Adult coloring books have become all the rage in recent years, as people look for ways to destress and relax. For kids, the weapon of choice for coloring books is crayons. But what about adults? Now, it may come as a surprise that you may opt for the best pens for adult coloring books!
Some might think that colored pencils or markers are the way to go. But you can actually use pens! And we’re not just talking about gel pens here! Of course, gel pens are the obvious and superior choice for adult coloring books. But you might be surprised by the other options included in the list. You’ll be able to find ballpoint pens, hybrid pens, and more!
1. Best Pens for Adult Coloring Books: Sakura
Get the basics and the very best from Sakura’s Ice Cream Smooth Gelly Roll Set. The Sakura brand has pioneered gel ink in the pen industry back in 1980. The company continues to deliver high-quality writing instruments today. With the Gelly Roll Set, you will be getting a total of 74 pens with different colors and features.
Gelly Rolls are the best pens for adult coloring books as the ink is very smooth. You can expect to get Classic pens for solid colors Moonlight for luminous ink, Stardust for that much-needed glitter, and Metallic for reflective hues. The set also includes the unique two-tone color, Gold shadow and Silver shadow. For your convenience, the Gelly Roll pens come in a plastic storage case.
2. Eraseable Pens for Adult Coloring Books: Pilot Frixion
The best pen for adult coloring books for people who tend to make mistakes is the Pilot Frixion. The Frixion line from the Japanese brand has been around for several years already. it has truly wowed when it first came out with its erasable ink. Now, Pilot has released multicolored Frixion pens with a fine point. This will make it easier for you to color in those tight spots.
The Pilot Frixion Colorsticks come with 10 different-colored gel ink pens. All of them have a 0.7mm tip and of course, thermo-sensitive ink. You can expect stunning colors from these erasable gel pens. Even if you do make mistakes, there won’t be any wear visible on your coloring book when you make erasures.
3. Marker-like Feel: Paper Mate Flair
Markers are definitely a good option for coloring books. It’s a good thing Paper Mate has come out with the Flair Pens, which feature felt tips. The American Pen company is able to give the best of both worlds by combining the pen and the marker.
Flair Pens have a 0.7mm tip that will not fray over time even with multiple uses. The ink is water-based, so don’t worry about getting it all over your hands. What’s more, the ink is quick-drying so there shouldn’t be any smears on your work. You also won’t experience any bleed-throughs on your coloring book. One set of the Paper Mate Flair comes with 24 different colored pens.
4. Works with Black Background Adult Coloring Books: Pentel Sparkle Pop
Are you the type who gets bored of solid colors? Maybe you just want a few elements in your coloring book to pop out? whatever the case, you might want to check out Pentel’s Sparkle Pop line. These pens give an iridescent effect on both black and white paper (Highly hand for coloring books that have a black background!).
Shading and filling in colors shouldn’t be too much trouble with the Pentel Sparkle Pop. The pen comes with a 1.0mm tip. It’ll be easy to create metallic colors with the Pentel Set. One set contains 8 Sparkle Pop pens that are able to deliver up to 2 shades depending on the paper of your coloring book.
5. On-the-Go Set: DasKid
The DasKid Color set is ideal if you want to color during your business trip or your vacation. The set comes with 60 different colored pens that have individual slots in a zip-up bag. Finishing up an entire coloring book? Don’t worry as the DasKid Color Set also comes with 1 refill for each pen.
The set contains different ink finishes, from solid colors to sparkly ones. The tips of the pens range from 0.8mm to 1.0mm. To allow you to color for longer, each pen has a comfort grip. If you want to keep your pens organized, each barrel has a corresponding code.
6. Extra Fine Tip: Pilot Precise
The extra fine Pilot Precise features a 0.5mm tip. This rolling ball pen has special ink that promises even flow. What’s more, the semi-transparent barrel of the pen allows you to see how much ink you have left!
With the Pilot Precise V5 Set, you’ll be getting 10 different colored pens that include green, turquoise, and purple. You can expect vibrant and stunning shades from this set. While using with coloring books, ink glides smoothly and will dry quickly.
7. Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Books: Feela
One of the reasons why others steer clear from pens for coloring is because they usually have limited colors. Most people even think pens are limited to black, blue, and red. You can throw that assumption out the window with Feela’s Super Value Gel Pen Pack.
If you are a fan of colors, check out Feela’s Super Value Gel Pen Pack. You will be getting a total of 180 pens plus 180 refills. You’ll be able to get pens that have tips ranging from 0.6mm to 1.0mm. What’s more, you won’t just be getting standard colors, this gel pen pack also has Swirls, Pastels, Neons, and more. The Feela Gel Set offers long-lasting pens. And if you ever run out, remember, there’s a refill for each color.
8. Calligraphy Pens: Kuretake
The Kuretake is one of the best pens for adult coloring books. Why? Because it’s like having 2 pens (or markers!) in one. Each Kuretake pen has dual tips, one is 3.5mm while the other is 2.0mm. This allows you to fill in small details with precision and larger designs that much faster.
Thanks to its water-based ink, you can actually blend the colors of the Kuretake. Your coloring book will seem as if you used watercolor instead of a pen. Just make sure that the coloring book you get has only 1 design for each page instead of back-to-back ones.
9. Skip-Free Ink: Pentel RSVP
The beauty of the adult coloring book is, there really isn’t one rule to do it. Instead of filling spaces full of ink, why not place tiny dots? Jagged or broken lines? It’s all up to you. If you feel like experimenting on different pen strokes, opt for Pentel’s RSVP. It promises smooth lines so there shouldn’t be any “skipping” to say the least.
One pack of the Pentel RSVP will get you 8 pens in assorted colors. Each pen has a comfort grip that is free from latex (hurray for those with latex allergies). It also has a 1.0mm stainless steel tip. Expect smooth and vivid-colored ink from the RSVP pen.
10. Best Ballpoint Pens for Adult Coloring Books: Pilot Acroball
Pilot has been innovating writing instruments for decades. One of the best pens for coloring books is the Acroball. What makes it so different or special? For starters, it’s a ballpoint pen, not a gel pen and it has advanced ink that is actually resistant to smearing. You can expect a smooth coloring or shading experience with these pens.
The Pilot Acroball Set comes with 10 pens in assorted colors, the barrel matches the ink! The retractable pens have comfort grips and don’t require those pesky caps that usually get lost in the chaos. The point of the Acroball is 1.0mm.
Picking the Best Pens for Adult Coloring Books
Picking the best pens for adult coloring books can be a daunting task. The right pen will depend on factors such as your desired use (e.g., do you want to color in large areas of black space, or fill in intricate details?), the type of paper that you are using (e.g., is it smooth or textured?), and what kind of coloring book you plan to use (e.g., is it a black background coloring book?).
The best pens for adult coloring books will ultimately rely on your preference in the end. Even if a pen gets rave reviews but it’s not really working with your shading or coloring style, then it’s not really the best now, is it?
Ready to get coloring? Check out mandala coloring books that feature unique, hand-drawn designs that are printed on high-quality paper—no bleed throughs and with perforations for easy tearing.