Markers for Adult Coloring: Which Set Should You Buy?

The best markers for adult coloring depend on your paper, your hands and how much fine detail your pages have. This page puts 10 sets side by side so you only have to choose once.

The notes here come from each set’s review page. They are not lab tests, and I make no claim that I have used every set. Most reviews are several years old, so ranges and prices may have changed.

Start with what matters most to you. Each card opens that set’s review.

If You Want Fine Detail

Fineliners suit small spaces and intricate pages. Four of the water-based sets have a fine tip. Stabilo point 88 is the 0.4mm set with up to 30 colors. Its review lists limited bleed-through on many papers and color numbers on the barrel. The catches are a scratchy, stiff feel at first and paper that can pill if you go over one spot again and again. It sits at the $$$ tier.

Staedtler triplus has a 0.3mm tip, a triangular barrel and 42 colors. The review lists limited bleed-through or shadowing too. It is also scratchy at first, and the small tip is slow on big areas. It sits at the $$$ tier.

Faber-Castell GRIP Finepens have a 0.4mm tip and a triangular barrel that will not roll off the desk. The set is 20 colors, and the range is limited. The review lists some bleed-through and shadowing on standard printer paper. It sits at the $$ tier.

Faber-Castell Connector pens have a medium tip with a relatively fine point, and up to 100 colors. The review covers a 36-color set. It lists fast-drying ink, a good color range and some bleed-through on standard printer paper. Large areas can look streaky. It sits at the $$ tier.

If Bleed-Through Worries You

Every marker can show through thin paper, but the reviews differ. Staedtler Noris Club 326 lists limited bleed-through on many paper types, including basic printer paper. It has a 1.0mm bullet tip, fast-drying ink and up to 26 colors, though the range has no pastels. Large areas can look streaky. It sits at the $$ tier.

The Art-n-Fly Dual Tip Fineliners (opens in a new tab) go the other way. They have a 0.4mm fine tip and a brush tip, in a set of 12. The review reports significant bleed-through on standard weight paper, which makes double-sided books impractical. The brush tips can fray, and the caps are hard to remove. It sits at the $$ tier.

If You Want to Blend

Alcohol-based markers blend best, and these reviews say so. Ohuhu Honolulu B has a brush tip and a fine bullet tip. The review covers a 120-color set with a colorless blender, and the set includes a plastic backing sheet, swatch cards and a carry bag. The review lists smooth ink flow, fast drying and no streaks. It also says the markers bleed through most papers, have a slight odor and have caps that can be hard to remove.

TOUCHNEW Sketch Markers are alcohol-based too, with a fine bullet tip and a broad chisel tip (a brush version exists). Sets go up to 168 colors. The review lists a wide color range, smooth flow and good blending, and says they bleed through many papers, including thicker card stock. The caps can be hard to remove. The ink is not refillable. A few user reports mention pens drying out.

If You Color Large Areas

Bullet tips cover space faster than fine tips. Bic Marking has a 1.1mm bullet tip, a rubber comfort grip and a foldable case for the 24 and 36 sets. The review lists smooth, fast-drying ink that does not streak, and says it is hard to use for very detailed areas. It bleeds through many papers, including thicker card stock, and has a slight odor. It sits at the $$ tier.

Sharpie Fine Point is the other alcohol-based, permanent option. The review lists vibrant color, smooth flow and a lid color that matches the ink. It also says it has a strong scent, bleeds through many papers and struggles with very detailed areas. It sits at the $$ tier.

If Your Hands Get Tired

Pressure and caps both matter. The Bic Marking, Ohuhu and Sharpie reviews say the marker needs no pressure and may suit fine motor, hand or arm problems. The Art-n-Fly review also lists no pressure, but its caps can be very hard to remove. The GRIP, triplus and Stabilo reviews say the pen needs good fine motor control and may not be the best choice with fine motor issues. The Connector, Noris Club and TOUCHNEW reviews do not say.

For grip, posture and break tips, read Color Pain Free and Safely (opens in a new tab). This is general advice, not medical advice. If coloring hurts, ask your doctor or physio.

↑ Back to Table of Contents

The ink decides how a marker behaves. Alcohol-based markers are usually permanent, flow smoothly and blend. Water-based markers are usually fineliners with a firmer tip, and they suit detail. Neither is better for every page.

What the Reviews Say

• Alcohol-based (4): Bic Marking, Ohuhu Honolulu B, Sharpie Fine Point and TOUCHNEW. All four reviews say they bleed through many papers, and that double-sided coloring book pages are unusable.
• Water-based (6): Art-n-Fly, Faber-Castell Connector, Faber-Castell GRIP, Staedtler Noris Club 326, Staedtler triplus and Stabilo point 88. They are fast drying and do not smear. Noris Club, triplus and Stabilo list limited bleed-through. Art-n-Fly lists significant bleed-through.

So Which Should You Pick?

Pick alcohol for smooth color, big areas and blending, and plan on a backing sheet and heavier paper. Pick water-based for detail and for less bleed-through on ordinary paper. The table below shows both.

Every cell comes from that set’s review page. “Not stated” means the review does not say. On a phone, scroll the table sideways.

Price tiers, from the reviews: $$ is AUD $5 to $20 (US $3.76 to $15). $$$ is AUD $20 to $50 (US $15 to $40). The Ohuhu and TOUCHNEW reviews give no tier. Prices shift with sales and shops, so check before you buy. “Hands” repeats what each review says about fine motor, hand or arm problems.

↑ Back to Table of Contents

Each review has pros, cons, a price range and a look at the markers in use.

Water-Based Sets

Alcohol-Based Sets

↑ Back to Table of Contents

Two pages help you compare sets without opening every review. Test Pictures for Marker Pens (opens in a new tab) puts the markers to work on the same picture. Color Charts for Marker Pens (opens in a new tab) shows the colors in each set.

Want to know why some colors sit well together? Try the beginner guide to color wheel harmonies (opens in a new tab).

Bleed-through is the most common complaint in these reviews, so paper matters as much as the marker. Put a backing sheet behind the page you are coloring, so ink cannot reach the page underneath. Heavier, smooth paper helps too. The paper guide’s quick table lists 215 to 270gsm or more (80 to 100lb cover weight) for markers, and says thin uncoated paper is the main cause of bleed-through.

The paper guide covers markers and gel pens (opens in a new tab), has a fix for bleed-through (opens in a new tab) and a quick table by medium (opens in a new tab).

↑ Back to Table of Contents

↑ Back to Table of Contents

• Colored Pencils (opens in a new tab): 14 sets compared
• Gel Pens (opens in a new tab): sets compared
• Paper for Adult Coloring (opens in a new tab): the right paper for each medium
• Color Pain Free and Safely (opens in a new tab): grip, posture and breaks
• Getting Started (opens in a new tab): first steps for new colorists
• Coloring Supplies (opens in a new tab): compare the options
• Accessories (opens in a new tab): cases, sharpeners and more
• Beginner Guide to Color Wheel Harmonies (opens in a new tab)

↑ Back to Table of Contents