Even though computers do just about everything for businesses these days, most people still use traditional pens in their day-to-day life and therefore occasionally need ink pen refills. Pen refills pricing and costs depend on the type you purchase and the pen refill supplier. The more expensive types of pen refill doesn’t always last the longest, so it’s wise to consider the long-term economical advantages of sticking with the lower priced refills.

When looking into ink pen refills pricing and costs, you must first decide on the type of refill you want. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stick with the traditional ballpoint pen refills and save money.

2. Think about fountain pens and the unique, reasonably priced ink pen refills they use.

3. Look into rollerball pen refills and consider the kinds and amount of writing you will do.

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Get on the ball and purchase economical ballpoint pen refills

Ballpoint pen refills are some of the most common types of refills available. These types of pens are popular because the ink lasts longer than other ink types, so you'll have to purchase fewer refills over time. They can also be the most economical for your company. You may be able to get quantity discounts if you purchase a large number of them.

I recommend: Rapidsupplies.com sells these cross ballpoint pen refills from about $3 up to about $4. Discount Office Supplies has ballpoint pen refills for all budgets at prices that range from about $0.75 all the way up to around $50.

Enjoy your writing experience when you use an 'old time' fountain pen refill

Fountain pen refills are middle of the road when it comes to price. The cost depends on the type of pen refill you get; there are jars of ink for the 'traditional' fountain pens and ink cartridges for the new models of fountain pens.

I recommend: If you’re looking for fountain pen refills, then consider these by Montefiore. A 3 pack of refills costs about $4. Colorado Pen Direct carries a wide range of fountain pen ink refills in prices that range from around $3 up to about $12.

Experience a smoother ink with rollerball pen refills

A rollerball pen ink refill tends to be the most expensive type of pen refill. These refill ink pen refills are larger than the run-of-the-mill ballpoint pen refill, though they tend to run out faster, leading to more frequent purchases.

I recommend: Paradise Pen Company has many different rollerball pen refills to choose from in prices that run about $2 all the way up to around $40. Parker Pen Company is sure to have the rollerball pen refill you’re looking for. The best part is that prices range from around $10 to about $35.

While pens of the disposable variety, with no pen refill option, are the norm for modern pen usage, there are many diehards who still stick by their one or two personal favorite pens, refusing to throw them out for reasons of habit, ecology, or collectibility. It is for these individuals that pen refills are made.

Types of writing instruments using pen ink refill cartridges include:

1. Technical pen refills (with or without squeeze or piston load-it-yourself cartridge converters)
2. Fountain pen refills (full-sized and mini-sized ink cartridges)
3. Gel and ballpoint pen refills
4. Fineliner felt tip pen refills
5. Multi-color pen refills (requiring more than one cartridge)

For users of a discontinued pen product, there are still suppliers available for even some of the rarest of pen refills, especially those with an outmoded technology. Finding these suppliers, however may offer a challenge.

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Find online sellers of technical pen cartridges and fountain pen refills

Fountain and technical pens come in a variety of styles from everyday inexpensive to rare and costly. Certain brands of fountain ink pen refills require converters that suck the ink into cartridges.

I recommend: A.T.Cross Company is an example of a company that stocks expensive and sometimes rare fountain pens that require a fountain pen refill. PenRefill.com, a part of the Levenger Company, offers tips on how to fill a fountain pen cartridge with a piston converter. Australian company Pen & Ink sells fountain pen ink refill converters for a variety of pen brands.

Find online sellers of gel, rollerball or ballpoint pen refills

While most gel, rollerball and ballpoint pens are disposable, many brands make models that require ink pen refills.

I recommend: Parker Pen, a pioneer in the development of rollerball and ballpoint pens, offers refills and replacement instructions for specific types of rollerball and ballpoint pens (including multi-color). Fisher Spacepen is a special pressurized ballpoint pen that claims to write underwater, upside-down, over wet paper and under conditions of zero-gravity. Note that a Space Pen refill will also fit certain other brands like Cross Pens and fifties-vintage Paper Mate Pens. You can find refills for modern Paper Mate ballpoint pens at the Paper Mate's website.

Find an online pen refill supplier offering multiple types of pen refills

Choose a pen refill supplier with the widest selections of refills for common and uncommon (even antique) pen brands.

