Short answer
For glass, metal, plastic and outdoor labels, buy the Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Marker. For paper, rocks, wood and crafts, buy the water-based acrylic Sharpie Creative Markers. For T-shirts and tote bags, buy Stained by Sharpie. A regular Sharpie permanent marker is none of these: it is dye ink, not paint.
Sharpie paint markers: the three lines
Sharpie is a Newell Brands marker brand that started in 1964 with the first pen-style permanent marker, and it added paint markers in the mid-2000s (Wikipedia). Today, when people search for paint markers Sharpie makes, they land on three product families that behave very differently:
Sharpie marker lines by ink type
| Line | What is inside | Best surfaces | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Marker | Opaque oil-based paint, valve action | Glass, metal, plastic, stone, rubber, outdoor labels | Sharpie oil-based paint markers |
| Sharpie Creative Markers | Water-based acrylic paint ink, no shaking needed per the listing | Paper, wood, rock, canvas, ceramic for decor | This page, below |
| Stained by Sharpie | Fabric marker ink | T-shirts, canvas bags, sneakers | Sharpie Stained fabric markers |
| Regular Sharpie permanent marker | Dye ink in an alcohol-based solvent | Labels, writing on most surfaces | Not a paint marker |
The regular Sharpie belongs in the table only so you can rule it out. Sanford safety sheets quoted by an archivist list dyes plus n-propanol, n-butanol and diacetone alcohol for the regular markers (ARSCLIST, 2007). That makes a classic Sharpie an alcohol-based dye marker. It writes on almost anything, but it is translucent, it fades in sun, and it cannot cover a dark surface the way paint can.
Sharpie permanent paint marker: the oil-based pens
The Sharpie permanent paint marker most people mean is the oil-based one. It uses a valve: you shake it, press the tip down to start the paint, then write. Because the paint is solvent-based and opaque, it grips glossy surfaces that water-based pens wipe off, and it shows up on dark materials. Sharpie sells it in extra fine, fine and medium points in the listings we checked, in black, white, metallics and colors.
Use it for labeling tools and bins, marking metal and plastic, writing on glass jars, customizing shoes soles and car parts, and outdoor signs. Use it in a ventilated room: solvent pens give off fumes as they dry. The full breakdown, including which tip to pick and the white extra fine pen, is on our Sharpie oil-based paint markers page. For how oil compares with acrylic, see acrylic vs oil-based paint markers.
Sharpie art markers: the Creative line
The Sharpie Creative Markers are the brand’s answer to Posca and the budget acrylic sets. The Amazon listing for the 12-count bullet set says the water-based acrylic ink works on paper, metal, wood, ceramic, glass, rock and canvas, will not bleed through paper, layers, and needs no shaking: just uncap and draw. They come in bullet, brush and fine tips.
No shaking means no pump. The Creative markers are direct-ink pens, which feed paint to the tip steadily. In Sarah Renae Clark’s direct-ink comparison, the brush tip version flowed well, was very easy to use and was mostly opaque, but did not hold up as well on rocks and plastic as on her other trials. That matches the wider pattern in her review: direct-ink markers soak into porous stone more than pump-action ones.
So these paint pens Sharpie makes are a good pick for journals, card making, lettering, kids’ crafts and wood. For rocks, a pump-action marker covers better; see paint pens for rock painting.
Sharpie paint pens worth buying
Each listing checked by hand. Grouped from art to utility.
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Sharpie Creative Markers, bullet tip, 12 count
The everyday Creative set. Water-based acrylic, no shaking, and a controlled bullet tip for drawing and lettering.
- Listing: works on paper, wood, ceramic, glass, rock and canvas
- Listing: no bleed-through on paper
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Sharpie Creative Markers, brush tip, 5 count
The version an independent reviewer found easy to use and mostly opaque. Good for brush lettering on paper.
- Brush tip
- Water-based acrylic
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Sharpie Creative Markers, fine tip, 12 count
Fine point Sharpie paint pens for outlines, small text and detail in journals.
