Home Guides Pens Best picks Best Permanent Markers: Zebra Mackee, Sharpie, KOKUYO Best Permanent Markers: Zebra Mackee, Sharpie, KOKUYO Compiled from 9 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer Based on maker specs, the best all-round permanent marker in this set is the Zebra Hi-Mackee, a double-ended oil-based marker with 6.0 mm and 1.5 to 2.0 mm lines for 165 yen (about US$1.04). Pick the Mackee Care Ultra Fine for 0.3 mm detail, the Onamae Mackee for names on cloth and the KOKUYO Research Lab Pen for alcohol resistance.
Five markers and their line widths (bodies in proportion, lines at 1 mm = 4 px). Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times. Products compared No. 1 Zebra Hi-Mackee No. 2 Zebra Mackee Care No. 3 Zebra Mackee Care Ultra Fine No. 4 Zebra Onamae Mackee No. 5 Zebra Mackee Knock No. 6 Zebra Paper Mackee No. 7 Zebra Mackee Extra Thick No. 8 Sharpie Fine Point No. 9 KOKUYO Research Lab Pen Product Brand origin Made in Price range Zebra Hi-MackeeZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Mackee CareZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Mackee Care Ultra FineZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Onamae MackeeZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Mackee KnockZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Paper MackeeZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Zebra Mackee Extra ThickZebra Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen Sharpie Fine PointSharpie United States United States* Price range: $ under $5 per pen KOKUYO Research Lab PenKOKUYO Japan Not stated* Price range: $ under $5 per pen
Notes on these facts Zebra Hi-Mackee: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Mackee Care: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Mackee Care Ultra Fine: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Onamae Mackee: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Mackee Knock: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Paper Mackee: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Zebra Mackee Extra Thick: Made by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Country of manufacture not stated: Zebra's Japanese product page lists line width, ink, size, weight, part number and price but no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.Sharpie Fine Point: Made by Sanford L.P., a Newell Brands company. Made in United States: per US business-supplier spec sheets for item 30001 (GoVets lists country of origin US; Officecrave says made in USA). Inbound Logistics (October 2025) reports that Newell makes most Sharpies, in all 93 colors, at its Maryville, Tennessee factory, with only the felt tip imported from Japan; Wikipedia also names a plant in Mexicali, Mexico. One distributor notes that the country of origin is subject to change. Sharpie's product pages don't state it. Source .KOKUYO Research Lab Pen: Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd. (Osaka). Country of manufacture not stated: KOKUYO's Research Lab Pen series page gives no country of manufacture, so check the label on your copy.How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery . Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21). Key takeaways Line widths run from 0.3 mm (Mackee Care Ultra Fine) to 17 mm (Mackee Extra Thick) in this set. Six of the Zebra Mackee markers cost between 132 and 198 yen (about US$0.84 to US$1.25); only the Extra Thick is 550 yen (about US$3.48). The Zebra Paper Mackee uses water-based pigment ink that does not show through paper; the rest of the Mackee line is oil-based. The KOKUYO Research Lab Pen is the one built to resist alcohol and to write on frozen surfaces, at 440 yen (about US$2.78). The Sharpie Fine Point is a 1 mm bullet-tip marker that Sanford introduced in 1964; US spec sheets give US origin. What are the best permanent markers?
On maker specs, the best permanent markers are the Zebra Hi-Mackee for general use, the Mackee Care Ultra Fine for detail and the Onamae Mackee for names. There is no single winner because widths and surfaces differ.
Best all-round: Zebra Hi-Mackee . Why it’s here: 6.0 mm and 1.5 to 2.0 mm ends, oil-based ink, 165 yen (about US$1.04).Best refillable fine marker: Zebra Mackee Care . Why it’s here: 1.0 to 1.3 mm and 0.5 mm lines, YYTS5 refills, 132 yen (about US$0.84).Best for fine detail: Zebra Mackee Care Ultra Fine . Why it’s here: 0.7 mm and 0.3 mm lines for 132 yen (about US$0.84).Best for names: Zebra Onamae Mackee . Why it’s here: ink Zebra says bleeds less on cloth, from 132 yen.Best capless: Zebra Mackee Knock . Why it’s here: click to use, 1.0 to 1.3 mm, 198 yen (about US$1.25).Best for paper: Zebra Paper Mackee . Why it’s here: water-based pigment ink that does not show through paper, 165 yen.Best for big jobs: Zebra Mackee Extra Thick . Why it’s here: a chisel tip that draws 8.0 to 17.0 mm, 550 yen (about US$3.48).Best classic: Sharpie Fine Point . Why it’s here: the 1964 original, about 1 mm, alcohol-based ink.Best for labs: KOKUYO Research Lab Pen . Why it’s here: alcohol-resistant 0.6 mm ink that writes on frozen surfaces, 440 yen.
