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The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens

The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens


The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens

Metallic and glitter ink pens are the jewels of the pen world—they contain shimmering ink that adds a finishing touch, the same way a gold necklace accents a stylish outfit. If you want to craft a beautiful greeting card or add luster to an illustration, browse through this guide and check out our video to find the best tool for making your work sparkle.

Top Choices

Whenever the occasion calls for some shine, you can count on these pens to get the job done. These pens have vivid and long-lasting ink so that notes, labels, and embellishments stay sparkly over time. They write well on a variety of different surfaces, which makes them versatile tools in any pen case.

Sharpie Metallic Permanent Markers Sample
Sharpie Metallic Permanent Markers lay down opaque lines.

Sharpie Metallic Permanent Markers add a clean, chrome-like finish to everything from labels to art projects. Coming in bronze, silver, and gold, they create smooth, even finishes with a lustrous sheen. Their chunky bodies feel comfortable to grasp and are easy to control. Unlike standard Sharpie markers, they do not bleed significantly on copy paper. They show up well on dark paper as well as metal, glass, plastic, and many other surfaces.

Their permanent ink formula prevents the shimmering particles from flaking off when exposed to water. It’s also quick drying so you won’t accidentally create blemishes before it dries. While nontoxic, the markers do have a strong alcohol smell, so work in a ventilated area.

Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 Gel Pen Sample
The Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 Gel Pens lay down concentrated glitter particles.

These smooth, skip-free glitter pens are perfect for everything from writing letters to decorating greeting cards. You’ll notice concentrated glitter particles in the ink with a close look. From far away, the ink looks smooth and even. It does take a while to dry—about a minute or so. It is archival and waterproof once dry.

The 1.0 mm tip is broad enough to glide effortlessly across the page. Still, it lays down fine lines suitable for small letters and details. The rubber grip, while not particularly squishy, adds extra comfort for holding.

Metallic and Glitter Pen Considerations
Finish
Gold metallic ink on white paper.
Gold metallic ink on white paper.
Gold glitter ink on white paper.
Gold glitter ink on white paper.

Metallic inks contain small, finely ground particles, which yield a smooth, even sheen. Glitter inks contain larger, flaked particles. They have a speckled, reflective shine since the individual glitter flakes can be seen with the naked eye. Metallic inks create a sleek look while glitter inks add a magical touch.

Opacity
Opacity
Most of our metallic and glitter pens are opaque, meaning they completely cover the underlying surface.
Most of our metallic and glitter pens are opaque, meaning they completely cover the underlying surface. Opaque inks contrast well with colored and dark papers. Sheer inks don’t completely cover the underlying surface, but they can come in handy when creating a subtle effect or glitter overlay.
Smearing
Smearing
Smudges can make artwork or writing look untidy, but deliberate smears can create a twinkling shimmer on your work.
Choose a high-smear or smear-resistant ink depending on your application. Smudges can make artwork or writing look untidy, but deliberate smears can create a twinkling shimmer on your work. Thicker, more viscous inks, such as the kind inside paint pens, are more difficult to smear evenly.
Pen Type
Pen Type
Pen type determines everything from line width to finished texture.
Pen type determines everything from line width to finished texture. A calligrapher might reach for a brush pen with a flexible tip whereas someone writing a letter might reach for a smooth gel pen.

  • Glitter and metallic gel pens suit fine details and thin letters. They tend to be more skippy than regular gel pens since the extra particles can clog their tips.
  • Glitter and metallic markers add sparkle to artwork and hand lettering. Their broad tips are easy to control and they often offer opaque coverage. They are prone to drying out, so capping them is especially important.

  • Paint pens write smoothly and yield bold strokes on multiple surfaces. They offer the most opaque coverage and dry to a raised finish.
  • Brush letterers sometimes want to add shimmer to their words. Metallic and glitter brush lettering pens will give elegant or whimsical letters a pop of sparkle.
Color Range
Color Range
Having a wide color range comes in handy when you’re looking for specific colors to create the perfect finish.
Many metallic and glitter pens come in bronze, gold, and silver. These basic colors are sufficient for creating highlights in most projects. However, some pen lines offer a variety of other colors. Having a wide color range comes in handy when you’re looking for specific colors to create the perfect finish for your writing or artwork.
Metallic and Glitter Pen Recommendations
The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens for Writing

Whether you’re taking notes or jotting down a journal entry, a glitter or metallic pen adds extra drama. A good metallic or glitter pen for writing needs to feel comfortable to hold over long writing sessions. It should also lay down marks smoothly and consistently without skipping too much.

