mybest
Stationery

Helping You Find the Best

Close
  1. TOP
  2. Home goods
  3. Stationery
  4. 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More)
  • 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More) 1
  • 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More) 2
  • 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More) 3
  • 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More) 4
  • 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More) 5

10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More)

Highlighter pens can help a student quickly identify important sections of their textbook, highlight inspirational passages in holy texts, make your diary prettier, or mark do-not-forget info in your planner. Whatever you choose to use a highlighter for, make sure you have the right one for the job.


We looked at the wide variety of highlighters that are available and found the best to be BIC's Brite Liner Highlighters. They last for a long-time, don't smear text, and don't bleed through the paper. They're also comfortable to use and come in several vibrant colors. For more great options and tips on how to pick the best pens, read on!

Last updated 09/26/2023
mybest US Editors
Guide
Editing Dept.
mybest US Editors

mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.

mybest US Editors's Profile
…Continue reading

Table of Contents

How to Choose a Highlighter Pen - Buying Guide

Before buying a set of highlighter pens, there are a few things you should take into consideration to ensure you get the best pens for you. We've compiled a handy buying guide to help you decide which highlighter pens will be best for you!

1

Choose Your Highlighter Pen Tip

Choose Your Highlighter Pen Tip

Highlighter pens can have different styles of tips. The most common type is the chisel tip. These are the angled type that allows you to highlight a single line of text easily and can also be turned on their side for a thinner line. 


Other highlighters have extra-wide tips so you can highlight more than one line at once. There are also fine tips, which are best for underlining and circling


You can also get highlighters with more specialized tips, such as window tips. With these, you can look through the ‘window’ to see the text you’re highlighting more clearly. Choose a highlighter that lets you be as precise as you need to be.

2

Check How the Ink Interacts With Your Text

Check How the Ink Interacts With Your Text

When highlighting text, you still want to be able to read the text you’re highlighting! Most highlighter pens can unfortunately smudge the text they’re highlighting, even if the text is dry. However, sometimes this smearing is minimal. It all depends on the quality of the paper that absorbs the ink, and also the highlighter itself. 


Another thing to consider is whether the ink bleeds through the page. If you’re going to be highlighting phrases on notebook paper, for example, you’ll want one that won’t bleed through thinner paper. This can also be very important if you’re highlighting any pages that have important text on both sides. 


Drying time is also important. Some highlighters will take a few seconds to dry, which increases their chances of smearing and can also get ink onto your skin! Check the reviews to see what people who have already purchased the highlighters say about smearing text and bleeding through paper.

3

Decide What Colors You'll Need

Decide What Colors You'll Need

The traditional and most famous highlighter color is fluorescent yellow. Other fluorescent colors, such as green and pink, are also common. 


If fluorescent shades are too bright for you, don't fret; there is now a wider range of colors to choose from than ever before. Highlighters with softer hues or pastel tones are also popular and they will effectively highlight text without hurting your eyes!

4

Find Highlighter Pens With Secure Caps

Find Highlighter Pens With Secure Caps

Like any other ink-based marker, highlighter pens can dry out easily. Some pens can survive without their cap off for anything up to several hours. However, this isn't helpful if you put the pens away and the cap isn't secure! Any pen will dry out if the cap isn't secure and it's left for days.


Check the reviews to see if there are any comments about the security of the caps or how quickly the pens run out. Manufacturers will often state how long you can leave a pen uncapped for before it dries out, but it's better to trust what real users have to say.

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Highlighter Pens

We've searched the Internet to find the best highlighter pens available. We've included a variety of colors, styles, and features for you to choose from!
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

