Best graffiti markers
The best graffiti markers depend on what you are drawing on. For paper and blackbooks, use a fine black marker for outlines, a white paint marker for highlights, and water-based paint markers or alcohol markers for color. For canvas, boards and legal walls, use opaque acrylic or paint markers with wider tips.
Quick answer: which graffiti markers should you buy?
If you are starting out, you do not need a big set. Four kinds of marker cover almost everything people draw in a blackbook, and each one has a clear job:
| Job | Marker type | Well-known examples |
|---|---|---|
| Black outlines | Fine or medium permanent ink marker, or a black paint marker | Sharpie, Posca black fine tip |
| White highlights | Fine water-based paint marker | Posca white fine tip, Sakura Pen-Touch |
| Fills and fades on paper | Alcohol markers or medium paint markers | Copic, Ohuhu, Posca medium tips |
| Canvas, boards, legal walls | Acrylic paint markers with wide tips | Molotow ONE4ALL, Montana Acrylic |
Everything else (mops, squeeze markers, metallics, 20 mm tips) is extra. Buy those once you know what style you want to draw.
What types of graffiti markers are there?
Graffiti markers fall into five main types: water-based paint markers, acrylic paint markers, oil-based paint markers, alcohol markers, and ink markers or mops. They differ in what is inside the barrel: thick paint that sits on top of a surface, or thin ink that soaks in.
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Water-based paint markers | Paper, card, wood; opaque fills, outlines and highlights | Light colors may need two coats |
| Acrylic paint markers | Bright, strong color on canvas, wood, boards and most surfaces | Fast flow from wide tips |
| Oil-based paint markers | Metal, glass, plastic; very permanent | Smell; needs ventilation |
| Alcohol markers | Blackbook sketches, smooth fades and blends | Bleed through thin paper; transparent |
| Ink markers and mops | Bold tags, drips and loose handstyles | Hard to control; can stain anything they touch |
Paint markers (water-based and acrylic)
A paint marker holds liquid paint and a small mixing ball. You shake it, press the tip down to open the valve, and paint flows into the nib. The color is opaque, so a light color can go on top of a dark one. That is why paint markers are the go-to for highlights, shine marks and clean fills. Water-based paint markers such as Posca smell very little and suit indoor drawing. If you want to know how they work in detail, read what paint markers are and where to buy them.
Oil-based paint markers
Oil-based paint markers are the toughest of the group. They grip metal, glass and plastic and resist weather well, which is why they are sold in hardware stores for labeling and repairs. For graffiti on paper they are overkill: they smell strong and can soak through thin pages.
Alcohol markers
Alcohol markers use transparent dye ink. They blend into soft fades and gradients, which makes them the favorite for colorful blackbook sketches. Because they are transparent, you cannot put a light color over a dark one, so writers pair them with a white paint marker for highlights. Use them on marker paper or heavy sketchbook paper, or they will bleed onto the next page.
Ink markers, mops and squeeze markers
Mops are markers with a big, soft felt tip and thin, runny ink. Squeeze markers have a soft plastic body, so you control the flow with your grip, and squeezing harder makes the ink drip. These are the markers behind the drippy tags you see in graffiti photos. They are fun for loose handstyles on paper or boards, but they are messy, hard to control, and the ink stains skin and clothes.
Chisel tip vs bullet tip: which is better for graffiti?
Bullet tips are better for letters and outlines because the line stays the same width in every direction. Chisel tips are better for tags and handstyles because they make thick and thin strokes as you turn your hand, which gives a tag its rhythm.
- Bullet (round) tips: even lines, easy to control, best for outlines, fills and detail.
- Chisel tips: a flat, angled tip. Hold the angle steady and the strokes go thick on downstrokes and thin on side strokes.
- Brush tips: flexible, mostly on alcohol markers. Good for fades and smooth color.
- Extra-fine tips (under 1 mm): for tiny highlights, shine stars and lettering details.
- Wide tips (15 mm and up): fills on canvas and boards. Too much for a sketchbook page.
As a rough guide, fine tips are about 1–2 mm, medium tips 2–5 mm, and broad tips 8 mm and up. Sizes vary a little between brands, so check the number on the barrel. Learn more about how tags use chisel strokes in how to make a graffiti tag.
Graffiti marker brands worth knowing
These are well-known options in each category, chosen for what they are good at rather than one single "best". Prices change often and vary by store, so they are not listed here.
Posca paint markers
Water-based paint marker
Good for: Opaque color on paper, card, wood and many other surfaces. Easy to control, low smell, and the range of tip sizes covers outlines, highlights and fills. A white fine tip is one of the most useful markers in any blackbook.
Watch out: Light colors need a second coat over dark ones. Not permanent on glass or glossy plastic unless sealed.
Molotow ONE4ALL markers
Acrylic paint marker
Good for: Strong, bright, opaque color. Refillable, with replaceable tips, so one marker lasts a long time. Wide tips are popular for canvas and boards.
Watch out: Wide tips flow fast; practice on scrap paper first.
Montana Acrylic markers
Water-based acrylic marker
Good for: Made by a spray paint brand, with colors that match graffiti palettes. Refillable, in tip sizes from fine to very wide.
Watch out: Shake well and prime the tip before you start.
Sharpie oil-based paint markers
Oil-based paint marker
Good for: Very opaque and permanent on metal, glass and plastic. Easy to find in office supply and hardware stores.
Watch out: Strong smell; use in a ventilated room. Not ideal on thin paper.
Sakura Pen-Touch
Fine paint marker
Good for: Best known for metallic gold and silver in fine and extra-fine tips. Good for small highlights, shine marks and outlines on dark paper.
Watch out: Small tips, so they are a detail tool, not a fill tool.
