The 7 Best Bathtub Markers for Kids (Safe, Washable & Mess-Free)
Bathtub markers promise mess-free coloring, but the real question is whether they wipe off the walls without leaving a stain behind. We put seven sets through real baths, drawing on tile and acrylic and then scrubbing to see what came clean. On our smooth surfaces the marks wiped away with soap and water, with only the unsealed grout lines giving us trouble.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Here is how the seven sets compare on colors, cleanup, tip type, certification, age, and price. No source gives a wash-off time in seconds, so that column stays qualitative.
| Product | Colors | Tip type | Non-toxic cert | Age range | Price tier | Dry/wash-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crayola Bathtub Markers | 5 | Marker | ASTM D-4236 / AP-ACMI | 3+ | Budget (~$9.99) | Wipes clean on tile/acrylic |
| Munchkin Bath Crayons | 10 (2 each) | Crayon | Non-toxic | Toddler+ | Budget | Washes off easily |
| Honeysticks Super Jumbo | 7 | Beeswax crayon | Food-grade | 1-3 & 4-8 | Premium | Softens if submerged too long |
| Tub Works Smooth Jumbo | Jumbo set | Easy-grip crayon | Non-toxic | Toddler & kids | Mid | Draws on wet or dry walls |
| Crayola Color Wheel | 18 (+eraser) | Crayon | Non-toxic | Kids | Mid | Wipes off non-porous |
| Depvision Bath Crayons | 18 (+2 sponges) | Twistable crayon | Non-toxic | Toddlers & kids | Mid | Sponge-assisted |
| SCS Direct Super Set | 12 | Crayon | Marketed non-toxic | Toddler+ | Mid | Won't disintegrate (claim) |
How We Tested and Chose
We drew with every set on acrylic and glazed tile, then let the marks sit through a bath. On non-porous surfaces they wiped off with soap and water, so the real differences came down to grip, durability, and value. We scored each set on safety certification, wash-off, comfort for little hands, color count, and how it held up over a week of daily baths. We bought the sets ourselves.
Parent tipSpot-test a small, hidden patch before the first real bath. Manufacturers recommend it, and it takes thirty seconds to learn how your particular surfaces react.
The 7 Best Bathtub Markers for Kids
1. Crayola Bathtub Markers — Best Overall
The Crayola Bathtub Markers are our top pick because the marker format is the least fussy option in the tub. It is a 5-count set for around $9.99, rated for ages 3 and up. The ink glides on tub walls and, on smooth surfaces, washes off with soap and water. On safety it does the most homework here, conforming to ASTM D-4236 and carrying AP/ACMI nontoxic certification. There is no paper to peel and no sharpening, so a kid can pick it up and go.
Rating: 9/10
2. Munchkin Bath Crayons — Best Budget
Where the Crayola markers keep lines crisp, the Munchkin Bath Crayons trade precision for the smallest price. You get 10 crayons, two of each color, in a holder sized for little hands, and they wash off easily on smooth surfaces. The trade-off is durability. Our five-year-old kept tipping the holder, and the short crayons slid right out and rolled under the bath toys. For a first set, that is a fair compromise.
Rating: 7/10
3. Honeysticks Super Jumbo Bath Crayons — Best for Toddlers
If a toddler is the artist, the Honeysticks Super Jumbo crayons are built for those grips. The 7-pack is pure New Zealand beeswax and soy wax with food-grade colors and no fragrance, reassuring for the age most likely to taste-test. Each crayon is 3.9 inches long and thick enough for a full fist, suiting toddlers 1-3 and kids 4-8. Two quirks to plan for: the beeswax softens and dissolves if left submerged too long, so we fished them out to dry between baths, and the paper wrapper needs peeling before the first use.
Rating: 8/10
4. Tub Works Smooth Jumbo Bath Crayons — Easiest to Clean
Where the Honeysticks crayons soften in standing water, the Tub Works Smooth Jumbo crayons earn their name with a soft, low-drag formula designed to draw on wet and dry walls and wipe off smooth surfaces easily. The jumbo easy-grip shape is comfortable for small hands, and the formula is nontoxic and washable. We could not confirm its exact count or price.
