The Best Paper Notebooks and Journals, Tested and Reviewed (2026): Leuchttherm, Midori, Field Notes | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Office ChairsBone Conduction HeadphonesBest Digital NotebooksBest Motorola PhonesTCL DealDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InScott GilbertsonGearJan 23, 2026 9:00 AMThe Best Paper Notebooks and JournalsCelebrate National Handwriting Day (I did not make that up) with new notebooks, a journal, or sketchbooks.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleThe Best Hardcover NotebookLeuchtturm1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5Read more$26 AmazonBest Bullet JournalSeQeS Bullet Dotted A5 JournalRead more$25 AmazonBest All-in-One NotebookTraveler's Company Traveler's NotebookRead more$60 Traveler's CompanyThe Best Pocket NotebookField Notes Original Kraft (3-Pack)Read more$13 AmazonNo technology, aside from fire, has stood the test of time as well as a nice pen paired with a good paper notebook or journal. Putting pen to paper is infinitely more satisfying than hammering keys or tapping screens. The physical act of writing can be therapeutic or personally enlightening, and it might even help you remember things.Like any technology that's this old, there’s a dizzying selection of notebooks to choose from. Spiral-bound, perfect bound, softcover, hardcover, pocket notebooks, bullet journals, daily journals—the list goes on. Then there's paper. Do you want Tomoe River paper? Clairefontaine paper? 100 gsm paper? 120 gsm? 80 gsm? Lined? Dot grid? Blank? It can be overwhelming. To help you out, we've waded through the morass of details and spent two years testing notebooks of all types to come up with the best options for all kinds of writers, journalers, sketchbook lovers, and diarists.Looking for more analog greatness? Use your hands and make real things. Get started by checking out our guides to the Best Paper Planners, Best Family Board Games, Getting Started in Analog Photography, and the Best Instant Cameras.Updated January 2026: We've changed a couple of picks, adding the Hobonochi Techo as the best planner, and a book about notebooks that notebook nerds will love. We've also started recommending against Moleskine notebooks, and updated prices and links throughout.The Best Hardcover NotebookPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonLeuchtturm1917Notebook Hardcover Medium A5$26 Amazon$24.50 Leuchtturm1917The Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebooks are the best hardcover notebook we've tested. They're durable and have high-quality, 80-gsm paper that works well with just about every pen I tested on them. (If you love heavy-nib fountain pens, see the alt pick below.) The A5 size measures 5.75 inches by 8.25 inches (145 x 210 millimeters), which is generally considered the “average” size notebook, though Leuchtturm1917 makes other sizes. I've used these notebooks as journals, sketchbooks, to-do list keepers, planners, and more. They're not necessarily the best at all these things, but they'll get the job done, and they make a great gift. (This is also editor Adrienne So's notebook of choice.)There are 251 pages in the A5 size notebook, and Leuchtturm1917 has thought of all the extras here, including numbered pages, a table of contents page, two page-marker ribbons, a pocket in the back, and an elastic closure band that has held up remarkably well, still keeping some of my Leuchtturm1917's closed tight after three years of use. They're also available in a huge rainbow of colors, which makes it easy to keep your notebooks straight at a glance.Alternatives:Leuchtturm1917 120 GSM Paper for $30: I have also used the 120-gsm paper version of Leuchtturm1917’s A5 medium notebook. I recommend this heavier-weight paper if you like heavy ink pens, fountain pens, or permanent markers. It's marginally more expensive, and there are only 203 pages, but it's otherwise identical and a great notebook.Best Bullet JournalPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonSeQeSBullet Dotted A5 Journal$25 AmazonIf you're dedicated to the Bullet Journal method, you'll know that just about any notebook will work. But if you want to elevate your writing experience a bit, especially if you're planning to do a lot of ink-heavy art, this is my top pick.You don't have to use the SeQes as a bullet journal, but the heavy paper is a plus if you like decorating your journal with the artistic, heavy ink art that bullet journalers seem to favor. The paper is white and 160 gsm, which is very sturdy, almost like card stock. This is the one notebook for which I could not get any bleed-through until I turned to Copic markers, but that isn't really fair, as they're closer to watercolor than pen ink.SeQes notebooks are identical in size to the Leuchtturm1917 (A5), but the heavier paper means there are only 160 pages compared to the Leuchtturm1917's 251. It has the same dual marker design, a table of contents page in the front, and little storage envelope in the back. One nice extra I've come to appreciate is the included yearlong calendar insert. You also get a little etched ruler and some bullet-journal-oriented stickers.Best All-in-One NotebookPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonTraveler's CompanyTraveler's Notebook$60 Traveler's CompanyThe Traveler's