The best sketchbooks
For doodles on the bus, life-drawing classes and art coursework: sketchbooks with paper that can take what they throw at it.
The paper matters more than the cover. Weight is the clue: heavier paper (200gsm and up) copes better with pens, markers and light washes, while lighter cartridge is lovely for pencil.
Then pick the size for how they draw: a small hardback that lives in a bag, an A4 for the desk, or an A3 for big, loose work. Spiral binding lies flat, and acid-free paper keeps drawings from yellowing.
What matters
- Paper weight: 200gsm or more for pens, markers and light washes.
- Size: A5 to carry, A4 for the desk, A3 for big work.
- A binding that lies flat, and a hard cover to lean on.
- Acid-free paper for drawings worth keeping.
#1 of 5
Best overall
STATIONERY ISLAND A4 Hardback Sketchbook (200gsm, 50 sheets)
Under £10 Price range
More pages than most: 50 sheets of thick 200gsm paper in a hardback, spiral-bound A4 book that lies flat and flips over easily. The slightly toothy surface is especially good for coloured pencil.
What owners say: Owners call it a heavy-duty book with thick paper that doesn't bleed through, perfect for sketching and coloured pencils, and good value with more pages than most.
A closer look: The hard covers keep drawings flat and safe in a school bag, which makes it a good home for art homework. Rest your drawing hand on a scrap of paper to stop soft pencil smudging across the page.
- A4, 50 sheets / 100 pages
- 200gsm paper
- Hardback covers
- Spiral-bound, lies flat
- Portrait format
Best for: Everyday drawing at home
- Size
- A4
- Paper
- 200gsm
- Sheets
- 50 (100 pages)
#2 of 5
Best for mixed media
String & Space A5 Hardback Sketchbook (200gsm, 40 sheets)
Under £10 Price range
Thick 200gsm acid-free mixed-media paper takes watercolour, ink, charcoal and oil pastel, so one small book covers the whole art kit. The wire binding folds right back on itself for drawing on your knee in a café or on a train.
What owners say: Owners say it's excellent quality and well worth the money, with thick paper that takes pencils, pens and light markers without bleeding through, and a handy size for art classes.
A closer look: The stiff covers give a firm surface to lean on when there's no table, so it's the one to take out sketching. It makes a lovely first proper sketchbook for a teenager who's always drawing.
- A5, 40 sheets / 80 pages
- 200gsm acid-free paper
- Takes wet and dry media
- Lies flat and folds back
- Hard board covers
Best for: Mixed media on the go
- Size
- A5
- Paper
- 200gsm, acid-free
- Sheets
- 40 (80 pages)
#3 of 5
Best large format
Artgecko Mixed Media Sketchbook, A3 Portrait (150gsm, 40 sheets)
Under £10 Price range
Room to spread out: big A3 pages of 150gsm acid-free cartridge, sized for wet strength so paint is less likely to bleed through. Owners use it for university art work, and the twin-wire binding lets it lie flat on the desk.
What owners say: Owners find it great quality and good value for university art work, with paper that stands up to fineliners, erasing, watercolour and acrylic, and a classy look.
A closer look: At A3 it's too big for most bags, so it suits a desk, an easel or a portfolio. Big pages are the place for loose charcoal and paint studies that feel cramped in a small book.
- A3, 40 sheets / 80 pages
- 150gsm acid-free cartridge
- Wipe-clean soft-touch covers
- Twin-wire binding lies flat
- FSC-certified paper
Best for: Big, loose work and coursework
- Size
- A3
- Paper
- 150gsm cartridge, acid-free
- Sheets
- 40 (80 pages)
#4 of 5
Best premium
Moleskine Sketchbook, Large (13 × 21cm, 104 pages)
£10–£20 Price range
A hardback that goes everywhere, with an elastic band to keep it shut, a pocket in the back for tickets and scraps, and 165gsm paper that takes pencil, pen and charcoal and stands up to rubbing out. The name comes from the notebooks Bruce Chatwin wrote about in The Songlines; an Italian firm revived them as Moleskine in 1997.
What owners say: Owners find it fantastic for drawing on the go and art journaling, with thick paper that handles pens, coloured pencils and even watercolour, and good value.
Heads up: Go gently with very wet washes and heavy markers, as some owners find they show through.
A closer look: Date the first page and it becomes a travel journal as much as a sketchbook, with the back pocket holding tickets and receipts from the day. It slips easily into a backpack or handbag.
- 13 × 21cm, 104 pages
- Elastic closure
- Pocket inside the back cover
- Takes pencil, pen and charcoal
- Stands up to erasing
Best for: Sketching and journaling on the go
- Size
- 13 × 21cm
- Paper
- 165gsm, acid-free
- Sheets
- 104 pages (52 sheets)
#5 of 5
Best budget
Artecho A4 Hardback Sketchbook (200gsm natural paper, 50 sheets)
Under £10 Price range
Warm, natural-coloured 200gsm paper made for dry media: graphite, coloured pencil, charcoal and soft pastel all sit well on it, and the acid-free pages won't yellow early. Finished drawings come out easily for framing or scanning.
What owners say: Owners find the paper excellent for sketching, great for amateur artists, and high quality for the price.
A closer look: It's made for dry media, so it's the one for pencil and charcoal; for watercolour or ink washes, a mixed-media book like the String & Space suits better. A quick spray of fixative stops charcoal smudging onto the facing page.
- A4, 50 sheets
- 200gsm natural-colour paper
- Acid-free
- Pages remove for framing
- Spiral-bound, hard cover
Best for: Pencil, charcoal and pastel
- Size
- A4
- Paper
- 200gsm natural, acid-free
- Sheets
- 50
How they compare
| Feature | #1Stationery Island A4 | #2String & Space A5 | #3Artgecko A3 | #4Moleskine Large | #5Artecho A4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for mixed media | Best large format | Best premium | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Price | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Size | A4 | A5 | A3 | 13 × 21cm | A4 |
| Paper | 200gsm | 200gsm, acid-free | 150gsm cartridge, acid-free | 165gsm, acid-free | 200gsm natural, acid-free |
| Sheets | 50 (100 pages) | 40 (80 pages) | 40 (80 pages) | 104 pages (52 sheets) | 50 |
| Best for | Everyday drawing at home | Mixed media on the go | Big, loose work and coursework | Sketching and journaling on the go | Pencil, charcoal and pastel |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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