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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.