Felt Pens Price Comparison
Compare 278 felt pens from STABILO, Papermate, Tombow and more — prices from 0 £, updated daily across top UK retailers.
Felt Pens price comparison UK
Felt pens occupy a surprisingly wide market — from the 24p-per-pen BIC kids' sets that fill school pencil cases every September, to Tombow dual-tip brush pens that serious illustrators swear by. Our catalogue of 278 products spans that entire range, and the price spread tells its own story: you can spend as little as 0 £ for a basic pack or push past 0 £ for professional-grade sets with archival-quality ink.
STABILO dominates this category by sheer volume — nearly a third of all listings carry that yellow-and-black branding. Their Pen 68 and Cappi lines are perennial bestsellers, and for good reason: consistent ink flow, vibrant colours, and ventilated caps that keep pens usable for months rather than days. That said, dominance doesn't always mean best value. Tombow's ABT dual-tip brush pens punch well above their price point for anyone doing lettering or watercolour-style blending, whilst Edding's 1300 Colourpen remains a quietly reliable workhorse for office and classroom use alike.
One pattern we notice in the data: Papermate Flair pens attract more merchant competition than almost any other product here, which tends to keep prices honest. If you're after a reliable everyday writing felt tip, the Flair's fibre tip and smooth ink flow make it a strong default choice — and comparing across retailers on MagicPrices regularly reveals meaningful price differences on the larger packs. The 36-pack, for instance, varies noticeably between stockists.
For children's use, the BIC Kid Couleur and STABILO Power lines are the go-to options — both carry non-toxic certification and use water-based inks that wash out of most fabrics. Adults doing creative work should look more carefully at tip diameter and ink permanence: a 0.4mm fineliner and a 3mm brush tip serve entirely different purposes, even if both technically count as "felt pens". If precision line work is your priority, our fineliners category is worth exploring alongside this one. For bolder, more permanent applications — labelling, signage, mixed media — paint markers may be the better fit.
Prices in this category shift noticeably around Back to School season (late August) and Black Friday. Bulk packs from Staedtler and Faber-Castell, which average around 0 £, tend to see the sharpest discounts during these windows. Worth setting a price alert if you're not in a rush.
How to Choose the Right Felt Pens
With everything from 24-piece children's colouring sets to professional brush-tip pens sitting under the same category label, "felt pen" covers a lot of ground. The right choice depends almost entirely on what you're actually doing with them — so here's how to cut through the noise.
Tip width: matching the pen to the task
This is the single most important spec to check, and it's often buried in the product listing. Fine tips (0.4–0.6mm) are for detailed writing and precise line work — if you want something in that range, you're really looking at fineliners rather than classic felt pens. Medium tips (1.0–1.5mm) are the sweet spot for everyday writing, note-taking, and general colouring. Bold tips (2.0mm+) suit poster lettering, thick outlines, and young children who haven't yet developed fine motor control. Most of the bestsellers in this category — Papermate Flair, STABILO Cappi, BIC Kid Couleur — sit in the medium range. Don't assume: always check the listed tip diameter before buying a multipack.
Water-based vs. solvent-based ink
For children or classroom use, water-based ink is non-negotiable — it's safer, washable, and compliant with EN 71 toy safety standards. Most mainstream brands (STABILO, BIC, Crayola) use water-based formulations in their standard ranges. Solvent-based and alcohol-based inks, found in some Edding and Tombow products, produce richer, more permanent colour and work on non-paper surfaces — but they're not suitable for young children and can bleed through thinner paper stocks. If bleed-through is a concern (e.g. using both sides of a page), stick to water-based pens on paper of at least 90gsm.
Colour range: how many do you actually need?
Bigger isn't always better. A 12-colour set covers the primary and secondary palette plus a few extras — perfectly adequate for most colouring, note-taking, and general creative work. The jump to 24 colours adds useful mid-tones and skin tones. Beyond 36 colours, you're firmly in the territory of dedicated artists and illustrators, and the price per pen drops significantly in bulk sets. One practical note: sets with duplicate colours (e.g. two blacks in a 24-pack) are common in budget ranges — check the colour list before assuming you're getting full variety.
