Paper Sizes Explained guide for more detailed information

You’ve probably seen lined or even blank notebooks, but there are many other styles out there that you can consider depending on your application.

Line Spacing
Most people use medium (college) ruled paper, which is 7 mm. Wide ruled (8 mm and up) paper is usually used in grade school or by people who have larger handwriting. People with very small handwriting can also use narrow ruled (6 mm) paper. For graph styles, the standard size is 5 mm. The less common 3 mm grid is also available for those who do very detailed work.

Binding
Notebooks are bound in several different ways, including glue, staple, thread, spiral, rings, or a combination of the above. The binding method determines how flat a notebook lays, how well it stays together, and generally how sturdy it is.

Paper Weight
Paper weight is expressed as grammage (grams per square meter) or pounds (in the States). Paper weight does not necessarily correlate to the quality of the paper. Some papers that have lower weights but are made for fountain pens, such as Tomoe River paper at 58 gsm, are very high quality. On the whole, heavier paper is thicker and more durable. They can withstand more robust erasing and have less showthrough. People who draw or who write on both sides of the paper should consider heavier paper.

Number of Sheets
Notebooks don’t just come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they also vary in the number of sheets within the notebook. Some people prefer thinner notebooks, while others need an encyclopedia-like notebook to chronicle their thoughts. If you want more pages without the extra weight, try finding paper with a lower weight. You’ll be amazed by how many more sheets you can carry!

Cover Material and Design
Notebook covers are made from all kinds of materials, including thick cardstock, hard cardboard, flexible plastic, and luxurious leatherette. If you tend to carry your notebook with you everywhere, you should choose a sturdier cover that can withstand a few knocks. Covers with rounded corners are also a good choice, since they won’t get worn down or accidentally folded. We like covers that multitask; for example, some covers have pockets that let you slip in business cards or other loose leaf paper.

Perforation
Whether you need to tear out homework to turn it in or just have to frame an awesome sketch, perforated notebooks make it easy to remove and share pages. Look for perforation with dots set closely together for that smooth, easy tear. Perforations that are not set close enough usually need you to fold or crease the paper to help them tear cleanly.

Refillable
Some manufacturers provide covers to protect their notebooks, making them refillable. After you finish one notebook, simply buy a refill and you can continue using the cover. This is great for people who keep their notebooks after they’re finished with it since the refills match, making them easier to stack and store.
For General Use
If you use notebooks to write down phone numbers, recipes, or other miscellaneous items, your needs are simple. A basic ruled notebook in a compact A5 size would be sufficient to keep your information organized. We like using Apica CD Notebooks for their simplicity and light weight. You can carry them around with you, and with their attractive, stylish covers, why wouldn’t you?

For Note-Taking
Students use notebooks for a variety of tasks, including taking notes during lectures, writing down assignments, doing homework, and more. We’re partial to a particular ruled style from Japan called dotted lines. The dots are evenly spaced so that when you’re simultaneously taking notes and making diagrams, you can use the dots as guidelines and keep your notes organized and easy to read. Kokuyo Campus Notebooks are perfect for students. They’re color-coded so you can have one for each class, and they feature the versatile dotted lines pattern.

For Journaling
Whether your journal is a chronicle of your life, a dream recorder, or a place for you to put your thoughts and feelings, our favorite part of keeping a journal is looking back at completed journals and seeing how we’ve changed over time. Refillable notebooks are great for this, since you can organize your old notebooks in a bookshelf somewhere and reuse the notebook cover. For a journal that is luxurious and functional, the Exacompta is our pick. It has a lovely leatherette cover that protects your journal and perforated edges to keep your place as you write.

For all you visual thinkers out there, we recommend completely blank pages, so your imagination can run wild. You never know where or when inspiration may strike, so having a notebook with a hard cover will help protect it as you carry it around. The Stillman & Birn Zeta Sketchbook has heavy paper with a smooth finish that works well with almost any media, including pencils and ink. For more detailed sketchbook recommendations, check out our Guide to Sketchbooks.

For Engineering and Design
For engineers, architects, and designers, we recommend using graph paper notebooks. You can present your work in a clean and clear fashion within the grid guidelines, and keep everything neat and to scale. Aptly named after the Greek goddess of memory, the Maruman Mneosyne Notebook features subtle light gray graph lines that will help your work stand out. Its flexible but sturdy cover, durable ring binding, and carefully perforated paper all speak to its high quality.

For Fountain Pen Users
Fountain pen users often struggle to find a paper that will prevent the much dreaded effects of feathering and bleed-through. Ideally, the paper will be dense, but smooth and silky, and not so absorbent that it bleeds through to the other side. We recommend looking for notebooks that are specifically made with fountain pens in mind. We like using the remarkably smooth paper of the Clairefontaine Collection 1951 Notebook with our fountain pens. It’s definitely a match made in heaven! If you’d like more options, take a look at Our Favorite Notebooks for Fountain Pen Use.

For Carpentry, Workshop, or Garage
If you’re looking for something a little grittier, or a notebook that can get down and dirty, we recommend looking for notebooks with an unpolished cover, such as chipboard or craft covers. These kinds of rugged notebooks will fit right into your workshop or garage. Doane Paper Grid+Lines Idea Journals do just that. With their sturdy twin ring binding and unfinished chipboard cover, you don’t have to worry about damaging or being overly careful with them.