---
title: "Sakura Pigma Micron: Line Widths from 003 to 12"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/"
description: "Sakura Pigma Micron fineliner explained: what sizes 003 to 12 mean in mm, Pigma archival pigment ink, which size to choose for drawing or writing, and origin."
category: "Pens"
type: "Fineliner"
published: 2026-10-20
updated: 2026-10-20
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 16
products:
  - name: "Sakura Pigma Micron Pen (sizes 003–12)"
    brand: "Sakura"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "PP barrel, cap and end plug; steel clip; brass tip holder; POM tip (per Sakura Japan, Pigma 01); pigment ink"
    released: "1982"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America"
    model: "ESDK (black 01 in Japan: ESDK01, color code 49, item No. 812670)"
    mpn: "ESDK01#49"
    gtin: "4901881812675"
    url: "https://www.craypas.com/products/regular/pigma/"
---

# Sakura Pigma Micron: Line Widths from 003 to 12

> The Sakura Pigma Micron is a disposable fineliner pen with archival, water-based pigment ink, made by Sakura Color Products of Osaka, Japan. Its size codes run from 003 (0.15 mm line) to 12 (0.70 mm); 01 is 0.25 mm and 05 is 0.45 mm. Sakura says the ink is waterproof and fade resistant, and retailers list Japan as the origin.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-20
- Updated: 2026-10-20

![Side view of a capped Sakura Pigma Micron fineliner with black ink: beige barrel with printed lettering, black end plug and black cap with metal clip, and a close-up of the fiber tip in its metal sleeve](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/sakura-pigma-micron-16x9.png)

*A capped black Pigma Micron: beige barrel, black cap.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/sakura-pigma-micron-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakura Pigma Micron Pen (sizes 003–12) | Sakura (by Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka); sold in the US by Sakura of America) | Japan | Japan | PP barrel, cap and end plug; steel clip; brass tip holder; POM tip (per Sakura Japan, Pigma 01); pigment ink | 1982 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (Sakura Pigma Micron Pen (sizes 003–12)): Japan. Unsharpen gives Japan as the country of origin (read October 20, 2026). Sakura's Japanese product page for the Pigma 01 doesn't state a country. Digitec and Galaxus (Switzerland), cited earlier for Japan, blocked our access on that date. Source: https://unsharpen.com/pen/sakura-pigma-micron/

## Key takeaways

- Ten black sizes: 003 (0.15 mm), 005 (0.20), 01 (0.25), 02 (0.30), 03 (0.35), 04 (0.40), 05 (0.45), 08 (0.50), 10 (0.60) and 12 (0.70 mm).
- The common 6-pen black set covers 005, 01, 02, 03, 05 and 08, from 0.20 to 0.50 mm.
- Sakura launched its Pigma line in 1982; the company itself dates to May 29, 1921.
- Sakura's Japanese catalog lists the black 01 (ESDK01) at 135 × 11 × 13 mm and 9 g, for ¥220 (about US$1.40) including tax.
- Unsharpen gives Japan as the country of origin, and Cult Pens notes the pen isn't refillable.

## What is the Sakura Pigma Micron?

**The Sakura Pigma Micron is a disposable fineliner pen with a fine fiber tip and water-based pigment ink, made by Sakura Color Products of Osaka, Japan.** Artists use it for inking and line drawing; many people also use it for writing and bullet journals.

Sakura's Japanese Pigma page says the company developed Pigma in 1982 as the world's first water-based pigment marker, with ink that resists water and light; Wikipedia gives the same year. Its pigment ink later went into Sakura's Ball Sign gel pen, sold abroad as the [Gelly Roll](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-gelly-roll/). The company itself began as a crayon maker on May 29, 1921, according to Sakura's own history.

