I Tested Every Marker I Could Find … and the Results Are IN!
At the end of 2022, I tested every coloured pencil I could find to figure out which one was the best. Now, I’ve done it again—this time with markers, searching for the best options across various categories, like the best water-based markers, best alcohol-based markers, best markers for colouring, among others.
I tested a whopping 2,872 markers from 90+ brands against 15 different criteria, from blending and layering abilities, to streakiness and even smell. Since there’s so much to cover, I’ve broken this guide down into an easy-to-navigate mini website to help you find the best markers for any project.
Below, you’ll find all the performance details and results for each marker I tested.
You can watch my full video review or scroll down to explore specific brands and test results.
To make browsing easier and improve load times, this blog is split into separate pages covering different categories, allowing you to jump to the sections that matter most to you. Don’t forget to bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need it!
This research has been a massive undertaking, so this article is currently under construction while my team and I gather all the information we have collected and build it into a format that’s easy for you to read! Check back frequently for more updates!
PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you click them (at no cost to you). Some of these markers were given to me by brands, and others I purchased myself. You can find a full list of the markers I was given at the bottom of this article. None of these brands are associated with this review in any way, and all views are my own.
Markers by Brand
Acrylic Paint Pens
Full breakdown and links coming soon
Arrtx Acrylic
Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens – Extra Fine Tip
Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens – Medium Tip
Artistro Brush Paint Pens
Karin Pigment Realbrush
Sharpie Creative Marker
Tooli-Art Acrylic Paint Pens
Uni Posca
Everything Else
Full breakdown and links coming soon
Amazon Basic Chalk Markers
BiC Marking Permanent Marker
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen – Brush
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Dual Marker
Ohuhu Hana Highway Colored Fine Line Pens
Pentel Arts Dual Metallic Brush
Permapaque
Sharpie Permanent
Staedtler Pigment Arts Brush Pen
Tombow Twin Tone
Zebra Clickart Retractable Marker Pen
Zebra Midliner
Zig Clean Color Dot
All the Testing
After all this testing, I’ve selected winners across various categories of markers. You can find the finalists in the video above, but I’ll also be updating this series of articles to include these finalists here, along with more detailed information on the results and top picks.
Here are some of the tests I did to determine the best markers:
Blending
Mastering how to blend markers can unlock endless possibilities for your artwork. But not all markers blend the same way. With the right paper and technique, most markers can blend effectively, but some brands make it easier and produce better results for both beginners and professionals. Through multiple tests, I identified which markers were the easiest to blend smoothly, for both alcohol and water-based categories.
Layering
Layering markers allows for greater depth and richness in colour, enabling you to build up shades, blend colours together, and create interesting lighting techniques or realism. I tested how well different markers layer without streaking or damaging the paper, making it easier to achieve realistic textures and detailed artwork.
Colour Accuracy
Have you ever used a marker and been surprised (and frustrated) that the colour wasn’t what you expected? Colour accuracy can be one of those frustrating things that ruins your art, whether you’re working on a detailed illustration or a colouring page. I tested how well each marker’s actual ink colour matches the colour of the packaging.
Streakiness
It’s already hard to create smooth layers of colour with markers, so it’s important to find a marker that helps this process, not makes it worse. I tested how each brand of marker compared when using the same paper and timing, to find the best markers for streak-free coverage—ideal for large areas of colour or when blending.
Lightfastness
If you’re creating artwork meant to be displayed or sold, lightfastness is crucial to ensure your colours don’t fade over time. I started a thorough lightfast test using the industry-standard blue wool method, to measure the fading amount (and speed) of different markers. I tested which markers are best at maintaining their vibrancy when exposed to light, so your art stays as bold and beautiful as the day you created it.
I can’t wait to read about the comparison!