Tulip Rainbow 20 Pack: Fine Tip Fabric Markers Tested
The Tulip Rainbow 20 pack is a fine tip permanent fabric marker set at $17.68, rated 4.4 across 2,210 ratings, which works out at $0.88 a marker. Its listing claims minimal bleed. Eighty-nine buyer reports address that claim directly and they do not all agree with it, which is the useful part.
Tulip runs several near-identical fabric sets and the differences are real, which is why the type comparison comes first at the fabric markers surface matrix. This page covers the 20-pack.
One Keyword, No Ambiguity
"Tulip fabric markers fine tip rainbow 20 pack" draws 400 searches a month. There is no recorded keyword difficulty and there are no variant phrasings, which is unusual: this is a single exact product name being typed by people who already know what they want and are checking before they buy.
That makes the job of this page narrow. There is nothing to disambiguate. The only question is whether the product does what the box says.
What Is in the Box
Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack, fine tip, listed at $17.68, rated 4.4 across 2,210 ratings. Per marker that is $0.88. The listing describes it as minimal bleed and fast drying.
Eleven Tulip products appear in this catalogue and this is the most-reviewed of them by a factor of three. The others range from a single black jumbo chisel at $5.99 to a 30-pack graffiti bullet-tip set and a 24-colour neon fine and brush pack at $18.99 with 2 ratings behind it.
Against the type, the fabric marker category holds 118 products at a median price of $9.42 and a median rating of 4.4. This set matches the median rating exactly and sits well above the median price on the box, though the count is what drives that.
| Product | Tip | Pack | Rating | Ratings | Price | Per pen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zenacolor Zenacolor - 20 Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes - Fine Point | Fine | 20 | 4.5 | 20,257 | $9.99 | $0.50 |
| Madam Sew Madam Sew Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens for Sewing and… Amazon’s Choice | Mixed | 4 | 4.3 | 7,845 | $13.99 | $3.50 |
| CampTek CampTek Tailors Chalk & Fabric Markers for Quilting - 10PCS… | Mixed | 1 | 4.4 | 6,521 | $7.19 | $7.19 |
| Shuttle Art Shuttle Art Fabric Markers, 40 Colors Dual Tip Fabric Marker… | Mixed | 40 | 4.4 | 6,360 | $17.99 | $0.45 |
| U.S. Art Supply U.S. Art Supply Super Markers 20 Vibrant Dual Tip Fabric Markers | Mixed | 20 | 4.5 | 6,138 | $4.99 | $0.25 |
| Madam Sew Madam Sew Refillable Tailors Chalk for Fabric - Washable Fabric… | Mixed | 1 | 4.3 | 4,657 | $11.99 | $11.99 |
The Claim on the Box, Against the Reports
Bleed resistance is the attribute the packaging leads with, so it is the one to check hardest. It draws 89 mentions on this product with 34 positive and 55 negative: a 62% negative rate. Across the whole fabric type, bleed resistance runs to 1,465 mentions on 25 products with 780 negative, a 53% rate. So this set reports worse than its own category on the attribute it advertises.
"Colors nice, however advertised non-bleeding. The three I used have bled. Nothing ruined, just be aware and start project with that in mind." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
"These markers worked beautifully! Didn't bleed, color is very rich if you go over it a couple times. Good variation of colors too...." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
The first report is the fairest summary available: minimal is not none, and the sensible response is to plan for spread rather than to be surprised by it. Fabric weave decides most of this, and a tight cotton behaves differently from a loose jersey with the same pen. The type-wide counts sit at bleed resistance: what buyers reported.
The Complaint That Is Not About Ink
Drying time is where this product's record is worst: 48 mentions with 11 positive and 37 negative, a 77% negative rate. Durability adds 123 mentions with 56 positive and 67 negative. Read the reports and most of them are not about ink running out through use.
"very disappointed with this !!!! ....half the markers were dried up and useless...... and I didn't think to check them until the day before..." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
"Seem to dry out quickly, they were great for the day of our party, but a month later some pens already didn't work." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
"So almost 2.5 years later these markers are still wet and work as good as the day they arrived. The colors are great...." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
Three buyers, three outcomes, ranging from dead on arrival to working after two and a half years. That variance is the honest picture, and it is why the single most valuable thing to do with a 20-pack is open it and test every pen on scrap the day it arrives, while the return window is open.