Pilot Juice Gel Pens Sample
The metallic Juice Gel Pens bring a sleek twist to the popular Juice Gel Pens.

The metallic Juice Gel Pens bring a sleek twist to the popular Juice Gel Pens. The ink formula is quick drying and water resistant. The 0.5 mm tips lay down crisp, thin lines that make these pens ideal for writing detailed letters and notes. The ink shows up on photographs, making these pens perfect for little notes and adornments on pictures. Additionally, the pens are retractable and come with spring-loaded clips that attach easily onto pockets and notebooks.

Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pens Sample
The Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen dispenses ink concentrated with sparkles.

The Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen dispenses ink concentrated with sparkles. The pigment and dye hybrid gel ink is acid free and scrapbook safe. The pen comes in eight vibrant color combinations: Black and Metallic Red, Blue and Metallic Green, Gold, Green and Metallic Blue, Orange and Metallic Yellow, Pink and Metallic Pink, Silver, and Violet and Metallic Blue. Limited edition colors are now available as well. The color-coded cap clip indicates the color combination for your convenience. The Dual Metallic's 1.0 mm tips are smooth and easy to control. Just make sure to prime the pen before you use it by scribbling on a piece of scratch paper.

The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens for Crafts

Many DIY projects benefit from a dash of sparkle. A good glitter or marker pen for crafting contrasts vibrantly on colored paper since many craft projects are on colored paper as opposed to white paper. Crafters also appreciate pens with a wide color range for all their decorative needs.

Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Gel Pens Sample
These twinkling pigment-based gel pens live up to their name as dust from the stars.

These twinkling pigment-based gel pens live up to their name as dust from the stars. The glittery powder is made of finely ground, highly reflective glass. The ink gives beautiful sheer coverage with color that stays consistent. The Stardust Gelly Rolls come in over a dozen shades, making them perfect for inserting sparkly colors in art projects, scrapbooks, and crafts. These gel pens occasionally skip because they are so concentrated with glitter. Prime them by scribbling on scratch paper before writing.

Sakura Pen-Touch Paint Markers Sample
The Sakura Pen-Touch Paint Markers dispense bold, opaque paints that apply smoothly.

The Sakura Pen-Touch Paint Markers dispense bold, opaque paints that apply smoothly. The metallic paints dry quickly so that no smearing occurs. They have raised finishes that add interesting textures to crafts. Don’t worry about the paint fading: its formula is waterproof and fade-resistant. Keep in mind that these markers are difficult to remove, so test designs and letters prior to making your official marks. We have found that a dab of coconut oil on a cotton swab will remove the ink without significantly damaging most nonporous surfaces.

The Best Metallic and Glitter Pens for Illustrations

Artists love glitter pens for adding a bit of shimmer to their artwork. Glitter and metallic pens for illustrations should be easy to control and not prone to blobbing or bleeding. They should also have archival ink so that artwork lasts over time.

Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pens Sample
Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pens enable you to create expressive brushstrokes with their synthetic bristle tips.

Combining dye-based ink and metallic sparkles, Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pens enable you to create expressive brushstrokes with their synthetic bristle tips. The vibrant inks show up best on light paper, while the glitter particles shimmer on dark paper. To start the pen, press the button on the back of the pen to saturate the tip. Before each use, gently shake the pen to mix the ink and glitter. As needed, the button on the back of the pen can be pressed to dispense more ink. Store these pens horizontally to prevent glitter from settling in one end.

Kuretake ZIG Clean Color Dot Metallic Double-Sided Markers Sample
The Kuretake ZIG Clean Color Dot Metallic Double-Sided Markers use water-based, lightfast pigment ink that is beautiful and bold on light and dark paper.

Kuretake ZIG Clean Color Dot Metallic Double-Sided Markers use water-based, lightfast pigment ink that is beautiful and bold on light and dark paper. On one end is a 1.0 mm plastic bullet tip, which can be used for outlining or quick sketches. On the other end is a squishy round tip that can create marks from 1.0 to 5.0 mm wide, allowing you to create brush-like strokes or dots of different sizes depending on how much pressure you use. These markers are handy for artists who enjoy both pointillism and brush calligraphy.

