The best erasers of 2023

a rubber with shavings on a piece of paper
(Image credit: boschettophotography via Getty Images)

The best erasers, or rubbers, are extremely important for many creatives. Often, they're used to remove mistakes but for artists, they have extra uses as they can also be used to create highlights and special effects. You can use an electric eraser for this purpose, though a kneaded eraser will likely do the trick, especially as they can be shaped into a precise form.

The major types of erasers are gum erasers, these are best for delicate papers; kneaded erasers, which are best for erasing large spaces and creating highlights; eraser pencils – meant for removing fine details; vinyl erasers for removing ink marks; and rubber erasers, which are most often found on the tops of pencils

For this guide, we've scoured the internet and picked a range of the best erasers based on user reviews, as well as our knowledge of the type of erasers artists need. If you're stocking up your pencil case, you may also like our posts on the best pencil sharpeners and the best coloured pencils.

The best erasers available now

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

When were erasers invented?

Erasers, also known as rubbers, have been used in many forms for hundreds of years. In the past, people used bread, bits of rubber, wax, or even stone.

In 1770, a natural plant rubber was discovered by Edward Nairne, an English engineer. One day, when he picked up a piece of rubber, he discovered it could erase pencil markings.  He started selling erasers, (known as gum elastic or 'caoutchouc'). Unfortunately, these early erasers didn't last well. They crumbled when used, they were too sensitive to weather conditions and often picked up an unpleasant smell.

In 1839, inventor Charles Goodyear found the solution, a process he called 'vulcanization'. This made rubber more durable and made the eraser into a household name.

Based on his invention, we now have erasers of different types and shapes, each one meant to serve a particular purpose.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nathan Segal

Nathan has been working as a writer for the past 25 years, In that time, he's been published over 1,000 times in magazines all over the world and he's written twelve books. His greatest success was the Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4 Insider, which sold over 11,000 copies. He is currently working on licensing his works and there are several in process.