles, which makes the ink more durable and resistant to water.

The ink doesn’t fade or smudge easily, so it is quite difficult to wash them off once the ink dries in the pen. On the other hand, dye-based ink is composed of finer particles and offer vivid and brighter colors than pigment-based ink.

But it is not water-resistant and can fade easily if the ink comes in contact with water.

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Conclusion

The above-mentioned fountain pen inks are some of the fine ones in the market for cheap papers.

But if I have to choose the right fountain pen ink for cheap paper, then I will go for J. Herbin Fountain Pen Ink as this ink is a dye-based ink and is well-behaved, so it will bleed less on cheap paper.

My next favorite would be PARKER QUINK Ink Bottle, which comes with a nice contrast blue-black ink that flows nicely on cheap papers and dries within seconds.

If you are an artist or love writing with different colored fountain pen inks, then you can try PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink and Rohrer & Klingner ink, as they come with wide color options.

Then the best fountain pen ink for daily use would be Noodlers Ink 4.5 Oz Heart of Darkness. Those who want an affordable fountain pen ink should definitely try it.

Lastly, the Sailor 50ml Bottled Ink is a good option if you want pure black ink that bleeds less on cheap papers.

I hope you can find the right fountain pen ink from the great options in this guide.

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