Best felt tip pens 2019: from brush pens to fine-tip pens
FELT TIP PENS have so many uses, whether you have kids in the house who are vying to be the next Picasso or you’re planning to get crafty this Christmas and design your own cards, decorations and more.
Felt tips are also essential for any students and eco-activists – you want to make sure your colours look sharp on your posters at the next march you attend – and for any DIY brides- and grooms-to-be in need of some professional-looking calligraphy tools to create place cards and invites.
Felt tip pens are now also a key ingredient in modern-day self-care, as devotees of bullet journaling will tell you.
There are over 4.4 million posts tagged #bulletjournal on Instagram, detailing the colourful doodles, to-do lists and drawings that combine organisation and creativity to make up a bullet journal – which many insist are life-changers, and even life-savers.
When it comes to buying felt tip pens, we think it all comes down to strength in numbers: they will dry out (and if you have children who never put the caps back on, this will happen sooner rather than later), so having a great selection in terms of colour and versatility is key since you’ll never know when you’re going to need them.
The main dilemma with felt tip pens is whether or not to invest more up front for top-quality pens with lasting potential, or to spend £1 and hope for the best.
We’ve rounded up a selection to suit all budgets and needs, from crafty kids to professional artists.
This article and featured products have been independently chosen by Sun journalists. It contains links which are ads, and if you click a link and buy a product we will earn revenue.
1. Best budget felt tip pens
A great starter pack, these felt tip pens come in a pleasing range of bright colours and an even more pleasing price point.
Reviewers say they’re ‘Really good pens, amazing price!!’ and ‘Great colours last a long time colouring and drawing’. Job done.
- Felt Tip Markers – Pack Of 20, for £20 on The Works – buy here
2. Best felt tip pens for fabrics
These fabric fibre pens can be used on pillowcases, T-shirts, baseball caps, fabric trainers, tote bags, fabric pencil cases and more, to breathe new life into tired clothes, make a personalised gift for someone or just occupy a group of friends or crafty kids one afternoon. They also work a treat for a child’s birthday – everyone can design their own T-shirt to take home (saves you needing an entertainer and a goodie bag!).
Once you’ve done your artwork, iron over to make the design heat-safe.
- Giotto Fabric Pens – Box of 48, for £28.95 on Baker Ross – buy here
3. Best permanent felt tip pens
When it comes to reliable brands for felt tip markers that work, last and come in a fabulous array of colours, look no further than Sharpie (just please, for the sake of your walls and furniture, don’t let the little ones near these!).
This set of 24 features a wide selection of colours, including 80s limited-edition hues, like Valley girl violet, Banana clip yellow, Jellie pink, Leg warmer orange and Argyle green, and the fine tip is ideal for drawing in the most precise of details.
Sharpies work on virtually any surface like textiles, wood and glass, and are also ideal for any labelling or organisational tasks at hand.
‘There really is no comparison to a Sharpie. I was using cheap copies and the difference in quality is night and day. Sharpies just have a cleaner, more vivid finish than any of the cheaper alternatives,’ writes one fan.
- (AD) Sharpie Fine Permanent Marker 80’s glam, Assorted Colours, Pack of 24, for £15.99 on Amazon – buy here
4. Best felt tip pens for kids
Faber-Castell is the go-to brand for art supplies like coloured pencils and felt tips, and the connector clips on these markers are an added bonus, which allows for exciting new writing experiments and designs, as well as play. The carry case is an added bonus for when you travel.
- (AD) Faber-Castell Connector Fibre Tip Pen Case Box (Pack of 60), for £14.73 on Amazon – buy here
5. Best non-drying felt tip pens
STABILO’s premium felt tips have a sturdy tip with 1mm line width, gorgeously brilliant colour and won’t dry out if you forget about the cap for a day.
The general consensus is that they’re ‘perfect’, ‘good quality’ and ‘excellent felt pens’, whether you want them for mind-mapping or colouring books.
- (AD) STABILO Pen 68 Premium Felt-Tip Pen – Wallet of 6 Colours, for £4.49 on Amazon – buy here
6. Best felt tip pens for artwork
These premium, painterly felt tip pens have flexible tips which allow you to draw, sketch, colour, write calligraphy and even create watercolour artworks, varying the level of gradients and shading. The durable brush pens are made from nylon and have a tapered point for thin lines (or push down for broader strokes).
- (AD) Arteza Real Brush Pens, 48 Colours for Watercolour Painting, for £29.99 on Amazon – buy here
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