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January 16, 2019

How to choose the right bullet journal notebook for you (10 things to check)

With bullet journaling becoming increasingly popular there are more and more notebooks to choose from! Here are some things to check before choosing a notebook.

How to choose the right bullet journal notebook for you

1. Binding style

For me, the binding style is the most important. Most bullet journals come with the traditional stitched binding but as bullet journaling becomes more and more popular there are (thankfully!) more options becoming available.

I have a strong dislike for stitched binding because they don’t tend to lay flat. If you’re of a similar mind, my favorite type of binding is discbound. There are multiple companies offering discbound notebooks these days (I compiled a list in this post). My favorite for bullet journaling is the Happy Notes from MAMBI. Or just buy the MAMBI rings, dot grid page refills and DIY your own cover.

If you prefer coil or wire binding, some of my favorites are: Letter Love Designs, Limelife, plum paper, purple trail etc.

Related: Pretty dot grid notebooks for bullet journaling (roundup)
happy notes happy planner review bullet journal spread citrus colorful blog meal plan checklist papermate inkjoy gel icon planner stickers rainbow colorful diy bujo inspiration

Related: MAMBI Happy Planner Happy Notes Review

2. Paper quality

Most hardbound notebooks have yucky yellow paper. It can make highlighter colors look funny, it tends to be thin and prone to bleed through, plus it will blunt your brush tip pens. For this reason I really only use hardbound notebooks for testing planner layouts (which I usually then digitise into printables).

Related: How to make an A5 size, 2 page weekly planner printable in Photoshop (video tutorial)

Price doesn’t necessarily translate to paper quality. The Moleskine notebooks aren’t cheap yet the paper is prone to ghosting and bleed through. I did pen testing of 8 different dot grid notebooks in this post.

moleskin pen testing planner review highlighers stamps no bleed through ghosting organization bullet journal notebook honest opinion pros and cons

Related: Moleskine Weekly Planner Review 

3. Cover

Most traditional dot grid notebooks have a boring black hardcover that’s very generic. You could personalise with alphabet stickers or a monogram or name label (see here for a tutorial).

One thing to note is that I recommend avoiding bendy softcover notebooks such as the Rhodia Goalbook. When you rule a line, the ruler slips and lines can end up crooked:

bullet journal spread horizontal simple carpe diem stickers blog planning dot grid notebook page layout weekly spread colorful

Related: Bullet journaling in the Rhodia Goalbook

rhodia goal book for bullet journaling future log dot grid numbered pages a5 size colorful review pros and cons pen test paper quality simple gender neutral

Related: Rhodia Goalbook for Bullet Journaling Review 

4. Extra pages

I think your bullet journal should be whatever you want it to be, not what it ‘should’ be.

I avoid the ‘traditional’ bullet journal pages such as future logs. I really only use an index / content pages (which I’ve always used with every planning system / folder / notebook I’ve ever used – so much easier to find things!).

So if the notebook you like doesn’t have any extra pages you can just rule them up yourself (at whatever sizes / line spacing etc. you like!), or save time and use a printable instead. See this post for a tutorial on how to resize printables. I also have a few you can download for free from the library:

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Some of the extra pages that you might look for

  • Key / symbols
  • Future log
  • Index / contents
  • Pen test

rhodia goal book for bullet journaling future log dot grid numbered pages a5 size colorful review pros and cons pen test paper quality

Related: Rhodia Goalbook for Bullet Journaling Review 

scribbles that matter index pros and cons pen bleed through where to buy bullet journal notebooks bujo ideas tools resources tips planning grid dot

Related: Scribbles That Matter Notebook Review

5. Numbered Pages

This is a must have for bullet journaling yet not all dot grid notebook include numbered pages. If a notebook doesn’t have pre-printed pages I’ve found it’s almost always quite a bit cheaper than other options. Case in point: the Minimalism Art Notebook. No page numbers but it’s still handy for drafting up page layout ideas.

weekly spread bullet journal with habit traker meal plan vertical top 3 daily tasks project entrepreneur productivity goal setting monday start

Related: Bullet Journal Ideas: 26 Weekly Spread Layouts to Try

Another thing to check is where the page numbers are placed. The Rhodia Goalbook deletes the corner dots for the page numbers which is not ideal.

rhodia goal book numbered pages dot grid a5 size bullet journal bujo must have planner supplies

Related: 10 Things people often forget to check before buying a planner

6. Page format

I know most people use dot grid but plenty of notebooks come in lined and blank paper too!

