Store fountain pens capped, either nib up or lying flat, and never nib down for long periods. When you travel, carry them nib up and either full or empty. Before long-term storage, flush each pen with water, let it dry completely and keep it in a case away from sun and heat.
Key Takeaways
- Inked pens: nib up in a cup or flat in a tray or case, always capped. Avoid nib down.
- Traveling: keep pens nib up and either full or empty, because air in a half-full pen expands as cabin pressure drops.
- Long-term: empty, flush with water until clear, dry fully, then store capped.
- Pick a format by use: rolls for collections, slot cases for a few favorites, sleeves for one pen, cups and caddies for the desk.
- Measure your capped pen before buying a sleeve or case.
Nib up, flat or nib down?
Keep inked fountain pens nib up or flat, and avoid storing them nib down. Fountain pens move ink to the nib through a combination of gravity and capillary action (Wikipedia: Fountain pen), so a pen pointing down lets gravity keep pulling ink toward the nib and into the cap.
| Position | Best for | Benefit | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nib up | Pen cups, shirt pockets, bags, travel | Ink stays in the reservoir, away from the cap | Feed may need a moment to rewet after long storage |
| Flat (horizontal) | Trays, rolls and cases on a desk or in a drawer | Feed stays wet, so the pen usually starts immediately | Small risk of seepage into the cap if the pen is very full |
| Nib down | Not recommended for inked pens | None for fountain pens | Ink can pool in the cap, stain fingers and blob when you write |
An overfull feed is what causes blobbing or dripping, a problem pen users call burping (Wikipedia: Fountain pen). Correct storage prevents most of it. For daily writers, flat storage on the desk and nib up in a bag covers almost every situation.
Pen storage formats compared
Choose your storage by how you use your pens: rolls and cases for carrying, cups and caddies for the desk. The table below rates each format for protection, capacity, travel and desk use; ratings are our general guide, and individual designs vary.
| Format | Protection | Capacity | Travel | Desk use | Pen position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen roll (wrap) | High: each pen in its own slot | High | Good: rolls slim | Good: unroll and lay flat | Flat |
| Slot or tri-fold case | High: pens separated, nibs covered | Low to medium | Excellent | Fair | Flat |
| Zip case | Medium: pens can touch | Medium | Excellent | Fair | Flat |
| Single sleeve | High for one pen | One pen | Excellent: pocket or bag | Fair | Flat or nib up |
| Pen cup | Low: open top | Medium | Poor | Excellent | Nib up |
| Desk caddy or organizer | Medium | High, with other supplies | Poor | Excellent | Nib up |
Pen roll vs pen case
A pen roll suits a growing collection, while a case suits a few favorites you carry every day. A roll gives each pen its own slot and folds a flap over the tops, then rolls up and ties closed. The cowhide leather pen roll, for example, is listed as holding 15 to 21 pens, with each slot fitting two or three. A case is quicker to open and close on the go: the crazy horse leather tri-fold pen case has four slots and a fold-over design that keeps clips from rubbing, while a crazy horse leather zipper pencil case holds a handful of pens and pencils together.
Traveling with fountain pens
When you fly, carry fountain pens nib up and either completely full or completely empty. A half-full pen contains a pocket of air, and as cabin pressure drops that air expands and can push ink out through the feed.
Airliner cabins are pressurized, but not to sea level: on commercial aircraft the cabin altitude must be maintained at 8,000 ft (2,438 m) or less (Wikipedia: Cabin pressurization). The same article notes that pressure changes can damage pressure-sensitive goods that might leak or expand. A few travel habits help:
- Fill up or empty out before you leave. A full converter or cartridge has little air to expand; an empty pen has no ink to push.
- Keep pens nib up in your carry-on. A sleeve or slot case standing upright in a bag pocket works well.
- Cap firmly and wrap in tissue. If anything does escape, the tissue catches it instead of your bag lining.
- Wait before writing after landing. Uncap over a tissue and let the pen settle for a moment.
- Pack bottled ink as a liquid. TSA limits carry-on liquids to travel-sized containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less in a quart-sized bag (TSA: liquids rule). Seal the bottle in a zip bag, or pack cartridges instead.
Long-term storage
If you will not use a pen for a few weeks or more, empty it, flush it with clean water and let it dry completely before storing it. Dried ink can clog the narrow channels in the feed, and the Wikipedia fountain pen article notes that some inks, such as iron gall, need to be flushed out regularly with water and that cleaning fiber feed pens can require longer soaking (Wikipedia: Fountain pen).