Notebook has been my primary notebook for over five years now. Aside from testing things for this guide, it is the only notebook I carry. It was originally released by the Japanese stationary company Midori but proved so popular it has become a separate company. This leather-bound Traveller's Notebook is really just that—a leather binding which you can fill with whatever notebook (or notebooks) you want. For example I use the process described here to keep three notebooks within the covers on my traveler's notebook. I have one dot-grid notebook for planning, one plain notebook as my journal, and one heavier paper notebook for sketching and Copic markers. There are other specialized notebooks available (here's a monthly diary and daily planner), as well as inserts to hold business cards and more. Plenty of third-party sellers on Amazon and Etsy offer all sorts of inserts, which may or may not fit.As you would expect from a company spun out of Midori, all the paper is fantastic, though not great for fountain pens. I also like that there are replacement bands and closure loops, since closure loops always stretch out. At least with the Traveler's Notebook, you can replace the worn-out loops.If there's a drawback here, it's the slightly odd size. The full-size Traveler's Notebook is 8.7 by 4.9 inches, which is slightly narrower than A5. It's a little different, but I've grown to love it. There's also a “passport” size at 5.3 by 3.9 inches. Note that there are many imitators. I would avoid the cheap Amazon knockoffs, but there are plenty of people on Etsy and elsewhere making very nice notebooks, often in different sizes. I love my A5 Falcon Traveler's Notebook (€64), which wasn't cheap, took ages to ship (it's handmade), but is a work of art.The Best Pocket NotebookPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonField NotesOriginal Kraft (3-Pack)$13 Amazon$13 Field NotesI have had a Field Notes kraft notebook in my pocket pretty much since the brand launched in 2006. (Coudal Partners, a marketing firm that was at the time doing innovative web design work, is a partner in Field Notes and ensured that web developers like myself heard about Field Notes very early on.) Field Notes draw their note-taking inspiration from the tiny pocket notebooks farmers used to use to track crops. At 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches and only 48 pages long, these soft-cover notebooks fit in just about any pocket (no need to bring back cargo pants) and are my always-on-me notebook for jotting down, well, anything I need to write down. I also use them to track my to-do list, my finances, and my work.Field Notes paper is high-quality and smudge-proof, even writing in pencil as I do most of the time. Almost always available in a pack of three, Field Notes come in an astonishing range of colors and themes that enthusiasts love to collect. One note of caution: The covers tend to fall off with heavy use. But then I abuse mine, pulling them out and shoving them back in my pocket many times a day. I've taken to reinforcing the inside of each cover with a piece of gaffers tape. I also don't archive them. I changed my mind. I stopped using index cards and went all in on Field Notes, so now I do keep them.There are many Field Notes holders, including this nice leather cover ($90) from Field Notes. I keep mine in this wax canvas holder ($15), which does double duty as my wallet. Alas, it seem to be no longer made, though the purple is still available. Field Notes does make some heavier-duty notebooks, including a weatherproof version, which looks considerably more durable, but I have not tested it.Best Paper for Gel-Ink PensPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonQuo VadisHabana Blank Journal$31 AmazonThe Quo Vadis Habana was my go-to notebook for years and is where I've written the most words. It's what a Moleskine should be. At 6.25 by 9.25 inches, it's larger than a Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 (A5), but not by much. The cover is hard but not as stiff as a Leuchtturm1917; it has a bit of give that I happen to like, though that makes it more difficult to write in your lap.The Clairefontaine paper is a gorgeous, warm white color (not yellow, though). I have not been able to find an official paper weight, but I would guess around 80 to 100 gsm. I did not have any issues with bleed, though ballpoint sometimes comes through with a Braille-like ridge (if you press too hard, which I tend to do). The paper is very smooth, and writing on it with a gel or similarly smooth ink feels very fluid and, well, good. It's still my favorite paper for writing with a nice gel-ink pen.The main reason this isn't my top pick is that at 80 pages for $25, it is one of the most expensive notebooks in this guide. The larger paper size means you get more room on each page, but not that much. It also tends to go in and out of stock so if it's sold out, fear not, it'll be back. If you don't mind splurging, this is a great notebook.The Best Lay-Flat NotebookPhotograph: Scott GilbertsonMooHardcover Notebook$24 MooMoo is probably best known for its business cards (we also like them for printing postcards), but the company also makes this unique hardcover, lay-flat notebook, which was popular with our left-handed testers. The notebook has 160 pages