The Best Alcohol Markers

Ohuhu 48-Piece Double-Tipped Marker Set

Beautifully vibrant

This top-notch set includes professional-quality markers that anyone can use.

Best Overall

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It’s hard to find a genuinely high-quality set of alcohol-based ink markers that are good for professional work while being easy enough for beginners to use. If you’ve faced a similar struggle, look no further. Instead, set your sights on this set of Ohuhu Double-Tipped alcohol markers.

These well-made markers come in a set of 48 vibrant colors, and the included case holds everything nice and neat while looking both compact and professional. Each marker has two tips, including a reversible nib brush tip for detail work and a chisel tip for larger areas, so you essentially end up with two brushes for each color. Speaking of color, finding the right one is a breeze since each marker has a color-coded and marked cap.

Pros:

• The brush nibs are reversible and long-lasting
• The included blender brush helps you blend colors seamlessly and create a more fluid design
• Your art will pop with these non-smudging and beautifully pigmented colors
• These are great for sketching, coloring, drawing, and more

Cons:

• We wish this set included more neutral tones to balance out the more saturated ones

Caliart 81-Piece Dual-Tipped Marker Set

Convenient and affordable

This handy set gives you dozens of colors for an excellent price.

Runner Up

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Are you a beginner who wants to venture into the world of alcohol-based ink markers without spending a small fortune? If you answered yes, then you’ll want to consider Caliart’s 80-piece set.

This marker set comes with 80 of the most popular colors (and one colorless blender) and includes a compact carrying case with color-coded marker caps to help you both stay organized and take your markers on the go when the need arises. The fine-point end of the marker is precise, and it really gets into the small spaces; meanwhile, the chisel tip makes coloring solid areas easy. The ink blends quickly and dries without splotching or spreading, making this set an excellent choice for complicated pieces.

Pros:

• All of the colors blend very well together to create gorgeous transitions
• Very affordable compared to most other brands

Cons:

• Cap coding can be off, so swatch separately

Ohuhu 48-Piece Dual-Tipped Pastel Set

Soft and sweet

If a set of highly-pigmented markers in a wide variety of pretty pastels sounds appealing to you, look to this set.

Best Pastels

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Do you do gravitate towards soft tones, gentle washes of color, and fresh, powdery pigments? If so, you’ve probably noticed how difficult it can be to find marker sets that include a variety of these heavenly hues. With Ohuhu’s Dual-Tipped Pastel Set, you’ll find exactly what you need.

This alcohol-based ink marker set includes 48 different pastel colors so you can dial in on exactly the hue you imagined in your mind’s eye. Each marker is dual-tipped, giving you the ability to color both fine details and wide swatches with one marker. If you can’t find just the right tone, don’t worry — you can quickly and easily blend multiple colors together to get exactly what you need. These markers make it easy to create and imagine new designs or retouch old ones.

Pros:

• Different undertones are easy to achieve with this set
• The reversible nib doubles the life of each marker
• This set includes a good case that makes traveling and transporting your supplies much easier
• The chisel tip is high quality and colors large areas evenly

Cons:

• These markers are not refillable

Bianyo Classic Series 72-Piece Travel Case

Comfortable fit

The markers themselves are worth recommending, but the included case is just too good to pass up.

Best Case

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If you’re an artist on the go, this durable travel case from Bianyo might be for you. The case is sturdy and well-constructed, with a thick, comfortable handle, high-quality zipper, and a zipper lock to keep your precious tools where they belong — even while traveling. It even features a slot for a customizable label that you can use to set yourself apart from the pack.

The case isn’t the only thing we love about this set. These markers are built to be wide, and their squared-off shape is made to fit your hand better than other markers. In addition, the unique shape prevents them from rolling around or getting lost, which makes them great for kids, as well. On one end of the marker, you’ll find a fine-point nib that easily handles the small detail work, while the wide chisel on the other end works perfectly for filling in large areas or creating a calligraphy effect. With these markers, your possibilities are endless.

Pros:

• 71 unique colors are included to give you a wider range of options
• A blender marker is included, which means you can create smoother transitions
• The case looks professional and includes a window for you to display a piece of your art
• Each marker is color-coded and numbered to make it easy to find what you need

Cons:

• You will want to test these in advance because the colors on the caps are not always the exact shade you will find once you start coloring
• The ink is not refillable

Caliart 100-Piece Marker Set

Ninety-nine colors

If you're looking to get a lot of colors for a lot less cash, check out this excellent extra-large assortment.

Best Value

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This set of markers from Caliart is a fantastic way to get a ton of markers for an excellent price. It comes with a huge variety of colors and includes a blender marker for easy transitions.

The heavy-duty case is equipped with a unique stand that keeps your markers organized, as well. These are all dual-tipped and include both a chisel tip and a fine-point brush tip, so you never have to limit your creativity based on available tip sizes. The ink blends very easily and dries quickly, too, making it easy to get your work done without interruptions.

Pros:

• A huge collection of colors makes it possible to create anything without needing to purchase separate color sets
• Vibrant shades make every piece stand out beautifully
• The included case and stand makes it easy to both transport and display your marker collection
• Colors blend evenly and beautifully with the included blending marker

Cons:

• The fine-point tip is not as brush-like as we would like

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use alcohol-based markers?

Alcohol-based ink tends to be deeply pigmented. It also dries quickly and blends well. That means you can color and blend, and then it will dry fast enough to prevent smudges.

Are these the same as paint markers?

No. Paint markers use acrylic, watercolor, or oil-based paints. Alcohol-based markers can be mistaken for paint markers because of the shape and size, but their composition is very different.