MUJI Recycled Paper Notebook: 30 Sheets, A5 & B5

Drawing of the MUJI recycled paper notebook to scale: a B5 notebook 252 mm tall behind an A5 notebook 148 mm wide, and an A5 opened flat on 6 mm ruled white pages with thread stitching in the fold — The B5 and A5 sizes closed, and an A5 open on its stitched fold (1 mm = 0.85 px).

Product facts

Product: MUJI Recycled Paper Notebook, 30 sheets (A6, A5 or B5; lined, grid or blank)
Brand: MUJI
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Japan^*
Material: Recycled paper, inner pages at least 55% recycled (古紙55%以上); paperboard cover
Price range: $under $5 per notebook

Notes on these facts

Made by Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: MUJI Japan's online store gives 原産国・地域 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan) for the A6, A5 and B5 lined notebooks, and MUJI Canada and MUJI US also give Japan. 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; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

Every size has 30 sheets (60 pages); MUJI Japan lists the A5 at 210 × 148 mm with a 4 mm spine and 6 mm B-ruled lines.
The B5 measures 252 × 179 mm (9.9 × 7.1 in); MUJI also makes a separate B5 with 33 lines at 7 mm.
MUJI Japan calls the binding 糸綴じ (thread-stitched), and MUJI US says it is signature bound so it lies flat.
MUJI Japan gives the inner paper as at least 55% recycled and the country of origin as Japan.
MUJI Japan sells the A6 and A5 at ¥100 (about US$0.60) and the B5 at ¥120 (about US$0.80); US prices fall in our $ band, under $5.

What is the MUJI recycled paper notebook?

It is MUJI’s basic notebook: 30 sheets of recycled paper, stitched into a plain paperboard cover with no logo on the front. MUJI sells it lined, grid and blank, and it is one of the cheapest notebooks in its stores.

MUJI is the no-brand label of Ryohin Keikaku, a Japanese retailer. The plain design is the point: it suits people who want a quiet notebook to fill and replace.

MUJI recycled paper notebook specs

Spec	A6	A5	B5
Size	148 × 105 mm (5.8 × 4.1 in)	210 × 148 mm (8.3 × 5.8 in)	252 × 179 mm (9.9 × 7.1 in)
Spine	4 mm	4 mm	4 mm (7 mm version)
Sheets	30 (60 pages)	30 (60 pages)	30 (60 pages)
Lines	6 mm	6 mm	6 mm, or 7 mm with 33 lines
Binding	Thread-stitched	Thread-stitched	Thread-stitched
Japan price	¥100 (about US$0.60)	¥100 (about US$0.60)	¥120 (about US$0.80)
JAN (6 mm lined)	4550182109467	4550182109405	4550182109528
Made in	Japan	Japan	Japan

All figures come from MUJI Japan’s online store, where the lined notebooks are called ノート・6mm横罫 (“notebook, 6 mm lines”); prices include tax. The same barcodes appear on MUJI Canada’s listing, and the US and Canadian stores agree on sizes, sheets and origin. MUJI Japan gives the inner paper as at least 55% recycled (古紙55%以上) and the cover as paperboard, but no paper weight; it also says the plain cover and pages have no fixed top or bottom, so you can start from either end.

To-scale drawing of the MUJI recycled paper notebook sizes: B5 179 × 252 mm, A5 148 × 210 mm with 6 mm lines, and A6 105 × 148 mm, all with 30 sheets — The three sizes at 1 mm = 1.2 px, aligned at the bottom-left corner.

What size should you buy?

Buy the A5 to carry and the B5 for class or desk notes. The A5 is the size of most journals and fits a tote bag, while the B5 is close to a US composition book and gives more room per line.

The A6 suits lists and pocket notes. At 30 sheets, every size is thin, so many people buy several and date them.

What is the line spacing?

The standard notebooks have 6 mm lines, Japan’s B-rule, which is tighter than US college rule (about 7.1 mm). MUJI also sells a separate B5 with 7 mm A-rule lines, 33 to a page, so read the label if you write large.