- Empty the ink. Write it out or expel it back into the bottle.
- Flush with water. Draw clean, room-temperature water in and out until it runs clear.
- Dry fully. Leave the parts on a paper towel until no moisture remains, nib down on the towel so water wicks out.
- Reassemble and cap. A capped pen is protected from dust.
- Store in a roll, case or tray. Keep it in a drawer or cupboard away from direct sun, heaters and damp rooms.
- Label it. Note the date you cleaned it and the last ink used, especially if you own several pens.
Storing a cartridge pen
Treat a cartridge pen the same way: capped, nib up or flat. If you will not write with it for a while, remove the cartridge, flush the section and feed, and keep the half-used cartridge upright in a small sealed bag so it does not leak or dry out. Unopened spare cartridges store well in a drawer away from heat.
Measure your pen before buying a sleeve or case
Always measure your pen capped, and include the clip, before buying a sleeve or slot case. Pens vary a lot in length and girth, and a slot that is too tight is hard to use while one that is too loose lets the pen slide around.
- Measure capped length from the end of the cap to the end of the barrel.
- Measure the widest point, usually the cap with the clip.
- Compare with the listed size. Product pages give outer dimensions, so allow a little room for the material and stitching.
- Check posted length if you carry it posted. Most people store pens capped but not posted, so capped length is the number that matters.
For reference, the PU leather single pen sleeve measures approximately 168 x 40 mm on its product page, so it suits pens comfortably shorter than that when capped.
Capacity guide: how much storage do you need?
Match the format to the number of pens you own and how many you carry. Most people end up with two layers: a desk solution for the pens in rotation and a travel solution for the ones that leave the house.
| Your pens | At the desk | On the go |
|---|---|---|
| 1 daily writer | Lay it flat on a tray or the desk | A single sleeve |
| 2 to 4 pens | A pen cup, nib up | A slot or tri-fold case |
| 5 to 10 pens | A cup plus a desk caddy | A zip case for a few, the rest stay home |
| A growing collection | A pen roll laid flat in a drawer | Take only what you will ink in a small case |
For a tidy writing surface, a wooden pen cup or a PU leather desk caddy from our desk and pen accessories collection keeps pens upright and within reach. Our writing desk setup checklist covers the rest of the desk.
Leather, PU or wood?
Choose genuine leather if you want a case that softens and changes with use, PU if you prefer a lighter, uniform finish, and wood for desk storage. Our crazy horse cases and the pen roll are listed as first-layer cowhide on their product pages, while the single sleeve is PU leather. To understand the differences between leather grades and finishes, read types of leather explained.
Whichever you choose, keep storage dry and out of direct sun, and pair your pens with paper that suits them. Our guide to fountain pen friendly paper explains how to avoid feathering and bleed-through. Pen rolls and cases also make easy presents; see our gifts for writers guide for ideas, and our FAQ for shipping and returns.
Frequently asked questions
Should I store my fountain pen nib up or down?
Store an inked fountain pen nib up or lying flat, and avoid nib down. Nib up keeps ink in the reservoir and away from the cap, which is the safest choice in a pocket, bag or cup. Lying flat on a desk keeps the feed wet for quick starts. Nib down for long periods invites ink to pool in the cap.
Can you store fountain pens sideways?
Yes. Storing a capped pen horizontally, in a tray, roll or case, is common for daily writers because the ink stays in contact with the feed and the pen tends to start writing straight away. Make sure the cap is fully closed so the nib does not dry out.
What is a pen holder?
A pen holder is anything that keeps pens organized and protected, either on a desk or on the move. On a desk that means a pen cup, stand, tray or caddy; for carrying it means a pen roll, a zip case, a slot case or a single-pen sleeve.
What are pen holders called?
It depends on the style. Upright desk holders are usually called pen cups, pots or stands; flat ones are pen trays; multi-compartment ones are desk organizers or caddies. Portable holders are called pen rolls, pen wraps, pen cases, pencil cases or pen sleeves.
How do I make a pen roller?
A simple pen roll is a rectangle of sturdy fabric or leather with a deep pocket sewn along one long edge, then stitched into vertical slots slightly wider than your pens. Add a flap that folds over the pen tops and a tie or strap to wrap it closed. Measure your longest pen first so the slots and flap are deep enough.
Find the right pen storage
Good storage keeps your pens writing well and your bag free of ink. Browse our desk and pen accessories for pen rolls, slot cases, sleeves and desk holders, measure your favorite pen, and give it a proper home.
