Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pad: 50 lb Paper & Sizes

Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pad, 9 by 12 in, closed and opened to a pencil sketch of a pear — The 9 × 12 in pad, closed and open, drawn to scale; the cover artwork is simplified.

Product facts

Product: Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pad, 9 x 12 in, 50 lb, 100 sheets, wire bound (350-9)
Brand: Strathmore
Brand origin: United States
Made in: Not stated^*
Material: 50 lb (74 g/m²) fine-tooth sketch paper, micro-perforated sheets, wire binding
Released: 1974^*
Price range: $$$5–20 per ream or pad
Rate it: No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this product.

Notes on these facts

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. Country of manufacture not stated: Strathmore's product page and the Staples listing for the 350-9 don't state a country. Zoro lists the United States as the country of origin for 300 Series drawing pads, a related product, so the sketch pad is likely US-made, but we found no listing that says so for this pad. Price: example listing. Released: Strathmore's history page says the 300 Series was developed in 1974; it doesn't give a date for this particular pad.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Strathmore lists the paper at 50 lb (74 g/m²) with a fine-tooth surface for dry media.
The 9 × 12 in wire-bound pad (350-9) has 100 sheets that are micro-perforated and true to size once removed.
Strathmore makes 12 pads, from 3.5 × 5 in to 22 × 30 in; most hold 100 sheets, the 18 × 24 in wire-bound and 22 × 30 in tape-bound pads hold 30.
Strathmore ranks the 300 Series as Better, for beginning and student artists, below the 400 Series (Best).
Strathmore says it developed the 300 Series in 1974, when its Alexis line became the 400 Series.

What is the Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pad?

It is Strathmore’s student-grade sketch pad: lightweight 50 lb paper with a fine tooth, made for practice, technique studies and quick drawings in dry media. Strathmore describes it as suited to classroom experimentation.

Strathmore grades its papers from Vision (Good) through 300 (Better), 400 (Best) and 500 (Premium). The 300 Series sits one step below the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, and Strathmore says it developed the 300 Series in 1974.

Strathmore 300 Series Sketch specs

Spec	Value
Paper weight	50 lb (74 g/m²)
Surface	Fine tooth
Media	Graphite pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, sketching stick
Main size	9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm), wire bound, 100 sheets (350-9)
Sheets	Micro-perforated, true size when removed (wire-bound pads)
Other formats	Wire, tape and glue-bound pads from 3.5 × 5 to 22 × 30 in
Made in	Not stated

All figures come from Strathmore’s product page.

Strathmore gives the 50 lb basis weight for 500 sheets of 25 × 38 in paper; in metric that is 74 g/m², about the same as 20 lb (75 g/m²) copy paper. That lightness is what lets Strathmore fit 100 sheets into a pad that stays thin enough to carry to class.

Strathmore 300 Series Sketch pad sizes drawn to scale, from 3.5 × 5 in to 18 × 24 in — The 300 Series sketch pad sizes up to 18 × 24 in; a 22 × 30 in tape-bound pad also exists.

Which size and binding should you choose?

Choose the 9 × 12 in wire-bound pad for class and home, 5.5 × 8.5 in to carry, and 18 × 24 in for big figure drawing. Strathmore lists these pads:

Item	Size	Binding	Sheets
350-3	3.5 × 5 in	Wire	100
350-4	4 × 6 in	Tape	100
350-6	5.5 × 8.5 in	Wire	100
350-9	9 × 12 in	Wire	100
350-11 / 350-14	11 × 14 / 14 × 17 in	Wire	100
350-18	18 × 24 in	Wire	30
350-109 to 350-118	9 × 12 to 18 × 24 in	Glue (flip-over cover)	100
350-22	22 × 30 in	Tape	30

Wire-bound pads let you fold the cover right back; Strathmore says the glue-bound pads have flip-over covers.

What can you use on 50 lb sketch paper?

Use dry media: graphite, colored pencil, charcoal and sketching sticks. At 74 g/m² the sheet is light, so markers, ink washes and watercolor are likely to bleed through or buckle it.

For markers, use the Canson XL Marker pad; for mixed wet and dry work, the Canson XL Mix Media pad. Our paper weight guide explains lb and g/m².

How does it compare to the 400 Series and Canson XL Sketch?

The 300 Series matches the Canson XL Sketch pad in weight, and the 400 Series is a heavier step up.

	Strathmore 300 Sketch	Strathmore 400 Sketch	Canson XL Sketch
Weight	50 lb (74 g/m²)	60 lb (89 g/m²)	50 lb (74 g/m²)
Surface	Fine tooth	Fine tooth	Medium tooth, per Blick
9 × 12 in sheets	100	100	100
Price band	$$	$$	$$

Pick the 400 for drawings you want to keep, and the 300 or Canson XL for volume practice. See our best sketchbooks for bound options.

Where is the Strathmore 300 sketch pad made?

No source we read states where the 300 Series sketch pad is made, so we list it as “Not stated”. Zoro gives the United States for 300 Series drawing pads. Strathmore began as a paper mill in West Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1892, and is now a division of Dixon Ticonderoga, part of Italy’s F.I.L.A. group.

Frequently asked questions

What paper weight is the Strathmore 300 sketch pad?

50 lb, which Strathmore gives as 74 g/m². It is a light sketch paper meant for practice and quick studies.

How many sheets are in the Strathmore 300 sketch pad?

Most sizes have 100 sheets. The 18 × 24 in wire-bound pad and the 22 × 30 in tape-bound pad have 30, per Strathmore.

Is the Strathmore 300 or 400 sketch pad better?

The 400 Series is Strathmore's higher grade, with 60 lb (89 g/m²) paper; the 300 Series is lighter and cheaper, for practice. Choose the 400 for finished drawings and the 300 for daily sketching.

Can you use markers on Strathmore 300 sketch paper?

Strathmore lists it for dry media: graphite, colored pencil, charcoal and sketching stick. Markers and wet media are likely to bleed through 50 lb paper; use a marker or mixed-media pad instead.

Are the sheets perforated?

Yes. Strathmore says wire-bound sheets are micro-perforated and actual size when removed, except the small 3.5 × 5 in pad, whose sheets come off at the wire.

Is the Strathmore 300 sketch pad acid-free?

Strathmore's product page doesn't say, so we don't claim it. Check the cover of the pad you buy.

Is the Strathmore 300 sketch pad made in the USA?

Probably, but no source we read states it for the sketch pad. Zoro lists the United States as the origin of 300 Series drawing pads, and Strathmore is a US brand owned by Dixon Ticonderoga.

Sources (6)

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