Refills Menu

Everything that goes back into a pen, sorted by what the pen actually takes. Identify the format first and the rest is straightforward: bottled ink and cartridges for fountain pens, converters to bridge the two, ballpoint and rollerball refills for cartridge-style pens, and lead and erasers for mechanical pencils.

Three formats cover most quality pens. Standard international cartridges fit a large share of fountain pens, in short and long lengths. Parker-style G2 ballpoint refills fit a great many metal-bodied ballpoints regardless of brand. Rollerball refills are less standardised, so check the maker before ordering.

If you are not sure what your pen takes, the pen refill guide explains the formats with measurements, and refills by brand lets you work backwards from the pen you already own.

One more piece of practical advice: when a refill format works for you, buy two. Refills are inexpensive relative to the pen, they store indefinitely if kept cool and flat, and having a spare in a drawer is the difference between a pen that is always ready and a pen that spends a fortnight waiting for an order. It also lets you keep a second ink colour or point size on hand without owning a second pen.