Buying guide
The Beginner Lettering Kit
Updated How we research
Everything you need for your first month of practice. The page is split into five sections (Start with an all-in-one kit; Your first brush pens; Practice pads that teach; Guide sheets for clean strokes; A workbook to follow), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 19 picks. Our scores range from 5.8 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:ARTEZA Hand Lettering Pens Set of 12 - Calligraphy and Brush Pens with Guidebook, Pencil, Eraser for Beginners. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Trustela Calligraphy Set for Beginners, Wooden Dip Pen, Feather Quill, 19 Nibs, Ink Set, Gift Box. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:Bee Paper 9" x 12" Calligraphy Practice Paper Pad, 50 Sheets. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:Brush Pen Lettering Practice Book: Modern Calligraphy Drills, Measured Guidelines and Practice Sheets (Grace Song). Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start with an all-in-one kit
- ARTEZA Hand Lettering Pens Set of 12 - Calligraphy and Brush Pens with Guidebook, Pencil, Eraser for BeginnersOur score8.6/10
- Trustela Calligraphy Set for Beginners, Wooden Dip Pen, Feather Quill, 19 Nibs, Ink Set, Gift BoxOur score8.0/10
- June & Lucy Calligraphy Kit for Beginners - Calligraphy Pen Set with Calligraphy WorkbookOur score7.9/10
- Trustela Calligraphy Set for Beginners, Dip Pen Set with 19 Nibs, Oblique Pen Holder, Wooden Pen SetOur score7.8/10
Your first brush pens
- ARTEZA Hand Lettering Pens Set of 12 - Calligraphy and Brush Pens with Guidebook, Pencil, Eraser for BeginnersOur score8.6/10
- Brusarth Calligraphy Pens - 8 Size Brush Pens Calligraphy Set for Beginners, Hand Lettering PensOur score8.0/10
- Speedball Hand-Lettering Brush Marker Set, 12-PieceOur score7.8/10
- Kuretake Bimoji Brush Pen, 5 pcs set (Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Large, Medium Brush), great for Calligraphy, Hand lettering and Illustration, for Beginners and Professional, Made in JapanOur score7.8/10
Practice pads that teach
- Bee Paper 9" x 12" Calligraphy Practice Paper Pad, 50 SheetsOur score8.1/10
- Studio Series Calligraphy Paper Pad: 50 Sheets (Peter Pauper Press)Our score7.1/10
- Calligraphy Practice Pad: Large Calligraphy Paper, 150 Sheet Pad for Lettering Artists and Beginners (Simon Clarke)Our score6.8/10
- Miller Pads and Paper Calligraphy Practice Pad Writing PaperOur score5.8/10
Guide sheets for clean strokes
- Calligraphy Practice Paper: 110 Slant Angle Lined Guide Sheets, Alphabet Practice Sheets and Dot Grid Sheets, 8.5x11 inch (Mear Journals)Our score8.0/10
- Calligraphy and Hand Lettering Practice Notepad: Modern Calligraphy Slant Angle Lined Guide, Alphabet Practice & Dot Grid Paper (Calligrapher Corner)Our score7.8/10
- Lined Calligraphy Practice Paper: Slanted Calligraphy Paper 150 Sheets for Script Writing Practice (Calligrapher Corner)Our score7.2/10
- Calligraphy Practice Notepad: Modern Calligraphy Slant Angle Lined Guide Practice Sheets for Beginners (JH Books)Our score6.4/10
A workbook to follow
- Brush Pen Lettering Practice Book: Modern Calligraphy Drills, Measured Guidelines and Practice Sheets (Grace Song)Our score8.2/10
- Modern Calligraphy: An Intensive Practice Workbook (Kestrel Montes)Our score7.7/10
- Modern Calligraphy: The Workbook: A Practical Workbook to Practise Your Lettering and Calligraphy Skills (Imogen Owen)Our score7.6/10
- Brush Lettering Workbook (Peter Pauper Press)Our score7.1/10
All 19 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1An ARTEZA hand lettering set of 12 with calligraphy and brush pens, a guidebook, pencil and eraser.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Includes a guidebook plus pencil and eraser for sketching layouts
- + 12 pens combine brush and calligraphy styles
- + Complete starter kit for beginners
- - Guidebook is introductory and will be outgrown quickly
- - Mixed pen types may not suit one specific lettering style
#2Grace Song's Brush Pen Lettering Practice Book with modern calligraphy drills, measured guidelines and practice sheets.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Measured guidelines take the guesswork out of consistent letter height
