A Comprehensive Guide to Notebook Sizes
The Perfect Notebook Size
Let’s start this article with an admission: I have a notebook problem. The result is this, there are several stacks of notebooks on my desk, some gracing my bookshelves, and some in a storage container under my bed. A few more are in a fancy shoebox and my sisters and friends are often recipients of notebook care packages to share the love or make room for new ones, depending on who you ask.
Is there such thing as 'too many notebooks?'
I used to give myself a hard time about this. How many notebooks does one need? Why can’t I be like the people who buy one notebook, fill it up, and then get a second? Why can’t I be like my partner who keeps everything he writes, be it lists, notes, ink swatches, what have you, in one notebook?
But then I realized that I find great joy in writing in many different sized notebooks. I love the hunt of finding new ones I “have to have” and I get immense pleasure from filling lots of pages. I don’t want to run out of paper, not in this lifetime (or in the next hundred years!) which given the state of the stacks right now, is insured.
Seeing that this “problem” has been going on for about four decades at this point, I was thrilled when Galen asked me to write a short article about how notebooks are sized and what they can all be used for.
But first, a tiny bit of history.
The History of Notebooks
Notebooks have been around for nearly 2000 years and while they have been used by artists and writers all over the world since then, it’s the 19th century that gave birth to the modern notebook that appealed to and was priced for the masses.
The first pocket notebook we know of was filled with diligent notes kept by Lewis and Clark as they explored and traveled west. The 1860’s introduced Europe and then the world to the composition notebook, whose marble pattern was inspired by early Chinese and Japanese printing techniques. In 1888 left over scraps were made into the first legal pad for a judge with a love for yellow paper.
In the 1920’s sizing was created and introduced in Germany. By the 1970’s this “A” sizing was widely used and considered standardized sizing around the world. While not considered a world standard, “B” sizing followed to describe sizes in between the “A” sizes and is used in most countries globally.
Note: As they are one of the largest producers of stationery and notebooks in the world, it should be noted that Japan’s “B” sizing does not coincide with standard “B” sizing.
Additionally, sizes have been introduced by manufacturers through product offerings that have gone on to become part of others’ lines. Most notably, Traveler’s Company Standard or Regular size is now often found in other manufacturer’s lineups and is nearly always sized at 110 x 210mm (4.33 x 8.25 inches).
The Tomoe River Range - Everyday Notebook Sizes
Galen has taken some of the most popular standardized sizes and added them to their Tomoe River Notebooks lineup.
With beautiful cardstock covers in bright colors and a vintage design, these books can be carried as they are or combined with a coordinated leather cover.
I’ll take just a moment to say that I absolutely love carrying and using these notebooks. These are always at my fingertips and the variety of sizes makes it easy to incorporate into any organizational system and daily use.
Cardbook (Card Size) Notebook
The smallest of the Everyday Books is the Card Notebook.
At 55 x 90 mms (2.16 x 3.54 inches) this is a perfect (albeit tiny,) top-bound notebook to keep in your pocket, pen case or bag, for quick lists, to jot a simple note, to note anything you might be tracking (I personally use this notebook to log the heartrate of my 3lb. long-haired Chihuahua!)
Its compact size makes it easy to transport and it is quite convenient to take notes that can then be transferred to larger books kept at home.
Passport Size Notebook
The passport size notebook is called a passport because it is the size of a standard - go figure - passport! It's 90 x 125 mms (3.54 x 4.92 inches) and is another great on-the-go notebook. Many people use this as a travel journal, daily diary or agenda. It is also a wonderful size for keeping a record of memorable quotes.
Pocket Size Notebook
The Pocket Notebook is the size of a 3 x 5 flash card. At 90 x 140 mms (3.5 x 5.5 inches) this size was popularized by the Field Notes Brand and is a most popular size. While it can be used similarly to the Passport, it offers just enough extra space that it is useful as a daily to do list, grocery list or a place to make quick sketches and ideate. This also makes a nice book to keep in your pen case for swatching inks. They fit nicely in our leather pocket notebook covers.
