I’ve been a real pen and paper person for as long as I can remember. About six years ago I stumbled across the world of dot grid notebooks purely by accident, and they have been my preference for just about everything since.
Let’s take a look at the best dot grid notebooks around!
What is a dot grid notebook?
I like to call a dot grid notebook the best thing to ever happen to graph paper. Remember that paper with the blue boxes from math class?
Well a dot grid is better than that, but because of lines, it uses dots to make the small boxes. These dots make it easier to write, draw, doodle, scribble, and take notes.
Dot grid paper is an easy way to provide structure while minimizing hte distractins caused by traditiaonal lines and grids
Best of all? No distracting lines to ruin the look or flow of what you are writing down.
What can you do with a dot grid notebook?
The truth of the matter is that you can do anything with a dot grid note book. You can use a dotted notebook as a:
- Dot journal
- Bullet Journal
- Planner
- Regular old notebook for studying and notes
Basically, it’s going to be the best notebook you’ve ever used. Once you start with dotted notebooks, you’ll never go back.
Is Dot journaling the same as bullet journaling?
The term “bullet jorunalinbg” gets thrown around a lot, but the truth of the matter is there is a true methodlogy behind it if you are a bullet journal purist. You can learn more about the methodlogy for free at bulletjouranl.com
Dot journaling is more of a mash up of things. While htere is a format too it, it is a bit more free form than a traditional bullet journal. It is not as strict and as modular as a true bullet journal.
How to Write on Dotted Paper?
When it comes to how to write on dotted paper, there is no right or wrong way to do it. It helps you do things like keep unifirom sizes to doodles, words, and objects. It provides enough diance to make sure lines and words stay straight, in a much cleaner fashion,
Picking the Best Dot Grid Notebook
Here are a couple of things for you to think about when you’re looking for the best dotted notebook.
- Notebook size. Dotted notebooks come in all shapes and sizes, but the A5 size is one of the most popular (A5 is equal to 5.83″ x 8.27″)
- Notebook cover. Are you looking for hard or soft? Do you want cover pockets? What about ribbon markers to help you keep track of where you are.
- Paper color, texture, and weight. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to the paper inside a dot grid notebook, and a lot of it comes down to personal prefereance. Do you want ivory paper or white paper? Thick paper or thin paper?
Think about what things are important to you and your writing experience.
Now, let’s get into finding you the best dotted notebook for your needs.
The Best Dot Grid Notebooks
When it comes to dot grid notebooks, I've tried them all. They are useful for just about anything, as long as you know what you are looking for.
I've searched high and low for the best dotted notebooks around, and everything you need to know about each option.
If you love super smooth paper, and have never heard of Rhodia, you are missing out. This Rhodia dotted notebook is a pleasure to write in, and has a soft cover with a pocket in the back.
The paper in Rhodia notebooks is also on the thicker side.
This notebook also comes in a wide array of colors, and features 120 sheets, a pocket in the back cover, a strap to keep it closed and a ribbon bookmark.
When a notebook has less sheets, I like to sometimes use wash tape to tape additioanl pages to other pages, in a landscape orientation, using a Rhodia dot pad made of the same amazing paper.
There's nothing like writing on Tomoe River paper, your pen will glide right across it.
They feature 192 pages which is a good size for daily bullet journaling or using for a project like your blog progress.
If you have never written on Tomoe River paper, you will not be disappointned by these notebooks! They live up to their name and more.
This notebook is in the A5 form factor, 5.83" x 8.27"
LEUCHTTURM1917 is best known for their thick and creamy paper. While there are a couple sizes available, the most available options come with their A5 size (5.83" x 8.27"), and this is what LEUCHTTURM1917 is best known for.
The LEUCHTTURM dotted notebooks come with an ample 249 pages, and in cover colors of every color you could ever think of.
Buckle up, becuase there are a ton of uptions when it comes to Moleskine dotted notebooks.
Moleskine paper is smooth, creamy, and an all around wonderful texture. It can bleed through though, so don't miss our pens for thin paper.
They are also available in a wide array of sizes such as:
Classic or Pocket - 3.5" x 5.5" - 192 Pages
Medium - 4.5" x 7" - 192 Pages
Large - 5" x 8.25" - 240 Pages
XL - 7.5" x 9.5" - 192 Pages
XXL - 8.5" x 11" - 192 Pages
Because of the wide variety of sizes, they are great for just about any purpose.
Worried about the thinner paper? Then go with the LEUCHTTURM1917 which has thicker paper.
Don't miss our favorite colored pens to go along with all the possibilities of this notebook.
These dot grid notebooks clock in at 5.8 x 8 inches with paper on the thicker side.
It has a hard cover, is 160 pages, and has a pocket on the inside.
It is also one of the most cost effective dotted notebooks on this list, and comes in an array of colors.
This is another very cost effective otpion in the B6 size, or 4.5" x 6.5". It has even thicker paper, and is 122 pages. It's also great for on the go use.
It has a hard cover, and comes in a wide variety of colors.
This a really nice, small cost effective option, but Minimalism Art also makes this notebook in a wide variety of sizes from 8.3" x 11.4" all the way down to this one.
Not sold on the hard cover? It also comes in soft cover. Be sure to visit the Minimalism Art store here to learn more!
If I didn't mention Field Notes notebooks, I would be doing you a major disservice. There is one huge advantage Field Notes has over everything elose on this list. The size.
Field Notes notebooks are 3.5" x 5.5", which make them fit nicely in a pocket or a purse.
They are also only 48 pages, making them ultra light and portable. I've had one in my purse for as long as I can remember, they are great for brainstorming on the go.
They also have very thick paper compared to many of the other dotted notebooks on this list.