Canson XL Sketch Pad: 50 lb Paper, Sizes & Uses
The Canson XL Sketch pad is Canson's value pad of 50 lb (74 g/m²) acid-free, natural white sketch paper for pencil, charcoal and pen. The 9 × 12 in pad has 100 micro-perforated, true-size sheets in a double-wire binding; Blick also lists 5.5 × 8.5 in and 18 × 24 in pads. It sits in our $$ band ($5–20).
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Canson XL Sketch pad, 9 x 12 in, 50 lb (74 g/m²), 100 sheets, wire bound
- Brand
- Canson
- Brand origin
- France
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- 50 lb (74 g/m²) acid-free natural white sketch paper, micro-perforated sheets, double wire binding
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per ream or pad
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Canson (Annonay, France). Country of manufacture not stated: Canson's US product page, Blick and De Serres don't state where the XL Sketch pad is made, and we found no listing that does. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Canson's US site lists XL Sketch at 50 lb (74 g/m²), acid-free and natural white, for pencil, charcoal and pen.
- The 9 × 12 in pad holds 100 sheets; Blick also lists a 5.5 × 8.5 in fold-over pad of 100 and an 18 × 24 in pad of 50.
- Canson says the double wire binding holds true-size sheets that are micro-perforated for clean removal.
- The French XL Croquis is a different paper: 90 g/m² and ivory, per Canson France.
- Canson is a French brand founded in Annonay; no source we read states where the US XL Sketch pad is made.
What is the Canson XL Sketch pad?
It is Canson’s high-sheet-count student sketch pad: 50 lb (74 g/m²) acid-free white paper for pencil, charcoal and pen. Blick says Canson designs XL pads to give students more sheets at a comparable or lower price than other value pads, developed with art professors.
Canson’s US site describes a smooth, fine-grain surface that erases cleanly. Blick adds that it blends and erases well, with a more opaque sheet.
Canson XL Sketch specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Paper weight | 50 lb (74 g/m²) |
| Color | Natural white |
| Surface | Smooth, fine grain (Canson) · medium tooth (Blick) |
| Acid-free | Yes |
| Media | Pencil, charcoal, pen; markers per Blick |
| 9 × 12 in pad | 229 × 305 mm, wire bound, 100 sheets |
| Binding | Double wire; true-size, micro-perforated sheets |
| Made in | Not stated |
Weight, color and binding are from Canson’s US site; sheet counts are from Blick.
Which size should you choose?
Choose the 9 × 12 in pad for most classes and home practice, the 5.5 × 8.5 in to carry, and the 18 × 24 in for figure drawing at an easel. Blick lists:
| Size | Binding | Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 8.5 in (140 × 216 mm) | Fold-over (Euro fold) | 100 |
| 9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm) | Wire at the top | 100 |
| 9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm) | Wire at the side | 100 |
| 18 × 24 in (457 × 610 mm) | Wire at the top | 50 |
Top-wire pads flip like a reporter’s pad, which suits a lap or an easel; the side-wire version opens like a book.
Because Canson’s sheets are true size once torn at the micro-perforation, a 9 × 12 in drawing fits a standard 9 × 12 in frame or portfolio sleeve without trimming. Canson also sells XL Sketch in bound sketchbooks and rolls, per its US site, if you prefer pages that stay together.
What can you use on it?
Graphite, charcoal, colored pencil and pens are what it is for; keep wet media for heavier pads. Canson lists pencil, charcoal and pen, and Blick adds markers.
At 74 g/m² the sheet is light, so washes will buckle it. For markers, use the Canson XL Marker pad; for watercolor and gouache, the Canson XL Mix Media pad at 98 lb (160 g/m²).
Is the US XL Sketch the same as the French XL Croquis?
No. Canson France’s XL Croquis is a 90 g/m² ivory paper, while the US XL Sketch is 74 g/m² natural white. Both are student sketch papers sold under the XL name, so check the weight printed on the cover if you buy abroad.
The French paper is heavier and warmer in tone, suited to pastel and charcoal as well as pencil, per Canson France. The US paper is lighter and whiter, which keeps the 100-sheet pad thin and the price per sheet low.
How does it compare to the Strathmore 300 Sketch?
They are close rivals: both are 50 lb (74 g/m²), 100-sheet 9 × 12 in pads in our $$ band. The Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pad describes a fine-tooth surface, while Canson describes XL Sketch as smooth. If you want a heavier sheet, step up to the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad at 60 lb (89 g/m²).
Where is the Canson XL Sketch pad made?
No source we read states where the US XL Sketch pad is made, so we list it as “Not stated”. Canson is a French paper brand from Annonay; check the back cover of your pad for the country.
Frequently asked questions
What paper weight is the Canson XL Sketch pad?
50 lb, or 74 g/m², per Canson's US site and Blick. That is a light sketch paper for practice and quick drawings.
Is Canson XL Sketch paper acid-free?
Yes. Canson's US site lists XL Sketch as acid-free.
How many sheets are in a Canson XL Sketch pad?
The 9 × 12 in wire-bound pad has 100 sheets. Blick lists a 5.5 × 8.5 in fold-over pad with 100 sheets and an 18 × 24 in wire-bound pad with 50.
Can you use markers on Canson XL Sketch?
Canson's US site says it suits pencil and pen, and Blick adds markers. For alcohol markers or heavy ink, the Canson XL Marker pad is made to stop bleed-through.
Is Canson XL Sketch smooth or toothy?
Sources differ: Canson's US site calls the surface smooth with a fine grain, while Blick describes medium-tooth drawing paper. Expect a light tooth that takes graphite and erases cleanly.
What is the difference between Canson XL Sketch and XL Drawing?
Canson describes XL Drawing as a light-textured paper for pencil and pen, and XL Sketch as smooth; both are acid-free. Check the weight on each cover before you choose.
Is Canson XL made in France?
Canson is a French brand from Annonay, but no source we read states where the US XL Sketch pad is made, so check the back of the pad.
Sources
- Canson (US): XL Sketch (smooth surface, acid-free, natural white, fine grain, 50 lb / 74 g, double wire binding, true-size micro-perforated sheets; read October 22, 2026)
- Canson (FR): XL Croquis (90 g/m², ivory, pencil, pastel and charcoal)
- Blick: Canson XL Sketch Pads (50 lb / 74 gsm, white, medium tooth; 5.5 × 8.5 in Euro fold 100 sheets, 9 × 12 in wirebound and side-wirebound 100 sheets, 18 × 24 in wirebound 50 sheets)
- De Serres: Canson Sketch paper pad XL, spiral, 9 × 12 in, 100 sheets (50 lb / 74 gsm; UPC 3148955726198)