Pen Weight & Balance Comparator
Enter two pens’ weights, length, and balance point and compare how each sits in the hand — posted and unposted — plus which is the lighter carry.
Pen A
Pen B
Verdict
Pen A is the lighter pen uncapped, by 10 g.
How the model works
The balance point divided by the length gives a ratio: below about 0.45 the pen is tip-heavy, around the middle it’s balanced, and above about 0.55 it’s back-heavy. To estimate the posted balance, the cap’s weight is added at its approximate posted position and a new centre of mass is worked out for the longer, capped pen.
Weigh the body and cap separately on a small scale, measure the length from nib tip to the end of the barrel, and find the balance point by resting the uncapped pen on an edge. The more care you take measuring, the more useful the comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pen's balance point?
It's the spot along the pen where its weight balances — the centre of mass. Balance the pen across a straight edge and slide it until it sits level; the point under the edge is the balance point. Measured from the nib tip and compared to the pen's length, it tells you whether the pen feels tip-heavy, neutral, or back-heavy in the hand.
Does posting the cap change the balance?
Almost always. Posting a cap on the tail adds weight behind your grip, shifting the balance backward and often making a pen feel back-heavy. A light cap barely moves it; a heavy metal cap can transform how a pen writes. The tool estimates both the unposted and posted balance so you can compare.
How exact is the posted result?
The posted figure uses a reasonable approximation for where the cap's weight sits once posted, so it's a good comparison between pens rather than an exact measurement. For the truest feel, hold the pen — but the numbers are useful when buying online or comparing two pens you already own.
Estimating tool. The posted balance uses an approximation for the cap’s position; nothing replaces holding a pen to judge comfort.