The Complete Guide to Paper Mate Pens

Are you unsure which Paper-Mate Pen to buy?

The complete guide to Paper-Mate pens shows you every pen that Paper Mate makes what colors are available and the different tip sizes

This includes Paper-Mate ballpoint pens, gel pens, and the excellent Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens.

Papermate pens were started in the 1940s as the Frawley Pen Company. In 1949, the Paper Mate Ballpoint Pen was introduced, and it was the first fast-drying ballpoint pen that did not leak.

Now, Paper Mate has tons of different pen options, from their standard ballpoint pen to erasable pens to colorful felt-tipped pens.

We’ll cover all their options so you can figure out which Paper Mate pen is right for you.

1. Paper Mate Profile Pens

The Paper Mate Profile pen is versatile, coming in both gel and ballpoint pen options. With a soft cushioned grip for your fingers, this is the type of pen that you can use for hours on end. With a variety of size points and colors, this pen is a great option for work if you need to write quickly, or at home, if you’re looking for fun options for something like your planner.

As with a lot of the other Paper Mate Pen ranges, there is also a mechanical pencil available.

You can buy the profile pencil with either 0.5mm or 0.7mm lead, Check out our Complete Guide to Paper Mate Pencils for more information. 

Paper Mate only makes refills for Profile Pens but there are alternative refills available from other manufacturers for different pens.

Check out the Complete Guide to Paper Mate Refills for more information.

1.1. Paper Mate Profile Pen Types and Sizes

The Paper Mate Profile Pen is available in four different sizes (1.4mm, 1.0mm, 0.7mm, and 0.5mm) with two different types (gel and ballpoint). There are three editions: the regular retractable gel, the elite retractable ballpoint, and the metal retractable ballpoint. There are refills for the medium point 1.0 mm ballpoint.

1.2. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Gel Pens, Bold Point (1.0mm)

These pens come in black, blue, or red. Any of the colors available are vivid on the page and because it’s gel ink, flow smoothly onto the page. Great if you need to write quickly and comfortably with its soft grip.

1.3. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Gel Pens, Medium Point (0.7mm)

With a slightly smaller tip than the bold point, this medium point pen gives your writing a finer look on the page. In this size, the same black, blue, and red colors are available, but you have the additional option of getting a box of mixed colors, whereas with the bold point size you can only purchase boxes of one color pen.

1.4. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Gel Pens, Fine Point (0.5mm)

This pen is the smallest point of the Papermate Profile Retractable Gel Pens at 0.5mm. But like the other options, it still is easy to write with a continuous flow of ink. This pen has particularly crisp lines, making it great for business if you need easy-to-read notes or documents.

1.5. Paper Mate Profile Elite Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point (1.4mm)

The Profile Elite is available in either blue or black, and is as smooth as glass, with a dependable grip and good value for a ballpoint pen. This is the largest point available out of all the Paper Mate Profiles pens at 1.4mm. The Profile Elite is set apart because of its metal accents that match the color of the ink inside.

1.6. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point (1.4 mm)

The bold point Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pen comes in the largest variety of colors out of all the Paper Mate Profile pens. If you get the 12 pack, it comes with pens in: black, blue, red, green, purple, orange, magenta, turquoise, lime, brown, navy, and plum. If you are looking for a pen with smooth ink and lots of different color options, this is the pen for you.

1.7. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

This medium-point Paper Mate comes in the standard blue, black, and red, with an assorted box available. This pen is great if you are looking for an easy pen to write with that won’t bleed through your paper. At 1.0 mm, it’s thinner than the bold point.

1.8. Paper Mate Profile Metal Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

This pen sets itself apart from the regular Profile Retractable Ballpoint because of its stainless steel exterior. If you are looking for a pen for your office that looks a little nicer, this is a great option. It comes in either blue or black, and if you just want to try it out you can get a 2-pack, or if you need lots of pens, you can get a 12-pack.

1.9. Paper Mate Profile Ballpoint Pen Refills, Medium Point (1.0mm)

If you don’t want to have to keep buying new pens, the Paper Mate Profile Ballpoint, Medium Point (1.00mm) pen has refills available. The refills come in packs of two and you can get either blue or black ink. This can help you save money because you don’t have to keep buying new pens every time you run out of ink, you can just buy the refills.

2. Paper Mate Write Bros. Pen

The Paper Mate Write Bros. Pen is a ballpoint pen that’s simple so it comes in at a lower price point. With a plastic exterior, this pen is a great option if you just need to have lots of pens around. These would work well in a classroom, where your students often take pens home or lose them, or in a waiting room at an office, where a customer might automatically put the pen in their purse without thinking about it.

