Promotional Pens
Promotional pens that write well, with your logo in every hand that picks one up.
Crest Promos supplies promotional pens to Australian businesses, clinics, schools and event organisers. Choose from plastic click pens, metal pens, stylus pens, eco pens and premium gift pens, printed or engraved with your logo in your brand colours. We'll help you choose a pen that writes smoothly and suits your budget, send a free digital proof and deliver anywhere in Australia.
Our promotional pens range
Pens are the lowest-cost way to put your name in a lot of hands. Our range covers everyday giveaway pens, branded pens for counters and reception desks, metal pens with logo engraving and eco pens. Our guide to the best promotional items for small business compares them with other options.
Plastic click pens
Best decoration: Pad printing
Suits: Counters, events, letterbox drops, high volumes
Soft-touch and rubber-grip pens
Best decoration: Pad printing or laser engraving
Suits: Reception desks, clinics, offices
Metal pens
Best decoration: Laser engraving
Suits: Client gifts, conferences, professional services
Stylus pens
Best decoration: Pad printing or laser engraving
Suits: Tech businesses, trade shows, tablet users
Multi-function pens
Best decoration: Pad printing
Suits: Trades and field staff, with a highlighter or stylus built in
Eco pens
Best decoration: Pad printing or laser engraving
Suits: Recycled plastic, bamboo or cardboard barrels for lower-impact brands
Highlighters and markers
Best decoration: Pad printing
Suits: Schools, universities, offices
Premium gift pens
Best decoration: Laser engraving
Suits: Executive and milestone gifts, often in a gift box
Choosing promotional pens that write well
A pen that skips, blots or snaps reflects on your business every time someone tries to use it. These are the details we check before recommending one.
Ink type and gel pens
| Ink | How it writes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ballpoint (oil-based) | Firm, reliable, dries quickly | Lasts the longest and works on most paper, the best choice for high volumes |
| Low-viscosity or hybrid ballpoint | Noticeably smoother than standard ballpoint, still quick-drying | A worthwhile upgrade for a small extra cost |
| Gel | Smooth, bold and vivid | Runs out sooner and can smudge for left-handed writers |
| Rollerball | Very smooth liquid ink | Can bleed through thin paper, best for premium gifts |
Most promotional pens write in blue or black ink. Blue is often preferred for signing documents, because it's easy to tell an original from a photocopy. If the pen will be used for signing contracts or forms, check the ink colour suits the paperwork.
Refills
Metal and premium pens that take a standard-size refill can be topped up for years, which makes them better value and less wasteful than a sealed pen. Ask whether a pen is refillable and which refill it takes before ordering a premium gift.
Build and feel
A sturdy clip, a smooth click or twist mechanism and a comfortable grip make the difference between a pen people keep in their bag and one they throw out. Heavier metal pens feel more premium in the hand, while lighter plastic pens suit giveaways in large numbers.
Test before you buy
For anything beyond a basic giveaway pen, ask for samples and write a full page with each one. Check the print finish, mechanism and overall quality before ordering larger quantities.
Branding custom printed pens
Printed pens with logo artwork and engraved pens suit different materials. This is how each method looks and where it works best.
| Method | Looks | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pad printing | Crisp ink print in one or more colours | Plastic and coated pens | Inks mixed to your Pantone references. Each extra colour adds a setup. Some plastic retractable pens can also be screen printed, depending on the model |
| Laser engraving | Permanent mark showing the metal or a lighter tone beneath the coating | Metal and coated pens, bamboo | Won't rub off, one tone only, a premium finish |
| UV or digital full-colour print | Full-colour logos and gradients | Selected plastic and white pens | Colours print in CMYK, so some Pantone shades shift slightly |
Print area and artwork
Pens have small branding areas: a narrow strip a few centimetres long on the barrel, with a smaller area on some clips. That shapes what fits.
- ✓A logo plus a phone number, short call to action, website or business name usually fits on one side of the barrel. Some pens can be printed on both sides.
- ✓Very small text becomes hard to read once printed, so keep your message and web addresses short.
- ✓A horizontal or one-line version of your logo usually reads better than a stacked one.
- ✓Engraving shows as one tone, so a one-colour version of your logo works best.
- ✓Light ink on a dark barrel, or dark ink on a light barrel, gives the clearest contrast.
Send your logo as a vector file, such as AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF. Your free proof shows the logo at its actual printed size on the pen, so you can check how it is imprinted and that every word is legible before production.
Choosing pens by use and budget
| Use | Recommended pen |
|---|---|
| Expos, markets and letterbox drops | Plastic click pen, one-colour print |
| Reception desks, waiting rooms and counters | Soft-touch or rubber-grip pen with smooth ink |
| Conferences and welcome packs | Metal or stylus pen, engraved |
| Trades and field staff | Multi-function pen |
| Client and executive gifts | Premium refillable metal pen in a gift box |
| Brands with sustainability goals | Recycled, bamboo or cardboard pen |
Prices depend on the pen, decoration, number of colours and quantity. In our range, listed prices start from about 20c for plastic pens, about 45c for stylus pens, about 45c to 60c for recycled and bamboo pens and about 80c for metal pens. These are lower-end "From" prices that usually apply to larger quantities, before branding, setup and freight. Executive gift pens start from about $17. See our writing range for current prices.
