The Best Notebooks for Note-Taking, Journaling, Drawing, and More

Those who live in North America are probably familiar with notebooks and notepads that are Letter size, or 8.5 x 11 inches. Outside of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, internationally standardized paper sizes like A4, B5, and A5 are used. If these sound confusing, don’t worry! Our Paper Sizes Explained guide goes over how international paper sizes are defined and how they compare to Letter size. Basically, smaller numbers mean that the paper is larger. For example, an A4 notebook is larger than an A5 one.

Notebooks are available in a huge range of sizes. Consider if your notebook will be used solely at home or while you’re out and about. A smaller notebook is portable but has less space for writing.

The most common sheet styles found in notebooks are blank, dot grid, graph, and lined. Blank paper offers the most freedom for drawing or brainstorming. Dot grid and graph paper have guidelines for note-taking or drawing tables. Lined paper is ideal for everyday writing and journaling.

A notebook’s line spacing and your handwriting style can affect how much writing you will fit on the page. We recommend starting with 7 mm, which is just slightly off from 7.1 mm medium (or college) rule.

Some notebooks have sheet styles for specific needs like logging addresses, tracking goals in calendars, and even composing with music staves.

Showthrough (also known as ghosting) is an effect where ink can be seen through the page. While we don’t consider it to be a dealbreaker, it can be distracting to some writers. If you find it difficult to use the backside of a paper that exhibits showthrough, consider using a notebook with thicker paper instead.

Bleedthrough occurs when ink soaks through the paper to the other side. This happens when a paper is too absorbent, too thin, or if you linger in one spot with an inky pen. In some cases, bleedthrough can even leave a mark on the page behind it!

Paper weight determines a paper’s thickness and is measured in pounds (lbs) or grams per square inch (gsm). A higher paper weight doesn’t automatically mean it’s “better” or less likely to exhibit feathering or bleedthrough. In fact, there are some thin papers, like Tomoe River S, that are treated to prevent these things from happening.

Paper weight affects how many sheets can be combined into a notebook. Thinner paper allows for notebooks to have more pages, though it may increase the likelihood of showthrough.

Typically, notebooks are bound using glue, staple, thread, twin rings, and sometimes a combination like thread and glue. Binding determines how flat a notebook will lay and its durability. JetPens team members especially love thread-bound notebooks because they lay flat easily, won’t catch on items in a backpack, and are archival safe.

Some Japanese notebooks have innovative binding methods meant to ease problems you didn’t even know you had, like soft rings you can rest your wrist on.

Notebooks with opening rings allow for pages to be refilled or rearranged. Also called binder notebooks, they maintain slim profiles that slip into a backpack. The paper inside these notebooks can also feature multiple holes, making tears less likely.

Some notebooks are actually notebook covers that you can refill. These usually have elastic bands that you can slip a notebook into.

As you write across the page of a notebook, you may feel a paper’s texture, also called “tooth,” through the writing instrument’s tip. A toothier paper can feel unpleasant with a fine-tipped fountain pen yet offer more control with a pencil. On the other hand, smooth paper lets a wet pen glide over its surface, but may feel frustratingly slippery with graphite.

For all writers, we recommend starting with papers that are partially coated for smooth writing experiences and reasonable dry times. Fountain pen users can branch out as they become more familiar with how toothy or smooth they prefer their paper.

Notebook covers are made from all kinds of materials such as thick cardstock, hard chipboard, flexible plastic, and luxurious leatherette and leather. Whether you want to keep a low profile with a sleek black notebook or want to show off some personality with an aesthetic notebook, you’re sure to find something that’s suitable to your taste.

The Kokuyo Campus Notebook is the best notebook for school. It has a unique dotted rule sheet style that combines dot grid with lines. This helps you draw neat diagrams and keeps bulleted notes tidy. Each page also has headers for subjects and dates. Kokuyo Campus paper is great for pairing with any writing instrument, from graphite pencils to fountain pens, and is resistant to bleedthrough.

We especially love Kokuyo Campus Soft Ring Notebooks. Their squishy, plastic rings flatten when you rest your hand on them, making them comfortable for both right- and left-handed students.

An affordable and practical Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebook works well for note-taking, both in and out of school. Available in all four common sheet styles, this sturdy notebook has a spiral binding that makes it easy to flip through pages. Each sheet is perforated for handing in assignments, too. The chipboard covers resist denting and rounded edges prevent crumpled page corners.

The Spiral Note comes in two sizes: a larger B5 and a more compact A5.

