Best Notebooks
Best Notebook for School
Best Notebook for Work
Best Notebook for Drawing
Best Bullet Journal
Best Notebook for Journaling
With the digital world on the rise, many tend to think that notebooks are a thing of the past. While tablets and laptops make it easy for digital note-taking, studies have shown that students who write their notes down, versus typing them, perform better on tests.
This same thought process can be applied to all industries. Jotting down notes in a meeting versus typing them can help you remember tasks or important information better. Writing down important dates in a physical planner will help you stay organized better than utilizing a phone app. Writing down thoughts and dreams is more cathartic than typing a journal entry.
There are so many uses and benefits of writing in a traditional notebook, as opposed to digital note keeping. When it comes to physical notebooks, there are many different aspects to consider.
Paper Size
This is really all personal preference, and depends on what you’ll be using the notebook for, how often you’ll need to carry it around and how much you’ll be putting in it.
The standard size of notebooks is usually U.S. letter size, or A4 – the ISO 216 international paper size standard. If you’re taking notes at school or work, this is the size you’ll most likely want to use. Slightly smaller is B5 – a not too big, not too small alternative to A4 notebooks, perfect for taking lengthy notes but not big enough to feel like a hassle to lug around. A5 notebooks are usually used for journaling or small sketchbooks, and A6 notebooks are considered “pocket sized” as they’re easy to carry around.
Sheet Style
Notebooks come in a number of different sheet styles, depending on your intended use.
The most common sheet styles are lined, graph and plain notebooks. Lined, the traditional style, is great for people using notebooks strictly for writing, whether it’s class notes, meeting info or journal entries. Artists, or just those who need space to think visually, prefer blank or plain notebooks, as they can draw, sketch or express their thoughts in whatever manner. Graph paper, on the other hand, is meant for people like engineers or designers who need the structure to create diagrams, sketches or mock-ups.
Recently, the dotted grid pattern has become increasingly popular as bullet journals have become more widely utilized. This style is incredibly versatile, and features dots to be used as guidelines as you’re writing, but still offering you the unobtrusive, open space to sketch or doodle as needed. Lastly, some notebooks offer pre-formatted sheet styles. This is usually found in planners or journals, and encourage people to utilize the pages in a particular way, like to-do lists, numbered lists or bullet points.
Line Spacing
The typical ruled paper style – considered medium college ruled paper – is 7 mm. This puts a 7 mm space between lines, which is enough space for traditional handwriting. Wide ruled paper, 8mm or larger, is usually used for those with larger handwriting, or children in school, especially when learning to write for the first time. On the other hand, narrow ruled paper, measured at 6 mm, is available for those who have very small handwriting. For graph paper, the standard size is 5 mm.
Best Notebook for School
When looking to buy notebooks for school, you’re going to want these Five Star spiral notebooks. Each notebook includes dividers for 5 different subjects, so you don’t have to lug around five separate notebooks for classes.
With 200 sheets of college-ruled paper, this notebook is perfect for keeping all of your classes organized, or just spreading out information by module or project. Separate content by projects, test reviews and class notes to help you learn and revise your material in an organized manner. Plus, the spiral-bound notebook makes it easy to write on the go, and includes Spiral Lock wire to prevent coil snags, so your book won’t get caught in your backpack or on your clothes like cheaper or flimsier spiral notebooks.
This notebook also features reinforced storage pockets within each divider to help you store loose sheets and papers you’d traditionally lose. Combined with the water-resistant cover and coated back cover, this notebook offers year-round durability and protection for your notes!
Best Notebook for Work
If you’re looking for a notebook that’s strictly for meeting notes and work to-do’s, then look no further! This Juvale calendar journal is designed specifically as a meeting planner, to take notes and reminders about special meetings or important tasks.
Each page features a slot for the date, time, note taker and objective of the meeting, as well as 30 numbered rows for different points and easy organization, and a blank “notes” section for open doodling or freehand bullet points as necessary.
With 160 pages of day-to-day calendar, this notebook is the perfect addition to your work stationery, especially when attending meetings or taking notes is a crucial part of your job description. The notebook features a sturdy double spiral bound design, to allow for easy opening and closing, and makes it easy to lay the notebook flat for better note-taking.
And, this notebook isn’t just about function! The cover is made of 350gsm ivory board and matte lamination with the text “meeting notebook” on it, so the book is both practical and beautiful!