Standart Size Notebook
The standard everyday book is 110 x 210 mms (4.33 x 8.26 inches) and can be useful for both horizontal and vertical layouts. The size was popularized by the Traveler’s Company TN (Traveler’s Notebook,) and has been carried all over the globe to document travel. It’s unique size lends well to scrapbooking photos and ephemera, planning and journaling.
B6 Size Notebook
The B6 notebook size is 128 x 182 mms (5.03 x 7.16 inches). This is the notebook size that I used to take notes for this article. It is my Everyday everyday carry. A former Hobonichi user, I’ve found that this notebook takes its place and simplifies what I need to take with me. I use it to keep appointments, to take notes for work and bullet journaling. It is just big enough for what I need and just small enough to be practical. It’s like my perfect Goldilocks and the Three Bears notebook: just the right size. View all B6 notebooks.
B6 Slim Size Notebook
For those who want a slightly taller and slimmer notebook than the A6, this notebook is an elegant alternative. Popular applications are the smaller version of the Jibun Techo planner and the Midori MD notebooks.
A5 Size Notebook
A5 notebooks are offered by Galen in many formats: the A5 Tomoe River Notebook, an A5 leather notebook, a 400-page version, a top bound pad and the slim stitch-bound version. All of these formats can be utilized similarly to the B6 and at 145 x 210 mms (5.70 x 8.26 inches) are also great for carrying into a meeting or as a school or work notebook. The leather version is truly something special. It makes a wonderful journal or a research book. I’m using mine to keep notes on some artists’ materials I’ve been making, and it feels so luxurious and formal in the best way. View all A5 notebooks.
A5 Slim Size Notebook
Made to slip easily into bags and portfolios, this size notebook is most commonly found in the form of the Jibun Techo planners and notebooks. It’s everything you love about the middle of the road perfection of an A5 with just a slightly more graceful profile.
B5 Size Notebook
Surprisingly, the notebook I have most enjoyed using is the largest of the bunch, the B5 notebook. Sometimes referred to as the Composition or Extra-Large notebook, this book is 190 x250 mms (7.48 x 9.84 inches) of blank space for plotting and planning. It makes an epic illustrated journal or scrapbook but is equally practical for course work. It allows for super large spreads and its size makes it quite beautiful to look at once it is filled. View all B5 notebooks.
Tip: Difference Between ISO B5 and Japanese B5 Size Notebooks.
Japanese B5 (called JIS B5 ) sizes are marginally larger than ISO B5 sizes. Consequently, Japanese brand B5 notebooks are slightly bigger than those from non-Japanese brands. Galen Everyday Book, Moleskine, LT1917, and compositions notebooks adhere to ISO B5 size standards.
Also some Japanese brands use a paper size that’s sometimes called Semi B5. At 7 x 9.9 inches, it’s similar to ISO B5.
A4 Size Notebook
A5 notebooks are offered by Galen in many formats: the A5 Tomoe River Notebook, an A5 leather notebook, a 400-page version, a top bound pad and the slim stitch-bound version. All of these formats can be utilized similarly to the B6 and at 145 x 210 mms (5.70 x 8.26 inches) are also great for carrying into a meeting or as a school or work notebook. The leather version is truly something special. It makes a wonderful journal or a research book. I’m using mine to keep notes on some artists’ materials I’ve been making, and it feels so luxurious and formal in the best way. View all A5 notebooks.
Legal Size Notebook
Not to be confused with A4 sized notebooks’ paper, legal paper is only slightly wider but it is two plus inches taller and is generally found in office supply stores in top bound and top ring bound pads.
There is a perfect size notebook for your every need. It is just a matter of trial and error (which can be half the fun if you love notebooks like I do) to find the one(s) for you.
I would love to hear how you choose to use different sizes. Leave us comments below to share how you fill your notebooks with the Galen community.
