---
title: "Tombow MONO Eraser PE-04A: Sizes, Sleeve & Uses"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-eraser/"
description: "Tombow MONO eraser PE-04A explained: 55 × 23 × 11 mm, the five sizes and their Japan prices, the striped paper sleeve, what it erases, and where it's made."
category: "Accessories"
type: "Eraser"
published: 2026-10-21
updated: 2026-10-21
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 7
products:
  - name: "Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04A"
    brand: "Tombow"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Plastic (vinyl) eraser, phthalate-free; paper sleeve with at least 50% recycled pulp (Tombow)"
    released: "1969"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "PE-04A"
    mpn: "PE-04A"
    url: "https://www.tombow.com/products/mono/"
---

# Tombow MONO Eraser PE-04A: Sizes, Sleeve & Uses

> The Tombow MONO PE-04A is the standard-size MONO plastic eraser from Tombow of Japan, in its blue, white and black striped paper sleeve. Retailers list it at 55 × 23 × 11 mm (2.2 × 0.9 × 0.4 in) and 19 g. Tombow says it's phthalate-free, has sold it since 1969, and lists it at ¥132 (about US$0.80) in Japan.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-eraser/
- Category: Accessories
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Updated: 2026-10-21

![White Tombow MONO PE-04A eraser in its blue, white and black striped sleeve, drawn to scale at 55 mm (2.2 in) long, beside a ruled sheet with a pencil line erased cleanly; inset: the three sleeve stripes](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/tombow-mono-eraser-16x9.png)

*The PE-04A at 55 mm long, in its sleeve (drawn at 1 mm = 4 px).* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-mono-eraser-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04A | Tombow (by Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Plastic (vinyl) eraser, phthalate-free; paper sleeve with at least 50% recycled pulp (Tombow) | 1969 | $: under $5 per item |

- Made in (Tombow MONO eraser, PE-04A): Japan. Officeworks in Australia lists Japan as the country of manufacture for the PE-04A, and Galaxus gives Japan as the country of origin. But St. Louis Art Supply, a US shop, says its PE-04A is made in Vietnam, so US stock may differ. Tombow's Japanese MONO page (read on October 21, 2026) doesn't state a country; check the packaging. Source: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/tombow-mono-eraser-ja7010499

## Key takeaways

- US and Australian retailers list the PE-04A at 55 × 23 × 11 mm (2.2 × 0.9 × 0.4 in) and 19 g, 10 mm shorter than a Staedtler Mars plastic.
- Tombow sells the standard MONO in 5 sizes, PE-01A to PE-09A, from ¥77 (about US$0.50) to ¥396 (about US$2.50) in Japan; the PE-04A is ¥132 (about US$0.80).
- Tombow says the MONO eraser began as a free gift with the MONO 100 pencil (1967) and went on sale in 1969.
- Tombow lists it as phthalate-free, with a paper sleeve made of at least 50% recycled pulp.
- Officeworks and Galaxus list Japan as the country of manufacture, but St. Louis Art Supply says its stock is made in Vietnam.

## What is the Tombow MONO eraser?

**It's a white plastic block eraser in a blue, white and black striped sleeve, made by the Japanese pencil maker Tombow, and the PE-04A is its regular size.** Tombow's Japanese site calls it "everyone's standard eraser" and says the stripes and the MONO lettering became the standard look for erasers in Japan.

Tombow says the MONO eraser started as a free gift with its top-grade [MONO 100](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-100/) pencil, launched in 1967. It was praised for erasing well, so Tombow put it on sale by itself in 1969.

It's the cleanest-erase pick in our [best erasers roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-erasers/), and Tombow won a 2011 Good Design Long Life Design Award for it.

## Tombow MONO PE-04A specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd., Tokyo |
| Model | PE-04A |
| Size | 55 × 23 × 11 mm (2.2 × 0.9 × 0.4 in), per retailers |
| Weight | 19 g (Officeworks, Galaxus) |
| Material | Plastic (vinyl, per St. Louis Art Supply); phthalate-free (Tombow) |
| Sleeve | Paper, at least 50% recycled pulp (Tombow) |
| For | Pencil and mechanical pencil lines (Tombow) |
| On sale since | 1969 (Tombow) |
| Japan list price | ¥132 (about US$0.80) with tax |
| Price band | $ (under $5) |
| Made in | Japan (Officeworks, Galaxus); Vietnam (St. Louis Art Supply) |

Tombow's Japanese page lists prices and environmental specs but no size or weight, so the size comes from retailers. Two of them agree on 55 × 23 × 11 mm, and Bic Camera gives the same 23 × 55 mm face.

![Tombow MONO PE-04A eraser in top and side views to scale: 55 mm (2.2 in) long, 23 mm (0.9 in) wide and 11 mm thick, in its blue, white and black sleeve, with the 65 × 23 mm Mars plastic outlined for comparison](https://stationerytimes.com/images/tombow-mono-eraser-size.svg)

*The PE-04A from the top and side at 1 mm = 5 px; the dashed outline is a Staedtler Mars plastic.*

## What sizes does the MONO eraser come in?

**Five standard sizes, from PE-01A to PE-09A.** Tombow's Japanese site lists them with these prices, tax included:

| Code | Japan list price |
|---|---|
| PE-01A | ¥77 (about US$0.50) |
| PE-03A | ¥110 (about US$0.70) |
| PE-04A | ¥132 (about US$0.80) |
| PE-07A | ¥264 (about US$1.70) |
| PE-09A | ¥396 (about US$2.50) |

The PE-04A is the size most shops call regular. JetPens lists the PE-07A as "Large" at 7.4 cm (2.9 in) long. In Japan, Tombow also sells a box of 18 PE-01A erasers (JHA-061) and a 2-pack with no lettering on the sleeve (JCA-262), which it suggests for exams.

