Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser 526 50: Size & Uses
The Staedtler Mars plastic 526 50 is a white plastic block eraser from the German maker Staedtler, sold in a blue sleeve. Staedtler's German site lists it at 65 × 23 × 13 mm (about 2.6 × 0.9 × 0.5 in), phthalate- and latex-free. European retailers list it as made in Germany; one top US Amazon 4-pack says Peru.
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Product facts
- Product
- Staedtler Mars plastic eraser (526 50)
- Brand
- Staedtler
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- PVC (vinyl) with calcium carbonate filler; phthalate- and latex-free
- Price range
- $under $5 per item
Notes on these facts
- Made by Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg). Made in Germany: Galaxus lists Germany as the country of origin, an Australian retailer (Office National) says it is made in Germany, and a UK office supplier also gives Germany. But the best-selling US Amazon listing (ASIN B00006IFAN, a 4-pack), as copied by ASINsight in July 2026, is titled "Made in Peru", so US stock may differ. Staedtler's German product page doesn't state the country, and Galaxus and Office National blocked our reader on October 20, 2026; check the packaging. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Staedtler's German site lists the 526 50 at 65 × 23 × 13 mm (2.6 × 0.9 × 0.5 in); the Swiss Post shop gives 20 g.
- A conservation reference from the MFA describes Mars plastic 526 50 as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with calcium carbonate filler.
- Staedtler lists it as phthalate- and latex-free and age-resistant, wrapped in PP film with a tear thread inside a slide sleeve.
- ASINsight estimated the top Mars plastic listing on Amazon US at about 10,000 sales a month in July 2026.
- Galaxus and Office National give Germany as the country of manufacture, but the top US Amazon 4-pack listing title says made in Peru.
What is the Staedtler Mars plastic eraser?
It’s a white plastic block eraser in a blue sleeve, made by the German pencil maker Staedtler, and the 526 50 is its standard size. It is the eraser Staedtler pairs with its Mars Lumograph drawing pencils.
It is also one of the best-selling erasers in the US. ASINsight, which estimates Amazon sales, put the top Mars plastic listing, a 4-pack, at about 10,000 units a month in July 2026, with a 4.8-star rating.
Staedtler Mars plastic 526 50 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. KG (Nuremberg, Germany) |
| Model | 526 50 (4-pack: 526 50 BK4) |
| Size | 65 × 23 × 13 mm (2.6 × 0.9 × 0.5 in) |
| Color | White, in a blue sleeve |
| Material | PVC with calcium carbonate filler (MFA Cameo) |
| Free of | Phthalates and latex (Staedtler) |
| Packaging | PP film with tear thread, slide sleeve (Staedtler) |
| Weight | 20 g (Swiss Post shop) |
| EAN | 4007817504598 (Swiss Post shop) |
| For | Graphite on paper and matte drafting film; OHP pen on overhead film (retailers) |
| Sold as | Single, 4-packs and boxes of 20 |
| Price band | $ (under $5 per eraser) |
| Made in | Germany (European retailers); Peru on one top US Amazon listing |
The size comes from Staedtler’s German product page, and the Swiss Post shop gives the same figure. Galaxus lists 65 × 22 × 13 mm. Staedtler doesn’t publish a weight; the 20 g is the Swiss Post shop’s.
Is it rubber or plastic?
It’s plastic: a vinyl (PVC) eraser, not rubber. The MFA’s Cameo materials database describes the Mars plastic 526 50 as polyvinyl chloride with calcium carbonate filler, and ASINsight’s copy of the top US Amazon listing calls it a vinyl eraser.
Staedtler’s German site adds that it is free of phthalates, the softeners once common in PVC, and of latex. That makes it a safe pick for a classroom where someone has a latex allergy.
What does it erase?
Graphite pencil, mainly. Retailers list it for graphite on paper and on matte drafting film, and for OHP pen on overhead projector film. It isn’t sold as an ink eraser.
Staedtler’s German site promises “geringe Krümelbildung”, little crumbling, and the best erasing performance with little wear. That’s a maker claim; we haven’t timed or counted it yet.
Why does the eraser have a sleeve?
The sleeve protects the eraser and keeps its working end clean. Staedtler’s German site says each 526 50 comes in a protective PP (polypropylene) film with a tear thread, plus a “Schiebemanschette”, a slide sleeve for convenient handling.
As the eraser wears down, slide the sleeve back to expose fresh eraser. Keeping the sleeve on also stops a pencil case from dirtying the sides.
How does it compare with other erasers?