2.1. Paper Mate Write Bros. Pen Types and Sizes

The Paper Mate Write Bros. Pen comes in two types and three different sizes. All the sizes and types come in three different colors: blue, red, and black. This pen is only available in ballpoint, not gel, but does have an option with a grip to make writing more comfortable.

2.2. Paper Mate Write Bros. Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point (1.2mm)

The Paper Mate Write Bros. Bold Point is perfect for thick, vivid lines. It has a thick barrel, so you can write for longer periods of time without your hand hurting. The outside of this size is quite shiny, so even though it is a plastic pen, it still looks nice.

2.3. Paper Mate Write Bros. Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate Write Bros. Medium Point has the largest size variety box, with an option to get as few as 10 pens to up to 120. This pen has a thinner line when writing, so it can be good if you are using college-ruled paper as opposed to wide-ruled. These pens also handle temperature change better than a finer point pen.

2.4. Paper Mate Write Bros. Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point (0.8mm)

With the Paper Mate Write Bros. Fine Point, you get a pen that leaves a fine, sleek line at an affordable price. Since the barrel is quite thin, you can fit a lot of these pens in one cup, making them great for school, office, or home.

2.5. Paper Mate Write Bros. Grip Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

This Paper Mate Write Bros. Grip Medium Point offers the same great specs as the regular medium point, but with an added grip. This helps you get a better hold on the pen so you can write for even longer than the regular version. There are fewer size options available than the regular version, with boxes of either 12 pens or 36 pens available.

3. Paper Mate Inkjoy Pens

If you are looking for a pen with lots of different varieties of the type available, look no further than the Paper Mate Inkjoy. There are eleven different types available, ranging from retractable to capped to gel to ballpoint. The pen size varies from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm and with both colorful varieties or your straight black or blue ink, these pens have something to offer everyone.

3.1. Paper Mate InkJoy Pen Types and Sizes

With the Paper Mate InkJoy, you can get gel pens in sizes 0.5mm or 0.7 mm, with both capped and retractable varieties. The gel pens come in eleven different vibrant colors. The ballpoint pens are available in one size, 1.0 mm, but are available in four different varieties: stylus, capped, retractable, and Quatro retractable.

3.2. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Retractable, Medium Point (0.7mm)

The Paper Mate Inkjoy retractable gel pens with a medium point of 0.7 mm come in a variety of size packs, from any amount as small as two pens to as big as 36 pens. They write smoothly and you can hold them for long enough to write something as long as an entire letter because of their comfort grip. These gel pens dry on average 3x faster than the Pilot G2.

3.3. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Retractable, Fine Point (0.5mm)

The Paper Mate Inkjoy retractable fine point (0.5mm) gel pen is great if you need to keep notes extra neat and clean. It’s available in three different color packs, including a “business assorted” of red, blue, and black. It gently clicks open and closed, making it easy to use. It’s a great gel pen for left-handed people because the ink dries fast.

3.4. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Capped, Medium Point (0.7mm)

If you prefer your gel pen to have a cap rather than be retractable, then the Paper Mate Inkjoy capped gel pen is the way to go. It’s available in fashion assorted (which includes lots of different colors), blue, or black. It has an ergonomic grip just like the retractable varieties, so you can use it for long periods without any discomfort.

3.5. Paper Mate InkJoy 100ST Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

If you are looking for a pen that lasts a long time and won’t break in your pocket, check out the sturdy PaperMate InkJoy 100ST ballpoint pen. In a medium point, the ink is dark and vivid, without being so dark that it smears on the page. These pens are best stored vertically with the clip side up to avoid any clogging.

3.6. Paper Mate InkJoy 300RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate InkJoy 300 RT retractable ballpoint is a great pen for on the go. Since it’s retractable, you don’t have to worry about losing the cap. The 1.0 mm point draws strong, fluid lines that won’t skip mid-stroke. This style includes a comfortable grip like the gel pen variety.

For more information check out our review of the Paper Mate Inkjoy 300RT.

3.7. Paper Mate InkJoy 100RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The PaperMate Inkjoy 100 RT retractable ballpoint is available in multiple colors: magenta, red, orange, lime, green, turquoise, blue, purple, mocha, and black. These pens do not come with a grip, so, depending on where you purchase them, they are usually cheaper than the 300RT. However, they still have the same smooth, fluid ink, and are a great choice if you’re on a budget.

3.8. Paper Mate InkJoy 50ST Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The PaperMate Inkjoy 50 ST ballpoint pen, with a 1.0mm point, is the simplest InkJoy on the market. It comes capped only, and you can only get the boxes in one color, either red, blue, or black. However, this is a great pen if you need to buy in bulk since you can get up to 60 pens in one box. Even though they are simple, they still have vivid ink and are easy to write with just like the other InkJoy varieties.

