The 5-Point Checklist for Getting Crayola Products Right (Before You Order)

Who This Checklist Is For

If you’re ordering Crayola products for a school district, after-school program, or corporate art initiative, this is for you. Specifically:

• Procurement coordinators who don’t have an art background but are responsible for supply orders
• Teachers who’ve been handed the order form without clear specs
• Anyone who’s ever thought, “They’re just markers—how hard can it be?”

I’ve been handling educational supplies orders for 5 years. In that time, I’ve personally made (and documented) 12 significant mistakes totaling roughly $3,200 in wasted budget. This checklist is what I wish I’d had on day one.

Here are the 5 steps I now run through before every Crayola order. Skip one at your own risk.

Step 1: Match the Product Line to the User (Not the Price)

Most buyers focus on per-unit pricing and completely miss the difference between product lines. Crayola isn’t one product—it’s dozens.

The classic mistake: Ordering standard Broad Line Markers for a kindergarten classroom. You’ll get them back in a week with missing caps and dried-out tips because the caps aren’t designed for tiny hands to replace easily.

What to do instead: Check the product line against the user age group.

• Pre-K to K: Use Crayola Pip-Squeaks (smaller, more grip-friendly) or Ultra-Clean Washable Markers. The caps are easier.
• Elementary: Broad Line Washable Markers are standard. But check if you need the Color Max version (better color laydown) or the standard line.
• Middle/High School: Consider Fine Line or Metallic Markers for more advanced projects.
• Art classes specifically: Crayola Colors of the World Colored Pencils are excellent for portraiture and skin tone diversity projects. Don’t assume standard 24-pack covers it.

Checkpoint: Before you add to cart, ask: “Is this the right line for the person using it, or am I just matching the budget number?”

Step 2: Understand Actual Dimensions (Because 'Standard' Isn't Standard)

Here’s one that burned me early on. Someone asked me: “How many inches is a Crayola marker?” I thought I knew. I was wrong.

A standard Crayola Broad Line Marker is approximately 5.5 inches long (14 cm) with the cap on. But that changes:

• Fine Line Markers are slightly shorter—closer to 4.75 inches.
• Pip-Squeaks are about 4 inches.
• Colored pencils typically measure 7.5 inches (standard pencil length).
• Art kits vary wildly depending on the case.

Why does this matter? I once ordered storage racks based on assumed marker length. Every single one of 140 markers stuck out of the slot. We caught the error when the teacher sent a photo. That cost $320 in returns plus a 2-day delay for the class.

The rule: If you’re buying storage or display solutions, get the exact product dimensions from Crayola’s spec sheet—or measure a physical sample. The question “how many inches is a crayola marker” sounds simple, but the answer depends on which marker.

Step 3: Verify Total Cost (Not Just the Price Tag)

This is the one that made me a believer in transparent pricing. I’ve learned to ask “what’s NOT included” before “what’s the price.”

A typical district-wide marker order might look like this:

• Base price: $2.49/pack (seems reasonable)
• Quantity: 1,000 packs
• Total base: $2,490

But then add:

• Shipping & handling: $180-$400 depending on weight and zone
• Bulk packaging fee: $50-$150 if you need shrink-wrapped bundles instead of loose cartons
• Rush fee: 15-25% if you need it in 3 days instead of 7-10
• Potential restocking fee: 15-20% if you miscalculate and need to return

The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. The one who shows a low base price and hides the rest? That’s the expensive option.

Checkpoint: Total cost = base + fees + shipping + potential reprint or return. If the quote doesn’t show the total, you haven’t seen the price yet.

Step 4: Test for Washability (Before You Commit to a Large Order)

Here’s an outsider blindspot: people assume “washable” means “magically disappears from everything.” It doesn’t.

Crayola’s washable products are tested on specific fabrics and surfaces. The criteria are:

• Washable from skin: Yes, with soap and water
• Washable from most clothing: Yes, if treated promptly (within 1-2 hours) and washed in warm water
• Washable from walls: Depends on the paint finish. Flat/matte paint? Likely staining. Semi-gloss? Usually fine.
• Washable from upholstery: Not guaranteed. Test a small area first.

I once ordered 500 packs of washable markers for a Head Start program. The teachers loved them. Then a child drew on a matte-painted wall. The stain didn’t come off. Principal called. Budget was blamed. Not Crayola’s fault—the paint surface wasn’t compatible—but I took the heat.

What I do now: Order a single pack for a test classroom. Let them use it for a week. Follow up with the teacher: “Any staining issues?” If the answer is no, proceed with the bulk order. If yes, adjust expectations or switch products.

Checkpoint: Have you tested the product with your specific surfaces and user behavior? If not, a small pilot order is cheaper than a reorder.

Step 5: Verify Compatibility With Your School’s Procurement System

This sounds boring. It is boring. But it’s where 60% of my early errors came from.

Not all Crayola products are listed in every procurement catalog. If you’re using a state contract or a district-approved vendor list:

• Check if the specific SKU is in the system. “Crayola markers” isn’t a searchable line item. You need the exact UPC or product code.
• Verify lead times with YOUR vendor. The Crayola website says 2-day shipping. Your vendor might have a 5-7 day processing time.
• Watch for substitutions. Some vendors will swap a product line if the exact SKU is out of stock. If you ordered Broad Line Washable and they send Fine Line, the teacher will notice.
• Check the return window. Many educational contracts have a 30-day return policy—less than the time it might take to discover a compatibility issue.

In September 2022, I submitted a purchase order for Crayola Colors of the World Colored Pencils. The vendor sent Crayola standard colored pencils instead. Claimed it was an “equivalent substitution.” It wasn’t. 700 packs, $1,200 invoice, and the multicultural art unit had to use standard colors. The teacher was not happy.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Even after following the checklist, stuff still goes wrong. Here are the most common errors I’ve seen (and made):

• Assuming “washable” covers all surfaces. It covers most, not all. Test first.
• Ordering based on price per unit only. The $2.49 pack might be $3.47 after shipping and fees. The $2.79 pack with free shipping might be cheaper overall. Calculate total cost.
• Ignoring storage and display constraints. Know how many inches is a crayola marker for your specific product. Measure before you order racks.
• Not checking the procurement catalog for the exact SKU. The time you save by skipping this step gets eaten up by the reorder process.
• Skipping the teacher feedback round. One teacher’s feedback can prevent a district-wide error. They know which products actually work in the classroom.

That said, don’t let the checklist paralyze you. Crayola is a solid brand—non-toxic, widely trusted, and generally reliable. The steps above are about eliminating the edge cases that cause frustration and wasted budget, not about overcomplicating every order.

I now run through these 5 steps for every significant order. It takes about 15 minutes. In the past 18 months, we’ve caught 47 potential errors using this checklist. That’s roughly $3,800 in avoided reprints, returns, and wasted supplies.

One last thing: prices change. The numbers I’ve mentioned are based on quotes I received in early 2025. Always verify current pricing with your vendor before committing.