The Best Erasable Pens

Pencils are erasable but their lines are grey, unrefined, and kind of ugly. Pens, on the other hand, produce elegant lines that cannot be erased. Enter the erasable pen. A favorite among crossword puzzlers and mistake-makers across the world, the erasable pen makes sure nothing is permanent. Here, we've compiled a list of the best of the best in erasable pens. Read on to find the perfect pick for you you and your scribblings.

Paper Mate Erasermate Stick Pen

Pressurized Ink

These erasable pens write smoothly and erase neatly.
Best Overall

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When you need a budget-friendly erasable pen that you can count on, you can’t go wrong with this option from Paper Mate. This pack features stick-style ballpoint pens that feel comfortable in your hand. The ink inside is pressurized, so you can use them at any angle. This means you won’t have to stop and constantly adjust your paper to try to get them to keep writing. And, if you make a mistake while you’re writing, don’t worry. The ink erases with the eraser on the pen cap easily and completely.

Pros

  • Simple stick style ballpoint pen that erases, they aren’t fancy but they get the job done
  • Good value, especially on the packs with more pens inside
  • Medium point ink that works well in most settings
  • Built-in eraser so you won’t lose it

Cons

  • The harder you press when you write, the harder it is to erase the ink. Write lightly for best results.
  • The ink becomes permanent over time, so you’ll want to make changes fairly quickly to ensure it erases well.

PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Ink Pens

Erase Over and Over Again

You can easily erase mistakes with the heat-sensitive gel ink inside these pens. You won't have to worry about tearing a hole in your page.
Runner Up

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If you prefer the look and feel of a gel pen, you’ll want to give these erasable ones from Pilot a try. The ink inside is thermo-sensitive. Thus, as you rub the cap eraser over it, the friction will cleanly remove the ink without damaging your page. You can even write and erase the same spot if you need to. When you’re done writing, you can click and retract the nib. The gel ink writes very smoothly, and you don’t have to press down hard to get nice clean lines.

Pros

  • Writes smoothly and neatly like most gel pens
  • Fine point tip that doesn’t create huge blobs of ink
  • Retractable to keep your things clean from the gel ink
  • Refillable, you can purchase refills and keep using these pens

Cons

  • Thermo-sensitive ink erases in the heat. If you leave your notebook in a hot car, the ink will begin to disappear.

PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Ink Pens Assorted Colors

Erasable Rainbows Of Color

With these colorful gel pens, you can draw just about anything you'd like, erasing any mistakes along the way.
Most Colorful

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You can create colorful pages of notes and drawings with this fun set of erasable pens. You get ten different colors in the set, including pink, purple, and bright green. There’s also a black and a blue, so if you need more professional-looking ink you’ll also be covered. And, if you make a mistake, you can quickly use the eraser to apply friction and get rid of it. Since these pens are refillable, you’ll get a lot of use out of them.

Pros

  • Colorful collection of pens
  • The clip allows you to retract the nib
  • Comfort grip
  • The tip of the eraser provides the friction you need to make the ink disappear

Cons

  • The eraser isn’t the only thing that can make the heat-sensitive ink erase. If your page gets wet and you try to blow dry it, you’ll wind up erasing everything.

Erasable & Cute Kawaii Retractable Pens

Cute Characters

Kids will enjoy writing with these adorable, erasable pens.
Best for Kids

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If you’re looking for a cute pack of erasable pens for your kids to use on their schoolwork, you’ve got to try these. Each pen features an adorable animal at the top, making them a blast for kids to use. They’re also easier to identify, so hopefully, your child will lose fewer of them. The barrel of these pens are a variety of colors, but inside they all feature the same blue gel ink. It applies smoothly and with an ultra-fine 0.5-mm tip, these pens can help make your child’s handwriting more legible. This set comes with twelve pens and an additional set of twelve ink refills. The refills feature black ink, so you can swap some out and have a few pens of each color.

Pros

  • Cute pens that are fun to use, they make a good small gift for school-age kids
  • Ink erases cleanly with friction
  • A dozen pens with refills, that’ll last for quite a while

Cons

  • The animals at the top are not the eraser, but some kids may think they are and accidentally tear their page. Take the time to teach your child where the eraser is.
  • The ink disappears if it gets too hot.

PILOT FriXion Ball 3 Kit Includes Erase & Ink Refills

Change Color with a Click

You can quickly alternate between red, blue, and black ink with this fun erasable pen.
Best Multi-Color

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This high-quality option features blue, black, and red ink, all in the same pen. And it’s a cinch to switch between them. No matter which color you’re using at the time, you’ll find that the ink erases well with the eraser on the top. The gel ink glides smoothly across your page, and the tip is a fine point (0.5mm). This pen comes with a pack of three black refills, and another pack of refills that includes one blue, one black, and one red. With all of this ink, you’ll be set for a while. The set also includes a separate eraser, which was a nice bonus.

Pros

  • One pen, three colors
  • The fine tip makes nice sharp lines
  • Erases cleanly with friction, and you can use the separate eraser to erase more easily

Cons

  • The black ink is more grey, especially as it dries.
  • Thermo-sensitive ink erases with friction or heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do erasable pens work?

The ink inside erasable pens is different from the ink inside standard pens. There are two popular styles of erasable ink. The first was invented by Paper Mate back in the late 1970s. It has a rubber solution inside that allows you to rub off the ink with an eraser. However, this type of ink becomes permanent over time as the rubber hardens. The other main type of erasable ink was created in the mid-2000s by Pilot. This ink is known as thermo-sensitive. You can erase this easily with friction since friction creates heat.

Can I use erasable ink on legal documents?

Erasable ink has some downfalls and is not appropriate to use in every situation. This type of ink isn’t permanent, so it can fade over time. When you are signing a legal document, most locales require that you use a pen with permanent ink. Doing so can give you better peace of mind since you won’t have to worry about anyone erasing your answers and filling in some of their own after you’ve submitted it. So, please do not use an erasable pen on legal or other important documents.