3.9. Paper Mate InkJoy 700RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

If you are looking for a sleek, professional pen for your office, then the Paper Mate Inkjoy 700 RT retractable ballpoint is a perfect choice. The pen itself comes in different colors like white or black, but the ink is blue or black. The pen is designed to be contoured to your hand, has a ridged grip, and a glossy finish, making it a step above the other InkJoys available.

3.10. Paper Mate InkJoy 2-in-1 Stylus Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The PaperMate Inkjoy 2-in-1 Stylus ballpoint pen is unique because it is both a pen and a stylus. If you are a tablet user, this pen is a must-have. The soft rubber stylus glides across your screen, and the fluid 1.0mm tip glides across your page.

3.11. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Capped, Fine Point (0.5mm)

These Paper Mate InkJoy capped fine point gel pens are perfect for people who know exactly what they want. They’re only available in a colorful six-count variety. If you want assorted colors and a capped gel pen, this is the perfect option for you.

3.12. Paper Mate InkJoy Quatro Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate InkJoy Quatro retractable ballpoint is a fun option because there are four different colors of ink in one barrel. The pack comes with three pens, one pen with magenta, lime, turquoise, and purple inks. The other two pens come in red, green, blue, and black ink. These pens are great for kids or if you want a lot of different ink options but only one pen. Plus, the comfort grip makes the larger barrel still easy to write with.

4. Paper Mate Comfortmate Pens

The Paper Mate Comfortmate pen doesn’t have that many varieties available because of the one that is available works. A triangular-shaped barrel makes for comfortable writing with a soft, rubber-like feel. With fewer colors available, this pen is perfect for the office, classroom, or any formal writing situation. If you want super colorful pens, there are lots of other Paper Mate varieties that offer that.

4.1. Paper Mate Comfortmate Pen Types and Sizes

The Paper Mate Comfortmate pen is only available in ballpoint, not gel. It comes in two different sizes, either a standard 1.0mm medium point or a 0.8mm fine point. You can get the medium point in either capped or retractable, but the fine point is only available in retractable. The fine point and capped only come in black and blue, while the retractable medium point comes in red, blue, or black.

4.2. Paper Mate Comfortmate Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate Comfortmate ballpoint pen has the Lubriglide ink system, making each stroke smooth. This version comes with a cap, so there’s no clicking. This pen comes in 12-count only, so it’s a good option if you need quite a few pens.

4.3. Paper Mate Comfortmate Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate Comfortmate retractable ballpoint pen is great for the workplace. They are still comfortable but cheaper than pens that come with a grip. It’s a reliable pen that doesn’t write too thick or thin, and with the retractable option you don’t have to worry about losing the cap and the pen drying out.

4.4. Paper Mate Comfortmate Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point (0.8mm)

If you are looking for a retractable ballpoint pen that has a finer point, the Paper Mate Comfortmate retractable ballpoint will work well. This pen delivers clean lines, so if you are working on documents that are crucial to be read clearly, this pen works. Plus, with the triangular barrel, they are easy to hold, so you can write fast and accurately.

5. Paper Mate EraserMate Pens

The PaperMate EraserMate pen is the best of both worlds: your writing can be formal with a pen but you can erase it too, like a pencil. Even though the ink is erasable, it’s still bold on the page. There’s only one type of Paper Mate Eraser Mate pen, a ballpoint pen available in medium point (1.0mm) and blue, black, and red ink.

5.1. Paper Mate EraserMate Erasable Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The PaperMate Erasable pen is great for kids who want to use a pen, but make lots of mistakes so they still need an eraser. These pens are a great alternative to white out if you don’t want to make a mess of your papers. It comes in packages of 4, 5, or 12. There is no retractable version of the EraserMate, but the cap screws on and comes with an eraser on top, so you don’t have to worry about buying a separate eraser.

Check out our Complete Guide to Erasable Pens for more information.

6. Paper Mate FlexGrip Pens

The PaperMate FlexGrip is a ballpoint pen, perfect if regular pens give you calluses or sores. This pen comes with either a ringed rubberized grip or a rubber-coved barrel to help you control the pen and create perfect lines at any angle. The color of the ink inside matches the color of the pen’s exterior, making it easy to find the color that you are looking for. If you are someone who writes a lot or takes notes regularly, this is the pen for you.

6.1. Paper Mate FlexGrip Pen Types and Sizes

The Paper Mate FlexGrip pen only comes in ballpoint, not gel or felt. It’s available in both 0.8mm and 1.0mm tips, and you can purchase a retractable or one with a cap. The ink comes in the standard colors: red, blue, and black. This is the perfect pen for office work, like for an administrative assistant who has to take a lot of notes.

6.2. Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Retractable Ballpoint pens in medium point (1.0) are only available in a box of 12. But if you are using these pens for an office or classroom, it’s better to have a few handy. This pen is retractable with barrels that are easy to grip and include stainless steel accents for a professional touch.

