Here’s our review of the best eraser for colored pencils.
There are a lot of different types of erasers to choose from like electric erasers, kneaded erasers, or vinyl erasers.
It can be a bit confusing so you should learn a little about each type before picking the right one for your needs.
As an artist, I have tried multiple types of erasers and have found additional information online to help you narrow the search.
I found that the Sakura EE-3000 SumoGrip is the best electric eraser, the STAEDTLER Mars Plastic is the best vinyl eraser, and the Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Eraser is the best-kneaded eraser.
Every artist’s needs are different so you should pick the one that is right for you.
Let’s get started!
- Ergonomic design
- Very powerful eraser
- Leaves minimal eraser dust
- Long-lasting
- Great for both graphite and colored pencils
- Non-abrasive
- Very versatile
- Won’t damage your paper
- Lasts a long time
Table of Contents
What to consider before buying an eraser for your colored pencils
There are a few things that you should consider before picking the right eraser for your needs. The first is the type of eraser you want. The three main types of erasers that are great for colored pencils are electric erasers, kneaded erasers, and vinyl (plastic) erasers.
Electric erasers are quite effective at erasing. It allows you to take out a lot of pigment without applying a lot of pressure onto the paper or exerting much effort. Depending on the model, it can cover large areas as well as erase fine details. They can also be used to lift up colors to form an interesting effect. You might need some time to get used to them, but they’re quite effortless to use.
Kneaded erasers are very versatile and are great for colored pencils. You can form them into larger shapes for erasing a large area. Or you can knead them to a finer edge or point to erase small areas. This is a great choice for most artists that prefer a non-electrical eraser.
Vinyl or plastic erasers are also great for colored pencils and graphite pencils. They’re often soft and non-abrasive which won’t damage your paper as much. But, they can still rip your paper if you apply too much pressure. Some have extra sharp edges that can help with finer details while others are more suitable for covering large areas.
I personally would avoid abrasive erasers as they can be too rough on your paper. It can lessen the tooth on your paper which makes the colors harder to grip when you apply a new layer. They can also rip your paper. For these reasons, I haven’t included them in this list. But, they can be good for special cases like drawing on wood or cardboard.
If you want to erase larger surfaces, you might want to opt for larger-shaped erasers. You can also use electric erasers for this, but keep in mind that you’ll probably run through a lot of erasers. If you want to erase small details, be sure to pick an eraser that can maintain a sharp edge or have a smaller head.
9 Best Eraser For Colored Pencils
After my research, I’m confident that I’ve found the complete list of great erasers for colored pencils. Here are the top 9 erasers for colored pencils:
1. Sakura EE-3000 SumoGrip Electric Eraser – Best electric eraser
The Sakura EE-3000 SumoGrip Electric Eraser is a great choice for artists looking for a higher-end electric eraser. It is very durable and has a long-lasting motor. This electric eraser is designed to have a strong torque of over 10,000 RPM which lets you erase with ease. It also has an ergonomic design which means your hands won’t get sore using it. This model is one of the best electric erasers on the market.
The main downside of this electric eraser is that it’s quite expensive compared to other more affordable options. It also seems to use up battery faster than other models.
If you’re looking for refills, be sure to get the Sakura Electric Eraser Refill.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ergonomic design | Quite expensive |
| Very powerful eraser | Uses up a lot of battery |
| Gentle on paper | |
| Leaves minimal eraser dust |
2. STAEDTLER Mars Plastic – Best vinyl eraser
The STAEDTLER Mars Plastic is a high-quality vinyl eraser that is great for both colored pencils and graphite pencils. They’re a bit harder when compared to other vinyl erasers, but this makes them last longer. These are great for covering large areas because of the larger surface area. They’re also great for paper with more tooth or mixed media paper because you can apply more pressure with them.
The main downside with these is that they’re not as soft as other vinyl erasers. You need to be a bit more gentle when erasing to make sure that you don’t damage your paper.
| Pros | Cons |
| Long-lasting | Not as soft |
| Great for both graphite and colored pencils | |
| Non-abrasive – won’t damage your paper |
3. Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Eraser – Best kneaded eraser
The Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Eraser is an excellent choice if you want to try kneaded erasers. They last a long time and don’t damage the paper as long as you don’t put too much pressure. They feel a bit stiffer than other kneaded erasers, but they soften over time as you knead them more. Since they’re a bit harder, they’re great for making shapes that you can apply some pressure on for finer details.
The main downside with this is that the packaging is not too great so you might receive a bad batch. Some people mentioned that they received dried-up and brittle erasers. When this happens, I would recommend requesting a refund or replacement.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very versatile – great for both large and small areas | Sometimes arrive dried and brittle |
| Won’t damage your paper | |
| Lasts a long time |
4. AFMAT Electric Eraser Kit
The AFMAT Electric Eraser Kit is a great affordable choice that a lot of artists like. The set comes with a lot of eraser refills (40 big refills and 100 small refills). The eraser has two sizes you can choose from (2.3 mm and 5 mm) which allows you to erase both large areas and small details. This makes it much more versatile compared to other electric erasers.
