There is no best sketchbook, only the best paper for what you put on it. Graphite wants tooth, alcohol markers want a smooth surface that resists bleeding, watercolor wants heavy paper that will not buckle. Most sketchbook disappointment comes from mismatching the two. Start with your medium, then choose the book.
Research-based, not hands-on tested. Paper weights and surfaces are the makers’ stated figures; the medium-by-medium advice comes from established practice. I did not run bleed or buckle tests. My method.
The short answer
Start with your medium, then choose the book.
- Graphite, charcoal and colored pencil practicetoothy drawing paper of about 90 to 150 gsm, such as the Fuxi 9 × 12 in pad.
- Alcohol markerscoated marker paper. Alcohol ink bleeds straight through ordinary drawing paper.
- Paint pensmixed-media paper of 150 gsm and up, or black paper for opaque pens.
- Watercolorwatercolor paper of around 300 gsm (140 lb), so it does not buckle when wet.
Paper by medium
Open your medium to see what to look for.
Graphite and charcoal
Any drawing paper with some tooth (texture) from about 90 to 150 gsm. Tooth grabs graphite and charcoal and lets you layer and erase. My everyday pick below is made for exactly this. Use fixative on charcoal pages so they do not smudge onto the facing page. Choosing grades? See my sketching pencil guide.
Colored pencil
Toothy drawing paper for practice; heavier, smoother Bristol vellum or dedicated colored-pencil paper for finished work with many layers. Toned (tan or grey) paper makes highlights pop with a white pencil.
Alcohol markers
Smooth, coated marker paper or bleed-resistant marker sketchbooks. Alcohol ink bleeds straight through ordinary drawing paper, including 100 gsm dry-media pads. Always keep a scrap sheet behind the page. More in my alcohol marker guide.
Paint pens and acrylic markers
Mixed-media or heavier paper (150 gsm and up) so the paint does not wrinkle the page; black paper for opaque pens. See the paint pen guide.
Watercolor
Watercolor paper of around 300 gsm (140 lb), ideally 100% cotton for finished work. Lighter paper buckles badly when wet. My watercolor guide explains cold press and hot press. The square cotton journal from my kit is in my Fuumuui watercolor journal write-up. Its pocket-size 4 × 6 in sibling is in my Fuumuui 4 × 6 sketchbook write-up. The journal I paint in on camera is the BAOHONG Academy watercolor journal.
Mixed media and gouache
Mixed-media paper, usually 160 to 300 gsm, takes light washes, markers and pencil on one page. For heavy wet work, use watercolor paper. Starting out? See my gouache guide.
Soft and oil pastel
Pastel paper or sanded paper with strong tooth, often toned. Oil pastels also work on heavy drawing paper and primed surfaces. New to them? See my oil pastel guide.
How I chose
I started from the medium, then looked for books whose maker states a paper weight, a surface and an intended medium I could match. I favored acid-free paper, bindings that stay out of the way, and enough pages to practice freely.
The picks
Research-basedFuxi 9 × 12 in Spiral Sketchbook, 100 Sheets
Best everyday dry-media pad
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Size
- 9 × 12 in, top spiral
- Paper
- 100 gsm (68 lb), acid-free, white
An everyday practice pad for dry media: a toothy, acid-free 100 gsm sheet, a top spiral that stays out of the way of either hand, and enough pages to fill without guilt.
A large 9 × 12 in page, a top spiral that stays clear of either hand, and 100 sheets of acid-free 100 gsm paper the maker designs for graphite, colored pencil, charcoal and pastel. The micro-perforated sheets come out cleanly for class or display. Keep it for dry media; that is what it is built for.
Good fit if
- Daily sketching in graphite, charcoal and colored pencil
- Students and art classes
- Adding to any drawing gift
Skip it if
- You paint in watercolor or use alcohol markers; 100 gsm is too light for wet media and bleed
All maker specs
- Size
- 9 × 12 in, top spiral
- Paper
- 100 gsm (68 lb), acid-free, white
- Sheets
- 100, micro-perforated
- Covers
- Rigid front and back
- Made for
- Graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, pastel
Worth knowing
- The maker positions this pad for dry media. For markers use marker paper; for watercolor use 300 gsm watercolor paper.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 11, 2026 for this exact variant: Brown cover, 9 × 12 in, pack of 1.How I pick
Research-basedLimited time dealCaliart 176-Piece Sketching and Drawing Kit
Best for trying toned paper
$23.39List Price: $25.99Save 10%
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:24 UTCDetails
Price and availability show on Amazon.
