Having the right school supplies on hand is crucial for scholarly success, and no dedicated student should be without a highlighter pen. But what is the best highlighter pen?
The answer to this may vary depending on your intended use. Do you plan to highlight printed or handwritten text? Will you use it on thin or highly absorbent paper? How concerned are you about ink bleeding through to the back of the sheet or the following page? Do you need the highlighter ink to dry quickly so you can flip to the next page right away?
Keep these questions in mind as you shop, and use this list as a guide to some of the best highlighter pens on the market.
- Zebra Justfit Mojini Line Highlighters
- Sharpie Clear View Chisel Tip
- BIC Brite Liner Highlighter
- Pilot FriXion Light US Erasable Highlighters
- UniPropus Window Q-Dry Highlighters
- Kutsuwa HiLiNE Highlighter Pencils
- Ohto Rouge Gel Highlighter Pens
- Staedtler Textsurfer Classic Highlighters
The Best Highlighter Pens for School
If you want to track down the best highlighter pen for your needs without doing hours of research, here are your best bets.
- Zebra Justfit Mojini Line Highlighters
All five colors of the water-based ink in this highlighter are designed to work well on all kinds of text and notes. Thus, you can use it on your textbooks, worksheets, or class notes whether you used a ballpoint, rollerball, gel pen, or any other writing utensil.
- Sharpie Clear View Chisel Tip
Available in a pack of eight bright colors, this highlighter pen is a winner due to the window tip, which allows you to see what you mark. It's also long-lasting and comfortable to hold. Plus, it works well on all types of ink and boasts SmearGuard® ink technology.
- BIC Bright Liner Stick Highlighters
Easy to use with all writing styles and available in five colors, this chisel-tipped highlighter provides a smooth line. The pocket clip-on cap makes it easy to carry. And even if you leave the cap off by accident, this pen is unlikely to dry out right away. The ink is certified as non-toxic by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), making it an excellent choice for students.
- Pilot FriXion Light US Erasable Highlighters
This erasable highlighter pen makes it easy to correct highlighting mistakes. It's available in five pastel colors, and it even works well on glossy textbook pages due to its unique thermo-sensitive ink that disappears with friction. The pastel hues show up lighter than many other pens, though, which can be a good thing if the typical colors found in highlighter pens are too bright for your needs.
- Uni Propus Window Q-Dry Highlighters
This quick-drying, double-ended highlighter pen comes in a whopping 10 colors. The ink helps you avoid smudges, but be aware that it takes longer to dry on glossy paper than on absorbent paper. The best part of the pen is the built-in window that shows you what you highlight with the broad chisel tip. The other end boasts a finer tip to underline text, but it doesn't have a window. If you rarely highlight glossy pages and mostly need to highlight on absorbent paper, consider the Uni Promark View Highlighter instead, which offers that same window with only one broad-tipped end.
- Kutsuwa HiLiNE Highlighter Pencils
Be as precise as you need to be without worrying about ink bleeding through when you use this highlighter pencil. It's safe to use any of the four colors on even the thinnest paper. Plus, because it has no ink to dry, you won't need to worry about smudging. The protective cap features a sharpener, so you'll always have one handy.
- Ohto Rouge Gel Highlighter Pens
These inkjet-safe highlighter pens, which come in three colors, allow you to mark up your important printouts without smearing the text. The wide tip is more like a crayon tip than a traditional chisel tip. It doesn't offer a precise line, but it makes it easy to highlight large sections. Plus, the ink won't bleed through paper.
- Staedtler Textsurfer Classic Highlighters
Compact and square with a chisel tip, this highlighter comes in seven colors. Purple and turquoise are copy-proof, which means you can photocopy notes highlighted with them and still read the copied text. This pen is your best bet if you highlight handwritten notes. The fast-drying pigment ink will help you avoid ink smears. Keep in mind, however, that thick or wet ink is likely to smear, no matter what highlighter you use. If you know you'll highlight fountain pen ink, opt for the Staedtler Textsurfer Gel Highlighter, which may cause ballpoint ink to feather but works well with fountain-pen ink.
Conclusion
Choosing the best highlighter pen isn't just about picking your favorite color. Think about how you intend to use your highlighter. And keep in mind that you may want to have a couple of options on hand if you highlight different types of ink on several varieties of paper—especially if you want to make precise marks and avoid bleed-through.
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Kristen Seymour
Kristen Seymour brought her passion for both pets and writing to the online space nearly a decade ago, working as an editor at AOL's Paw Nation and then Vetstreet.com. She's also a regular contributor to HealthyPet Magazine. Additionally, Seymour covers fitness, food and healthy (and yes, sometimes pets!) on her Fit Bottomed Girls website and podcast. Based in sunny Sarasota, Florida, Seymour shares her office with her husband and a small menagerie of rescue pets: a snuggly senior Lab mix, a mouthy hound mix and a cat who loves to be petted exactly seven times—but never eight.