Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by Dee
Get ready to add a splash of color and creativity to your artwork with our list of the 14 best gel pens for coloring! These pens are not just any ordinary pens; they are specially selected for their vibrant hues, smooth application, and exceptional performance on various types of paper. Perfect for artists, hobbyists, or anyone who loves to bring pages to life, these gel pens offer a range of colors and effects, from glittery and neon to pastel and metallic. Say goodbye to dull and uneven coloring – it’s time to experience the joy and precision of coloring with these top-notch gel pens.
Dive in and discover how these pens can transform your coloring projects into dazzling works of art!
Table of Contents
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The 14 Best Gel Pens for Coloring
In this article, I have compared leading gel pen brands to find the 14 best pens for coloring. There are many great gel pens out there, but not all are suitable for coloring books, so take care when choosing your set!
This list of the 14 best gel pens focuses on several factors, including the variety of colors in a set, ease of application, and eco-friendly and non-toxic options.
You will also find high-end and budget-friendly gel pens on our list. These pens can be found online, and some even come in attractive boxes – this makes a great gift for artists who like to draw!
14 Top Gel Pens for Coloring
Zebra Journaling Set
The Zebra Journaling Set combines Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Pens with matching hues of Zebra Mildliner Highlighters for gorgeous highlights and designs in are journals and coloring books. These pens are great for bullet journaling and for mixed media sketchbooks.
The ink in these gel pens dries in less than one second so you can be sure there will be no smudges or smears.
The Zebra Journaling Set includes 13 pens: Gel Retractable Pens in Black, Blue Green, Light Blue, Light Pink, Magenta, Pale Blue, and Purple; and seven Mildliner Highlighters in Blue Green, Dark Blue, Gray, Pink.
Tanmit Gel Pens
Big Variety of Colors (with the option of refills)
Tanmit gel pens are one of the best gel pens for coloring. They are some of the most popular coloring pens available, thanks to their popularity as a gel pen brand. They provide an extensive range of colors, including metallic, neon hues, glitter, rainbow tones, and many more. Swirl colors are also available, which contain numerous hues in one pen.
Tanmit gel pens are also refillable so you can keep adding new colors to your set as your collection grows. The pens also boast a 0.8- 1.0 millimeter nib that makes them optimal for coloring books and detailed drawings. They are non-toxic and acid-free, making them safe for both children and adults
If you buy a whole set, you’ll see that each of their pens has a color number. This makes it easy to organize and rebuy once you run out.
These are some of the greatest gel pens for coloring because they are made of transparent plastic. As a result, you can tell if you’re running low on ink as soon as you pick up the pen.
They can be refilled. Furthermore, when the cap is put on, it makes a clicking sound so that you know when it’s secure.
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Excellent quality, Good flow, and a beautiful Pastel Color Palette
Gelly Roll is another popular and high-quality gel pen brand! The Ice Cream Smooth series includes white or opaqued pastel hues, which is something unique. Their Moonlight, Stardust, and Metallic series are also well-known.
If you are unsure which colors or series to use, choose one of their mixed sets, including various pens! Buying a mixed set of colors or shades will help you get a feel for what each type of pen feels like on the paper.
These gelly roll pens are bright and striking on white and colored paper; you can color more than one layer on top of one another. Layering the gelly roll ink definitely gives this medium extra impact!
Not only are the colors great, but Gelly Roll pens are also really smooth to draw with, and many people feel they are more soothing to use than colored pencils.
Gelly roll pens are particularly great to use on black paper and come with various tip sizes from 0.5 to 1.0.
[Check out The Ultimate Guide for Drawing on Black Paper]
Gelly Roll pens are well-known for their high quality, and the price is slightly higher than other choices. So, if you like gel pens and want to try a high-quality version, now’s your chance.
If you get the Ice Cream Smooth series of 74 pens, which come in a transparent plastic box, you’ll get six classic hues, 11 metallic hues, and even gold and silver colors.
Sakura Soufflé 3-D Paint Pens
Sakura’s fun gel pen set produces an embossed effect on almost any surface in minutes, with no messy powders or heat guns.
The ink dries to a matte, opaque finish that works on light and dark surfaces in a beautiful range of colors!
This set contains hues of yellow, orange, light orange, pink, purple, light green, green, blue, gray, and white.
ColorIt Glitter Gel Pens
Long-Lasting
Gel sets from ColorIt are designed for adult coloring and are among the best gel pens. They include 48 colors, including glitter gel pens, neon gel pens, and metallic gel pens.
