The best paint pens
Pebbles, pumpkins, mugs and trainers: paint pens go where felt tips can't. Here's what's worth buying.
Paint pens put acrylic paint in a marker, so it's opaque, bright and sticks to far more than paper: stones, wood, glass, fabric and plastic. They're behind the painted pebbles left on walks and the customised trainers on social media.
Most sets now have two tips, a broad or brush end for filling in and a fine end for detail. We've picked sets that are easy to start with, plus POSCA, the marker the professionals use.
What matters
- Two tips (broad and fine) save switching pens.
- Metallics and white, for dark surfaces and lettering.
- Storing them flat keeps the paint flowing.
- Varnish outdoor pieces, and heat-set fabric with an iron.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Artecho Acrylic Paint Pens (24 colours, dual tip)
Under £10 Price range
Each pen has a broad end for filling in and a 1mm end for outlines, so a painted pebble or a pumpkin face takes one pen, not two. The colours are strong enough to cover dark stone.
What owners say: Owners find the colours vivid, the coverage good and the paint quick to dry without smudging, and rate them good value.
A closer look: Put the cap back on firmly after every use: that's what keeps them from drying out. On a painted rock that's going outside, finish with a coat of clear outdoor varnish once the paint is fully dry.
- 24 colours
- Broad 0.5–5mm tip plus 1mm fine tip
- Water-based acrylic
- Paper, wood, stone, glass, fabric
- Gift box
Best for: Rocks, crafts and all-round use
- Colours
- 24
- Tips
- Broad (0.5–5mm) + fine (1mm)
- Paint
- Water-based acrylic
#2 of 5
Best premium
POSCA PC-3M Fine Paint Markers (8 pastel colours)
£10–£20 Price range
The paint marker many illustrators and trainer customisers use, here in soft pastels that sit beautifully on dark card, wood and denim. Mitsubishi Pencil launched POSCA in Japan in 1983; despite the name and logo, the company has nothing to do with the Mitsubishi car and bank group.
What owners say: Owners find the colours rich and opaque on almost any surface, and love them for detailed work and children's art projects.
A closer look: Before the first use, shake it with the cap on, then press the tip down on scrap paper a few times until the paint flows. Do the same whenever the colour starts to fade mid-line.
- 8 pastel colours
- Fine 0.9–1.3mm bullet tip
- Opaque water-based paint
- Valve keeps the paint fresh
- Plastic-free packaging
Best for: Detailed work and customising
- Colours
- 8 pastels
- Tips
- Fine bullet (0.9–1.3mm)
- Paint
- Water-based paint
#3 of 5
Best for metallics
STATIONERY ISLAND Acrylic Paint Pens (24 colours, dual tip)
Under £10 Price range
Gold, silver, black and white come in the 24, which is exactly what you want for Christmas baubles, wedding stones and lettering on dark card.
What owners say: Owners like the big range of colours and the fine tips for details, and find them especially good on painted stones.
A closer look: The maker's advice: tighten the lid and store the pens flat in their box. Flat storage keeps the paint spread evenly, so both ends stay ready to go.
- 24 colours, including gold and silver
- 1–5mm brush tip plus 1mm fine tip
- Water-based acrylic
- Storage box
Best for: Metallic details and lettering
- Colours
- 24, incl. gold and silver
- Tips
- Brush (1–5mm) + fine (1mm)
- Paint
- Water-based acrylic
#4 of 5
TBC The Best Crafts Acrylic Paint Markers (24 colours, dual tip)
Under £10 Price range
A bullet tip on one end and a fine one on the other, handy for personalising a mug, a canvas bag or a pair of plain trainers.
What owners say: Owners find the colours vibrant and well pigmented, quick to dry and good value, and say they work well on glass.
Heads up: The maker designs them for adults, so they're better for teenagers and grown-ups than for young children.
A closer look: On fabric, leave the design to dry for 24 hours, then iron it to set the paint, as the maker suggests. Shake each pen for about 10 seconds with the cap on before you start.
- 24 colours
- Bullet tip plus fine tip
- Water-based acrylic
- Compact case
Best for: Fabric, mugs and trainers
- Colours
- 24
- Tips
- Bullet (1–3.9mm) + fine
- Paint
- Water-based acrylic
#5 of 5
Best budget
ARTISTRO Acrylic Paint Pens (24 colours, brush and fine tip)
Under £10 Price range
The nibs come ready to use, with no pumping or priming, which makes these the easy choice for a rainy-day craft box or a child's first set of paint pens.
What owners say: Owners find the quality high and the colours vibrant for the money, and like the two tips for fine and broad strokes.
Heads up: On glass, ceramic and metal the paint needs longer to dry, so leave those pieces overnight before handling them.
A closer look: Store them lying flat and try each colour on scrap paper first. The brush tip gives thick-to-thin strokes, which makes it good for hand lettering too.
- 24 colours
- 1–5mm brush tip plus 1mm fine tip
- Pre-activated: no pumping
- Water-based acrylic
Best for: Kids' craft boxes
- Colours
- 24
- Tips
- Brush (1–5mm) + fine (1mm)
- Paint
- Water-based acrylic
How they compare
| Feature | #1Artecho 24 | #2POSCA PC-3M pastels | #3Stationery Island 24 | #4TBC 24 | #5ARTISTRO 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best for metallics | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Price | Under £10 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Colours | 24 | 8 pastels | 24, incl. gold and silver | 24 | 24 |
| Tips | Broad (0.5–5mm) + fine (1mm) | Fine bullet (0.9–1.3mm) | Brush (1–5mm) + fine (1mm) | Bullet (1–3.9mm) + fine | Brush (1–5mm) + fine (1mm) |
| Paint | Water-based acrylic | Water-based paint | Water-based acrylic | Water-based acrylic | Water-based acrylic |
| Best for | Rocks, crafts and all-round use | Detailed work and customising | Metallic details and lettering | Fabric, mugs and trainers | Kids' craft boxes |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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