Sharpie Fine Point: Permanent Ink, Tip Size & Uses
The Sharpie Fine Point is the original Sharpie, a capped permanent marker with a bullet tip that draws a line about 1 mm wide. Sanford introduced it in 1964 as the first pen-style permanent marker. Sharpie says its alcohol-based ink is fade and water resistant and marks paper, plastic, metal and most surfaces; US spec sheets give US origin.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point (item 30001, black, box of 12)
- Brand
- Sharpie
- Brand origin
- United States
- Made in
- United States*
- Material
- Plastic barrel and cap, felt bullet tip, alcohol-based ink
- Released
- 1964
- Price range
- $under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Sanford L.P., a Newell Brands company. Made in United States: per US business-supplier spec sheets for item 30001 (GoVets lists country of origin US; Officecrave says made in USA), and Hisco's listing for the replacement item 30001B. Inbound Logistics (October 2025) reports that Newell makes most Sharpies, in all 93 colors, at its Maryville, Tennessee factory, with only the felt tip imported from Japan; Wikipedia also names a plant in Mexicali, Mexico. One distributor notes that the country of origin is subject to change. Sharpie's product pages don't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Introduced by Sanford in 1964 as the first pen-style permanent marker; the Sharpie trademark was registered in 1966.
- European retailers list the line width as about 1.0 mm, some as 0.9 mm; Sharpie doesn't publish a figure in the sources we found.
- JetPens lists the marker at 13.7 cm (5.4 in) capped and 13.1 mm at its widest.
- Black comes in boxes of 12 as item 30001; the 24-color assortment is item 75846.
- US spec sheets list US origin for item 30001; Newell makes most Sharpies in Maryville, Tennessee, importing only the felt tip from Japan.
What is the Sharpie Fine Point?
The Sharpie Fine Point is a capped permanent marker with a felt bullet tip and alcohol-based ink: the original Sharpie. Sanford introduced it in 1964 as the first pen-style permanent marker, according to Sanford’s company history, and Newell Brands says Sharpie invented the permanent marker category that year. Today the brand belongs to Newell Brands, through its Sanford L.P. subsidiary.
When people say “a Sharpie”, this is usually the marker they mean. The same brand also makes gel pens such as the Sharpie S-Gel, which use a different, non-permanent ink.
Sharpie Fine Point specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Sanford L.P. (Newell Brands), United States |
| Type | Capped permanent marker with snap-on cap |
| Tip | Felt bullet tip |
| Line width | About 1.0 mm (some retailers list 0.9 mm) |
| Ink | Alcohol-based, permanent; AP certified |
| Length | 13.7 cm (5.4 in) capped · 12.3 cm (4.8 in) uncapped · 14.7 cm (5.8 in) posted |
| Diameter | 10.6 mm at the grip · 13.1 mm max |
| Black, box of 12 | Item 30001 |
| 24-color assortment | Item 75846 |
| Made in | United States (per US spec sheets) |
Length and diameter come from JetPens. Sharpie doesn’t publish dimensions, weight or line width in the sources we found.
How wide is the line?
About 1 mm: wide enough for labels and signs, too bold for small handwriting. Staples UK lists the black 12-pack at 1.0 mm; Digitec lists 1 mm for one 18-pack and 0.90 mm for another.
What surfaces can a Sharpie Fine Point mark?
Sharpie says the ink is permanent on paper, plastic, metal and most other surfaces. Sanford’s history describes the 1964 original as made to write on glass, wood, stone, plastic, metal and paper. Sharpie also calls the ink quick-drying, fade resistant and water resistant.
Water resistant is not the same as waterproof. For outdoor labels, Sharpie sells a separate Extreme Fine Point, which it markets as fade resistant against wet and dry conditions.
Sharpie Fine Point vs Ultra Fine: which should you choose?
Choose the Fine Point for labels, boxes and signs, and the Ultra Fine for writing small or on narrow labels.
| Sharpie Fine Point | Sharpie Ultra Fine Point | Sakura Pigma Micron 05 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tip | Bullet, about 1 mm line | Finer point, thinner line | Fiber, 0.45 mm line |
| Ink | Alcohol-based, permanent | Alcohol-based, permanent | Water-based pigment |
| Marks plastic and metal | Yes (Sharpie) | Yes (Sharpie) | No |
| Price band | $ | $ | $ |
For writing in a notebook, a pigment fineliner such as the Micron or a felt tip like the Paper Mate Flair is the better pick: their water-based inks are made for paper, while alcohol ink is made for hard surfaces.
Do Sharpies bleed through paper?
