13 Best Fountain Pen Inks [2026]

So much ink, so little time.

Each year, the world’s best writing brands add to the ever-growing spectrum of fountain pen inks. In this article, we compile the top fountain pen inks across all the brands we offer on the Goldspot Pens website. Join us for all the shimmer, shading, and sheen!

How did we make this list?

Using sales data and customer reviews on Goldspot.com, we selected the 13 most popular fountain pen inks. This list includes new sensations as well as evergreen favorites that our pen pals can't stop raving about. While most of the inks featured here are bottled inks, many writers also rely on convenient options like pelikan ink cartridges for everyday fountain pen use.

A Variety of Fountain Pen Ink Bottles and Ink Color Swatches on Paper

TL;DR: Best Fountain Pen inks of 2026 at a glance

Best Fountain Pen Inks

Wearingeul "Call of the Cthulhu"

$28, 30ml bottle
⭐️ (42) 5-Star Reviews

This Goldspot-exclusive collaboration with South Korea's Wearingeul matches the Sailor 1911 Standard "Call of Cthulhu" fountain pen released in 2024.

Our favorite part

Besides being an exact pantone match with the Sailor 1911 fountain pen of the same name, "Cthulhu" draws its inspiration from the tale of supernatural horror penned by HP Lovecraft.

Features

The color is a rich, dark teal with a smattering of sinister red sheen. Yet, it's not a super sheener that tends to cause flow issues. Many of our pen pals praise this ink on its wetness and ease of use in a variety of their fountain pens.

Diamine Lady Grey

$9.00, 30ml bottle; $19.00, 80ml bottle
⭐️ (8) 5-Star Reviews

Reddit did it again! The r/fountainpens subreddit community, in collaboration with Diamine (UK), gave writers around the world the ink color they didn't know they needed in their lives.

Our favorite part

Lady Grey is a strong, multi-chromatic shader. Upon first glance, one might not say it's a grey ink color at all. Yet, it's full of subtleties and nuances which appear more pronounced when you use broader nibs or different types of papers.

Features

This medium-toned dusky purple ink has a demure shading quality. The lighter areas display a cool grey while the darker portions where the ink pools exhibit a purplish hue. Each letter and stroke has a surprising depth and richness.

Wearingeul "Sense & Sensibility"

$28, 30ml bottle
⭐️ (5) 5-Star Reviews

The second Goldspot-exclusive Wearingeul ink represents the themes of Jane Austen's first novel, Sense & Sensibility.

Our favorite part

Lightly saturated with chromashading that ranges from a light, Regency-era sage to a blushing pink. The prudent green represents Elinor Dashwood's "Sense" while the romantic pink fits Marianne Dashwood's "Sensibility."

Features

Gentle and easy on the eyes, Sense and Sensibility (RGB 137 / 151 / 130; Pantone 5655 U) captures the naturalistic art and fashion of Regency-era England.

Jacques Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor

$36.00, 50ml bottle
⭐️ (29) 5-Star Reviews

Ever since its debut in 2015, Emerald of Chivor has captivated pen enthusiasts with its shifty, "color-changing" effect, audacious gold shimmer, and brilliant red sheen.

Our favorite part

This ink experienced "viral" moments on social media that had people, both pen enthusiasts and newbies, ooh-ing and aahh-ing over the brilliance of this ink color. The J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary collection set the trend for all the shimmer and sheen inks that continue to hit the market since.

Features

Much like the Call of the Cthulhu, Emerald of Chivor's base color is a dark teal color. If you write with a dip pen or a broad/stub nib fountain pen, you'll see a high degree of red sheen paired with shimmering gold.

Colorverse Cosmic Lime Explosion

$17.00, 30ml bottle
⭐️ (6) 5-Star Reviews

A supernova of creative inspiration, the Goldspot-exclusive Colorverse Cosmic Lime Explosion will make your writing shine like it was hit by gamma radiation.

Our favorite part

Besides being a perfect match for the "lime wedge" grip section on the benu euphoria fountain pen, Cosmic Lime Explosion has a duo pigmented shimmer (gold and silver) to accent the zesty lime base color of the ink. It shades well and the shimmer doesn't hold back the explosive flow of ink.

Features

This light, lime green color glistens with pigmented silver and gold pearl. Brewed exclusively for Goldspot and packaged in a 30ml bottle with themed outer box artwork.

Wearingeul "The Raven"

$28.00, 30ml bottle
⭐️ (2) 5-Star Reviews

Edgar Allen Poe's classic, haunting poem comes to life with Wearingeul's "The Raven," capturing the melancholy beauty of loss and memory.

Our favorite part

Instead of opting for the common "Raven Black," Wearingeul envisioned the poet's sorrow in a deep violet with echoes of "Nevermore" expressed in shimmering blue and violet, striking a balance between darkness and iridescence.

Features

Deep, dark, and sorrowful with a glint of inifinite shine, Wearingeul's The Raven lets your imagination take flight.

Robert Oster Jersey Devil

$50.00, 50ml bottle
⭐️ (4) 5-Star Reviews

Is this ink cursed? Based on the mythological Jersey Devil of the Pine Barrens, this crimson color is more than your ordinary red fountain pen ink— it's sinister and wicked cool.

Our favorite part

Jersey Devil has a pinkish-red base with burgundy undertones, burned edging, and smoky shading. It's not "bloody" like another ink on this list, but it has mischevious flair, like the devil on your shoulder telling you to buy one. more. bottle. of. ink.

Features

There's no need to fear the Jersey Devil. Robert carefully crafts all his inks to be safe for your fountain pens. Every color is bottled in a tall, eco-friendly 50ml bottle .

Lamy Dark Lilac (2024 Edition)

$12.00, 50ml bottle
⭐️ (4) 5-Star Reviews

Not to be confused with the OG Dark Lilac of 2016, this reissue still tops the charts, despite having a significantly different formulation from the original color.

Our favorite part

Dark purples are really popular with our pen pals, and Dark Lilac turns it up to 11 with a riotous shock of greenish-yelllow sheen. Plus, Lamy's 50ml ink bottles are thoughtfully designed for easier filling without the mess.

Features

This saturated, deep purple vibrates on the page, especially when you use it in a thick broad or stub nib. Although the new Dark Lilac doesn't have quite the same hue (and sheen) as the original from 2016, we're still happy Lamy decided to bring back the color as an everyday ink.

Platinum Carbon Black

$21.95, 60ml bottle
⭐️ (10) 5-Star Reviews

The choice black ink for artists and those who want their words to last—Platinum Carbon Black is deeply saturated and waterproof.

Our favorite part

Many sketchers and illustrators swear by Carbon Black for its quick-drying, waterpoof properties. With this ink, it's possible to create dark black line art and then apply washes of watercolors without disturbing the original lines.

Features

In contrast to all the dye-based inks on this list, Platinum's Carbon Black uses suspended pigment particles to achieve its deep, waterproof black color. Inside the bottle is a floating reservoir, which aids in filling your fountain pen, even when you've already used half the bottle.

Diamine Writer's Blood

$9.00, 30ml bottle; $19.00, 80ml bottle
⭐️ (17) 5-Star Reviews

For writers who feel like their work is like opening a vein on a page, Diamine "Writer's Blood" is an apt ink to use in a fountain pen. Created in collaboration with the r/fountainpens subreddit, this ink maintained its popularity for years thanks to its controversial shade.

Our favorite part

We love it when brands work with the pen community to create something the people want. Such is the case for the yearly Reddit ink. The entire r/fountainpens subreddit community gets involved in the color selection, and, for once, design by committee actually works!

Features

The rich, bordeaux red of this ink flows freely with a little shading and a hint of coppery sheen.

Wearingeul "A Kidnapped Santa Claus"

$28.00, 30ml bottle
⭐️ (5) 5-Star Reviews

L. Frank Baum's short story "A Kidnapped Santa Claus" serves as the template for many HERO saves Christmas stories, including "A Nightmare Before Christmas." In this literary ink, Wearingeul took the theme to an extra level.

Our favorite part

One look at the ink color and you can instantly feel spirit of Christmas. But, what really impresses us is the little fabric Santa hat, the tied rope and sack the bottle arrived in—as though the ink was being kidnapped. Genius!

Features

You can save Christmas with a bottle of this magical red ink. Gold and green shimmer glitters like a thousand twinkle lights strung on garland.

Pelikan Edelstein 2024 Ink of the Year in Golden Lapis

$35.00, 50ml bottle
⭐️ (7) 5-Star Reviews

Every year, Pelikan continues to enchant us with an Edelstein "Ink of the Year" color and 2024 did not disappoint. To match the ink, Pelikan also dropped a matching pelikan classic m200 fountain pen later in the year.

Our favorite part

Pelikan doesnt have many shimmer ink options. So, Golden Lapis is quite a unique offering from the over 180-year-old company who started their business making ink.

Features

A bold, flowing blue color, Golden Lapis adds a gilded accent with gold shimmer particles. The 50ml Edelstein glass bottle is desk art in itself.

