Even in this age of electronic transactions, checks remain indispensable for paying small businesses that don’t accept credit cards or online payments. There are much better options for filling them out than the random ballpoint you’re offered when it’s time to pay, however. Keep reading to learn what to look for in a check-writing pen and see our picks for the best pens for writing checks.
An important note before we begin. Writing a check is a safe form of payment, but there are often more secure (and convenient) methods of transferring funds. Today, many financial institutions offer ways to send and receive money with low or zero fees. Many businesses have online payment portals, too, so you don’t have to go digging for your checkbook. It’s a good idea to consider electronic options first, because you won’t have to risk writing a check that could be washed!
Before and after of a check written with the
Uni-ball Signo, dipped in acetone.
The Uni-ball Signo is the check-writing pen of your dreams. Its reliably smooth ink can keep up no matter how quickly you scribble your signature, and it makes a vivid line for easy scanning. In addition to providing an excellent writing experience, the Signo’s ink can rebuff check washers and accidents alike with its fraud-resistant, waterproof ink. The black Signo was entirely unaffected by acetone, rubbing alcohol, and mineral spirits in our tests. We also performed informal tests with a selection of the Signo’s off-black colors against acetone. Some ran slightly, but all remained entirely legible.
You can find Signo ink in several different pens, including the ever-popular Uni-ball Signo UM-151, classy Uni Pure Malt Gel Pen, and handy Uni Style Fit Multi Pen gel refills. No matter your style, you’re sure to find a pen you like.
Recommendations
You didn’t think the Gelly Roll was just for crafting, did you? All colors of the Gelly Roll Classic are archival, but the black, blue, royal blue, purple, and burgundy pens have extra fraud resistance that makes them especially good for writing checks. Gelly Roll ink simply did not budge when we tested it against acetone, rubbing alcohol, or mineral spirits.
If you’re not a fan of the Gelly Roll’s super-straight, capped style, try the Sakura Ballsign Knock and Sakura Ballsign 4*1 Multi Pen. The Ballsign is the Japanese version of the Gelly Roll and features the same great ink.
Before and after of a check written with the
Uni-ball Eye, dipped in acetone.
The classic Uni-ball Eye is delightfully smooth and pigmented, and features a handy viewing window so that you never unexpectedly run out of ink. It was entirely unaffected by acetone, rubbing alcohol, and mineral spirits in our tests. Other Uni-ball rollerballs tested just as well, so they are all safe choices if you prefer their style.
The Sakura Micron is an art kit staple that was developed with museum archivists in mind. Its permanent, deeply pigmented ink scans easily and is highly fraud resistant. This makes it a great choice for writing checks as well as casting ballots. The Micron showed no effect from our tests. As a drawing pen, it is available in wonderfully fine tip sizes and requires almost no pressure at all to write. This means that there’s no danger of it marking the blank checks beneath the one you’re writing on.
If you like Sakura Pigma ink but find the Micron’s fineliner tip too delicate, try the Sakura Pigma Micron PN. This everyday version of the Sakura Micron features a sturdy plastic tip that is more forgiving of writing pressure.
Before and after of a check written with the
Uni Jetstream, dipped in acetone.
Most ballpoint pens are not suitable for check writing because their alcohol-based ink makes them acutely vulnerable to common solvents. The Uni Jetstream is a delightful exception. Not only is it a pleasure to use, but it was the only ballpoint pen we tested that resisted our check-washing attempts. The ink did bleed when exposed to acetone and rubbing alcohol, but a strong core of clear writing remained undisturbed on the paper. Mineral spirits had no effect on Jetstream ink.
The Zebra Sarasa Mark On is a special version of the popular Zebra Sarasa Push Clip that was formulated to almost never smear when highlighted. Its ink is waterproof, passed our fraud tests with flying colors, and dries quickly—within five seconds for the 0.4 mm tip, and 10 seconds for the 0.5 mm tip. This makes it a great check-writing and general-use pen for lefties and righties alike.
Noodler's Heart of Darkness performed perfectly in our tests, which is hardly surprising: as a member of Noodler’s line of Bulletproof inks, Heart of Darkness was made with fraud prevention in mind. Rather than using pigments, Bulletproof inks are made with special dyes that bind to the cellulose found in paper. All are resistant to water, UV light, bleach, and other solvents used in fraud. Heart of Darkness is also exceptionally dark, which means that it should show up very well when scanned. Check out our Guide to Noodler's Fountain Pen Inks to learn more about Bulletproof inks.
If you want to be absolutely sure that no one can forge your checks or other important documents, keep a pen charged with Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin and use it for every check, signature, and form. It is part of Noodler’s line of Warden Forgery-Resistant inks. In addition to the protection offered by all Bulletproof Noodler’s inks, Warden inks also resist removal by lasers. Is a laser-wielding forger likely to come after your checks? No. But if one does, you’ll be ready.
Noodler’s Warden inks’ fraud resistance also extends to verifying original documents, so they’re ideal for signing legal documents. The inks are typically mixed on a per-bottle basis and contain special signature chemicals that age over time. Since no two bottles of ink are the same, even the most convincing forgery can be identified through forensic analysis.
Test Results
We tested a selection of pigment-based pens, pigment fountain pen inks, iron gall fountain pen inks, and Noodler’s Bulletproof inks by soaking them in acetone, mineral spirits, and rubbing alcohol. Some bled slightly but all remained clearly visible. Most were entirely unaffected. You can see the results for our recommendations below. To see more gel pen test results, visit our Guide to The Best Fine-Tip Gel Pens.
Although all of the pigment-based pens and inks we tested did well, we cannot guarantee that these pens and inks are fraud proof. Check washers use a wide range of chemicals and techniques, and comprehensive tests are beyond our capabilities. For this reason, we had a bias towards recommending pens and inks whose marketing includes specific claims of fraud resistance.
