Top 10 Highlighter Manufacturers in the world

Dec 15, 2025

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Introduction to Highlighters

Highlighters are essential stationery items that have been widely used for decades. They are designed to mark important information in books, documents, or notes, making it easier for users to quickly identify and review key points. Highlighters typically come in bright, vivid colors such as yellow, pink, orange, and green, which stand out against the text and make the highlighted areas highly visible.


The basic structure of a highlighter consists of a plastic barrel, a felt - tip nib, and an ink reservoir. The ink used in highlighters is formulated to be semi - transparent so that it can mark the text without completely obscuring it. Over the years, highlighters have evolved in terms of features, including different nib sizes (fine, medium, broad), scented inks, and erasable options. With the increasing demand for high - quality and innovative highlighters, many manufacturers around the world have emerged, each with its own unique selling points and product lines.


Top 10 Highlighter Manufacturers

1. Zhejiang Jiuling Pencil & Brush Co., Ltd

Zhejiang Jiuling Pencil & Brush Co., Ltd is a well - established company in the stationery industry. It has a long - standing reputation for producing high - quality writing instruments, including highlighters. The company is based in China, a country known for its large - scale manufacturing capabilities and advanced production technologies.


The company's production facilities are equipped with state - of the - art machinery that allows for efficient and precise manufacturing processes. They adhere to strict quality control standards at every stage of production, from the selection of raw materials to the final product inspection. This ensures that their highlighters meet or exceed international quality requirements.


One of the key features of Zhejiang Jiuling's highlighters is the wide range of colors available. They offer a comprehensive color palette that caters to different user preferences and needs. Whether it's for academic use, office work, or creative projects, customers can find the perfect color to suit their purpose.


The felt - tip nibs of their highlighters are carefully crafted to provide a smooth and consistent writing experience. The nibs are durable and do not fray easily, ensuring long - lasting use. Additionally, the ink formulation is designed to be fast - drying, preventing smudging and ensuring that the highlighted text remains clear and legible.


The company also places a strong emphasis on environmental protection. They use eco - friendly inks and packaging materials, which is in line with the growing global trend towards sustainable products.


Website: https://www.cn-cosmetics.com/


2. Sanford (A Division of Newell Brands)

Sanford is a well - known name in the stationery industry, famous for its brand Sharpie. The company has a long history dating back to the early 20th century. It has a global presence and is recognized for its high - quality writing instruments, including highlighters.


Features and Advantages


  • Innovative Designs: Sanford is constantly at the forefront of innovation. For example, they introduced highlighters with retractable nibs, which protect the nib from damage and keep it clean when not in use. This design feature also makes the highlighters more convenient to carry around.
  • Scented Options: Sanford offers scented highlighters, which add a fun and unique element to the traditional highlighter experience. The scents are pleasant and not overpowering, and they can help create a more enjoyable working or studying environment.
  • Wide Distribution Network: With a vast distribution network across the globe, Sanford's highlighters are easily accessible to consumers in different countries. This ensures that their products reach a large customer base, from small local stores to large chain retailers.
  • Research and Development: The company invests heavily in research and development. They are constantly exploring new ink formulations, nib materials, and product features to improve the performance and quality of their highlighters. For instance, they have developed high - visibility inks that stand out even on colored or textured paper.


3. Stabilo

Stabilo is a German company that has been in the stationery business for over 160 years. It is renowned for its high - quality writing and drawing instruments. Their highlighters are a popular choice among students, professionals, and artists alike.


Features and Advantages


  • High - Quality Ink: Stabilo uses a special ink formula that is fade - resistant. This means that the highlighted text will remain clear and bright for a long time, even when exposed to light and air. This is particularly important for important documents or notes that need to be preserved.
  • Soft - Touch Design: Many of their highlighters feature a soft - touch barrel, which provides a comfortable grip. This is especially beneficial for users who need to highlight large amounts of text, as it reduces hand fatigue.
  • Erasable Options: Stabilo offers erasable highlighters, which are a great innovation. If a user makes a mistake or no longer needs the highlighted area, they can simply erase it without leaving any marks on the paper.
  • Educational Focus: The company has a strong educational focus and works closely with schools and educational institutions. They provide high - quality highlighters that are suitable for classroom use, and they also offer educational resources and support to promote effective learning.


4. Pilot Corporation

Pilot Corporation is a Japanese company that is well - known for its writing instruments. It has a diverse product portfolio that includes highlighters, pens, and markers.


Features and Advantages


  • Precision Nibs: Pilot's highlighters are equipped with precision nibs that allow for accurate highlighting. The nibs are designed to provide a fine line, which is ideal for highlighting small text or detailed information.
  • Quick - Drying Ink: The ink used in Pilot highlighters dries quickly, preventing smudging. This is especially useful when working with multiple highlighters or when writing on glossy paper.
  • Ink Capacity: Pilot highlighters have a relatively large ink capacity, which means that they can be used for a long time without the need for frequent refills. This is convenient for users who have a lot of highlighting to do.
  • Aesthetic Design: The company pays attention to the aesthetic design of its highlighters. They come in sleek and modern designs, which not only look good but also make them a pleasure to use.


5. Faber - Castell

Faber - Castell is a family - owned company from Germany with a history spanning over 260 years. It is one of the oldest and most respected names in the stationery industry.