It’s a block eraser for clearing larger areas; a pen-style eraser is handier for small corrections.
| Staedtler Mars plastic 526 50 | Eraser in the Pentel Twist-Erase III | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Loose block, 65 × 23 × 13 mm | Long twist-up eraser in a mechanical pencil |
| Refills | Buy a new block | Pentel E10, 3 to a tube |
| Best for | Larger areas, cleanup | Small corrections on the go |
| Price band | $ (under $5) | $$ ($5–20) for the pencil |
On penciltalk.org, a reviewer tested the Mars plastic against a Pink Pearl, a gum eraser and a kneaded eraser on several papers. The Mars plastic came out as the overall winner, though gum and kneaded erasers suited particular drawing styles. Its closest rival on US shelves is the Pentel Hi-Polymer, a white block of the same 65 mm length.
Which pencils is it good with?
Any graphite pencil, from a school #2 to soft drawing grades. The softer the grade, the more graphite sits on the paper, so expect a little more ghosting with 4B and darker.
For everyday writing, it pairs with a Ticonderoga #2. For drawing, it’s the eraser Staedtler recommends next to its Mars Lumograph; the Tombow MONO 100 is another drawing pencil it suits.
Where is the Staedtler Mars plastic made?
European and Australian retailers list it as made in Germany, but US stock may come from Peru. Galaxus gives Germany as the country of origin, and Office National in Australia describes it as made in Germany. ASINsight’s July 2026 copy of the best-selling US Amazon listing, a 4-pack, is titled “Made in Peru”.
Staedtler is based in Nuremberg; a pencil retailer’s history dates J. S. Staedtler’s pencil workshop there to 1835. Staedtler’s German product page doesn’t give the country of manufacture, so check the packaging if it matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Staedtler Mars plastic eraser?
Staedtler lists the standard 526 50 at 65 × 23 × 13 mm, about 2.6 × 0.9 × 0.5 in. Galaxus gives the width as 22 mm, and the Swiss Post shop a weight of 20 g.
What is the Staedtler Mars plastic eraser made of?
It's a plastic (vinyl) eraser. The MFA's Cameo materials database says the 526 50 is polyvinyl chloride with calcium carbonate filler, and Staedtler lists it as phthalate-free and latex-free.
Is the Staedtler Mars plastic eraser latex-free?
Yes. Staedtler's German site lists the 526 50 as "phthalat- und latexfrei", free of phthalates and latex. That matters if someone in the house has a latex allergy.
Can the Mars plastic erase colored pencil or ink?
It's sold for graphite: retailers name graphite on paper and matte drafting film, and OHP pen on overhead film. It isn't sold as an ink eraser, and we haven't tested it on colored pencil yet.
What is the sleeve on a Mars plastic eraser for?
Staedtler calls it a "Schiebemanschette", a slide sleeve for convenient handling; it also keeps the eraser clean in a pencil case. Slide it back as the eraser wears down.
Is the Staedtler Mars plastic better than a Pink Pearl?
In one long-running comparison on penciltalk.org, the Mars plastic was the overall winner against a Pink Pearl, a gum eraser and a kneaded eraser. It's one reviewer's test, not ours.
Where is the Staedtler Mars plastic eraser made?
European and Australian retailers, including Galaxus and Office National, list it as made in Germany, but the top US Amazon 4-pack listing says made in Peru. Staedtler doesn't state the country, so check the packaging.
Sources
- STAEDTLER (DE): Mars plastic 526 50, Radierer in Premium-Qualität (Staedtler's German page: 65 × 23 × 13 mm, PP-Folie, Schiebemanschette, phthalat- und latexfrei)
- Swiss Post shop: Staedtler Mars plastic 526 50, 65 × 23 × 13 mm (EAN 4007817504598, 20 g)
- AOS Online: Staedtler Mars plastic eraser, pack of 20 (65 × 23 × 13 mm)
- Galaxus: Staedtler Mars plastic eraser (65 × 22 × 13 mm, country of origin Germany)
- Office National: Staedtler 526 Mars plastic pencil eraser, large (phthalate- and latex-free, made in Germany)
- MFA Cameo: Mars Plastic eraser (PVC with calcium carbonate filler)
- Quill: Staedtler Mars erasers, white, 4-pack (526 50 BK4)
- penciltalk.org: eraser comparison (Mars plastic, Pink Pearl, gum and kneaded)
- ASINsight: best-selling Staedtler Mars plastic erasers on Amazon US, July 2026 (top 4-pack titled made in Peru)