Zebra Hi-Mackee: Thick-and-Fine Permanent Marker

Zebra Hi-Mackee twin permanent markers standing side by side in their 9 ink colors, black, blue, light blue, green, yellow-green, yellow, pink, purple and red — Hi-Mackee in its nine ink colors (drawn in proportion). Original illustration made for this guide. © Stationery Times.

Product facts

Product: Zebra Hi-Mackee oil-based marker (MC12C), refillable Hi-Mackee Care (YYT5-12C)
Brand: Zebra
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Not stated^*
Material: Plastic body; alcohol-based oil dye ink
Price range: $under $5 per item
Rate it: No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this product.

Notes on these facts

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. Price: example listing.
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

Two ends in one marker: a 6.0 mm thick tip and a 1.5 to 2.0 mm fine tip, per Zebra.
The ink is an alcohol-based oil dye that Zebra calls quick-drying and water-resistant.
The pen is 21.8 mm across and 140.8 mm long, weighs 25.1 g, and costs 165 yen with tax (about US$1.04).
A refillable Hi-Mackee Care takes ink cartridge set YYT5 and Zebra says its plastic is 84 percent recycled by its Eco Mark method.
Zebra says not to use it on soft vinyl such as inflatable rings; its page gives no country of manufacture.

What is the Zebra Hi-Mackee?

It is Zebra’s thick-and-fine oil-based marker. Mackee is Zebra’s long-running permanent marker line in Japan, and Hi-Mackee is the double-ended version: a 6.0 mm thick tip on one end and a 1.5 to 2.0 mm fine tip on the other. Zebra calls the ink quick-drying and water-resistant. It is a permanent marker in the everyday sense, since it stays on surfaces that wash would clear a water-based pen from.

For Zebra’s fine marker line, see the Mackee Care and Onamae Mackee guides.

What is the ink, and what can it mark?

An alcohol-based oil dye on most surfaces. Zebra says the ink is quick-drying and water-resistant and suits paper, cloth, wood, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and vinyl, but not soft vinyl items such as inflatable rings. Zebra gives no dry time in seconds and no lightfastness figure, so treat the claims as maker claims. For long-lived outdoor labels, test first.

What are the specs?

21.8 mm across, 140.8 mm long, 25.1 g. Zebra lists:

Item	Value
Line width	thick 6.0 mm; fine 1.5 to 2.0 mm
Ink	alcohol-based oil dye, black
Size	21.8 mm diameter × 140.8 mm
Weight	25.1 g
Part number	MC12C
Price	165 yen with tax (about US$1.04)

Is there a refillable version?

Yes, Hi-Mackee Care. It has the same line widths and is 21.5 mm across, 139.6 mm long and 26 g, part number YYT5-12C, with a replacement cartridge set called YYT5. Zebra says its plastic is 84 percent recycled by the Eco Mark calculation and that it is Green Purchasing Law compliant. It costs the same 165 yen.

If a marker has dried out, our how to revive a dried-out pen or marker guide says what makers advise.

How does it compare with the rest of the line?

It is the broad one. By our arithmetic from Zebra’s tax-included prices, the thick end is about 12 times the width of Zebra’s 0.5 mm extra-fine line. The rest of the line:

Model	Line widths	Weight	Price with tax
Hi-Mackee (MC12C)	6.0 mm / 1.5–2.0 mm	25.1 g	165 yen (about US$1.04)
Hi-Mackee Care (refillable, YYT5-12C)	6.0 mm / 1.5–2.0 mm	26 g	165 yen (about US$1.04)
Mackee Care fine and extra fine (YYTS5-12C)	1.0–1.3 mm / 0.5 mm	9.0 g	132 yen (about US$0.84)
Mackee Care ultra fine (YYTH3-R)	0.7 mm / 0.3 mm	9.4 g	132 yen (about US$0.84)
Onamae Mackee, both ends (YYTS7-BK)	1.0–1.3 mm / 0.5 mm	8.7 g	165 yen (about US$1.04)
Onamae Mackee, fine (YYSS7-BK)	0.8 mm	7.8 g	132 yen (about US$0.84)
Mackee Knock fine (YYSS6-5C)	1.0–1.3 mm	13.0 g	198 yen (about US$1.25)
Paper Mackee (WYT5-15C)	5.6 mm / 1.4–1.7 mm	26.3 g	165 yen (about US$1.04)
Mackee Extra Thick (MC-EB-450-RT)	chisel 8.0–17.0 mm / square 10.0 mm	63.2 g	550 yen (about US$3.48)

Prices are Japanese list prices at 158 yen to the dollar. Weights and widths are Zebra’s own.

Where is it made, and what does it cost?

Zebra’s page doesn’t state a country of manufacture. The company is based in Tokyo. At 165 yen with tax (about US$1.04), the marker is in our $ band (under $5).

For the whole field, see our best permanent markers roundup.

Frequently asked questions

What are the two line widths?

6.0 mm thick and 1.5 to 2.0 mm fine.

What is the ink?

An alcohol-based oil dye, per Zebra, which dries quickly and resists water.

What can you write on?

Paper, cloth, wood, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and vinyl, but not soft vinyl like inflatable rings.

Can you refill it?

Yes, the Care model. Hi-Mackee Care (YYT5-12C) takes cartridge set YYT5; it weighs 26 g and is 21.5 mm across.

How big is it?

21.8 mm across and 140.8 mm long, 25.1 g.

How much does it cost?

165 yen with tax, about US$1.04 at 158 yen to the dollar.

What colors exist?

Zebra's page for this model lists black.

Sources (2)

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