The Best Pencil & Pen Erasers - Reviewed by Educators

Posted in Reviews on December 2, 2016 - by

Short on time and need the best eraser? You are looking for the Pentel Hi-Polymer eraser on Amazon which is, hands down, the best eraser ever. We reviewed over 10 erasers and found that it is the most cost effective eraser and the best performing. 


Erasers are a necessary tool for everyone to own, especially educators. We all make mistakes, and erasers are our key to removing them with a single hand stroke. The variety of erasers available online is spectacular, and all of the links to our favorite erasers lead to Amazon for easy purchasing.

This may sound silly, but eraser technology is improving. The materials erasers consist of is more advanced, even more than just a few years ago. A more advanced eraser means higher productivity of usage, cleaner strokes, and a longer lasting eraser.

What are the best erasers on the market? Collectively, we have reviewed a lot of erasers. Fortunately for us, even the best erasers are usually very affordable.

Review: the best pencil erasers

These erasers are only meant for removing marks from lead pencils. Fun fact - there is actually no lead in pencils. Pencils use a graphite core which is not toxic. So why do we say pencils are 'lead pencils?' Well, the first Ancient Roman stylus used lead and the association has been kept ever since.

Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers

The Pentel Hi-Polymer eraser is, hands down, the best pencil eraser. Ever. It is also the best eraser to buy in bulk - affordable and available in bulk through Amazon.

Product Weight: 4 ounces
Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 7.4 x 3.6 inches
Best Usage: Education Supplies, Math homework, Heavy Erasing

pentel-hi-polymer-eraser-imageWe believe that the Pentel Hi-Polymer Eraser is the finest eraser out on the market to date. Pentel is a Japanese company that prides itself on their minimalistic approach to eraser design. When testing out this eraser, we only had to apply minimal pressure for the eraser to do its job. For many pencil marks, it only took one quick hand movement for any lead on the paper to vanish. It really looks like you never wrote a thing.

A major inconvenience with erasers is when they smudge the graphite instead of actually removing it. One way that Pentel solved this problem was by making their erasers both soft and durable. We are willing to bet you will be more likely to lose the eraser before using it up completely. Finally, if there is any concerns about latex allergies there is no need to fret. The erasers are 100% latex-free and superb-quality.

Price check it on Amazon.

Staedtler Mars Plastic Erasers

This eraser will give Pentel a run for its money. But in order to do so, you will have to pay a little more for it (usually, prices are always fluctuating and we can't ever guarantee a price).

Product Weight: 4 ounces
Product Dimensions:  2.9 x 7.1 x 0.1 inches
Best Usage: Education Supplies, Math homework, Heavy Erasing

Staedtler Mars is a common name for office supplies, and their erasers live up to the reputation. Four erasers come in one pack, and Staedtler Mars promises pristine quality. The selling point for these erasers is the minimal amount of crumbling. Unlike some erasers that crumble into thousands of tiny pieces, these erasers roll off the paper smoothly. The erasers themselves come in a protective cellophane wrapping that helps prevent the erases from getting dirty and ensures the user gets the most out of their eraser. The cover is a flip plastic versus the common 'push out.' These erasers are also latex free.

We still think Pentel's erasers have an advantage, but these are a solid runner-up.

Price check this eraser

Paper Mate Pink Pearl Premium Erasers

You see the Paper Mate Pink Pearl everywhere, but take our word for it, you don't want to buy it.

Product Weight: 4 pounds
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.7 x 0.6 inches
Best Usage: Masquerading as an eraser, ripping paper, smudging graphite

These are both classic and iconic. And that is all you will be paying for. Paper Mate has allegedly 'specialized' in making office supplies since 1940. Their most popular erasers are a bright, iconic, recognizable pink. Unfortunately, the model that is currently in stock at Amazon does not erase. Instead, they do a most excellent job of smudging. The eraser claims to be 'self-cleaning' which allows it to remove lead 'smudge free.' This is entirely false. The eraser itself is pretty thick making it long lasting, but ineffective nonetheless.

Instinct tells you that this should be a great eraser, because it looks like what you have been trained to perceive an eraser should be. Don't fall for it!

Review: the best pen ink eraser

It is hard to find an eraser that does a good job erasing ink. For the most part, ink is very permanent - it is designed to be that way.

Tombow MONO Sand Eraser

The Tombow eraser did a good job of removing colored pencil marks and adequately erased some of our ink marks.

Product Weight: 1 ounce
Product Dimensions: 2.6 x 0.7 x 0.4 inches
Best Usage: Erasing things that the others can't

tombow-mono-eraserTombow MONO Sand Erasers consist of all natural materials. This eraser was created by using a combination of natural latex and silica grit. The eraser is not just limited to erasing lead pencil marks. In fact, Tombow erasers can remove ink and colored pencil marks. The recycled sleeve the eraser comes with reaffirms the eco-friendliness of Tombow. The eraser is the latest technology to come from Japan, and it is picking up steam in the US. People rave about the versatility of the eraser, which is pivotal for anyone who makes mistakes with different mediums.

Price check this eraser!

What to look for in an eraser

The most basic things we look for in a good eraser are:

  • Performance - obviously, the most important aspect of an eraser is its ability to... erase! We judge this based on how many strokes with the eraser are required to remove a mark.
  • Lifetime - how long does the eraser last? There isn't anything worse than burning through a brand new eraser in the first few days of use.
  • The mess  - how many 'crumbs' does an eraser leave behind? How much 'stuff' do you have to brush off a page when you're finished?
  • Gentleness - how gentle is the eraser on the paper? The last thing you want is an eraser that will tear your paper.

How do erasers work?

When an eraser is rubbed against paper, the abrasives in the eraser cause friction and heat which allows the paper fibers to loosen the graphite particles. Erasers contain softeners in order to prevent the eraser from making tears in the paper. Erasers use the stickiness of rubber to grip the paper and hold onto the graphite particles.

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One Response to “The Best Pencil & Pen Erasers - Reviewed by Educators”

  1. Bill S. says:

    No matter what, it is difficult to erase pen marks. I've found that the sand erasers work pretty well... but I usually just stick to my white-out.

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