Est. 2026 · Price: FreeEditor-at-large: The Hedgehog

Stationery Times

Staedtler Textsurfer Gel 264: No-Bleed Gel Highlighter

Compiled from 6 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research

Quick answer

The Staedtler Textsurfer Gel 264 is a dry highlighter: a twist-up stick of translucent wax gel, 9 mm across, that leaves a line of about 3 mm. Staedtler says it doesn't bleed through paper or smudge inkjet printouts, which makes it a favorite for Bibles and thin pages. Single sticks sit in our $ band.

On this page11 sections
Staedtler Textsurfer Gel 264 highlighter drawn to scale at 137 mm, uncapped to show its twist-up gel stick, with a close-up of the stick
The Textsurfer Gel, 137 mm capped (drawn at 1 mm = 5 px); the yellow is a representative tint.

Product facts

Product
Staedtler Textsurfer Gel highlighter (264)
Brand
Staedtler
Brand origin
Germany
Made in
South Korea*
Material
Plastic barrel with snap cap, clip and twist mechanism; translucent wax-gel lead (Staedtler, The Pen Addict)
Price range
$under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Ink colors

yellow

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Notes on these facts
  • Made by Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg). Made in South Korea: Officeworks (Australia) lists South Korea as the country of manufacture for the green 264-5 (read October 23, 2026). Staedtler's German and international 264 pages don't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
  • Colors: names per STAEDTLER (international), checked October 24, 2026. Single colors per STAEDTLER's international page, which lists four; the blue in the five-color 264 PB5 set (Amazon US) isn't listed there as a single. Tints were sampled from STAEDTLER's product photos. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
  • Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Staedtler gives a 9 mm gel lead for marks about 3 mm wide, advanced by a twist mechanism with no sharpening.
  • Staedtler says the 264 doesn't bleed through paper and is INKJET SAFE, so it won't smudge inkjet printouts.
  • Officeworks lists it at 137 × 17 × 13 mm (5.4 in long) and 13.7 g.
  • The Pen Addict's 2016 review found only gel pen ink smudged under it; fountain pen and rollerball ink stayed put.
  • Officeworks lists South Korea as the country of manufacture, though Staedtler is a German brand.

What is the Staedtler Textsurfer Gel?

It’s a dry highlighter: a twist-up stick of translucent wax gel that glides over the page instead of wetting it. Staedtler sells it as model 264 and says it doesn’t bleed through paper.

That is why it is a go-to for Bibles, novels and thin planner paper. Our highlighters that don’t bleed roundup names it the pick least likely to bleed through.

It is the dry counterpart to Staedtler’s liquid-ink Textsurfer classic 364.

Staedtler Textsurfer Gel 264 specs

Spec Value
Maker Staedtler, Nuremberg, Germany
Model 264
Lead Translucent wax gel, 9 mm across (Staedtler)
Line About 3 mm, rounded tip (Staedtler)
Mechanism Twist up, no sharpening (Staedtler)
Size 137 × 17 × 13 mm (5.4 × 0.7 × 0.5 in) (Officeworks)
Weight 13.7 g (Officeworks)
Claims Doesn’t bleed through paper; INKJET SAFE
Price band $ (under $5 per highlighter)
Made in South Korea (Officeworks)

Staedtler’s German and international pages give the lead, line and claims. Staedtler doesn’t publish a size, so we use Officeworks’ measurements.

Textsurfer Gel's 9 mm gel stick to scale and a 3 mm line, with a section of thin paper showing gel resting on top versus liquid ink soaking through
A 9 mm stick for a 3 mm mark, and why a dry gel stays on the surface of thin paper.

Why doesn’t the Textsurfer Gel bleed through?

There’s no liquid to soak into the paper: the wax gel goes on dry and sits on the surface. Liquid highlighters wet the fibers, which is what shows through on the back of a thin sheet.

The Pen Addict’s reviewer called it excellent for novels, planners, Bibles and textbooks, and found the line goes down dry even on coated textbook paper. The trade-off is a slightly waxy residue that felt sticky for a little while.

Does it smudge printouts and pen ink?

Staedtler says it won’t smudge inkjet printouts, and The Pen Addict found only gel pen ink smudged under it. Fountain pen and rollerball ink stayed put in that test.

Staedtler also lists it for fax paper and carbon copies. If you highlight gel-pen notes, let them dry well first.

