The Ultimate Guide to D1 Pen Refills

Are you looking for a new refill for your Multipen & want to try something different?

The Ultimate Guide to D1 pen refills shows you all the refills manufactured by the big pen brands.

Who makes pressurized D1 refill adapters, highlighter refills, and fine point refills?

As well as in our humble opinion, what are the best D1 refills?

If you want more information on all the other types of pen refills, then Check out our Ultimate Pen Refill Guide.

Read on to find out all this and much more.

1. What Size is a D1 Pen Refill

A D1 pen refill measures 67mm in length and 2.3mm in diameter they are a mini ballpoint pen refill that conforms to International Standard ISO 12757-1.

ISO 12757-1 section 4 states the requirements for ballpoint pens (refillable or non-refillable) and refills for general use.”

Section 4.2 is Shapes and Dimensions of Refills, and this is where the D1 refill takes its name from and what its dimensions should be.

According to the standard, it should be 67mm long with a tolerance of -0mm +0.3mm and 2.35mm in diameter with a tolerance of +0.05mm -0mm

2. The Three Different Types of Ink in D1 Pen Refills

D1 refills usually contain either ballpoint ink, gel ink, or a low viscosity hybrid ink. If you would like to know more about these then check out our Guide to Ballpoint, Gel, or Rollerball Pens.

2.1. Oil-Based Ballpoint Pen Ink

D1 pen refills usually contain an oil-based ballpoint pen ink due to their small size and the longer-lasting characteristics of this type of ink compared to gel or liquid inks.

2.2. Gel Inks

Gel pen ink refills tend to be a lot bigger in diameter than a ballpoint pen refill because the gel pigments are suspended in a water base.

Check out our guide on ballpoint rollerball or gel for more info on the different types of inks.

Because D1 refills are a standard size a gel ink D1 refill would run out very quickly compared to an oil-based ballpoint D1 refill.

However, for those that must have a gel D1, then the Zebra JSB refill contains gel ink.

2.3. Low Viscosity Hybrid Inks

There is a solution for those who prefer a smoother writing refill than a traditional ballpoint. This is to use a refill with a low viscosity ballpoint pen ink, sometimes referred to as hybrid ink.

They write smoothly like a gel pen but have the same quick-drying smudge-resistant properties as a ballpoint pen.

The Uni Jetstream SXR-200 D1 is the most highly rated low viscosity D1 refill with the same ink as in their now-legendary Jetstream range of pens.

3. D1 Highlighter Refills

If you are looking for a D1 highlighter refill for your multi-function pen then there are not a lot of choices, and they can be hard to find.

The most common highlighters for Multi pens are the Lamy M55 highlighter refill and the Parker Mini Multi-Function highlighter refill.

Both refills highlight text with orange-colored ink.

4. Pressurized D1 Refills

Fisher Space Pens invented the pressurized refill and make a pressurized refill that can be easily altered to fit the D1 format.

The refill is the Fisher Universal refill and is available in black, blue, and red ink. It is about 98mm in length, but you can simply snap the refill via its indent at 67 mm, allowing you to use it as a pressurized D1 refill in any pen that takes these refills cool eh?

Many people regard the Schmidt Megaline 620M pressurized D size refill as the best-pressurized D1 refill available. It has an airtight seal and special ink that gives it a very long shelf life and can do everything you associate with a Space Pen refills.

The Japanese pen manufacturer Tombow also makes a pressurized D1 format refill that will fit any pen that takes D1 refills.

The refill is designed for use in the Tombow XPA outdoor pen, and as it is pressurized it can also do all the good stuff like write upside down on damp paper & in extreme temperatures.

5. D1 Refill Adapters

The D1’s a great little ballpoint pen refill, but there are no off-the-shelf adapters that will allow you to use it instead of a different pen refill.

However, Shapeways, a U.S.-based 3D manufacturing company, makes a 3D printed adapter that will allow you to use a D1 refill in any pen that takes a Parker Style G2 refill.

Check out our Ultimate Parker Style G2 Refill Buyers Guide for more information on G2 refills.

6. What is The Best D1 Refill?

Over 25 different D1 refills are manufactured by significant reputable pen brands, so choosing the best D1 refill is not straightforward as it depends on what you want it for.

