Short answer
For touch-ups, use a refillable touch-up pen filled with the same paint, color and sheen as the wall, and dab or feather small spots rather than painting stripes. For wall art, use water-based acrylic paint markers on clean, dry, painted walls; Uchida says its DecoColor Acrylic markers work on walls. Test both on a hidden spot first.
Two kinds of wall paint pen
Paint pens for walls by job
| Job | Pen | Paint inside | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scuffs, chips, nail holes | Refillable touch-up pen | Your own wall paint | Brush |
| Trim and baseboard nicks | Refillable touch-up pen, or a white paint pen | Matching trim paint, or white acrylic | Brush or fine |
| Murals, lettering, kids’ room art | Acrylic paint marker | Water-based acrylic | 2 to 15 mm |
| Big lettering and fills | Jumbo or wide paint marker | Water-based acrylic | 8 to 15 mm |
Wall paint pen for touch-ups
A refillable touch-up pen is an empty pen body with a brush tip. You pour or syringe your leftover wall paint into it, and the paint stays sealed and ready for months. Slobproof sells refillable touch-up pens in packs of 2 and 5 with a precision brush tip. The pen does not make the paint match; the paint does. So it only works as well as your paint match.
How to touch up a wall
- Match the paint and sheen
Use the original paint if you have it. If not, Sherwin-Williams advises buying paint in the same color and sheen; a matte patch on an eggshell wall shows even if the color is right.
- Clean and prep
Wipe the spot with a damp cloth and let it dry. Fill nail holes with spackle, let it dry and sand it smooth.
- Dab, then feather
Touch the brush tip to the center of the spot and work outward with very little paint, feathering the edges so no line shows. Sherwin-Williams says thinning the paint slightly may help it blend.
- Judge when dry
Wet paint looks darker. Wait until it is fully dry before adding a second touch.
Sherwin-Williams also suggests applying touch-ups with the same kind of tool used for the original coat (Sherwin-Williams). A brush-tip pen suits small spots on brushed trim. On a rolled wall, a large patch can look different in texture; if a repair still shows, repainting the wall from corner to corner is often the cleaner fix.
White paint pen for walls and trim
Most trim, doors and ceilings are white, so a white pen is the one people want. The best match is still a touch-up pen filled with your actual trim paint, because whites vary from warm to cool and from flat to gloss. A white acrylic paint marker is useful for quick fixes on small nicks, but expect a slight difference in shade and sheen. For lettering in white on a dark wall, see white paint markers.
Wall paint markers for art and murals
Acrylic paint markers draw directly on painted walls: names over a crib, a quote in a hallway, a mural in a playroom. Uchida says its DecoColor Acrylic markers work great on wood, plaster, foam, walls, paper and terra cotta, and lists the paint as opaque, water-based and permanent when dry (Uchida). Brand details are on DecoColor paint markers.
- Prep: the wall should be clean, dry and fully cured; fresh paint can need weeks to cure, so check the can.
- Plan: sketch with a chalk pencil or a light pencil; both wipe off painted walls more easily than graphite smudges.
- Tips: medium tips for lines, wide 8 to 15 mm tips for fills and big letters; see thick paint markers.
- Protect: in kitchens and hallways, a clear water-based sealer over the art helps it survive cleaning. Spray or dab the first coat.
- Rented walls: acrylic marker is permanent once dry and will need painting over; ask first.
Paint pens versus regular markers on walls
Regular felt markers and permanent markers are dye ink. On a wall they stain rather than cover, and dye ink can bleed through later coats of paint unless the spot is primed. Paint pens put down an opaque layer of paint, which is easier to paint over later. If a child has already drawn on the wall with marker, the removal methods are in how to remove paint marker.
Paint pens for walls on Amazon
Refillable touch-up pens and acrylic markers for wall art, each listing checked by hand.
-
Slobproof refillable touch-up paint pen, pack of 5
Empty brush-tip pens you fill with your own wall and trim paint, per the listing.
- 5 pens
- Precision brush tip
-
Slobproof refillable touch-up paint pen, pack of 2
The same refillable pen in a pair: one for walls, one for trim.
- 2 pens
- Refillable
-
Posca PC-5M white, 3 count
Medium water-based white for lettering on dark walls and quick white details.
- 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- White
-
ARTISTRO 20 poster markers jumbo set, 15 mm
Wide 15 mm acrylic markers for murals, big letters and fills, per the listing.
- 20 colors
- 15 mm
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
How to touch paint on walls?
Use paint that matches the wall in both color and sheen. Sherwin-Williams advises applying touch-ups with the same kind of tool used for the original coat, feathering the repair into the surrounding area so no edge shows, and notes that thinning the paint slightly may help it blend. Clean the spot first, work from the center outward with very little paint, and let it dry before judging the match.
How much is a paint pen?
It varies with the type. A single craft paint marker or an empty refillable touch-up pen is an inexpensive tool, artist-grade markers and wide mural markers cost more per pen, and big multi-color sets cost the most up front but less per pen. Check current prices on the retailer’s listing, since they change often.
What’s the difference between paint pens and markers?
A paint pen holds opaque paint, water-based acrylic or oil-based, that sits on top of a surface and covers it, even dark colors. A regular marker holds ink, usually dye, that soaks in and stays translucent. On a wall, a paint pen covers the color underneath, while a regular marker stains it and is hard to paint over.
Will Sharpie stay on acrylic paint?
Yes, a regular Sharpie writes well on dry acrylic paint, and Sharpie oil-based paint markers grip it too. Over time regular Sharpie dye ink can fade in sunlight, and it may smear if you brush a water-based varnish straight over it, so spray the first sealing coat. On a wall, Sharpie can also bleed through later coats of paint unless you prime over it.
Can I clear coat over Sharpie marker?
Yes, but spray the first coat. A brushed water-based varnish or polyurethane can drag and smear Sharpie ink. Mist one or two light coats of clear spray, let them dry, then brush on more coats if you want. Test on a scrap first, since some solvent-based clear coats can make dye ink run.