You might be wondering, why do you need the best markers for adult coloring books? How important is the choice of marker to you when it comes to coloring? Having nice markers that don’t bleed through the page is a very high priority. And I’m sure many of you can appreciate a great-looking finished project, so having the best markers is a must.
Apart from that, the best markers for adult coloring books are tools or instruments that actually work for you. Everyone has a preference, that’s for sure. Some have better control over 0.4mm-tipped markers while others prefer chiseled or broad tips.
It also depends on the actual adult coloring book that you are going to color. For images that have bigger spaces to fill in, a fine-liner marker would take forever to use for coloring. It’s best to have markers that can cover up spaces in one sweep for these. If you are looking for a bit of a coloring challenge? Check out the best mandala coloring books for fine details.
The list below includes some of the best markers for adult coloring books, including basic markers to sparkly or versatile ones and more:
1. Best Markers for Adult Coloring Books: Crayola Markers
The Crayola brand has been synonymous with crayons but that doesn’t mean the company has limited its products to that coloring material alone. Crayola has come up with the Fine Line Markers, which are designed for adult coloring books.
The Crayola Fine Line Marker Set contains 40 markers with fine tips. It’ll be easy to color tight spaces and corners. You can expect long-lasting and vibrant colors from these permanent markers that include hues like Infra Red, Crocodile Green, Wild Orchid, Elephant Gray, and Parrot Pink.
2. Versatile Coloring: Sharpie S-Note
The Sharpie name has always been linked to versatile markers. However, they might not be ideal for papers that are quite thin. Good thing that the brand has introduced the Sharpie S-Note. These creative markers have a chisel tip, which allows you to create both broad and thin lines.
The Sharpie S-Note is versatile as it can be used for drawing, highlighting, underlining, and of course, coloring. Your coloring book will have a clean look as the S-Note uses no-bleed ink! One set contains 24 colored markers that deliver a bit of an opaque hue.
3. Dual-Tip Coloring Markers: Caliart Markers
Enjoy coloring a wide range of designs with Caliart Markers. The dual-tip markers allow you to color with fine tip nibs on one side and brush tips on the other. With replaceable nibs, you can work with markers that have a tip with a size of 1mm to 5mm.
The Caliart Markers set may contain 72 markers but it’s like having 144, thanks to the dual ends. All of the markers come in a neat storage, which you can take along with you easily. With high-quality ink, the Caliart markers can be blended but won’t leave you with any smudges.
4. Best Markers for Coloring with Grip: BIC Mark-it
Do you have trouble holding on to your markers? Not to worry as BIC Mark-it Gripster comes with a textured rubber grip. This means you can color much longer without your hands cramping up. The markers will also not slide off easily from your hands.
The unique snap-cap on the BIC markers will also help in keeping color for longer. It’s really annoying when markers dry up easily. This set contains 12 fine markers that are non-toxic and low-odor plus ink that is acid-free.
5. For the Messy Artists: Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers
They say art and chaos go hand in hand. If you tend to make a bit of a color mess when you use your adult coloring books, fear not. Opt for Crayola’s Ultra Clean Washable Markers. No matter if your hands turn into a color swatch or an abstract piece, know that you can easily wash them off once you are done.
Crayola’s Ultra Clean Washable Markers can also be removed from most fabrics and even painted walls! One set contains 40 colors that include vivid colors like Orange Circuit, Laser Lemon, Dolphin Gray, and Blue Lagoon.
6. Super Colors: Hethrone 120
Are you the type to really get into detail when coloring? Get the most of the hues with the Hethrone 120, one of the best markers for adult coloring books. One set comes with 120 colors. What’s more, each marker has 2 sides: a 1-2mm brush and a 0.4 fine tip. You can expect strong pigments from the markers, each of which can color up to 400 yards.
The Hethrone 120 uses water-based ink so there shouldn’t be any smell coming off of the markers. At the same time, it will produce fast-drying, non-toxic, and acid-free colors. The markers come neatly in a tin tray with individual slots—portable and organized.
7. Adding Some Shimmer: Shuttle Art Metallic Markers
When you are coloring, sometimes it needs a little bit of shimmer. Think details like a belt, hardware, the glistening of water. Good thing there are Metallic Markers from Shuttle Art. One of the best things about these markers is they can actually be used on black pages—yes, there are actually adult coloring books with black backgrounds!
The Shuttle Art Metallic Set contains 30 markers. You can color smoothly as these markers have free-flowing ink. At the same time, the ink is quick-drying which can prevent any smudging or smearing on your work. These acid-free markers are also non-toxic so you can let your kids borrow them!
8. Won’t Roll Away: Studio Series Fine-Line Marker
Again, not all artists can be neat all the time. Once you color in with one marker, you might just leave it on the table (cap-off!) and then proceed to use another. Now, if you find yourself picking up your markers on the floor as they keep rolling away, you might want to look into the Studio Series Fine-Line Marker.
