Best Sketchbooks for 2027: Stillman & Birn, Croquis & More

Products compared

Product	Brand origin	Made in	Price range
Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Hardbound Sketchbook, Portrait, 5.5 x 8.5 in, 62 sheets, 150 gsm (100580)Stillman & Birn	United States	United States*	Price range: $$$
Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook Medium (A5), Portrait, Hardcover, 112 pages, 150 g/m²Leuchtturm1917	Germany	Not stated*	Price range: $$$
Canson XL Mix Media Pad (98 lb / 160 gsm, side wire bound)Canson	France	Not stated*	Price range: $$
Moleskine Art Sketchbook (Art Plus), Large, Plain, Black, Hard Cover, 13 x 21 cm, 104 pagesMoleskine	Italy	China*	Price range: $$$
Maruman Croquis Book, Pocket, White, 100 sheets (S161)Maruman	Japan	Japan*	Price range: $$
Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 9 x 12 in, 60 lb, 100 sheets (455-3)Strathmore	United States	United States*	Price range: $$

Notes on these facts

• Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Hardbound Sketchbook, Portrait, 5.5 x 8.5 in, 62 sheets, 150 gsm (100580): Made by Stillman & Birn (Exacompta Clairefontaine group); distributed in the US by Exaclair. Made in United States: Stillman & Birn says its products are made in the USA and shipped from its manufacturing facility in Hamburg, New York, and Exaclair's 2026 catalog adds that they use Schut paper produced in the Netherlands (Schut is a Clairefontaine mill). Above Ground Art Supplies also says the Alpha books are bound in the US. Source. Price: example listing.
• Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook Medium (A5), Portrait, Hardcover, 112 pages, 150 g/m²: Made by Leuchtturm Gruppe (Geesthacht, Germany). Country of manufacture not stated: We found no listing that gives a country of origin for the current 150 g/m², 112-page Sketchbook, and Leuchtturm1917's German page names only the maker in Geesthacht. Galaxus lists Germany for the separate Edition120 sketchbook, and other Leuchtturm1917 notebooks are listed as made in Taiwan, China or Germany, so check the label on your copy. Price: example listing.
• Canson XL Mix Media Pad (98 lb / 160 gsm, side wire bound): Made by Canson (Annonay, France). Country of manufacture not stated: Sources conflict. An Amazon listing for the 9×12 in pad says it is manufactured in France; School Specialty lists the United States as the country of origin, and STL Art Supply says the pads are made in the USA from French paper. Canson's US page doesn't say, and its French site says only that Canson papers are made in France. Check the back of the pad you buy. Price: example listing.
• Moleskine Art Sketchbook (Art Plus), Large, Plain, Black, Hard Cover, 13 x 21 cm, 104 pages: Made by Moleskine S.r.l. (D'Ieteren Group). Made in China: John Lewis gives China as the country of origin for the Large black Art Sketchbook. Moleskine's Italian product page doesn't state the country. Source. Price: example listing.
• Maruman Croquis Book, Pocket, White, 100 sheets (S161): Made by Maruman Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: Maruman's Japanese product page gives 生産国 (country of production): 日本 (Japan) for the S161, and the same for the S162, S163 and SQ2. Maruzen Junkudo and Hunter Paper Co. also list Japan. Source. Price: example listing.
• Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 9 x 12 in, 60 lb, 100 sheets (455-3): Made by Strathmore Artist Papers, a division of Dixon Ticonderoga (F.I.L.A. Group); owned by Pacon Corporation from 2006 until F.I.L.A. bought Pacon in 2018. Made in United States: Staples listings for the 5.5 × 8.5 in and 9 × 12 in pads carry a Made in America label, and Zoro lists the United States as the country of origin for a related 400 Series drawing pad. Strathmore's product page and Dixon's 2025 price list don't state the country. Source. Price: example listing.
• 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

• Paper weight ranges from 52.3 g/m² in the Maruman Croquis S161 and 89 g/m² (60 lb) in the Strathmore 400 to 150 g/m² in the Stillman & Birn Alpha and Leuchtturm1917, 160 g/m² in the Canson XL Mix Media and 165 g/m² in the Moleskine Art.
• Page counts differ widely: the Croquis S161 has 100 sheets, the Strathmore 400 9 × 12 in pad 100 sheets, the Alpha 62 sheets and the Leuchtturm1917 56 sheets (112 pages).
• The pocket picks are small: Moleskine lists the Art Sketchbook Pocket at 9 × 14 cm, and Maruman lists the Croquis S161 at 113 × 165 × 9 mm and 110 g.
• Stillman & Birn makes its books in Hamburg, New York; Maruman gives Japan for the Croquis; Staples labels the Strathmore 400 made in America.
• Three are in our $$$ band ($20–75 per book) and three in the $$ band ($5–20 per pad).