- + Structured drills build brush pen pressure control step by step
- + Grace Song's approachable teaching style suits self-taught letterers
- - Writing directly in the book uses it up, so photocopying pages helps
- - Practice sheets are sized for one approach and may not fit tiny tips
#3Bee Paper 9" x 12" calligraphy practice pad with 50 sheets, a smooth paper built for broad-edge and pointed pen drills.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Paper is made for calligraphy, so ink sits crisply with less feathering
- + 9 x 12 size leaves room for full alphabets and repeated word practice
- + Bee Paper is a respected art paper maker with consistent sheets
- - 50 sheets go quickly if you practice for an hour each day
- - Lightweight 16 lb paper suits practice, not finished heavyweight pieces
#4A gift-boxed dip pen starter kit with wooden holder, feather quill, lots of nibs and ink.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 19 nibs let beginners try many line widths and styles
- + Includes both a wooden dip pen and a decorative feather quill
- + Ink and gift box make it ready to give without extras
- - Large nib assortments in starter kits vary in quality
- - Feather quills are more decorative than practical for daily practice
#5A Brusarth calligraphy pen set with 8 brush sizes, designed to help beginners practise different stroke widths.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 8 brush sizes cover small to large lettering
- + Beginner-focused set for learning stroke control
- + Good for practising both script and bold styles
- - Brand is newer and less established
- - Tip durability is not proven like premium pens
#6Mear Journals calligraphy practice paper with 110 slant angle lined, alphabet and dot grid sheets in 8.5x11 inch size.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8.5x11 inch pages are large enough for full words and phrases
- + 110 sheets mix guide lines, alphabet sheets and dot grid for variety
- + Letter size pages fit standard binders for storing finished drills
- - Mixed format means fewer pure slant pages than a dedicated pad
- - Paper is sized for practice, not for framing finished work
#7June & Lucy calligraphy kit for beginners, a calligraphy pen set packaged with a calligraphy workbook.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pens and workbook together give a guided starting point
- + Beginner kit makes a tidy gift for aspiring letterers
- + Workbook exercises line up with the included pens
- - Check how many pens and nib types are included before buying
- - Kit pens may need replacing once practice becomes regular
#8Trustela Calligraphy Set for Beginners, Dip Pen Set with 19 Nibs, Oblique Pen Holder, Wooden Pen Set
Trustela beginner dip pen set with a straight wooden holder, a wooden oblique holder, 19 nibs and an 18 ml bottle of black ink, packed in a black box with gold lettering.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Includes both an oblique and a straight holder, so you can try slanted scripts and upright styles
- + 19 dip nibs give plenty of spares and shapes to experiment with while learning
- + 18 ml of black ink is in the box, so the set is ready to use on day one
- - No workbook or practice sheets are listed, so beginners need a separate guide
- - Listing does not name the nib models or say how the oblique flange is sized
#9A 12-piece Speedball hand lettering brush marker set from a long-established lettering brand.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Speedball is a familiar name in lettering supplies
- + 12 markers give colour variety
- + Brush tips suit hand lettering practice
- - Listing gives few details on tip size
- - Newer Speedball marker line has fewer reviews than their classic nibs
#10Kuretake Bimoji brush pen set of 5 (extra fine, fine, medium, large and medium brush) with water-based black pigment ink, made in Japan.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Five tip sizes in one set let a beginner move from small to bold strokes with pressure changes.
- + Black water-based pigment ink is described as water-resistant after drying and safe with alcohol markers.
