Short answer
On porous surfaces, yes. Posca says its paint is permanent with no fixative on porous materials such as wood, cardboard and textiles, and erasable on smooth surfaces such as glass, where a damp rag removes it. Dry Posca resists light splashes on paper, but it is not waterproof on smooth, handled or outdoor items unless you seal it with a water-based spray varnish, which Posca recommends.
Are Posca pens permanent? It depends on the surface
Posca’s FAQ answers this directly: its paint is permanent, with no need for fixatives, on porous materials such as wood, cardboard and textiles, and it is permanent on porous surfaces and erasable on smooth surfaces. The PC-5M product page repeats it: permanent on porous surfaces and erasable on most smooth non-porous materials, with the option of protecting work with a fixative varnish. Here is how that plays out by material:
Posca permanence by surface, based on Posca’s FAQ
| Surface | Porous or smooth | What happens once dry | To make it last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper, card, cardboard | Porous | Stays; soaks in slightly | Nothing needed indoors |
| Raw wood, MDF | Porous | Stays | Varnish for outdoor or handled pieces |
| Stone, rocks, concrete | Porous | Stays | Spray varnish for outdoor rocks |
| Fabric and textiles | Porous | Stays after ironing, per Posca | Iron inside out, no steam; wash inside out, low temperature |
| Canvas | Porous | Stays | Varnish like an acrylic painting |
| Glass, windows, mirrors | Smooth | Wipes off with a damp rag | Water-based spray varnish; or use a bake-on glass marker |
| Plastic, metal, glazed ceramic | Smooth | Can scratch or rub off | Clean first, then varnish |
Are Posca markers waterproof?
Posca does not call its markers waterproof. On porous surfaces, dry paint is bound into the material and survives a splash; on smooth surfaces, water and a cloth are exactly how Posca says to clean it off. So the practical answer is: water resistant on paper, wood and fabric once dry and fixed, removable on glass, and not to be trusted outdoors on smooth surfaces without a seal. Posca recommends a water-based spray varnish for most materials, and a water-based aerosol varnish for customized sneakers (Posca FAQ).
Are Posca markers washable?
That depends on what you are washing. Wet Posca paint cleans up with water. Dry Posca on fabric is meant to stay: Posca’s directions are to iron the design inside out with no steam to prevent flaking, then wash inside out at low temperature. Our guide to Posca markers on fabric has the full steps. Dry paint on porous materials like wood will not simply wash out.
How to make Posca last on smooth surfaces
- Clean and degrease
Wipe glass, metal or plastic with rubbing alcohol so the paint grips.
- Paint and dry fully
Let the design dry completely, ideally overnight, before sealing.
- Spray, do not brush
A brush can drag water-based paint. Spray a light first coat of water-based varnish.
- Build thin coats
Two or three light coats beat one heavy one. Let each dry.
- Keep it off food surfaces
Varnished Posca is decoration. For dishes, use a bake-on glass and porcelain marker.
More on sealers and finishes in how to seal acrylic marker art.
Posca on windows: erasable, but do not wait too long
Window art is where Posca’s erasable side is a feature: Posca says a damp rag is all you need to clean designs off a window or display case. It also warns that the pigments can become encrusted over time, at which point they are no longer erasable (Posca FAQ). Remove seasonal window art when the season ends, and test a corner of tinted or coated glass first.
Posca vs Sharpie for permanence
| Marker | Paint or ink | Permanent on | Removable from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posca | Water-based pigment paint | Porous surfaces: paper, wood, stone, fabric (fixed) | Smooth surfaces such as glass |
| Sharpie oil-based paint marker | Oil-based paint | Metal, glass, plastic, most surfaces | Needs a solvent once dry |
| Classic Sharpie permanent marker | Dye-based ink | Most surfaces, translucent | Hard to remove from porous materials |
If you want a permanent, opaque mark on a slick surface without varnish, an oil-based paint marker is the better tool; see permanent paint markers. For art on porous materials, Posca is permanent enough and far easier to correct.
Does Posca fade?
Posca lists stable pigments and strong UV resistance on its PC-5M page. Any paint fades faster in direct outdoor sun, so seal outdoor pieces and expect to touch them up over time.
For every size, see Posca marker sizes, and for white in every width, white Posca markers.
Posca markers and a sealer
Posca sizes for porous surfaces and windows, plus a spray sealer, each listing checked by hand.
-
Posca PC-5M paint markers, medium tip, 8 count
The medium size most people use on paper, wood, rocks and fabric.
- 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- 8 colors
-
Posca PC-1M paint markers, extra fine, 8 pack
Extra fine tips for detail on porous surfaces.
- 0.7 mm
- 8 colors
-
Posca PC-17K paint marker, extra broad 15 mm, white
Extra broad white for window art that wipes off later.
- 15 mm
- White
-
Posca PC-5M paint marker, medium, black
A single black for lettering on wood, card and stone.
- 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- Black
-
Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer spray
A clear spray sealer made for craft projects, for Posca work on handled items.
- Aerosol
- Clear
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions people ask
Do Posca pens rub off?
On smooth surfaces they can. Posca says its paint is erasable on smooth surfaces like glass, where a damp rag cleans it off, and permanent on porous surfaces like wood, cardboard and textiles. On plastic, metal or glazed ceramic that gets handled, the paint can scratch or rub away unless it is sealed with a water-based spray varnish.
Why are Posca markers so expensive?
Posca has not published a cost breakdown. Likely factors are the pigment paint, the valve and mixing ball in every pen, reversible tips on the fine and medium sizes, and a formula Posca says has not changed since 1983. Independent testing rated Posca the best pump-action marker overall, which keeps demand and prices up.
Are acrylic markers permanent?
Water-based acrylic markers are permanent on porous surfaces such as paper, wood, canvas and stone once dry, and semi-permanent on smooth ones such as glass, metal and plastic, where they can scratch or wash off. Sealing makes them last. Oil-based paint markers are the more permanent choice for slick or outdoor surfaces.
Can you use Posca markers on Windows?
Yes, and it is one of their best uses. Posca says a damp rag is all you need to clean its designs off a window or display case. It also warns that pigments can become encrusted over time, after which they are no longer erasable, so do not leave window designs up for very long, and test a corner first.
Is POSCA better than Sharpie?
They suit different jobs. Posca is an opaque water-based paint marker, great on paper, wood, stone, fabric and windows, and removable from glass. A classic Sharpie is a translucent dye-ink marker. For permanent marks on metal, glass or plastic, Sharpie oil-based paint markers grip better than Posca without a sealer.
Are Posca markers waterproof?
Not fully. Once dry, Posca paint on porous surfaces like paper and wood stands up to a splash, and on fabric Posca gives ironing directions to fix it. On smooth surfaces, water and a cloth remove it, which is the point of its erasable design. For anything that will be rained on or washed, seal with a water-based varnish.
Are Posca markers washable?
From skin, clothes and smooth surfaces while fresh, mostly yes, because the paint is water based. Once dry and fixed on fabric by ironing inside out without steam, as Posca directs, it is meant to stay through washing, and Posca recommends washing inside out at low temperature. Dried paint on porous surfaces does not wash out easily.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.