How much does fountain pens cost?

$38 buys all 3 essentials.

3 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$38

3 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Below median

Cheaper than 79% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Beginner Fountain Pen essential

mid $26top $37

$16

Fountain Pen Ink essential

mid $19top $19

$12

Fountain Pen Paper essential

mid $10top $30

$10

All 3 essentials

$38

What you need

$38

Everything you need to start fountain pens. None of it is a big commitment.

Fountain Pen Paper

$10

Standard copy paper bleeds and feathers. Fountain-pen-friendly paper (Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Tomoe River) shows your ink as intended.

Rhodia Head Stapled Pad, No16 A5, Dot

mid $10top $30

Fountain Pen Ink

$12

Bottled ink unlocks color variety. Iroshizuku for premium shading; Diamine for value; Noodler's for archival properties.

Sailor Fountain Pen, Bottled Ink, Four Seasons, Dream of Sixteen Nights, Rikyucha, 13-1008-214

mid $19top $19

Beginner Fountain Pen

$16

Lamy Safari and Pilot Metropolitan are the universally-recommended starter pens. TWSBI ECO if you want to use bottled ink immediately.

Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens, Blue Ink, Medium Point, Pack of 6

mid $26top $37

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Pen Cleaning Supplies

$14

Fountain pens need periodic cleaning when changing inks. Bulb syringe + clean water handles 95% of cleaning.

Mr. Pen- Syringe Pens with Holder

mid $15top $47

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale

$1Blogging

$84median

$1245Kite Surfing

$36

Fountain Pens costs more to start than 21% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Fountain Pens cost to start?

About $38 for the 3 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for Fountain Pens?

Beginner Fountain Pen: from $16. Fountain Pen Ink: from $12. Fountain Pen Paper: from $10.

Is Fountain Pens an expensive hobby?

Fountain Pens costs about $36 to start, dearer than 21% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the cheaper ones to get into.

What should I buy first for Fountain Pens?

fountain pen paper, fountain pen ink, beginner fountain pen — $38 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to fountain pens by startup cost, out of 247.

Cyanotype$1 less$35 Journaling$1 less$35 LEGO Building$1 less$35

Fountain Pensyou are here$36

Baton Twirling$2 more$38 Conlanging (Language Creation)$3 more$39 Lock Picking$3 more$39

Start fountain pens Fountain Pens beginner guide