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Pencils
- Graphite, charcoal, white charcoal, colored, watercolor, metallic (12 of most)
- Sketch pad
- 6 × 9 in, 100 sheets: white, tan and black, 100 gsm
A complete drawing starter in one case: graded graphite, charcoal and three colors of paper, so a new artist can try value studies, toned-paper highlights and a little color before choosing a direction.
If you have never drawn on toned paper, this kit is an easy way to try: its small sketch pad mixes white, tan and black sheets, and the kit includes white charcoal for highlights. It is a sampler, not a main sketchbook; see my kids’ and beginner kit guide for who it suits.
Good fit if
- Teens and adults starting to draw
- Gift giving, because nothing else is needed to begin
- Trying several dry media before buying better versions of the one you like
Skip it if
- You already know your medium; a focused set of better pencils is better value
- The artist is under about 10; charcoal and sharp tools need care
All maker specs
- Pencils
- Graphite, charcoal, white charcoal, colored, watercolor, metallic (12 of most)
- Sketch pad
- 6 × 9 in, 100 sheets: white, tan and black, 100 gsm
- Tools
- Erasers, blending stumps, sharpener, sandpaper block, water brush, extender
- Case
- Zip travel case
Worth knowing
- The pad is small; most learners add a larger sketchbook early.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 11, 2026 for this exact variant: Black case, 176 pieces with a 3-color sketch pad (model 176BLACK).How I pick
Paper weight: gsm and pounds
Paper weight is listed two ways. gsm (grams per square meter) is directly comparable between any two papers. Pounds depend on the sheet size each paper grade is weighed at, so “68 lb” text paper and “140 lb” watercolor paper are not on the same scale. Convert a weight here:
| gsm | Typical paper | Text lb | Bond lb | Cover lb | Watercolor lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Marker paper | 47 | 19 | 26 | 33 |
| 100 | Everyday sketch paper | 68 | 27 | 37 | 47 |
| 160 | Mixed media | 108 | 43 | 59 | 75 |
| 270 | Bristol | 182 | 72 | 100 | 126 |
| 300 | Watercolor paper | 203 | 80 | 111 | 140 |
US pound weights depend on the sheet size each paper grade is weighed at, which is why one sheet can be "68 lb" as text paper and "27 lb" as bond. Compare papers in gsm whenever you can.
Tooth and surface
- Smooth / vellumfine detail, ink, markers, Bristol.
- Medium tooththe general sketching surface for graphite and colored pencil.
- Rough / cold press / sandedholds layers of pastel and charcoal, gives texture in watercolor.
Tooth is a trade: more tooth holds more layers but shows more texture in your final image.
Binding: spiral, hardbound or softcover
| Binding | Good at | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Spiral (top) | Lies flat, flips over, keeps the coil away from your hand | Pages can tear at the holes |
| Spiral (side) | Lies flat, opens like a book | Coil gets in the way of left-handers |
| Hardbound / sewn | Durable, presentable, good for travel | Some do not lie flat across the spread |
| Softcover / stapled | Light, cheap, many pages | Less protection in a bag |
Acid-free and archival
Acid-free paper resists yellowing and brittleness over time. For practice sketchbooks it is nice to have; for finished work you want to keep, it matters.
As a Christmas gift
A sketchbook makes a good Christmas gift only when its paper matches the medium, so check what they use first:
- For a watercolorista cotton watercolor sketchbook, such as the BAOHONG Academy journal I paint in on camera, or the pocket Fuumuui 4 × 6 in sketchbook of 300 gsm cold-press cotton, per Fuumuui.
- For someone who drawsthe Fuxi 9 × 12 in pad with a sketching pencil set.
- If you don’t know their mediuma mixed-media sketchbook of 160 to 300 gsm takes pencil, markers and light washes.
More ideas are in my gifts for artists guide and stocking stuffers for artists.
Questions
Can I use watercolor in a regular sketchbook?
A light wash on 100 gsm drawing paper will buckle and may soak through. For watercolor, use a watercolor sketchbook or mixed-media paper.
What paper weight do I need for alcohol markers?
Weight matters less than coating. Marker paper is often light (around 70 gsm) yet resists bleeding because it is coated. Heavy uncoated paper still bleeds.
What size sketchbook should I start with?
A large page (9 × 12 in) for practice at a desk, and a small one (A5 or 5.5 × 8.5 in) to carry everywhere.
Is it worth buying an expensive sketchbook?
For daily practice, no: an affordable book you fill without hesitation teaches more. Save premium paper for finished pieces.