## What does it erase?

**Pencil and mechanical pencil, cleanly.** Tombow says it erases pencil and mechanical pencil lines cleanly with a pleasant feel; it isn't sold for ink.

In The Well-Appointed Desk's 2016 side-by-side test, the MONO was a finalist on both smooth and toothy paper. For single letters, Tombow's pen-style [MONO Zero](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tombow-mono-zero-eraser/) is the more precise tool.


## What is the sleeve for?

**It keeps the eraser clean and stops it sticking to things.** Tombow warns that erasers and their crumbs can stick to, or even melt, painted and plastic surfaces, and tells users to put the eraser back in its sleeve after use.

The sleeve is paper, with at least 50% recycled pulp, which is why Tombow lists the MONO as a Green Tombow product that meets Japan's Green Purchasing Law. Tombow also says the eraser itself is phthalate-free.

## How does it compare with other block erasers?

**All three common white blocks erase graphite well; the MONO is the smallest of them.**

| | Tombow MONO PE-04A | [Staedtler Mars plastic](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-mars-plastic-eraser/) | [Pentel Hi-Polymer](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-hi-polymer-eraser/) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 55 × 23 × 11 mm | 65 × 23 × 13 mm | 65 × 24.5 × 12.5 mm |
| Sleeve | Blue, white, black paper | Blue | Blue and black |
| Price band | $ | $ | $ |

The shorter MONO fits a small pencil case; the longer blocks give more eraser to wear down.

## Where is the Tombow MONO eraser made?

**Retailers disagree: Officeworks and Galaxus list Japan, but St. Louis Art Supply says made in Vietnam.** Officeworks gives Japan as the country of manufacture, and Galaxus gives Japan as the country of origin.

Tombow, based in Tokyo, doesn't state the country on its Japanese MONO page. US stock may come from a different factory than Australian or European stock, so check the packaging if it matters to you.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big is the Tombow MONO PE-04A eraser?

St. Louis Art Supply and Officeworks list it at 55 × 23 × 11 mm, about 2.2 × 0.9 × 0.4 in, and Officeworks and Galaxus give 19 g. Bic Camera in Japan lists it as 23 mm wide and 55 mm long.

### What sizes does the Tombow MONO eraser come in?

Tombow's Japanese site lists five standard sizes: PE-01A, PE-03A, PE-04A, PE-07A and PE-09A. The PE-04A is the regular size; JetPens lists the larger PE-07A at 7.4 cm (2.9 in) long.

### What is the Tombow MONO eraser made of?

Plastic: St. Louis Art Supply calls it a soft vinyl eraser, and Tombow says it contains no phthalates. The striped sleeve is paper, with at least 50% recycled pulp.

### Why does my MONO eraser stick to my pencil case?

Tombow warns that erasers and eraser crumbs can stick to, or even melt, painted and plastic surfaces. It says to put the eraser back in its sleeve after use.

### Can the MONO eraser erase pen?

No. Tombow sells it for pencil and mechanical pencil lines. For ink, use a correction tape or an ink eraser made for it.

### Is the Tombow MONO better than the Staedtler Mars plastic?

They're close. In The Well-Appointed Desk's 2016 test the MONO was a finalist on smooth and toothy paper, and the Mars plastic was runner-up on toothy paper. The MONO is 10 mm shorter.

### Where is the Tombow MONO eraser made?

Officeworks and Galaxus list Japan, but St. Louis Art Supply says its US stock is made in Vietnam. Tombow doesn't state the country, so check the packaging.

## Sources

- [トンボ鉛筆: モノ消しゴム (Tombow Japan MONO eraser page: launched 1969, 5 sizes and prices, phthalate-free, recycled-pulp sleeve, 2011 Good Design Long Life Design Award, cautions)](https://www.tombow.com/products/mono/)
- [St. Louis Art Supply: MONO Vinyl Eraser PE-04A, regular size (55 × 23 × 11 mm, made in Vietnam)](https://shop.stlartsupply.com/collections/new-products/products/mono-vinyl-eraser-pe-04a-regular-size)
- [Officeworks: Tombow MONO eraser PE-04A (23 × 55 × 11 mm, 0.019 kg, country of manufacture Japan)](https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/tombow-mono-eraser-ja7010499)
- [Galaxus: Tombow MONO eraser (5.5 × 2.3 × 1.1 cm, 19 g, country of origin Japan)](https://www.galaxus.it/en/s12/product/tombow-mono-eraser-correcting-8934791)
- [Bic Camera: Tombow MONO eraser PE-04A (23 × 55 mm)](https://www.biccamera.com/bc/item/1614236/)
- [JetPens: Tombow MONO Eraser, Large (PE-07A, 7.4 cm)](https://www.jetpens.com/Tombow-MONO-Eraser-Large/pd/2488)
- [The Well-Appointed Desk: The Great Eraser Rub-Off Challenge (July 7, 2016)](https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/2016/07/the-great-eraser-rub-off-challenge/)