- + Rubber grip and a cap that posts on the back of the pen, from an established Japanese brush pen maker.
- - Costs more than the budget multi-packs it replaces, and all five pens are black only.
- - The listing says ink flow may be low at first and writing can look faint if done too quickly.
#11Calligrapher Corner practice notepad combining slant angle lined guides, alphabet practice pages and dot grid paper.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 8/10
- + Three page types in one pad cover drills, alphabets and layout sketching
- + Slant angle guides keep modern script consistent from word to word
- + Dot grid pages help plan quote layouts before final lettering
- - Splitting pages between formats means fewer of each type
- - Notepad paper is not meant for heavy dip pen ink
#12Kestrel Montes' Modern Calligraphy intensive practice workbook, focused on drills to build modern script skills.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Intensive drill focus builds muscle memory through repetition
- + Modern calligraphy approach suits bouncy wedding style script
- + Practice pages sit alongside the lessons they reinforce
- - Heavy repetition may feel dry for learners who want quick projects
- - Workbook paper is not meant for wet dip pen ink
#13Imogen Owen's Modern Calligraphy: The Workbook, a practical workbook for practicing lettering and calligraphy skills.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Practical approach balances instruction with hands-on exercises
- + Author guides readers from basic strokes to full words
- + Attractive layout makes it a pleasant gift for beginners
- - British spelling and tone may feel unfamiliar to some US readers
- - Limited practice space means extra paper will be needed
#14Calligrapher Corner lined calligraphy practice paper with 150 slanted sheets for script writing practice.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 8/10
- + 150 slanted sheets deliver lots of pure guide line practice
- + Slanted ruling suits copperplate, Spencerian and modern script
- + Single-purpose pad is simple to reach for during daily drills
- - No alphabet examples, so you need a separate exemplar to copy
- - Thin sheets may show through when using wet ink or large markers
#15Peter Pauper Press Studio Series calligraphy paper pad with 50 sheets, a neat giftable pad for pen and ink practice.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Studio Series design looks tidy enough to give with a starter pen set
- + Paper is intended for calligraphy, so it handles wet ink better than copy paper
- + Pad binding keeps practice pages together for tracking progress
- - 50 sheets is a modest count for a serious practice habit
- - Title gives no ruling details, so guidelines may need a separate sheet
#16Peter Pauper Press Brush Lettering Workbook, a compact guided workbook for learning brush pen strokes and alphabets.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Guided pages walk through basic strokes before full alphabets
- + Peter Pauper Press produces tidy, giftable craft workbooks
- + Portable size fits in a bag with a couple of brush pens
- - Smaller page count than large blank practice pads
- - Limited space for repetition, so extra practice paper is still needed
#17Simon Clarke's large calligraphy practice pad with 150 sheets, a budget workbook-style pad for beginners and lettering artists.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 8/10
- + 150 sheets give plenty of room for daily drills without rationing paper
- + Large pages fit bigger letterforms that beginners often start with
- + Low cost per page encourages filling sheets with repetitive strokes
- - Print-on-demand paper is usually thinner and may bleed with wet nibs
- - Better suited to markers and brush pens than heavy dip pen ink
#18JH Books modern calligraphy practice notepad with slant angle lined guide sheets for beginners.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 7/10
- + Dedicated slant angle guides make it a focused drill pad
- + Beginner layout is easy to follow without lengthy instructions
- + Notepad size is handy for short daily practice sessions
- - Check the sheet count and page size before ordering
- - Only one guide style, so no alphabet or dot grid pages included
#19Miller Pads and Paper calligraphy practice pad, a plain practice writing pad for everyday lettering drills.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 6/10
- + Dedicated practice pad keeps drills separate from good project paper
- + Simple writing paper suits pencil, marker and fountain pen warm-ups
- + Pad format tears off cleanly for sharing sheets with students
- - Check the sheet count, size and ruling before ordering
- - Vague description makes it hard to judge ink handling before buying
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Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Calligraphy Nest curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.