Outlook Spotlight

The 8 Best Bullet Journals: Our Favorite Journals For 2024 And Beyond

Looking for the perfect bullet journal to organize your thoughts, tasks, and goals? Here are the eight best bullet journals on the market to help you live a more productive, creative, and organized life.

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Best Bullet Journals
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Don’t have time to read our full breakdown? Here are our top picks:

Bullet journals are a popular method for organizing your thoughts, tasks, and goals in a creative and customizable way. As an analog system in a digital world, they provide a hands-on experience that many find grounding and fulfilling. Bullet journals can help improve productivity, encourage mindfulness, and serve as a creative outlet for self-expression.

Choosing a quality bullet journal comes down to a few key factors: the type of paper, binding, page layout, and cover material. The paper should be thick enough to prevent ink bleeding or ghosting, and the binding should allow the journal to lie flat when open, making it easy to write and doodle.

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Page layouts range from dotted grids, which enable freedom and flexibility in designing your spreads, to pre-printed templates that offer structure and guidance for those who need it. Additionally, a durable cover is essential for protecting your thoughts, dreams, and plans.

When selecting the perfect bullet journal, there are a few crucial aspects to consider:

  • Will you be using specific writing instruments, like fountain pens or markers, that may require higher-quality or heavier weighted paper?
  • Do you prefer a minimalist layout or something more structured and guided?
  • Is a hardcover or softcover better suited for your needs and aesthetic preferences?

I’ve been journaling for years, and over that time I've had a chance to test out numerous bullet journals to identify those that stand out for their quality, usability, and design. In the following list, you'll find the top bullet journals that cater to various preferences and offer the best overall experience, so you can confidently embark on your journey towards a more organized and creative life.

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The 8 Best Bullet Journals on the Market

Here, you will find our carefully curated list of the top bullet journals to help organize your life and unleash your creativity.

RETTACY Dotted Bullet Grid Journal

These two-pack dotted bullet grid journals offer great quality, durability, and versatility for anyone looking to enhance their journaling or note-taking experience.

Pros:

  • High-quality 120 GSM paper
  • Sturdy leather hardcover for durability
  • Comes with elastic closure, pen holder, bookmarks, and back pocket for added convenience

Cons:

  • Slightly limited variety in available colors
  • A5 size might not be suitable for everyone's preference
  • No unique or outstanding features compared to competitors

If your goal is to elevate your journaling or note-taking experience, the RETTACY Dotted Bullet Grid Journal 2 Pack offers an excellent combination of quality, durability, and functionality. With its 120gsm paper, you can confidently write or draw without worrying about ink bleeding through the pages.

The leather hardcover provides a sturdy and comfortable writing surface while protecting your precious notes. It comes with an elastic closure to keep your journal securely closed, ensuring your pages remain pristine. The added pen holder, bookmarks, and back pocket enhance the overall functionality and convenience of these notebooks, which makes them perfect for daily use or traveling.

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However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. First, the available colors are somewhat limited, which might not appeal to everyone. Secondly, the A5 size of these journals might be too small for those who prefer larger notebooks. Lastly, while these journals are reliable and well-made, they do not offer any significant standout features that differentiate them from similar products on the market.

Nevertheless, the RETTACY Dotted Bullet Grid Journal 2 Pack is an excellent choice for those seeking a quality and functional notebook that will effectively meet their journaling and note-taking needs. With its smooth, high-quality paper and durable cover, you're sure to find these notebooks a valuable addition to your collection.

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PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook

Considering its high-quality materials and user-friendly design, the PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook is perfect for all your bullet journaling needs.

Pros:

  • Sturdy and water-resistant vegan leather cover
  • Premium 100 gsm acid-free paper for pens and markers
  • Lay-flat thread-bound design for easy writing

Cons:

  • Slightly higher price compared to competitors
  • Pen ink might show through with heavy use
  • Limited color options available

To start, the PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook has a best-selling hardcover with a water-resistant vegan leather cover in a beautiful burgundy color. It measures 5.7 x 8 inches, giving it a medium size that fits perfectly in most bags and purses. The journal features 160 pages of light ivory colored sheets designed for multiple writing tools, including pens, pencils, and markers, without ghosting and bleed-through.

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This bullet journal notebook is designed with practicality in mind. The thread-bound spine encourages a lay-flat design, which is a game-changer for both right and left-handed users. The lay-flat feature makes bullet journaling, note-taking, and drawing a breeze.

