Pelikan Ink Cartridges vs Bottled Ink: Which Should You Use?

When it comes to filling your Pelikan fountain pen, you have two main options: ink cartridges or bottled ink. Both work well, but they suit different situations and different types of writer. Here is how they compare.

Ink Cartridges: The Convenient Option

Ink cartridges are pre-filled, sealed tubes of ink that slot directly into compatible fountain pens. They are quick to change, require no mess, and are ideal when you are on the move or do not want to carry a bottle of ink around.

Advantages of cartridges:

• Fast and easy to change, even on the go
• No risk of spills or mess
• Compact and easy to carry spares
• Good for school use or travel

Disadvantages of cartridges:

• Limited colour choice compared to bottled ink
• More expensive per millilitre of ink
• More plastic waste
• Not compatible with piston-filling pens like the Souveran range

Browse our range of Pelikan ink cartridges.

Bottled Ink: The Better Choice for Most Writers

Bottled ink is used with piston-filling pens (like the Pelikan Souveran range) or with a converter fitted to a cartridge pen. You fill the pen directly from the bottle by drawing ink up through the nib.

Advantages of bottled ink:

• Much wider choice of colours and ink types
• Significantly cheaper per millilitre
• Less plastic waste
• Access to premium inks like Pelikan Edelstein
• The filling process is satisfying and part of the fountain pen experience

Disadvantages of bottled ink:

• Requires a piston-filling pen or converter
• Slightly more involved to fill, especially when travelling
• Risk of spills if you are not careful

Browse our Pelikan 4001 inks and Pelikan Edelstein inks.

Which Should You Choose?

If you have a piston-filling pen like a Pelikan Souveran, bottled ink is the natural and only choice. If you have a cartridge-compatible pen like the Pelikan P200 or Jazz, cartridges are convenient for everyday use, but a converter will open up the full world of bottled inks at a lower cost.

For most serious fountain pen users, bottled ink is the preferred option. The choice of colours is vastly greater, the cost is lower, and the experience of filling from a bottle is part of what makes fountain pen writing special.

Browse our full range of Pelikan inks and refills, with fast UK delivery.