A sketchbook is an essential tool in every artist’s kit. Every masterpiece has its roots in a roughly-drawn sketch, and before an artist renders a beautiful final image, they have already spent hundreds of hours practicing how to draw. A sketchbook is a great way to explore and organize your ideas and record your progress as an artist. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll definitely need your own sketchbook!
In this article, we will discuss everything there is to know about sketchbooks. Because the options are so diverse, there is quite a number of considerations when it comes to buying one. But our buying guide is here to help you sift through everything and figure out what really matters to you. Our list of the 10 best sketchbooks will also help you check out the best options online.
Quick List - Top Sketchbooks
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
A sketchbook is an essential tool for any artist. Choosing the best one involves considering various factors, such as the intended material and technique, as well as personal preferences. In this comprehensive buying guide, we've compiled all the key considerations to assist you in making the right choice.
Before anything else, you need to first define your goals for using a sketchbook. This will help you narrow down your choices greatly and simplify your buying process.
If you’re buying a sketchbook just for drawing practice, then all you need is the basic type that has lightweight paper. The texture may be rough or smooth, but generally speaking, it is a type of paper that can take only pen or pencil sketches.
Watercolor or mixed media painting are more specialized types of art-making. The use of water-based or oil-based mediums would dictate a heavier and thicker type of paper to be able to absorb liquid. On the other hand, a dry medium like soft pastel requires textured paper with some tooth to enable the layering of colors.
For beginners, an A5 sketchbook would be a good starting point. It is large enough for making detailed art but also small enough to carry for when inspiration strikes. If you like making intricate art, a larger notebook is best, since it can be hard to see details on a small sketchbook. It is also a safe choice if you only intend to sketch at home.
If you intend to do travel sketching, then it’s best to choose a size that is handy and yet spacious enough for you to do drawings of scenes. There are also palm-sized sketchbooks for those who like drawing in miniatures.
Size is really a matter of preference, but keep in mind that having sketchbooks in different sizes helps develop your skills in intangible ways. You will develop skills in drawing things of different scales and from various angles and perspectives.
As discussed earlier, your sketchbook goals will dictate the type of paper you need. Below are the different characteristics of various types of paper.
For pencil sketches and doodles, a thin 20-lb paper would do. But if you intend to use a wide variety of media like watercolor, gouache, ink, or markers, you will need a sketchbook that has thicker paper that can take a lot of water.
The standard weight of wet media paper usually varies from 90, 140, and 300 lbs. Some manufacturers may also indicate paper weight in grams per square meter or gsm.
The typical sketchbook has white or off-white paper, but there are also colored types for people who want to experiment with colored backgrounds. Toned or colored paper is great for practicing tonal or value drawing.
With toned paper, you can instantly convey warmth or coolness to your art. It gives your artwork an entirely different feel compared to when it’s done on a white background. Usually, this is used in conjunction with pastels and colored pencils.
Finish refers to the texture of the paper. Some may have a rough and matte finish, while others may have a glossy finish. If you intend to do layering or lots of shading, a rough texture helps to absorb more layers.
With watercolor paper, the texture is referred to as rough, hot- and cold-pressed. As its name indicates, rough paper has a highly textured surface. This is great for creating grainy or speckled effects.
Meanwhile, hot-pressed paper is smooth and fine-grained with almost no tooth. It’s great for practicing lines and flowy washes. Cold-pressed paper, on the other hand, is somewhere in between the first two types. It has a slightly textured surface and is commonly used among watercolor artists.
The choice of a sketchbook binding would depend mostly on your archival and organizational needs. Each type of binding has its own pros and cons, which we will discuss below.
In a sewn sketchbook, the pages are sewn together with hand- or machine-stitches. Because there is continuity between pages, it is the right choice if you enjoy drawing across the gutter or the line between the two pages.
The biggest advantage of this type of binding is that it is more durable and has greater resistance to wear. Thus, it is often used to bind thicker books. However, it is also more expensive than the other types.
Perfect binding involves gluing the pages and cover together at the spine with a strong glue. It is the most commonly used method of binding in both textbooks and sketchbooks. However, perfect binding is best used for thin books. With thicker books, the glue often loses its hold over time, and the pages start to fall apart.
In spiral sketchbooks, a spring or plastic loop passes through a row of punched holes on the pages. This makes it easy for users to rip off a page when they want to remove it from the sketchbook.
This is certainly handy for those times when you want to file a particular sketch in a folder or envelope or when you want to discard a sketch. However, it also means that the sketchbook itself is not as long-lasting as the other types.