In terms of organization, the PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook doesn't disappoint. An expandable inner storage pocket is perfect for storing appointment cards, notes, and receipts. Plus, a sheet of sticker labels is included for personalization on the cover and spine. The notebook also has a ribbon bookmark and an elastic closure band.

However, there are a few things to consider before purchasing this journal. While the paper quality is impressive, heavy use of pens and markers may still lead to some ink showing through. Additionally, the color variety for this notebook is limited, so if you're looking for a range of colors, you might need to search elsewhere. Lastly, though the value matches the premium features, the PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook's price point may be slightly higher than some competitors.

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Overall, the PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook is an excellent choice for anyone in need of a bullet journal. It offers great durability, premium materials, and practical design elements that will make bullet journaling a smooth and enjoyable experience.

LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal (Edition 2)

The LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2 is a must-have for both beginners and experienced bullet journalists due to its impressive features and exceptional paper quality.

Pros:

  • Excellent 120 GSM paper, suitable for various writing instruments
  • Built-in BuJo features: Bullet Key, Index, and Future Log
  • Portable and stylish design with a soft faux leather cover

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Cons:

  • Slightly larger margins may not suit everyone's preferences
  • Pocket guide could be redundant for experienced bullet journalists
  • Stickers included may not be useful for all users

The LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2 offers an enjoyable journaling experience, thanks to its thoughtfully designed pages and components. Its 120 GSM paper makes it perfect for writing with different types of pens without worrying about ink bleeding through, ensuring crisp and clean journal entries.

What makes this bullet journal stand out is the inclusion of built-in BuJo features like the Bullet Key, Index, and Future Log, as well as a pocket guide that serves as a helpful reference, especially for those new to bullet journaling. These elements allow for an efficient journal setup, making it an ideal choice for busy individuals who still want to maintain an organized and visually appealing journal.

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However, some users may find the slightly larger margins to be restrictive, preferring a cleaner layout without borders instead. Additionally, the pocket guide might be unnecessary for more experienced bullet journalists who are familiar with the system already. The stickers included might also not be used by every user, making it less appealing for minimalist journalers.

Overall, the LEUCHTTURM1917 Bullet Journal Edition 2 is an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality, functional, and stylish journal that caters to the needs of both beginners and experienced bullet journalists. Its thoughtful features and premium paper make this product a worthwhile investment for your journaling journey.

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LOPWO Bullet Dotted Journal Kit

The LOPWO Bullet Dotted Journal Kit offers a comprehensive, high-quality set for bullet journal enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive set with various accessories
  • High-quality pens and paper
  • Convenient and portable A5 size

Cons:

  • Not a spiral-bound notebook
  • Some stickers may have peeling difficulty
  • Binding issues reported by a few users

As a bullet journal enthusiast, you'll appreciate the variety of accessories contained in the LOPWO Bullet Dotted Journal Kit. The dotted hardcover notebook boasts 192 numbered pages and a 5.8" x 8.3" size, meaning it fits snugly in your purse or backpack. Plus, the premium thick and acid-free dotted paper resists bleeding and ghosting, making your journaling experience even smoother.

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A major appeal of this kit is the inclusion of 24 fineliner pens, 2 black pens, 6 washi tapes, 10 mini envelopes with 10 insert cards, 10 reusable stencils, and 12 sticker sheets. These accessories make designing and customizing your bullet journal enjoyable and easy. While the majority of users adore these extras, a few have reported some issues with stickers not peeling off the sheets seamlessly.

The journal itself is well-crafted, featuring an elastic closure, pen holder loop, bookmarks, and a back pocket with a fillet design. However, some users have mentioned pages falling out due to binding issues, so handling the journal gently may be necessary. Additionally, if you are seeking a spiral-bound notebook, this journal may not fulfill that preference.

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Overall, the LOPWO Bullet Dotted Journal Kit provides a comprehensive, engaging, and easy-to-use system to get started with bullet journaling or enhance your current journaling experience.

VIVID SCRIBBLES Dotted Journal

A must-have bullet journal with premium quality paper and useful features for an organized journaling experience.

Pros

  • 160gsm bleed-proof, acid-free paper
  • High-quality binding with a flat lay design
  • Vegan-friendly with added features

Cons

  • Cover prone to minor scuffs
  • Extra stickers not always included
  • Some inconsistency in dot alignment

Having recently used the VIVID SCRIBBLES Dotted Journal, I found the 160gsm acid-free paper to be a standout feature. As promised, it prevents ink from bleeding through, allowing you to use a variety of pens without any issues. The crisp, white paper with 0.5 cm dot grids enhances the overall journaling experience.

