Best Ink Wells and Jars for Dip Pen Calligraphy
Updated How we research
Portable Travel Inkwell Set for Calligraphy - Glass Dropper Bottle, Dinky Dip Ink Holders, Refillable Ink Well for Dip Pens and Fountain Pens
A portable travel inkwell set for calligraphy with a glass dropper bottle and refillable Dinky Dip ink holders.
Dinky Dip Ink Well 3-Pack Inkwell for Dip Pen for Drawing Calligraphy Ink Holder
A Dinky Dip ink well 3-pack, tiny screw-top ink holders for dip pen drawing and calligraphy color swaps.
An ink well seems like an afterthought until a full jar of black ink tips over onto a stack of addressed envelopes. Good ink storage does three quiet jobs: it holds ink at a depth that covers the nib vent without drowning the flange, it stays put when bumped, and it seals well enough that leftover ink survives to the next session. Small vials in weighted wooden bases, often called dinky dips, have become the standard for good reason, but wide-mouth jars and glass wells each have their place. This guide compares the wells, jar sets, and holders that make daily dipping cleaner, steadier, and far less wasteful.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 5.8 to 8.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:Portable Travel Inkwell Set for Calligraphy - Glass Dropper Bottle, Dinky Dip Ink Holders, Refillable Ink Well for Dip Pens and Fountain Pens. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.2/10.
- Also great value:Dinky Dip Ink Well 3-Pack Inkwell for Dip Pen for Drawing Calligraphy Ink Holder. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.9/10.
- Solid build:Glass Inkwell Set with Lid, Empty Ink Well for Dip Pen, Calligraphy Ink Holder, Ceramic Pen Rest. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 7.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Empty Ink Well with Lid, Dip Pen Rest, Nib Tin Organizer for Calligraphy. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Portable Travel Inkwell Set for Calligraphy - Glass Dropper Bottle, Dinky Dip Ink Holders, Refillable Ink Well for Dip Pens and Fountain Pens8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Dinky Dip Ink Well 3-Pack Inkwell for Dip Pen for Drawing Calligraphy Ink Holder7.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Glass Inkwell Set with Lid, Empty Ink Well for Dip Pen, Calligraphy Ink Holder, Ceramic Pen Rest7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Empty Ink Well with Lid, Dip Pen Rest, Nib Tin Organizer for Calligraphy7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Ink Well for Dip Pen with Lid for Fountain Pen Calligraphy Ink Holder for Glass Dip Pen7.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Ink Well for Dip Pen with Lid Dinky Dip Ink Holder Calligraphy Nib Storage6.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Vintage Fountain Pen Ink Bottle - Fancy Vintage Glass Bottle Inkwell for Dip Pen Ink and Calligraphy, 3.5" Green Glass6.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Glass Inkwell with Lid Empty Ink Well for Dip Pen Calligraphy Whale Pen Set5.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1A portable travel inkwell set for calligraphy with a glass dropper bottle and refillable Dinky Dip ink holders.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dropper bottle makes refilling tiny wells clean and precise
- + Travel-ready kit lets you letter at events, workshops and on vacation
- + Refillable wells work with dip pens and fountain pen filling
- - Many small pieces are easy to misplace when packing up
- - Ink is not included, so you still need to buy bottles separately
#2A Dinky Dip ink well 3-pack, tiny screw-top ink holders for dip pen drawing and calligraphy color swaps.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Three wells let you keep black, white and a color ready at once
- + Screw lids let you save leftover ink instead of pouring it away
- + Tiny size uses little ink, which is handy for expensive metallics
- - Small jars tip over easily unless placed in a stand or holder
- - Shallow depth may not reach the vent hole on larger nibs
#3A glass inkwell set with lid and a ceramic pen rest, an empty well for dip pen calligraphy desk setups.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ceramic pen rest keeps a wet nib off the table between strokes
- + Glass well with lid is tidy and easy to rinse between colors
- + Matching set looks neat on a lettering desk or as a gift
- - Check the well capacity holds enough ink for your sessions
- - Glass and ceramic pieces can chip if dropped
#4Empty glass inkwell with a lid, plus a ceramic pen rest and a nib tin, made for dip pens, oblique pens and glass dip pens.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Leak-proof screw-top inkwell with a silicone holder, listed as made in the U.S.A.
- + Includes a ceramic pen rest and a 3 x 1.5 x 0.5 in nib tin to store nibs after lettering.
- + Listed as suitable for oblique, fountain and glass dip pens, and for ink or watercolor.
- - Costs more than a plain inkwell, and the extras are decorative as well as useful.
- - Empty, so ink is not included, and the opening is small for wide nibs.
#5An ink well for dip pens with a lid, a simple holder for fountain pen and glass dip pen ink during calligraphy.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Lid keeps ink from drying out or collecting dust between sessions
- + Small reservoir lets you dip nibs without tipping a full bottle
- + Works for glass dip pens as well as standard pointed nibs
- - Check the ink capacity holds enough for longer sessions
- - Generic listing gives few details on material or stability
#6A Dinky Dip style ink well with lid for dip pens, doubling as small storage for calligraphy nibs.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Lidded jar keeps small amounts of ink ready for quick practice
- + Can store spare nibs when not holding ink, saving desk clutter
- + Compact enough to leave on the desk next to your practice pad
- - Check the pack count if you plan to fill more than one
- - Lightweight jar can be knocked over without a base
#7A vintage-style fancy glass bottle inkwell in 3.5" green glass, a decorative holder for dip pen ink on the desk.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Green vintage glass adds antique charm to a calligraphy workspace
- + 3.5" bottle is tall enough for quills and longer dip pens
- + Nice gift for fans of traditional writing and old-world desks
- - Colored glass makes it harder to see how much ink is left
- - Narrow opening may not suit short nibs that need a shallow well
#8A glass inkwell with lid sold as an empty ink well for dip pens, paired in a whale-themed calligraphy pen set.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 6/10
- + Glass well is easy to clean and lets you see ink levels at a glance
- + Lid helps keep ink fresh when you step away from the desk
- + Decorative whale theme makes a charming gift for letterers
- - Listing title is vague about exactly what the set includes
- - Novelty design may be less stable than a weighted inkwell
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.
- Many small pieces are easy to misplace when packing up (Portable Travel Inkwell Set for Calligraphy -...)
- Small jars tip over easily unless placed in a stand or holder (Dinky Dip Ink Well 3-Pack Inkwell for Dip Pen...)
- Check the well capacity holds enough ink for your sessions (Glass Inkwell Set with Lid, Empty Ink Well...)
- Costs more than a plain inkwell, and the extras are decorative as well as useful. (Empty Ink Well with Lid, Dip Pen Rest, Nib...)
- Check the ink capacity holds enough for longer sessions (Ink Well for Dip Pen with Lid for Fountain...)
- Check the pack count if you plan to fill more than one (Ink Well for Dip Pen with Lid Dinky Dip Ink...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among ink wells and jars for dip pen calligraphy?
Portable Travel Inkwell Set for Calligraphy - Glass Dropper Bottle, Dinky Dip Ink Holders, Refillable Ink Well for Dip Pens and Fountain Pens is our top overall pick. A portable travel inkwell set for calligraphy with a glass dropper bottle and refillable Dinky Dip ink holders. It earns our score of 8.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Dinky Dip Ink Well 3-Pack Inkwell for Dip Pen for Drawing Calligraphy Ink Holder is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. A Dinky Dip ink well 3-pack, tiny screw-top ink holders for dip pen drawing and calligraphy color swaps.
›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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