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Where to buy paint pens and paint markers

Every paint marker category on the site, grouped by what you are shopping for: a color, a tip, an ink base or a surface. Each category page explains what to look for and lists Amazon picks we checked by hand.

Shop paint markers by what you need

Most shoppers arrive with one of four questions: what color, what tip, what kind of paint, and what surface. The categories below answer one question each. If you only buy one marker, make it a medium bullet tip around 1.8 to 2.5 mm in white or black, from a water-based pigment line such as Posca. It covers the widest range of jobs, and you can add fine tips and broad tips later.

Buying paint pens online or in a store

Online, you get the full color range and single replacement colors, which matters once you have a favorite set. In a store, you can check the tip and the barrel and buy one pen to try. Two habits help either way: check whether the paint is water-based or oil-based (it decides which surfaces it suits), and check the tip size in millimeters rather than the word "fine" or "medium", because brands use those words differently. Our tip size chart draws every common width to scale. Home Depot and similar hardware stores mostly stock oil-based markers, while Dollar Tree carries its own craft line.

Not sure which category fits? The acrylic marker picker asks three questions and points you to a marker type and tip size, and the brand guides explain what each maker sells.

Questions people ask

What are some popular brands of paint pens?

Posca (by Mitsubishi Pencil) is the best known water-based paint marker. Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic are refillable artist lines, Sharpie makes both oil-based paint markers and the water-based Sharpie Creative line, and Artistro, Ohuhu, Arrtx and Enmy sell large budget sets, mostly on Amazon.

Are Carissa acrylic markers good?

We could not find a maker site, published specs or an independent review for Carissa acrylic markers, so we cannot say. Shoppers mention finding them at discount stores such as Ross. If you buy a set, swatch every color on scrap first and treat it like any unreviewed budget set.

Does the Dollar Tree sell paint pens?

Dollar Tree sells its own Crafter’s Square craft line, which has included acrylic and metallic paint markers, at the store’s standard price. Stock varies by store. They are fine for trying a craft, but expect thinner coverage and fewer colors than an artist brand.

Does Home Depot carry paint pens?

Yes. Home Depot lists Sharpie oil-based paint markers in medium and bold points, sold singly and in 2-packs and 5-packs. Those are oil-based markers for metal, wood, glass and rubber, not water-based acrylic markers, and stock varies by store.

What stores sell paint markers?

Craft and art stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Blick, Jerry’s Artarama) carry the widest range, including Posca and Molotow. Office and big-box stores mostly carry Sharpie paint markers, and hardware stores carry oil-based marking pens. Amazon has the largest selection of sets and single colors.

Sources

  1. The Home Depot, Sharpie paint markers
  2. Dollar Tree, paint supplies

Related pages

Shop Art markers Shop Black fabric markers Shop Black paint markers Shop Brush paint markers Shop Chalk markers Shop Drawing markers Shop Fabric markers Shop Fine tip paint markers