A perforated sketchbook offers you the best of both worldsーthe solidity of a sewn or perfect-bound notebook, and the freedom to rip off a page like you would in spiral notebooks. However, if you like drawing across the gutter, the dotted lines might affect how your drawing looks.
Below are some other points to take note of when choosing a sketchbook. They might be minor factors, but they are still important to consider, nonetheless.
Ask yourself, do you draw people or scenery? Do you like working with the cover up or on the side? The orientation of sketchbook matters because it affects the way a subject is presented, not to mention the ease of use.
Sketchbooks are available in landscape and portrait orientation, as well as in square formats. It really is a matter of preference that depends on the subjects you frequently draw. However, it's good to have a collection of sketchbooks in different orientations, so you can practice creating different types of compositions.
Sketchbooks with heavier paper contain fewer pages because the thickness makes them bulky. On the other hand, those with lighter paper offer more pages. If you like working in themes, it could be a good idea to have a set of sketchbooks with fewer pages, as opposed to one book with more pages. That way, you can organize your drawings better.
Sketchbooks come in soft covers and hardcovers. For durability, hardcover types are preferable. They also offer a rigid backing so that you can still draw easily even if you don’t have a proper working surface like a table.
On the other hand, paperback types have the advantage of being light and handier to travel with. However, you also need to carry along some sort of stiff support like cardboard to be able to draw smoothly.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||||||
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Best for | Size | Weight of Paper | Color | Finish | Orientation | Binding | Number of Sheets | Cover | |||||
1 | Moleskine Art Collection Sketchbook | ![]() | The Best Sketchbook for Pencil and Ink Sketching | Pencil and Ink | 5 x 8.25 Inches | 165 gsm | Ivory | Smooth | Portrait | Sewn | 104 Sheets | Hard Cover | |
2 | Strathmore 300 Series Bristol|Vellum - 9x12 | ![]() | Offers a Surface Ideal for Graphite Pencil Drawings | Graphite, Colored Pencil, Charcoal, Pastel, and Crayon | 9 x 12 Inches | 270 gsm | White | Textured (Vellum) | Portrait | Tape-Bound | 20 Sheets | Soft Cover | |
3 | Canson XL Mix-Media|A4 (30 Sheets) | ![]() | Provides Versatile Paper for Collages and Journaling | Pencil, Pen, Ink, Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Gouache | 8.3 x 11.7 Inches | 300 gsm | White | Textured (Medium Grain) | Portrait | Wire-Bound | 30 Sheets | Soft Cover | |
4 | Miya Himi Gouache Pad | ![]() | Your Go-To Sketchbook for Gouache Paintings | Gouache, Watercolor, Acrylic, Ink and Mixed Media, Oil Pastels, Charcoal, Graphite, Brush Pens, and Other Wet Media | 7 x 10 Inches | 160 gsm | White | Smooth (Fine) | Portrait | Glue-Bound, Wire-Bound | 50 Sheets | Soft Cover | |
5 | Etchr Lab Sketchbook: Landscape|A5 - Cold Press | ![]() | High-Quality Pages That Can Endure Wet Techniques | Pencils, Pens, Markers, and Watercolor | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches | 230 gsm | White | Textured (Cold Press) | Landscape | Sewn, Glue-Reinforced | 52 Sheets | Hard Cover | |
6 | Sennelier Urban Sketching USK Book|340 g - 6" x 4" | ![]() | Features an Accordion-Fold Design for Urban and Landscape Sketchers | Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache, Ink | 6 x 4 Inches | 340 gsm | White | Textured (Rough Grain) | Landscape | Accordion | 8 Sheets | Hard Cover | |
7 | Tokyo Finds Watercolor Journal|Medium | ![]() | An Easy-Tear Sketchbook That Works Well With Dry and Wet Media | Watercolor | 5.5 x 8 Inches | 300 gsm | White | Textured (Cold Press) | Portrait | Wire-Bound | 20 Sheets | Hard Cover | |
8 | Limelight Hardbound Sketchbook|A5 - Plain | ![]() | An Affordable Sketchbook for Doodling and Practicing Calligraphy | Pencil and Ink | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches | 120 gsm | Ivory | Smooth | Portrait | Sewn, Glue-Reinforced | 100 Sheets | Hard Cover | |
9 | Strathmore 400 Series Toned Gray|9"x12" | ![]() | Boasts Acid-Free, Gray-Toned Paper for Practicing Values | Graphite, Colored Pencil, Charcoal, Sketching Stick, and Soft Pastel | 9 x 12 Inches | 118 gsm | Gray | Textured (Medium) | Portrait | Wire-Bound | 50 Sheets | Soft Cover | |
10 | Monte Marte Sketching Journal|A5 - Landscape | ![]() | A Basic Journal for Daily Sketching | Pen, Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal, Pastels and Light Washes | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches | 150 gsm | Ivory | Textured (Subtle, Uniform) | Landscape | Sewn | 100 Sheets | Hard Cover |
This classic art sketchbook is from the world-class stationery brand Moleskine. With its sleek and elegant design, it's perfect for all your sketching needs. Thanks to its rounded corners, you can easily slip this sketchbook into your bag without worrying about it getting bent. It also features an elastic closure to keep the contents secure and organized.
