Best Notebooks (2027): Leuchtturm1917, Midori & 6 More

The eight picks side by side at 1 mm = 0.62 px, from the pocket Field Notes to the Semi-B5 Campus.

Products compared

Product	Brand origin	Made in	Price range
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5), Hardcover, 251 numbered pages (dotted, ruled, squared or plain)Leuchtturm1917	Germany	Varies (Taiwan or Germany)^*	Price range: $$$
Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame)Midori	Japan	Japan^*	Price range: $$
KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule; NO-3BTN 6 mm dotted; NO-3ATN 7 mm dotted)KOKUYO	Japan	Japan^*	Price range: $
Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2, Medium (A5), hard cover, 206 numbered pages, dottedLeuchtturm1917	Germany	Not stated^*	Price range: $$$
Field Notes Original Kraft Memo Book, 3-Pack (graph, ruled, plain or mixed)Field Notes	United States	United States^*	Price range: $
LIFE Noble Note A5, 100 sheets (plain, 8 mm ruled or 5 mm grid)LIFE	Japan	Japan^*	Price range: $$
KOKUYO Soft Ring Notebook, dot-ruled, A5, 80 sheets (ス-SV338BT)KOKUYO	Japan	Not stated^*	Price range: $$
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook (Letter 8.5 × 11 in, 32 pages · Executive 6 × 8.8 in, 36 pages)Rocketbook	United States	Not stated^*	Price range: $$$

Notes on these facts

Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Medium (A5), Hardcover, 251 numbered pages (dotted, ruled, squared or plain): Made by Leuchtturm Gruppe (Geesthacht, Germany). Made in Varies (Taiwan or Germany): Retailer data conflicts. Galaxus has listed Germany for a forest-green Medium dotted hard cover; Digitec has listed Germany, Taiwan and United Kingdom for a red-violet one; several eBay listings for Medium A5 notebooks have given Taiwan (all three now block automated reading). Leuchtturm1917's German and US product pages name no country for the standard notebook; its US 120G page says that edition's paper is made in Germany. Check the label on your copy. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Unsharpen dates the Leuchtturm1917 notebook brand to 2005; we found no separate date for the A5 Medium. The company itself dates to 1917.
Midori MD Notebook A5, 176 pages (blank, lined, grid, dot grid or frame): Made by Designphil Inc. (Tokyo); the MD line is now sold as MD PRODUCT. Made in Japan: Midori's Japanese MD PRODUCT store gives 原産国 (country of origin) Made in Japan for the A5, as did the older Midori online store listing for the lined A5 (15294006). The Journal Shop, Galen Leather and Boston General Store agree. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Designphil's February 23, 2018 press release says Midori launched the MD Notebook in 2008 and marked its 10th anniversary in January 2018; Midori's store says the notebook reached 15 years in 2023, when it was renewed with MD Paper covers.
KOKUYO Campus Notebook, Semi-B5, 30 sheets (NO-3BN 6 mm rule; NO-3BTN 6 mm dotted; NO-3ATN 7 mm dotted): Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: KOKUYO's own global online store gives Country of Origin: Japan for the NO-3BN 3-pack and 10-pack and for the NO-3BTN and NO-3ATN dotted books. KOKUYO's Japanese catalog pages don't list origin; other Campus lines and sizes may differ. Source. Price: example listing. Released: KOKUYO's Japanese chronicle: the Campus brand began with spiral notebooks in 1965; this perfect-bound Campus Note followed in 1975, and the current design is the fifth generation, from October 2011.
Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2, Medium (A5), hard cover, 206 numbered pages, dotted: Made by Leuchtturm Gruppe (Geesthacht, Germany). Country of manufacture not stated: Retailer listings have conflicted: one gave Taiwan as the country of origin and another the United Kingdom (Digitec, which now blocks automated reading). Leuchtturm1917's German product page names only the maker, LEUCHTTURM1917 GmbH in Geesthacht, not a country of manufacture. Check the label on your copy. Price: example listing.
Field Notes Original Kraft Memo Book, 3-Pack (graph, ruled, plain or mixed): Made by Field Notes Brand (Chicago); a joint venture of Draplin Design Co. and Coudal Partners. Made in United States: Field Notes' spec sheet, as reproduced in full by Pulp Addiction, says all Field Notes memo books are printed and manufactured in the U.S.A. and names the printer, Schneider Graphics, Inc., of Bensenville, Illinois. Jenni Bick also lists made in USA. Duluth Trading has said some components may be imported. Field Notes' own site blocked our requests, so we read the spec sheet through retailers. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Wikipedia dates the Field Notes launch to 2007; the spec-sheet copy says the first product was a 3-pack of kraft memo books with graph paper, with plain following shortly after, and Draplin's hand-made gift versions came earlier.
LIFE Noble Note A5, 100 sheets (plain, 8 mm ruled or 5 mm grid): Made by LIFE Co., Ltd. (Tokyo). Made in Japan: LIFE's own product page says craftsmen in Tokyo's shitamachi (old downtown) make each Noble Note by hand. Japanese Taste and Paper Whisper also list Japan as the origin. Source. Price: example listing.
KOKUYO Soft Ring Notebook, dot-ruled, A5, 80 sheets (ス-SV338BT): Made by KOKUYO Co., Ltd.. Country of manufacture not stated: KOKUYO's product pages, ASKUL's spec sheet and the US listings we read don't state where the notebook is made. KOKUYO is based in Osaka, Japan. Price: example listing. Released: Launch date of the first Soft Ring Notebook (dot-ruled, semi-B5 and A5), per KOKUYO's February 25, 2015 news release.
Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook (Letter 8.5 × 11 in, 32 pages · Executive 6 × 8.8 in, 36 pages): Made by Rocketbook (Boston), a BIC company since December 2020. Country of manufacture not stated: Rocketbook's product page and FAQ don't state a country of manufacture. In October 2026 OnTimeSupplies' spec sheets gave China (CN) for both the Executive (RKBERCAFR) and Letter (RKBLRCAFR) Core, while UK distributor TBSG had listed the United States of America (its page no longer loads for us). Check the label on your pack. Source. Price: example listing. Released: First sold as the Everlast through Kickstarter pre-orders in December 2016, shipping from April 2017 (Pocketables); reviews call the Core the former Everlast (Top Ten Reviews).
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