How did we choose these picks?
We compiled these picks from the makers’ own pages, not hands-on testing. Each has a guide on our site citing a maker page. Prices are Japanese prices with tax at 158 yen to the dollar; the Sharpie is a US product, banded rather than priced.
How do the widths compare?
From 0.3 mm to 17 mm. The finest line in the set is the Ultra Fine’s 0.3 mm; the widest is the Extra Thick’s 17 mm, about 57 times wider by our arithmetic.
Pick
Line width
Ink
Price
Hi-Mackee
6.0 / 1.5–2.0 mm
oil-based
165 yen
Mackee Care
1.0–1.3 / 0.5 mm
oil-based
132 yen
Care Ultra Fine
0.7 / 0.3 mm
oil-based
132 yen
Onamae Mackee
1.0–1.3 / 0.5 mm
oil dye
165 yen
Mackee Knock
1.0–1.3 mm
oil dye
198 yen
Paper Mackee
5.6 / 1.4–1.7 mm
water-based pigment
165 yen
Extra Thick
8.0–17.0 mm
oil-based
550 yen
Research Lab Pen
about 0.6 mm
oil-based, alcohol-resistant
440 yen
Five line widths at 1 mm = 8 px. Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.
The oil-based Mackee markers. Zebra says their ink marks paper, cloth, wood, glass, plastic and metal and resists water once dry. For the Paper Mackee, Zebra says it is for paper.
Which marker for names on belongings?
The Onamae Mackee. Zebra says its new ink fixes fabric bleeding, the top complaint about name markers.
Where are these made?
Zebra and KOKUYO do not state a country on the pages we read. US spec sheets give the United States for the Sharpie Fine Point. See also our best waterproof pens and inks and best paint markers .
Frequently asked questions What is the best permanent marker? On maker specs, the Zebra Hi-Mackee for general use: 6.0 mm and 1.5 to 2.0 mm lines for 165 yen (about US$1.04).
Which is the finest? The Mackee Care Ultra Fine at 0.3 mm on one end and 0.7 mm on the other.
Which suits names on clothes? The Zebra Onamae Mackee, whose new ink Zebra says bleeds less on cloth.
Which writes without a cap? The Zebra Mackee Knock, a click-to-use marker at 198 yen (about US$1.25).
Which resists alcohol? The KOKUYO Research Lab Pen, per KOKUYO.
Which does not show through paper? The Zebra Paper Mackee, with water-based pigment ink.
Which is the biggest? The Zebra Mackee Extra Thick, which draws 8.0 to 17.0 mm.
