Our verdict
For most bullet journalists, the LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2 is the best bullet journal notebook: it is the only one here co-designed with the Bullet Journal method, with a pre-built index, key and legends on 120gsm paper. If you draw or use markers heavily, the 160gsm Scribbles That Matter Iconic is the better buy — and the Moleskine Classic is the slim everyday pick for light writers.
Check LEUCHTTURM1917 The price on AmazonOur top picks
#1Best Overall
LEUCHTTURM1917 The Official Bullet Journal Edition 2, Medium A5, Dotted (Black)
The only notebook co-designed with the Bullet Journal method itself — index, key and legends built in.
Check price on Amazon#2Best for Pens & Markers
Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal, Iconic, 160gsm
160gsm bleed-resistant paper, a pen loop and key pages at a lower price than the premium brands.
Check price on Amazon#3Best for Organization
LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5, Dotted (Black)
The original bullet journal workhorse — 251 numbered pages and the widest colour range.
Check price on Amazon#4Best Slim Everyday
Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Dotted, Black, Hard Cover
The timeless slim everyday notebook — 240 dotted pages that travel well, for light writing.
Check price on Amazon#5Best Budget
Scribbles That Matter Pro A5 Dotted Journal, 120gsm
The same lay-flat design and dot grid in lighter 120gsm paper — the cheapest way into this brand.
Check price on AmazonThe best bullet journal notebook is not the most expensive one, and it is not the one with the prettiest cover. It is the one whose paper matches your pens. That single decision — paper weight first, brand second — prevents nearly every “my notebook bleeds” regret, and it is the thread running through all five notebooks below.
This roundup is based on aggregated verified buyer reviews and head-to-head spec comparison, not hands-on testing: we did not personally test these notebooks. Our editorial scores are our own judgement from that research, not average buyer ratings. Every notebook here is a verified, currently listed Amazon product, and if you want the deeper three-way brand argument behind these picks, read our three-brand comparison of Leuchtturm1917, Scribbles That Matter and Moleskine first — it covers ghosting, binding and brand history in more depth than a roundup can. If you are new to the system itself, the official Bullet Journal method FAQ explains rapid logging, indexes and migration better than any notebook review can.
Here is the cheat sheet before the details. Paper weight runs 80gsm (classic Leuchtturm1917, thinnest) through 120gsm (Edition 2 and the STM Pro) to 160gsm (STM Iconic, thickest). Page counts run from 192 to 251. And one spec buyers only discover too late: Leuchtturm1917 and Scribbles That Matter number their pages for indexing, which matters if your system leans on an index at all.
1. LEUCHTTURM1917 The Official Bullet Journal Edition 2, Medium A5, Dotted (Black) — Best Overall
This is the notebook the Bullet Journal method was standardized on, co-developed with method creator Ryder Carroll. Where a blank dotted book must be adapted, Edition 2 ships with the system pre-built: a pre-numbered index, key pages, and three bullet-journal legends, plus a pocket guide and ruler. Its 204 numbered pages run on 120gsm paper — a real upgrade over the classic’s 80gsm — in the standard A5 size (5.75 x 8.25 in) with a hardcover, elastic closure and ribbon markers.
The buyer-review pattern is consistent: beginners love starting immediately without setup, and the thicker paper takes gel pens and light fountain pen use far better than the classic. The recurring complaints are the price — it is the most expensive Leuchtturm1917 here — and that 204 pages fill faster than the classic’s 251, so heavy daily journalers refill sooner.
- Pre-built index, key and legends — fastest start for beginners
- 120gsm paper, a genuine step up from the classic’s 80gsm
- Co-designed with the Bullet Journal method itself
- Hardcover, elastic closure, ribbon markers, pocket guide
- Most expensive Leuchtturm1917 pick here
- 204 pages vs 251 in the classic — refills come sooner
- Still not a 160gsm book, so heavy alcohol markers can ghost
2. Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal, Iconic, 160gsm — Best for Pens & Markers
If your journal involves markers, brush pens, fountain pens or paint, this is the pick. The Iconic A5 is a hardcover dot grid notebook with ultra-thick 160gsm paper, a 5mm dot grid, lay-flat binding, a pen loop, and pre-printed key and index pages — the same bleed-resistant spec as notebooks costing considerably more, at a mid-range price. Aggregated buyer reviews broadly confirm it, with fountain pen and marker users reporting no bleed-through.
The complaint pattern is different from Leuchtturm1917’s. Buyers note the paper feels rougher and can feather with some nibs, and a few report quality-control quirks in binding and cover finishing. Note too that the listing offers both 160gsm and 120gsm versions, so check the variant before ordering — the 160gsm version is the one this recommendation is about.
- 160gsm paper that resists bleed from fountain pens and markers
- Pen loop, key and index pages included
- Lay-flat hardcover binding
- Lower price than other 160gsm notebooks for the same paper weight
- Paper feels rougher than Leuchtturm1917’s and can feather with some nibs
- Occasional buyer reports of binding and finishing quirks
- Listing mixes 160gsm and 120gsm variants — check before ordering
3. LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5, Dotted (Black) — Best for Organization
This is the book that made dotted notebooks mainstream: a hardcover A5 with 251 numbered pages, a blank table of contents, stickers for labelling and archiving, an elastic closure and an expandable back pocket, in the widest colour range of any notebook here. Its paper is 80gsm — the thinnest in this roundup — and that is both its virtue and its flaw: the book stays slim and light despite holding the most pages, but wet pens show through.
Aggregated buyer reviews praise the page count, the numbering, and the sheer number of colours, and they complain about exactly one thing, repeatedly: ghosting and bleed with fountain pens and markers. If you write with ballpoints, gel pens and fineliners, this is the best-value classic on the market. If you paint or use alcohol markers, buy the 160gsm book above instead.
