Compiled from 8 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Copic Ciao is Copic's entry-level alcohol marker: a round 12 × 12 × 150 mm body with the same Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs as the Copic Sketch. Copic Japan sells it in 180 of its 358 colors at ¥330 (about US$2.10), and each refill takes about 1.4 ml of Copic Ink.
On this page12 sections
The Copic Ciao, 150 mm capped (drawn at 1 mm = 5 px); the red is a representative ink tint.
Round plastic barrel with child-safe caps, Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs, alcohol-based dye ink (Copic)
Released
1998*
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Rate it
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this product.
Notes on these facts
Made by Too Marker Products Inc. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Too Corporation Americas. Made in Japan: Copic's Japanese and English Ciao pages don't state a country of manufacture. The Amazon US listings for the 6-color and 72-color Ciao sets (read October 23, 2026) say the markers are made in Japan; check the pack. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Copic Japan's history page: the Ciao went on sale in 1998 as the entry model of the Sketch, at first in 72 colors.
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
Copic Japan lists the Ciao body at 12 × 12 × 150 mm (5.9 in long), round, with child-safe caps.
It comes in 180 colors, about half of the 358 Copic colors; it launched in 1998 with 72.
A refill takes about 1.4 ml of Copic Ink, and one bottle refills a Ciao about 9 times, per Copic Japan.
Copic Japan prices it at ¥330 (about US$2.10) against ¥495 (about US$3.10) for the Sketch; in the US a single Ciao sits in our $ band (under $5).
Copic changed the Ciao's barrel, cap design and body color in 2023 but says the ink, nibs and color codes did not change.
What is the Copic Ciao?
It’s Copic’s entry-level alcohol marker: a round, double-ended marker with the same two nibs as the Copic Sketch, sold in fewer colors with less ink. Copic Japan says it cut the ink volume and narrowed the range to 180 colors to make the Ciao easier to buy.
Copic is a brand of Too Marker Products in Tokyo. Its history page says the Ciao went on sale in 1998 as the entry model of the Copic Sketch, at first in 72 colors picked for beginners.
On Amazon US, the 6-color Ciao sets share 6,390 ratings, which makes the Ciao one of the most reviewed Copic products we checked on October 23, 2026.
Copic Ciao specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Too Marker Products Inc. (Tokyo, Japan)
Nibs
Super Brush + Medium Broad (chisel), as on the Sketch
Ink
Alcohol-based dye ink
Colors
180 (of 358 Copic colors)
Body
12 × 12 × 150 mm (0.5 × 0.5 × 5.9 in), round
Caps
Safety caps against swallowing (Copic)
Refill
About 1.4 ml of Copic Ink; about 9 refills per bottle
Price in Japan
¥330 (about US$2.10) with tax
Launched
1998, with 72 colors
Price band (US)
$ (under $5 per marker)
Made in
Japan (Amazon listings)
Every figure except the origin comes from Copic Japan’s product and history pages. Copic doesn’t publish a weight for the Ciao.
The Ciao's round 12 mm barrel against the Sketch's 11 × 16 mm oval, both 150 mm long, from Copic Japan's specs.
How is the Ciao different from the Copic Sketch?
It has the same nibs and ink but a round body, 180 instead of 358 colors and less ink per fill.
Copic Ciao
Copic Sketch
Body
Round, 12 × 12 × 150 mm
Oval, 11 × 16 × 150 mm
Colors
180
358
Ink per refill
About 1.4 ml
About 1.8 ml
Refills per bottle
About 9
About 7
Price in Japan
¥330 (about US$2.10)
¥495 (about US$3.10)
Launched
1998
1993
Copic’s FAQ says all its alcohol markers use ink of the same quality, so a Ciao and a Sketch of the same code should match. The round body rolls more easily than the Sketch’s oval one, so keep it on a tray.
How do the Ciao’s two nibs work?
The Super Brush bends like a paintbrush for tapered strokes and blending, and the Medium Broad is a firm chisel for flat fills. Copic says the Ciao’s nibs are the same in shape and quality as the Sketch’s.
Both nibs can be replaced when they fray. Copic’s Fine nib, sold separately, fits the Sketch only, because the Ciao’s nib socket is a slightly different size.
Can you refill a Copic Ciao?
Yes: Copic Japan says each refill takes about 1.4 ml of Copic Ink, about 9 refills per bottle. The ink comes in all 358 colors, so every Ciao color can be refilled.
Because the Ciao holds less ink than the Sketch, it needs refilling sooner. That is the main hidden cost of the lower price; a refill still costs much less than a new marker.
What changed in the 2023 Ciao?
Copic announced in January 2023 that the Ciao’s barrel shape, cap design, body color and some labeling would change. It says the ink, nibs, colors, codes and sets stay the same.
Old stock was sold first, so a new set may mix both versions for a while. Copic’s English page says the color code is printed on the barrel and the caps are child-safe.
Which paper should you use with Copic Ciao?
Use bleedproof marker paper such as the Canson XL Marker pad, or put a scrap sheet behind your page. Alcohol ink soaks through ordinary paper.
For stamped outlines under Copic color, stampers use an alcohol-safe ink pad such as Memento Tuxedo Black. For pen line work that Copic says won’t bleed under its markers, see the Copic Multiliner.
Ciao or a cheaper alcohol marker?
Pick the Ciao for Copic nibs and refills, or the Ohuhu Honolulu for the lowest price per color. Our best alcohol markers roundup compares the Ciao with the Sketch, Ohuhu, Prismacolor and Arteza.
Where is the Copic Ciao made?
Copic’s own pages don’t say, but Amazon US listings for Ciao sets say made in Japan. Copic is a Japanese brand based in Tokyo, and its English history says the first Copic markers were made in Japan.
Check the pack if origin matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Copic Ciao worth it for beginners?
Copic calls the Ciao its entry model: it has the same nibs and ink as the Sketch for about two thirds of the Japanese price, and it refills with the same Copic Ink. The trade-offs are 180 colors instead of 358 and less ink per fill.
Can you refill Copic Ciao markers?
Yes. Copic Japan says each refill takes about 1.4 ml of Copic Ink, enough for about 9 refills from one bottle. Copic Ink comes in all 358 colors, and both nibs can be replaced.
How many colors does Copic Ciao come in?
180, according to Copic Japan, chosen from the 358 Copic colors. The Ciao launched in 1998 with 72 colors.
Do Copic Sketch nibs fit the Ciao?
The Ciao comes with the same Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs as the Sketch. Copic's FAQ says its separate Fine nib fits the Sketch only, because the Ciao's nib socket is a slightly different size.
Why does my new Copic Ciao look different?
Copic announced in January 2023 that the Ciao's barrel shape, cap design, body color and some labeling would change. It says the ink, nibs, color codes and sets stay the same, and old and new versions can be mixed in sets during the changeover.
How long is a Copic Ciao marker?
150 mm (5.9 in) with both caps on, the same length as a Copic Sketch. Copic Japan gives the body as 12 × 12 × 150 mm, so it is round where the Sketch is oval.
Is the Copic Ciao made in Japan?
Copic's own pages don't say, but Amazon US listings for Ciao sets say the markers are made in Japan. Copic is a Japanese brand of Too Marker Products in Tokyo.
