The Best Erasable Pens

Buying Guide

Pencils are no longer the only writing instrument equipped with erasers for fixing mistakes. Many pen sets are now created using erasable ink, allowing errors when writing, drawing or reconciling checkbooks to be quickly remedied.

When shopping for erasable pens, determine whether you’re looking for a set with a fine tip (.7 millimeters) or a medium tip (1.0 millimeters). Fine tips are best for writing, grading papers and adding detail to art pieces, while medium tips work well for sketching, scrapbooking and doodling.

Consider whether you’re in need of a set of traditional black or blue pens, or one that features a host of colors. Typically, colored sets contain gel ink and come in shades of black, blue, red, navy, green, purple, pink, turquoise, orange and lime.

Check to see whether the erasable pens are retractable or have a removable cap. Retractable models are great because they eliminate the worry that you’ll lose the cap when you take it off. Of course, caps do a great job of keeping the ink from drying out.

Look to see whether the pens have a built-in clip. Clips are an excellent feature because they allow you to store the pens on a clipboard, in a diary page or even from the front pocket of a t-shirt.

Go for an erasable pen set that offers a premium comfort grip if you often work on long papers or projects. The grip will keep the pen from slipping, while also adding softness to keep your fingers and wrist from becoming fatigued.

• With many erasable pens, you need to wait for the ink to dry before you can begin erasing your mistake.
• Gel pens are typically sold with a red wax covering the tips. You’ll need to remove this wax before you can begin writing.
• When opting for erasable gel pens, make sure the package states that the ink won’t bleed through your paper, especially if you plan on using both sides of the paper.
• Avoid exposing the ink to sunlight or high temperatures, as it will make the ink disappear.
• Some erasable pens are refillable. Others have pressurized ink cartridges that allow for writing at any angle.
• If you have school-aged children, you may wish to go with a brand of erasable pens that participates in the Box Tops for Education program.
• To determine the cost per erasable pen, you’ll need to divide the total number of pens by the cost of the set. You’ll find sets that contain just one or two colors tend to cost much less than sets with 10 to 15 unique colors.