Dominant Industry Keyno No. 014 Cherishment

$17.00, 25ml bottle
⭐️ No Ratings Yet

Dominant Industry invites writes to the hotel Keyno, a fictional place where each room contains a feeling evoked by writing. Although it is numbered 14, Cherishment is the first of the series.

Our favorite part

Known for its pearl shimmer inks, Dominant Industry went with a simple, pleasant, and comforting pink standard ink, focusing more on tone and emotion while offering a clean, smooth writing experience that highlights the natural character of fountain pen ink.

Features

Dominant Industry expresses "Cherishment" through a delicate interplay of tones. A soft, pale cool pink is layered with warmth, echoing the brass-toned elegance seen in the matching pen design. The result is a nuanced and expressive shade that shifts slightly depending on nib size and paper, revealing depth with each stroke.

Now that we covered our top, bestselling inks of 2026, many of you will have additional questions based on how you prefer using your pens and inks. Below, you’ll find our most current answers to the popular questions posed by today’s pen enthusiasts.

Best Black Fountain Pen Ink

Our favorite black ink for 2026 has to be the Platinum Chou Kuro. In the conversation of the best waterproof black inks for artists, we have always recommended either Platinum’s Carbon Black or Noodler’s Bulletproof Black. Chou Kuro, while being more expensive, provides the richest and deepest black. It should be advised that Chou Kuro has a longer-than-average dry time. But, once it dries, it’s not going anywhere!

Best Fast-Drying Fountain Pen Ink

For those who write left-handed, or need an ink that dries quickly so you can close your notebook after jotting down ideas, a fast-drying ink like Graf von Faber-Castell is a must-have in your ink arsenal. Although Graf hasn’t introduced any new ink colors this year, we’re still giving them kudos for having such a great selection of colors that all dry relatively quickly.

Best Value Fountain Pen Ink

One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing with a fountain pen is the near-limitless choice of ink color. Although inks are not as expensive as fountain pens, buying a bunch of bottled inks could quickly close the cost gap. Thankfully, there are several options to grow your ink collection without having to break the bank.

  1. Ink Samples - Although the cost per ml volume is higher than buying a full bottle of ink, trying out a color is the more cost-effective option in trying a large variety of colors.

  2. Diamine 30ml bottles vs 80ml. Diamine offers dozens of their inks in either the 30ml plastic bottle or 80ml glass version. The 30ml bottles are very reasonably priced and the bottles are smaller so they take up less space if you collect a bunch.  

  3. Noodler’s Ink offers the best cost per ml for their fountain pen inks. However, most of their bottles contain 90ml (or more) of the color, which might be more volume than you can handle in a lifetime, especially if you have a variety of colors.

What Makes a Great Fountain Pen Ink?

Looking through the list of the 13 best fountain pen inks, you might struggle to find a common thread that links each ink. They’re all different colors from different brands with different properties that make them unique. But what do great fountain pen inks have in common? Let’s break it down.

Good writing experience and performance

Great inks play nicely with a majority of fountain pens and nib sizes. This means you shouldn’t have to worry about these inks clogging your pen, causing flow issues, or bleeding through fountain pen-friendly paper. Excellent fountain pen inks should flow nicely, can be cleaned out easily, and have a reliable consistency across the paper you use with your fountain pens.

Your Favorite Ink Color, Gradient, and Style

Fountain pen inks elicit an emotional response when you see the gorgeous color on the page. Your choice of favorite ink color is highly personal. So, your definition of a “great fountain pen ink” could differ significantly from someone else based on the preference of color. Just like with popular movies, books, and music, ink colors can be raised to greatness due to the general consensus. There are some colors that a majority of writers gravitate towards. Hence, the topic of this post.

fountain pen ink that shades - Sailor Manyo Haha

What Are The Types of Fountain Pen Ink?

As we covered in the Beginner’s Guide to Fountain Pen ink, there are multiple types of ink that have different properties. Depending on how you write (or draw), you may search for particular properties over others, which I will describe in each type of ink.

Shading Pen Inks

If you’re looking to give your handwriting depth without the over-the-top sparkle of shimmer ink, then shading fountain pen ink is a great option. A high-shading ink creates a gradient of color saturation within your letters. Lighter inks tend to be good candidates for shading.

Waterproof Ink (or Water-Resistant)

To make your words last, use an ink that resists the effects of time. Indelible, or waterproof inks, cannot be erased from paper using water. Some water-resistant inks are also lightfast, which means that they will not fade after prolonged exposure to UV sunlight. Waterproof inks are ideal for legal documents and in professional office settings.