- 251 numbered pages — the most pages for the money here
- Numbered pages plus blank index for easy look-ups
- Widest colour range of any notebook in this roundup
- Slim and light despite the high page count
- 80gsm paper ghosts and can bleed with wet pens and markers
- No pre-built bullet journal key or legends
- Thinnest paper in this roundup by a wide margin
4. Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Dotted, Black, Hard Cover — Best Slim Everyday
The Moleskine Classic is the slim everyday pick: a large (5 x 8.25 in) hardcover with 240 dotted pages, an elastic closure, a bookmark ribbon and an expandable back pocket. It is the notebook for writers who carry their journal everywhere and want it to disappear into a bag — thinner and lighter than the 160gsm books, with a clean, unobtrusive design.
The trade-off is paper. Moleskine’s classic paper is thin — around 70gsm — and aggregated buyer reviews are blunt about it: fine for ballpoints and gel pens, ghosting-prone with fountain pens and markers. Buy it for planning, lists and light writing, not for art-heavy spreads. It also lacks a built-in index system, so index-heavy journalers will miss the numbered pages of the Leuchtturm1917 and Scribbles That Matter books.
- Slim and portable — the best travel pick here
- 240 dotted pages in the large hardcover
- Classic design with elastic closure, ribbon and back pocket
- Widely available in many colours
- Thin paper ghosts with fountain pens and markers
- No built-in index system for look-ups
- Weakest paper in this roundup for art-heavy journaling
5. Scribbles That Matter Pro A5 Dotted Journal, 120gsm — Best Budget
The Pro is Scribbles That Matter’s lighter-paper sibling: the same A5 hardcover dot grid design, lay-flat binding and 5mm grid, but on 120gsm paper instead of 160gsm. That makes it the cheapest entry point into this brand, and the right pick for writers rather than artists — ballpoints, gel pens and fineliners will not trouble 120gsm paper, and the book is slimmer and lighter for it.
The trade-off is straightforward and buyers say so: step up to markers or wet fountain pens and you are back in ghosting territory, though not as badly as with 80gsm paper. Think of it as the bridge product — Edition 2 weight at a budget price, without the pre-built bullet journal system.
- Cheapest way into the Scribbles That Matter design
- 120gsm handles everyday pens comfortably
- Same lay-flat hardcover and 5mm dot grid as the Iconic
- Slimmer and lighter than the 160gsm version
- Not a heavy-marker or paint book — 120gsm has limits
- No pre-built bullet journal legends like Edition 2
- Fewer pages of headroom than the Leuchtturm1917 classic
How to choose in thirty seconds
- You are new to bullet journaling: Edition 2. The system is built in, the paper is good, and you start today.
- You use markers, brush pens or fountain pens: Scribbles That Matter Iconic 160gsm. Nothing else here handles wet ink as well.
- You plan and write more than you draw: the classic Leuchtturm1917 A5 dotted. Most pages, lowest fuss, best colours.
- You want a slim journal for travel and light writing: the Moleskine Classic Large dotted.
- You want the lowest price: Scribbles That Matter Pro 120gsm.
One last note: check the listing variant before ordering any of these — paper weight is printed on the listing, and it is the spec that matters most. Match the paper to your pens first and the brand second, and whichever you pick will last the year.
Compare all 5 picks
| Product | Our rating | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEUCHTTURM1917 The Official Bullet Journal Edition 2, Medium A5, Dotted (Black) | $$ | Best Overall | |
| Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal, Iconic, 160gsm | $$ | Best for Pens & Markers | |
| LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5, Dotted (Black) | $$ | Best for Organization | |
| Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Dotted, Black, Hard Cover | $$ | Best Slim Everyday | |
| Scribbles That Matter Pro A5 Dotted Journal, 120gsm | $ | Best Budget |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bullet journal notebook for beginners?
The LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2. Its pre-built index, key pages and bullet journal legends mean a beginner starts rapid-logging on day one instead of hand-ruling their own structure, and its 120gsm paper handles most pens without drama.
What paper weight is best for bullet journaling?
It depends on your pens. Ballpoints, gel pens and fineliners are fine on 80–120gsm paper. Fountain pens, brush pens and alcohol markers need 160gsm paper to avoid bleed and ghosting — that is why the Scribbles That Matter Iconic wins for artists while the classic Leuchtturm1917 suits writers.
Does Leuchtturm1917 paper bleed through?
The classic Leuchtturm1917 notebook uses 80gsm paper, and aggregated buyer reviews consistently report ghosting and some bleed with wet fountain pens and alcohol markers. The Bullet Journal Edition 2 upgrades to 120gsm, which is noticeably better, but heavy-marker artists still prefer a 160gsm notebook.
Is Moleskine good for bullet journaling?
For light writing and simple spreads, yes — it is slim, portable and widely available, with 240 dotted pages in the large hardcover. For art-heavy bullet journaling with markers or fountain pens, its thinner paper is the weakest of these five and ghosting is a common buyer complaint.
Do I need numbered pages in a bullet journal?
If you use an index to find old collections and future logs, yes — numbered pages plus a contents page save real time. Leuchtturm1917 and Scribbles That Matter both number their pages; Moleskine's classic does not have a built-in index system, so index-heavy journalers usually prefer the numbered books.
Which bullet journal notebook is the best value?
On pages per dollar, the classic Leuchtturm1917 A5 dotted notebook with 251 numbered pages. On thick paper per dollar, the Scribbles That Matter Iconic 160gsm. The cheapest entry point overall is the Scribbles That Matter Pro 120gsm.