I recommend: Colorado Pen Direct offers refills for a wide variety of pen types, including ballpoints, fountain pens, rollerballs and Fineliner felt-tip pen refills. Yafa Pen specializes in all types of pen refills. For those unsure of the exact pen refill that they'd need, they have the Refill Finder that's searchable by pen brand or refill type. Seller Paradise Pen has its own refill finder along with their refill cross reference chart.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some rollerball pens may accept Fineliner felt-marker refills.
• •  Some fountain pen users may prefer ink cartridge refills that don't need converters, because they may be prone to leakage.
• •  As environmental consciousness increases, pen refills are becoming a more viable and popular solution to throwaway pens.

Today there are many kinds of pens available so it’s important to know about pen refills. This information is necessary for those who stock office supply rooms to be sure to order the required pen refills when ordering stock. Familiarize yourself with the key terms for pen refills to know which type of refill is the best for your pen. This knowledge will not only help you stock office supplies but will also ensure that you have the best tools available to complete the tasks necessary to your business success.

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Technical pen refills

Technical pens are fine writing tools used by draftsmen and others. This type of pen is used for drafting, writing and drawing. Technical pen refills feature fast-drying ink and different line widths for technical writing and drawing projects.

I recommend: View the selection of technical pen refills and cartridges at Art Stuff.

Fountain pen refills

Fountain pen refills are for those who like the style and tradition of using a fountain pen for business and personal use. Fountain pen refills are available as cartridges or bottle ink.

I recommend: Visit Cross to learn about fountain pen refills.

Rollerball refills

For those who like the smooth writing of rollerball pens without paying the price for expensive technical or fountain pens, rollerball pen refills will keep you writing in style. Many rollerball refills come in a standardized or universal size that can fit in any style of rollerball pen.

I recommend: Browse the selection of rollerball pen refills featured at Passion4Pens.com.

Ballpoint refills

Ballpoint pen refills come in ink cartridges for fine and medium point sizes. Refills come in sets of either black or blue or in multi-color packs that feature red, green and purple.

I recommend: Review the selection of ballpoint pen refill types at Papermate.

Pressurized refills

Pressurized pens were used in outer space by astronauts, but can also be used by those who need to write at any angle, over wet or greasy paper and surfaces and in extreme temperatures. Since pressurized pens work in extreme temperatures, the only refills that will work in them properly are pressurized ones.

I recommend: Gather information about pressurized refills at Space Pen.

Gel refills

Gel pens give users a smooth writing instrument at an affordable price. Gel refills work in any pen that accepts universal cartridges. Inks come in many colors including black, blue, red and green for decorative and creative writing projects.

I recommend: Find information about gel refills at Yafa Outlet.

Saving money on pen refills is an important consideration if your business uses or sells a large number of pens. Pen refills are not only essential to maintain pen use, but are also an environmentally-friendly option to discarding empty pens.

Suppliers of ink pen refills often offer discounts for the ballpoint pen refills and fountain pen refills you need. To be a savvy shopper of pen refill products, you need to compare the prices of pen ink refill types and styles to find the products your business needs. As you shop for pen refills for your business, you should:

1. Buy ballpoint pen refills and rollerball pen refills in bulk to save money.

2. Take advantage of coupons, discounts and shipping promotions when you order pen refills for your business.

3. Buy ink pen refills directly from the manufacturer to avoid fees associated with third-party suppliers.

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Buy pen refills in bulk

Purchase the black ink refill, fountain pen refill and ballpoint pen refill products you need in bulk to ensure you stock an ample supply of the pen refills you need for your business. Bulk purchases are a great way to receive cost-effective volume-price discounts on the large orders of pen refills you need.

I recommend: Pen City offers a variety of pen ink refill cartridges at bulk price discounts. Coupled with low shipping rates, Pen City can meet your product and budget needs. Order bulk purchases of ink pen refills from RapidSupplies.com for volume price discounts and free shipping on orders that qualify.

Use coupons and other promotions to save money on pen refills

A pen refill supplier can offer discounts, coupons and shipping specials to save you money on the ink pen refills you require. Compare the discounts offered by suppliers of ink pen refills to find the best deals for your business.

I recommend: Order pen refills from Paradise Pen, a company that offers a wide selection of ink pen refills with discounts and same-day shipping. Colorado Pen Direct offers various types of ink pen refills to suit your specific pen refill needs. A regularly-updated clearance section, coupled with shipping specials ensures a cost-effective purchase.

Buy pen ink refill products directly from the manufacturer

Cut out the middle man and buy pen refills direct from a reputable manufacturer of ink pen refills. Manufacturers often offer the best prices on ink pen refills and ship factory direct.

I recommend: Buy space pen refill products from Fisher Space Pens. They offer the space pen refills you need at competitive prices, plus specials and promotions for customers who sign up for the mailing list.