What is the best sketchbook?

The Stillman & Birn Alpha is the best sketchbook for most people, but the best pick for everyday carry, mixed media, a pocket, fast Japanese croquis work or a budget pad is a different book. Picks are based on published specs and maker claims; we haven’t tested them yet.

• Best overall: Stillman & Birn Alpha, 5.5 × 8.5 in. A sewn hardcover with 62 sheets (124 pages) of 150 g/m² (100 lb) white, medium-grain paper that Stillman & Birn rates for dry media, ink and light washes.
• Best for everyday sketching: Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook Medium. 112 pages of 150 g/m² paper in a 145 × 210 mm book with an elastic closure, ribbon and back pocket, also sold in landscape and square formats.
• Best for mixed media: Canson XL Mix Media. Heavily sized 98 lb (160 g/m²) paper that Canson sells for wet and dry media, in side-wire pads of 60 sheets from 5.5 × 8.5 to 14 × 17 in.
• Best pocket: Moleskine Art Sketchbook Pocket. A 9 × 14 cm (3.5 × 5.5 in) hardcover of heavy 165 g/m² ivory paper, with the same elastic and pocket as the Large.
• Best Japanese: Maruman Croquis S161. 100 sheets of thin 52.3 g/m² croquis paper in a 113 × 165 mm pocket book that Maruman lists at ¥517 (about US$3.30).
• Best budget pad: Strathmore 400 Series Sketch, 9 × 12 in. 100 sheets of 60 lb (89 g/m²) fine-tooth paper for graphite, colored pencil and charcoal.

How do the six sketchbooks compare?

They divide into hardcover books for ink and light washes and wire-bound pads for practice and mixed media. Figures are from the makers unless noted.

Sketchbook	Size shown	Paper	Sheets	Binding	Made in	Band
Stillman & Birn Alpha	5.5 × 8.5 in (14 × 21.6 cm)	150 g/m², white	62	Sewn hardcover	United States	$$$
Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook	145 × 210 mm	150 g/m², white	56	Sewn hardcover	Not stated	$$$
Canson XL Mix Media	5.5 × 8.5 to 14 × 17 in	160 g/m² (98 lb)	60	Side wire	Not stated	$$
Moleskine Art Sketchbook	Pocket 9 × 14 cm; Large 13 × 21 cm	165 g/m², ivory	Large 52	Hardcover	China (Large)	$$$
Maruman Croquis S161	113 × 165 mm	52.3 g/m², white	100	Twin wire, covered spine	Japan	$$
Strathmore 400 Sketch	9 × 12 in (and others)	89 g/m² (60 lb)	100	Wire	United States	$$

Leuchtturm1917’s German site prices the sketchbook from €24.95 (about US$28), and Moleskine’s Italian shop prices the Large Art Sketchbook at €28.00 (about US$31). Unsharpen lists 72 pages for the Moleskine Pocket.

Which sketchbook is best for ink and light washes?

The Stillman & Birn Alpha is the safest of the bound books for washes, and the Canson XL Mix Media is the pad made for them. Stillman & Birn rates Alpha for light washes, and Canson says its heavy sizing suits wet and dry media.

The Leuchtturm1917 and Moleskine Art take pencil, ink and fineliners well, per reviewers, but the Well-Appointed Desk found the Leuchtturm1917’s paper pilled under heavy wet work. For real watercolor, Stillman & Birn’s 270 g/m² Beta is the heavier option.

Which sketchbook is best for markers?

None of these six is a marker book; reviewers report alcohol markers bleeding through both the Moleskine Art and the Leuchtturm1917. Put a scrap sheet behind the page, or buy a pad of dedicated marker paper.

What is the best pocket sketchbook?

Choose the Moleskine Art Pocket for heavy paper and the Maruman Croquis S161 for many cheap pages. The Moleskine is 9 × 14 cm with 165 g/m² ivory paper, while Maruman lists the Croquis at 113 × 165 × 9 mm and 110 g with 100 thin sheets.

Maruman’s covered spine wraps the kraft cover round the wire, which Maruzen Junkudo says keeps it from snagging in a bag. If you want heavier paper in the same size, Maruman’s S163 has 55 sheets of 96.5 g/m² paper.

Is a sketch pad or a sketchbook better for practice?

A pad is better for practice, because the sheets tear out and cost less each. The Strathmore 400 9 × 12 in pad holds 100 micro-perforated sheets, and Strathmore grades the 400 Series one step below its top 500 Series.