Copic and other alcohol markers (Copic Ciao, Ohuhu)
Alcohol-based ink marker
Good for: Smooth fades and blends for blackbook sketches. Copic markers are refillable with replaceable nibs; budget sets give you dozens of colors.
Watch out: They bleed through ordinary paper and are transparent, so use marker paper and add highlights with a paint marker.
Drip markers and mops (Krink and similar)
Squeeze or fluid paint marker
Good for: Loose, drippy lines with a lot of character. Krink is one of the best-known names for this kind of marker.
Watch out: Hard to control at first, messy to carry, and only for surfaces you own or have permission to paint.
Other names you will see in graffiti shops include Grog, Ironlak and On The Run. Most graffiti brands make both paint markers and squeeze markers, so read the label to see which kind you are getting. For a closer look at the most popular paint marker, see the Posca markers guide.
Best markers by use
Best markers for a blackbook
For a blackbook, use alcohol markers for fills and fades, a fine black marker for outlines, and a white water-based paint marker for highlights. Draw on thick paper or marker paper so the ink does not bleed through. Work in this order: pencil sketch, color fill, outline, 3D, then highlights last.
Best markers for canvas and wood
On canvas, boards and wood, acrylic paint markers such as Molotow ONE4ALL or Montana Acrylic are the strongest choice. They lay down thick, even color and stay put once dry. Use wide tips for fills and a medium tip for outlines. Seal finished work with a clear varnish if it will hang somewhere bright or outside.
Best markers for legal walls
On a legal wall, markers are for details: outlines, highlights and signatures, while spray paint does the big areas. Bring wide acrylic or paint markers that cover rough surfaces, and a fine white marker for shine marks. Brick and concrete eat tips fast, so expect to replace them. For the spray side, read spray paint for beginners.
Best markers for kids
For kids, choose water-based markers labeled non-toxic, and skip oil-based paint markers, solvent markers and squeeze mops. Washable felt-tip markers are fine for first bubble letters. Water-based paint markers like Posca are a common pick for older kids who want opaque color; check the age guidance on the pack. Our free graffiti coloring pages are a good place to start.
Graffiti pens vs graffiti markers: is there a difference?
No real difference: "graffiti pens" and "paint pens" are other names for the same markers. Shops tend to call fine-tip paint markers "paint pens" and wider ones "markers", but the ink inside is the same. What matters is the type (paint, alcohol or ink) and the tip size, not what the label calls it.
How to make graffiti markers last longer
- Cap them right away. Tips dry out in minutes when left open.
- Store paint markers flat so the paint does not settle at one end.
- Shake before every use until you hear the mixing ball, then prime on scrap paper.
- Do not draw over wet paint with another color, or the tip picks it up.
- Swap worn tips on markers that have replaceable nibs instead of buying a new marker.
- Refill markers sold as refillable with the matching refill ink from the same brand.
Where to buy graffiti markers
Art supply stores and craft chains carry Posca, Sharpie paint markers and alcohol markers. Graffiti shops, in person or online, stock the specialist brands such as Molotow, Montana and Krink, plus refills and spare tips. Large online marketplaces sell almost everything, but buy from the brand's official store or authorized sellers, because popular markers are often counterfeited. More detail is in our guide on where to get paint markers. Our own short list, with links to Blick, is just below.
A simple starter kit
- A pencil and an eraser
- A sketchbook with thick paper, or marker paper
- One fine black marker for outlines
- One white paint marker for highlights
- Three to six colors that fade into each other, such as yellow, orange and red
That is enough to follow the step-by-step graffiti drawing guide from start to finish. Plan the colors first by trying them in the graffiti generator, then copy a letter style from the graffiti alphabet or start with simple bubble letters. Terms like mop, cap and fill-in are explained in the glossary.
Use solvent and oil-based markers in a ventilated room, and only on surfaces you own or have permission to mark.
Questions people ask
What are the best graffiti markers for beginners?
A fine black marker for outlines, a white water-based paint marker for highlights, and three to six medium paint markers or alcohol markers for fills. Posca is the most common beginner choice because it is opaque, low-smell and easy to control. Add wide acrylic markers or mops later, once you know the style you want.
Are Posca markers good for graffiti?
Yes, especially on paper, card and wood. They are opaque, easy to control and come in many tip sizes, so one brand covers outlines, fills and highlights. Light colors may need a second coat over dark ones, and they are less tough than acrylic or oil-based markers on smooth surfaces.
What is the difference between paint markers and alcohol markers?
Paint markers lay down opaque color that covers what is beneath, so you can put white over black. Alcohol markers are transparent and blend into smooth fades, but they bleed through thin paper and cannot cover dark colors. Many writers use both: alcohol for fills, paint for highlights.
What size marker tip is best for graffiti letters?
A fine tip (1–2 mm) for outlines and highlights, and a medium tip (2–5 mm) for filling letters on paper. Use broad tips of 8 mm and up only for large pieces on canvas, boards or legal walls, where a small tip would take far too long.
Are graffiti markers permanent?
Most are permanent on paper, card and raw wood once dry. Oil-based and acrylic paint markers are the most permanent on smooth surfaces like metal and plastic. Water-based paint markers can wash off glass and glossy surfaces unless you seal them with a clear varnish.
What is a mop marker?
A mop is a marker with a large, soft felt tip and thin, fluid ink, often in a squeezable body. It makes thick, bold strokes that drip when you press hard. Mops are used for loose tags and handstyles, and they are only for paper, boards or surfaces you have permission to mark.
Can you refill graffiti markers?
Many can. Brands such as Molotow, Montana and Copic sell refill ink and replacement tips for their refillable markers, and empty markers you fill with your own ink are sold too. Use refill ink from the same brand and type, because mixing paint and alcohol inks can clog the marker.