Waterproof fountain pen ink

Fast-Drying Pen Ink

Fast-drying fountain pen inks are ideal for lefties and writers who quickly jot down their thoughts and immediately close their notebooks. Save yourself the waiting, blowing, and blotting, try writing with an ink that dries quickly.

Shimmering Ink

Shimmer ink has pigmented particles that reflect light, giving the ink a glitter and sparkle. It’s eye-catching and gives your writing a glamorous look. Journalers and letter writers love using shimmer inks to add some pizzazz to their writing.

Fountain Pen Ink FAQ's

Where To Buy Fountain Pen Ink?

Goldspot Pens sells a vast spectrum of quality fountain pen inks from the world’s best manufacturers. From the biggest names like Diamine, Robert Oster, and Ferris Wheel Press, to the new upstarts like Wearingeul and Dominant Industry. Of course, you’re free to purchase fountain pen ink from any fine stationery and fountain pen retailer.

What Are Your Favorite Fountain Pen Inks?

Since the Goldspot crew is constantly surrounded by fountain pen ink, it’s hard for us to settle on just a few favorites from the hundreds of inks we stock on our shelves. Some ink favorites do come to mind. Tom regularly tests fountain pens using Waterman Serenity Blue, and enjoys writing with Leonardo Hawaii Turquoise, Colorverse Martian, and Taccia Sabimidori.

What Was Your Criteria for The Top Fountain Pen Ink Reviews?

In order to be considered for this top list of 2023, the ink had to be introduced no later than December 2022. We evaluated the sales, likes, comments, and customer reviews of each ink to find the 13 most popular fountain pen inks.

Are These Pen Inks Good For Writing and Writers?

If you write primarily with a fountain pen, these best pen inks will excite you to return to the page. Good ink helps make the act of writing a fun experience in itself. Writers who can find ways to make the practice of writing more rewarding have a better chance of establishing a long-term habit of daily writing.

Also, if you are left-handed and struggle with ink smearing, then a fast drying ink for a fountain pen is ideal.

What Are The Top Colors For Bottled Inks?

Since this article focuses on newer inks, we didn’t get a chance to cover our all-time top colors. As we discussed in our beginner’s guide to fountain pen inks, some inks are perennial best-sellers that tend to be staples in many writers’ collections. A quick list of top bottled ink colors includes Noodler’s Bulletproof Black, Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki, J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor, Diamine Writer’s Blood, Sailor Manyo Haha, and Aurora Black.

Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki
Beautiful glass bottle, ink has a brilliant hue, wet flow, low shading, and a hint of pink sheen

Waterman Serenity Blue
Safe for all types of pens, exhibits shading, and coppery sheen

Noodler’s Bulletproof Black
Archival, waterproof, business-appropriate black, for artists

J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor
Super saturated, red sheen and golden shimmer

Sailor Manyo Haha
light saturation, multi-chromatic shading

What Are The Best Fountain Pen Ink Brands For Further Exploration?

To explore a wide array of colors with various properties like shading, shimmer, and sheen, there are several ink manufacturers to explore, including Robert Oster Signature, Diamine, Ferris Wheel Press, and Wearingeul.

What is the difference between dye-based and pigment fountain pen inks?

By default, fountain-pen inks are usually dye-based. Most companies produce inks that contain dyes in various saturations to achieve their high quality colors. If you’re looking for water resistant writing ink, consider pigmented ink for fountain pens. The suspended pigment adheres to all paper types for a waterproof bond. Writers can appreciate the versatility of using these inks on various papers for letter writing, drawing, and journaling. The downside is that pigmented fountain pen ink can require more maintenance than dye-based inks. The ink might stick to nibs or be difficult to completely clean from a demonstrator. Although pigmented inks are considered good fountain pen ink, they are probably not the best for beginners.

Fountain pen ink cartridges or bottled ink - which is better?

As you saw in this list, the best ink for fountain pens is usually packaged in a bottle. In fact, not a single ink color on this list is offered as a fountain pen ink cartridge. As we discuss in the comparison article “cartridge vs. converter,” you pay less for the amount of ink in a bottle versus the same ink in a cartridge. Plus, some pen companies will only offer their colors in a limited range. So, if you’re looking for that perfect brown, orange, or blue-black, consider shopping for bottled ink instead of cartridge for the best quality and variety of colors.

Also, bottled fountain pen inks make great gifts. The inks that come in glass bottles look particularly elegant on one’s desk.

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