and is available in lined or dotted white, non-glare 100-gsm paper (Swedish Munken Kristall paper). The lines and the dots have a 6-mm spacing. The paper works well with most pens, even fountain pens, though if you favor very heavy nibs you may get some bleed.There are some nice little touches here. For example, the first page is heavy card stock, so that minute you turn it, you have a nice writing surface for the left side of the page. In the middle of the notebook is a layer of heavier, darker colored pages—a bit like a photo insert in printed book. These pages are great for sketching or just acting as a divider, or you can just keep on writing through them. There are no page numbers, but there are little circles at the bottom of the page that you can use for page numbers or other notation. My only real gripe is that there's no elastic closure. Otherwise, this is one of my favorite notebooks.The Best Daily Planner and JournalPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of AmazonChevronChevronHobonichiTecho and Techo Cousin$41 Amazon (Techo, Soft Cover)$47 Amazon (Techo, Faux Leather Cover)$65 Amazon (Techo Cousin, Soft Cover)We have an entire guide to paper planners, which I do not write because in the end, I just use a regular notebook (mostly the Field Notes above). That said, the Hobonichi planner makes me wish I had a use for a planner. (My days are just not that complex. Everything starts with “Write ____.”) The Hobonichis come in two sizes: the A6 Techo (5.8 x 4.1 inches) and the A5 Cousin (8.3 x 5.8 inches). Only the former is available in English, though the Japanese version will work fine, even if you can't read the quotes sprinkled throughout. I have the smaller Techo, which contains over 365 pages of high-quality, Tomoe River paper. If you're a fountain pen user, this is excellent paper, something of a rarity in the planner market.Hobonichis are more than a planner, though, so I keep one around. I asked editor Adrienne So why she has used one for five years. Each day is dedicated to a single page. So plots out her hourly schedule on the y-axis; boxes out a grid with a checklist for non-work-related tasks at the top; and uses the tiny meal-planning section at the bottom to remind herself what to pack her kids for lunch. The grid pattern is infinitely flexible for wherever your day takes you. It lies perfectly flat open on a desk. The paper takes gel ink nicely. The inspirational quotes are often hilarious, and they look lovely lined up on your bookshelf when the year is over, like a very tiny bound set of doctoral theses. Check out the now defunct but still fun Tumblr, Hobonichi Love, by the woman who translated the Techo to English.The Best Book About NotebooksThe Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper$20 $14 (30% off) AmazonWant to go meta? Roland Allen's The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper is the best book on the history of the notebook as a writing tool. It might be the only history of the notebook, but it's still a great book and fascinating exploration of how notebooks have contributed to, and shaped cultural development over the last 1,000 or so years.Allen digs into famous notebooks, like those of Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Samuel Pepys, and Charles Darwin, as well as others you've never heard of, like the diaries of fishmongers, sailors, merchants, mathematicians, and loads more who used their notebooks to record the world around them and offer us a glimpse of life in the past. It'll make you want to write in a notebook. Highly recommended.Best Digital NotebookPhotograph: Nena FarrellVideo: Nena FarrellChevronChevronreMarkablePaper Pro$679 Amazon (Marker Plus Bundle)$630 reMarkableEw, what is digital notebook doing here? Just kidding. If you love paper, but want a digital notebook too, we've got a whole guide to Best Digital Notebooks and Smart Pens. Our favorite is the reMarkable Paper Pro. The matte screen feels like paper, or at least as close as a screen is likely to get. It's quick and responsive, and the battery life is excellent, regularly lasting for several weeks on a charge. There is also a keyboard folio ($229) if you want to type your notes in addition to writing.Once you've made your notes, you can organize them into notebooks and sort them with tags and folders. The reMarkable 2 can also function as an ereader. You can upload PDFs and ebooks to it via the company's app or website, and reMarkable has a Chrome extension that lets you send any webpage to read on the tablet. You can also integrate your notes into Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. You may need a Connect subscription ($3 per month) to access syncing and unlimited cloud storage.Notebooks to AvoidMoleskine Classic Notebook: It pains me to do this, because they were my favorite notebook years ago. But I can't recommend the Moleskine anymore. The paper quality has gone terribly downhill, especially at this price. In my testing, there was tons of bleed-through, and writing with a ballpoint pen made the backside feel like Braille. This was my first real notebook in college, and I've got dozens filled on my shelves, but the quality is not what it used to be. All of the notebooks above are better.What to Look For in a NotebookAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronIs there such a thing as the best notebook? Probably not. Notebooks are not a one-size-fits-all commodity. If none of these quite tilt your pen, here are some general things to look for in a paper notebook.Paper quality: High-quality paper will improve your writing experience. That said, what constitutes high-quality paper depends a lot on your writing device. For example, heavy ink pens, like fountain pens, will require thicker paper to avoid ghosting (when the ink soaks through), while coarser paper might be better for sketching with a soft pencil. (Much of this depends on personal preference too.) If you’re mainly jotting notes with a ballpoint pen, pretty much any paper will work.Size and shape: For writing, I like vertically oriented notebooks, roughly A5 shape, but for sketching and watercolors I prefer landscape-oriented notebooks. I know people who like the exact opposite. You'll have to find out what shape you like, but once you do you can narrow the field considerably. Also keep in mind that if you're carrying a notebook around all day, weight matters. Everyone has their own sweet spot between page count, weight, and size. You'll have to experiment to find what works for you.Binding style: This might seem obscure, but how a notebook lies when it is open is very important, and how a notebook lies is largely determined by the binding. For example, some people (especially left-handed writers) love lay-flat notebooks because they lie totally flat, making them easier to write in. Other people like spiral binding because you can fold the entire notebook in half, and it's easy to tear out pages. Perfect-bound notebooks (the most common binding, think Moleskine) are much more sturdy than spiral bound but don't lie flat, and it's hard to tear out pages.Page ruling: There are four common types of ruling: lined, dotted, grid, and none. The ruling is mostly a matter of taste, though I find dot grid essential for some project planning, especially anything involving measurements (like woodworking projects, for instance), so I always have a dot-grid notebook around. Dot grid is also a popular choice for keeping a bullet journal.Reusability: I've come to think of notebooks as two parts: the cover and the pages. Notebooks with hard covers, like the Leuchtturm1917, combine both in a single package, where softcover notebooks, like Field Notes or Moleskine Cahier notebooks, lend themselves to being slipped into an additional cover. What I like about keeping the two things separate is that my notebook always looks the same. The leather cover never changes, I just keep inserting new notebooks inside. There are covers for Leuchtturm notebooks, so you can do both if you want, but I find this makes the notebooks rather heavy.How We TestedAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronThe first thing to consider is the paper. Paper ranges from the very heavy and smooth to light but ragged and everything in between. Every notebook we tested seemed different. Even the same weight of paper made by two different production companies can be different. The only real way to know what the paper is like, how much feathering you're going to get (when ink bleeds out from the edges, making blurry lines), is to put pen to paper, which is what we did. Many pens to many papers.We studied the feathering, watched for ghosting (where the writing is visible from the other side of the page) and, gods forbid, bleeding (where ink actually soaks through to the next sheet). The texture of the paper is also important if you're sketching. Artists refer to this as the toothiness of the paper. The more tooth, the more the paper will hold your charcoal when sketching.We took notes, doodled scribbles during boring meetings, brainstormed, made plans, even attempted to bullet-journal (sorry, didn't take). We used gel pens, highlighters, fountain pens, ball point pens, micron pens, Copic markers, oil pastels, water colors, charcoal, soft graphite pencils, hard graphite pencils, the best mechanical pencil, erasers, and even white-out for thoroughness. But don't use white-out. Seriously.We also enlisted some lefties to learn how various notebooks smudged and how comfortable they were for the left-handed among us. The result of all this testing was a cloud of notebook chaos, which we distilled down to these picks and which we believe are the best of each of our use cases. That said, if you think we missed something, drop your favorite in the comments below and we'll check it out for future updates to this guide.CommentsBack to topTriangleScott Gilbertson is Operations Manager for the WIRED Reviews Team. He was previously a writer and editor for WIRED’s Webmonkey.com, covering the independent web and early internet culture. You can reach him at luxagraf.net. ... Read MoreSenior Writer and ReviewerXTopicsShoppingPaperproductivitybuying guidesRead MoreThe Best Blenders for Smoothies, Soups, and SaucesThe perfect kitchen companions, these versatile blenders can whip up breakfasts, dips, milkshakes, cocktails, and everything in between.The Best Cat Water Fountains for Pampered PetsEnsuring your cat is drinking enough water is one of the best ways to keep your pet healthy. 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The Best Paper Notebooks and Journals, Tested and Reviewed (2026)

