Our verdict
For most bullet journalists, the Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal wins: its 160gsm paper is the thickest here, it is built specifically for bullet journaling, and buyer reviews consistently report no bleed-through with pens and markers. Leuchtturm1917 is the better pick if organization matters more than heavy artwork, and Moleskine remains a fine everyday notebook — just not for juicy markers.
Check Scribbles That price on AmazonOur top picks
#1Best Overall
Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal (Iconic, 160gsm)
The thickest paper and the most bullet-journal-specific features in this comparison.
Check price on Amazon#2Best for Everyday Planning
LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium (A5) Dotted
Numbered pages, a blank contents page and 251 pages make it the organization king.
Check price on Amazon#3Classic Pick
Moleskine Classic Notebook Large Dotted Hardcover
The timeless everyday notebook — but its thinner paper ghosts with heavy pens.
Check price on AmazonEvery bullet journal comparison eventually comes down to one question: will your pens show through the page? Brand loyalty runs deep in this hobby, and the older comparisons floating around the web — some dating back to 2021 — do not reflect what buyers are actually complaining about today. So here is a fresh, spec-first look at the three A5 dotted notebooks you can actually buy on Amazon right now, judged on paper weight, bleed resistance, page features and price tier.
The short version: paper weight decides almost everything. A 160gsm page forgives markers; an 80gsm page forgives fineliners; a 70gsm page forgives neither, but travels beautifully. Below, each notebook gets a fair hearing, then a clear recommendation. Ratings below are editorial scores based on aggregated buyer reviews and manufacturer specifications — not hands-on testing claims.
1. Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal (Iconic, 160gsm) — Best Overall
Scribbles That Matter built this notebook for bullet journaling specifically, and the spec sheet shows it: 150 pages of 160gsm paper, a key page, index pages, numbered pages, a pen test page, a pen holder in the spine, two ribbon markers and a lay-flat hardcover binding. It even ships with a fineliner. No other notebook here is this purpose-built — the rest are general notebooks that happen to have dots.
That 160gsm paper is the headline. Across aggregated buyer reviews, the consistent report is no bleed-through with fountain pens, brush pens and markers, and minimal ghosting even under heavy highlighter. The trade-off is bulk: thick paper means a heavier book for the same page count, and 150 pages is the fewest in this comparison, so heavy journalers will fill it faster.
- Thickest paper here (160gsm) — best bleed and ghosting resistance
- Built for bullet journaling: key, index, pen test page, pen holder
- Lay-flat binding for comfortable two-page spreads
- Includes a fineliner in the box
- Fewest pages (150) — fills up fastest
- Heavier than the other two, page for page
- Fewer colour options than Leuchtturm1917’s huge range
2. LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium (A5) Dotted — Best for Everyday Planning
Leuchtturm1917 is the default recommendation for a reason: 251 numbered pages, a blank table of contents, 8 perforated detachable sheets, two page markers, an expandable pocket in the back cover, stickers for labelling and archiving, and an elastic closure. If your bullet journal is mostly planning — tasks, trackers, notes, collections — this is the most organized system of the three, and the extra 100 pages over Scribbles That Matter means one book lasts noticeably longer.
The compromise is the 80gsm paper. It is acid-free and ink-proof for everyday writing, and fineliner users love it, but it is half the weight of Scribbles That Matter’s paper. Marker and brush-pen users should expect ghosting, and layered highlighter will show through. Choose Leuchtturm1917 for the system, not for the heaviest artwork.
- Most pages (251) plus numbered pages and a blank contents page
- Best built-in organization: perforated sheets, pocket, labelling stickers
- Widest colour range of any notebook here
- Thread-bound spine opens flat
- 80gsm paper ghosts with markers and heavy highlighter
- No pen holder or pen test page
- Paper feel is thinner and less premium than 160gsm rivals
3. Moleskine Classic Notebook Large Dotted Hardcover — Classic Pick
Moleskine is the notebook most people picture when they hear the word “notebook”: 240 pages, hard cover, elastic closure, bookmark ribbon, and a slim profile that slips into a bag without a second thought. It is also the most widely available of the three and often the easiest to find on sale.
The honest catch is paper weight. At roughly 70gsm, Moleskine’s paper is the thinnest here, and ghosting is the single most common complaint in aggregated buyer reviews — fountain pens and markers show through, and even some fineliners leave a shadow. For light writing, lists and simple spreads it is perfectly good. For art-heavy bullet journaling, it is the wrong tool, and buyers who switch from it to a 160gsm notebook usually cite exactly this.