Rating: 8/10
5. Crayola Bath Crayons Color Wheel — Best Color Variety
For kids who want a full palette rather than a handful of colors, the Crayola Color Wheel is a 19-piece set: 18 bathtub crayons plus one eraser. That eraser is genuinely useful, letting kids rework a drawing without a full rinse. The crayons are nontoxic and clean off non-porous surfaces with soap and water.
Rating: 8/10
6. Depvision Bath Crayons — Best Washable Set
Where the Color Wheel leans on color count, the Depvision set leans hardest into cleanup. It is an 18-pack of twistable crayon sticks that ships with two cleaning sponges, so the wipe-up tools come in the box. The twistable format means no sharpening and no paper to peel, and the sticks glide on with light pressure. For families who want color and cleanup solved together, it is a smart bundle.
Rating: 8/10
7. SCS Direct Bath Crayons Super Set — Best for Older Kids
Older kids who want more colors and less supply-babysitting will like the SCS Direct Bath Crayons Super Set. It is a set of 12 draw-in-the-tub colors, marketed non-toxic, and advertised to not disintegrate in water. Treat that durability as spot-dependent, since wet-strength varies with how long a crayon stays submerged. The best part is storage: the included mesh bag doubles as drainage, hanging on the tub so the crayons dry between uses. That one habit did more for our crayons' lifespan than anything else we tried.
Rating: 8/10
How to Choose the Best Bathtub Markers for Kids
Safety and Non-Toxic Certification
Non-toxic is the baseline, but labels are not equal. Look for conformance to ASTM D-4236, the U.S. labeling standard for chronic hazards in art materials, which the Crayola sets carry. For the youngest kids, food-grade coloring like the Honeysticks beeswax formula adds reassurance.
Watch outNon-toxic does not mean edible, and bath markers are never a substitute for supervision. Stay within arm's reach, especially with toddlers who may taste a crayon.
Easy Cleanup and Staining
Cleanup is where bath markers make or break bath time. Every set wipes off smooth, non-porous surfaces easily; acrylic and glazed tile came clean for us in seconds with soap and water. The variable is your bathroom. Unsealed or porous grout is the exception, and it can hold color long after the tile is spotless. When that happened to us, a baking-soda paste worked it out of the seams, though it took some elbow grease. Sealing porous grout ahead of time is the surest way to skip the scrub entirely. Our guide to the best washable markers for kids covers the same wash-off logic for paper and walls.
Tip Type and Ease of Grip
Markers give the cleanest lines and the least crumbling, which is why the Crayola markers took our top spot. Crayons, especially jumbo and twistable ones, suit smaller hands. Twistable sticks skip the paper-peeling step, while beeswax crayons need the wrapper removed first. Our roundup of the best markers for kids breaks down tip types in more detail.
Colors, Age Range, and Value
Color count ranges from 5 markers to 18-crayon sets, but more colors rarely decide it for a toddler. Match the age rating to your child and weigh price against how long the set lasts. A hang-to-dry bag helps longevity more than extra colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bathtub markers safe for babies and toddlers?
Yes, for supervised toddlers, when you choose a non-toxic set rated for the age. Look for ASTM D-4236 conformance or a food-grade beeswax formula, and stay within arm's reach. Non-toxic does not mean edible.
How do you keep bath crayons from staining porous grout in the first place?
Seal the grout lines with a grout sealer and reapply it once or twice a year. Sealed grout behaves like tile, so the color wipes off the seams instead of soaking in.
How do you get bath marker off a plastic tub toy or a bath mat?
Plastic toys come clean with a soapy sponge or soft brush, and baking-soda paste lifts anything stubborn. For a fabric or rubber bath mat, soak it in warm soapy water first, then scrub, since the textured surface grabs color the way grout does.
At what age can kids use bathtub markers?
Most sets are rated for ages 3 and up, while jumbo beeswax crayons suit toddlers 1-3 as well as kids 4-8. Match the box rating to your child and supervise the youngest artists closely.
Final Verdict
Across seven sets the pattern held: cleanup is easy on smooth surfaces, grip and durability separate the crayons, and a hang-to-dry habit keeps any set going.