Most picks are A5, 148 × 210 mm; the Leuchtturm1917 Medium is 145 mm wide, and the Field Notes memo book is 89 × 140 mm (3.5 × 5.5 in).
Paper ranges from 80 g/m² in the Leuchtturm1917 Medium and Midori MD to 120 g/m² in the Bullet Journal Edition 2, which trades pages for weight: 206 against 251.
The KOKUYO Campus is the cheapest pick, in our $ band (under $5 per notebook); KOKUYO's Japanese list price is ¥210 (about US$1.30) before tax.
The LIFE Noble Note A5 has the most pages here: 100 sheets (200 pages) of cream paper of about 85 g/m², per Galen Leather.
The Rocketbook Core Letter has 32 reusable pages that wipe clean with a damp cloth when written with Pilot FriXion pens.

What is the best notebook?

On published specs, the Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 is the best notebook for most people, but the best pick for fountain pens, a budget, a pocket or reusable pages is a different book. Picks are based on published specs and maker claims; we haven’t tested them yet.

Best overall: Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5. 251 numbered pages of 80 g/m² paper, a blank index and two ribbons in a 145 × 210 mm hardcover.
Best for fountain pens: Midori MD Notebook A5. 176 pages of cream 80 g/m² MD Paper in a thread-sewn book; our fountain pen notebook roundup compares nine options.
Best budget: KOKUYO Campus. A 30-sheet Semi-B5 school notebook, 252 × 179 mm, in our $ band (under $5 per notebook).
Best for dot grid and bullet journaling: Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2. 206 numbered pages of 120 g/m² paper, 50% heavier than the standard Medium’s, with an index and future log.
Best pocket notebook: Field Notes Original Kraft. A 48-page, 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 140 mm) staple-bound memo book, sold in 3-packs and made in the USA.
Best Japanese notebook: LIFE Noble Note A5. 100 sheets (200 pages) of cream paper of about 85 g/m², in a sewn book that LIFE says craftsmen make by hand in Tokyo.
Best notebook that lies flat: KOKUYO Soft Ring A5. 80 dot-ruled sheets on soft resin rings that KOKUYO says give under your hand, and the pages fold back 360°.
Best reusable notebook: Rocketbook Core. 32 pages in Letter or 36 in Executive that you scan with the app and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

How do the eight notebooks compare?

The table sets out size, pages, paper and price band for each pick; most are A5, and they span every band from $ to $$$.

Notebook	Size	Pages	Paper	Binding	Price band
Leuchtturm1917 Medium	145 × 210 mm	251 numbered	80 g/m²	Thread-sewn hardcover	$$$
Midori MD A5	148 × 210 mm	176	80 g/m² MD Paper	Thread-sewn, opens 180°	$$
KOKUYO Campus	179 × 252 mm	60	Not published	Glued, cloth spine	$
Bullet Journal Edition 2	145 × 210 mm	206 numbered	120 g/m²	Thread-sewn hardcover	$$$
Field Notes Original Kraft	89 × 140 mm	48	Finch 60#T	Three staples	$
LIFE Noble Note A5	148 × 210 mm	200	About 85 g/m²	Sewn	$$
KOKUYO Soft Ring A5	210 × 148 mm sheets	160	Not published	Resin rings	$$
Rocketbook Core	Letter or 6 × 8.8 in	32 or 36	Reusable synthetic	Spiral	$$$

Sizes and pages are from the makers, except the Noble Note’s paper weight (Galen Leather). Japanese list prices are lower than US prices: ¥1,210 (about US$7.70) for the Midori MD A5 and ¥680 (about US$4.30) for the Soft Ring A5.