Sources (9) Zebra Hi-Mackee guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Mackee Care guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Mackee Care Ultra Fine guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Onamae Mackee guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Mackee Knock guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Paper Mackee guide, with maker sources, on this site Zebra Mackee Extra Thick guide, with maker sources, on this site Sharpie Fine Point guide, with maker sources, on this site KOKUYO Research Lab Pen guide, with maker sources, on this site More pens guides HMM Ballpoint: 22 g Twelve-Sided Aluminum Click Pen Price range: $$$Kaco Master Fountain Pen: Acrylic Pen, Gold-Colored Nib Price range: $$$$Kaco Pure Gel Pens Set: 10 Retractable 0.7 mm Pens Price range: $$Stilform ARC Gel Pen: Aluminium Pen, Pilot Refills Price range: $$$$Stilform INK Fountain Pen: Aluminium, Magnetic Cap Price range: $$$$The Completist Palau Pen: Gold-Plated Slimline Ballpoint Price range: $$Tools 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Refill Price range: $$Pelikan Twist: Ergonomic Fountain Pen for Either Hand Price range: $$Schneider Slider Memo XB: Extra-Broad Viscoglide Pen Price range: $TWSBI SWIPE: Three Ways to Fill One Fountain Pen Price range: $$$Copic Multiliner: Marker-Proof Pigment Liner Guide Price range: $Pentel Arts Color Brush: Refillable Nylon Brush Pen Price range: $$Sakura Pigma Brush: Archival Ink Brush Pen Guide Price range: $Sharpie Creative Marker: Acrylic Paint Pen Guide Price range: $Speedball Elegant Writer: Chisel Calligraphy Marker Price range: $Jinhao 82: The Budget Acrylic Fountain Pen Explained Price range: $$Pentel Slicci: The 0.25 mm Gel Pen for Tiny Writing Price range: $Pentel Tradio Pulaman: The Plastic-Nib Fountain Pen Price range: $$Platinum Plaisir: Aluminum Fountain Pen with Slip & Seal Price range: $$Kaweco Lunar Sport: Iridescent Pen, 060 Screw-In Nib Price range: $$$Pilot Juice+: Pilot's Cheaper Synergy Tip Gel Pen Price range: $STABILO BOSS ORIGINAL: Flat Highlighter Since 1971 Price range: $uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153: The White Gel Pen Price range: $uni-ball Signo DX UM-151: Fine Gel Pen in 31 Colors Price range: $uni-ball Signo RT1: Edgeless Tip, 0.28 to 0.5 mm Price range: $Zebra Sarasa Mark On: The Gel Pen You Can Highlight Price range: $OHTO CR01: Ceramic Rollerball with Non-Dry Refill Price range: $$$OHTO Dude: The Hexagonal Aluminum Fountain Pen Price range: $$OHTO Fude Ball 1.5: The Brush-Like Rollerball Pen Price range: $OHTO GS01: The Aluminum Needle-Point Ballpoint Price range: $$OHTO GS02: Ceramic Ball Roller Gel in Aluminum Price range: $$OHTO Minimo: The 91 mm Pocket Ballpoint and Refills Price range: $$OHTO Rays: Flash Dry Gel Pen and PG-105NP Refill Price range: $$OHTO Tasche: The 99 mm Pocket Fountain Pen Explained Price range: $$Sailor Fude de Mannen: Bent-Nib Brush-Stroke Pen Price range: $$Kaweco AL Sport: Aluminium Pocket Pen, Size & Nibs Price range: $$$$LAMY studio: Metal Body, Propeller Clip & Nibs Price range: $$$$Pilot Custom 823: Vacuum Filler, 14k No. 15 Nib Price range: $$$$Pilot Custom Heritage 92: Piston Filler & 14k Nib Price range: $$$$TWSBI VAC700R: Vacuum Filler, Ink Capacity & Size Price range: $$$Pilot E95S: Pocket Fountain Pen with an Inlaid 14k Nib Price range: $$$$Tombow AirPress: Pressurized Ballpoint for Field Notes Price range: $$uni Jetstream Prime Twist: Metal Jetstream, SXR-600 Refill Price range: $$$Best Pens for Journaling: 8 That Don't Bleed or Ghost Price range: $–$$Pilot Parallel Pen: Nib