## Sakura Pigma Micron specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka, Japan) |
| Type | Disposable fineliner; Sakura lists a POM plastic tip in a brass holder |
| Ink | Pigma: water-based pigment ink |
| Black sizes | 003, 005, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 10, 12 |
| Line widths | 0.15 mm (003) to 0.70 mm (12) |
| Ink claims (Sakura) | Archival, waterproof, fade resistant, chemical resistant |
| Japan model (black 01) | ESDK01#49, JAN 4901881812675 |
| Size and weight (black 01) | 135 × 11 × 13 mm, 9 g (Sakura Japan) |
| Refillable | No (Cult Pens) |
| Made in | Japan (per Unsharpen) |

Line widths come from Sakura's European arm Royal Talens and from retailers, which agree on every size; Sakura's Japanese site gives the same reference widths from 003 to 08 and notes that the size number isn't the line width. In Japan the black 01 is item No. 812670 (JAN 4901881812675) at ¥220 (about US$1.40) including tax, and Sakura lists the pen body (本体) at 135 × 11 × 13 mm and 9 g, with a PP barrel, cap and end plug, a steel clip, a brass tip holder and a POM tip.

## What do the Micron size numbers mean?

**The number is a size code, not the line width in millimeters: an 01 draws a 0.25 mm line and an 05 draws 0.45 mm.** The codes run in order, so a bigger number means a thicker line.

| Size code | Line width |
|---|---|
| 003 | 0.15 mm |
| 005 | 0.20 mm |
| 01 | 0.25 mm |
| 02 | 0.30 mm |
| 03 | 0.35 mm |
| 04 | 0.40 mm |
| 05 | 0.45 mm |
| 08 | 0.50 mm |
| 10 | 0.60 mm |
| 12 | 0.70 mm |

Sakura's Japanese site lists larger Pigma sizes that we didn't find in the US Micron range: 1 (about 1.0 mm), 2 (2.0 mm), 3 (3.0 mm) and F (0.2 to 0.5 mm), and the reference list we found doesn't include the 10 and 12. Check the size code if you buy Pigma pens from Japan.

![Sakura Pigma Micron line widths to scale at 100 times: 003 0.15 mm, 005 0.20, 01 0.25, 02 0.30, 03 0.35, 04 0.40, 05 0.45, 08 0.50, 10 0.60 and 12 0.70 mm](https://stationerytimes.com/images/sakura-pigma-micron-line-widths.svg)

*The steps are 0.05 mm apart up to 08, then 0.10 mm.*

## Which Micron size should you choose?

**For writing, pick 01 or 05; for drawing, start with the 6-pen set of 005, 01, 02, 03, 05 and 08.**

- **003 and 005 (0.15–0.20 mm):** hatching, fine detail and tiny lettering. Use a light hand with these fine tips.
- **01 (0.25 mm):** the common pick for planners, small handwriting and technical notes.
- **05 and 08 (0.45–0.50 mm):** outlines and everyday writing with a darker line.
- **10 and 12 (0.60–0.70 mm):** bold outlines and lettering.

Retailers describe the tip as steel-clad, so it can be run along a ruler.

## Is Pigma Micron ink waterproof and archival?

**Sakura says it is: Pigma ink is sold as archival, waterproof and fade resistant once dry.** Pigment inks hold color particles on the paper, rather than dyeing it, which is the basis for those claims.

That's why artists ink a drawing with a Micron and then paint over it, for example on a [Canson XL Mix Media pad](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/canson-xl-mix-media-pad/). We haven't tested waterproofness or fading ourselves.


## How does the Micron compare to other pens?

**The Micron is for permanent, precise lines; a felt tip or gel pen is cheaper and bolder for everyday notes.**

| | Sakura Pigma Micron 01 | [Paper Mate Flair](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/paper-mate-flair/) Ultra Fine | [Pilot G2](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-g2/) 0.38 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tip | Fiber, 0.25 mm line | Felt, 0.4 mm point | Ball, 0.38 mm |
| Ink | Water-based pigment | Water-based | Gel |
| Waterproof claim | Yes | Not claimed | No |
| Refillable | No | No | Yes |
| Price band | $ | $ | $ |

For one 0.4 mm line in dozens of colors, the [Stabilo Point 88](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/stabilo-point-88/) is the usual pick.

For white highlights over Micron line work, Sakura's opaque white [Gelly Roll](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-gelly-roll/) is the usual companion.

## Where is the Sakura Pigma Micron made?

**Unsharpen lists Japan as the country of origin.** Sakura's Japanese product page doesn't state it, so check the pack.

## How much does a Micron cost?

**Microns fall in our lowest price band, $ (under $5 per pen).** Single pens and sets from art and stationery retailers usually work out to a few dollars a pen; large mixed sets can bring the per-pen cost down a little.