Cap design and longevity
A poorly fitting cap is the fastest way to ruin a set of felt pens. Pens left uncapped — or with caps that don't seal properly — can dry out within 24–48 hours. Look for ventilated caps (a small hole in the cap top), which serve a safety function for young children whilst also regulating internal pressure. STABILO's Cappi range goes further with a ring-and-cap design that lets you keep the cap on the barrel whilst drawing — a genuinely useful feature for children who habitually lose caps. Snap-fit caps that click audibly into place are generally more reliable than push-fit designs.
Pack size and value per pen
The price-per-pen calculation matters more than the headline pack price. At the budget end (from 0 £ to 0 £), you're typically looking at small packs of 5–12 pens — fine for occasional use or topping up a specific colour. The mid-range (around 0 £) tends to offer the best value: 16–24 pen sets from established brands where the cost per pen drops meaningfully. Large bulk packs (36+) make sense for classrooms or heavy users, but check that the pack includes a genuinely useful colour spread rather than padding with duplicates. Staedtler and Faber-Castell sets at the higher end justify their price through tip durability and ink consistency over time.
Age suitability and safety certifications
If you're buying for children under 12, check for EN 71 compliance (the European toy safety standard, still widely referenced in UK retail post-Brexit) and non-toxic certification. Most reputable brands display this clearly on packaging. For children under 5, avoid pens with small detachable caps that present a choking hazard — or specifically choose designs with ventilated caps. Adult-grade pens, particularly alcohol-based markers from brands like Tombow, should be kept away from young children entirely. The distinction isn't always obvious from the product name alone, so read the age guidance in the listing.
- Entry-level picks (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Small packs of 5–12 pens from BIC, Pentel, and STABILO's basic lines. Perfectly serviceable for occasional use, school bags, and children's colouring. Don't expect archival ink or premium tip durability — but for the price, these deliver what they promise. BIC Kid Couleur is the standout here.
- The everyday sweet spot (From 0 £ to 0 £) : This is where the best value lives. STABILO Cappi 12–18 packs, Edding 1300 sets, and Papermate Flair multipacks all sit here. You get consistent ink flow, decent colour variety, and caps that actually seal. Suitable for school, home, and light office use. The Papermate Flair in particular punches above its price.
- For creative and classroom use (From 0 £ to 0 £) : Larger sets (24–36 pens) from STABILO, Staedtler, and Papermate, plus entry-level Tombow brush pens. This range suits regular creative users, teachers stocking a classroom, or anyone who wants a comprehensive colour palette without going full professional. Tombow's ABT 12-pack sits here and is genuinely excellent for lettering.
- Professional and specialist sets (Over 0 £) : Faber-Castell and Staedtler premium sets, large Tombow collections, and bulk Papermate Flair office packs. At this level you're paying for tip longevity, ink permanence, and colour consistency across the full range. Justified for illustrators, designers, and heavy daily users — overkill for casual colouring.
Top products
- Papermate Flair felt pen Medium Blue 5 pc(s) (Papermate) : The most-competed product in this category, which keeps the price honest. A reliable everyday writing pen with a consistent medium tip — but blue-only limits its appeal. Buy the multicolour pack if you need variety.
- BIC Kid Couleur felt pen Medium 24 pc(s) (BIC) : The best children's felt pen set at this price point, full stop. 24 colours, EN 71 certified, washable ink, and ventilated caps. Not for adult creative work, but for school bags and colouring sessions it's hard to beat.
- STABILO Cappi felt pen Medium Multicolour 18 pc(s) (STABILO) : The ring-cap design genuinely solves the lost-cap problem for children. Ink quality is solid, colour range is practical rather than exhaustive. A smarter buy than the 12-pack for most households — the price-per-pen difference is worth it.
- Tombow ABT-12P-1 felt pen Multicolour 12 pc(s) (Tombow) : The standout choice for lettering and illustration in this catalogue. Dual-tip design, blendable water-based ink, and excellent colour consistency. Overkill for everyday writing — but if creative work is the goal, nothing else at this price comes close.
