Short answer
Best all-round set: Chalkola 10 color with reversible 6 mm tips and gold and silver. Best whites: Chalkola’s 5 white set in 1 to 15 mm. Best for windows and cars: a 10 to 15 mm jumbo such as Celepen or a jumbo white. Best erasable from a big brand: Sharpie Chalk wet erase markers. Use any of them on non-porous surfaces if you want them to wipe off.
The best chalk markers, by job
Best chalk markers by job
| Job | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| All-round starter set | Chalkola 10 colors | Reversible 6 mm bullet and chisel tips, gold and silver included |
| White lettering on boards | Chalkola 5 white chalk markers | One white each in 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15 mm |
| Erasable, big brand | Sharpie Chalk Markers | Wet erase; wipes off with a damp cloth, per the listing |
| Many bright colors | Arteza 16 bright colors | Replaceable bullet and chisel tips, per the listing |
| Car and shop windows | Celepen jumbo window chalk markers | 10 mm 3 in 1 nib for big lettering |
| Big white window lettering | Rainbow Chalk jumbo white | A jumbo white liquid chalk pen for glass |
| Neon menus | Chalky Crown 8 pack | Bold 6 mm neon colors that wipe off non-porous surfaces |
The rule that matters more than brand
Every liquid chalk marker here behaves the same way on surfaces. Chalkola puts it plainly: its markers work on non-porous whiteboards, glass, non-porous chalkboards, metal, ceramic, plastic and vinyl and wipe off there, but on porous surfaces such as concrete, paper, wood and painted surfaces they still write and will not wipe off (Chalkola FAQ). GotIdeal’s listing warns that not all chalkboards are suitable for chalk markers and asks you to test a small area first. So before choosing a brand, check your board.
- Non-porous boards (glass, acrylic, porcelain steel, laminate): any chalk marker, no prep.
- Porous chalkboards (painted MDF, slate-look paint): season first by rubbing stick chalk over the board and wiping it off, as Chalkola recommends, then test overnight in a corner.
Best chalk markers for chalkboard menus
Menus need white and two or three accent colors, in a 6 mm tip for headings and a fine tip for prices and descriptions. Chalkola’s 10 pack and 5 white set together cover that. Chalkola recommends 3 mm for everyday board writing and 6 mm for bold menu lettering, signs and quick fills. If your menu board is porous, season it before you write, or the old menu will ghost through the next one.
Best liquid chalk markers for windows and cars
Big glass needs big tips. A 10 to 15 mm jumbo nib lays wide strokes fast and reads from the street. Chalkola recommends its 15 mm jumbo for car and house windows and says the ink wipes off glass with a damp cloth or glass cleaner and does not harm glass or automotive paint. Let designs dry before driving. More on window chalk markers.
Best erasable chalk markers
All of these erase from non-porous surfaces; the difference is how easily on dried marks. Sharpie sells its chalk markers as wet erase markers that wipe off with a damp cloth. For dried or stubborn marks, Chalkola suggests a magic eraser, ammonia-free glass cleaner, white vinegar or a drop of rubbing alcohol on a cloth. The full method is in how to remove chalk marker.
Good chalk markers: what to check on the listing
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tip size and type | 1 to 3 mm for writing, 6 mm for lettering, 10 to 15 mm for windows; reversible bullet and chisel tips add range |
| Replaceable tips | Felt tips fray; spares extend a set’s life |
| Color mix | White and a few bold brights do most of the work; metallics are a bonus |
| Surface notes | Look for a clear non-porous warning, a sign the maker is honest about ghosting |
| Priming | Most need shaking and pumping; a few dual tip sets say no pumping |
How to use liquid chalk markers well
- Shake with the cap on
Mix the pigment until the ball rattles, especially for white.
- Prime on scrap
Press the tip on paper or a paper towel until it is evenly wet, not on the board.
- Write in light strokes
Heavy pressure floods the tip and makes drips on vertical glass.
- Let it dry
A minute or two before touching or layering colors.
- Clean with water
Damp cloth on non-porous surfaces; stronger cleaners only for stubborn spots.
For more on the format, see chalk markers, and for one brand in depth, Chalkola chalk markers or Sharpie chalk markers.
Best chalk markers on Amazon
One pick per job, each listing checked by hand.
-
Chalkola 10 liquid chalk markers with gold and silver
The all-round set: reversible 6 mm bullet and chisel tips, highly opaque colors plus gold and silver, per the listing.
- 10 colors
- 6 mm reversible
-
Chalkola 5 white chalk markers, 1 to 15 mm
One white in each of five widths for menus, signs and windows.
- 5 whites
- 1, 3, 6, 10, 15 mm
-
Sharpie Chalk Markers, wet erase, assorted, 5 count
Wet erase chalk markers that wipe off with a damp cloth, per the listing.
- 5 colors
- Medium tip
-
ARTEZA liquid chalk markers, 16 bright colors
Water-based, AP certified erasable ink with replaceable bullet and chisel tips, per the listing.
- 16 colors
- Replaceable tips
-
Celepen window chalk markers, 8 colors, 10 mm jumbo
Jumbo 10 mm 3 in 1 nibs for car and shop windows, per the listing.
- 8 colors
- 10 mm jumbo
-
CHALKY CROWN liquid chalk markers, 8 pack, 6 mm
Bold neon colors that the listing says wipe off almost any non-porous surface with a wet paper towel.
- 8 colors
- 6 mm
-
Rainbow Chalk glass pen window marker, white, jumbo tip
A jumbo white liquid chalk pen for big lettering on glass.
- White
- Jumbo tip
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
What do professional chalk artists use?
Chalkboard sign and menu artists commonly work with liquid chalk markers for bold, crisp lettering and color, in a range of tips: Chalkola names chalk lettering, wedding signs, menus and LED boards as typical uses and recommends 1 mm tips for detail, 6 mm for menu lettering and 15 mm for large boards. Many also keep stick chalk for soft shading and for seasoning porous boards.
Does Kmart have chalk pens?
Stock varies by store and country, and we do not track Kmart’s range, so check Kmart’s website or your local store. Chalk markers are also sold at craft, office supply and online stores, including the Amazon picks on this page.
What is the best marker pen?
It depends on the surface. For erasable writing on glass and boards, a liquid chalk marker. For permanent opaque marks on paper, rocks or wood, a water-based paint marker such as Posca. For glass, metal and plastic that must stay marked, an oil-based paint marker. For labeling paper and boxes, a classic permanent marker.
What are the best chalk markers for glass?
Any liquid chalk marker sold for windows and glass, in a tip that suits the job: a 1 or 6 mm tip for jars and detailed window art, a 10 to 15 mm jumbo for big lettering on shop and car windows. Chalkola says its markers wipe off non-porous glass with a damp cloth or glass cleaner.
What is the best brand of chalk?
For liquid chalk markers, Chalkola, Sharpie, Arteza, Chalky Crown and GotIdeal all sell erasable sets; choose by tip size and color mix rather than brand. For stick chalk on a classic chalkboard, any dustless or standard school chalk works, and stick chalk is also what Chalkola uses to season a porous board before liquid chalk.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.