This model is also rechargeable and is designed to be used over 600 times per charge. You can end up saving a lot of batteries over the long run. The grip has an ergonomic design, allowing you to erase for a long time without tiring out your hands. This is a great complete set for beginners, but it’s not as strong as Sakura’s Sumogrip.
The one main downside of this eraser is that the button is quite sensitive. A lot of people find that the eraser turns on when they put it in their pencil bag or backpack. This makes it not such a good option for traveling.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ergonomic design | Sensitive button – not good for traveling |
| Rechargeable | |
| Switch between big and small erasers | |
| Affordable |
5. Derwent Battery Operated Eraser
The Derwent Battery Operated Eraser is another great alternative that is quite affordable. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries and performs exactly as an electric eraser should perform. This is also a more travel-friendly version when compared to AFMAT’s electric eraser. It’s quite gentle on the paper and erases well.
Some people did mention that it is slightly wobbly when erasing so you need to hold it very firmly as you erase. The package also does not come with the battery included and only comes with 8 erasers which you’ll run through quickly.
If you are considering this model, I recommend also buying the Derwent Replacement Erasers refill so you don’t run out very quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable | Slightly wobbly |
| Gentle on paper | Comes with no battery and only 8 erasers |
| Erases quite well |
6. Faber-Castell Kneaded Erasers
These Faber-Castell Kneaded Erasers are a great alternative to Prismacolor’s kneaded erasers. They come with a container that helps keep the moisture in so your eraser doesn’t dry out or become brittle. You can also easily store them in the container to avoid dust particles. These are quite soft compared to Prismacolor’s kneaded erasers and take a while before it becomes hard.
Since the eraser is a bit soft, they are great for smoother surfaced papers and are gentle on your paper. But, the downside is that it’s not too great for erasing fine details. A few users find it too soft to form a shape that can handle finer details. You can mitigate that by leaving the eraser out of the container which will slowly turn harder as you use it. But, this process can take a while.
| Pros | Cons |
| Comes with a container | A bit too soft for some |
| Great for smoother surfaced paper | Not great for fine details |
| Great for graphite and colored pencils | |
| Easy to form shapes |
7. Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser
The Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser is a great and reliable vinyl eraser that is latex-free. These erasers work great with both graphite and colored pencils. They are non-abrasive which means that they’re more gentle on your paper so you don’t have to worry about damaging your paper. They’re also a bit softer than other vinyl erasers which makes them more gentle on your paper.
These are great for covering large areas because of the larger surface area. They also work great with paper with more tooth or mixed media paper.
The only downside that I saw some people mention is that they can break off if you’re not gentle with it. So be sure to not erase too hard or bend the eraser too much.
| Pros | Cons |
| Soft and easy to use | Can break off if you’re too rough with it |
| Erases very well | |
| Non-abrasive – won’t damage your paper |
8. Prismacolor Premier Magic Rub Vinyl Erasers
These Prismacolor Premier Magic Rub Vinyl Erasers are designed specifically for colored pencils. But, they can also erase graphite and India ink. They have sharp corners which can be great for erasing smaller areas or fine details. They erase cleanly and have a smoother feeling when erasing on rougher paper.
The main negative thing some reviews mentioned was that it can smear your paper. You can easily avoid this by having a scrap piece of paper to erase and rub the pigments off before erasing another spot.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sharp corners – great for small areas | Can smear your colored pencils |
| Can erase graphite and India ink | |
| Good for colored pencils |
9. Prismacolor Premier Kneaded, ArtGum, and Plastic Erasers
This set of Prismacolor Premier Kneaded, ArtGum, and Plastic Erasers is a great way for you to try out different types of erasers to see which one you like. It gives you more options and flexibility when it comes to erasing.
The kneaded eraser and the plastic eraser work similarly to the reviews mentioned above. But, the ArtGum eraser is a bit more abrasive and can damage your paper if you’re not careful.
The main downside with this set is similar to Prismacolor’s kneaded eraser pack where the kneaded eraser can arrive dried and brittle. Some people got a bad batch and the kneaded eraser broke apart before using it. Again, if this happens, you can always request a refund or replacement.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for experimenting with different types | Kneaded eraser can arrive dried and brittle |
| Great for both graphite and colored pencils | |
| A lot of flexibility |
How to erase colored pencils
Here are a few things you should consider to get the most out of your erasers when you apply them to colored pencils. I’ve divided the relevant information based on the type of eraser you plan to buy.
