Advertisement · 728×90 Leaderboard
Home › Crafts & Hobbies › Sketchbooks

The 10 Best Sketchbooks as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best sketchbooks you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

Disclosure: Pickarank is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn funds from qualifying purchases — buying products through our links won't cost you anything extra, but it will help us maintain and improve our website. Thank you for your support!

Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Stillman & Birn Beta Series

9.0Best mixed media
Check price on Amazon ≈ £varies
Best value

Seawhite of Brighton

8.7Best value all-rounder
Check price on Amazon ≈ £8
Also great

Strathmore 400 Series

8.7Best for drawing
Check price on Amazon ≈ £varies

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

How we ranked these sketchbooks

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each sketchbook does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#SketchbooksScoreBest forPaperApprox priceAmazon links
1Stillman & Birn Beta Series9.0Best mixed media270gsm£variesView Price
2Seawhite of Brighton8.7Best value all-rounder140gsm£8View Price
3Strathmore 400 Series8.7Best for drawing130gsm£variesView Price
4Hahnemühle Nostalgie8.6Best premium drawing190gsm£variesView Price
5Moleskine Art Sketchbook8.4Best iconic everyday165gsm£18View Price
6Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook8.4Best for organisers150gsm£18View Price
7Winsor & Newton Sketchbook8.3Best mid-range110-220gsm£14View Price
8Pentalic Sketchbook8.2Best value hardbound130gsm£12View Price
9Daler-Rowney Simply Sketch8.2Best budget110gsm£6View Price
10Amazon Basics Sketchbook7.9Best ultra-budget100gsm£7View Price
Advertisement · 970×250 Billboard

The full ranking

1
Best mixed media

Stillman & Birn Beta Series

9.0Our number one pick.

Stillman & Birn's Beta sketchbooks use heavy 270gsm cold-press paper that handles dry media, ink and wet washes without buckling, a favourite of mixed-media artists. They are pricey, but the paper takes a beating beautifully.

Paper quality: 9.4Build: 9.0Versatility: 9.2Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Heavy versatile paper
  • Handles wet and dry
  • Durable binding
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Heavier book
Check price on Amazon≈ £varies
2
Best value all-rounder

Seawhite of Brighton

8.7A superb runner-up.

Seawhite's British sketchbooks offer good-quality 140gsm cartridge paper in sturdy bindings at a brilliant price, popular in art schools. The paper isn't for heavy wet work, but for everyday drawing the value is outstanding.

Paper quality: 8.6Build: 8.6Versatility: 8.4Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Great cartridge paper
  • Sturdy and affordable
  • Art-school favourite
Cons
  • Not for heavy washes
  • Plain cover
Check price on Amazon≈ £8
3
Best for drawing

Strathmore 400 Series

8.7Rounds out our top three.

Strathmore's 400 Series sketchbooks provide quality drawing paper with good tooth for pencil, charcoal and ink, a long-standing artist standard. The paper is dry-media focused, but the quality and range are excellent.

Paper quality: 8.8Build: 8.4Versatility: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Good tooth for dry media
  • Trusted quality
  • Range of formats
Cons
  • Dry-media focused
  • Spiral can snag
Check price on Amazon≈ £varies
Advertisement · In-content 728×250
4
Best premium drawing

Hahnemühle Nostalgie

8.6A standout in the upper half.

Hahnemühle's Nostalgie sketchbook pairs lovely, slightly toned drawing paper with a quality hardbound build, a premium choice for pencil and ink. It is pricier and dry-focused, but the paper and feel are superb.

Paper quality: 9.0Build: 8.8Versatility: 8.2Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Lovely drawing paper
  • Quality hardbound
  • Premium feel
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Dry-media focused
Check price on Amazon≈ £varies
5
Best iconic everyday

Moleskine Art Sketchbook

8.4A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Moleskine's Art sketchbook offers the iconic format with decent drawing paper, an elastic and a pocket, great for everyday pencil and ink sketching. The paper struggles with heavy washes, but for dry media and portability it is a stylish classic.

Paper quality: 8.2Build: 8.8Versatility: 8.2Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Iconic portable design
  • Good for dry media
  • Elastic and pocket
Cons
  • Paper buckles with washes
  • Pricey for the paper
Check price on Amazon≈ £18
6
Best for organisers

Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook

8.4Great value in the middle of the pack.

Leuchtturm's sketchbook brings the brand's quality hardcover and thicker 150gsm paper to drawing, with the usual durable build. The paper handles dry media and light ink well, but heavy washes still buckle it.

Paper quality: 8.4Build: 9.0Versatility: 8.2Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Durable hardcover
  • Decent 150gsm paper
  • Quality build
Cons
  • Buckles with heavy washes
  • Pricey
Check price on Amazon≈ £18
7
Best mid-range

Winsor & Newton Sketchbook

8.3A dependable pick if the price is right.

Winsor & Newton's sketchbooks come in various weights with reliable paper from a trusted art brand, a dependable mid-range choice. The lighter versions buckle with washes, but for general sketching they are good value.

Paper quality: 8.4Build: 8.2Versatility: 8.2Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Trusted brand
  • Range of weights
  • Reliable paper
Cons
  • Lighter ones buckle
  • Mid build
Check price on Amazon≈ £14
Advertisement · In-content 728×250
8
Best value hardbound

Pentalic Sketchbook

8.2Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Pentalic's hardbound sketchbooks offer solid cartridge paper and a durable cover at a friendly price, a good everyday drawing book. The paper is dry-focused, but the build and value are strong.

Paper quality: 8.2Build: 8.4Versatility: 8.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Durable hardbound
  • Decent paper
  • Good value
Cons
  • Dry-media focused
  • Plain
Check price on Amazon≈ £12
9
Best budget

Daler-Rowney Simply Sketch

8.2A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Daler-Rowney's Simply sketchbooks are cheap, cheerful spiral pads with acid-free cartridge paper, fine for practice and casual sketching. The paper is thin, but for everyday doodling on a budget it is great value.

Paper quality: 8.0Build: 8.0Versatility: 8.0Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Acid-free paper
  • Good for practice
Cons
  • Thin paper
  • Spiral binding
Check price on Amazon≈ £6
10
Best ultra-budget

Amazon Basics Sketchbook

7.9Rounds out our top ten.

Amazon Basics sketch pads give plenty of acid-free pages for very little, fine for practice, kids and casual drawing. The paper is thin and dry-only, but for the quantity and price they are good value.

Paper quality: 7.8Build: 7.8Versatility: 7.8Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Cheap with lots of pages
  • Acid-free
  • Fine for practice
Cons
  • Thin paper
  • Dry media only
Check price on Amazon≈ £7
Advertisement · 728×90 Leaderboard

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the sketchbooks in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Stillman & Birn Beta Series, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Seawhite of Brighton and Strathmore 400 Series are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best sketchbooks without overthinking it, the Stillman & Birn Beta Series is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £varies

⚖️ Build your own comparison

Add up to 10 products and compare them side by side. Type in any column's search box to find a product from this category or anywhere on Pickarank, then drag the ⠿ handle to reorder columns. The table starts empty — search and pick a product in each column to fill it in.

⚖️ To compare tool