Crayola markers are non-toxic. Every Crayola marker product, including washable, permanent, and scented lines, carries the AP (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute, meaning an independent toxicologist has reviewed the full formula and confirmed it contains no known toxic substances in quantities that could harm the human body, even if ingested or inhaled.
What the AP Seal Actually Means
The AP seal isn’t a marketing label Crayola gives itself. It comes from the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which requires manufacturers to submit their complete product formulas to a board-certified toxicologist before a product can be manufactured and sold. That toxicologist evaluates whether any ingredient, at the concentration used, poses a risk of short-term or long-term health problems. Products that pass earn the AP seal, and formulas continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Crayola products also conform to ASTM D-4236, the federal labeling standard for art materials. Under this standard, any product containing ingredients that could cause chronic health effects must carry warning labels. Crayola markers carry none because the formulas don’t trigger those requirements.
What’s Actually in the Ink
Standard Crayola washable markers use water as their primary solvent, combined with food-grade or synthetic dyes and pigments to produce color. Some formulations may include small amounts of alcohol or other water-miscible solvents, but water is the preferred base. The colorants themselves are common in consumer products: the same types of acid dyes used include varieties also found in food coloring (like Yellow F.D.&C. #6). Pigment options range from titanium dioxide and iron oxide to carbon black, all widely used in everyday products from sunscreen to cosmetics.
Crayola’s safety data sheet for washable markers states the product “contains no substances which at their given concentration are considered to be hazardous to health” under federal OSHA hazard classification standards.
If a Child Swallows Marker Ink
This is the scenario most parents are actually worried about, and the risk is low. The Missouri Poison Center classifies marker ink exposure, including Crayola markers, as “low risk.” A child who chews on a marker tip or swallows some ink may experience minor stomach upset, mild nausea, or limited vomiting, but serious harm is unlikely.
That said, a child who has drawn extensively on their skin or gotten ink in their eyes doesn’t need to panic either. For skin contact, washing with soap and water is sufficient. For eye exposure, flushing with water for about 15 minutes should resolve any mild irritation. Emergency treatment is unlikely to be needed in either case.
Scented Markers and Fragrance Concerns
Crayola’s Silly Scents line adds synthetic fragrances to the standard marker formula, which understandably raises questions for parents. These scented markers carry the same AP non-toxic certification as the regular line. Safety data sheets for Silly Scents markers report no significant adverse effects for inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, or ingestion. The fragrance components are evaluated as part of the same toxicological review process that all Crayola products go through.
Washable vs. Permanent Markers
Crayola’s washable markers are water-based, which makes them easier to clean from skin and fabric and generally milder in composition. Permanent markers, whether from Crayola or other brands, typically use alcohol-based solvents that produce a stronger smell and more durable ink. Even so, Crayola states that all of its products across both categories are non-toxic and AP-certified. The difference between washable and permanent Crayola markers is more about cleanup than safety.
One practical note: the “non-toxic” certification applies specifically to products made for art and craft use by established brands like Crayola. Tattoo inks, printer ink cartridges, and fountain pen inks can contain additional ingredients with more potential for harm, so those exposures are a different situation entirely.