Different people will obviously have differing opinions as it comes down to personal preference, but for me, it is:

• Best Fine Point D1 Refill – Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims D1 0.4mm
• Best Gel D1 Refill – Zebra JSB Gel Refill D1
• Best Overall D1 Refill – Uni Jetstream SXR-200 D1 Multipen Refills
• Best Pressurised D1 Refill – Schmidt 620M Megaline Pressurised Refills
• Best Value For Money – Zebra 4C D1 Mini Ballpoint Pen Refills

7. D1 Refills Manufactured by the Top Brands

The following list of ball pen and multi-function pen refills are all standard size D1 refills and can be used not only in the manufacturer’s branded pens but any of the other pens that have listed their refill as being the D1 type.

7.1. Cross Mini Ballpoint Pen Refill

Cross Pens are one of America’s oldest luxury pen manufacturers, renowned for the quality of their pens.

The Cross Mini D1 size ballpoint pen refill was used in their pocket-sized pens such as the Autocross mini ballpoint pens and in their multifunction pens including the Tech2, Tech3 & Tech4

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

Check out the Ultimate Guide to Cross Pen Refills for more information on their D1 refill and all their other refills.

7.2. Faber-Castell Multipen Refill

The German-based writing equipment manufacturer Faber-Castel is renowned for producing high-quality pens and pencils.

Their D1 multipen refill was designed for their Twice and Trio multi pens but will also fit many other brands of pens that take this size refill.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.3. Fisher Universal Refills

The Fisher Universal refill is a pressurized refill that writes upside down underwater on greasy surfaces and in extreme temperatures and does all the good stuff you get from the standard-size Space Pen refills.

It is 98mm in length, but there is an indent at around 67mm that can be quickly snapped off, and voila, a pressurized D1 refill for your multipen or compact pen.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Pressurized Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium 0.9mm

Check out our Ultimate Guide To Fisher Space Pen Refills for more information.

7.4. Kaweco D1 Ballpen Refill Needle Point

The Kaweco D1 Needlepoint has a 0.5mm needlepoint tip which is ideal for those that like to write finer lines.

It is designed for Kaweco ballpoints and predominantly used to refill the Kaweco Sport range of t pens with their famous stubby wide hexagonal-shaped barrel.

Note that the refill is slightly wider than most D1 refills and may not fit every other brand of pen that takes D1 refills. I.e. Japanese multi-function pens, even though they are D1, the refills tend to be of narrow size.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Needle 0.5mm

7.5. Kaweco Soul D1 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Kaweco Soul D1 refill is Kaweco’s standard-size refill for their ballpoint pens. It is available in three different tip sizes and fits the Kaweco Liliput, Luxe, Mini Special, and all Sport ballpoint pens.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Fine 0.8mm Medium 1.0mm, Broad 1.2mm

7.6. Lamy M21 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Lamy M21 ballpoint pen refill is a metal refill with a stainless-steel tip that fits all Lamy Multi-Function pens including:

• Lamy 2008 4-Colors
• Lamy Accent 4Pen
• Lamy CP1 Tri pen
• Lamy Logo 3-Colors

The M21 has a reputation for being a particularly smooth writer and is available in 4 ink colors. If you are looking for a Lamy M21 refill alternative, then any of the refills on this list will be suitable for your multipen or CP1 ballpoint pen.

Also, check out our Ultimate Lamy Refill Guide for full details of every refill available for Lamy pens and pencils.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Green, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.7. Lamy M55 D1 Highlighter Refill

The Lamy M55 marker refill is one of only two highlighters in the D1 format that are made by significant pen brands, with the other being the Parker D1 highlighter refill.

The M55 highlights with an orange color and fits all Lamy Multi-Function pens, including:

• Lamy 2008 4-Colors
• Lamy Accent 4Pen
• Lamy CP1 Tri pen
• Lamy Logo 3-Colors

Obviously, being a standard size refill complying with International Standard ISO 12757-1, it will fit any other make of pen that can be refilled with a D1.

7.8. Montblanc Small Ballpoint Refill D1

Montblanc is a luxury pen manufacturer renowned for making some of the most expensive pens in the world. so it’s natural to expect their refills to be of the highest quality.