6.3. Paper Mate FlexGrip Elite Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

The Paper Mate FlexGrip Elite retractable ballpoint has a full grip on the barrel, so it’s easy to hold. With this pen, there’s the option to buy one with a pink barrel and black ink. With your purchase of these pink pens, Newell Office Brands donates $1.20 to the City of Hope, which works on breast cancer treatment, education, and research.

6.4. Paper Mate FlexGrip Elite Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point (0.8mm)

The fine-point of the Paper Mate FlexGrip Elite retractable pen is light and easy to hold, but the barrel still feels solid, not like a cheap plastic pen. Since it’s the fine-point version, you’ll get nice, clean lines every time you write.

6.5. Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point (0.8mm)

The FlexGrip Ultra fine point retractable pen has all the great qualities of the elite, but with a better grip. This pen is especially great in a lab setting, where you might be wearing gloves so a regular pen is too hard to hold. The ink resists water well so you can use it in any lab setting you may find yourself in.

6.6. Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm)

If you prefer to have a cap for your pens, you can get the Paper Mate Flex Grip Ultra ballpoint. This pen starts working right away, you don’t have to use a couple of pieces of paper under it to get it moving.

6.7. Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point (0.8mm)

This Paper Mate FlexGrip Ultra Ballpoint pen has a fine point, so you can make the most of the space on the paper in front of you.

7. PaperMate Flair Pens

The PaperMate Flair Pen is the only felt tip pen available from Paper Mate and is not available as a ballpoint pen or a gel pen. However, if you are looking for a pen for anything creative, like crafts or journaling, this is the perfect pen for you. It comes in some crazy varieties, like scented and metallic, so you can have tons of fun playing with these. Plus, even though these are felt-tipped, they won’t bleed through your paper.

7.1. PaperMate Flair Pen Types and Sizes

The Paper Mate Flair pens are available in almost any color imaginable. There are no retractable varieties, but a retractable barrel could easily damage a felt-tipped pen, so it’s always better to go with a capped one. The Flair pen comes in ultra fine-point (0.4mm), medium point (0.7mm), and even a big bold tip (1.4mm).

7.2. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point (0.7mm)

If you want tons of color options, the Paper Mate Flair felt-tip medium point will have what you are looking for. There are 12 different color packages available with this pen: black, tropical vacation, fashion assorted, business assorted, red, assorted, retro accents, blue, green, purple, candy pop, and core assortment. You can get packages ranging from 4 to 20 pens. With all these combinations, there’s an endless amount of options for your project.

7.3. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Scented, Medium Point (0.7mm)

If you want a fun pen for your kids, the Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip scented pens are perfect. The scents are based on Sunday brunch items: frosted cupcake sprinkles, pink peony, strawberry scone, sugared grapefruit, honeyed tangerine, lavender lemon square, buttermilk biscuit, peaches & cream cobbler, honeydew melon, vanilla blueberry tart, blueberry pancake, floral blossoms, fresh fruit parfait, homemade raspberry jam, Vermont maple syrup, and hazelnut latte.

Only lightly scented, these pens will inspire you to make your favorite meal while you write, or have your kids asking you to make them a snack!

7.4. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Ultra Fine Point (0.4mm)

These ultra-fine felt tip pins create thin, precise lines but don’t bleed through. These pens in particular are ideal for planners since you can write smaller-sized words with them. They also work well with adult coloring books to shade in those tiny spaces without going over the lines. You can get these pens in a variety of colors and anywhere from 8 to 16 count.

7.5. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Metallic City Lights, Medium Point (0.7mm)

The metallic city lights Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens are the only Paper Mate pens with glitter! If you want to add a little sparkle to your writing, you can use these pens on black or white paper. The shimmer adds a whole new element to your drawings, journals, or any other art project. Depending on how you angle this pen, you can get a nice thin line or a broader stroke if you are trying to fill in a larger area. Makes a great gift for kids or any adults in your life that love extra sparkles!

7.6. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Bold Tip (1.2 mm)

The Paper Mate Flair felt pen with a bold tip is perfect if you need to write something that stands out. With these thick lines, it’s not so big that it won’t work with lined paper, but it does help make any writing easier to read. These come in 4, 6, 12, and 16 count packages. If you go as big as a 16 count, there are no repeat pen colors, giving you tons of options for your projects.

8. Where Can I Buy PaperMate Pens?

Buy Paper Mate Pens on Amazon

PaperMate pens are available online at Amazon. If you want to get them right away and not wait for them to ship, you can find them at Target, Wal-Mart, Staples, Office Depot, CVS, Michales, Kroger, Dollar General, Costco, Sam’s Club, or Walgreens. However, if you are looking for a specific PaperMate pen, check online if the store has them first! With so many varieties, no store carries every single PaperMate pen available.