For over a millennium, the simple act of putting pen to paper has remained a cornerstone of human thought, creativity, and memory. While technology has evolved dramatically, the enduring appeal of a well-crafted notebook or journal persists. There’s something profoundly satisfying about the tactile sensation of writing, a process that fosters focus and allows for unfiltered expression. As such, the market for paper notebooks and journals is surprisingly diverse, ranging from high-end, artist-focused options to everyday planners. To help you navigate this landscape, we’ve spent two years rigorously testing a wide array of notebooks, evaluating them on criteria such as paper quality, durability, binding style, and overall functionality. The result is this curated selection, designed to meet the needs of writers, artists, daily diarists, and anyone who appreciates the tangible pleasure of analog creation.

**The Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5** – $26 Amazon

If you’re seeking a truly exceptional hardcover notebook, the Leuchtturm1917 is our top pick. These journals are renowned for their exceptional quality and versatility. The A5 size (5.75 x 8.25 inches) is a popular, universally-accepted choice. The 80-gsm paper is incredibly smooth, allowing for effortless writing with almost any pen—though it truly shines with fountain pens. The notebooks are thoughtfully designed with numbered pages and a helpful table of contents page. Moreover, their robust elastic closure band has stood the test of time, holding closed after three years of regular use. At a price of $26, they represent a significant investment but one that’s justified by their enduring quality and functionality. The fact that editor Adrienne So personally uses these is a testament to their reliability.

**Alternative: Leuchtturm1917 120 GSM Paper** – $30

For artists and those who regularly use heavy-ink pens or markers, the Leuchtturm1917’s 120-gsm paper is a worthy upgrade. This heavier-weight paper mitigates feathering and bleed-through, providing a superior writing experience, especially when working with darker inks. While it's slightly more expensive at $30, the benefit is obvious for those who use richer colors.

**The SeQeS Bullet Dotted A5 Journal** – $25 Amazon

If you’re a dedicated user of the bullet journal method, the SeQeS A5 Journal is an excellent choice. Its heavier-weight 160-gsm paper is robust enough to withstand frequent sketching and heavy marker usage. The dotted grid enhances the bullet journal’s design flexibility, while the paper’s texture still allows for writing with any pen. The fact that it's the same size as the Leuchtturm1917 is convenient. It also has a dual marker design.

**The Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook** – $60 Traveler’s Company

The Traveler’s Notebook stands apart due to its unparalleled adaptability. Born of Japanese innovation, this leather-bound system allows you to use customized inserts—notebooks, diaries, planners, and more—within the same cover. The flagship full-size ($60) is 8.7 x 5.8 inches, and a smaller Falcon size is also available. The quality paper makes it an ideal notebook for sketching, writing, and working with a range of media. Although it’s slightly expensive, the system’s versatility elevates it above conventional notebooks.

**The Field Notes Original Kraft (3-Pack)** – $13 Amazon

For daily note-taking, the Field Notes Original Kraft are an exceptional value. These compact, pocket-sized notebooks (3.5 x 5.5 inches) offer durable, smudge-proof Kraft paper, a familiar favorite for over a decade. They're remarkably lightweight and affordable, making them a practical choice for on-the-go use. It’s a habit for many avid note-takers (including myself) to always keep a Field Notes with us.

**The Moo Hardcover Notebook** – $24 Moo

Designed for visual artists, the Moo Hardcover Notebook is a standout. Its lie-flat binding is especially useful when sketching. The paper is premium, non-glare 100-gsm paper, and features a heavier, darker layer of paper in the middle. It’s perfect for watercolor, as well as graphite pencils and other media.

**The Quo Vadis Habana Blank Journal** – $31 Amazon

Considered by several of our reviewers to be a Moleskine replacement, this notebook is a solid, highly-rated choice. Its premium paper makes everything from ballpoint pens to watercolor pencils work flawlessly. The 6.25 by 9.25-inch size is larger than a Moleskine, but more appealing to many, and its quality paper ensures a smooth writing experience.

**The Hobonichi Techo and Cousin** - $20-$65 Amazon

Developed in conjunction with the Japanese stationery company, the Hobonichi Techo is a remarkable and incredibly complex daily planner. The relatively simple design belies its capacity for complex thought tracking, and is perfect for those seeking productivity. It’s a very popular choice for left-handed note takers, as well.

The best paper notebook isn’t simply about the paper. It’s about finding the optimal tool to realize your creative or professional potential. We’ve carefully vetted a range of options for you to discover the one that best fits your needs.