BIC

Brite Liner Highlighter BICBL11AST

BIC Brite Liner Highlighter 1

$6.50

Low Mid

Long-Lasting Pens That Won't Smudge

2

Avery

Hi-Liter98034

Avery Hi-Liter 1

$9.62

High Mid

Vibrant Colors That Effectively Highlight

3

Sharpie

Clear View Highlighter Stick1950745

Sharpie Clear View Highlighter Stick 1

$3.99

Low

A See-Through Tip Makes for Precision

4

Stabilo

Swing Cool Pastel

Stabilo Swing Cool Pastel 1

$12.21

High Mid

Cute Pastels for Tired Eyes

5

Pilot

FriXion Light46543

Pilot FriXion Light 1

$4.99

Low Mid

Erasable Pastel Highlighters

6

Sharpie

Clear View Highlighters1912769

Sharpie Clear View Highlighters 1

$11.85

High Mid

Clear Tips Help You Highlight Accurately

7

AmazonBasics

Fluorescent Ink Highlighters

AmazonBasics Fluorescent Ink Highlighters 1

$7.16

Mid

A Big Set With a Good Variety of Colors

8

Crayola

Take Note

Crayola Take Note 1

$5.35

Low Mid

Erasable Highlighters in Vibrant Colors

9

Faber-Castell

Metallic Highlighters

Faber-Castell Metallic Highlighters 1

$8.99

Mid

Metallic Colors With an Extra Shine

10

G.T. Luscombe Company

Accu-Gel Highlighter Set

G.T. Luscombe Company Accu-Gel Highlighter Set 1

$9.99

High Mid

Acid-Free Wax Highlighters That Don't Bleed

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

BICBrite Liner Highlighter BICBL11AST

Brite Liner Highlighter 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$6.50
Low Mid
Reference price
$6.50
Low Mid

Long-Lasting Pens That Won't Smudge

These highlighters have fluorescent, highly-visible ink in six different colors. The chisel tip allows you to draw both thick and thin lines and the manufacturer states that the ink won't dry out even if the cap is left off for up to eight hours


Before buying these highlighters, decide how many of each color you want. Some reviewers expected two of each color, but this isn't the case; there are actually six yellow highlighters, two pink, and one each of the others.


Reviewers say that these highlighters last for a long time but do run out quickly if the cap is left off. They say that the highlighters don't smear the text and don't bleed through. The highlighters are shaped like a regular pen, which makes them comfortable and easy to hold.

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

AveryHi-Liter98034

Hi-Liter 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$9.62
High Mid
Reference price
$9.62
High Mid

Vibrant Colors That Effectively Highlight

These highlighters have a thick barrel and wide chisel tip that makes it easy to highlight sentences or blocks of text. The ink is water and smear-resistant and the manufacturer states that the cap can be left off for up to a week and the ink won't dry out.


A few reviewers expected to receive an even mix of colors, but the product listing does state that six of the 12 highlighters are yellow. Make sure you check the number of each color in the box before you purchase.


Reviewers state that the color does bleed through thin pages slightly but praise how long the pens last. People love the vibrancy of the colors and that they highlight the text vividly while still allowing the text to be read. 

No.3

SharpieClear View Highlighter Stick1950745

Clear View Highlighter Stick 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$3.99
Low
Reference price
$3.99
Low

A See-Through Tip Makes for Precision

These highlighters from Sharpie have a chisel tip with a window that allows you to clearly see the text you're highlighting. They can be purchased in several colors, including fluorescent yellow. The highlighter ink is specially formulated so it won't smear the text that is being highlighted.


Although a few say they run out too fast, reviewers confirm that the yellow highlighters do not smear ink. They also say that the highlighter ink doesn't bleed through even thin pages. They like how easy it is to highlight text with these pens due to the window in the tip.

No.4

StabiloSwing Cool Pastel

Swing Cool Pastel 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$12.21
High Mid
Reference price
$12.21
High Mid

Cute Pastels for Tired Eyes

This pack of highlighters has a range of six pastel colors. The pens have a chisel tip and give you the option of a one millimeter- or four millimeter-thick line. You even can leave the cap off for up to four hours without the ink drying out!


For some reviewers, these pens aren't quite pastel enough. They say that the colors are too solid. Some other reviewers say that the yellow is too similar to the standard fluorescent yellow highlighter.


Reviewers state that colors make highlighting easy as you can still clearly see the original text through the highlighter ink. For many people, the pastel colors are preferable to brighter highlighters. Users also praise the compact size of these highlighters and how neatly they fit in your hand.

No.5

PilotFriXion Light46543

FriXion Light 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$4.99
Low Mid
Reference price
$4.99
Low Mid

Erasable Pastel Highlighters

With these highlight pens you needn't worry about making a mistake as the ink is erasable! The cap of the pen acts as the eraser and promises to erase without damaging the paper. The pens are a pastel shade and have gel ink with a chisel tip.


For some reviewers, the colors were too light to adequately highlight the text. Some also found that the ink doesn't erase as neatly as they hoped and can rub off the original text.


Reviewers say that the pens don't bleed through paper even if it is very thin. People who wanted more subtle colors love the shades of these highlighters. It would be best to try erasing these highlighters on unneeded text to make sure they don't take off the words too.

