10 Best Erasers 2020
What is the problem with most of the erasers out there?
Their cuteness outshines their functionality. It’s easy to grab the little animal figures or the smiley faces that are staring at you from the store shelves, but once you put those erasers to paper, they either make it worse or end up tearing your paper!
In our guide below, we’ll help you find the best eraser by leaving the “cuteness” out of the buying decision and prioritizing functionality.
Whether you need something for an art class, your Monday night homework load or to clean the chalkboard between classes, you’ll find exactly what you need here in our guide.
A Few Things to Remember
Before you begin eraser shopping, here are a few things to remember in order to steer you toward the right one.
- Residue. Unfortunately, some erasers shed quite a bit and that increase the risk for ugly streak marks. While it may not seem important when you’re erasing mistakes from your homework, the unsightly smudges would ruin a meticulous art project.
Read more about the different eraser materials below our table to see how each one performs.
- What They Remove. Some materials are better at removing certain markings better than others, so if you use a specific writing tool, be sure to choose an eraser that can effectively erase the marks (again, see more info on this in the “Material” section below the table).
Top 10 Erasers Table
| Picture | Name | Material | # of Erasers | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Paper Mate Pink Pearl Premium Erasers, Large, 3-Count | Rubber | 3 | $ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Pentel Hi-polymer Block Eraser, Large, 3 Pack, White (ZEH10BP3-K6) | Hi-Polymer | 3 | $$ | 4.8 |
 | 3. Staedtler Mars Plastic Erasers,Pack of 4 (52650BK4) | Plastic | 4 | $$$$ | 4.7 |
 | 4. Tombow MONO Sand Eraser (57304) | Latex Rubber & Silica Grit | 3 | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 5. Prismacolor Scholar Kneaded Rubber Eraser, 1-Count | Kneaded Rubber | 1 | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 6. Sax Gum Art Eraser, 2 x 1 x ½ Inches, Brown, Pack of 12 | Gum | 1 | $$$$ | 4.3 |
 | 7. Prismacolor Scholar Latex-Free Eraser, 1-Count | Latex-Free & PVC-Free Material | 1 | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 8. Sparco SPR1 Chalkboard Eraser, All-Felt, Dustless, Black | Felt | 1 | $$$$ | 4.3 |
 | 9. EXPO Whiteboard Eraser, 5 1/8-inch, 1-Count | Felt | 1 | $$ | 4.2 |
 | 10. Prismacolor Premier Kneaded, ArtGum and Plastic Erasers, 3 Pack | Kneaded Rubber Gum Plastic | 3 (one of each type) | $$$ | 4.2 |
Eraser Material
Not sure what the difference is between the different eraser materials? We’ll take a look at that here.
- Rubber. One of the most common choices is a rubber eraser. These are great for erasing graphite pencil from paper and are quite effective. The only down side is that they shed and smear easily.
- Kneaded Rubber. This type of rubber is much softer than latex-based rubber, which makes it easy to reshape as you use it. Whether you need a wider, flatter surface or a pointed tip for more precise erasing, you control the shape.
This particular material is great for artists since it can remove charcoal, pastel, chalk and also pencil marks. Since it doesn’t shed, it will get dirty and that means you’ll have to knead the dirty edge back into the rest of the material.
- Plastic. Some also refer to these as vinyl erasers and while they are very effective at removing even ink from paper, their rough consistency means that they can tear it quite easily. Just don’t apply to much pressure when using them and they’ll do a fabulous job at removing marks.
- Gum. This is a softer version of rubber that artists love. While it is one of the messiest options on the list since it crumbles, it is probably the best eraser for removing graphite and there is virtually no risk of tearing your paper.
- Felt. When it comes to chalkboard and whiteboard erasers, felt is the most common
One Unique Option
Those of you with more specific erasing needs might need something like the Tombow MONO Sand Eraser.
This unique eraser made of latex rubber and silica grit can remove ink, colored pencil, ballpoint pen, roller ball and even some marker strokes, so if you find that the other options on the list didn’t remove the marks, give this one a whirl.
Top 3 Best Eraser Reviews
What you consider to be the best eraser may not be right for us (and vice versa), but here are the top three contenders on the list so you can compare and contrast them.
1. Paper Mate Pink Pearl Premium Erasers
Recommended For: Students, Home, Office
This is the classic eraser that we’ve all probably used at some point or another in life.
Whether removing graphite pencil marks or colored pencil marks from your latest doddle, this can handle a wide variety of materials without ripping or smudging your paper.
We also like that these are latex-free and so ridiculously affordable!
While the block erasers are the most effective, Paper Mate also makes them in the pencil cap version if you want something smaller. Compared to other caps, these are thicker and sturdier, and you get 144 in a pack!
2. Pentel Hi-polymer Block Eraser
Recommended For: Students, Home, Office, Some Art Projects
These plastic block erasers from Pentel are the next best choice on the list.
Unlike many other plastic erasers, the hi-polymer formula that Pentel has used prevents them from being too abrasive. We love that it doesn’t shed like a Golden Retriever and, therefore, means that you won’t have any smudging!
This works pretty well on colored pencil marks, graphite and thin layers of material and even those with a heavy hand are able to remove marks without leaving a trace of residue.
Whether you need a large or small block, these are definitely a great alternative to the Paper Mate Pink Pearls above!
3. Staedtler Mars Plastic Erasers
Recommended For: Students, Home, Office, Some Art Projects
These latex-free plastic erasers are slightly more expensive than the previous ones but you also get four in a pack versus three from Pentel.
In terms of quality, Staedtler is known around the world for their quality and while they do shed quite a bit more than Patel’s product, they erase quite well.
The good news about the shavings is that they kind of roll up into one lump rather than leaving a crumbly mess everywhere. This makes them easier to see and remove completely.
Due to the cost, we wouldn’t say they’re worth the purchase for your homework mistakes, but if you are an artist or designer who needs clean, precise results, then they’re definitely worth your money.