- Slim, light and highly portable
- 240 pages — nearly as many as Leuchtturm1917
- Classic design, elastic closure and ribbon marker
- Widely available and often discounted
- Thinnest paper here (~70gsm) — worst ghosting with pens and markers
- No bullet-journal-specific pages (no key, index or pen test page)
- Not the pick for fountain pens or art-heavy spreads
Paper weight is the whole decision
If you remember one number from this comparison, make it grams per square metre (gsm). It predicts bleed-through better than brand, price or reviews:
- 160gsm (Scribbles That Matter): handles fountain pens, brush pens and markers. The page feels substantial and both sides stay usable.
- 80gsm (Leuchtturm1917): handles fineliners, ballpoints and gel pens cleanly. Markers ghost; heavy ink layers show through.
- ~70gsm (Moleskine): handles light writing cleanly. Anything juicy ghosts.
The other number that matters is page count per book. Leuchtturm1917’s 251 pages and Moleskine’s 240 pages last far longer than Scribbles That Matter’s 150, so if you journal daily, factor in how often you will replace the book — a cheaper-per-book notebook that you replace twice as often is not cheaper.
What about Archer & Olive?
No fresh brand comparison is complete without Archer & Olive, and readers of the older 2021 comparisons will wonder why it is not ranked above. The answer is practical, not editorial: Archer & Olive sells through its own store rather than Amazon, so there is no Amazon listing for this post to link to — and this site does not publish links it cannot verify. On specs alone, its A5 dot grid notebook belongs in this conversation: 160gsm paper, 192 pages, lay-flat binding and a cult following for its designs. Reviewers at The Pen Addict praise the same thick, no-bleed paper that makes Scribbles That Matter win here. If you want Archer & Olive specifically, buy it direct from the official Archer & Olive store — just expect to pay a premium over the notebooks above, and to cover shipping on smaller orders.
Who should buy which
- Choose Scribbles That Matter if you use fountain pens, brush pens or markers, or you want a notebook designed for bullet journaling from page one.
- Choose Leuchtturm1917 if your journal is mostly planning and writing, you want the most pages and the best organization system, and you mainly use fineliners or gel pens.
- Choose Moleskine if you want a slim everyday notebook for light writing and travel, and art-heavy spreads are not your thing.
- Choose Archer & Olive direct if you want 160gsm paper with the most decorative cover designs and do not mind ordering from the brand’s own store.
For more detail on Scribbles That Matter specifically, the review at Gathered covers its 160gsm and 120gsm options and the included accessories. Whichever you pick, match the paper to your pens first and the brand second — that one decision prevents nearly every “my notebook bleeds” regret.
If you want the wider field rather than just these three brands, see our best bullet journal notebook roundup, which ranks five notebooks — including the Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2 — by paper weight, pages and price.
Compare all 3 picks
| Product | Our rating | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scribbles That Matter A5 Dotted Journal (Iconic, 160gsm) | — | Best Overall | |
| LEUCHTTURM1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium (A5) Dotted | — | Best for Everyday Planning | |
| Moleskine Classic Notebook Large Dotted Hardcover | — | Classic Pick |
Frequently asked questions
Which bullet journal notebook has the thickest paper?
Scribbles That Matter, at 160gsm — double the weight of Leuchtturm1917's 80gsm and well above Moleskine's roughly 70gsm paper. That thickness is why it handles fountain pens and markers with the least ghosting or bleed-through of the three.
Does Leuchtturm1917 paper bleed through?
With fineliners and ballpoints, no — its 80gsm paper is ink-resistant for normal writing. With brush pens, markers and heavy highlighter layers, buyers report ghosting (show-through on the reverse), though rarely full bleed-through. If you use markers heavily, the 160gsm Scribbles That Matter is the safer pick.
Is Moleskine good for bullet journaling?
For light writing and simple spreads, yes — it is slim, portable and widely available. For art-heavy bullet journaling with markers, water-based brush pens or fountain pens, its thinner paper is the weakest of these three and ghosting is a common buyer complaint.
What about Archer & Olive?
Archer & Olive makes one of the most-loved bullet journal notebooks — 160gsm paper, 192 pages, lay-flat binding — but it sells through its own store rather than Amazon, so it has no Amazon listing to link here. If you want it, buy direct from the official Archer & Olive store.
Which notebook is best for fountain pens?
Scribbles That Matter. Its 160gsm paper is the most fountain-pen-friendly in this comparison, and it even includes a pen test page so you can check a nib before committing ink to a spread.
Do these notebooks lay flat?
Scribbles That Matter uses a lay-flat binding, Leuchtturm1917 is thread-bound and opens flat, and Moleskine's hardcover opens reasonably flat but is stiffer in the spine when new. All three are workable for two-page spreads; Scribbles That Matter is the easiest of the three.