Best Notebook for Drawing
If you’re looking for a blank notebook to let your drawing and sketches speak for themselves, you need this DSTELIN sketch notebook. Housed in a simple, unsuspecting brown cover, this sketchbook is an easy choice for those who want a blank notebook for drawing or sketching. Whether you’re an artist, a fashion designer, architect or just looking for somewhere to get your doodles out, this notebook is the perfect choice.
At 7.5 x 5.1 inches, the notebook is small enough to carry around with you, and the strong hard-cover will keep your artwork safe. Paired with a durable spiral binding, this notebook can be laid flat for easier drawing and sketching. Plus, the thick paper prevents ink from bleeding through the pages.
With 100 completely blank pages, there’s no limit to what you can use this notebook for, whether it’s for artwork, as a scrapbook or just as a free-ranged notebook for doodling and visual thinking.
Best Bullet Journal
With bullet journaling gaining popularity over the last few years, it can be hard to figure out what notebook is the best for bullet journaling with so many on the market. We’ve found it!
This hardcover notebook features 160 dotted pages to allow for easy bullet journaling. The dotted ruling type allows for writing guidelines, but still gives you the unobtrusive space for creative layouts and free-thinking doodles. With 100gsm ivory paper, this bullet journal is thicker than many others at the same price point, making it the best choice, and can be used with pencil, pens and markers!
Each journal includes a sturdy expandable inner pocket to hold loose items, a ribbon bookmark, a card holder and an elastic closure band to keep it all locked in and safe. Plus, unlike usual thread-bound notebooks, this notebook is designed to lay and open flat, making it easier for you to write and draw in your journal.
Housed in a water-resistant vegan leather cover with rounded corners, this notebook looks as good as it works, and at 5.7 x 8 inches, it’s small enough to carry around with you everywhere, making it ideal for an everyday bullet journal!
Best Notebook for Journaling
Whether you just want to let out your daily thoughts into a physical journal, or you’re following particular prompts for introspective thoughts or reflection, you’ll need a notebook that’s designed for writing. This Huhuhero notebook is perfect for that!
Designed with a classic black faux leather hardcover, this notebook is discreet enough to let out all of your inner thoughts. Filled with 128 pages of 120gsm thick lined paper, you can use most pen types – like ballpoint, brush, fineliner and even glitter pens – but you should avoid using alcohol-based markers. With pages that resist environmental damage, your contents will be safe for years and years to come, so you can show your grandkids all of your old notes!
At 8.25 x 5 inches, this notebook is easy to take with you everywhere, so there’s never a bad moment to let your thoughts out! Plus, the thread-bound notebook promises 180-degree lay-flat binding so that it’s easy to write in. Each notebook also includes an expandable pocket, a ribbon bookmark to keep your place and an elastic closure band to keep everything together.
FAQs about the best notebooks
You may have some questions when selecting the best notebooks for you. Refer to these common queries below:
What pens should I use with my notebook?
While this usually depends on what kind of notebook you’re using or what you’re using it for, you can never go wrong with fineliner pens. These are the least likely to bleed through any paper, and can be used for writing, doodling and sketching as needed.
We love these iBayam colored pens. They come in a set of 18 different colors so there’s always a pen for whatever you need, whether it’s color coordinating, sketching or highlighting notes in your class notebook, and at only $7.99, they’re a steal.
How do I know what kind of ruling type I need?
This all depends on what you’re using it for. If you’re looking for a book to use for sketching, you obviously won’t go with a ruled layout. If you’re using the notebook for journaling or taking notes, you likely won’t utilize a blank notebook with no structure. Identifying what you’ll be using the notebook for will help you figure out what type of notebook and rule you should look for and use.
How do I know what size notebook I need?
This one depends on how often you’ll be carrying the notebook around and how you’ll be carrying it. The larger the notebook, the harder it will be to carry it around on a day to day basis. Larger notebooks won’t typically fit in the average handbag, so if you’re looking for something that can fit into a purse, you’ll want something smaller. If your briefcase is already stuffed and can’t fit a thick notebook, you’ll want a small notebook. If you carry around a backpack with tons of space, you can justify using a larger notebook.
For the most part, choosing a smaller notebook is the safest bet for when you’ll be carrying it with you on a daily basis.