- Fine tip
- 12 assorted colors
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Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers, medium point, 5 count
The tough one. Oil-based paint for glass, metal and plastic that water-based pens wipe off.
- Medium point
- 5 assorted colors
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Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Marker, medium, black, 4 pack
A black Sharpie paint marker that stays opaque on slick and dark surfaces. Four pens for the shop or garage.
- Medium point
- Black, 4 pens
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Sharpie Permanent Paint Marker, medium, silver
The Sharpie silver paint marker for dark paper, black card, ornaments and labels. Check the listing for the ink base before using it outdoors.
- Medium point
- Metallic silver
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.
Black Sharpie paint marker vs silver and white
Black is the workhorse for labeling light materials. On dark surfaces you want white or a metallic, and that is where paint beats ink: a regular silver or white Sharpie does not exist in the same opaque form, while paint pens cover black plastic and dark glass. The white oil-based extra fine is a favorite for writing on dark jars and phone cases; see white paint markers for more options, and black paint markers if you are comparing black pens across brands.
Fine point Sharpie paint pens: which tip
- Extra fine: small labels, lettering on mugs for decor, outlines. Sharpie sells this point in the oil-based line.
- Fine: the general writing size for jars, bins and crafts.
- Medium: bold labels, signs and filling small shapes.
Sharpie does not publish line widths in millimeters on the listings we checked, so compare by sample photos and by task rather than by number. If you need an exact width, a Posca or Uni pen lists it; see our tip size chart.
Sharpie chalk and fabric markers
Two more Sharpie lines get mixed up with paint markers. The wet erase Sharpie chalk markers are for boards and glass and wipe off with a damp cloth. For clothes, compare Stained and Rub-a-Dub in Sharpie fabric markers.
Sharpie vs other paint markers
| If you want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rock painting | Posca | Pump-action pigment paint scored highest on stone in independent testing |
| Paper and lettering, no pumping | Sharpie Creative | Direct ink, easy to use, mostly opaque per the same reviewer |
| Glass, metal or outdoor labels | Oil-based paint markers | Solvent paint grips slick surfaces |
| Clothes that go through the wash | Fabric markers | Ink made for fibers; see Stained or Tulip |
Still not sure? The marker picker asks what you are painting on and suggests a pen type and tip size.
Questions people ask
Are Sharpie acrylic paint markers good?
The Sharpie Creative brush markers did well in Sarah Renae Clark’s direct-ink comparison: she found the ink flows well, is very easy to use and is mostly opaque. They held up less well on rocks and plastic. For rock painting, a pump-action marker like Posca is the stronger choice.
How much are Sharpie pens?
We do not list prices because they change daily and vary by pack size. As a rule, multi-packs cost less per pen than singles, and the oil-based paint markers cost more per pen than regular Sharpie permanent markers. Check the current price on the listing before you buy.
What’s the difference between paint pens and markers?
A paint pen carries liquid paint, pigment in a binder, that sits on top of the surface and covers what is underneath, even on dark or slick materials. A regular marker carries dye ink that soaks in and stays see-through. Paint pens usually need shaking and priming; markers write straight away.
Are Sharpie’s note markers permanent?
Sharpie groups its S-Note markers with its creative and note-taking line rather than its permanent markers, and they are sold as no-bleed markers for notes and highlighting. Retail listings disagree on whether the ink is permanent, so we could not confirm it. If permanence matters, use a Sharpie permanent or oil-based paint marker instead.
Is there an eraser that can erase Sharpie?
No pencil-style eraser removes Sharpie from paper. On smooth, non-porous surfaces such as a whiteboard or glass, a cloth with rubbing alcohol usually lifts regular Sharpie ink; test a hidden spot first. Oil-based paint marker is tougher and may need a stronger solvent. On fabric, see our Stained fabric guide for the blotting method.
Is a regular Sharpie a paint marker?
No. A regular Sharpie permanent marker uses dye ink in an alcohol-based solvent, according to Sanford safety sheets quoted by an archivist in 2007. It soaks in and is translucent. Sharpie paint markers carry opaque paint instead.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.