For low-cost expo and giveaway use, ballpoint pens are usually the most economical option. Ordering more lowers the price per pen, because setup costs are spread across the whole order. The minimum order quantity varies by pen style and branding method, so check the listing or ask us.
Getting more from your pens
Pens work best when they're handed out where customers need to write: at the counter, with an invoice, at a booking or in a welcome pack. Because they get used again and again, they keep your name in front of customers long after the first visit.
They also work well in client packs and welcome kits, or alongside other branded corporate gifts. Adding a phone number or web address gives people a simple way to get back in touch. For counters and waiting rooms, a better-writing pen is more likely to be pocketed and used.
The same applies at expos, where a pen can sit in a custom promotional bag with the rest of your handout. Our guide to trade show giveaways covers how many to order and how to hand them out.
Safety and sustainability
Pens for schools and children
If your pens might end up with children, such as at school events, family days or junior sport, choose capped pens with ventilated caps. The international standard ISO 11540 sets requirements for pen caps to reduce the risk of a child choking or suffocating on one, and applies to pens likely to be used by children up to 14. Click pens avoid loose caps altogether. For younger audiences, avoid novelty pens with small detachable parts or button batteries, such as light-up pens.
Lower-impact pens
A standard plastic pen is used briefly and thrown out, so if sustainability matters to your brand, you have a few options:
- ✓Refillable metal pens last for years and only the refill is replaced.
- ✓Pens made from recycled plastic reuse existing material. Ask for the percentage of recycled content.
- ✓Bamboo and cardboard barrels reduce plastic, though most still have plastic or metal parts inside.
- ✓Pencils can also be branded with your logo for lower-waste or school campaigns.
- ✓Ordering a realistic quantity, rather than thousands that sit in a box, avoids the most waste of all.
If you describe a pen as eco-friendly or recycled, the claim needs to be specific and backed by evidence. Our guide to sustainable branded merchandise explains what the ACCC expects.
Sources: ISO 11540:2021, writing and marking instruments: specifications for caps to reduce the risk of asphyxiation · ACCC, environmental and sustainability claims · Product Safety Australia, button battery mandatory standards.
Ordering promotional pens, step by step
One account manager looks after your order from the first quote to delivery, so the person who knows your logo is the person checking your proof.
Tell us where the pens will be used, how many you need, your budget per pen and your deadline. Send your logo, ideally as a vector file.
Your account manager shortlists pens that suit the brief, with an itemised quote. If you want to compare styles, pricing or branding options first, talk to the team.
For premium or large custom orders, ask about samples so you can test how each pen writes.
You approve a free digital proof showing your logo at its actual size on the pen, with ink colours or engraving noted.
Once you approve the proof, production begins. Standard turnaround is 10 to 14 business days from proof approval. For urgent orders, contact us early to check whether some styles can be turned around faster.
Your pens arrive in bulk, or individually boxed or packed into welcome packs and event bags if you need it.
Trusted for promotional pens across Australia
Crest Promos is led by owner Jerome Abrahams, who has more than 30 years of experience in promotional products. We supply promotional pens to clinics, trades, schools, real estate agencies and event organisers, as well as national brands including Meta, JCDecaux, Nutrien, White Claw and amps.
- ✓One account manager from quote to delivery
- ✓Free quotes and digital proofs
- ✓Pad printing to your Pantone references, or permanent laser engraving
- ✓Plastic, metal, stylus, eco and premium pens for giveaways, welcome packs and client gifts
- ✓Delivery Australia-wide
- ✓Quotes on matching branded stationery and other promotional products for the same campaign
- ✓Registered business, ABN 70 694 082 249
"A pen is the cheapest thing most businesses order, so it's tempting to buy the cheapest one. Spend an extra few cents on smoother ink and a better clip, and people hang on to it instead of leaving it on the counter."
Promotional pens FAQ
What's the minimum order quantity for promotional pens?
It varies by pen style and branding method. Some styles start at lower quantities than others, so check the listing or ask us about the pen you have in mind.
How much do promotional pens cost?
In our range, listed prices start from about 20c each for plastic pens and about 80c for metal pens, usually at larger quantities and before branding and setup. Premium gift pens cost more. The price per pen drops as the quantity rises.
Should I choose printing or engraving?
Pad printing suits plastic pens and lets you use your brand colours. Laser engraving suits metal pens and gives a permanent, premium finish in one tone. We'll recommend the best option for your logo and pen.
Can you match my brand colours?
Yes, for pad printing. Inks are mixed to your Pantone references, and we'll show them on your proof. Engraving doesn't use ink, so it shows as a single tone.
What can I fit on a pen?
Usually a logo plus a short message, web address or business name. The print area is a narrow strip on the barrel, so keep text short and use a one-line version of your logo where possible. Some pens can also be branded on the clip.
Which ink is best?
Standard ballpoint is the most reliable and longest-lasting for giveaways. Low-viscosity or hybrid ink writes more smoothly for a small extra cost, and gel or rollerball pens suit premium gifts. Stylus pens add touchscreen use for tablet-heavy workplaces or events.
How long do promotional pens take?
Standard turnaround is 10 to 14 business days from proof approval. Large or custom-made orders take longer, so allow extra time before events. If your order is urgent, contact us early to check which styles can be turned around faster.