My Favorite Sketchbooks

Choosing a sketchbook can sometimes be overwhelming. Here's my review of some of the most popular blank sketchbooks (Moleskine, Leuchtturm, Rhodia, etc), and my current favorite (updated for 2026). I hope this helps 💛

Here is an excerpt from my Daily Pages class, part of the Illustrated Journaling Class Set, where I review each notebook that I tried. I've also provided an outline and product links below, so you can read/watch as you prefer. Please note this was filmed before I found my current favorite, MD Paper Notebooks, which you can read more about below.

Sketchbook Reviews

There are a ton of different options for sketchbooks, and your choice will depend on your personal preferences. Still, there a few key things most people consider, like size and paper quality, so my reviews will address those criteria, among others.

The most important thing is to use a sketchbook that you really like so you're motivated to draw in it, but not one that's so pretty that you're afraid to mess it up.

Here are some sketchbooks I reviewed, and my personal takes. Note that the Fringe Studio notebook shown in the video is no longer sold, so I did not include it in the list below. I saved my favorite for last:

Moleskine 5.5x8.5” Art Sketchbook. The pages for this hardcover sketchbook are pretty thick and smooth, but be careful not to confuse the Art Sketchbook with the regular notebook, which has much thinner pages! I don't love the half-page aspect ratio; I'd rather draw in 6x8.25" or 8x10".
Leuchtturm Dotted Notebook in 6x8.25”. The cover is also hardcover, but the paper is a bit thinner than the Moleskine. The paper is also dotted, which I like, but I prefer lighter dots. I find that the dots in this notebook are a bit too prominent and distracting. With the dots issue and the thinner paper, it's a no for me.
Rhodia Dotted Softcover Notebook in 6x8.25”. I have a soft ivory colored version. The paper is brushed vellum, which can hold up to my colored brush pens better than some regular papers and the Leuchtturm. I like the dots on this one better too. It also feels sturdy even though it's softcover, and I wouldn't worry as much about it getting damaged in my bag (unlike the Fringe notebook, up next).
RNDR Sketchbook with No Show Thru Paper in5.5x8.5” . This is interesting because it's apparently one of the only sketchbooks where you can use alcohol-based markers like Copic, and not have them bleed through the pages. That's pretty magical. Unfortunately, they don't make any with toned paper, and I don't really like this size. So I decided to skip Copic markers and draw with tools that work with the notebook I DO like, which is . . . .
Stillman & Birn Softcover Mixed Media in 8x10" 🥇This is my favorite notebook right now. I really love the thick toned paper, which has a slight grainy texture that I enjoy drawing on. My Sakura brush pens don't bleed through. Although it's softcover, it's sturdy and I think I could carry it around without damage.
My Current Fave: Midori MD Notebook & Cover. I started using these in 2023 and really love them for ink pen and brush pens. There's a very subtle waxiness to their proprietary paper that prevents bleed-through and is very smooth to draw on. I use it with the cover and it's super light and easy to carry around with me. It's also inexpensive and the pages are quite thin, so you don't feel very precious about using it. Not technically for paints, but I find I actually enjoy using watercolor on them and having the paper warp a bit! It feels nice and tactile.

Which One Should You Get?

Unless you care most about the aesthetics of the notebook itself, I would say the ideal notebook depends on which media you use.

Ink & Brush Pen: I have to start with my current favorite, the Midori MD notebook. It's really fantastic for this.
Colored Pencils: I think the Midori MD notebook would be good for this too, but the Rhodia is another good option because it has a waxy paper texture that makes colored pencil blending a pleasure.
Mixed Media: If you're using gouache or acryla gouache paints, I think Stillman & Birns are the best. Very nice paper. If you're just doing dry media, it will feel a bit overkill. I personally use watercolor and colored pencils to great effect in the Midori MD notebook.
All-around: I would vote Midori MD notebook again here. If you're not sure which media you'll use, a safe basic bet is the Moleskine artist notebook, a classic everyone should try once.

Finally, another option is to bind your own sketchbook, and many people say this is therapeutic process for something as personal as a journal or sketchbook. There are many tutorials about this on Youtube. See PearFleur's tutorial, for example. There's also a well-done class about it on Domestika by urban sketcher Maru Godas. I still have so many notebooks waiting to be filled, but I eventually plan to give this a try.

I hope the options feel less overwhelming now, and that you have a good sense of where you want to start trying out your next favorite notebook!

🙏 M