Blank pages are good for

  • Freehand page layouts
  • Random scribbles
  • Doodles
  • Sketching header and page divider ideas
  • Decorative pages
  • Diagrams / visuals such as daily planning circles:

using the slice planner for bullet journalling day to a page monochrome color coding tips inspiration ideas hacks

Related: Using the Slice Planner (daily planner + app)

Lined pages are good for

  • Lists
  • Journaling
  • Class notes
  • Meeting notes

Dot grid pages are good for

  • Habit trackers
  • Graphs
  • Weekly calendars
  • Monthly calendars

monthly habit tracker bullet journal ideas routine diy organization glitter washi tape decorating simple things to track minimalist

Related: 12 Planner Layout Ideas for Monthly Habit Tracking in Your Bullet Journal

I tend to avoid blank pages as, without some sort of structure, everything gets messy and if its messy I won’t look at it / use it. I used to avoid dot grid paper as the dots tend to be too close together for my liking. However, I do like the ease it provides for drawing up weekly spreads.

7. Pocket Folder

Some dot grid notebooks come with pocket folders, some don’t. It’s not a must for me as, with most hardbound dot grid notebooks, you’re limited with how much you can put in them anyway.

rhodia goal book for bullet journaling future log dot grid numbered pages a5 size colorful review pros and cons pen test paper quality pocket folder

8. Pen holder

If the notebook you like doesn’t include a pen holder, do not fret! You can buy them individually and stick them straight in.

Some notebooks that include a pen holder:

  • Scribbles That Matter Notebook
  • Little More Notebook

little more notebook review softcover index pros and cons video flipthrough alternative to leuchtturm best planner for bullet journaling bujo

Related: Little More Notebook

9. Ribbon Bookmarks

Some notebooks include 2 built in ribbon bookmarks – some include 3. It’s not a big deal if the notebook doesn’t include any as you can always use a paperclip, add sticky notes for tabs, washi tape etc.

10. Price

Expect to pay around $10 USD for a basic dot grid notebook. $20 – $40 USD for a decent one with all the extras (pocket folder, pen holder, nicer cover, better quality paper etc.)

If you think you need a ‘well known’ notebook – think again. Just because the cover is cute doesn’t necessarily mean the paper quality and everything else about the planner is as good as the cover…

Bullet journal reviews:

  • Bullet Journal Planner by Letter Love Designs
  • Scribbles That Matter Notebook
  • Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Notebook A5 
  • Little More Notebook
  • Rhodia Goalbook for Bullet Journaling Review 
  • Review of the Minimalism Art Dot Grid Notebook for Bullet Journaling
  • Review of the Scrivwell Dot Grid Notebook
  • Pretty dot grid notebooks for bullet journaling (roundup)

More bullet journal

  • Bullet Journal Ideas: 26 Weekly Spread Layouts to Try
  • Travel planning in a bullet journal
  • 50 Bullet journal Instagram accounts you should be following

Found this post helpful? Pin it!

bullet journaling how to choose the right notebook for your dot grid notebook comparison things to check before buying a new bujo journal

how to choose the right bullet journal notebook for you tips inspiration diy planner addict planning planner life

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  • The best time saving row and column stencils for dot grid notebooks (5 brands compared)The best time saving row and column stencils for dot grid notebooks (5 brands compared)

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Posted In: Bullet Journal, Bullet Journal Reviews, Planner Newbie, Planning Tips & Inspiration · Tagged: bujo life, bullet journal, bullet journal for beginners, bullet journal newbie, bullet journal tips, cheap bullet journal, favorite bullet journal, how to choose a bullet journal, the best bullet journal, top bullet journal

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Welcome to All About Planners! I’m Rachael, a 20-something Aussie addicted to graphic design and all things planning. On the blog you’ll find more than 1,000 posts about all things planning including planner reviews, tips, favorite supplies and some of my past weekly spreads.

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