Keep a bound book for work you want to keep in order; the Alpha and Leuchtturm1917 are thread-sewn so pages stay put.

What do other reviewers recommend?

Reviewers who sketch daily favor Stillman & Birn, with Maruman for quick pocket work.

• Liz Steel, an urban sketching teacher, uses the Stillman & Birn Alpha as her everyday sketchbook and says that, although it isn’t designed for watercolour, its paper is very robust under washes. She still prefers Moleskine’s watercolour books for rapid wet-in-wet sketching, though she says Moleskine’s paper is not as nice as it used to be.
• The Pen Addict reviewed the heavier Croquis pocket S163 in April 2022 and found no bleeding or feathering on its cream paper; even a Sharpie barely dotted through.

Where are these sketchbooks made?

Stillman & Birn makes its books in Hamburg, New York, Maruman gives Japan for the Croquis, Staples labels the Strathmore 400 made in America and John Lewis gives China for the Moleskine Art Large. Sources conflict for the Canson XL Mix Media, and none states it for the Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook, so check the back cover.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best sketchbook for beginners?

A cheap pad you won't be afraid to fill, such as the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad: 100 sheets of 60 lb (89 g/m²) fine-tooth paper in the 9 × 12 in size. Move to a bound book such as the Stillman & Birn Alpha once you sketch daily.

What is the best sketchbook for watercolor?

None of these six is a true watercolor book. The Canson XL Mix Media (160 g/m², heavy sizing) and the Stillman & Birn Alpha (150 g/m²) take light washes; for heavy washes, Stillman & Birn's 270 g/m² Beta or a watercolor pad is better.

What is the best sketchbook for markers?

Not the Moleskine Art or Leuchtturm1917: reviewers report that alcohol markers bleed through both. Use scrap paper behind the page, or a dedicated marker pad.

What is the best pocket sketchbook?

The Moleskine Art Sketchbook Pocket, 9 × 14 cm (3.5 × 5.5 in), for heavy 165 g/m² paper, or the Maruman Croquis S161, 113 × 165 mm with 100 thin sheets, for fast gesture drawing.

Is Stillman & Birn better than Moleskine?

For mixed pencil, ink and wash, it is the better fit on paper specs. The Alpha has 62 sheets of 150 g/m² white paper and takes light washes; the Moleskine Art Large has 52 sheets of 165 g/m² ivory paper that reviewers say is not for repeated wet layers.

What paper weight is best for a sketchbook?

About 90 g/m² (60 lb) is enough for pencil, as in the Strathmore 400. Around 150–165 g/m² handles ink and light washes, as in the Alpha, Leuchtturm1917, Canson XL Mix Media and Moleskine Art.

What is croquis paper?

Thin, inexpensive paper for quick figure drawing. Maruman's white croquis paper in the S161 weighs 52.3 g/m², so a pocket book holds 100 sheets.

Sources (16)

1. Stillman & Birn: Alpha Series (150 gsm, white, medium grain; dry media, light wash, ink)
2. Stillman & Birn: About (made in the USA at Hamburg, NY)
3. Leuchtturm1917 (Germany): Skizzenbuch (112 pages, 150 g/m², thread-sewn, from €24.95)
4. Leuchtturm1917 US: Sketchbooks (Master, Square, Medium portrait and landscape sizes)
5. Moleskine (IT): Taccuino per gli schizzi (165 g/m² ivory paper, sizes Pocket to A3, €28.00 Large)
6. Unsharpen: Moleskine Art Sketchbook review (page counts by size, media tests)
7. John Lewis: Moleskine Large Art Sketchbook, Black (country of origin China)
8. Maruman: Pocket Croquis S161 (113 × 165 × 9 mm, 110 g, 100 sheets of 52.3 g/m², ¥517, made in Japan)
9. Maruman: Pocket Sketchbook S163 (55 sheets of 96.5 g/m², made in Japan)
10. Strathmore: 400 Series Sketch (60 lb, 89 g/m², fine tooth, pad sizes)
11. Staples: Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad (Made in America label)
12. Canson USA: XL Mixed Media (98 lb/160 g, heavy sizing, wire-bound, micro-perforated)
13. Canson (French): XL Mixed Media (160 g/m², acid-free, ISO 9706)
14. Liz Steel: Sketchbooks (Stillman & Birn Alpha as her everyday sketchbook)
15. The Well-Appointed Desk: Review of the Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook (2016)
16. The Pen Addict: Maruman Croquis Pocket Series review (2022)

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