Ink Dry-Time Estimator
Pick your nib, paper, and the humidity and get a rough dry time in seconds — with a plain verdict on whether to mind your hand.
Estimated dry time
Moderate — give it a moment, especially left-handers.
How the estimate works
Starting from a baseline of a medium nib on ordinary paper at about 50% humidity, the tool scales the dry time up for wetter, broader nibs and coated papers, and down for finer nibs and absorbent papers. Humidity nudges the result up or down from that midpoint.
The bands are simple: under five seconds is fast, up to about fifteen is moderate, and beyond that you should blot or wait before your hand or the facing page touches the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes ink dry slower?
Three things above all: how much ink is on the page, how absorbent the paper is, and the humidity. Broader, wetter nibs lay down more ink, so it takes longer to dry. Coated papers like Rhodia and Tomoe River keep ink sitting on the surface — beautiful shading, but slow drying. Humid air slows evaporation, so the same line dries faster in winter than in a muggy summer room.
Why do left-handers care so much about dry time?
Many left-handers push the pen and drag the side of their hand across freshly written lines, so slow-drying ink smears easily. Choosing a finer nib, a quick-drying ink, and more absorbent paper — all of which shorten dry time — makes fountain pens far more comfortable for lefties.
How accurate is the estimate?
It's a relative guide, not a stopwatch. Specific inks vary widely — some are formulated to dry fast, others stay wet for shading — so use the figure to compare setups (this nib on that paper) rather than as an exact number of seconds.
Estimating tool. Specific inks dry faster or slower than the average; test your own ink and paper for anything important.