Choosing a journal sounds simple until you’re staring at a wall of options: dot grid or blank? A5 or A6? Smooth paper or watercolor paper? Spiral-bound or hardcover?

The best journal is the one that fits the way you actually create.

Answer these quick questions to find a journal that matches your visual journaling style, including size, paper weight, page structure, and materials.

1. What size journal works best for daily carry?

Think about where you’ll use it most: at your desk, in a coffee shop, on a walk, or tucked into your bag for quick notes and sketches.

A. Compact: I want something small enough to fit in a pocket or small bag.
Best for: quick sketches, notes, lists, and everyday observations.

B. Portable: I want a balance of space and convenience.
Best for: visual journaling, sketchnotes, light sketching, and daily creative practice.

C. Roomy: I don’t mind carrying a larger journal if it gives me more space.
Best for: bigger sketches, layouts, experiments, and more expressive pages.

2. What supplies will you use most?

Your favorite tools make a big difference in the kind of paper you’ll need.

A. Dry media: I mostly use pens, pencils, fineliners, gel pens, colored pencils, or markers.

B. Wet media: I use watercolor, ink washes, brush pens, or other supplies that add moisture to the page.

C. A little bit of everything: I like to experiment with pens, paint, collage, markers, watercolor, and whatever else is nearby.

3. How much structure do you like on the page?

Some visual journalers love a little guidance. Others want the whole page open.

A. I like structure: Dot grid, grid, or lined pages help me keep things neat and organized.

B. I want freedom: Blank pages feel best to me.

C. I like both: A little structure can help, but I still want room to play.

4. What kind of paper do you need?

Paper weight is measured in GSM, or grams per square meter. Higher GSM usually means thicker, sturdier paper.

A. 90–120 GSM: Good for pens, pencils, writing, and light sketching. This is a great everyday paper weight, but it is not ideal for heavy wet media.

B. 200–300 GSM: Better for watercolor, ink, brush pens, and mixed media. This paper can usually handle more moisture with less buckling.

C. 300+ GSM: Heavier, more professional-grade paper for bold experiments, layered media, and pages that need to take a lot of abuse.

Your results

Mostly A’s: The everyday visual journal

You’ll probably be happiest with a lightweight, portable journal that works well for writing, sketching, and quick visual notes.

Look for:
A6 or A5 size
90–120 GSM paper
Smooth paper
Dot grid, lined, or lightly structured pages

Good options to try:
Moleskine Classic Notebook
Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5
Sakura Notebook

This style is great if you want a journal you’ll actually carry and use often.

Mostly B’s: The watercolor-ready journal

You need paper that can handle water without turning into a wrinkly mess. Your best match is a sketchbook or journal designed for watercolor, ink, or heavier brush work.

Look for:
A5 or A4 size
200–300 GSM paper
Watercolor or mixed-media paper
Blank pages

Good options to try:
Canson Art Book
Strathmore Watercolor Journal
Stillman & Birn Beta Series

This style is best if color, washes, and expressive pages are a regular part of your practice.

Mostly C’s: The mixed-media journal

You like to experiment, so your journal needs to keep up. You’ll want sturdy paper that can handle layers, texture, collage, pens, paint, and whatever else you decide to try.

Look for:
A5 or A4 size
250+ GSM paper
Mixed-media paper
Blank or lightly structured pages

Good options to try:
Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media
Arteza Mixed Media Sketchbook
Pentalic Illustrator’s Sketchbook

This style is ideal if your journal is part sketchbook, part scrapbook, part creative playground.

A few final things to consider

Binding: Spiral-bound journals lay flat easily, which is helpful for painting or working across a full spread. Hardcover journals are more durable and often feel better for everyday carry.

Page extras: Pen loops, pockets, elastic closures, ribbons, perforated pages, and numbered pages can be helpful, depending on how you use your journal.

Paper texture: Smooth paper is usually better for writing and fineliners. Textured paper is better for watercolor and expressive marks.

The real test: What’s the best journal for visual journaling? The one you’ll reach for. The “perfect” journal is less important than one that feels easy, inviting, and useful in your real life.