Say goodbye to the days of dusty chalkboards and hello to the glories of dry erase. Dry erase boards have become a staple in homes, schools, and offices, making dependable dry erase markers must-haves. In the classroom, teachers hoard and treasure them. On the job, workers use them to brainstorm and quickly communicate ideas in meetings. Kids love to draw and write with them. There is frustration in the land when markers dry out, don’t work, or go missing. Make sure you always have some on hand, and peruse our roundup of favorites to choose the right ones.
1. EXPO Dry Erase Markers
Expo dry erase markers are the gold standard, offering consistent, dependable ink in amazing saturated colors. The chisel tips in this 12-pack are great for writing and for drawing; adults and children equally enjoy their satisfying coverage. Expo also makes markers with bullet, fine, and extra-fine tips, allowing your creativity to soar. The ink is crisp and vivid, easy to read from a distance. It is also low odor and nontoxic, ideal for classroom, office, and home use. Some Expo sets don’t include yellow; if it is important that you have it, double check before ordering.
2. Shuttle Art Dry Erase Markers
Shuttle Art offers a fine-point dry erase marker in 15 colors. The point allows precise writing, perfect for whiteboard calendars, shopping lists, and anything requiring fine detail. It can be a challenge to find yellow dry erase markers, so it’s nice to see that Shuttle Art includes yellow in its set. The colors are bright and clean. The lids have a small eraser and a magnet for easy storage on a dry erase board or refrigerator; while convenient, occasionally the erasers and magnets become lose and fall off. The ink erases easily and doesn’t leave behind foggy residue. These markers don’t last quite as long as some of the other brands, but their fine tip and the inclusion of yellow more than make up for this.
3. Arteza Dry Erase Markers
These markers are a teacher’s dream: 36 affordable fine-tip markers in a variety of colors. Arteza’s ink may be paler and a little more streaky compared to other brands, but it is versatile, easy to erase, low odor, and nontoxic, safe for kids and adults to use. The markers are also available with a chisel tip. These markers are best as a classroom set used occasionally over time; the ink will run out quickly with heavy daily use.
4. U Brands Dry Erase Markers
U Brands’ markers are the all-things-to-all-people dry erase markers. The medium-tip marker comes in a variety of bright, bold colors. The well-designed lids feature built-in magnets and erasers; the lids are flat so the marker will stay put and won’t roll off your desk. There is no pungent dry erase marker smell: the ink is low odor. The markers have chiseled tips, permitting both precise lines and broad areas of color. The ink dries quickly and doesn’t smudge easily. The markers are relatively small in size—great for refrigerators, smaller whiteboards, calendars, and children’s hands.
5. BIC Dry Erase Markers
BIC dry erase markers are a well-kept secret: they offer excellent color in a variety of hues, are long lasting, and deliver a fluid writing and drawing experience. The inks are vivid and bright—the boldest, most vibrant, cleanest colors available. They erase easily and completely, leaving your whiteboard clean with no ink shadows. The markers are dependable and won’t dry out quickly. They feature a supply level window showing you how much ink is left in each marker. There’s no pesky dry erase marker smell: these markers are nontoxic and low odor. Their bullet tip creates crisp, solid lines and holds up over time, even with forceful use, and you’ll experience minimal smudging.