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