Bestselling New Stationery of 2023: The Pencils, Pens, and Paper People Actually Bought

Introduction

Every year brings a wave of new pencils, pens, and paper, but sales data tells a more honest story than hype. Looking at what customers actually bought in 2023 reveals a clear pattern: slim, well-designed mechanical pencils, gel pens with expressive ink and character, and paper that fountain pen users trust.

The list also holds a genuine surprise. Amid all the pens and planners, a dry erase marker cracked the bestseller ranks, which is not something anyone predicted.

Tombow Mono Graph Lite Mechanical Pencils

It is easy to see why the Tombow Mono Graph Lite became a bestseller. The slim barrels and comfortable textured rubber grips make these pencils pleasant to hold for long writing sessions, and the low-profile tips give you a clear view of exactly where you are writing.

The top push button hides a long twist eraser, so you can retract the eraser and keep writing without fumbling. The line comes in 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm tip sizes, in both muted and bright colors.

Uni-ball One: Fika Colors and Uni-ball One P

Several exciting versions of the Uni-ball One arrived in 2023, and both headline varieties earned their spots on this list. The Fika Colors editions take a subdued, cozy approach that suits quiet everyday writing, while the Uni-ball One P goes the other way with an adorably chunky body that is hard not to smile at.

Limited edition Uni-ball One releases were especially hard to keep in stock, with unique ink colors and barrels featuring adorable Sanrio characters. If a limited edition is on your list, it is worth grabbing while it is still available.

Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Zone Gel Pen

Pilot refreshed its standard FriXion line this year with the Ball Knock Zone Gel Pen, and the upgrade shows. Compared with the original black FriXion pen, the new ink is 30% more vibrant, and a cushioning spring makes every click noticeably quieter.

The original FriXion gel pen was already a cult classic among students and planner writers who want erasable ink, so the improved Zone formula was an easy sell.

ILMILY Color Gel Pens

Pilot’s ILMILY Color gel pens landed almost as popular as the FriXion, and they share the same thermosensitive ink technology with a twist. Instead of disappearing when rubbed with an eraser, the inks change colors, creating playful shifting effects as you write.

If you enjoy stationery that adds a bit of fun to the page, these are the pens to look at.

Pilot Board Master S

Here is the surprise of the year: the Pilot Board Master S dry erase marker made the bestseller list, and customers clearly knew what they were doing. These markers are eco-friendly and made from recycled plastic, with vivid alcohol-based pigment ink that stays easy to read from a distance.

Each marker uses a twin pipe feeder for consistent ink flow, and when the ink runs out you simply replace the cartridge instead of tossing the marker. Fine and extra fine tip sizes cover both large and small whiteboards.

Komamono Lab Fonte Customizable Pens

New to the site in 2023, the Komamono Lab Fonte line lets you build your perfect pen from the ground up. You choose between a brush pen, glass dip pen, fountain pen, or rollerball pen body, then finish it with a colorful cap from a palette of 12 colors.

The customization goes deeper than the hardware. The pens can be paired with fountain pen inks, so the color combinations are practically endless.

Hobonichi Techo Planners and Covers

A top stationery roundup would not be complete without the Hobonichi Techo, which was by far the biggest seller of the year. That outcome is practically guaranteed annually, and for good reason.

The planners come in daily, weekly, and long-term formats, and each year brings unique covers, cases, and accessories to match. A nice extra for owners of the Original and Cousin books: gel pens, fineliners, and highlighters have been tested to find which colors match the planners’ monthly colors.

Midori MD Block Memo Pads

Midori MD Block Memo Pads were a hit this year, particularly the grid version. They use the smooth Midori Diary paper also found in Midori MD notebooks, which makes them a low-commitment way to enjoy a beloved paper feel.

Each memo pad holds a whopping 500 sheets, so it will be a long while before you run out of paper for notes or doodles. Eventually you will, of course, and that is what refills are for.

JetPens Paper Sampler Pack

The final entry is a first for the year: a Paper Sampler Pack containing five sheets of the most popular papers: Clairefontaine Triomphe, Kokuyo Campus Sarasara, Midori MD, Rhodia DotPad, and Tomoe River S.

For anyone unsure which paper to start with, this is the easiest answer. All five papers work great with fountain pens as well as gel pens, markers, and pencils, and the pack includes a postcard with information about each paper type so you know what you are feeling under the pen.

Buying Advice

If you want the safest picks, start with the proven crowd-pleasers: the Tombow Mono Graph Lite for everyday pencil writing, the Uni-ball One Fika Colors or One P for expressive gel ink, and the FriXion Ball Knock Zone if erasable ink matters to you. Writers who love tinkering should look hard at the Komamono Lab Fonte system, while planner users rarely go wrong with the Hobonichi Techo.

For the undecided, the Paper Sampler Pack is the smartest first purchase, since it lets you test five excellent papers before committing to a full notebook. And do not overlook the Board Master S if you spend time at a whiteboard: it earned its place on this list for practical reasons.

Conclusion

The 2023 bestseller list rewards good design fundamentals: comfortable grips, vibrant and functional inks, customizable options, and trustworthy paper. Whether you are restocking a favorite or trying something new like color-changing ILMILY inks, there is a clear reason each of these products earned its spot.