Drying time across the fabric type runs to 2,153 mentions on 29 products with 1,328 negative, a 62% rate, so this is a category problem this product sits at the wrong end of. The full breakdown is at drying time: what buyers reported.
Ink duration — 364 reports, 63% negative, across 9 products
I like the disappearing ink because my iron is handy
Sewline Styla Water-Erasable Fabric marker
They leave easy-to-see marks that disappear after awhile. They last a long time. I love these marking tools
Sewline Air-Erasable Fabric pen (3)
4 more verbatim reports
The ink doesn't last long, the tip dries extremely quick, and whatever fabric you're using will bunch up and clog the tip
Amazon Basics Vibrant Fabric Markers for T-Shirt…
I used it on a repair of a black leather motorcycle jacket. Very durable and covered the area well. Two tips helps determine the right application
ARTISTRO 12 Dual-Tip Fabric Markers Decorating Kit…
I used it on a repair of a black leather motorcycle jacket. Very durable and covered the area well. Two tips helps determine the right application
ARTISTRO 24 Dual-Tip Fabric Markers Decorating Kit…
I used it on a repair of a black leather motorcycle jacket. Very durable and covered the area well. Two tips helps determine the right application
ARTISTRO 36 Dual-Tip Fabric Markers Decorating Kit…
Drying time — 2,153 reports, 62% negative, across 29 products
Some of the markers were dried out and did not work. This was a gift. Embarassing
sunacme Fabric Markers Pen, 32 Colors Permanent Fabric…
Love the price! They are useful and running strong. They don't dry out easily
Sharpie Stained Fabric Markers, Brush Tip, Assorted…
4 more verbatim reports
Seem to dry out quickly, they were great for the day of our party, but a month later some pens already didn’t work
Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine…
Our summer project is coloring a pillowcase & these are great! They dry quickly, don’t bleed & they’re easy for little hands to hold
Crayola Fabric Markers, At Home Crafts for Kids, Fine…
Some of the pens were dry which was dissappointing
Tulip Dual Tip Fabric Markers 14 Pack - Fine Tip & Brush…
Half the markers (and I bought 2 boxes) were dried out and other half only worked for a very short time. I wouldn't waste your money like I did. ☹
Crafts 4 All Fabric Pens for Clothes - Pack of 24 No…
Opacity — 388 reports, 59% negative, across 6 products
I washed it, the ink from the markers looked as good as new with no fading
Zenacolor - 20 Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes…
I loved how thick and the solid opaque coverage without running or looking unclear/illegible
Artline White Permanent Fabric Markers pen for clothing…
4 more verbatim reports
I washed it, the ink from the markers looked as good as new with no fading
Zenacolor - 40 Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes…
I washed it, the ink from the markers looked as good as new with no fading
Zenacolor - 20 Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes…
I washed it, the ink from the markers looked as good as new with no fading
Zenacolor - 5 Black Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes…
I washed it, the ink from the markers looked as good as new with no fading
Zenacolor - 26 Fabric Markers Permanent for Clothes…
Durability — 1,334 reports, 58% negative, across 37 products
Color match looked good, but did not hold up in the wash. I splashed bleach on a pair of jeans that I love
Uchida 522-C-33 Marvy Fine Point Fabric Marker, Navy
It was suppose to be a permanent marker for fabric, but isn't permanent. It disappears everytime I wash the shirt
UCHIDA 622-C-33 Marvy Broad Point Fabric Marker, Navy
4 more verbatim reports
This dye pen stays on clothes and offers a better look for bleach stains
UCHIDA Marvy Broad Point Fabric Marker Art Supplies, Green
definitely not the blue it showed. ruined what i was using it for
Uchida 622-C-3 Marvy Broad Point Fabric Marker, Blue
They don't have a lot of ink in them they died really fast
sunacme Fabric Markers Pen, 32 Colors Permanent Fabric…
THE YAYS 1. Super pigmented 2. Vivid colors 3. Long lasting 4
Sharpie Stained Fabric Markers, Brush Tip, Assorted…
Counts are Amazon “Customers say” topic summaries aggregated across every fabric marker in the corpus. Quotes are printed exactly as buyers wrote them, including typos.
