Ohuhu or Kmart Anko Alcohol Markers – Which is better for Beginners?

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If you are anything like me, once you decide to start a new hobby, you want to make sure you’re using good quality supplies to make it more enjoyable. BUT, more often than not, those good quality supplies are often expensive or not available to us here in Australia. For colouring, it can feel pretty overwhelming deciding on your first set!

On socials, there are clearly a few brands that dominate the market. Ohuhu Honolulu B Series popup in the majority of content, but can be an expensive purchase to make for a beginner colourist. When I first started colouring, the thought of spending $300+ on a set of Ohuhus was alot. Luckily, I was able to pick up a set of Kmart Anko markers, for a third of the price, allowing me to dip a toe in to colouring without breaking the bank. Once I was hooked on colouring I was lucky enough to be gifted a set of Ohuhus for Mothers Day!

So, in this guide, I’ll be comparing the two sets in terms of price, colour selection and quality and design and ease of use to help beginners decide which offers the best value and colouring experience. This includes a head-to-head colour off where I split a page (or two) in half to see which is the overall better looking page.

Just a small side note: I bought my Kmart markers back in April 2026, when the barrels and bag where black. At the time of writing this article, the barrels of the pens and storage bags have been changed to white, but I am assuming everything else about the markers is unchanged.

TLDR Summary Table

Feature	Ohuhu Honolulu B Series	Kmart Anko Graphic Markers
Price	Higher (around $1.20 per marker)	Lower (around 50 cents per marker)
Availability	Online	Online and In-store
Colour Range	Excellent	Limited
Brush Tip Options	Bullet/Chisel Tip & Bullet/Brush Tip	Some come in Bullet/Chisel Tip Only
Individual Replacement Markers	Yes	No
Best For	Dedicated regular colourists	Trying for the first time and unsure if you’ll continue

Price Comparison

For many beginners, price is the biggest factor. When you compare the two brands side by side, Ohuhus are almost 3 times the price of the Kmart markers.

Anko alcohol markers are among the cheapest alcohol markers available in Australia, making them an attractive choice for anyone wanting to try the medium without a large investment.

Ohuhu markers cost more upfront, but they are still considered affordable compared to professional brands such as Copic. Ohuhu also offers larger sets, replacement markers, and refill options on some product lines.

Winner for budget: Anko

Colour Selection and Ink Quality

While Anko markers offer a reasonable range of colours, the selection is limited compared to Ohuhu. Some users find it difficult to achieve smooth gradients because there are fewer shades within each colour family.

Ohuhu markers are known for their extensive colour ranges, including multiple shades of blues, greens, pinks, and skin tones. This makes blending easier and gives colourists more creative options. The ink quality is also generally more consistent, with smoother coverage and less streaking, which I found was my biggest takeaway when I compared them head to head.

Winner for colour variety and blending: Ohuhu

Marker Design and Ease of Use

Both brands feature dual-tip designs, making them suitable for colouring books and illustrations.

However, many beginners appreciate Ohuhu’s choice of different brush-tip options, which allow for smoother colouring and better control. Brush tips are particularly useful for colouring detailed areas and creating softer transitions between colours.

Anko markers are easy to use likely both for the brush tip and bullet tip markers. In my head to head colouring comparison I tested the Kmart bullet tip markers against the Ohuhu brush tips, and the Ohuhus definately were more pleasurable to use. The Kmart markers do a fine job though – in fact one of my favourite pages I’ve coloured so far was done with Kmart markers, not Ohuhus.

Winner for versatility: Ohuhu

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Which Should Beginners Choose?

The best choice depends on your goals.

If you’re simply curious about alcohol markers and want the cheapest possible entry point, Anko markers are a great way to experiment without spending much money.

However, if you already enjoy colouring books and expect to use alcohol markers regularly, Ohuhu offers significantly better long-term value. The wider colour range, improved blending performance, and availability of replacement markers make them easier to grow with as your skills improve.

Something I thought I should mention and that I noticed straightaway when using the markers side by side was that the Ohuhus are incredibly ‘juicy’, in that the ink flows really nicely onto the page. This means that they blend well, but if your paper is thin, like in some colouring books (*cough* those sold on Amazon), the ink will run, bleed and smudge more easily. It can actually be harder to blend on these pages too.

So, for beginners using free pdf print outs on standard gsm printer paper, or thinner quality colouring books, I actually recommend using a bullet tip and/or cheaper markers like Kmart which aren’t as juicy, to avoid bleeding and colour run.

Final Verdict

Choose Kmart Anko Alcohol Markers if your priority is keeping costs low and you’ll be using thinner paper.

Choose Ohuhu Alcohol Markers if you are going to continue colouring for awhile, want better blending, more colours, and a smoother colouring experience.