Kneaded eraser
Kneaded eraser can be molded into any shape and size you want so this is great for erasing a large area and for finer details. To knead it, simply grab the eraser with two hands and stretch them apart. Then fold them into one another and repeat the process. Once it’s soft enough, you can form the shape based on what you need to erase.
Be sure to knead and mix around the eraser after each use to disperse the pigments. Otherwise, the pigments might leave a mark on the next thing you erase. You can also erase on scrap paper to get the pigments out.
Remember to not apply too much pressure on your paper. Rubbing too hard can damage or rip your paper.
Electric eraser
The great thing about electric erasers is that they can erase tougher to erase areas with little effort. You can also use it to lightly lift off color to create an interesting gradient effect.
To use an electric eraser, start off slow and apply only a bit of pressure. You often don’t need much pressure to get the color off. I recommend trying it out on a piece of scrap paper so that you get a feel for it.
Alternatively, you can also apply some solvent onto the spot you want before erasing. This helps loosen up the pigments which make it easier to erase.
Vinyl or plastic eraser
Vinyl erasers are also known as plastic erasers. They’re quite durable, can cover a large area, and erase very cleanly. However, the white color tends to stain from the color pigments so you need to erase it on scrap paper once in a while to remove the colors.
Just like other types of erasers. Start off gently and slowly. Then increase the pressure as needed. Don’t expect to erase your colors completely as that’s not very likely to happen unless you have a very light layer. Try to be gentle as too much pressure can still smear or rip the paper.
Eraser pencil
A great option for erasing finer details is using an eraser pencil. You can simply sharpen these with a regular sharpener and they have a pointy tip that you can use to erase small areas.
The Faber-Castell Double-Ended Perfection Eraser Pencil is a great option for this. The red is designed for graphite and colored pencils. The white is a harder eraser meant for ink, Indian ink, and ballpoint pens.
Artist tape
Another alternative to regular erasers is using artist tape to lift up color pigments before erasing. You simply cut the tape into your desired size. Press down lightly onto the paper, rub against it, and lift up slowly. Be sure to go slow so that you don’t tear off the paper with the tape.
It takes a bit of practice, but this is a good way to erase colored pencils without damaging the tooth of your paper. The TSSART Artist Tape is a great acid-free tape that you can use to erase colored pencils.
Erasable colored pencils
If you find that you make a lot of mistakes with your coloring, you might want to consider getting a set of erasable colored pencils. You won’t be able to erase to a pure white with these, but they’re more erasable than normal colored pencils. I recommend trying the Prismacolor Col-Erase Erasable Colored Pencil. The color range is a bit limited, but it can be great if you find yourself erasing a lot.
If you’re looking for other great colored pencils, check out our list of the best colored pencils for artists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions when it comes to choosing the best eraser for colored pencils.
Can you completely erase colored pencils?
From my experience, you can only completely erase colored pencils if you have a very light layer. Erasable colored pencils are a bit easier to erase, but they still leave a mark as you make multiple layers. While most colored pencils will leave a mark, you can often cover up the colors and layer over them.
Are natural rubber erasers better than synthetic erasers?
Rubber erasers generally are not made from natural erasers anymore. They have a rubbery plastic feel and are made from synthetic rubber. However, they often have abrasive filler materials which can harm your paper. They also often leave more eraser dust behind.
Vinyl or plastic erasers are often more effective at erasing. They require less pressure and rubbing which is better for the paper.
Are electric erasers better than regular erasers for colored pencils?
It depends on your usage and how often you erase. If you erase very often, it might be helpful to have an electric eraser as they take less effort to erase. They can also be better for your paper if you tend to apply too much pressure with regular erasers. Depending on the brand, they can also be quite precise when erasing.
I find that regular (vinyl or plastic) erasers are better for covering larger areas. They tend to have a larger surface area which will allow you to cover large areas faster.
If you want more versatility, go for a kneaded eraser. Since you can knead it to the shape that you want, you can erase both large areas and fine details. They do take a bit more time to use as you need to knead them as you use them.
Why are colored pencils so hard to erase?
Colored pencils are harder to erase than graphite pencils because they are made with wax (and/or oil) and pigment. The wax can smear and become messy because of the pigments. They also grip and stick to the tooth of your paper more than regular pencils. You also tend to layer colored pencils more heavily to get a smoother feel. The multiple layers make it harder to erase.
Our Verdict
A good eraser for colored pencils should be durable and able to pick up color pigments without damaging the paper.
There are various types of erasers, and you should pick the one that best suits your needs.
From my research, I’ve found that the Sakura EE-3000 SumoGrip is the best electric eraser, the STAEDTLER Mars Plastic is the best vinyl eraser, and the Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Eraser is the best-kneaded eraser.