No.6

SharpieClear View Highlighters1912769

Clear View Highlighters 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$11.85
High Mid
Reference price
$11.85
High Mid

Clear Tips Help You Highlight Accurately

This set of four highlighters comes in four different standard colors. The chisel style tip is made of clear plastic so you can easily see the text you're highlighting, and the highlighter ink is specially formulated so it won't smudge when you highlight text.


Some reviewers report that the ink dries out quickly if the cap is left off the pen, so if you do purchase these pens make sure that you put the cap back on the pen quickly. If this rule is observed, then reviewers say the ink lasts for a long time.


Reviewers praise the smoothness of these highlighters. They say that the colors are bright and make it easy to read the original text through the highlighted ink. Bleed-through is minimal and the pens don't smear the text.

No.7

AmazonBasicsFluorescent Ink Highlighters

Fluorescent Ink Highlighters 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$7.16
Mid
Reference price
$7.16
Mid

A Big Set With a Good Variety of Colors

These highlighters have a good variety of colors, from the standard fluorescent yellow to a less standard purple. The highlighters are shaped like a standard pen, so they're easy to hold and keep in a pencil case with other pens. The chisel tip allows you to highlight with both thick and thin lines.


Reviewers report that these highlighters can dry out very quickly if the cap is left off. The highlight ink can also bleed through thin paper.


However, most like the colors of these highlighters. They say they are the perfect mix of being bright enough to clearly highlight the text but aren't so bright that it hurts your eyes! The pens last for a long time and don't smear easily.

No.8

CrayolaTake Note

Take Note 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$5.35
Low Mid
Reference price
$5.35
Low Mid

Erasable Highlighters in Vibrant Colors

These highlighters have two chisel tips. The first produces vibrant color, and the other works as an eraser! The eraser tip uses clear ink, so no rubbing is needed. However, reviewers point out that once erased, you cannot write or highlight over the erased part again.


Reviewers say that erasing any highlighter is easy and effective. They like the vibrant colors, although the darker colors may be a little too dark for some text. Reviewers praise how the ink doesn't bleed through the paper and say that it is easy to draw either a thick or thin line.

No.9

Faber-CastellMetallic Highlighters

Metallic Highlighters 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$8.99
Mid
Reference price
$8.99
Mid

Metallic Colors With an Extra Shine

If you want some shimmer with your highlighters, then this pack of metallic highlighters may be the one for you. The pens have a chisel tip and allow you to draw lines in three different thicknesses. The tip is designed to stop the ink running dry and not smudge existing text.


Reviewers state that the color of these pens is less metallic and shiny than expected—especially the gold pen. They also say that the pens bleed through thin pages and leave extra ink at the end of a line.


Reviewers say that it's still easy to see the original text after it has been highlighted. They like the size and shape of these highlighter pens and say that they are comfortable to hold. Some reviewers have also used these pens for purposes other than highlighting, as if you build up layers of color they become more shimmery.

No.10

G.T. Luscombe CompanyAccu-Gel Highlighter Set

Accu-Gel Highlighter Set 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$9.99
High Mid
Reference price
$9.99
High Mid

Acid-Free Wax Highlighters That Don't Bleed

These highlighters don't have the same typical ink that highlighters usually have, but instead have a gel ink that dries with a more waxy consistency. The tips of the highlighters are rounded, making it easy to highlight a sentence. They're acid-free, so they won't damage paper and won't fade over time.


It's important to note that these highlighters are more like wax crayons than ink pens to prevent bleed-through. Some reviewers were disappointed with this as they were expecting a more typical highlighter.


Reviewers say that the waxy consistency does stop them bleeding through the page, but they need a few seconds to dry, and the wax can transfer to the opposite page if you write on the backside. They say that the colors are bright and they glide easily across the page. Some recommend sharpening them just as you would a pencil!

Need More Products to Help You Study?

Need More Products to Help You Study?

We can't give you any products that will help you retain information better, but we do have some products to help organize your studying. These products will help you take notes and work on answers, no matter what subject you're working on!

Top 5 Highlighter Pens

No. 1: BICBrite Liner Highlighter BICBL11AST

No. 2: AveryHi-Liter98034

No. 3: SharpieClear View Highlighter Stick1950745

No. 4: StabiloSwing Cool Pastel

No. 5: PilotFriXion Light46543

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
  1. TOP
  2. Home goods
  3. Stationery
  4. 10 Best Highlighter Pens in 2022 (Sharpie, BIC, and More)

Search by category

mybest

We connect users with the best tried and true products,
tested by our in-house guides and backed by expert insight.

Copyright mybest All Rights Reserved.