Comparing Ink Prices By Volume

[Baric]

Is there a prohibition about posting comparative ink prices (per ml) here? Because bottled inks come in different sized bottles, it's hard to compare prices from one bottle to another without doing some simple math or estimation, so I cooked up a little spreadsheet that gives ink price per ml for some of the common ink brands, with prices from several popular on-line vendors.

 

Figured I'd ask before posting and getting my wrist slapped ...

[JefferyS]

Not a problem. Noodler's is among the least expensive per ml, and Caran D'Ache is nearer the upper limit.

[Baric]

Not a problem. Noodler's is among the least expensive per ml, and Caran D'Ache is nearer the upper limit.

 

Yep, that's what I found.

 

Here is the list, based on today's advertised prices from several online vendors in the US, current as of today. Prices are in USD$.

 

Sorted by price per ml

 

Ink Brand Price Price Bottle Source

/ml /bottle Size

(ml)

Monteverde 0.14 12.50 90 Goulet Pens

Noodler's 0.14 12.50 90 Goulet Pens

Noodler's 0.16 21.00 130 Goulet Pens

Diamine 0.16 12.95 80 Goulet Pens

Private Reserve 0.17 11.00 66 Goulet Pens

Parker Quink 0.17 10.30 60 Goulet Pens

Pelikan 0.18 11.00 62.5 Classic Fountain Pens

Sheaffer Skrip 0.19 9.25 50 Goulet Pens

J. Herbin 0.20 20.00 100 Classic Fountain Pens

Pilot Namiki 0.20 12.00 60 Goulet Pens

Waterman 0.21 10.40 50 Goulet Pens

Lamy 0.21 10.50 50 Goulet Pens

Organics Studio 0.22 12.00 55 Goulet Pens

Rohrer & Klingner 0.24 12.00 50 Goulet Pens

Omas 0.25 15.50 62 Goulet Pens

Sailor 0.25 12.50 50 Classic Fountain Pens

Organics Studio 0.25 14.00 55 Goulet Pens

Organics Studio 0.29 16.00 55 Goulet Pens

Platinum Pigment 0.30 15.00 50 Classic Fountain Pens

J. Herbin 0.33 10.00 30 Goulet Pens

Platinum 0.33 20.00 60 Goulet Pens

Stipula 0.36 25.00 70 Goulet Pens

De Atramentis 0.37 12.95 35 Goulet Pens

Aurora 0.40 18.00 45 Goulet Pens

Faber-Castell 0.40 30.00 75 Goulet Pens

Pelikan Edelstein 0.45 22.50 50 Goulet Pens

Kaweco 0.47 14.00 30 Goulet Pens

Montegrappa 0.48 20.00 42 Goulet Pens

Sailor Pigment 0.48 24.00 50 Classic Fountain Pens

J. Herbin 1670 0.52 26.00 50 Goulet Pens

De Atramentis Document 0.53 18.50 35 Goulet Pens

Iroshizuku 0.56 28.00 50 Goulet Pens

Delta 0.60 18.00 30 Goulet Pens

Caran d'Ache 0.64 32.00 50 Goulet Pens

 

 

Please let me know if there are any blatant errors.

Edited September 20, 2014 by Baric

[lapis]

First off, a few notes:

- All of the following prices are in Euros in Germany incl. our 19% sales tax. Of course, in the U. S. and in Japan etc., the situation is different.

- All prices are as of June 2014 although I think none of these prices have changed since then.

