The 6 best sharpie markers for both art and everyday use

Everyone needs a good sharpie! Permanent markers can be used for both everyday use and in art projects. And as you’ll see, not only the brand Sharpie makes “sharpies“.

In this carefully curated collection, our editor has found the best sharpies money can buy in 2021.

#1: Sharpie Permanent Markers, 12 Colors

Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 12 Count

You can’t mention permanent markers without mentioning the brand of Sharpie. After all, permanent markers are called Sharpies! This set of 12 Sharpies come in bright, colorful inks. The tips of these Sharpies are durable and deliver bold, detailed lines. The ink dries quickly to avoid smearing. The ink is water resistant and works on almost any surface, also those otherwise hard to mark. 12 colors: Black, Blue, Turquoise, Green, Lime, Aqua, Yellow, Orange, Red, Berry, Purple and Brown. If that doesn’t fit your need, Sharpie has a large number of other product options.

#2: BIC Metallic Permanent Markers, 8 colors

BIC Marking Permanent Marker, Metallic, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 8-Count

The BIC metallic marker set of 8 ACMI-approved and non-toxic permanent markers will add sparkle and color to your art and design projects. The ink marks clearly on both light and dark surfaces, gives almost no odor and draws with fine points well suited for detail work. The markers have a soft rubber grip and are American made. Users appreciate them for the continued flow of ink and their good durability.

#3: Ohuhu Dual Tip 40-Color Markers

Ohuhu 40-Color Alcohol Marker, Dual Tips

These popular Ohuhu markers come in 3 different box sets of either 40, 60 or 80 vivid colors. The have dual tips (one tip on each end – with a cap on it) which allows you to draw with either a large slanted tip or a fine-point tip. This allows you to create and in various styles. The ink dries quickly and is built to last. The markers come with color coded caps to avoid confusion, and are stored and transported in a stylish carrying case.

#4: Prismacolor Premier Double-Ended Art Markers

Prismacolor 3620 Premier Double-Ended Art Markers, Fine and Chisel Tip, 12-Count

These Prismacolor sharpies come highly rated by users. They are high-quality double-ended art markers with both a fine and a chisel tip. Users love these as their preferred marker brand. They are also quite expensive, but for a good reason. Noticeable quote:

“The ink is really great in the sense that it doesn’t look stripey and you can go over the same spot a bit without it leaving steaks / darker areas.”

#5: Amazon Basics Fine Point Tip Permanent Markers

Amazon Basics Fine Point Tip Permanent Markers

These Amazon Basics Fine Point Tip permanent markers is a good, affordable choice. You can choose between a 12-set and a 24-set, and choose between assorted colors or only black markers. In reviews, they are used for both art projects and everyday use, and reportedly they don’t smell as much as most other permanent markets.

#6: Paint Pen Sharpies

Sharpie - Fine Point Paint Marker [Set of 3], Black, Permanent, Quick drying

Sometimes you need a Paint Pen sharpie. In this set of 3, you get 3 paint pens, no fuss. User reviews mention that paint pen sharpies will write on just about anything, even galvanized steel, bottles etc. Since these are paint pens, they have to be “primed” (shaken and tested) before use.

What to look for when buying permanent markers

Everyday use or art? Sometimes you just need a black sharpie in the drawer to mark up that cardboard box. But for detailed drawing and art work, you will appreciate dual-tip, large set markers in many colors.

Set size: Consider if you want just a single marker or a set with 10 or 12. Markers tend to get lost, so make sure you get at least a couple.

Colors: It’s often a good idea to have multiple colors for markers, but still the most common and used color is black.

Metallic: It’s possible to get metallic permanent markers for a different and more vivid impression. They have a tendency to dry up quickly, so make sure you need the metallic feature.

Style: Ultrafine, fine, medium, large, thick, slanted. It depends on what you need to draw.

Tip#1: Art or Everyday? Sometimes, you just need a black sharpie.

Flip-chart friendly: Some markers like these Sharpies are especially made for flipcharts with wider accented tips and bright but classic colors. This is the type you need for flipchart presentations.

Non-toxic: It’s a good thing to look for non-toxic markers, especially if you want the marker to be around kids who like to draw on their skin, their tongues or your favorite couch.

Dualtip: Some permanent markers like Ohuhu have dual tips. This is very practical if you use the markers for creating artwork and need to do both detail and underlining.

Carrying box or container: Especially for art drawing marker sets, you will quickly appreciate a good carrying box. Read reviews to learn about build quality of the case. The storage and transportation is important for the life of the markers.

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