Widths, Inks & Calligraphy Price range: $$Pilot Varsity: The Disposable Fountain Pen Explained Price range: $uni-ball Vision Elite: Airplane-Safe Liquid Ink Pen Price range: $Zebra Z-Grip: Retractable Ballpoint, Sizes & Ink Price range: $Retro 51 Tornado: Twist Rollerball, Refills & Size Price range: $$$STAEDTLER pigment liner 308: Waterproof Drawing Pen Price range: $uni PIN Fineliner: 0.03 to 1.2 mm Pigment Pens Price range: $Kaweco Liliput: Tiny Metal Pocket Fountain Pen Price range: $$$uni Style Fit: Build-Your-Own Multi Pen and Refills Price range: $$Pilot Falcon: Soft 14k Nib, Elabo Roots & Sizes Price range: $$$$Sailor Pro Gear Slim: Gold Nib, Sizes & 21k Update Price range: $$$$TWSBI GO: Spring Piston, 1.61 ml & Nib Sizes Price range: $$$Pentel Touch Sign Pen: Brush Tip, Colors & Line Width Price range: $Monami 153: Korea's Hexagonal Ballpoint Since 1963 Price range: $Monami Olika: Korea's Budget Cartridge Fountain Pen Price range: $$Caran d'Ache 849: The Swiss Hexagonal Ballpoint Price range: $$$STAEDTLER triplus fineliner: 0.3 mm Triangle Pens Price range: $Pelikan M200: Piston Filler, Steel Nib & M205 Price range: $$$$Pilot Prera: Compact Size, CON-40 & Demonstrators Price range: $$$Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: Bristles, Ink & Refills Price range: $$Tombow Fudenosuke: Hard vs Soft Tip Brush Pens Price range: $Parker Jotter Pen: Refills, Sizes and History Since 1954 Price range: $$$Pilot Custom 74: 14k Gold Nib, CON-70 & Sizes Price range: $$$$Platinum #3776 Century: Slip & Seal Cap & Gold Nib Price range: $$$$Pentel R.S.V.P.: Fine vs Medium, Refills & Grip Price range: $Zebra F-301: Steel Barrel, Point Sizes & Refills Price range: $Sakura Gelly Roll: White Gel Pen Sizes & Moonlight Inks Price range: $Kaweco Sport: Pocket Size, Cartridges & Nib Sizes Price range: $$$LAMY 2000: Piston Filler, Hooded Nib & Makrolon Price range: $$$$Pilot Vanishing Point: Retractable Nib & Converter Price range: $$$$uni-ball One: Pigment Gel Ink, Sizes & Refills Price range: $uni-ball Signo 207: Fraud-Resistant Gel Pen Guide Price range: $Pentel Sign Pen: The 1963 Fiber-Tip Pen Explained Price range: $Platinum Preppy: The Slip & Seal Starter Fountain Pen Price range: $$Zebra Sarasa Clip: The Binder-Clip Gel Pen Explained Price range: $Pilot Precise V5: Liquid Ink, Needle Tip & V5 RT Price range: $Zebra Mildliner: Mild Colors, Twin Tips & Ink Price range: $Pilot Metropolitan: Nibs, Converters & Brass Body Price range: $$$uni-ball Jetstream RT: Hybrid Ink, Tip Sizes & Refills Price range: $Pentel EnerGel RTX: Liquid Gel Ink, Tips & Refills Price range: $Sharpie S-Gel Pen Sizes: 0.38–1.0 mm, Refills & Smear Claims Price range: $ARTISTRO Dual-Tip Acrylic Paint Markers: Tips and Sets Price range: $Caliart Alcohol Markers: 41-Color Chisel and Fine Set Price range: $Ohuhu Oahu: Chisel-and-Fine Alcohol Markers Price range: $Copic Ciao: 180 Colors, Round Body & Refills Explained Price range: $Prismacolor Premier Double-Ended Markers: Tips & Sets Price range: $Sharpie Clear View Highlighter: See-Through Chisel Tip Price range: $Asvine P100: Titanium Piston Pen With a #8 Nib Price range: $$$Asvine V800: Vacuum Filler With a Large #8 Nib Price range: $$$Best Dip Pens for Beginners: Nikko G, Zebra G & Holders Price range: $–$$$Best Markers & Pens for Manga: Copic, Multiliner, G Nibs Price range: $–$$Best Pens & Markers for Coloring: Brush Pens to Alcohol Price range: $–$$Best Pens for Nurses: Click Pens That Survive a Shift Price range: $–$$$Best Pens for Teachers: Grading, Marking & Worksheets Price range: $–$$Paper Mate EraserMate: Erasable Ballpoint Explained