The Montblanc Small Ballpoint Pen Refill is available in black or blue ink and is used in Montblanc Meisterstück Hommage à W.A. Mozart pens.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Montblanc Refills for more information on this and all their other pen refills.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue,
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Fine 0.7mm

7.9. Monteverde Soft Roll Mini D1 Ballpoint Pen Refills

The USA manufacturer Monteverde has a reputation for making high-quality alternative refills compatible with other manufacturers’ pens.

Their Soft Roll D1 Mini Ballpoint Pen Refill is no exception. It has a free-flowing low viscosity ink that is exceptionally smooth writing.

Better still, there is a vast 10 ink colors to choose from. Most other refills of this type are in just black or blue.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Blue-Black, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Turquoise
• Ink Type – Low Viscosity
• Tip Size – Medium

7.10. Ohto R-4C7NP Needle-Point Refill D1 0.7mm

The Ohto R-4C7NP needlepoint refill is one of only two D1 refills with a needlepoint tip. It is available in either fine (R-4C7NP) with a 0.7mm tip or an extra fine (R-4C5NP) with a 0.5mm tip.

Its ink is waterproof, and there is a choice of three colors black, blue, or red. It is designed by Ohto for use in their multipens.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Green, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Fine 0.7mm, Extra-fine 0.5mm

Check out our Complete Guide to Ohto Pen Refills for more information.

7.11. Parker Mini Multi-Function Highlighter Refill

This D1 orange highlighter refill from Parker is now being discontinued, but I have included it as at the time of writing, there still seem to be a few still knocking about on eBay.

7.12. Pelikan 38 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The German pen manufacturer Pelikan is renowned for their high-quality fountain pens, so it was an unexpected surprise to find they make a D1 refill.

The Pelikan 38 ballpoint pen refill is a standard stainless steel refill 67mm in length with a medium tip. It is available with black, blue, or red ink and is designed for the Pelikan Souverän K300 ballpoint pen and the Pelikan 4-in-1 multipen.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.13. Pentel XKBXES7 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Pentel XKBXES7 ballpoint pen refill is a standard D1 refill containing a low viscosity, smooth writing ink.

Designed for the Pentel Vicuna EX 2 color multipen with a 0.5mm pencil, it is available in either black or red ink.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Red
• Ink Type – Low Viscosity
• Tip Size – Medium

7.14. Platinum BSP-100S Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Platinum BSP-100S ballpoint pen refill has a fine 0.7mm tip and is available in black, blue, or red ink.

The BSP-100S is designed for Platinum multipens.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Fine 0.7mm

7.15. Platinum SBSP-150S Ballpoint Refill

The Platinum SBSP-150S is a low viscosity smooth writing D1 ballpoint pen refill. However, some retailers state that the barrel diameter is not as wide as most D1 refills, so may not fit other brands of pens.

The SBSP-150S is available in three ink colors, choosing a fine 0.7mm tip or an extra-fine 0.5mm tip.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Low Viscosity
• Tip Size – Extra-Fine 0.5mm Fine 0.7mm

7.16. Pilot BRFS-10F Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Pilot BRFS-10F ballpoint pen refill has a medium 0.7mm tip and low viscosity, quick-drying water-resistant ink.

The ink is available in four colors, and the refill can be used in any multipen or ballpoint pen that takes the D1 format.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Green, Red
• Ink Type – Low Viscosity
• Tip Size – Medium

7.17. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims Gel Ink Multi Pen Refill – LHRF-20C4

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims D1 0.4mm gel refill is the holy grail of D1 refills with its ultra-fine 0.4mm tip and smooth writing gel ink.

It is available in black, blue and red colors.

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get hold of in the U.S, and you will probably need to buy it directly from a Japanese supplier.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Gel
• Tip Size – Ultra-Fine 0.4mm

7.18. Rotring D1 Multipen Refills

Rotring D1 multipen refills have a medium tip and a choice of black, blue, or red ink. They are used to refill Rotring Tikky & Rotring 600 multipens.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.19. S.T. Dupont Mini Ballpoint Pen Refills

ST Dupont is a Parisian-based French luxury goods manufacturer with a history dating back to 1872. Their mini ballpoint pen refills are designed for the Defi Multifunction pen & the Mini Olympio ballpoint pen.

