The Smarts Behind Pen Parts: What They Are and How They Work
October 3, 2024
Pens printed with a custom logo are some of the most popular promotional products out there. Why? Because promo pens are lightweight and portable, useful, and also incredibly affordable. Perfect for education, financial, and other business institutions, custom pens come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Let’s explore the most common pen parts, and some frequently asked customer questions, to see which features are right for you!
What are the Parts of a Pen?
Compare the parts of a ballpoint pen and a multi-functional alternative below:
How Do Pens Work?
A pen isn’t just a pen. While every style may have similar pen parts, a pen’s functionality depends on what it’s made of. Let’s lift the cap on three of the most popular pens out there to see how they work.
1. Stick Pens
A pen’s mechanism determines how it works. Stick pens - the simplest and most affordable - have no retractable mechanism and come with a removable cap, so that the ink will not dry out. The caps include a hole at the end to prevent choking if swallowed. Stick pens have a straight stick-like shape and usually do not come with a comfort grip. An example of a stick pen is our best-selling BIC® Round Stic® Pen.
2. Click Pens
Click pens have a retractable mechanism and are the most popular type of pen. With retractable pens, the user simply clicks a button to reveal the ink tip. Popular ballpoint options include the classic Easy Writer Pen and multi-functional Starlight Highlighter Pen, featured in the above infographic.
3. Twist-to-Open Pens
Other pens have a twist mechanism. Twist-to-open pens work just like they sound: twist the grip or barrel one way to reveal the ink tip, and then twist the other way to close. Twist-to-open pens include a wide range of styles and designs, including those with a built-in stylus and even a light-up logo feature.
How Many Inches Long is a Pen?
The typical length of a pen is somewhere between 3.5 and 5 inches long. The average ballpoint pen has enough ink to last for 900 meters (about half a mile)!
Types of Ink Delivery
Common types of ink include:
- Ballpoint
- Rollerball
- Gel
- Fountain
Ballpoint pens use thick, fast-drying ink, whereas a rollerball pen uses a smooth-writing liquid ink that takes longer to dry. A gel pen uses a thick, water-based ink that shows up well on darker paper colors. All three types of ink can come in a variety of color options, with the most popular being blue and black.
Pen Tip Sizes and Types
The most common pen tips include extra-fine, fine, and medium-point sizes. The medium-point size pen is the most popular.
Have other questions about what pen style will work for your brand? Get in touch!
6 Common Types of Pens
Common types of promotional pens include:
1. Basic Pens-
Nothing beats a basic pen. Our most affordable and popular styles include:
2. Executive Pens-
Ideal for corporate gifting, these pens run at a higher price point and often include metal components:
3. Novelty Pens-
Searching for themed pens, fun pens, or pens with unique features? Here’s a list of some of our most in-demand novelty pens:
4. Stylus Pens-
You can use pens with a stylus tip on touchscreen devices. Our Madison Stylus Pen comes with a comfortable rubber grip and stylus you can use on most screens. Looking for a pen with more than a stylus feature? The 5 Function Utility Pen includes a ruler, level, and more.
5. Multi-Functional-
Pens with additional features such as a stylus, highlighter tip, multiple ink colors, and more are as practical as they are fun to use. The Pen/Stylus/Light Trio or the Pocket Pal Aluminum Tool Pen feature everyday tools like LED lights or screwdriver bits, sure to come in handy.
6. Pen Sets-
Pen sets are another great corporate gift idea. They often come with another writing utensil or promotional gift like these popular pen sets:
Have questions about what pen style will work for your brand? Get in touch!
