20 Crayola Markers vs. Crayola Skinny Markers: How to Choose for School and Office Orders

I've handled supply orders for a K-8 school for six years. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) 14 significant ordering mistakes, totaling roughly $2,800 in wasted budget. Most of them were marker-related. I'm not proud of that, but it's why I now keep a pre-order checklist for every art supply request.

If you came here looking for a Blox Fruits calculator or a Rare Beauty highlighter, I can't help you there. I don't game enough to explain Blox Fruits, and makeup is way outside my area. But if you're trying to figure out whether to order a box of 20 Crayola markers or Crayola skinny markers, this article is about exactly that.

Here's the thing: there isn't one “best” marker for every classroom. There's a best marker for your situation. After those mistakes, I split every marker request into three scenarios: early elementary classrooms, older students doing detail work, and shared offices.

The Mistake That Started the Checklist

In September 2022, I approved an order for 300 boxes of Crayola markers because a teacher asked for “markers.” I didn't ask which kind. The order arrived and they were broad line. That teacher wanted fine tip for a map-labeling project. The result: 300 boxes of the wrong markers, $680 of wasted budget, and a three-week delay while we got the right ones.

I had 2 hours to decide before the district deadline. Normally I'd have asked the teacher to show me a sample, but there was no time. I went with our usual marker order based on what we'd bought the year before. That was the exact mistake.

Now I ask three questions before any marker purchase: Who's using them? What are they drawing? Does it need to wash out?

Scenario 1: Early Elementary Classrooms Where Washability Is Everything

If you're buying for Pre-K through 2nd grade, the default answer is usually a 20-count box of Crayola Broad Line Markers. The phrase “20 Crayola markers” typically means this classic box: broad tips, classic colors, washable formula. Broad tips are harder to break, and the thicker barrel is easier for small hands to grip. Washable matters because the markers will end up on skin, tables, and clothes. It's not a matter of if; it's when.

I used to make budget the first priority. Then I spent a full afternoon scrubbing a “washable” marker stain off a classroom whiteboard that was not actually dry-erase. That one wasn't Crayola's fault—it was my fault for not reading the surface. Still, I learned to check both the marker claim and the surface.

Crayola markers are non-toxic and carry the AP Seal from ACMI. They also conform to ASTM D-4236, the standard for evaluating art materials. That's not a marketing line; it's a safety checkpoint I look for when buying for kids.

Price note: As of January 2025, a 20-count box of Crayola Broad Line Markers generally lists between $6 and $12 at major U.S. retailers, before bulk discounts. Verify current pricing before you budget.

If you're buying for more than one classroom, don't order individual boxes. A classpack lowers the per-marker cost significantly and keeps storage simpler. I learned that after buying 20-count boxes for eight classrooms and paying roughly 30% more than a classpack would have cost.

Scenario 2: Older Students, Detail Work, and Crayola Skinny Markers

If the request says “skinny markers,” that's usually a request for Crayola's fine-line or Pip-Squeaks line. Search “Crayola skinny markers” and you'll find both. Pip-Squeaks Skinnies have shorter barrels and smaller tips. The standard fine-line markers have a regular barrel with a precise tip. They're different tools.

Which one should you order? It depends on who's holding it.

For 3rd through 5th grade, I prefer the fine-line markers with regular-size barrels. Kids at that age still press hard, but the thin tip lets them color in small spaces without going outside the lines. Pip-Squeaks Skinnies are great for independent art centers or travel packs, but the short barrel can feel awkward for older hands.

Here's the unpopular opinion: don't buy skinny markers for an entire classroom unless the teacher specifically asked for them. They tip over easily, lose caps faster than broad lines, and younger kids will snap the tips. We had a 3rd-grade teacher request skinny markers, and by February, half the class had broken tips. That wasn't a Crayola issue—it was a mismatch between the user and the tool.

This is where I should add a small correction: the marker brand wasn't the problem. The tip size was. You can buy the best marker in the world, but if the person using it needs a different tip, it's the wrong supply. That's why I now ask teachers to write “broad line” or “fine line” on their requests.

Scenario 3: Offices and Shared Art Supplies

For offices, conference rooms, or community centers, I lean toward Crayola fine-line markers or colored pencils, not broad line. Broad lines are useful for posters and signs, but if people are labeling name tags or filling out flip charts, fine tip gives more control. A low-stakes office order doesn't need washable formulas, though it doesn't hurt.

I'd also avoid 20-count boxes in a shared space. They disappear. It's not because people are stealing them. It's because there's no designated storage. If you're buying for an office, buy one larger set, put it in a labeled tub, and assign someone to check inventory. That's a process problem, not a marker problem, but it's the reason a lot of office marker orders disappoint.

How to Remove Acrylic Paint (When It's Not Markers)

You might be here because you searched “how to remove acrylic paint.” That's not a marker question, but I understand why it ends up in the same search neighborhood. Art teachers deal with all of it.

I'm not a stain-removal chemist, so take this as a practical tip from a supply coordinator, not a professional cleaning guide. Here's what worked for us:

• Acrylic paint on skin: Wash with warm water and soap first. If it doesn't come off, use a little oil—baby oil or cooking oil—to break down the paint, then wash with soap. Don't scrub hard.
• Acrylic paint on fabric: Act fast. Scrape off wet paint, run cold water through the back of the stain, then pretreat with dish soap before washing. If the paint has dried, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer can help loosen it. Test on an inside seam first.
• Acrylic paint on hard surfaces: Use a plastic scraper or an old credit card to lift dried paint. Rubbing alcohol on a cloth usually finishes the job. Avoid abrasive pads on laminated tables.

Acrylic paint is plastic once it dries. There's no magic guarantee. If a school uniform is involved, keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone—heat sets the paint. This was accurate as of early 2025, and cleaning products change, so verify current instructions before following them.

How to Tell Which Scenario You're In

Here's a simple checklist I use now:

• If the users are K-2 and the word “washable” is in the request, go with 20-count Crayola Broad Line Markers.
• If the users are older and doing detail work, ask about fine-tip or skinny markers. Don't assume.
• If you're buying for a shared office area, focus on process. A labeled tub will save more money than switching brands.
• If you're here for acrylic paint removal, use cold water, soap, and patience. Keep it out of the dryer.

No single marker works for every classroom. That's not a marketing answer; it's the reason my early orders failed. I wanted a universal solution, and I skipped the questions that mattered.

Ask before you order. It costs 30 seconds and saves hundreds of dollars.

If I remember correctly, my first marker-related mistake was in 2019, but the pattern kept repeating until I built this checklist. Hopefully, this helps you skip that part.