Short answer
Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic are the main refillable acrylic paint markers: both sell refill paint and empty markers, and Montana says every Acrylic marker can be refilled. To refill, open the body, remove the valve, pour in paint without filling to the top, press the valve back, and pump until paint flows. Posca and most budget sets are not sold as refillable.
Refillable paint markers and empty markers on Amazon
Empty markers, refill paint and a touch-up pen, each listing checked by hand.
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Molotow ONE4ALL Empty Acrylic Paint Marker, 2mm
An empty 2 mm ONE4ALL to fill with Molotow refill paint or your own mix, per the listing.
- 2 mm
- Empty
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Molotow ONE4ALL Acrylic Paint Refill, Signal White, 30ml
A 30 ml refill bottle for ONE4ALL markers; white runs out first.
- 30 ml
- Signal White
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Molotow ONE4ALL Empty Marker, 4-8mm
A wide empty ONE4ALL body for fills and lettering.
- 4 to 8 mm
- Empty
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Montana Cans Montana Acrylic Empty, 2mm Paint Marker
An empty Montana 2 mm to fill with Montana Acrylic refill paint.
- 2 mm
- Empty
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Montana Cans Montana Acrylic Empty, 0.7mm Paint Marker
The finest empty Montana for custom detail colors.
- 0.7 mm
- Empty
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Slobproof Refillable Touch-Up Paint Pen, Pack of 2
A different kind of refillable pen: fill it with house paint for touch-ups, per the listing.
- Brush tip
- 2 pens
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.
Which paint markers are refillable?
Refillable paint marker systems compared
| Marker | Refill paint | Empty markers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molotow ONE4ALL | Yes, in bottles | Yes, several tip sizes | Refillable with exchangeable tips, per the listings |
| Montana Acrylic | Yes, 25 ml and 180 ml | Yes | Montana says every Acrylic marker can be refilled |
| Posca | Not sold | Not sold | Replaceable tips only |
| Budget multi-color sets | Rarely | Rarely | Treat as disposable unless the listing says otherwise |
| Touch-up paint pens | Your own house paint | Sold empty | For walls and trim, not art |
Paint marker refill: how to do it
Montana gives these steps for its Acrylic markers (Montana refill guide). Molotow empties work on the same idea: open, fill, close, prime.
- Unscrew the body
Turn the marker body to the left and separate the upper part that holds the tip.
- Remove the valve
Carefully work the valve system out with a fingernail or a palette knife.
- Pour in paint
Slowly squeeze in refill paint. Leave the mixing balls inside, and do not fill the marker completely.
- Close it up
Press the valve back in firmly and screw the body closed to the right.
- Prime
Pump the tip up and down until paint flows, then test on scrap.
Empty paint markers: custom colors
An empty paint marker is a body with a valve and tip but no paint. Fill it with the maker’s refill paint, mix two refills for a custom shade, or keep one for a color you use constantly. Molotow’s 2 mm empty listing describes filling it with a color of your choice or mixing paints to make your own color, with swappable tips. Montana sells empties alongside its 25 ml and 180 ml refill bottles. Stick to paint made for the system: thick craft paint can clog a valve, and solvent paints can damage seals not made for them.
Refillable acrylic markers: is it worth it?
- Worth it: murals and signs that eat through wide markers, one or two colors used heavily (usually white and black), custom color matching.
- Not worth it: occasional use, large color sets where each pen lasts months, or kids’ crafts.
- Tips wear out first. A refilled marker with a frayed tip still makes ragged lines; buy spare tips with the refill.
Keeping refillable pens working
Shake well before every use, cap tightly, and store markers horizontally. If flow slows, pump on scrap rather than pressing harder. If a refilled pen floods, it was overfilled or the valve was not seated. More fixes are in paint pen not working. Wide refillable markers suit paint markers for walls, thick paint markers and graffiti markers; for every type, see paint markers.
Questions people ask
Can paint markers be refilled?
Some can. Systems built for it, such as Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic, sell refill paint and empty marker bodies, and Montana publishes refill steps. Most other paint markers, including Posca and budget multi-color sets, are not sold as refillable, and forcing them open can break the valve.
What are the best refillable paint markers?
Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic are the best-known refillable acrylic systems. Molotow ONE4ALL was above average on every test in Sarah Renae Clark’s comparison, with one weakness when layered over other media. Montana publishes detailed specs and refill instructions. Both sell empty markers for custom mixes.
What are the best refillable paint pens?
For art and murals, Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic, because both sell refill paint in bottles and empty pens in several tip sizes. For touch-up work around the house, refillable brush-tip touch-up pens such as Slobproof are a different kind of refillable pen, filled with your own wall or trim paint.
Do refillable paint pens work?
Yes, when used as designed. The maker’s refill paint matches the marker’s valve and tip, so flow stays consistent. Problems come from overfilling, which Montana warns against, from paint that is too thick for the tip, and from letting dried paint clog the valve. Clean or replace tips when they wear out.
How to refill an acrylic paint marker?
For Montana Acrylic, Montana says: unscrew the body, separate the upper part with the tip, work the valve out with a fingernail or palette knife, slowly squeeze in Acrylic refill paint without filling completely, leave the mixing balls inside, press the valve back firmly, screw it closed, and pump the tip until paint flows.