Best Parallel Pens
Updated How we research
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.
PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 2.4mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90051)
The mid-size 2.4mm Parallel Pen, a versatile width for cards, quotes and practice.
A parallel pen feeds ink between two precisely aligned metal plates, producing razor-sharp broad-edge strokes that stay crisp from edge to edge. The design excels at italic, blackletter, and Uncial alphabets, and its party trick is color blending: touch two pens together and one ink gradients beautifully into the other. Parallel pens serve calligraphers who want dip-pen sharpness without the dipping, and hand letterers exploring gothic styles or rainbow-blend effects. When choosing, consider which plate widths match your working size, from fine 1.5 mm tips to bold 6 mm ones, the range of cartridge colors available, and whether the pen can be refilled with bottled ink. Consistent flow and clean corner strokes are the marks of a good one.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.4 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm, 2.4mm, 3.8mm and 6mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge (P9005SET). Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 2.4mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90051). Value score of 9/10, overall 8.3/10.
- Solid build:PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90050). Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.3/10.
- Feature-rich:Set of 4 Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pens 1.5, 2.4, 3.8, 6.0 mm. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 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.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 2.4mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90051)8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90050)8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Set of 4 Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pens 1.5, 2.4, 3.8, 6.0 mm7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 3.8mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90052)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pens, Assorted Point Sizes and Colors, 6-Pack7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 6.0mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90053)7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1The 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
#2The mid-size 2.4mm Parallel Pen, a versatile width for cards, quotes and practice.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2.4mm is a comfortable middle width for most lettering projects
- + Black and red cartridges included in the box
- + Parallel plates keep stroke edges sharp on smooth paper
- - Italic and broad-edge styles only, not suited to brush script
- - One nib size, so larger headings need a wider pen
#3The narrowest Parallel Pen, a good first pen for practising italic hand at normal writing size.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 1.5mm nib suits journaling, cards and practice sheets at everyday size
- + Black and red cartridges included for accent letters
- + Easy for beginners to control compared with wider nibs
- - Fine width shows less dramatic thick and thin contrast
- - Single size limits you if you want headings later
#4A four-pen Parallel set covering 1.5 to 6.0mm, sold as a bundle for learners who want every width.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + All four common Parallel widths in one purchase
- + Lets you practise the same letterform at different scales
- + Cartridge pens are clean and portable for classes or travel
- - Bundle listing may not include the extra colour cartridges of retail sets
- - Check it is the genuine Pilot set from the seller before buying
#5A single wide 3.8mm Parallel Pen for bold headings, posters and large gothic lettering.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3.8mm nib is wide enough for eye-catching titles and signage
- + Includes black and red cartridges for two-colour headings
- + Refillable cartridge system avoids the mess of dipping
- - Too broad for everyday journaling or small body text
- - Only one nib size, so you need other pens for smaller work
#6Six-pack of Pilot Parallel calligraphy pens in assorted nib sizes and colors. The nib uses two parallel plates for sharp broad-edge strokes, and the pens are refillable.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Parallel plate nib writes sharp lines on the narrow edge and broad calligraphic strokes on the flat
- + Six pens in one pack, more than the usual four-pen set, for keeping different colors loaded
- + Touching two nibs together blends ink colors for ombre lettering, per the listing
- - Listing does not spell out which nib widths and colors make up the six pens
- - Priced above the four-pen sets, and six pens is more than a first-time learner needs
#7The widest 6.0mm Parallel Pen for dramatic headings, posters and large-scale blackletter.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 6.0mm nib produces bold, high-contrast strokes for display work
- + Black and red cartridges support two-tone designs
- + Great for signage and titles where smaller pens look thin
- - Uses ink quickly and can soak through thin paper
- - Too wide for small cards or everyday writing
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.
- Broad-edge nibs suit italic and blackletter styles, not pointed-pen copperplate (PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm,...)
- Italic and broad-edge styles only, not suited to brush script (PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 2.4mm Nib...)
- Fine width shows less dramatic thick and thin contrast (PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5mm Nib...)
- Bundle listing may not include the extra colour cartridges of retail sets (Set of 4 Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pens 1.5,...)
- Too broad for everyday journaling or small body text (PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 3.8mm Nib...)
- Listing does not spell out which nib widths and colors make up the six pens (PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pens, Assorted...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among parallel pens?
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?
PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 2.4mm Nib with Black and Red Ink Cartridges (90051) is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. The mid-size 2.4mm Parallel Pen, a versatile width for cards, quotes and practice.
›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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