The set comes with refills for all 48 markers and is packaged in a gleaming travel case. Each of the color pens has its own name and is color-coded.
ColorIt Gel pens have a comfortable grip and are bleed-resistant on typical paper, so your coloring pages will not be stained. The gel ink is water-based, non-toxic, and acid-free. ColorIt gel pens have a 1.0mm ballpoint tip for working in layers.
Ooly Fine Line Colored Gel Pens
Long-lasting ink
Create beautiful works of art easily using the Ooly Fine Line Colored Gel Pens. This set includes six colors: pink, red, orange, green, blue, and purple. These pens have an archival-quality acid-free ink formula, meaning your drawings will last for years.
Each pen has a 0.7 mm nib fine point, perfect for creating intricate details or drawing thin lines. Whether you’re an artist or just looking for a fun way to relax, these gel pens will surely become your new favorite tools.
Pentel Milky Pop Pen Set
Add a pop of color with Pentel Milky Pop Pens. These vivid pastel gel inks show up especially well on dark papers. Milky Pop Pens have medium points (0.8 mm) and extra-long, balanced barrels for effortless drawing.
This set includes one each of Mint Green, Orange, Pink, Sky Blue, Violet, and Yellow, as well as two White pens.
Shuttle Art Gel Pens
Set sizes range from 12 colors to sets of 240, with glitter pens, neon, neon glitter, pastel, swirl, and metallic hues in between.
The “magic” hue of the Shuttle Art gel pens is a standout, which appears black but changes color when applied to paper.
The variety makes them one of the greatest gel pens for coloring pages. Pens and refills are included in larger sets packed in a robust plastic container.
A unique triangular grip forms the grip, so your hand won’t get tired even if you color for an extended period of time. Tip size ranges from 0.8mm to 1.0mm.
Choose their set of 360 for the greatest selection of high-quality markers. It has 180 gel pens and 180 refills.
Consider one of their all glitter gel pens sets if you enjoy a beautiful glitter gel pen. The pens are stored in a handy package is made out of transparent plastic, so it’s easy to store them away.
Arteza Gel Pens
High-Quality Gel Pens for Coloring
I love working with these pens and have found them to be incredibly smooth and vibrant!
Arteza are the finest gel pens you can get if a set of 20 high-quality gel pens.
They’re ideal for ergonomics since they have a unique comfort grip. When compared to standard gel pens, they dry three times faster. Because the ink dries quickly in this set, it means far less smearing when you color!
It’s a great starter kit for beginners and comes with everything you need to get started. It has a 0.7mm tip that is bright and vibrant in color.
If you like to keep things simple and appreciate quality, this is the set for you.
Crayola Washable Gel Pens
Crayons aren’t the only thing Crayola makes. Their gel pen range is a must-have, especially since it comes in so many hues!
Children adore them because they offer a wide range of colors. They are an excellent way to decorate coloring books because they do not smear or bleed through the page..
People adore the Crayola Washable Gel Pens. Compared to other gel pens, they are washable, which means they may be removed with water from the skin and clothing. They’re a breeze to clean up! On paper, they produce a vibrant and smooth finish. The gel ink is quick-drying, non-toxic.
This set comes with retractable markers. There are no caps to lose while using them, therefore, individuals who like working with gel pens for crafts such as rubber stamping and scrapbooking enjoy this design.
These pens come with no color name stickers on the barrels. If you need to, you can make your own label. They also do not include any replacement parts at this time.
It’s a great little set for giving on special events since it comes from Crayola.
Fiskar Gel Pens
The colors of the Fiskar gel pen set range from black to rainbow. There are 48 colors in the set, 12 of which are glitter gel pens, ten are metallic, 9 are pastel, 6 are neon, 2 are black ink, and 6 are swirl hues.
Swirl pens combine two hues that can be used to color. The gel ink flows effortlessly and is suitable for white and dark paper.
These gel markers are available in a range of sizes ranging from 0.8 to 1.0mm, making them ideal for small and large projects alike.
If you want a medium-sized kit but don’t want to miss out on glitter pens and other unique hues, this gel pen set is ideal.
Fiskars are also non-toxic and acid-free. Because of the tiny tip, they’re ideal for coloring pages with fine details.
Remember that these are not divided into four groups of 12 pens. Instead, you’ll receive 12 glitter, nine metallic, nine neon, nine pastel, six swirl, and three black pens.