Whether you’re a hybrid worker or taking online classes, a horizontal notebook like the Kokuyo Campus Half Size Notebook tucks neatly in front of or under a keyboard. It features the same dotted rule sheet style that’s found in other Kokuyo Campus Notebooks, so notes stay tidy. Choose from 6 mm or 7 mm line spacing depending on your handwriting style.

The Stalogy 365Days Notebook is a minimalist undated planner that’s perfect for those who want to organize tasks and notes on the same page. Its graph sheet style, timelines, and headers are printed in a light gray that can be ignored if you don’t want to use them. If you don’t need that much structure to plan, Stalogy also makes blank and dot grid 365Days Notebooks that exclude the timelines and headers.

As its name suggests, the Stalogy 365Days has enough pages for a full year’s worth of planning. For a more portable planner, the Stalogy 1/2 Year Notebook has about half the pages and uses the same format.

Record memories and de-stress by journaling in the refined Life Noble Notebook. The smooth, acid-free ivory paper inside handles showthrough well. But what sets this notebook apart is its cover: it feels like you’re writing in a vintage notebook that you can look back on for years to come. Additionally, the Life Noble lays flat to keep long writing sessions comfortable.

Our very own JetPens Kanso Noto Notebook was designed to be an everyday carry companion for all kinds of writers, but especially fountain pen users. It’s filled with Tomoe River S paper, which is known for being smooth, almost as thin as tracing paper, and highly resistant to feathering and bleedthrough.

Because Tomoe River S paper is so thin, there’s a good amount of showthrough that may stop you from using the back side of the page. However, we think it’s a good trade off to showcase inks at their fullest potential.

A black notebook like the Rhodia Webnotebook belongs in every stationery collection. Rhodia’s Premium “R” paper is beloved by writers and artists alike, with an ivory hue that’s easy on the eyes. At 90 gsm, it’s super thick, velvety to the touch, and compatible with all writing instruments. Inkier pens may take longer to dry, so pick up blotting paper to cut down on dry times.

The Rhodia Webnotebook comes in blank, dot grid, and lined sheet style for sketching, planning, journaling, or anything else you can think of. Plus, it’s available in three sizes: A5 Portrait, A5 Landscape, and Pocket.

The TRAVELER’S COMPANY TRAVELER’S notebook was designed for jetsetters traveling the globe and journalers who visit local cafes alike. Each Starter Kit includes a genuine leather cover that’ll develop a beautiful, unique patina over time, and a blank refill notebook.

The TRAVELER’S notebook is endlessly customizable. There’s plenty of refills and accessories to choose from, such as planners for keeping track of itineraries and connecting bands to hold two or three refills in one cover. The refills use Midori MD paper and are compatible with all kinds of writing instruments.

Choose from the taller Regular size and or pocket-friendly Passport size, either of which fits well in a bag or purse. To learn more about this elegant modular system, read our guide.

Thanks to its extra thick paper, the Leuchtturm1917 120 gsm Edition Notebook can be paired with your favorite drawing tools. Fountain pens, markers, and brush pens won’t show through the page.

The JetPens team recommends the blank version for drawing. Since there’s no showthrough, you can use both sides of the sheet without seeing your illustrations on the previous page. The 120 gsm Edition Notebook is also available in dot grid and lined sheet styles for journalers who appreciate thick paper, too.

The one downside is that the notebook is thick and heavy, weighing in at just over a pound. It’s better to keep it at your desk rather than lugging it around in a backpack.

Like all Leuchtturm1917 Notebooks, this notebook comes with extras like an index page, elastic band closure, page markers, and expandable pocket folder.

To keep track of ideas and observations, engineers can use the Maruman Mnemosyne Notebook. It’s available in a variety of common sheet styles as well as a format with small boxes for checking off items. All the notebooks have headers for extra organization.

Maruman Mnemosyne paper is super smooth, with quick dry times for fountain pen inks.If you need to hand in your work, microperforations will make removing sheets painless. The sleek and understated design of the cover also makes this notebook an excellent choice for the workplace.

Our comprehensive guide details all the Maruman Mnemosyne notebooks and notepads available.

A refillable notebook like the Lihit Lab Pastello Twist Ring Notebook is great for writers who want to be able to reuse items as much as possible. Its opening rings allow you to add, remove, and reorganize sheets as needed. There’s no need to buy another notebook—unless you need one in every size!

Each page in this notebook is labeled with opening instructions. Simply pull on opposite sides at the top and bottom of the rings to unhook them. Then add any refill of your choice, including monthly calendars for planning. To create your own filler paper, pick up a Lihit Lab Hole Punch.

For more eye-catching cover colors, the Lihit Lab Aqua Drops Twist Ring Notebook uses the same opening ring binding.