WHICH DRY ERASER MARKER

IS THE BEST?

By Gene Uhi

The brand of markers I will be testing are: Expo (Standard): Low Odor, Accidental

Uncapped Protection. Expo (Scented): Blue-Blueberry, Red-

Cherry, Green-Apple, Black-Chocolate Mint, Accidental Uncapped Protection

Remarks (Staples Brand): Low Odor, Rubberized Grip.

Quartet: Antiroll Cap, Low Odor, Accidental Uncapped Protection, Fill Gauge.

The Marker Numbering System

Expo Norm

Expo Scen

Staples Quartet

Black 1 Black 5 Blue 9 Black 13

Red 2 Red 6 Red 10 Blue 14

Blue 3 Blue 7 Green 11 Green 15

Green 4 Green 8 Black 12 Red 16

The Rating System I used a 5 point rating system. 1 being

poor, 5 being excellent.

What I was looking for. How easy is it to use? How easy is it to erase? Which marker am I getting the most

from? This last question I would use as a tie

breaker if need be: Which marker has the best features?

Survey A – How easy is it to pull off the cap? B – How easy is it to put the cap on the

back of the marker? C – How easy is it to pull the cap off the

back of the marker? D – How easy is it to put the cap back

on?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160

1

2

3

4

5

6

Survey

Markers

Aver

age

Scor

e fro

m S

urve

y

Non-Bias Approach Question A – How difficult is it to push

the marker cap back on the top of the marker?

Question B – How difficult is it to push the cap on the end of the marker?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Non-Bias Approach

Markers

Wei

ght i

n G

ram

s

The Comparison

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1

2

3

4

5

6

SurveyExperiment

Erase Ability Tests I performed 3 different tests. A long term, a short

term and an immediate erase. Long term: 1 hour, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days,

5 days. Performed once. Short term: 5 minutes and 1 day. 2 horizontal

and 2 vertical lines, a zigzag line and 3 shapes. Performed once.

Immediate: 10 seconds. Performed 8 times per marker.

Each of these tests were performed on a high gloss whiteboard and low gloss whiteboard.

Long Term

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1

2

3

4

5

6

Long Term

High Gloss:LowGloss:

Markers

Perfo

rman

ce

Short Term

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160

1

2

3

4

5

6

Drawings

High Gloss:Low Gloss:

Markers

Perfo

rman

ce

Immediately

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 160

1

2

3

4

5

6

Immediately

High Gloss:Low Gloss:

Marker

Perfo

rman

ce

Comparison

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1

2

3

4

5

6

Long Term:Short Term:Immediately

Cost of the markers Expo Norm Expo Scented Staples Quartet

Retail price: 5.99 8.99 6.79 5.99

# of Markers 4 4 6 5

cost per Marker 1.50 2.25 1.13 1.20

Value Points 3.5 2.75 3.87 3.8

Value Points:

The best marker brand at the best price is Quartets

Expo Normal Expo Scented Staples Brand Quartet0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

3.885

3.5553.7425

4.3525

The best performing marker is the blue Quartet.

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0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

3.76 3.773.94

4.07

3.263.5

3.623.84 3.74 3.72

3.853.66

4.34 4.444.33 4.3

Value Averages

Value Averages

Markers

Valu

e of

Mar

ker

The best performing color

Black Red Blue Green3.6

3.65

3.7

3.75

3.8

3.85

3.9

3.95

4

4.05

Color

Perfo

rman

ce

Marker Rankings 1 Quartet Blue 2 Quartet Black 3 Quartet Green 4 Quartet Red 5 Expo (standard) Green 6 Expo (standard) Blue 7 Remarks (staples’ brand) Green 8 Expo (scented) Green 9 Expo (standard) Red 10 Expo (standard) black 11 Remarks (staples’ brand) Blue 12 Remarks (staples’ brand) Red 13 Remarks (staples’ brand) Black 14 Expo (scented) Blue 15 Expo (scented) Red 16 Expo (scented) Black