Abstract: A line marking machine having a carriage which an operator can push along a road or parking-lot surface. The carriage supports a hopper containing marking fluid. A discharge opening in the hopper is fitted with a gate which is actuated by a mechanism controlled by the operator. Near the discharge opening, the hopper has parallel lower edge portions which determine the width of the line applied to a surface. The thickness of the line is determined by the opening angle of the gate which controls the discharge rate of the fluid and also by the speed of advancement of the carriage.