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Pens are the stationery item an office buys most often and thinks about least. A box of the wrong pens means smudged forms, copies that do not come through and a drawer full of pens nobody uses. Here is what the differences really are.
Ball pens: the office workhorse
A ball pen uses thick, oil-based ink. It dries the moment it touches paper and lasts a long time.
- Best for: forms, cheques, signatures, delivery notes and anything written in an NCR book, because you can press hard and the ink does not smudge.
- Good to know: the line is a little lighter than a gel pen, and you need slightly more pressure.
For everyday use, buy ball pens by the box. Blue is the usual colour for signing documents in Qatar, because it shows that a page is an original and not a photocopy.
Gel pens: smooth and dark
A gel pen uses water-based ink that flows easily, so it writes with almost no pressure and gives a dark, sharp line.
- Best for: long writing, note-taking, students, and anyone who finds ball pens tiring.
- Good to know: the ink takes a second to dry, so left-handed writers may smudge it. It is used up faster than ball pen ink, and it does not copy well through NCR paper.
See our gel pens, including retractable models that need no cap.
What does 0.5 or 0.7 or 1.0 mean?
The number is the size of the tip in millimetres.
| Tip | Line | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mm | Fine | Small handwriting, forms with narrow boxes, figures |
| 0.7 mm | Medium | Everyday writing. The safe choice |
| 1.0 mm | Bold | Signatures and writing that must stand out |
Cap or click?
Retractable pens are quicker and have no cap to lose, which makes them better for counters and site work. Capped pens seal the tip fully and are less likely to leak in a pocket or dry out in a hot car.
Markers and highlighters
- Permanent markers for cartons, files and labels.
- Whiteboard markers for boards only. Never mix the two up.
- Highlighters for marking documents. Yellow does not show on photocopies; other colours may.
How to buy pens for an office
- Standardise. Pick one ball pen in blue and black for everyone. It is cheaper by the box and nobody argues about pens.
- Keep a red box for accounts and a few fine-tip pens for people who fill in forms.
- Buy gel pens only for those who ask. They cost more and run out faster.
- Store spares in a cool cupboard, tip down if they are capped.
Pens with your logo
A printed pen with your company name is one of the lowest-cost giveaways there is, and people keep it. Order them for exhibitions, customer visits and reception desks. For more ideas, read our corporate gift guide.
Order pens
Browse Writing & Marking in the shop, or send your monthly quantity on WhatsApp for a box price. For everything else a desk needs, see our office stationery checklist.
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