What It Is Genuinely Good At
Performance is the product's strongest topic: 210 mentions with 187 positive and 23 negative. Fabric marking draws 41 with 36 positive. Versatility draws 38 with 36 positive. The reports name specific jobs.
"They are a fine tip and work great! I use them to draw on shoes so they work perfectly for me! They are easy for drawing especially fine details" Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
"Worked great for a "bib decorating" game at a baby shower. Good color selection and did well on the fabric." Tulip Permanent Fabric Markers Rainbow 20 Pack - Fine Tip, Minimal Bleed
The fine nib is doing the work in both. This is a detail pen rather than a fill pen, and 20 colours in a fine tip is a combination the type does not offer often. Canvas trainers come up more than once in the reports, and that job has its own page at markers for shoes and sneakers, because a canvas upper and a rubber midsole take different products.
| Marker type | Paper | Whiteboard | Chalkboard | Glass | Wood | Metal | Plastic | Ceramic / mug | Rock / stone | Fabric | Skin | Car window | Cardboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric Textile dye or pigment, heat-settable. | ◐If… 100/mo Works but bleeds; the ink is made for fibre. | ○No no measured demand Stains melamine permanently. Use a dry erase marker. | ○No no measured demand Stains porous board. Use a liquid chalk marker. | ○No no measured demand Beads off glass. Use a paint or chalk marker. | ◐If… 10/mo Absorbs unevenly along the grain. Seal it first. | ○No 20/mo Will not adhere. Use an oil-based paint marker. | ○No no measured demand Rubs off under friction. Use an acrylic marker. | ○No 120/mo Beads off the glaze. Use a paint marker. | ○No no measured demand Absorbs and dulls. Use an acrylic or paint marker. | ●Works 24,430/mo 24,430 searches a month, the largest single cell in the matrix. Heat set it or it fades in the wash. | ○No no measured demand Textile dye, not cosmetic grade. Use a body marker. | ○No no measured demand Textile dye beads off tempered glass. Use a chalk or washable marker. | ◐If… no measured demand Absorbs into the flute and spreads. Fine for a label, not for artwork. |
Fabric on fabric rates works at 24,430 searches a month, the largest cell in the whole grid, with heat setting as the stated condition. Everything else in the row is a refusal or close to it: glass, metal at 20 searches, plastic, ceramic at 120, rock and skin all fail. Paper rates conditional at 100 and bleeds, because the ink was made for fibre.
Buying Advice
Buy it for fine detail on light cotton, canvas and bibs, and buy it knowing three things: minimal bleed means less bleed, some of the 20 may arrive dry, and heat setting decides whether the design survives the first wash. Open the pack and test all 20 the day it arrives.
A Zenacolor 20-pack at $9.99 is $0.50 a marker on a 4.5 rating across 20,257 ratings and is the obvious price comparison, though its own drying-time record is worse at 147 mentions and 99 negative. Neither set escapes the category's central problem.
Frequently Asked
Does the Tulip 20 pack really not bleed?
Partly. Bleed resistance draws 89 mentions with 34 positive and 55 negative, a 62% negative rate against a type average of 53%. One buyer notes the set is advertised as non-bleeding and that three of the pens bled. Expect some spread and start the project knowing it.
How many of the markers arrive dried out?
No count exists for that and this page will not estimate one. What is recorded is that drying time draws 48 mentions on this product with only 11 positive and 37 negative, a 77% negative rate, and several reports describe pens that were unusable before first use.
Is $0.88 a marker good value?
It is above the type median. The fabric marker type holds 118 catalogue products at a median price of $9.42, and 20-count sets from other brands sit lower per pen: a Zenacolor 20-pack at $9.99 is $0.50 a marker on a 4.5 rating across 20,257 ratings.
Do these work on shoes?
Buyers report that they do, repeatedly and specifically. Two separate reports describe using them on tennis shoes and sneakers for fine detail. Shoes are a fabric job when the upper is canvas and a different job entirely when it is leather or a rubber midsole.
Does it need heat setting?
The 20 pack is recorded as a permanent fabric marker. Fabric on fabric rates works at 24,430 searches a month with heat setting as the stated condition, and one separate Tulip product in this catalogue is explicitly labelled no heat set. Check the pack rather than assuming.