The ink flows nicely, but the lighter pastel and swirl hues skitter out from time to time. They perform best on black paper. Despite the fact that there are only three black inks, all of the other hues are distinctive; thus, you have a wide range of gel pens in your set.
Crayola Detailing Gel Pens
The Crayola Detailing Gel pens are a great way to add color and detail to any project and the Crayola Detailing Gel Pens are some of the best on the market. The gel inks provide a smooth laydown, perfect for adding rich color and detail to your work.
Plus, the metal storage tin ensures that you’ll always have a pen on hand, and the 20-pack ensures that you’ll have plenty of colors to choose from.
These pens are also non-toxic, making them a great option for artists of all ages. So if you’re looking for some high-quality gel pens for your next coloring project, be sure to check out the Crayola Detailing Gel Pens.
Smart Art Gel Pens
This pack of 140 colors provides for a lot of choice, and the sections are packed in a strong box. The 140 pens come in a variety of forms, including standard pens, glitter pens, neon pens, and so on.
The tip is extremely tiny, ranging from 0.6mm to 0.8mm in diameter, and is great for details.
They’re fantastic pens for adult coloring books, especially for gel pen users who want to experiment with precision and variety. There are no stains and the pen does not dry out.
They don’t smear even when they’re layered, making them ideal for coloring books and coloring pages. Even if you stack them, the hues don’t bleed.
If you buy the 320 gel pen pack, keep in mind that it includes 160 pens and 160 refills. Many people become perplexed when they see the name of the product, which has only 160 distinct hues.
They are fantastic gel pens for the price, in general. The metallic and glitter colors perform a bit smoother than the pastel colors.
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens
I bought these Paper Mate gel pens recently, and I love the smooth application of color and the great color range that comes in this set.
The colors are bright, and the ink flows smoothly and evenly on the paper, resulting in no weird blotches. They’re excellent for adult coloring books if the paper is thick enough. It may bleed through if the paper is too thin.
These are some of the best gel pens for coloring and have a quick-drying formula that minimizes smearing, so you get clean consistent results. They also have a smooth-flowing ink that provides an enjoyable experience while coloring and their ergonomic grip helps prevent hand fatigue.
These pens have a handy clip to attach to various locations for easy access and storage. So if you’re looking for some great gel pens for coloring, be sure to check out the Papermate gel pens!
Are Gel pens for you?
Gel pens are truly awesome to work with. They are versatile and can be used for several different art-making techniques.
Gel pens also come in Metallic and Glitter shades. Glitter gel pens and metallic gel pens are very popular because they help you to create a sense of light in your coloring and add a touch of glamour. You can also white gel pens but make sure you test it out because sometime the ink isn’t very opaque.
Do Gel Pens Bleed?
In general, gel ink pens are more likely to bleed through thin or low-quality paper, such as standard printer paper or notebook paper. This is because the ink in gel pens is often more viscous than traditional pens, meaning that it is thicker and more likely to saturate the paper. Additionally, gel pens often use water-based ink, which can easily seep through porous paper fibers.
Can you really color with Gel Pens?
When we think about traditional coloring books for children or even adult coloring, gel pens are usually not the first medium to come to mind. People generally associate coloring with colored pencils or crayons.
Gel pens are lovely to color with! If you haven’t yet tried them, I really recommend that you do.
Unlike complicated painting materials, anyone can grab a gel pen and start working.
You can create beautiful drawings, sketches, and artwork with gel pens. They also make great gifts for anyone who enjoys creating hand-drawn typography or calligraphy.
With the huge range of gel pen colors available, as well as glitter gel pens and other metallics as well, there are infinite possibilities for amazing artwork.
Colored pen gels have fantastic opaque results. If you enjoy coloring in adult coloring books gel pens are softer than alcohol-based markers and you can achieve fine lines and details.
They are ideal for creating pages that are bold and striking. Colored gel pens allow for quick control over the textural content of your page, enabling a perfect finishing touch.
For people who love bright colors, a gel pen may be the right option for your coloring needs. It is comfortable to use and requires less work to use compared to felt pens.
Check out this great video on coloring with gel pens…
Are gel pens good to color with?
Are you wondering if using gel pens for coloring is a good idea? Gel pens are great for coloring! They provide a smooth, opaque color that is vibrant and eye-catching. They work especially well on white paper but can also be used on black paper to create stunning effects.
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