The paper is smooth and clearly designed for those who use pencils or pens for sketching. Its thickness gives it a cardstock-like feel and allows it to absorb most micron pen strokes and even fountain pen inks. While it can handle some watercolor, it truly excels with pencil and pen sketches. Overall, with its versatility and premium feel, this sketchbook is the ultimate choice.
Best for | Pencil and Ink |
---|---|
Size | 5 x 8.25 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 165 gsm |
Color | Ivory |
Finish | Smooth |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Sewn |
Number of Sheets | 104 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
Bristol paper is known for its surface tooth that can accommodate extensive layering and shading. This sketchbook from Strathmore offers pencil artists high-quality and heavyweight Bristol paper, perfect for fine-detail drawings. Professional artists use this high-quality paper for their final renderings and commissioned work.
The sheets in this sketch pad are made of two-ply Bristol, making it suitable for non-pencil mediums like pens, inks, and markers. However, traditional watercolor techniques are not recommended, as the paper might warp or buckle. Nevertheless, the paper boasts a vellum finish, providing sufficient tooth for dry media like pencils, pastels, and ink.
Best for | Graphite, Colored Pencil, Charcoal, Pastel, and Crayon |
---|---|
Size | 9 x 12 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 270 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Textured (Vellum) |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Tape-Bound |
Number of Sheets | 20 Sheets |
Cover | Soft Cover |
As the name indicates, this sketchbook is highly versatile. It features heavyweight, fine-textured paper that can absorb almost any art medium. You can work with wet materials, dry materials, or a combination of both on this versatile paper. This makes it suitable for various works, from creating collages to keeping daily journals.
The paper's parallel grain can either enhance or detract from your artwork, depending on your artistic intent. Additionally, the sheets are securely bound with a sturdy wire, which allows you to flip the pages completely. This feature enables you to easily switch between landscape and portrait orientations.
Best for | Pencil, Pen, Ink, Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Gouache |
---|---|
Size | 8.3 x 11.7 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 300 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Textured (Medium Grain) |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Wire-Bound |
Number of Sheets | 30 Sheets |
Cover | Soft Cover |
The pages' upper and lower sides are glue-bound, ensuring that the sheets remain flat. They do not curl or warp during the creation of semi-dry or wet media artwork. Each page also features a smooth surface and boasts a thick paper weight of 160 gsm. This allows you to layer colors without the underlying ones showing through.
Best for | Gouache, Watercolor, Acrylic, Ink and Mixed Media, Oil Pastels, Charcoal, Graphite, Brush Pens, and Other Wet Media |
---|---|
Size | 7 x 10 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 160 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Smooth (Fine) |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Glue-Bound, Wire-Bound |
Number of Sheets | 50 Sheets |
Cover | Soft Cover |
At first glance, the Etchr Lab sketchbook exudes quality with its hardbound cover that opens flat for convenience. Some artists consider it too luxurious for everyday sketching and reserve it for special pieces. It features acid-free cotton paper designed for watercolors and pen sketches with heavy ink washes.
While the white cover can easily get grubby or dirty, a unique solution is to paint over it with watercolors. Yes, you can paint on the cover! Additionally, it offers a full-size expanding pocket at the back, an elastic strap, and a page marker for added convenience.
Best for | Pencils, Pens, Markers, and Watercolor |
---|---|
Size | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 230 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Textured (Cold Press) |
Orientation | Landscape |
Binding | Sewn, Glue-Reinforced |
Number of Sheets | 52 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
Designed primarily for urban sketching, the Sennelier Urban Sketchbook is in a class of its own. It features an accordion-fold design with long panels per side for your sketches and illustrations. This is fantastic for sketching landscapes or panoramic scenes since you can spread the pages out and lay them flat as you draw.
