Back-to-School Supplies 101: The Best Pens For You & Your Kiddos This Fall

If you’re like me, you’ve been bombarded with back-to-school catalogs and commercials advertising everything from clothing and backpacks to lunch bags and tech gear for the past few months. Now that September is actually here, it means the beginning of the school year is officially upon us—and back-to-school shopping is in full swing. It also means school supplies lists have been distributed and it’s time to get some fresh gear to fill those backpacks.  

Let’s face it, whether you are shopping for your kids or yourself, we all can use some fresh (and colorful!) pens to keep us organized and feeling on-point (pun intended!) this fall. Pens have come a long way since when we were headed to elementary school, and today there are more options than ever—you have your gel, your ball point and not to mention the grip and the color assortment available.  To help you sort through all those ink possibilities, we have rounded up 10 pens worth stocking up on this school year.

BIC’s new gel ink pens dry three times faster than normal, preventing smearing (and ink-covered fingers!). The full grip is super comfortable and easy on the hands, too. The pens come in classic blue as well as green, purple and pink for more lively options.

BUY FROM: Amazon, SALE $11.49 (Regularly $16.30, 30% Off!)

Made with water-based ink, the BIC Intensity Fineliner is your perfect go-to for anything from writing to adult coloring. The 0.4mm point provides rich colors without bleeding through the paper—the worst! Available in six vibrant colors, these pens will keep your kids’ school year (and your planner) looking bright and cheery.  

BUY FROM: Amazon, $11.62

Yes, erasable!  So when you copy down the wrong notes or that appointment gets changed for the third time, no more scribbling.  Simply erase the hermo-sensitive gel and make the change using one of the ten colorful options available.  

BUY FROM: Amazon, $10.47

These Pitt Artist pens are the perfect size to keep with you in your bag or tuck in your planner.  While they are technically made for drawing, they also provide a smooth writing experience with tip widths ranging from 0.3mm to full brush width. The pigmented ink is also smudge proof and water resistant, guaranteeing a neat and clean end product.

BUY FROM: Amazon, $9.78  (Regularly $10.95, 11% Off!)

If you aren’t concerned with writing in every color of the rainbow and are looking for more of a professional, high-end pen, look no further thanks the TUL GL1 Gel Pen. Features include retractability,  rubberized grip, a stainless steel clip for easy storage and ink refills.

BUY FROM: Amazon,$13.49

These felt tip pens by Paper Mate now come in limited addition tropical colors in addition to their classic selection for a total of 24 options. All made with the special ink formula that prevents bleeding, the pens comprise a point guard that keep the tips from fraying.  

BUY FROM: Target, $24.99 

Who doesn’t like the jack of all trades? The BIC 4-Color has 3 color inks (black, blue and red) and a 0.7 mm pencil all in one. Perfect for color coding notes, editing or sketching without the hassle of scrambling to find your next color.

BUY FROM: Amazon, $8.40

A slimmed-down design compared to the classic Sharpie, this version means we no longer have to worry about bleeding through pages—and results in a higher level of detail. These fine tip marker pens use water and smear-resistant ink that is also acid-free and non-toxic. Check, check and check!

BUY FROM: Amazon, SALE $13.03, (Regularly $14.48, 10% Off!)

So now that you have made your notes, lists and doodles, it’s time to highlight the important stand out text or simply just add a little color with a highlighter. Sharpie’s ten vibrant colors feature a visible ink supply so you “know before your low.”  Bonus: The notched clip attaches easily to notebooks and binders for easy transport and storage.

BUY FROM: Amazon, SALE $8.49 (Regularly $9.97, 15% Off!)