Because the gel goes on dry, there is no wait before you turn the page and no transfer to the facing page, which The Pen Addict’s reviewer remembered as the curse of liquid highlighters in textbooks.

What are the downsides of a gel highlighter?

The soft stick wears fast and the line is less crisp than a chisel. The Pen Addict found the rounded tip wears unevenly, so line width varies, and even a small area flattens the tip.

If you highlight whole paragraphs, expect to go through sticks quickly. For thin, precise lines, a chisel highlighter or the double-ended Zebra Zebrite is easier to control.

Which colors does the Textsurfer Gel come in?

Yellow, pink, orange, green and blue, the five colors of the 264 PB5 set sold on Amazon US. The Pen Addict lists the same five colors and a 3-pack of pink, orange and yellow, and single sticks are sold too.

All the colors are fluorescent and translucent, so printed text stays readable through the mark.

How does it compare with other no-bleed highlighters?

It is the classic dry gel; the Sharpie Gel is the main US alternative.

Textsurfer Gel 264 Sharpie Gel Zebra Zebrite
Type Twist-up wax gel Twist-up gel Double-ended marker
Line About 3 mm Not published Chisel + bullet
Bleed claim Doesn’t bleed (Staedtler) No bleed-through (Sharpie) Sold in Bible kits
Price band $ $ $

Where is the Staedtler Textsurfer Gel made?

In South Korea, according to Australian retailer Officeworks. Staedtler is a German company based in Nuremberg, and its own 264 pages don’t state a country.

Check the barrel or pack, since origin can differ by market.

Staedtler’s German site lists the 264 under its Textmarker range next to the liquid Textsurfer classic, and both models carry an INKJET SAFE claim on Staedtler’s pages.

Frequently asked questions

Do Staedtler gel highlighters bleed through Bible pages?

Staedtler says the Textsurfer Gel does not bleed through paper, and The Pen Addict's reviewer recommended it for novels, planners and Bibles. Test it on a blank page at the back first; we haven't run our own test yet.

How wide is the Textsurfer Gel line?

About 3 mm, according to Staedtler, from a 9 mm gel lead with a rounded tip. The Pen Addict found the line width varies as the soft tip wears unevenly.

Does the Textsurfer Gel dry out?

It's a solid wax gel, so there's no liquid ink to evaporate; JetPens says it can stay uncapped for up to three days. Keep it capped anyway so the stick stays clean.

Does the Textsurfer Gel smear ink?

Staedtler says it won't smudge inkjet printouts. In The Pen Addict's test, only gel pen ink smudged under it; fountain pen and rollerball ink stayed put.

How long does a Textsurfer Gel last?

Staedtler doesn't publish a mileage. The Pen Addict found the soft gel wears down quickly when you highlight large areas, so heavy textbook users go through several.

Is the Staedtler Textsurfer Gel made in Germany?

No. Staedtler is a German brand, but Australian retailer Officeworks lists South Korea as the country of manufacture.

Sources (6)

  1. STAEDTLER (German site): Textsurfer gel 264 Gel-Textmarker (Trockentextmarker mit gelartiger Wachsmine, Drehmechanik, schlägt nicht durch Papier, INKJET SAFE, Minendurchmesser 9 mm für ca. 3 mm breite Markierungen; read October 23, 2026)
  2. STAEDTLER (international site): Textsurfer gel 264 gel highlighter (dry highlighter with translucent wax lead, twist mechanism, does not bleed through paper, 9 mm lead, about 3 mm line, for paper, fax and carbon copies)
  3. Officeworks: Staedtler Textsurfer Gel Highlighter Green 264-5 (17 × 137 × 13 mm, 0.0137 kg, 3 mm line, country of manufacture South Korea; read October 23, 2026)
  4. The Pen Addict: Staedtler Textsurfer Gel Highlighter Review (November 23, 2016: packs of five and three, twist mechanism, no bleed on thin paper, gel pen ink smudged, wears fast)
  5. JetPens: Staedtler Textsurfer Gel Highlighter 3-Color Set (bleed-free on Bible pages, uncapped up to three days)
  6. Amazon US: Staedtler Textsurfer Gel, 5-color set (264 PB5: yellow, pink, orange, blue, green; 851 ratings on October 23, 2026)

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