The Best Metallic and Glitter Multi-Surface Pens

Multi-surface pens work perfectly for labeling and decorating nonporous surfaces. A good multi-surface glitter pen doesn’t necessarily have to be opaque, but it should be visible on surfaces such as glass, metal, and non-matte paper. Many multi-surface pens require priming before you can use them. See the specific product pages for more details.

Molowtow Liquid Chrome Markers Sample
Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers use opaque, alcohol-based inks that, when dry, achieve mirror-like effects.

Molotow Liquid Chrome Markers use opaque, alcohol-based inks that, when dry, achieve mirror-like effects. They are best used on smooth, nonporous surfaces, and can write on plastic, glass, wood, and rubber. The ink is also resistant to UV light, scratches, and abrasions. These markers are available in four different line widths, ranging from 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, allowing you to bring a little extra shine to projects of all sizes.

Uni Posca Paint Markers Sample
The Uni Posca Paint Markers show up well on both porous and nonporous surfaces.

These paint markers show up well on both porous and nonporous surfaces. The metallic finish is elegant and even. The color payoff is opaque without bleeding on regular paper. To start using the marker, shake the cap so that the ball inside rattles. Then, uncap the pen, place the tip on scratch paper, and press down so that the paint saturates the nib. For a sheer, glittery finish, try the Uni Posca Glitter Markers, which come in a set of 7 different colors.

TESTS

We used Rhodia paper and Pilot Black Note Notebook paper to test these products. Additionally, we allowed for 10 seconds of drying time before performing a smear test.

