Kit Your Teenager With The Best Pens For College

Last Updated on: 2nd September 2026, 08:45 am

So your teenager is going to college. Just when you thought you wouldn’t need to be buying things like this for school anymore, here you are buying it all for college. But as your teen is older now, they want different pens than when they were at school. I always think that when you buy pens, some of them flow better as you write. So usually the more you spend on a pen, the better the ink flow. So pens are one thing that I do not try to budget on. Especially when it comes to school or college work. So what are the best pens for college?

Writing Pens For College

These are going to be the most used pens that your teen will use for college.

LAMY Lx Blue Fountain Pen

Although fountain pens are not so popular with teens these days, they are a better pen to write with. When you write with a fountain pen, you get a smoother flow of the ink, and writing seems so much easier. The pen is finished in blue aluminium and has a black nib. There is a window on the side of the pen, so they can keep an eye on the ink levels. The fountain pen comes in a coordinating metal carry case to look after it.

You can also get this engraved for your teen, for when they start college. It makes a great congratulations gift for starting college, and it will be something they use throughout their further education and beyond. The pen can also be adapted to use bottled ink, but you need to buy those parts separately. The LAMY Lx blue fountain pen is available from Pen Heaven for £52.

Caran d’Ache Special Edition Horizon Ballpoint Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set

The ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil make for an awesome gift set to give your teen before they start college. These are in a lovely sunrise and sunset ombre colour. This set is great if your teen just wants one simple set and likes to minimise. It can also be engraved with their name or initials for a little bit of personalisation and to protect them against loss.

The pen barrel is hexagonal instead of round, making it easier for some writers to grip. They have a distinctive clip, and they are made with lightweight aluminium. This pen and mechanical pencil set is available from Pen Heaven for £55.

Inspirational Gel Pens For College

When your teen starts college, it is a huge step for them. They are nervous and worried, so some inspirational pens just give a little bit of a boost for them. These gel pens from Aldi were only £1.49, and they are a Scandi Neutral range. So whilst they are slightly inspirational, they also have a hygge touch to them too. They are gel pens, so they are smooth for writing with. But gel pens do not last as long as normal ink in a better quality pen. Nonetheless, gel pens are certainly fun to write with.

LAMY Safari Special Edition Meteora Rollerball Pen

The LAMY Safari Special Edition pen is a lovely rollerball pen that has a finish of a rich, deep-purple colour with sleek black details on it. The pen has a fine diamond pattern that goes across the grip, and it also has flat side panels, which make it easier to grip the pen to write. You can also buy official LAMY refills from Pen Heaven to go with this pen. The pen writes smoothly, and it will make it easier for writing notes in College. The pen has a nice black metal clip to attach it to a notebook, and it comes in a nice little gift box. It is lightweight and comes with a blue ink refill in the pen. The pen is £15, and it makes a lovely gift for starting college.

Cutesy Pastel Retractable Ballpoint Pens for college

The retractable ballpoint pens from TG Jones were a bargain for £4 for 12. But whilst they look cute and they are in the awesome range of colours, they do not write as smoothly as I would want for myself. But they are fun for teenagers, and they will have fun writing with them. I do love the ombre colour of the pens, and they are comfortable to write with.

Colouring Pens For Mind Maps And Colouring In

During my college days, we learnt how to do mind maps to retain information. Then I would stick these mind maps on the wall of my bedroom. So if your teen finds mind maps easy to do, then encourage them to make them colourful and bright. If your teen is doing something art-based at college, they will want to get proper pens. But their college will advise them on what to buy.

Permanent Markers From Aldi

But for normal everyday use, you just need some simple felt tip pens or permanent markers. Lots of teenagers like to use ‘Sharpies’ because of the intense colour that they have. But a full selection of Sharpies can cost you £30 or £40, but we got 24 permanent markers from Aldi for £3.99. These permanent markers were a fraction of the price, and the colours are as intense as Sharpies. I love shopping in the middle aisle of Aldi because you can usually find whatever you need.

Double-Ended Coloured Pens For College

Aldi also had some dual-tip markers for 99p. These pens have a felt tip on one end and a fine line tip on the other side, which is the same colour. These are great for mind maps and underlining. They come in a pack of 12 pens, which is a reasonable amount of colours.

Highlighters

My teen uses highlighters for highlighting things she needs to remember or revise at a later date. You do not need big, thick highlighters, and ones with a small nib work so much better.

Pencils Are Not Just For Kids, But They’re For Teens Too

Some teens find college a little stressful, so coloured pencils are a great idea for those who also journal or colour in. These pencils from WHSmith (TG Jones) were only £2 in-store, and they are glittery. For those who love colouring, these are great. There is a nice range of colours in the packet.

Retractable Pencils are awesome because you do not need to sharpen them when they get blunt; you just click the button on the top. You get a finer line when you use a retractable pencil, making it easier for art students to use. These Pens were old stock from WHSmith and cost me an absolute bargain price of £1.