- Edding 1300 colourpen felt pen Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Yellow 10 pc(s) (Edding) : An underrated option that often gets overlooked next to STABILO's marketing muscle. The 1300 has a robust 3mm tip, consistent ink delivery, and works well on cardboard and thicker stocks — useful for classroom displays and craft projects, not just paper.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a felt pen and a fineliner?
Felt pens typically have a broader, softer fibre tip (1.0mm+) designed for colouring, bold writing, and general use, whilst fineliners have a rigid, narrow tip (0.1–0.8mm) built for precise line work and technical drawing. The ink formulations also differ: fineliners usually use a more controlled, low-bleed ink suited to thin paper, whereas felt pens prioritise colour saturation and flow. If you need sharp, consistent lines for sketching or note annotation, our fineliners range is the more appropriate starting point.
Are Papermate Flair pens worth the price compared to cheaper alternatives?
Yes, for everyday writing use, the Papermate Flair is genuinely one of the better value felt pens on the market — not just a brand premium. The fibre tip holds its shape well over time, ink flow is consistent without excessive bleed-through, and the medium tip width suits most handwriting styles. Where cheaper alternatives often fall short is tip durability: budget pens from unbranded or very low-cost ranges tend to fray within weeks of regular use. The Flair's main limitation is colour range — the standard packs don't offer the breadth you'd get from STABILO or Staedtler sets at a similar price point.
Which felt pens are best for children under 5?
BIC Kid Couleur and STABILO Power are the two safest bets for young children. Both use water-based, washable, non-toxic ink and carry EN 71 certification. Crucially, both feature ventilated caps — a small hole in the cap top that prevents choking risk if a cap is accidentally swallowed. Avoid alcohol-based pens (including most Tombow brush pens) entirely for this age group. Triangular or chunky barrel designs also help with grip for children still developing fine motor skills.
How do I stop felt pens drying out so quickly?
Always replace caps immediately after use — even a few minutes uncapped in a warm room can begin to dry out the tip. Store pens horizontally rather than tip-down (which floods the tip) or tip-up (which starves it of ink). If a pen has already dried out, try soaking the tip in warm water for 30–60 seconds; this works for water-based inks but won't revive solvent-based pens. Pens with ventilated snap-fit caps — like the STABILO Cappi — tend to retain ink significantly longer than those with loose push-fit caps.
Are Tombow ABT brush pens actually felt pens, and are they suitable for beginners?
Tombow ABT pens are technically dual-tip felt pens — one end has a flexible brush tip, the other a fine bullet tip — so yes, they qualify as felt pens. They're excellent for hand lettering, watercolour-style blending, and illustration, but the brush tip requires some practice to control. For complete beginners, start with the 12-pack (around 0 £) to learn the technique before committing to a larger set. The ink is water-based and blendable with a damp brush, which makes them more versatile than standard felt pens — but they're not a substitute for everyday writing pens.
Should I avoid no-name or unbranded felt pen sets sold cheaply online?
Generally, yes — especially for children. Unbranded felt pens sold at very low prices frequently lack EN 71 safety certification, use inferior ink formulations that fade rapidly, and have tips that fray within days of use. The cost-per-pen calculation often looks attractive until you factor in how quickly they need replacing. Established brands like STABILO, BIC, and Edding offer entry-level sets from 0 £ that are genuinely better value over time. The one exception: some own-brand sets from reputable UK retailers (Ryman, WHSmith) do meet safety standards and offer reasonable quality at low prices.
What felt pens work best for bullet journalling in 2026?
For bullet journalling, you need pens that combine minimal bleed-through with a good colour range and consistent line width. The Papermate Flair (medium tip) is a popular choice for headers and colour-coding — it writes smoothly on most journal paper weights above 80gsm. STABILO Pen 68 Mini sets are compact and offer excellent colour variety for a mid-range price. If your journal uses thinner paper (under 80gsm), test for bleed-through before committing to a full set; water-based pens generally perform better on lighter paper stocks than alcohol-based alternatives.