White Board Materials

A magnetic whiteboard refers to the surface of the whiteboard being magnetised, which in turn also allows you to stick magnetic items to it. While all the whiteboards from our top 10 have this feature as a prerequisite, they certainly aren't all made the same.
Whether wall-mounting, freestanding or as a magnetised sheet, the type you choose will speak volumes about its intended use. Wall-mounting boards, for example, are versatile for home, school or office use and come in a wide range of sizes. Look out for ones that include their fixtures for easier mounting.
Freestanding types are ideal for the office where a whiteboard may need to be wheeled from room to room to get the point across. Sheets can come with an adhesive backing or require a magnetised surface like a fridge – pick whichever suits you best and take size into account based on where you want to place it to keep the family organised and in check.

This is where the premium vs budget nature of whiteboards really comes into play as different surface materials denote different qualities and prices. The most readily available surface – and the one that is extremely cost-effective – is melamine, or plastic laminate. Melamine provides the all-important dry-wipe aspect, while some sort of thin metal backing makes the whiteboard magnetised.
Glass-fronted whiteboards offer a more refined look, being less purposed for kids and more intended for homes or offices where style is just as important as organisation. Alternatively, with an extremely durable finish, vitreous enamel steel is a premium choice, often having upwards of a 20-year surface guarantee.
Although not quite as important as the surface itself, the frame of a whiteboard is another good indicator of its longevity, as well as its looks. Whiteboards built to a certain standard usually feature aluminium frames owing to the material's hardwearing and durable nature. Plastic frames are fine for smaller whiteboards that don't have a lot of associated weight, but on a larger product, they'll break much sooner.
Much like picture frames, wooden board frames can bring a natural vibe to your space, looking less office-y and more homely. Of course, not all wooden frames are made equal, so be sure to cross-check prices to get a good idea of the build quality where wood is concerned.

It's always a nice touch when they do. Luckily, unlike a whiteboard's materials and structure, extras aren't known to hike up the price.
On the contrary, they're actually a common feature amongst the more budget- and child-friendly products where brands are looking to have an edge over their competition. Look out for dry wipe markers, erasers and magnets to help you hit the ground running with your whiteboard.

A stronghold of school whiteboards the world over, the pen tray has, and always will have, a place in the classroom. Ensuring that a tray is included will hopefully reduce the pen and eraser's chances of getting lost somewhere in the house or office.
For the most part, pen trays are separate pieces of the whiteboard puzzle that can be added and removed at will. This is a good one to look out for when you're searching for a whiteboard for younger children, as pen trays are known to pose a threat with their sharp edges often sitting at head height.
If there's a board that's perfect in every way except for its lack of a pen tray, then you have two options. One is to buy a tray separately and fit it yourself. The other – if these aren't included already – is to buy a set of magnetised whiteboard pens, which will allow them to be fixed to your board and kept to hand just the same.