The Best Fine Tip Marker

Buying Guide

When working on an art project, you want to have all the essential supplies at your fingertips. Some supplies are very specific and may need to be ordered from specialty stores. For instance, if you are making a poster with bubble letters, you’ll want to invest in a set of large tip markers. On the other hand, if you are creating something that has very small spaces or intricate lines, you will need a fine tip marker set, also known as “fineliners.”

Fine tip marker sets are easy to find in most craft stores, but you’ll want to learn a little about them in union with your project before buying a set. We’ve consulted our expert Amy Markham, artist, educator and creator of Starling, a podcast dedicated to helping artists develop depth in their creative practice.

“Somewhat more like pens than markers, fine tip markers are great for illustration, drawing and lettering,” says Markham. “Originally these style pens were used for technical drawing, such as drafting, but now they are used by everyone from students and hobbyists to professional illustrators and fine artists.

When shopping for markers of any kind, you’ll want to note that they are categorized by size. The size is referring to the width of the tip and is typically marked with millimeters as the type of measurement. You will find the smallest-tipped markers are referred to as extra-fine markers and the largest-tipped markers are called jumbo tip markers. There are several sizes between these extremes to help with your specific project.

Let’s talk about what markers are best for what projects. If you are looking for a marker to complete extremely detailed work, ultra-fine-tip markers are your best bet. These will fill in tiny spaces. Some prefer to write with these as well, especially for smaller signs or notes that need to fit lots of writing on them.

Ultra-fine tip markers are the smallest maker-tips you can find. They start at .3mm in width and typically are classified through the .5mm size. They offer the utmost accuracy for incredibly small writing or coloring.

If you are interested in markers for a whiteboard or taking notes, the fine-tip markers are what you need. With a wider tip, fine tip markers offer a little bit more stability than the extra-fine tip markers. They usually start around the .5mm width and to the 1mm size. You will find a little bit larger surface area works best when writing with these.

The medium-tip markers are best for sign-making, use in an office setting or crafting small projects. Their size usually ranges from 1mm to about 1.2mm. A medium-tip will give you a line that is 1.4mm on the paper. It’s also important to note that adding more pressure to a marker will give you thicker lines regardless of the size of the tip.

Broad tips are great for crafting. They cover large surface areas while still providing accuracy. They also come in all sorts of paint types. If you are writing large letters on a poster or need to color in a background, you’ll want to have a broad tip marker. You can find broad tip markers in most hardware and craft stores.

Jumbo tip markers will get the big jobs done. These markers are mostly used for creating backdrops on craft projects that use a large space. Some artists even use them on murals. You can find jumbo tip markers with paint, chalk paint, and regular marker ink at the craft supply stores. It’s always nice to have one on hand when that project gets a little bigger than you imagined.

There are also so many different crafts that require markers. If you sew and need to mark fabric with a marker, you’ll definitely want the fine tip markers. Adult coloring books are comprised of very detailed pictures that can only be accurately colored with a fine tip marker. For fine detail coloring, consider the Crayola Brush Markers, 32 ct. If you are making a scrapbook, most likely you’ll want to have some colorful fine tip markers on hand to create a beautiful page with memory notes. The iBayam Journal Colored Fine Point Markers, 18 ct are great for all things scrapbooking.

Always be sure to have a great fine-tip marker set on hand before you start your project. It’s never any fun to have to stop a project because you don’t have the right supplies. The suggested marker sets above will surely do the job and impress anyone looking for the best fine tip markers for their project.

• Always keep your project details in mind when looking for the best fine tip marker set. Markham recommends using fineliners primarily on paper: “I would recommend you make sure your paper choice is a smooth surface, as opposed to having a texture, when drawing or writing with these fineliners,” says Markham. “That said, plenty of people use these on canvas, wood and other materials if the artwork calls for a fineliner because these can be easily replaced when damaged.”
• A variety of colors will bring your project to life.
• Fine tip markers are best for detail work and accuracy.
• Create a textured project with more than one type of marker: brush tip, gel tip, felt tip.
• To extend the life of your markers, be sure to always replace the cap immediately after use.
• Look on the packaging to see if it is archival. “This means it is considered permanent and has a high lightfastness rating, which implies that this will hold up when exposed to light or heat,” says Markham.