Choosing your first bottled fountain pen ink can feel overwhelming when there are hundreds of options available. The good news is that most quality inks from reputable brands will work well in your pen. This guide focuses on the best inks for beginners: reliable, well-behaved, and available in colours you will love writing with every day.
What Makes a Good Beginner Ink?
A good beginner ink should be:
- Well-behaved: Good flow, not too wet or too dry, and consistent from pen to pen
- Easy to clean: Standard dye-based inks wash out easily with water
- Safe for most pens: Avoid iron gall, pigmented, or permanent inks until you are comfortable with pen maintenance
- Available in a colour you enjoy: You will write more if you love the ink
Our Top Beginner Ink Recommendations
Diamine Inks
Diamine is the perfect starting point for most beginners. Made in Liverpool since 1864, Diamine inks are reliable, well-priced, and available in one of the largest colour ranges of any ink brand. They flow well in almost every pen, clean out easily, and are available in 80ml bottles that represent excellent value.
Good starter colours: Oxford Blue, Oxblood, Soft Mint, Chocolate Brown, Graphite.
Waterman Inks
Waterman inks are among the safest and most reliable inks available. They are slightly on the wetter side, which means excellent flow and very easy cleaning. Waterman Serenity Blue is one of the most popular everyday blue inks in the world, and for good reason.
Good starter colours: Serenity Blue, Mysterious Blue, Tender Purple.
Lamy Inks
LAMY inks are designed to work perfectly with LAMY pens but perform well in most fountain pens. They are reliable, fast-drying, and available in a good range of colours. If you have a LAMY pen, starting with LAMY ink is a natural choice.
Good starter colours: Blue, Blue-Black, Black, Turquoise.
Pilot Iroshizuku
If you want to step up to a premium ink from the start, Pilot Iroshizuku inks are an excellent choice. They are beautifully formulated, with excellent flow, good shading, and a wide range of unique colours inspired by Japanese nature. They are more expensive than Diamine or Waterman but are worth every penny.
Good starter colours: Tsuki-yo (teal), Ina-ho (golden yellow), Murasaki-shikibu (purple).
J. Herbin Standard Inks
J. Herbin standard inks (not the 1670 anniversary range) are gentle, well-behaved, and available in beautiful colours. They are slightly on the lighter side in terms of saturation, which makes them ideal for writers who prefer a softer look on the page.
Good starter colours: Perle Noire (black), Bleu Nuit (navy), Vert Olive (olive green).
Inks to Avoid as a Beginner
- Iron gall inks - require more frequent cleaning and can damage pens if neglected. Fine once you are comfortable with pen maintenance.
- Pigmented or India inks - can clog feeds permanently if not cleaned regularly. Not suitable for most fountain pens.
- Shimmer inks - the metallic particles can settle in the feed. Fine to use but require more thorough cleaning.
- Permanent or waterproof inks - harder to clean and can damage pens if left to dry.
How Much Ink Do You Need?
Most bottled inks come in 30ml, 50ml, or 80ml bottles. For a beginner, a 30ml or 50ml bottle is plenty to start with. You will likely want to try several colours before committing to a large bottle of any one ink.
Shop Beginner Inks at Pure Pens
Browse our full range of Diamine, Waterman, J. Herbin, and LAMY inks at Pure Pens. If you need help choosing your first ink, get in touch and we will be happy to recommend something based on your pen and preferences.