COLORS
All Gold Metallic and Glitter Pens All Silver Metallic and Glitter Pens All Bronze Metallic and Glitter Pens All Pink Metallic and Glitter Pens All Red Metallic and Glitter Pens All Orange Metallic and Glitter Pens All Yellow Metallic and Glitter Pens All Green Metallic and Glitter Pens All Blue Metallic and Glitter Pens All Purple Metallic and Glitter Pens All Black Metallic and Glitter Pens
Metallic & Glitter Gel Pens
Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pens Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Gold Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Silver Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Pink Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Orange Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Green Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Blue Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Purple Pentel Hybrid Dual Metallic Gel Pen in Black
Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip DX Craft Pens Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Gold Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Silver Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Bronze Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Pink Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Red Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Green Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Blue Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in Purple
Pentel Slicci Gel Ink Pens Pentel Slicci in Gold Pentel Slicci in Silver Pentel Slicci in Bronze Pentel Slicci in Pink Pentel Slicci in Red Pentel Slicci in Green Pentel Slicci in Blue Pentel Slicci in Purple
Pilot Juice Gel Ink Pens Pilot Juice in Gold Pilot Juice in Silver Pilot Juice in Metallic Pink Pilot Juice in Metallic Green Pilot Juice in Metallic Blue Pilot Juice in Metallic Violet
Pilot Juice Up Gel Ink Pens Pilot Juice Up in Gold Pilot Juice Up in Silver Pilot Juice Up in Metallic Pink Pilot Juice Up in Metallic Green Pilot Juice Up in Metallic Blue Pilot Juice Up in Metallic Violet
Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pens Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pen in Pink Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pen in Orange Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pen in Green Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pen in Blue Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pen in Purple
Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen Gel Pens Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Gold Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Silver Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Pink Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Red Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Orange Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Green Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Blue Sakura Ballsign Kirara Gel Pen in Purple
Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pens Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Pink Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Orange Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Green Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Blue Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Purple Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow & Silver Shadow Gel Pen in Black
Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Gel Pens Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Gold Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Silver Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Copper Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Pink Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Red Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Green Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Blue Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Purple Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic in Black
Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Gel Ink Pens Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Gold Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Silver Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Bronze Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Pink Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Red Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Green Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Blue Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust in Purple
Uni-ball Gel Impact Gel Ink Pens Uni-ball Gel Impact in Gold Uni-ball Gel Impact in Silver
Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 Gel Ink Pens Uni-ball Signo Broad in Gold Uni-ball Signo Broad in Silver
Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal Gel Ink Pens Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Gold Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Silver Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Bronze Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Pink Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Red Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Green Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Blue Uni-ball Signo Noble Metal in Purple
Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Gel Ink Pens Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Gold Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Silver Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Pink Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Red Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Orange Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Green Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Blue Uni-ball Signo Sparkling Glitter in Purple
Uni-ball Signo 100 Gel Ink Pens Uni-ball Signo in Gold Uni-ball Signo in Silver
Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme Gel Ink Pens Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Gold Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Silver Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Bronze Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Pink Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Green Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic Blue Yasutomo Y&C Gel Xtreme in Metallic  Purple
Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Ink Pens Zebra Sarasa Clip in Gold Zebra Sarasa Clip in Silver Zebra Sarasa Clip in Copper Zebra Sarasa Clip in Pink Zebra Sarasa Clip in Red Zebra Sarasa Clip in Orange Zebra Sarasa Clip in Green Zebra Sarasa Clip in Blue Zebra Sarasa Clip in Purple
Metallic & Glitter Markers
Faber-Castell Pitt Metallic Artist Pens Faber-Castell Pitt in Gold Faber-Castell Pitt in Silver Faber-Castell Pitt in Bronze
Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighters Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Gold Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Silver Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Copper Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Red Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Green Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Blue Faber-Castell Textliner Highlighter in Purple
Kuretake Zig Calligraphy Double-Sided Marker Pens Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Gold Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Silver Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Red Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Green Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Blue Kuretake Zig Calligraphy in Purple
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot Double-Sided Markers Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Gold Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Silver Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Red Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Green Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Blue Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot in Purple
Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Markers Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Marker in Gold Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Marker in Silver Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Marker in Red Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Marker in Blue
Molowtow Liquid Chrome Markers Molotow Liquid Chrome Marker in Chrome
Sakura Deco Cute Metallic Photo Markers Sakura Deco Cute in Gold Sakura Deco Cute in Silver Sakura Deco Cute in Pink Sakura Deco Cute in Green Sakura Deco Cute in Blue Sakura Deco Cute in Purple
Sharpie Metallic Permanent Markers Sharpie Metallic in Gold Sharpie Metallic in Silver Sharpie Metallic in Bronze
Stabilo Pen 68 Markers - Metallic Stabilo Pen 68 Marker in Gold Stabilo Pen 68 in Silver Stabilo Pen 68 in Copper Stabilo Pen 68 in Pink Stabilo Pen 68 in Green Stabilo Pen 68 in Blue Stabilo Pen 68 in Purple
Zebra Kirarich Glitter Highlighters Zebra Kirarich in Pink Zebra Kirarich in Yellow Zebra Kirarich in Green Zebra Kirarich in Blue Zebra Kirarich in Purple
Metallic & Glitter Paint Pens
Pilot Juice Paint Markers Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Gold Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Silver Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Metallic Pink Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Metallic Green Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Metallic Blue Pilot Juice Paint Marker in Metallic Purple
Sakura Pen-Touch Paint Markers Sakura Pen-Touch in Gold Sakura Pen-Touch in Silver Sakura Pen-Touch in Copper
Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Marker in Metallic Gold Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Marker in Metallic Silver
Uni Posca Glitter Marker Pens Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Pink Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Red Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Orange Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Green Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Blue Uni Posca Glitter Markers in Purple
Uni Posca Paint Marker PC-1M Uni Posca Paint Marker PC-1M in Gold Uni Posca Paint Marker PC-1M in Silver
Metallic & Glitter Brush Pens
Kuretake Metallic Brush Pens Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Gold Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Silver Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Red Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Green Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Blue Kuretake Metallic Brush Pen in Violet
Kuretake Zig Fudebiyori Metallic Brush Pens Kuretake Fudebiyori in Gold Kuretake Fudebiyori in Silver Kuretake Fudebiyori in Copper Kuretake Fudebiyori in Red Kuretake Fudebiyori in Green Kuretake Fudebiyori in Blue Kuretake Fudebiyori in Purple Kuretake Fudebiyori in Black
Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush Pens Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Gold Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Silver Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Red Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Green Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Blue Kuretake Zig Wink of Luna Brush in Purple
Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pens Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Gold Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Silver Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Pink Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Orange Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Green Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Blue Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Purple Pentel Dual Metallic Brush Pen in Black
Pentel Fude Kinnoho & Ginnoho Brush Pens Pentel Fude Kinnoho & Ginnoho Brush Pen in Gold Pentel Fude Kinnoho & Ginnoho Brush Pen in Silver
How We Approach Research & Testing

Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.

Compare These Pens

Do you want to compare our metallic and glitter pens? Use our comparison tool to see their specifications side by side.

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JetPens Fine Tip Gel Pen Sampler - Black
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CONCLUSION

These glitter and metallic ink pens are great for adding that little bit of magic. We hope that you'll enjoy using these shimmery products in your next letter, scrapbook, or craft project—tell us how you use them in the comments below!