The 10 Best Notebooks as of June 2026

How we ranked these notebooks

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

Performance (35%) — how well each notebook 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

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	Notebooks	Score	Best for	Paper	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	Leuchtturm1917	9.1	Best for bullet journaling	80gsm	$20	View Price
2	Rhodia Webnotebook	9.0	Best paper quality	90gsm	$22	View Price
3	Rhodia Dot Pad	8.7	Best for note-taking	80gsm	$10	View Price
4	Leuchtturm1917 Softcover	8.6	Best flexible/portable	80gsm	$16	View Price
5	Clairefontaine 1951	8.6	Best for writers (value)	90gsm	$14	View Price
6	Moleskine Classic	8.4	Best iconic	70gsm	$18	View Price
7	Field Notes Memo Books	8.3	Best pocket carry	60-70gsm	$10 (3-pack)	View Price
8	Moleskine Cahier	8.2	Best soft pocket set	70gsm	$12 (3-pack)	View Price
9	Pukka Pad	8.1	Best for students	80gsm	$8	View Price
10	Oxford Notebook	8.0	Best everyday budget	90gsm	$6	View Price

The full ranking

Best for bullet journaling

Leuchtturm1917

9.1Our number one pick.

Leuchtturm1917 is the bullet-journaller's favorite, with numbered pages, an index, two ribbons and dotted paper in a durable hardcover, brilliantly organized out of the box. The paper shows some ghosting with wet pens, but the features and quality are excellent.

Paper quality: 8.8Build: 9.2Layout: 9.4Value: 8.8

Pros

Numbered pages and index
Durable hardcover
Great for bullet journaling

Cons

Some ghosting with fountain pens
Pricier than basics

Check price on Amazon≈ $20

Best paper quality

Rhodia Webnotebook

9.0A superb runner-up.

Rhodia's Webnotebook uses superb, ultra-smooth 90gsm Clairefontaine paper that handles fountain-pen ink beautifully with minimal feathering or bleed, a writer's delight. It lacks page numbers and an index, but for pure paper quality it is the best.

Paper quality: 9.6Build: 9.0Layout: 8.4Value: 8.8

Pros

Outstanding fountain-pen paper
Smooth writing
Durable cover

Cons

No page numbers or index
Pricey

Check price on Amazon≈ $22

Best for note-taking

Rhodia Dot Pad

8.7Rounds out our top three.

Rhodia's staple-bound dot pads pair excellent smooth paper with a handy micro-perforated, fold-back design, ideal for notes, sketches and working pages you tear out. They aren't a permanent journal, but for everyday note-taking the paper and value are superb.

Paper quality: 9.2Build: 8.4Layout: 8.6Value: 9.2

Pros

Excellent smooth paper
Tear-out perforation
Great value

Cons

Not a permanent journal
Staple-bound

Check price on Amazon≈ $10

Best flexible/portable

Leuchtturm1917 Softcover

8.6A standout in the upper half.

The softcover Leuchtturm keeps the numbered pages and index in a lighter, more flexible body that's easier to carry, a great portable journal. It is less protective than the hardcover, but lighter and slightly cheaper.

Paper quality: 8.8Build: 8.4Layout: 9.2Value: 8.8

Pros

Numbered pages and index
Light and flexible
Easier to carry

Cons

Less protective cover
Some ghosting

Check price on Amazon≈ $16

Best for writers (value)

Clairefontaine 1951

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Clairefontaine's 1951 offers the same brilliant 90gsm paper as Rhodia in a cheerful cloth-bound notebook, superb for fountain pens at a friendly price. It is less feature-rich than Leuchtturm, but the paper-per-dollar is excellent.

Paper quality: 9.4Build: 8.6Layout: 8.2Value: 9.2

Pros

Superb fountain-pen paper
Affordable
Cheerful design

Cons

No index or numbering
Simple layout

Check price on Amazon≈ $14

Best iconic

Moleskine Classic

8.4Great value in the middle of the pack.

Moleskine's Classic is the iconic notebook with a timeless design, elastic closure and back pocket, a stylish everyday choice. The thin paper struggles with fountain pens, but for looks and everyday biro or pencil use it is a classic.

Paper quality: 7.8Build: 8.6Layout: 8.4Value: 8.4

Pros

Iconic stylish design
Elastic and pocket
Widely available

Cons

Thin paper bleeds
Pricey for the paper

Check price on Amazon≈ $18

Best pocket carry

Field Notes Memo Books

8.3A dependable pick if the price is right.

Field Notes memo books are charming pocket-sized notebooks built for jotting on the go, with sturdy covers and collectable editions. The small size and thin paper limit them, but for pocket capture they are a cult favorite.

Paper quality: 8.0Build: 8.4Layout: 8.2Value: 8.6

Pros

Pocketable and tough
Collectable editions
Great for quick notes

Cons

Small size
Thin paper

Check price on Amazon≈ $10 (3-pack)

Best soft pocket set

Moleskine Cahier

8.2Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Moleskine's Cahier journals are slim, soft, stitch-bound notebooks sold in packs, great for carrying, drafting and using up without precious-book guilt. The paper is thin, but for casual portable notes the value and form are good.

Paper quality: 7.8Build: 8.0Layout: 8.2Value: 8.8

Pros

Slim and portable
Sold in packs
Lay-flat stitching

Cons

Thin paper
Basic

Check price on Amazon≈ $12 (3-pack)

Best for students

Pukka Pad

8.1A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Pukka Pads are the UK student staple, with wirebound, perforated 80gsm pages, dividers and a sturdy cover at a low price, ideal for lectures and revision. They are basic and bulky, but for everyday study value they are excellent.

Paper quality: 8.2Build: 8.0Layout: 8.2Value: 9.2

Pros

Great for students
Perforated with dividers
Affordable

Cons

Bulky wirebound
Plain paper

Check price on Amazon≈ $8

Best everyday budget

Oxford Notebook

8.0Rounds out our top ten.

Oxford's notebooks offer good 90gsm Optik paper in affordable wirebound formats, a dependable everyday choice for school and work. They are plain and wirebound, but the paper quality for the price is strong value.

Paper quality: 8.4Build: 7.8Layout: 8.0Value: 9.0

Pros

Good 90gsm paper
Affordable
Reliable everyday

Cons

Plain design
Wirebound bulk

Check price on Amazon≈ $6

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the notebooks in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Leuchtturm1917, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Rhodia Webnotebook and Rhodia Dot Pad 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 notebooks without overthinking it, the Leuchtturm1917 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 ≈ $20

Our top picks at a glance

Leuchtturm1917

Clairefontaine 1951

Rhodia Dot Pad

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How we ranked these notebooks

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Leuchtturm1917

Pros

Cons

Rhodia Webnotebook

Pros

Cons

Rhodia Dot Pad

Pros

Cons

Leuchtturm1917 Softcover

Pros

Cons

Clairefontaine 1951

Pros

Cons

Moleskine Classic

Pros

Cons

Field Notes Memo Books

Pros

Cons

Moleskine Cahier

Pros

Cons

Pukka Pad

Pros

Cons

Oxford Notebook

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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