Price range: $Best Fine-Tip Pens for Small Handwriting (2026) Price range: $–$$Best Fountain Pens Under $200 (2026): What US$200 Buys Price range: $$$–$$$$Best Fountain Pens Under $50 (2026): Kakuno to ECO Price range: $–$$$Best Multi Pens (2026): Jetstream 4&1, Coleto & More Price range: $–$$Best Pens That Don't Smudge (2026): Fast-Drying Picks Price range: $–$$Best Rollerball Pens (2026): Vision Elite, V5 & More Price range: $–$$$Best Japanese Highlighters: Mildliner, Propus & More Price range: $Best New Japanese Pens of 2026: FriXion Synergy 3 & More Price range: $–$$$$Best Paint Markers: POSCA vs Sharpie Creative vs MOLOTOW Price range: $Visconti Homo Sapiens vs Mirage Mythos: Lava or Resin Price range: $$$$Monami Rein Fountain Pen: EF Nib, Cartridges, Size Price range: $$$BENU Euphoria: Tea, Coffee and Cocktail Fountain Pens Price range: $$$$MOLOTOW ONE4ALL 127HS: Refillable Acrylic Marker Price range: $Ohuhu Maui: Water-Based Dual Brush Markers Price range: $Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pen: Nylon Tip, 48 Colors Price range: $Best Erasable Pens: FriXion, Synergy & EraserMate Price range: $Pilot G2 vs Zebra Sarasa Clip: Sizes, Ink & Refills Price range: $Pilot Metropolitan vs LAMY safari: Nibs, Weight & Ink Price range: $$$TWSBI ECO vs LAMY safari: Piston vs Cartridge Filling Price range: $$$Ohuhu Honolulu: Brush-and-Chisel Alcohol Markers Price range: $Paper Mate Profile: The 1.4 mm Bold Retractable Pen Price range: $Pen Refills Explained: Formats, Codes and Swaps Price range: $–$$$Sustainable Pens vs Disposable: What Really Helps Price range: $–$$$Discontinued Pens People Still Want (2027 List) Price range: $–$$Zebra Sarasa Dry X20: Quick-Dry Gel Pen for Lefties Price range: $Best Gifts for Fountain Pen Lovers (2027): 9 Picks Price range: $$–$$$$Fountain Pen vs Gel Pen: Feel, Line, Paper and Cost Price range: $–$$$Japanese vs Western Nib Sizes: Why a Japanese F Is Finer Price range: $$$–$$$$Best Calligraphy Pens for Beginners (2027): 6 Picks Price range: $–$$$Sharpie Pen Fine Point: The 0.4 mm Felt Tip Pen Price range: $Best Alcohol Markers (2027): Ohuhu vs Copic and More Price range: $–$$Pilot G2 vs uni-ball Signo 207: Ink, Sizes & Refills Price range: $Copic Sketch: Nibs, 358 Colors & Refillable Ink Price range: $$uni POSCA PC-5M: Opaque Paint Marker Guide Price range: $Fountain Pen Nib Sizes Explained: EF, F, M and B Price range: $$$–$$$$Gel vs Ballpoint vs Rollerball: How the Inks Differ Price range: $Best Pens for Note-Taking (2027): 7 Picks by Use Price range: $–$$Best Luxury Pens (2027): 10 Gift & Heirloom Picks Price range: $$$–$$$$Best Fineliner Pens: Micron, Point 88 & More Price range: $Best Vintage Fountain Pens to Buy (2027): 9 Classics Price range: $$$$Best Ballpoint Pen: Jetstream RT Wins, 12 Picks Compared Price range: $–$$$Best Brush Pens: Fudenosuke, ABT & Pocket Brush Price range: $–$$Monami Plus Pen 3000: Korea's 0.4 mm Felt Tip Pen Price range: $Kuretake ZIG Clean Color Real Brush: Colors & Blending Price range: $Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen: Brush Tips & India Ink Price range: $Stabilo Point 88: Fineliner Colors, Tip & Dry-Out Price range: $Paper Mate InkJoy Gel: Sizes, Dry Time & Color Packs Price range: $Best Gel Pens: G2, EnerGel, Sarasa & More Price range: $Paper Mate Flair: Felt Tip Sizes & Point Guard Price range: $All pens guides →
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Zebra Hi-Mackee
Zebra Mackee Care
Zebra Mackee Care Ultra Fine
Zebra Onamae Mackee
Zebra Mackee Knock
Zebra Paper Mackee
Zebra Mackee Extra Thick
Sharpie Fine Point
KOKUYO Research Lab Pen