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Ranking Dry Erase Boards

Dry erase boards are an invaluable communication tool for classrooms and offices. Often referred to as whiteboards due to their color, these boards were originally made of enameled steel and came with a hefty price tag. As dry erase boards grew in popularity, less expensive laminate versions were introduced to the market. While steel and laminate-based boards are still top sellers, melamine and tempered glass boards are becoming more common.

When shopping for a new dry erase board it's important to consider how often you will be using it. If you plan to write and erase daily, a more durable option such as porcelain-on-steel is recommended. Melamine is an acceptable choice for light use.

You should also consider how long you'll need your investment to last. While heavy-duty materials like glass and porcelain have a higher up-front cost, they're more durable and often come with better warranties.

It's smart to know the pros and cons of each material before choosing a whiteboard:

Melamine

Melamine is a hard plastic that's often bonded to MDF or plywood. It's one of the most inexpensive dry erase surfaces and performs best in light-use settings.

Pros
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Prone to ghosting
  • Prone to warping

High-Pressure Laminate

High-pressure laminate is made of resin and cellulose layers bonded under heat and pressure. This budget-friendly material makes a smooth writing surface that holds up well if routinely cleaned.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Offers more stain resistance than melamine
Cons
  • Can yellow over time if exposed to UV light
  • Not scratch resistant

Painted Steel

Painted steel boards offer the best compromise of price and value. These durable powder-coated whiteboards are easy to write on and erase cleanly.

Pros
  • Good value
  • Stain resistant
  • Magnetic
Cons
  • Prone to scratching

Porcelain-on-Steel

Porcelain-on-steel whiteboards have a baked enamel surface that's glossy and extremely durable. This nonporous material withstands years of heavy use in educational environments.

Pros
  • Stain resistant
  • Scratch resistant
  • Nonporous
  • Easy to clean
  • Magnetic
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Limited sizes
  • Not suited for projection

Tempered Glass

Newer to the dry erase board market, tempered glass boards are incredibly durable and available in a variety of colors. They're a great choice for higher ed classrooms and conference rooms.

Pros
  • Scratch resistant
  • Stain resistant
  • Nonporous
  • Easy to clean
  • Available in several colors
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Difficult to ship
  • Not suited for projection
Material Description Pros Cons Price ($-$$$$)
Melamine Melamine is a hard plastic that's often bonded to MDF or plywood. It's one of the most inexpensive dry erase surfaces and performs best in light-use settings. Inexpensive Prone to ghosting
Prone to warping
$
High-Pressure Laminate High-pressure laminate is made of resin and cellulose layers bonded under heat and pressure. This budget-friendly material makes a smooth writing surface that holds up well if routinely cleaned. Affordable
Offers more stain resistance than melamine
Prone to scratching
Can yellow over time if exposed to UV light
$
Painted Steel Painted steel boards offer the best compromise of price and value. These durable powder-coated whiteboards are easy to write on and erase cleanly. Good value
Stain resistant
Magnetic
Prone to scratching $$$
Porcelain-on-Steel Porcelain-on-steel whiteboards have a baked enamel surface that's glossy and extremely durable. This nonporous material withstands years of heavy use in educational environments. Stain resistant
Scratch resistant
Nonporous
Easy to clean
Magnetic
Expensive
Limited sizes
Not suited for projection
$$$$
Tempered Glass Newer to the dry erase board market, tempered glass boards are incredibly durable and available in a variety of colors. They're a great choice for higher ed classrooms and conference rooms. Stain resistant
Scratch resistant
Nonporous
Easy to clean
Available in several colors
Expensive
Difficult to ship
Not suited for projection
$$$$$