The 15 best felt pens brands
Paper Mate, Sharpie and Pentel lead our ranking of 15 felt pens brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Felt Pens brands, ranked
TSCentral is reader-supported: we may earn a commission when you shop through links on this page. It does not affect the ranking.
-
1
Paper Mate
Sold in office and school stationery aisles, alongside its ballpoint and InkJoy gel pens for everyday writing.
Top products: Flair Felt Tip Pens
Website: papermate.com |Brands like Paper Mate
Popularity 10.0/10
-
2
Sharpie
Fine-point felt tips sold in multipacks, with fast-drying ink that works on most surfaces, plus gel pens.
Top products: Felt Tip Pensยท S-Gel
Website: sharpie.com |Brands like Sharpie
Popularity 6.2/10
-
3
Pentel
Refillable brush and fineliner pens, with a range that suits artists and everyday writers alike.
Website: pentel.com |Brands like Pentel
Popularity 3.6/10
-
4
Zebra
Retractable felt pens in pastel shades with a bullet tip, aimed at colouring and craft rather than office writing.
Top products: Clickart Retractable Felt Pens
Website: zebra.com |Brands like Zebra
Popularity 2.4/10
-
5
Sakura
Pigma Micron is the archival fineliner artists use for technical drawing, with pigmented ink that resists fading.
Top products: Pigma Micron
Popularity 1.0/10
-
6
Tombow
Japanese art-supply maker whose dual brush pens and markers suit lettering, sketching and planner work.
Website: tombowusa.com |Brands like Tombow
Popularity 0.9/10
-
7
Pilot Pen
Writing-instrument maker with fine-line felt tips and gel pens, a good pick for smooth everyday note-taking.
Website: pilotpen.us |Brands like Pilot Pen
Popularity 0.5/10
-
8
Crayola
Kids' marker range with washable colours, a familiar choice for school and home art projects.
Website: shop.crayola.com |Brands like Crayola
Popularity 0.4/10
-
9
Markal
Majority of the world's biggest industries or factories need to write stuff like machine numbers, uses, and other necessary details on various factory devices. Due to the variety of materials the devices are made of, most pens don't work on...
Website: markal.com |Brands like Markal
Popularity 0.4/10
-
10
BIC
Budget-friendly felt markers in bold colours, mostly for whiteboards and general marking jobs.
Popularity 0.1/10
-
11
Kuretake
Brush-tip pens from this maker give expressive strokes for calligraphy and manga-style lettering.
Website: kuretake.co.jp |Brands like Kuretake
Popularity 0.1/10
-
12
TOUCH FIVE
Dual-tip alcohol-style markers with broad and fine ends, aimed at students and hobby colouring.
Popularity 0.1/10
-
13
Staedtler
German maker whose felt pens cover writing, drawing and permanent marking, from school use to technical work.
Website: staedtler.com |Brands like Staedtler
Popularity 0.1/10
-
14
Sanford
Sanford supplies cleaning and janitorial products, office products, and food service supplies, along with skincare products. Sanford is also the maker of Prismacolor, and its art range includes pencils and markers. The company also sells shipping labels to businesses and...
Website: catalog.sanfordcompany.com |Brands like Sanford
Popularity 0.1/10
-
15
Nuvo
Nuvo builds lighting fixtures, vanity lights and light bulbs, and it operates as part of Satco. The brand's designs range from indoor fixtures to outdoor lighting. Satco has made lighting since 1958, and Nuvo products carry the same quality standards...
Website: nuvolightinglights.com |Brands like Nuvo
Popularity 0.1/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Mate | papermate.com | – | – | – | – |
| Sharpie | sharpie.com | /Sharpie | sharpie | @sharpie | SharpieUS |
| Pentel | pentel.com | – | pentelofamerica | – | – |
| Zebra | zebra.com | /177371598973 | – | @zebratechnology | – |
| Tombow | tombowusa.com | /tombowusa | explore | @tombowusa | – |
| Pilot Pen | pilotpen.us | /pilotpen | pilotpenusa | @PilotPenUSA | – |
| Crayola | shop.crayola.com | /Crayola | – | @crayola | CrayolaLLC |
| Markal | markal.com | /laco.plumbing | – | – | Tempilstik |
Felt Pens Buying Guide: A Must-Read for Art Enthusiasts
Felt pens, also known as markers or coloring pens, are widely used by artists, designers, writers, and students. They come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and types, making them versatile tools for different applications. Whether you're starting your art journey or you're a seasoned artist, investing in a quality felt pen set can make a huge difference in your work. But with so many options available in the market, how do you choose the right one? This felt pens buying guide will help you make an informed decision.
