10 Best Dry Erase Markers 2020
Cheap dry erase markers usually dry out faster than you can write a sentence, which sends you running out for replacements constantly. Wouldn’t you rather purchase some quality markers from the start rather than wasting time with low-quality ones?
In our guide, we will show you the secrets to choosing the best dry erase markers right from the get-go. Find out what features to pay attention as you shop, and see what our experts have to say about the top markers in our “Review” section.
Top 10 Dry Erase Markers Table
Decide on a Tip Shape
Does the tip shape matter? You bet it does! The thickness of the line that it creates can mean the difference between someone seeing what you are writing and not having a clue what your sentences say.
- Chisel Tip. For the boldest, most intense lines that can easily be seen from a distance, pens with a chisel tip are ideal. We recommend these for teachers so that students sitting further away from the board will easily be able to read what you are writing.
- Fine Tip. For precision details or artwork, a fine tip pen comes in handy. You can add different colors to tighter spaces or avoid taking up too much space on a smaller whiteboard.
- Bullet Tip. The thickness of the lines created by a bullet tip marker is somewhere in between the fine tip and the chisel tip.
They work great in small classrooms, company meeting rooms, for artwork, and for individual whiteboard exercises for students.
Marker Design
Some of the best dry erase markers on our list are from Quartet, which we will be discussing in our “Review” section.
Quartet considered even the smallest of details when it came to the design of their product, from the anti-roll cap to the pressurized ink chambers.
Other pens feature a handy magnetized cap to prevent the pen rolling away – U Brands Magnetic Dry Erase Markers and The Board Dudes Magnetic Dry Erase Markers were the two brands we liked best. Both of these also have a handy eraser built onto the cap, so when you open the pen and place the cap on the end of the pen, you will have an eraser handy to help you eliminate even the smallest of mistakes.
Color Selection
While it may seem fun to mix it up with a rainbow of colors, remember that some shades are much harder to see than others are when used on a white backdrop.
Yellow, pink, and orange, for example, will be difficult to detect, but darker colors such as red, green, blue, black, purple, and brown will be much easier for people to see – especially from a distance. Teachers should keep this in mind when selecting marker colors.
Top 3 Best Dry Erase Markers Reviews
1. EXPO Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers

EXPO’s fine tip markers are ideal when you need to focus on small details when you are writing. They work very well for students working on individual whiteboards – whether they are completing a math equation or practicing letters.
For individual use in an office, these are also quite handy. You can easily add in or erase meetings and events to a detailed calendar or write out your team’s weekly shifts in smaller spaces. The chisel tips can cause you to fill up an area before you even finish writing, so opt for fine tips to make sure that everything fits.
Regarding the quality of these pens, they are average. The odor is very faint, and the color doesn’t smudge easily, which is nice when you want to avoid accidentally erasing important details that you have just written down.
The price is right, and you can purchase 12-packs of all red or all blue pens if you don’t need black ones.
2. EXPO Original Dry Erase Set

For teachers or businesspeople presenting information in a large room, EXPO’s chisel tip pens are ideal.
The ink is bold, and the fact that you get four different colors makes it easy to distinguish information on the board or divide people into different teams by ink color.
Along with the four markers, you also get a small eraser and whiteboard cleaner. The eraser is decent but remember that it should not be used together with the cleaner. As per the directions on the cleaner bottle, you need to spray and then wipe the surface with a clean cloth. The eraser is only for removing ink from the board when you make a mistake.
Overall, this set isn’t bad for average needs. Some of the colors seem to last longer than others do and if you aren’t religious about putting the cap back on, these will dry out quickly.
3. Quartet Dry Erase Markers EnduraGlide

EXPO may dominate the dry erase marker niche, but Quartet has some pretty impressive markers that professionals are sure to appreciate.
The cap has a flat edge on one side that will prevent the marker from rolling off a surface when you lay it down, which will save you time searching for lost markers or having to constantly pick up those that have rolled away in the middle of your important conversation. Fewer distractions mean more concentration!
The marker has been engineered to optimize ink flow thanks to the three pressurized chambers inside. Even if you leave the lid off overnight, it will still provide you with bold, crisp color the next day. You can even see how much ink is inside so you know when to change it. How useful!
These are probably the best dry erase markers for professional settings. Due to the price, we can see why so many people opt for the less expensive EXPO pens, but if you’re sick of the latter running out of ink or rolling away in the middle of a lesson or lecture, switch to the Quartet markers.