Notebook Size Table
| Notebook Format |
Size in Millimeters |
Size in Inches |
| B8 | 62 x 88 mm | 2.4 × 3.5 inches |
| B7 (Passport) | 88 x 125 mm | 3.5 x 4.9 inches |
| B6 Slim | 110 x 176 mm | 4.3 x 6.9 inches |
| B6 | 125 x 176 mm | 4.9 x 6.9 inches |
| B5 (ISO) | 190 x 250 mm | 7,48 x 9,84 inches |
| B5 (JIS) | 182 x 257 mm | 7,20 x 10.1 inches |
| B5 Semi | 177 x 250 mm | 7,00 x 9,80 inches |
| A8 | 52 x 74 mm | 2.0 x 2.90 inches |
| A7 | 74 x 105 mm | 2.90 x 4.10 inches |
| 90 x 140 mm | 3,54 x 5,51 inches | |
| A6 | 105 × 148 mm | 4.13 × 5.83 inches |
| Regular | 110 x 210 mm | 4,33 x 8,26 inches |
|
A5 Slim |
125 x 210 mm | 4.90 x 8.26 inches |
| A5 | 148 x 210 mm | 5.83 x 8.26 inches |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | 8.3 x 11.7 inches |
| Letter /Legal | 216 x 279 mm | 8.5 x 11.0 inches |
13 Responses
Claude Rothman (she/her)
I love this article, but I am surprised to notice the lack of mention of the “grande” size notebook (8.27 × 0.79 × 11.81 inches).
Jonathan Cook
What about 4.5 by 3.25. These notebooks are in every staples and office depot.
vishmael
Why no mention of 6″ × 9″ – 150 × 230 cm – ideal size of many art-house sketchbooks, standard size of many published books, as I’ve used contentedly for 40 years?
Sharon
I love notebooks. I would like to see one the size of a check. There are beautiful checkbooks out there and even in my drawer but no one is writing checks. A notebook would be perfect.
James McDowell
The article fails to mention the magic of the A system. Start with a sheet 1 unit (meters, yards, feet, anything) by 1.41 (square root of 2) units. You can then fold it in half infinitely and the long side keeps the same ratio to the short side (perspective).
Nicole
I have all these sizes and more – you can’t have too many for sure – My preference for my bullet journal and my book descriptions is the A5 and my go-to size for my reading challenges is 11cm x 16cm but I can’t find it in your list. I have ~15-20 notebooks all around the house, most of them in use. I probably have ~5 that are waiting patiently to be taken to task. Interesting post, thank you.
Marti
How about paper thickness? I love my dotted paper lemome but have wondered about using a composition size notebook. The only problem is that all the notebooks I can find in that size have such thin paper! I would love to find a B5 that can handle inky fountain pens.
Amy
Let me first apologize for my lack of visualization skills but which one is the closet to the U.S. standard letter size? I’ve been using 7 × 9 notebooks for many years and still get confused about the numbers whenever I try to buy accessories. What size is closet to the that? Thank you!
olawale
Wow, i really loved the details as spread out in the article. thanks a bunch. i want to start selling my own custom made notepad and i find this article really helpful.
Eric Braden
I like to think I’m a composition book, but then life knocks me down a few pegs and I realize I’m just a pocket notebook and that’s all I’ll probably ever be. Even my best friend agrees. That’s ok though, he’s a cardbook so at least I have that extra 5 centimeters on him.
Terry York
Enjoyed the article immensely… yes, I also have a problem. One that keeps me quite entertained and happy! I won’t say ‘content’ as we know I would be lying. I’m glad to see the B5 notebook in the mix as I
truly enjoy the B5 or composition size leather covers! The space in the notebooks is a happy side result. I believe if the space is there, why not sprawl a while and enjoy the write life. Thx for the info packed article & interesting tid-bits. I’ll be looking for another article from you!
Jon Wolfsthal
I too have a notebook problem. I have a great Galen cover for Hobonichi weeks but no longer use the weeks. What are the best notebooks for that very unusual size – 3.75 × 7.4″
Thanks.
Michael DeStefano
I enjoyed the article and glad to know that others care about notebook sizes and uses
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Katy Klassman
Author
Katy worked in a stationery shop for nearly a decade, so She’s educated on many products and stationery client questions. She is also stationery - planner - fountain pen fanatic.