- These are all "list prices". I.e. that seen in their own site. Most companies allow any store to offer any price they want. E.g. MB doesn't

 

 

-----------------------------------------------------

Ink List Price Bottle Price/ml

-----------------------------------------------------

Caran d'Ache (new) 29.50 50 ml 0.59

Iroshizuku 24.90 50 ml 0.50

Caran d'Ache (old) 13.95 30 ml 0.47

Graf von F-C (new) 25.00 75 ml 0.33

Pelikan Edelstein 14.50 50 ml 0.29

Herbin 8.65 30 ml 0.29

Akkerman (60 ml) 15.00 60 ml 0.25

Montblanc (regulars) 13.00 60 ml 0.22

Waterman 7.50 50 ml 0.15

Pelikan 4001 4.15 30 ml 0.14

Rohre & Klingner 6.50 50 ml 0.13

Parker Quink 6.00 57 ml 0.11

Akkerman (150 ml) 16.50 150 ml 0.11

-----------------------------------------------------

 

Whip out your calculator

[FoszFay]

The Writing Desk shows the price per mL for all of its listed inks in GBP (£).

 

 

 

Their brand comes to 0.10 US, and their Diamine is listed at 0.12 US.

 

Tom.

[FoszFay]

- These are all "list prices". I.e. that seen in their own site. Most companies allow any store to offer any price they want. E.g. MB doesn't

 

Really? MB costs $30-$35 AUD. I think it is set by individual stores.

 

Tom.

[keo]

Anderson Pens has posted a price comparison of the inks they sell:

 

http://www.andersonpens.net/Articles.asp?ID=250

[lgsoltek]

I thought I would post a comparison of ink price in China. It might be interesting to see how prices differ in different countries. The prices are in Chinese RMB. 100 RMB is about 16.3 USD.

 

[ac12]

If you are going by cost per ml to get lowest cost, why not also look at the Pilot 350ml bottles and the Pelikan 1,000ml bottles.

Granted a 1L bottle of Pelikan ink would probably last me the rest of my life, so it doesn't make much sense, except in a school environment, where it was probably meant for.

[RitchieMac]

I thought I would post a comparison of ink price in China. It might be interesting to see how prices differ in different countries. The prices are in Chinese RMB. 100 RMB is about 16.3 USD.

 

IMG_1360.PNG

 

Do you have the price of Hero inks in China? It'll form a nice comparison to the rest of the inks.

 

Seems like Caran D'Ache is the most expensive in all the regions mentioned.

[lgsoltek]

Do you have the price of Hero inks in China? It'll form a nice comparison to the rest of the inks.

 

Seems like Caran D'Ache is the most expensive in all the regions mentioned.

There seems to be several models of Hero ink which vary from 2 to 9 RMB (less than half a dollar to 1.5 dollar) for a bottle of 50-65 ml. If I take the highest price that would be 0.18 RMB per ml (0.029 dollar). It's really very cheap but I don't think they are well received for Chinese fountain pen aficionados.

[Baric]

If you are going by cost per ml to get lowest cost, why not also look at the Pilot 350ml bottles and the Pelikan 1,000ml bottles.

Granted a 1L bottle of Pelikan ink would probably last me the rest of my life, so it doesn't make much sense, except in a school environment, where it was probably meant for.

 

That's why I didn't include it, few if any of the folks here would buy something like that, or that's my sense. If I only used one ink in all my pens and wrote a lot, then I might consider such a large size.

 

Of course, it's my list so I get to choose what's on it.

[ac12]

If you are going by cost per ml to get lowest cost, why not also look at the Pilot 350ml bottles and the Pelikan 1,000ml bottles.

Granted a 1L bottle of Pelikan ink would probably last me the rest of my life, so it doesn't make much sense, except in a school environment, where it was probably meant for.

 

 

 

That's why I didn't include it, few if any of the folks here would buy something like that, or that's my sense. If I only used one ink in all my pens and wrote a lot, then I might consider such a large size.

 

Of course, it's my list so I get to choose what's on it.

 

Actually for a college student a 350ml bottle does make sense. I can see that bottle lasting 3 or 4 years for his bachelors degree. Depending on how much he/she wrote and how wet the pen is. But as you mention, that is more the exception than the rule.

But, now I feel like getting a 350ml bottle, just for the heck of it.

 

Edited September 22, 2014 by ac12

[Lou Erickson]

With the shipping, the 350ml is 0.092 per mililiter. So, not that great.