Some dot grid notebooks have that textured rough paper that’s not smooth to write on, and erasable pens are scratchy (or even shave off layers of paper when you erase). Given that I basically only use erasable pens for bullet journaling, notebooks with smooth paper is an important factor for me, so here is a list of what I think are the notebooks with the smoothest paper. Note that the trade off is that the paper might not be thick enough to withstand ghosting.
If you’re looking for my favorite top 5 dot grid notebooks for lack of ghosting and bleed through, see this post.
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Dot Grid Notebooks with smooth paper
1. Dingbats
This is the smoothest paper I’ve come across to date. The different cover colors and animals on the front are a nice change from boring black covers too.
- Size: 5.5″ wide x 8.25″ high (there are other page sizes to choose from)
- Faux leather cover (multiple cover colors to choose from)
- Sewn bound
- 100 GSM Cream paper
- Perforated pages
- 29 Dots horizontal and 40 vertically (5mm dot grid)
- 1 Ribbon bookmark
- No page numbers
- No index, legend etc.
Price: $22 USD on Amazon.
Read more: Dingbats* Notebook for Bullet Journaling Review (super smooth paper!)
2. Rhodia Goalbook
Really smooth paper like the Dingbats. The reason I’ve placed it lower on the list is that they embed the page numbers inside the dot grid which I rather annoying when ruling up spreads.
There are plenty of cover colors to choose from.
Related post: Bullet journal notebooks with colorful covers (not black!)
- Size: approx 5.75″ wide x 8.25″ high (about A5 size)
- Sewn binding
- Leatherette soft cover
- 16 different cover colors to choose from
- This belongs to page in case your planner is lost
- Dates at a glance
- 224 dot grid pages
- Extra pages: future log, annual planning, index
- Pocket folder
Price: $25 USD on Amazon
Read more: Rhodia Goalbook for Bullet Journaling Review
3. Nuuna
If you’re looking for a dot grid that’s less than 5mm, the Nuuna is 3.5mm. Made in Germany the page size is bigger than most dot grid notebooks.
- Size:16.5cm wide x 22cm high
- Softcover
- Multiple geometric covers to choose from
- Sewn binding
- 3.5mm dot grid
- White paper
- 176 pages
- 120 GSM paper
Read more: Nuuna dot grid notebook review including pen test (3.5mm dot grid)
4. PAPERIDEAS
This notebook is similar to the Leuchtturm but without the expensive price tag.
- Size: 5.75″ wide x 8.5″ high (14.5cm wide x 21.5cm high)
- Hardcover
- Sewn binding
- Multiple cover colors to choose from
- Index / contents (1 double sided page)
- 100 GSM paper
- Ivory / cream
- 188 numbered pages
- Pocket folder
- 2 ribbon bookmarks
Price: $14.95 USD on Amazon
The paper has really bad ghosting so you might want to write on every second page.
Read more: Paper Ideas Dot Grid Notebook Review
5. Jumping Fox
Not obvious in the photos but this one has a shimmery cover.
- Size: 13 x 21 cm (approx A5)
- Hardcover (5 colors to choose from)
- Sewn binding
- Silver foil edges
- Contents pages
- 140 Numbered dot grid pages
- 120 GSM Ivory paper
- 8 Double sided perforated dot grid pages
- 2 Ribbon bookmarks
- Pocket folder
Price: $18 USD on Amazon (if you want the same one I got it’s the Satin Purple cover)
The paper doesn’t have as much show through as some of the other notebooks on this list but it does still have some show through.
Read more: Jumping Fox Designs Dot Grid Notebook
6. Posy Paper
If you’d prefer a coil bound (and personalised) dot grid notebook Posy Paper would be my pick. It’s a good in between page size – bigger than A5 (most sewn bound notebooks size) but smaller than 7″ wide x 9″ high (the size of most planners).
- Size: 6″ wide x 9″ high
- Cardstock cover personalised with your choice of text (clear cover over the top to protect it)
- Coil binding
- No page numbers
- White paper
- Pocket folder
- 5mm dot grid spacing
Price: $16 USD + shipping
Read more: Posy Paper personalised coil bound notebook
7. Plum Paper
A favorite of mine for years, if you don’t want one of their planners you can order a notebook with dot grid pages only or a mix of dot grid and lined, or add some dot grid pages at the back of one of their planner layouts. This notebook is a good mix of affordable price tag for the ability to choose your own cover, personalise with your choice of text and smooth bright white paper.
Choose from 3 page sizes:
- A5
- 7 x 9″
- 8.5 x 11″ (US letter size)
Price varies depending on the page size you choose and the number of add ons.
One thing I do wish was improved in this notebook – the grey dots are quite bold – more bold than sewn bound notebooks.
Read more: Plum Paper Bullet Journal Custom Notebook
If you want to build a hybrid planner and bullet journal, I did a detailed comparison of all their layouts and add ons which you can download here.
8. Clever Fox
Another notebook that’s affordable and good quality. The paper is smooth but not as smooth as the other notebooks mentioned earlier in this post. However there’s hardly any ghosting.
There’s almost as many cover colors to choose from as the Leuchtturm and there’s even gold and rose gold.
I bought the dotted journal 2.0 version. It costs $17 USD which is slightly more than the original dotted journal ($15, but sometimes on sale for $10 USD), but it’s supposed to have thicker paper.
- Size: 5.75″ wide x 8.5″ high
- Softcover
- Sewn Binding
- 5mm dot grid spacing
- Multiple cover colors to choose from
- Softcover
- Pocket folder
- 3 ribbon bookmarks
- 1 Sheet of rainbow stickers included
- 3 contents / index pages
- 1 symbol / color key page
- 155 dot grid pages
Read more: Clever Fox Dotted Journal Notebook
9. Agendio
Another coil bound (or not, you can get inserts only if you like) dot grid notebook. If you follow me you’ve probably already seen some of my past reviews of the Agendio. The paper is very smooth and you could build a completely custom dot grid notebook (you can even pick the size of the dot grid!). All of this does come with an expensive price tag but it’s one of the few companies that will make you a completely custom notebook and out of those few, it’s the one I think has the smoothest paper.
- Choose from multiple page sizes
- Can choose whatever inside pages you like – add more index pages (create your own index pages), if you want checklists then add those. You don’t have to only add dot grid pages
- Can have colorful or black and white pages
- Different dot grid spacing – you choose the size that works for you
- You choose the cover design (and you can personalise it)
- Choose between hardcover or clear plastic cover with cardstock
The only con is the paper. For the price I expected thicker paper and hope they upgrade this in the future.
Read more: Agendio custom dot grid notebook
Update!
After trying the Eleven Discs notebook I had to add it to this post. Very smooth and bright white paper.
Unfortunately, the pen test was disappointing with show through from marker pens (Uni Pi, Pure Color F and the MAMBI Stamps).There was some minor indenting from the pens as well.
- Size: Junior / US Half letter size (US letter size also available)
- Poly cover (multiple cover colors available – pastel in pink, purple, mint, grey and black)
- 0.75″ Plastic discs (black)
- 50 pages (the letter size version comes with 40 pages)
- 120 GSM paper
- Disc binding
- 0.25″ / 6mm dot grid pages
More dot grid notebook reviews
- Buke stationery dot grid notebook
- CEDON dot grid notebook
- Vivid Scribbles Dot Grid Notebook (bleedproof 140GSM paper!)
Bullet journal tips
- Best highlighters for bullet journaling
- Bullet Journal Layouts: 26 Non-typical 2 page weekly spreads to try
- 7 Useful spreads your bullet journal should have
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