The refills have a medium tip and are available in black and blue ink.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.20. Schmidt 620M Megaline Pressurised Refills

The German-based manufacturer Schmidt makes fine quality pen refills used by many of the major pen manufacturers.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Schmidt Refills for more information.

The Schmidt 620M is regarded as the best pressurized “Space Pen type of refill in the D1 format.

The refill has a stainless-steel tip and an advanced ink formula that remains liquid inside the refill allowing it to write smoothly that solidifies as exposed to air when laid down on the paper’s surface.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Blue
• Ink Type – Pressurized Oil Based
• Tip Size – Fine

7.21. Schmidt S635 Mini D1 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Schmidt S635 Mini D1 ballpoint pen refill has a stainless steel tip, and its ball is made from tungsten carbide.

The refill has a medium tip and is available in four ink colors.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Green, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

7.22. Schneider Express 56 Ballpoint Pen Refill

The Schneider Express 56 standard D1 refill has a medium stainless steel tip and black water-resistant ink.

The Express 56 is available in a choice of four ink colors.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Green, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium

Check out our Complete Guide to Schneider Pen Refills for more information on this and the other pen refills that Schneider makes. 

7.23. Staedtler 92RE Multipen Refills

The Staedtler 92RE D1 refills are a little harder to find in the U.S as they are made in Japan for the Japanese multipen market.

The refills have a medium 0.7mm tip and are available in three ink colors, black 92RE 09, blue 92RE 03, and red 92RE 02.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium 0.7mm

7.24. Tombow BR-VS Ballpoint Pen Refills

The Tombow BR-VS refill is a standard size D with a 0.7mm tip and is available in three ink colors.

It is designed for Tombow Zoom pens, including the 404, 707, 717, & 727, as well as the Tombow Pfit compact pen.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – Medium 0.7mm

7.25. Tombow BR-VMP Pressurised Pen Refills

The Tombow BR-VMP is a gas-pressurized D1 refill that is an excellent option to add to a multipen to make it write like a Fisher Space Pen.

The pen has a medium tip and blue ink, and just like a space pen, it will write upside down in extreme temperatures and on damp or greasy paper.

7.26. Uni Jetstream SXR-200 D1 Multipen Refills

The Uni Jetstream SXR 200 D1 refill contains Uni Jetstream low viscosity ink, making it very smooth to write with and quick-drying,

The quick-drying properties of Jetstream ink are favored by left-handed writers. Check out our Best pens for Left-Handed Writers Guide for more information.

The SXR 200 D1 refill is available with a fine 0.5mm (SXR200 05) or medium 0.7mm (SXR200 07) tip.

There is also a choice of black, blue or red ink,

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Low Viscosity Hybrid Ink
• Tip Size – Fine 0.5mm, Medium 0.7mm

7.27. Zebra 4C D1 Mini Ballpoint Pen Refills

The Zebra 4C D1 refill is hugely popular due to being one of the cheapest D1 refills made by one of the major pen brands.

The 4C comes in three different tip sizes 0.4mm, 0.5mm, and 0.7mm.

The 0.4mm & 0.5mm are only available with black ink, whereas the 0.7mm has a choice of black, blue, or red ink.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Red
• Ink Type – Oil Based
• Tip Size – 0.4m, 0.5mm, 0.7mm

7.28. Zebra JSB Gel Refill D1

The Zebra JSB Gel Refill is one of only two D1 refills containing gel ink, the other being the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Slims Gel D1 Refill.

It is available with either a 0.4mm or 0.5mm tip and in black, blue-black, royal blue, carmine red, and emerald green ink.

The JSB was designed by Zebra for their Sharbo X multi-pens, but as it is a D1, you can add it to any multipen to give you a vibrant gel ink color.

It is worth noting that the small size of D1 refills will not last very long compared to low viscosity or oil-based refills. However, these types of refills cannot give the same vibrancy of color as gel ink can.

Specifications

• Ink Colors – Black, Blue, Blue-Black, Red, Green
• Ink Type – Gel
• Tip Size – 0.4mm, 0.5mm

8. Where Can I Buy Cheap D1 Refills?

If you are looking to save money and buy cheap D1 refills, then Amazon is probably as good as anywhere. Many other online stores will sell them, but they struggle to compete with Amazon on prices and postal costs.

Buy D1 Refills on Amazon