Type of Felt Pens
Before buying your felt pens set, it's crucial to understand the types of felt pens available in the market.
1. Water-Based Felt Pens
Water-based felt pens are made with a water-soluble ink that dries quickly on paper. They come in various colors, ranging from pastel shades to bright and vibrant hues. These felt pens are ideal for creating drawings, sketches, and coloring books. They don't bleed through paper, making them suitable for any type of paper, especially thin papers. They're also easy to blend and layer, allowing you to create unique colors and shading effects.
2. Alcohol-Based Felt Pens
Alcohol-based felt pens are made with a fast-drying ink that's resistant to water and smudging. They have a more intense color payoff and are suitable for creating precise lines, highlights, and shadows. They're also ideal for coloring illustrations, comic books, and graphic designs. However, these felt pens tend to bleed through thin paper and may not be suitable for coloring books or journals.
3. Oil-Based Felt Pens
Oil-based felt pens are made with an oil-based ink that flows smoothly on paper. They have a more vibrant color payoff and are suitable for creating bold and vivid lines. They're also ideal for creating calligraphy, lettering, and outlining. However, these felt pens tend to dry slower than water-based and alcohol-based felt pens, making them unsuitable for blending or layering.
Tip Sizes and Shapes
The tip size and shape of your felt pens can affect the type of lines and strokes you create.
1. Fine Tip
Fine tip felt pens have a smaller point size, typically between 0.1mm to 0.8mm. They're ideal for creating fine details, outlines, and writing. They're also suitable for coloring small areas, such as in coloring books and journals. However, these felt pens may not be suitable for creating bold strokes or filling large areas.
2. Medium Tip
Medium tip felt pens have a point size between 0.8mm to 1.2mm. They're ideal for creating thicker lines, bold strokes, and coloring medium-sized areas. They're also suitable for creating calligraphy, lettering, and outlining. However, these felt pens may not be suitable for creating fine details or coloring small areas.
3. Broad Tip
Broad tip felt pens have a larger point size, typically between 1.2mm to 3mm. They're ideal for creating large areas, bold strokes, and coloring backgrounds. They're also suitable for creating posters, murals, and signs. However, these felt pens may not be suitable for creating fine details or outlines.
4. Bullet Tip
Bullet tip felt pens have a conical point shape that allows you to create both thin and thick lines. They're ideal for creating precise lines, outlining, and writing. They're also suitable for coloring small and medium-sized areas. However, these felt pens may not be suitable for creating broad strokes or coloring large areas.
5. Chisel Tip
Chisel tip felt pens have a flat chisel-shaped point that allows you to create both thin and broad strokes. They're ideal for creating calligraphy, lettering, and outlining. They're also suitable for coloring large areas and backgrounds. However, these felt pens may not be suitable for creating fine details or outlining.
Ink Quality and Pigments
The quality of the ink and pigments used in felt pens can affect the vibrancy and longevity of your artwork.
1. Ink Quality
Good quality felt pens should have a smooth flow of ink that doesn't skip or blob. The ink should also be water-resistant, non-fading, and non-toxic. It's important to choose felt pens with acid-free or archival-quality ink, especially if you plan to create artwork that lasts for a long time.
2. Pigments
The pigments used in felt pens affect the color vibrancy and opacity. Good quality felt pens should have high-quality pigments that don't fade or change color over time. It's also important to choose felt pens with lightfast pigments if you plan to display your artwork in sunlight.
Brand Reputation and Price
The brand reputation and price of felt pens can vary depending on the quality and features of the product.
1. Brand Reputation
It's important to choose a reputable brand when buying felt pens. Popular brands such as Faber-Castell, Staedtler, Copic, and Sharpie are known for their high-quality felt pens and ink. They also offer a range of colors, tip sizes, and types to suit different preferences and budgets.
2. Price
The price of felt pens can vary depending on the brand, type, and quality of the product. High-quality felt pens may be pricier than low-quality ones, but they offer better ink flow, color vibrancy, and longevity. It's important to choose felt pens that fit your budget, but don't compromise on quality.
Conclusion
Investing in a good quality felt pen set can enhance your artwork and make your creative journey more enjoyable. When buying felt pens, consider the type of pen, tip size and shape, ink quality and pigments, brand reputation, and price. With these factors in mind, you can choose felt pens that suit your preferences, style, and budget. Happy coloring and creating!