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The high-quality binding ensures that the journal remains durable even with frequent use. The flat lay design allows you to write and sketch at any angle without compromising the spine's quality. I particularly enjoyed the vegan-friendly, faux leather cover with rounded corners, which adds an elegant touch.

In addition to the robust build and impressive paper quality, this bullet journal offers convenient features such as an elastic pen loop, pen test pages, a key code page, pre-printed index pages, and an expandable inner back pocket for storage.

However, there are some shortcomings. The cover tends to show scuffs easily, so you might want to handle it with extra care. Additionally, the extra stickers mentioned in the product description were not included in some cases. Lastly, a few pages had slightly misaligned dots, which may affect the overall experience for some users.

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Despite these minor drawbacks, the VIVID SCRIBBLES Dotted Journal remains an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality bullet journal with convenient features. The premium paper and binding make it especially noteworthy, and the additional journaling tools enhance organization and ease of use.

Clever Fox Dotted Journal 2.0

The Clever Fox Dotted Journal 2.0 is an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality bullet journal with a luxurious feel and practical features.

Pros

  • Premium & luxurious vegan leather cover
  • No-bleed 120GSM paper
  • 5mm space between dots

Cons

  • Cover may feel slightly cheap
  • Silly cover embossing limits decoration options
  • Price is higher than the basic version

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Clever Fox Dotted Journal 2.0 boasts a beautiful vegan leather hardcover, which gives it a superior look and feel compared to other bullet journals in the market. The cover is pleasant to touch and comes in several unique designs that will keep you excited to write, draw, journal, and plan.

With no-bleed 120GSM paper, your colored or fountain pens won’t bleed, and each numbered page will hold up to wear. The A5 size (5 inches wide and 8.3 inches long) makes it perfect for carrying in your bag or purse. The 5mm space between dots is ideal for journaling, as it includes a key page and index pages at the front, and all the dotted pages are numbered.

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Although the Clever Fox Dotted Journal 2.0 has many great features, there are a few drawbacks. Some users might find the cover material to feel slightly cheap, even though the overall quality is good. The embossing on the cover may also limit customization options for those who like to decorate their bullet journals. Lastly, the price is higher than the basic version, so it may not suit everyone's budget.

In conclusion, the Clever Fox Dotted Journal 2.0 is an excellent bullet journal for those who value a combination of premium design, quality materials, and practical features. Its minor drawbacks can be overlooked, given the overall satisfaction it provides to users who want a durable and attractive journal for planning, sketching, or any other purpose.

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AHGXG Bullet Dotted Journal

A great choice for bullet journal enthusiasts looking for quality pages and convenient features without breaking the bank.

Pros

  • 100gsm thick paper to prevent ink bleeding
  • Numbered pages, bookmarks, and stencils for better organization
  • Comfortable and durable faux leather cover that lays flat

Cons

  • Dots not spaced at true quarter-inch
  • May have occasional bleeding issues with certain pens
  • Shipping time to some locations might be long

AHGXG brings to you their Bullet Dotted Journal, with a wonderful soft faux leather cover that lays flat nicely, making it a delight for avid note-takers and bullet journal fans. The medium A5 size (5.75"x 8.38") accompanied with 5 x 5mm dot grid paper presents ample space for you to jot down your ideas, doodles, and plans through a total of 320 pages.

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The paper thickness stands out in this journal, providing 100gsm pages, effectively reducing ink bleeding and feathering. Consequently, it works well with most pens, allowing you to enjoy a smooth writing experience. However, keep in mind that some specific pens might still cause bleeding and may require testing before fully committing to the paper.

As you fill the dotted journal with inspirations, the convenience of numbered pages, bookmarks, and stencils assists in navigating and arranging your creations efficiently. This, along with the back inner pocket for holding extras, makes it a perfect companion for your daily planning needs.

Although it might not be perfect with minor discrepancies like the dot-spacing, the AHGXG Bullet Dotted Journal offers quality features at a competitive price. So if you can overlook its minor flaws and are eager to dive into bullet journaling without a hefty investment, this journal is a solid choice for you.

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Choose the Right Bullet Journal for Your Routine

At the end of the day, the best bullet journal for you is the journal that best fits your routine and bullet journaling habits. But whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with one of the above. They will serve you well in 2024 and for years beyond (though if you’re a big bullet journaling fan, you’ll need to re-order within a few weeks)!

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.

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