The paper is extra strong and rough-grained, suitable for use with wet media like acrylic and gouache. The rough finish also makes it a good surface for various dry media, including pens, pencils, and oil pastels. With the finished sketch, you have the option of opening it and propping it up on a shelf or mantel as a tabletop display.
Best for | Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache, Ink |
---|---|
Size | 6 x 4 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 340 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Textured (Rough Grain) |
Orientation | Landscape |
Binding | Accordion |
Number of Sheets | 8 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
If you want a sketchbook that is a keeper yet won't break the bank, Tokyo Finds has you covered. Each sketchbook feels solid and well-made, showcasing attention to detail. For instance, it includes perforations that allow you to tear off the paper neatly despite having a wire binding.
Another plus is its dual-surface finish. One side of the page has a smooth finish, while the other side has a rough texture. This versatility makes it a great choice for those who want to have the best of both worlds and explore both wet and dry media. And at its affordable price, you'd be surprised to find that the paper is acid-free, too!
Best for | Watercolor |
---|---|
Size | 5.5 x 8 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 300 gsm |
Color | White |
Finish | Textured (Cold Press) |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Wire-Bound |
Number of Sheets | 20 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
Limelight's sketchbook is an affordable and reliable option, particularly well-suited for budding calligraphy artists. The pages are creamy and smooth, providing an ideal surface for practicing calligraphy strokes. You can also use wetter pen types, such as gel pens, brush pens, or markers, with minimal ghosting on the other side of the page.
Moreover, you can choose from 20 different cover colors to match your preference. The sketchbook has a strap to keep it closed when not in use and a ribbon to mark your place. Additionally, there's a storage pocket on the back cover for your photos, stickers, notes, or anything you'd like to keep.
Best for | Pencil and Ink |
---|---|
Size | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 120 gsm |
Color | Ivory |
Finish | Smooth |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Sewn, Glue-Reinforced |
Number of Sheets | 100 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
If you work exclusively with dry media, this sketchbook is perfect for you. It is ideal for both light and dark media, such as pencils, graphite, charcoal, chalk, and pens. The paper is also thick enough to accommodate markers and gel pens. What's more, it is acid-free, so your sketches won't turn yellow over time.
Within the 400 series, Strathmore offers toned paper in gray, black, and tan shades. This specific variant is gray, which is for practicing shading and studying values. The gray tone works well with colors and requires less blending. The thickness of the paper also allows it to withstand hard strokes. Because it is perforated, you can even tear out your pages as you wish.
Best for | Graphite, Colored Pencil, Charcoal, Sketching Stick, and Soft Pastel |
---|---|
Size | 9 x 12 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 118 gsm |
Color | Gray |
Finish | Textured (Medium) |
Orientation | Portrait |
Binding | Wire-Bound |
Number of Sheets | 50 Sheets |
Cover | Soft Cover |
Best for | Pen, Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal, Pastels and Light Washes |
---|---|
Size | 5.8 x 8.3 Inches |
Weight of Paper | 150 gsm |
Color | Ivory |
Finish | Textured (Subtle, Uniform) |
Orientation | Landscape |
Binding | Sewn |
Number of Sheets | 100 Sheets |
Cover | Hard Cover |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Yes. Sketchbooks are intended for practicing and experimenting, so the paper is more lightweight. Drawing books, on the other hand, is intended for finished art. The paper is heavier and has a toothier surface to be able to receive more layers and allow the artist to create more depth and complexity.
However, this difference applies to simple dry media sketchbooks only and does not apply to specialized types like watercolor or mixed media sketchbooks.
If you want your sketchbook to last longer, it's best to have a dedicated space for storing it, such as a bookshelf. To keep the pages smudge-free, you can use a fixative spray to preserve your sketches and prevent them from smearing on the adjacent page. You can also secure it with rubber bands or elastic to keep it firmly bound together and protect the spine.
Yes, especially if the paper isn't acid-free. Overexposure to sunlight can fade your drawings and lead to bleaching, yellowing, and weakening of paper. That's why it's important to go for acid-free sketchbooks and to store them in a designated space away from sunlight.
Now that you have your basic drawing surface, it's time to go shopping for your art materials. Check out our other article reviews of art materials to help you get started on your art journey!
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Author: R. Umlas
Re-editor: Katrina Balingit
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Moleskine|Art Collection Sketchbook
No. 2: Strathmore |300 Series Bristol|Vellum - 9x12
No. 3: Canson|XL Mix-Media|A4 (30 Sheets)
No. 4: Miya Himi|Gouache Pad
No. 5: Etchr Lab|Sketchbook: Landscape|A5 - Cold Press
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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