Which notebook has the best paper?

For fountain pens and wet inks, Japanese papers lead: Midori says its MD Paper resists feathering and bleed-through, and LIFE’s cream paper is about 85 g/m². For markers, the Bullet Journal Edition 2’s 120 g/m² paper shows the least through the page on specs.

Paper weight isn’t the whole story: sizing decides whether ink sits on the surface or wicks into the fibers. Our fountain pen notebook roundup explains feathering and compares Rhodia, Apica and Hobonichi too.

Leuchtturm1917 or Bullet Journal Edition 2?

Pick the standard Leuchtturm1917 Medium for writing and the Bullet Journal Edition 2 for a bullet journal with markers. Both share the 145 × 210 mm cover, but the Edition 2’s heavier 120 g/m² paper means 206 pages against 251.

The Edition 2 adds three ribbons, an index and future log, a grid guide and a pocket guide to the method. Leuchtturm1917’s German shop lists it at €29.95 (about US$34).

What is the best small notebook to carry?

The Field Notes Original Kraft is the best pocket notebook on specs: 3.5 × 5.5 in (89 × 140 mm), 48 pages and three staples. Field Notes sells it in graph, ruled or plain 3-packs, and its spec sheet says it is printed in the USA.

Which notebook is best for students?

The KOKUYO Campus is the best student notebook on specs: cheap, thin and sold in 6 mm (35 lines) or 7 mm (30 lines) rulings. KOKUYO’s Japanese list price is ¥210 (about US$1.30) before tax.

If you want to tear out pages cleanly, the KOKUYO Soft Ring A5 has micro-perforated sheets. If you mostly scan notes into the cloud, the Rocketbook Core lets you reuse each page.

Other reviewers agree with our overall pick. Wirecutter names the Leuchtturm1917 A5 its best medium hardcover and the Apica Premium C.D. A5 its best medium softcover.

The Pen Addict recommended the Apica Premium C.D. in 2020 for its very smooth paper, a Japanese alternative to our LIFE Noble Note.

Where are these notebooks made?

Five of the eight have a sourced country: Japan for the Midori MD, KOKUYO Campus and LIFE Noble Note, the USA for Field Notes, and Taiwan or Germany for the Leuchtturm1917 Medium, depending on the stock. Leuchtturm1917 doesn’t state it for the Bullet Journal Edition 2, KOKUYO doesn’t for the Soft Ring, and Rocketbook doesn’t for the Core, so check the label.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best notebook brand?

No one brand wins every use. On published specs, Leuchtturm1917 makes the best all-round hardcover, Midori the best paper for fountain pens, and KOKUYO the best budget and lay-flat notebooks.

Is Leuchtturm1917 better than Moleskine?

On paper specs, yes for most writers: the Leuchtturm1917 Medium has 80 g/m² paper, numbered pages and an index, while the Moleskine Classic Large uses 70 g/m² paper without page numbers. The Leuchtturm1917 is also 15 mm wider (145 vs 130 mm).

What notebook paper weight is best?

80–90 g/m² suits most pens, including fine fountain pens. Go to 120 g/m² or more, as in the Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2, if you use markers or wet inks and want less show-through.

What size notebook should I buy?

A5 (148 × 210 mm, about 5.8 × 8.3 in) is the most common size for journals and desk notes. Pick a pocket book like the 3.5 × 5.5 in Field Notes to carry, and Semi-B5 or Letter for class notes.

Which notebook lies completely flat?

Ring notebooks like the KOKUYO Soft Ring fold back on themselves, and KOKUYO says its pages fold back 360°. Thread-sewn books such as the Midori MD A5 open flat at 180°.

Are reusable notebooks worth it?

They suit people who scan notes rather than keep paper. A Rocketbook Core wipes clean with a damp cloth if you write with Pilot FriXion pens, but you can't keep the pages as a record.

What is the best cheap notebook?

The KOKUYO Campus, a 30-sheet Japanese school notebook in our $ band (under $5 per notebook). KOKUYO has made it in its perfect-bound form since 1975, in 6 mm and 7 mm rulings.

Sources (12)

Plain-text version for AI agents: best-notebooks.md · Spotted an error? See how we check facts.