This set solves the problem of markers getting away from you as they come with hexagonal barrels as opposed to the traditional round ones. Hexagonal barrels also offer another advantage, which is to provide you with a more comfortable and better grip.
9. Best Bright Markers for Adult Coloring Books: Cra-Z-Art Neon
Do you want your coloring book pages to really stand out? Make the colors pop out of the pages with the Cra-Z-Art Neon Markers. These markers have a broad tip, which is great for coloring in big spaces (like backgrounds). They are also non-toxic and the ink is water-based. One set gets you 8 bright colored markers!
10. Thick and Thin Coloring: Crayola Super Tips
Get the best of both worlds when coloring with the Crayola Super Tips. This set offers one of the best markers for adult coloring books as they can produce both thicker and thinner lines. You just need to change the angle of the marker so you can fill in the tiniest of details or color bigger spaces.
You’ll be getting 100 different colors with the Crayola Super Tips set for all of your shading needs. Don’t worry if your kids get into the set as the markers are actually washable and are non-toxic, too.
11. For Clean and Crisp Coloring: BIC Intensity
The BIC Intensity Markers are designed for precision. With 0.4mm tips, you can get into tight corners and small dots with ease. What’s more, you can expect a vivid flow of color from the markers. Depending on the pages of your coloring book, there shouldn’t be any bleed-through onto the next pages. It’s really annoying when you color one page and then it seeps into the next design.
If you have a bit of a heavy hand when it comes to coloring, don’t worry about the BIC Intensity Markers as they have metal nibs. The ink of the markers is also non-toxic and water-based.
12. Sparkling Adult Coloring Books: INC Glitter Markers
Put some sparkle into your work with INC’s glitter markers. Think of a sparkle of a tooth or a glint of a tear. These markers give you that much-needed glitter to make your work scintillate. They have rounded bullet tips that use non-toxic and water-based glitter ink. Just make sure you “prime” the marker before using it so all that glitter pours out (shake and push the tip).
13. Just Like Painting: Sharpie Brush Tip Marker
If you aren’t used to coloring with markers why not give Sharpie’s Brush Tip Marker a try? You can create bold strokes and fine lines with just one marker. This Sharpie product is fade-resistant and more importantly, quick-drying so you won’t make any smears on your work.
You can expect a smooth shading and coloring experience with the Sharpie Brush Tip Marker. The tip is pliant just like a paintbrush but you still have control over it like a regular marker. One set gives you 12 different colors that include Turquoise, Lime, Purple, and Berry!
14. Budget-Friendly Coloring Choice: Sargent Art Classic Markers
You don’t need to break the bank to have an enjoyable coloring experience. If you are on a budget, Sargent Art offers the best markers for adult coloring books. The brand offers a good-value set that comes with 50 classic markers that have fine tips. If you need to color small spaces, just hold the marker straight. For bigger spaces, hold the marker at an angle to deliver wider strokes.
The water-based Sargent Art Markers produce superior color and pigment. The safe and non-toxic markers also have vented caps, so you can allow younger artists to use them. These markers are also durable and have nibs that are long-lasting.
15. For the Marker Sniffers: Smarkers Scented Markers
If you are the type who likes the smell of markers, why not check out Smarkers? These markers have gourmet scents so you can color with a pleasant smell lingering in the air. One set gets you 16 different colors with accompanying scents, such as Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Apple, Coconut, and Blackberry. Have a delicious time coloring with Smarkers Scented Markers!
Choosing the Best Markers for Adult Coloring Books
Adult coloring books have been rising in popularity for years. But how do you choose which markers are best suited to use with your new coloring book? Now that you have seen some of the best markers for adult coloring books, it’s time to narrow down your options. Here are 5 things to consider when choosing your next set of colored markers:
1. Are the markers acid-free? This is important if you plan on framing your finished work. (Good thing there are coloring books that have one-sided pages and perforations for easy and clean tearing.)
2. Do the markers have a wide variety of colors? Definitely, a must if you are into some colorful patterns!
3. How opaque are the markers? The hues of shading will depend on how you want your artwork to end up. If you want solid colors, don’t go for lighter shades as coloring a marker again and again over one spot may cause holes to appear on the paper.
4. Is the ink washable? This is important if you tend to color beyond the lines (and the pages). If you accidentally color on your table or clothes (or wall, hey it happens!), do consider washable ink.
5. Are the markers easy to hold and comfortable to use? The best markers for adult coloring books should have long, ergonomically designed handles if you don’t want a cramping hand something that can be avoided with a cushy grip instead. Coloring is supposed to be fun and stress-relieving, not strenuous.
If you are a fan of filling in blank spaces, why not try diamond painting? It’s a good arts and crafts project if you don’t want to be bothered with thinking up color patterns on your own.