There are hundreds of brands of markers available online and in stores, but which ones are best for adult coloring?
I’ve researched tons of them and my number one recommendation is the Ohuhu Water-Based Marker set of 100.
I have other options though that you might like even better!
Adult coloring is more precise than coloring for kids, and often adults want to use a blended look to get a 3D effect. As a hobby though, we don’t need all the bells and whistles that professional illustrators need, nor the heft price tag!
What we DO want is often the versatility of very fine point for coloring in tiny areas without going out of the lines AND chisel or brush tips to make larger swaths of color in a fast amount of time. Also a high priority is a large selection of colors. I’ve found that markers are really vibrant in color, and pastel shades are often lacking. Let’s face it, when you are coloring a pale skin tone, or a pastel flower, you need pale shades!
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If You’re Short Of Time, Here’s the Quick List
Ohuhu Set of 100 Water-Based Markers – My Top Recommendation
Dual Brush Markers with Fine Nib and Brush Nib Set 72
Taotree set of 101 Alcohol Markers
Tanmit set of 36 Brush and Fine Tip Markers
Crayola Fine Tip set of 40
Tanmit set of 36 Brush and Fine Tip Markers
Shuttle Art 205 Colors Dual Tip Alcohol Art Markers
Mancola Art Markers Dual Tips Set of 100
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers set of 80
Ebot Dual Markers set of 24
The best markers for adult coloring books have tons of color choices!
My Recommendations For Best Markers For Adult Coloring Books
There are a few name brands that have been around for a long time, however, there are hundreds of new brands, most of which are made by the same few Chinese manufacturers. There are dozens of people who want on board to sell with a private label brand! Most of these markers look and act exactly alike because they ARE. Some of these brands don’t load the barrels with enough ink to last, though, so read on for the best values.
Water-based vs. Alcohol-based
The benefits of alcohol-based markers are that the colors are permanent and dry super fast. That makes them super easy to layer on top of each other. The downside is that alcohol markers are difficult to blend across edges and generally are much more expensive than water-based ink markers. High priced, quality alcohol markers are often refillable and may have the ability to replace the nibs. Please read my article about alcohol markers for in-depth information.
Alcohol markers bleed through most papers, and behave themselves best on plain paper specifically made for alcohol markers. If bleed-through is not an issue for your coloring book, make sure you place several pieces of blank paper behind the page you are working on and don’t plan on coloring in books that are doubled-sided.
Water-based markers are less expensive and might not have as much color in the barrels, therefore the colors may run dry or run out of juice before you want them to. But the added plus is that it is easier to find affordable sets with up to 100 colors! With slightly less bleed-through than alcohol markers, water-based markers are great on heavier paper coloring books.
My Best Markers For Adult Coloring Books
1. Ohuhu Set of 100 Markers – My Top Recommendation
The Ohuhu set is water-based and dual brushed with a fine nib on one end and flexible brush on the other end. I love the 100 colors and the very sturdy case to keep them all organized. Very highly rated by owners (myself included)! Individually numbered with a great color chart included! For recreational coloring, these fit the bill to the max!
Nib and Brush Versatility 5 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 5 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 4 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 95%
2. Dual Brush Markers with Fine Nib and Brush Nib Set 72
Water-based ink with a flexible nylon tip and a fine point tip on the opposite end. Comes with a fairly sturdy case for easy organization. This style is most likely manufactured by the same company in china, with lots of different brand names marketed on Amazon.
Nib and Brush Versatility 5 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 5 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 3 out 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 90%
3. Taotree set of 101 Alcohol Markers
Dual tipped with a chisel and a medium fine point, these alcohol markers are remarkably priced. Individually numbered and organized in a soft fabric case/tote, the set also comes with one colorless blender pen. Highly rated by users.
Nib and Brush Versatility 3 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 5 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 4 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 85%
4. Tanmit set of 36 Brush and Fine Tip Markers
Very highly rated by owners, the Tanmit markers have been around for several years and have agreat reputation for good quality. Water-based ink. The fine nib is a great small size, compared to other markers and the brush is versatile.
Nib and Brush Versatility 5 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 5 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 4 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 2 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 80%
5. Crayola Fine Tip set of 40 – Best For Fine Tip Coloring
Limited to just a fine tip, this set is very highly rated by users! If you enjoy intricate, small areas to color, then this may be the ideal set for you. Limited color options though!
Nib and Brush Versatility 2 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 4 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 5 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 2 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 80%
6. Hethrone 100 Colors Dual Brush Pens Colored Markers
Fine tip and flexible brush nib with a large selection of water-based dye markers. The set comes in set of three plastic trays resting in a sturdy tin box. Highly rated by owners. Water-based.
Nib and Brush Versatility 5 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 2 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 4 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 80%
7. Shuttle Art 205 Colors Dual Tip Alcohol Art Markers
WOWSERS, 205 colors! I love the options in this huge set. It comes with a color chart, numbered markers, a soft sided case and a nice pad of paper made specifically for marker use. Highly rated by owners, it is chisel on one end and a medium fine point on the other end.
Nib and Brush Versatility 3 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 2 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 5 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 75%
8. Mancola Art Markers Dual Tips Set of 100
Water-based ink in a decorative tote box, these markers are very fine tipped and flexible brush on opposite ends. Highly rated by owners, the set of 100 has many vibrant and pastel colors. I like how the fine tip end is small enough to color in tiny areas.
Nib and Brush Versatility 4 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 3 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 3 out 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 5 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 75%
9. Ohuhu Alcohol Markers set of 80
This great set of alcohol markers have a chisel end and a medium fine tip end. Comes in a nice tote bag case.
Nib and Brush Versatility 3 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 3 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 4 out of 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 4 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 70%
10. Ebot Dual Markers set of 24
The Ebot markers best feature is its price! Coming in with a single-digit price, they nevertheless are fine-tipped on one end and have a flexible brush end on the other.
Nib and Brush Versatility 4 out of 5 stars
Low Cost 5 out of 5 stars
Consistently Good Quality of Construction 3 out 5 stars
Variety In Colors and Shades 1 out of 5 stars
My Rating: 65%
Some Of My Favorite Coloring Books
Johanna Basford Books
Johanna’s books are printed on heavy cream cardstock. I love her intricate designs and lovely artwork. The pages are double-sided though, so there might be some bleed-through.
Mandala Coloring Book with Heavy Cardstock Single-Sided Paper
This coloring book is spiral bound and has perforated, easy to tear out pages.
ColorIt Colorful Dragons Adult Coloring Book
Single-sided and spiral bound, this fun book is ideal for markers and other coloring mediums. 50 beautiful images.
Further Information
Here’s a few more of my articles about markers: