Independent buying guides for calligraphy

Best Calligraphy Fountain Pen Sets

Updated How we research

Our top pick

PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge (P9005SET)

The full Parallel Pen range in one box, so you can letter at every size from fine text to bold headings.

Our score8.8/10

Best budget

Mont Marte Calligraphy Set, 32 Piece with Pens, Nibs, Ink Cartridges and Booklets

Mont Marte's 32-piece calligraphy set with pens, nibs, cartridges and booklets for structured learning.

Our score8.4/10

A calligraphy fountain pen set combines a pen body with several interchangeable nib units, usually italic widths, plus ink cartridges and often an instruction booklet in one package. Instead of buying nibs and ink separately, you get a coordinated kit ready for italic, gothic, and decorative lettering straight out of the box. Sets are a natural starting point for beginners, a convenient travel option for practiced calligraphers, and a popular gift for anyone curious about hand lettering. When comparing sets, check how many nib widths are included and how easily they swap, the number and color range of cartridges, whether a converter for bottled ink is supported, and the quality of any included guides. Smooth, skip-free nibs matter more than accessory count.

The short version

We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.3 to 8.8 out of 10.

Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score

  1. 1.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge (P9005SET)
    8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
  2. 2.Mont Marte Calligraphy Set, 32 Piece with Pens, Nibs, Ink Cartridges and Booklets
    8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
  3. 3.TIANREN Calligraphy Pen Set, Fountain Pens with 8 Replaceable Nibs and 60 Ink Cartridges (12 Colors)
    8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
  4. 4.Wordsworth & Black Calligraphy Pen Gift Set with Ink Bottle, 6 Cartridges, Converter and 6 Replacement Nibs (Black Chrome)
    8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
  5. 5.GC QUILL Calligraphy Set Fountain Pens, 7 Different Size Nibs and 36 Assorted Ink Cartridges F736
    8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
  6. 6.STAEDTLER Calligraphy Pen Set 899 SM5, Assorted, 33 Piece Set
    8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
  7. 7.Speedball 002907 Calligraphy Fountain Pen Gift Set, Black
    7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
Tick up to 3 picks to compare them side by side.
PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge (P9005SET)#1
See on Amazon

The full Parallel Pen range in one box, so you can letter at every size from fine text to bold headings.

Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10

  • + Four nib widths (1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm) cover small notes through large display lettering
  • + Parallel plate nib gives crisp thick and thin strokes without dipping
  • + Bonus ink cartridge means you can start practising straight out of the box
  • - Broad-edge nibs suit italic and blackletter styles, not pointed-pen copperplate
  • - Cartridge-fed pens need regular flushing to keep ink flowing cleanly
Mont Marte Calligraphy Set, 32 Piece with Pens, Nibs, Ink Cartridges and Booklets#2
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Mont Marte's 32-piece calligraphy set with pens, nibs, cartridges and booklets for structured learning.

Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10

  • + 32 pieces include instructional booklets for beginners
  • + Includes pens, nibs and cartridges in one purchase
  • + Mont Marte is a reliable art supply brand
  • - Large sets can include pieces you rarely use
  • - Booklets are basic compared with full calligraphy workbooks
TIANREN Calligraphy Pen Set, Fountain Pens with 8 Replaceable Nibs and 60 Ink Cartridges (12 Colors)#3
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A calligraphy fountain pen set with 8 replaceable nibs and 60 ink cartridges in 12 colours.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10

  • + 8 replaceable nibs cover many line widths
  • + 60 ink cartridges in 12 colours last a long time
  • + Good colour variety for cards and decorative projects
  • - Nib smoothness can vary a little between individual pens
  • - Cartridge fit may be specific to this pen set
Wordsworth & Black Calligraphy Pen Gift Set with Ink Bottle, 6 Cartridges, Converter and 6 Replacement Nibs (Black Chrome)#4
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Wordsworth & Black's gift set with ink bottle, cartridges, converter and 6 replacement nibs in black chrome.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10

  • + Converter lets you use bottled ink as well as cartridges
  • + 6 replacement nibs give flexibility for different scripts
  • + Black chrome finish makes it an attractive gift
  • - Metal pen body is heavier than plastic calligraphy pens
  • - Ink bottle and cartridges will need replacing with regular use
GC QUILL Calligraphy Set Fountain Pens, 7 Different Size Nibs and 36 Assorted Ink Cartridges F736#5
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A GC Quill fountain pen set with 7 nib sizes and 36 assorted cartridges for practising broad-edge scripts.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10

  • + 7 different nib sizes support fine writing through bold lettering
  • + 36 assorted cartridges give plenty of ink to practise with
  • + Fountain pen format is cleaner than dipping
  • - Nib quality is typical of budget sets
  • - Cartridges may not be widely available elsewhere
STAEDTLER Calligraphy Pen Set 899 SM5, Assorted, 33 Piece Set#6
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A 33-piece Staedtler calligraphy pen set, a big assortment from a trusted stationery brand.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10

  • + 33 pieces give a large assortment for classes and families
  • + Staedtler is a well-established stationery brand
  • + Good variety for exploring calligraphy styles
  • - Large sets may include felt pens rather than traditional nibs
  • - Check contents carefully to match your preferred style
Speedball 002907 Calligraphy Fountain Pen Gift Set, Black#7
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Speedball's calligraphy fountain pen gift set, a familiar brand in a simple box for new letterers.

Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10

  • + Speedball is a well-known brand for lettering supplies
  • + Fountain pen format avoids the mess of dip nibs
  • + Gift set packaging works well for beginners
  • - Listing gives few details on nib sizes included
  • - Cartridge replacements may need to be bought separately

Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged

No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.

Frequently asked questions

›What is the best choice among calligraphy fountain pen sets?

PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge (P9005SET) is our top overall pick. The full Parallel Pen range in one box, so you can letter at every size from fine text to bold headings. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.

›What is a good budget option?

Mont Marte Calligraphy Set, 32 Piece with Pens, Nibs, Ink Cartridges and Booklets is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Mont Marte's 32-piece calligraphy set with pens, nibs, cartridges and booklets for structured learning.

›How much should I expect to spend?

Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.

›How were these products chosen?

We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.

Calligraphy Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.

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