Here is a confession: I once bought a beautiful journal, used it for exactly four days, and never opened it again.
Not because the paper was bad. Not because the cover was ugly. Because I bought the wrong size. It was too big to carry and too formal for my messy thoughts. It sat on my desk like an accusation.
Notebook size is not a detail. It is the difference between a journal you use every day and a journal that becomes expensive shelf decoration.
So before you buy, let us answer the question properly: what is the real difference between A5, A6, and A7? And which one fits your life?
Quick Answer: Which Size Should You Choose?
- Desk journaling, long writing sessions → A5 (full page freedom)
- Everyday carry, café notes → A6 (big enough to write, small enough to forget)
- Pocket lists, quick captures → A7 (always with you)
- Bullet journaling with decoration → A5 (space for washi tape and trackers)
- Travel logging → A6 (airport-friendly)
- Gift for someone unsure → A6 (the safest middle ground)
A5 (230 × 175 mm): The Desk Standard
The A5 is what most people picture when they hear the word "journal." At 230 × 175 mm, it is roughly the size of a paperback novel. Big enough for your handwriting to breathe. Big enough for a sketch, a mind map, or a full daily spread with washi tape borders.
Best for: morning pages, bullet journaling with decorative elements, meeting notes, sketching.
The trade-off: at around 520 g, you will not forget you are carrying it. This is a desk journal, a kitchen table journal, a "goes in my bag but comes out at the destination" journal.
If your journaling happens mostly in one place — home, office, a favorite café — the A5 refillable leather journal is the one. With 96 sheets per insert and room for grid, dot, blank, or kraft paper, it handles everything from habit trackers to watercolor-adjacent doodles.
A6 (190 × 125 mm): The Everyday Carry
The A6 is the quiet overachiever of the notebook world. At 190 × 125 mm and around 320 g, it disappears into small bags, large jacket pockets, and the passenger seat of your car.
Here is what surprises people: you do not sacrifice much writing space. The page fits a full paragraph, a grocery list, or a quick sketch without cramping your hand. You sacrifice the sprawl — and most people never use the sprawl anyway.
Best for: carrying everywhere, travel journals, pocket-sized bullet journaling, restaurant notes and book quotes.
If you have ever thought "I should write that down" and then did not because your notebook was in another room, the A6 pocket leather journal solves that problem. Same full-grain leather cover, same refillable inserts, same six colors — just sized for a life in motion.
A7 (145 × 105 mm): The Pocket Companion
The A7 is smaller than most smartphones. At 145 × 105 mm and around 220 g, it fits where no notebook has any right to fit — the back pocket of jeans, the tiny slot in a wallet bag, the cupholder of a rental car.
This is not the journal for essays. This is the journal for the phone number someone shouts as a train door closes. The wine you loved and must remember. The three-line poem that shows up at a red light.
Best for: capturing ideas the second they arrive, pocket lists, ink stamp testing and wax seal pressing (the kraft inserts are perfect for this), small gifts that do not feel small.
The A7 mini leather journal also happens to be the easiest entry point into leather journaling. At $37, it is the kind of gift that looks like you spent three times as much.
The Real-World Test
The Bag Test:
- A5: Fills a standard tote bag slot. Visible. Present.
- A6: Drops into any crossbody or backpack pocket.
- A7: Fits in the pocket you did not know your jacket had.
The Writing Test:
- A5: Full sentences, full thoughts, full spreads.
- A6: Full sentences, compact thoughts.
- A7: Fragments, lists, one strong line.
The Longevity Test:
All three sizes share the same build: full-grain Crazy Horse leather that develops patina, a metal ring mechanism, and refillable inserts. The cover outlives the pages. This is not a notebook you replace. It is a notebook you maintain.
Still Deciding? Ask Yourself One Question
Where will this journal physically be when I need it?
- On my desk → A5
- In my bag → A6
- On my body → A7
That single question has resolved more size debates than every specification chart on the internet.
And if you are buying a gift and cannot ask the question — go with the A6. It is the middle path. Nobody has ever been disappointed by the middle path.
FAQ
Which notebook size is best for bullet journaling?
A5, without hesitation. Bullet journaling benefits from horizontal space — monthly spreads, habit trackers, and collection pages all want room. A6 works for minimal bullet journaling, but the moment you add washi tape borders or sticker decorations, you will wish for the extra centimeters.
Can I use the same paper inserts for A5, A6, and A7?
No. Each size requires its own insert dimensions. The good news: all three sizes offer the same four paper styles (blank, grid, dot, kraft), so your preferred writing experience carries across sizes.
Is A6 too small for daily journaling?
Not for most people. If your entries run under a page per day — lists, highlights, a paragraph of reflection — A6 is perfect. If you regularly write three or more pages in one sitting, size up to A5.
Which size is best for travel?
A6. It is the sweet spot between "enough room to actually document the day" and "small enough that you will carry it through an airport without resentment."
What is the difference between a refillable journal and a regular notebook?
A regular notebook is finished when the pages run out. A refillable leather journal has a ring mechanism that lets you replace the insert and keep the cover. Over years, the leather develops character while the pages stay fresh.
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