6 mm suits small handwriting and Japanese-style notes. If you want wider lines, look for the 7 mm B5; the grid version has 5 mm squares.

Does it lie flat, and how is it bound?

MUJI says the notebook is signature bound so that it lies flat. All 30 sheets are folded into one section and stitched through the fold; MUJI’s Japanese store calls the binding 糸綴じ, thread-stitched. It notes that the middle pages are slightly narrower than the outer ones, 145 mm against 148 mm on the A5, because of the fold.

That is the same idea as the Moleskine Cahier Journal, and different from the glued spine of the KOKUYO Campus. Pages don’t tear out cleanly, because each sheet is joined to its partner across the fold.

How does it handle pens?

Fountain pen users report that the recycled paper does better than MUJI’s other papers, but results are mixed. In an older Fountain Pen Network thread, one member found the recycled notebooks had no feathering or bleed-through while other MUJI papers feathered, and another saw only slight bleed-through with a very wet flex nib; a third found visible feathering on MUJI notebooks bought in Hong Kong.

MUJI US’s review summary praises the smooth paper of the grid notebook, while one MUJI Japan reviewer of the 7 mm B5 noticed show-through. For heavier ink, see our best notebooks for fountain pens.

How does it compare with other thin notebooks?

It is the plainest and lightest of the thin notebooks we cover.

	MUJI A5	KOKUYO Campus	Field Notes
Size	210 × 148 mm	252 × 179 mm (Semi-B5)	3.5 × 5.5 in
Pages	60	60	48
Lines	6 mm	6 mm or 7 mm	Graph, ruled or plain
Binding	Stitched	Glued	Staple-bound

Choose the MUJI if you want a stitched, lay-flat book with no branding. Choose the Campus for more ruling options and dotted lines.

Where is the MUJI notebook made, and what does it cost?

MUJI lists the recycled paper notebook as made in Japan. MUJI Japan’s store gives Japan as the country of origin for the A6, A5 and B5, and MUJI’s Canadian and US listings agree.

In Japan the A6 and A5 cost ¥100 (about US$0.60) and the B5 ¥120 (about US$0.80). US prices put every size in our $ band, under $5 per notebook. Amazon.com also sells MUJI notebooks in sets of five, such as the B5 ruled set 76316145.

Frequently asked questions

How many pages are in a MUJI notebook?

The MUJI recycled paper notebook has 30 sheets, which is 60 pages, in every size MUJI lists. MUJI Australia lists a coloured-cover B5 five-pack with 36 sheets, so check multi-packs.

What sizes does the MUJI recycled paper notebook come in?

A6, A5 and B5. MUJI gives the A6 as 148 × 105 mm, the A5 as 210 × 148 mm (8.3 × 5.8 in) and the B5 as 252 × 179 mm (9.9 × 7.1 in).

What is the line spacing in MUJI notebooks?

The standard notebooks have 6 mm lines (Japan's B-rule), a little tighter than US college rule. MUJI also sells a B5 with 7 mm lines (A-rule, 33 lines), so check the label.

Do MUJI notebooks lie flat?

MUJI says the notebook is signature bound so that it lies flat, and MUJI Japan calls the binding thread-stitched (糸綴じ). With only 30 sheets in one stitched section, it opens flatter than a glued notebook.

Is MUJI notebook paper good for fountain pens?

Mixed. In an older Fountain Pen Network thread, members found the recycled paper feathered less than other MUJI papers, though one saw slight bleed-through with a very wet nib and another found feathering. We haven't tested it ourselves yet.

Where are MUJI notebooks made?

In Japan. MUJI's Japanese, US and Canadian stores all list the recycled paper notebook as made in Japan. MUJI is the store brand of Ryohin Keikaku, a Japanese retailer.

Can you buy MUJI notebooks on Amazon?

Yes. Amazon.com carries MUJI notebooks, for example a set of five 30-sheet B5 ruled notebooks (76316145), as well as MUJI's own US stores and website.

Sources (13)

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