Pens

Promotional pens with a logo suit handing out at trade fairs and events, the customer service counter and corporate gifts. The range includes ballpoint pens, pencils and mechanical pencils, stylus pens, pen sets, highlighters and pencil cases. The pen details show, for example, the writing length, the tip thickness and the barrel material. On plastic pens the logo is printed, and on aluminium, steel and bamboo pens it is most often laser engraved.

Most models are ordered from 50 pcs and almost all the others from 100 pcs. On the product pages, pen prices are shown excluding VAT and include a one-colour print in one position. Add the pens to the quote basket and state the quantities and colours in the quote request. You can send the logo straight away or later.

Unit prices excl. VAT. The price goes down when the quantity goes up.Unit prices incl. VAT. The price goes down when the quantity goes up.

Choosing a pen by use

A plastic ballpoint pen suits a promotional pen handed out at trade fairs and events. A plastic pen is light, and many models come in several colours. For the customer service counter and the office, choose a model with a long writing length, as the same pen is used daily.

An aluminium or steel pen with an engraved logo suits a corporate gift. Pens and pen pairs delivered in a gift box are in the Pen sets group, and gift cases for one or two pens are in the Pencil cases group.

The Stylus pens group has pens that have a touchscreen tip for phone and tablet use in addition to the ballpoint, as well as pens with an earbud cleaning kit. Wooden HB pencils and coloured pencils suit school, and the carpenter's pencil suits the building site. These are in the Pencils group, which also has mechanical pencils. For highlighting notes there are highlighters, individually and in sets.

What the pen details tell you

The product page of many pens has technical details that help you compare models:

Writing length: how long a line the pen writes before the ink runs out. For many ballpoint pens it is 800 or 1,200 metres.
Refill: the refill type, tip thickness and writing length, for example RT3 Jumbo, 1.0 mm, 3,500 m.
Tip thickness: 1.0 mm in most pens and 0.5 mm in rollerball pens.
Ink: for documents, choose a pen whose details say "Archival, ISO 12757-2". This part of the ISO standard covers ballpoint pens and refills for document use.
Opening mechanism: most pens are opened by pressing a button and some by twisting. The tip of rollerball pens is protected with a cap.
Print positions: how many positions the pen has for a logo, for example five. The price includes print in one of them.
Dimensions: for example ø10 x 137 mm means that the pen has a diameter of 10 mm and a length of 137 mm.
Additional features: for example a touchscreen tip or an eraser.

The ink colour is most often blue, and on some models it is black. An inkless pen has a graphite tip, and its writing length is given as 20,000 metres.

Barrel and materials

The barrel of a plastic pen is usually ABS plastic. An aluminium or steel pen is heavier than a plastic pen, and its surface can be glossy, matt or brushed. Other materials include bamboo, paper, cork and a blend of wheat straw fibre and ABS plastic. Bamboo is a natural material, and its shade and grain vary from pen to pen.

The share of recycled material is given in the product details of many models, for example "recycled aluminium (100% rAL)" or "stainless steel (53% recycled)". Some pens have a rubber surface or a non-slip grip.

Logo on a pen

The print area of a pen is small: in the product details the marking area is, for example, 45 x 5 mm or 60 x 5 mm. The logo should therefore be simple and the text short, as very thin lines may not show. On a plastic pen the logo is usually applied by pad print (printing with a soft pad onto a curved surface) or UV print. A full-colour logo is possible on a plastic pen as UV print.

On a metal barrel and on bamboo, the logo is most often made by laser engraving. Engraving uses no ink, so its shade is determined by the material of the pen. At the end of the description of many pens it states whether the marking included in the price is pad print, UV print or laser engraving. The differences between the methods are explained on the Print methods page, and instructions for a suitable logo file are on the Logo and artwork page.

Quantities and price

The minimum order quantity of most pens is 50 pcs, and almost all the others are ordered from 100 pcs. For example, the minimum order quantity of Stilolinea models is 100 pcs, and for a few models it is 200–1,000 pcs. The minimum order quantity is shown for each pen already in the product list of the group.

The price of a pen has a one-colour print in one position and the setup cost of the print already calculated in. As the setup cost is divided among all the pens ordered, the unit price is lower the more pens are ordered. The price table on the product page shows what one pen costs in batches of different sizes. If the logo needs several colours or the pen needs a second print position, their price is calculated in the quote.

Products marked according to the terms of delivery may be delivered and invoiced in a quantity up to 10% above or below the quantity ordered, and they carry no right of return.

How to order

Request a quote through the quote basket. You can combine several models in the same request, for example pens to be handed out at a trade fair and pen sets to be given as gifts. State the quantities, the colours of the pens and the colour and position of the logo in the request. Also state the delivery date you want in the quote request. An unfinished logo does not prevent a quote request, as the file can be sent later. We reply to the quote request by email within one working day, and the request does not oblige you to order.

Before production you will receive a print proof to approve. Production starts once the proof has been approved. The lead time for printed products is usually about 2 weeks from proof approval. The exact lead time is stated in the quote.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order 50 promotional pens?

Yes. Most pen models can be ordered from 50 pcs, and the minimum order quantity for the others is usually 100 pcs. The minimum order quantity of each model is shown on the product page.

What is included in the price of a pen?

The price on the product page includes a one-colour print in one position and the setup cost of the print. Prices are shown excluding VAT. A second colour or print position carries an extra charge, which is stated in the quote.

Can a logo be engraved on a pen?

Yes. On many aluminium, steel and bamboo pens, the marking included in the price is laser engraving, while on plastic pens the logo is printed. The shade of an engraved logo depends on the material, and on aluminium it is usually silver.

Can I choose the colour of the pen?

On many models you can, and the colours are listed on the product page. State the colour you want in the quote request and we will check its availability before sending the quote.

Can only text be printed on a pen?

Yes. Instead of a logo, you can have text printed on the pen, for example a company name or web address, and the one-colour print included in the price covers that as well. As the print area is small, the text should be kept short.

How long does a pen write?

It depends on the refill. Many ballpoint pens write for 800 or 1,200 metres, and the refills of Stilolinea models write for 3,000–6,500 metres. The writing length is shown on the product page of many models.