Expect show-through on thin paper: alcohol-based marker ink soaks into ordinary copy and notebook paper rather than sitting on top. Sharpie markets the ink for plastic, metal and other hard surfaces, not for notebooks. We haven’t tested specific papers yet; until then, use heavier paper, write on one side only, or slip a spare sheet behind the page.
On a Post-it Notes 654 square, show-through matters less, since only the note’s front is ever read.
Is the Sharpie Fine Point safe?
Sharpie says the ink is AP certified, and Office Depot’s listing adds that it conforms to ASTM D4236. AP certification means the art-materials body ACMI found no acute or chronic health risk in normal use. The ink is alcohol-based, so use it with some ventilation.
Where is the Sharpie Fine Point made?
US business-supplier spec sheets list the United States as the country of origin for the black Fine Point, item 30001. GoVets gives US and Officecrave says made in USA; Hisco says the same for the replacement item 30001B. One distributor adds that the country of origin is subject to change, and Sharpie’s product pages don’t state it.
Inbound Logistics reported in October 2025 that Newell makes most Sharpies, in all 93 colors, at its Maryville, Tennessee factory, and that only the felt tip is imported, from Japan. Wikipedia also lists a Sharpie plant in Mexicali, Mexico.
How much does a Sharpie Fine Point cost?
It falls in our lowest price band, $ (under $5 per marker), in a typical multi-pack. Black is most often sold by the dozen (item 30001), and color sets run from 8 to 24 markers.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is a Sharpie Fine Point line?
About 1 mm. Sharpie doesn't publish a line width in the sources we found; European retailers list 1.0 mm for most packs and 0.9 mm for some.
What is the difference between Sharpie Fine Point and Ultra Fine Point?
The Ultra Fine Point has a finer tip for small writing and detail, while the Fine Point has the original bullet tip and a bolder line of about 1 mm. Both use the same permanent, alcohol-based ink.
What surfaces can a Sharpie Fine Point write on?
Sharpie says the ink is permanent on paper, plastic, metal and most other surfaces. Sharpie's own history describes the original marker as made for glass, wood, stone, plastic, metal and paper.
Is Sharpie ink waterproof?
Sharpie calls it water resistant and fade resistant, not waterproof. It sells a separate Sharpie Extreme Fine Point for outdoor use.
Is the Sharpie Fine Point safe for kids?
Sharpie says the ink is AP certified, and Office Depot's listing adds that it conforms to ASTM D4236. The ink is alcohol-based, so use it in a ventilated room and keep it away from skin.
Do Sharpies bleed through paper?
Yes, Sharpie Fine Point ink usually bleeds through ordinary notebook and copy paper, because alcohol-based marker ink soaks into thin paper. Use heavier paper or put a sheet behind the page; we haven't tested specific papers yet.
Where are Sharpie Fine Point markers made?
US business-supplier spec sheets for item 30001 list the United States as the country of origin. Sharpie is a Newell Brands brand based in the US.
When was the Sharpie invented?
Sanford introduced the Sharpie Fine Point in 1964 as the first pen-style permanent marker. The Sharpie logo trademark was first used in 1964 and registered in 1966.
Sources
- Newell Brands: Sharpie brand page (launched in 1964; invented the permanent marker category)
- Sharpie: Permanent Markers, Fine Point (ink and surface claims)
- Sharpie: Extreme Permanent Markers, Fine Point
- Sharpie: Retractable Permanent Markers, Fine Point
- That's a Trademark: Sharpie (first used 1964, registered 1966)
- Reference for Business: Sanford L.P. company history (Sharpie 1964, first pen-style permanent marker)
- Goldspot: Sharpie history
- JetPens: Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point, black (length, diameter, alcohol-based ink)
- Office Depot: Sharpie Permanent Fine Point Markers, 12 assorted (AP certified, ASTM D4236)
- GoVets: Sharpie Fine Point, gray barrel, black ink, 12-pack, MPN 30001 (country of origin US)
- Officecrave: Sharpie Fine Tip Permanent Marker, black (30001EA; made in USA)
- Hisco: Sharpie 30001B (made in the USA)
- ADI Global Distribution: Sharpie 30001 (country of origin US, subject to change)
- Quill: Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Tip, assorted, 24/pack (75846)
- Staples UK: Sharpie fine permanent marker, black, 12-pack (1.0 mm line width)
- Digitec: Sharpie Fine, 18 markers (line width)
- Inbound Logistics, October 2025: Sharpie rewrites supply chain strategy (most Sharpies made in Maryville, Tennessee; felt tip imported from Japan)
- Wikipedia: Sharpie (marker) (manufactured in Mexicali, Mexico, and Maryville, Tennessee)
- CIPO (Canadian trademark database): SHARPIE registration TMA1147563, registered owner Sanford, L.P., Atlanta