## Frequently asked questions

### What do the Micron pen numbers mean?

They are size codes, not millimeters. 003 draws a 0.15 mm line, 005 is 0.20 mm, 01 is 0.25 mm, 02 is 0.30 mm, 03 is 0.35 mm, 04 is 0.40 mm, 05 is 0.45 mm, 08 is 0.50 mm, 10 is 0.60 mm and 12 is 0.70 mm.

### Which Micron size is best for writing?

For writing, most people use a Pigma Micron 01 (0.25 mm) or 05 (0.45 mm). The 01 suits small handwriting, planners and bullet journals, and the 05 gives a darker line closer to a fine gel pen.

### Is Micron ink waterproof?

Sakura and its retailers describe Pigma ink as waterproof, fade resistant and chemical resistant once dry, which is why artists ink over it with watercolor. We haven't tested it ourselves.

### Are Micron pens archival?

Sakura markets Pigma ink as archival quality: pigment-based, pH neutral and fade resistant. Retailers repeat the claim; we haven't seen independent lightfastness testing.

### Can you refill a Sakura Micron?

No. The Pigma Micron is a disposable pen; Cult Pens notes that Microns are not refillable.

### Where are Sakura Micron pens made?

Unsharpen lists Japan as the country of origin. Sakura Color Products is based in Osaka, but its Japanese product page doesn't state where the pen is made.

### What colors do Sakura Micron pens come in?

Black is the main color and the only one we found in all ten sizes. Retailers also sell Microns in colors including blue and red, usually in fewer sizes.

## Sources

- [ピグマ (Sakura Japan Pigma page: 1982, the first water-based pigment marker; reference line widths by size)](https://www.craypas.com/products/regular/pigma/)
- [ピグマ０１ (Sakura Japan product page: item No. 812670, ESDK01 color code 49, JAN 4901881812675, ¥220 (about US$1.40) including tax)](https://www.craypas.com/products/lineup/detail/167.php)
- [Sakura Color Products: History of SAKURA (founded May 29, 1921)](https://craypas.com/global/100th-anniversary/history/)
- [Royal Talens: Sakura Pigma collection (sizes and colors)](https://www.royaltalens.com/collections/sakura-pigma)
- [Royal Talens: Sakura Pigma Micron Black & Gold Edition, 12 sizes](https://www.royaltalens.com/products/sakura-pigma-micron-black-gold-edition-fineliner-set-12-sizes-black)
- [JetPens: Sakura Pigma Micron Pens](https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Pigma-Micron-Pens/ct/3910)
- [JetPens: Sakura Pigma Micron Pen, size 005 (0.2 mm), black](https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Pigma-Micron-Pen-Size-005-0.2-mm-Black/pd/2056)
- [Staples: Sakura Pigma Micron 01 (0.25 mm), red, pack of 6 (ink claims)](https://www.staples.com/Sakura-Pigma-Micron-red-01-0-25-mm-Pack-of-6/product_1722372)
- [Checker Distributors: Sakura Pigma Micron set (005–08 sizes)](https://www.checkerdist.com/products/30062)
- [Cult Pens: Sakura Pigma Micron drawing pen 12](https://cultpens.com/products/sakura-pigma-micron-drawing-pen-12)
- [Art Placement: Sakura Micron sizes and line widths](https://artplacement.com/artstore/products/microns.php)
- [Unsharpen: Sakura Pigma Micron (country of origin Japan)](https://unsharpen.com/pen/sakura-pigma-micron/)
- [Pulp Addiction: Sakura Pigma Micron size 01, red](https://pulpaddiction.com.au/products/sakura-pigma-micron-pen-esdk-size-01-red)
- [JetPens: Sakura Pigma Micron size 01 (0.25 mm), blue](https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Pigma-Micron-Pen-Size-01-0.25-mm-Blue/reviews/2051)
- [Art Supplies UK: Archival quality Pigma ink (steel-clad tip)](https://www.artsupplies.co.uk/p/sakura-pigma-micron-pen-wallets)
- [Wikipedia: Sakura Color Products Corporation (Osaka headquarters; Pigma 1982)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Color_Products_Corporation)