Features and Advantages


  • Premium Materials: Faber - Castell uses only the highest - quality materials in the production of its highlighters. The barrels are made of durable plastics, and the nibs are crafted from high - grade felt. This ensures the longevity and reliability of their products.
  • Color Consistency: Their highlighters offer excellent color consistency. Each batch of highlighters produces the same vivid and bright colors, which is important for users who need to maintain a consistent color scheme in their highlighting.
  • Artistic Applications: In addition to traditional highlighting, Faber - Castell highlighters are also popular among artists. The wide range of colors and the smooth - flowing ink make them suitable for various artistic techniques, such as coloring and sketching.
  • Sustainability Initiatives: The company is committed to sustainability. They use renewable materials in their packaging and are constantly working to reduce their environmental impact throughout the production process.


6. Tombow

Tombow is a Japanese company that specializes in writing and drawing instruments. Their highlighters are known for their unique features and high performance.


Features and Advantages


  • Dual - Tip Design: Many of Tombow's highlighters have a dual - tip design, with a fine tip on one end and a broad tip on the other. This provides users with more flexibility in highlighting, as they can choose the appropriate tip size depending on the task.
  • Water - Based Ink: Tombow uses water - based ink in its highlighters, which is not only environmentally friendly but also easy to clean. If the ink gets on the skin or clothing, it can be easily washed off.
  • Light - Fast Ink: The ink is light - fast, which means that it will not fade quickly when exposed to light. This is important for long - term preservation of highlighted documents.
  • Ergonomic Design: The highlighters are designed with ergonomics in mind. The shape and size of the barrel are carefully crafted to fit comfortably in the hand, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable highlighting experience.


7. Bic

Bic is a well - known global brand that produces a wide range of stationery and disposable products. Their highlighters are a popular choice due to their affordability and reliability.


Features and Advantages


  • Affordable Pricing: Bic highlighters are priced competitively, making them accessible to a wide range of consumers. This is especially important for students and budget - conscious users.
  • Reliable Performance: Despite their low price, Bic highlighters offer reliable performance. The ink flows smoothly, and the nibs are durable, providing a consistent highlighting experience.
  • Large Color Selection: They offer a large selection of colors, allowing users to choose the colors that best suit their needs. Whether it's for color - coding or simply for personal preference, there is a color option available.
  • Global Availability: Bic has a global distribution network, which means that their highlighters are available in many countries around the world. This makes it easy for consumers to purchase their products.


8. Sakura Color Products Corporation

Sakura is a Japanese company that is famous for its art and stationery products. Their highlighters are known for their high - quality and innovative features.


Features and Advantages


  • Glitter and Metallic Options: Sakura offers highlighters with glitter and metallic inks, which add a touch of sparkle and creativity to highlighting. These are popular among artists and those who want to make their notes or documents more visually appealing.
  • Brush - Tip Nibs: Some of their highlighters have brush - tip nibs, which are great for creating bold and expressive highlights. This is useful for artistic projects or for making a statement on important documents.
  • Long - Lasting Ink: The ink used in Sakura highlighters is long - lasting and does not dry out easily. This ensures that the highlighters can be used for an extended period without any issues.
  • Quality Control: The company has strict quality control measures in place to ensure that each highlighter meets their high standards. This results in a reliable and consistent product.


9. Copic

Copic is a brand that is highly regarded in the art and design community. Their highlighters are known for their professional - grade quality.


Features and Advantages


  • Marker - Style Highlighters: Copic highlighters are designed in a marker - style, which provides a smooth and consistent flow of ink. The nibs are made of high - quality materials and are available in different sizes, allowing for precise highlighting.
  • Blending Capabilities: Their highlighters can be used for blending colors, which is a unique feature. This is useful for artists and designers who want to create smooth color transitions in their work.
  • Refillable Options: Copic offers refillable highlighters, which is an environmentally friendly and cost - effective option. Users can simply refill the ink when it runs out, rather than throwing away the entire highlighter.
  • Color Accuracy: The colors of Copic highlighters are very accurate and consistent. They have a large color range, and users can easily find the exact color they need for their projects.


10. Pentel

Pentel is a Japanese company that has been manufacturing writing instruments for over 70 years. Their highlighters are known for their quality and functionality.


Features and Advantages


  • Advanced Ink Technology: Pentel uses advanced ink technology in their highlighters. The ink is formulated to be smooth - flowing and to provide excellent coverage. It also dries quickly, preventing smudging.
  • Comfortable Design: The highlighters have a comfortable design, with a well - balanced weight and a grip that is easy to hold. This makes them suitable for long - term use.
  • Variety of Nib Sizes: Pentel offers highlighters with a variety of nib sizes, from fine to broad. This allows users to choose the nib size that is most appropriate for their highlighting needs.
  • Value - for - Money: Their highlighters offer good value for money. They provide high - quality performance at a reasonable price, making them a popular choice among consumers.


Conclusion

The highlighter market is highly competitive, with many excellent manufacturers around the world. Each of the top 10 manufacturers mentioned above has its own unique features and advantages. Some focus on innovation, such as offering scented or erasable highlighters. Others emphasize quality, with fade - resistant inks and durable nibs or on environmental sustainability, using eco - friendly materials.


Consumers have a wide range of options to choose from, depending on their specific needs and preferences. Whether it's for academic use, office work, or creative projects, there is a highlighter manufacturer that can provide the perfect product. As the demand for high - quality and innovative highlighters continues to grow, we can expect these manufacturers to continue to develop new and improved products in the future.