An inkjet recording ink including a pigment dispersion liquid containing at least a first carbon black and a dispersant, a second carbon black, a penetrant, a wetting agent and water, wherein the first carbon black has an average particle diameter D50 of 70 nm to 180 nm as measured by a dynamic light scattering method and has a particle diameter standard deviation equal to or smaller than ½ of the average particle diameter, wherein the dispersant is a condensate of naphthalene sulfonic acid and formalin, wherein the second carbon black is carbon black coated with a resin, and wherein the penetrant is a 2-ethyl-1,3-hexandiol.