10 Best Journal Notebooks in the Philippines 2026 | Papernotes, Owl Notebooks, And More

A5 is the usual size for most journals, notebooks, and even planners. It measures 5.8 x 8.3 in, so you have a lot of room for writing minus the bulk. It is ideal if you want a bigger space to work with and if you’re the type who also sketches aside from writing. You can easily slip it in your bag, and it is not too big to carry by hand - perfect for writing your everyday thoughts.  

An A6 is an alanganin size as it is between sizes. It measures 4.1 x 5.8 in, which is about half as big as an A5 journal notebook but larger than an A7 journal. This size is handy if you find it daunting to fill an entire journal notebook but need more space than a notepad. 

With this, you can easily write down your agenda or thoughts for the day without feeling pressured to consume the entire space. It also won’t take up much space if you place it in your bag, though it might be too big for your pocket. 

If you want something convenient to carry, whether it is in your pocket or bag, then an A7 journal will surely fit the bill. It measures 2.9 x 4.1 in, which is the perfect size for putting in your pocket. 

It is excellent for jotting down spur-of-the-moment thoughts as they don’t take up much space. And if you’re the type who paints or sketches, then you can also use this to make miniature landscapes or portraits. 

Hardbound journal notebooks consist of binding a hard cover to the pages of the notebook, which makes it more durable as it is protected from being folded up and tearing, which also gives them a classic look. Casebinding, which involves sewing sections of pages and then gluing them to the spine falls into this category.

However, do keep in mind that this type of binding makes your journal heavier because of the hard cover. So, this might add a significant amount of weight to your bag especially if you have chosen a particularly thick journal. Plus, they tend to be on the expensive side.

Perfect binding involves a group of papers folded together and glued along the spine. It uses ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA glue, a type of hot glue that sets quickly. It yields a more streamlined look because you don’t have to see any thread or staple dangling out. 

But you should note that the journal cannot be laid flat. This might pose a challenge because opening it too harshly could cause the spine to crack. And it can be rather expensive sometimes.

A singer-sewn journal or thread stitched/sewn binding is characterized by a stitched spine. This means the pages are sewn in the center, which also acts as reinforcement. It allows the notebook to lay flat once opened without damaging or forcing the spine, which makes it very durable as pages are unlikely to fall out.

Thread sewn binding is also ideal for binding really thick papers without compromising their quality. But they can be quite expensive, and they can take some time to produce given their complex structure. 

Just like your math notebook, grid journals can be described to look similar to graphing papers. It is characterized by both horizontal and vertical lines that overlap, making grids or those small boxes. The grids serve as handy reference points if you’d like a bit of a guide in your journal.

It is ideal if you draw sketches, paint, or do bullet journals so you can have that precise alignment. If you practice calligraphy, this type of notebook is also useful as you can use the grid lines so you can keep your letters nice and even. 

If you’d like to have a guide without it being too distracting, then dotted lines might be the one for you. Dotted journals have small dotted lines and are excellent for those who’d want a more subtle notebook structure. 

It is perfect if you want to draw lines or create borders on your journal, as it can help keep them more organized without being obtrusive. In this regard, it makes them ideal for those DIY planners and bullet journals as you can flex your creativity.

Lined journals or sometimes referred to as ruled notebooks, have printed horizontal lines that you can use as a guide for writing. If you’re the type who is particular about their penmanship and frequently writes a lot on their journal, then this may be the one for you as it can keep your handwriting neat and even. 

A blank notebook does not have anything printed on them, no lines or marks. It is best for people who do not want any obstruction when writing or sketching. You can use it as a diary if you prefer writing without any borders or as a canvas for a bullet journal where you can let your creativity flow and design it to your liking.  

Common paper weights range from 80 gsm to 120 gsm. 80 gsm is mostly used in photocopy papers, while 120 gsm is used for stationery and letterheads. But you can have quality paper at 80 gsm, so don’t be so quick to dismiss them. If you are just planning to use your journal for writing, then this would suffice. 

You should also consider the type of pen you are using. If you use a ballpoint pen, then your choices are not really limited but if you're the type who uses a fountain pen, draws, and paints, then you might want to go for 100 - 120 gsm to avoid having ink or paint bleed through the sheets. 

The gsm in this range is similar to that of stationery, so you can guarantee that the paper will be able to take the ink or paint. However, do note that if you exceed 120 gsm, the paper might not be so smooth and will have a rather scratchy quality to it.