The best sketchbooks for artists vary depending on your style of art and personal preferences. Our own reviewers – artists themselves – have tried out a wide range in order to compile this pick of our favourites, including the best sketchbooks for beginners.
Our reviewers have tested the sketchbooks in the list below to find the best choices for different mediums, from pencils to markers and watercolours. We've also evaluated them for quality, binding and their practicality in terms of size.
See the section at the bottom for pointers if you're not sure how to choose. For more tools for your art, see our pick of the best art supplies and the best pencils. In the meantime, these are the best sketchbooks we can recommend.
The best sketchbooks for artists available now
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Best sketchbook for travel
Size: 5 x 8.25 inches
Pages / paper weight: 240 / 121lb
The larger of two sizes, this gives plenty of room but is great for sketching on the go thanks to its elastic closure, which keeps it neatly closed, and rounded corners that won't get bent. The ivory-coloured paper is smooth but with enough tooth for most dry media. With 240 pages, you won't worry about filling it too quickly.
Best sketchbook for beginners
Size: 7x10 inches
Pages / paper weight: 160 / 81lb
We think this superb all-rounder is the best sketchbook for beginners. It's a little smaller than A4 size so fits into most folders and bags and it's inexpensive enough for everyday practice. Its cover is waterproof, though it is flexible, so you'll need a hard surface to support it. The cream-coloured pages have micro-perforations for easy removal.
Best sketchbook for professionals
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Pages / paper weight: 50 / 60lb
For professionals, this is one of the best sketchbooks around, with a fine-tooth that carries graphite, coloured pencils and pastels well. This is the smallest in a wide range of sizes (up to 18 x 24 inches). The price per sheet makes it expensive for regular practising, but it's a delight to use and ideal for structural sketches.
Best for mixed media
Size: 12 x 1 x 9 inches
Pages / paper weight: 100 / 1.10lb
This super-thick, premium paper is strong and smooth enough to carry wet media like ink or watercolour and allow dry media like charcoal and pencil to slide. It's acid-free, which helps reduce blotches and smudges, and it's made from recycled paper. Spiral bound at the top, it lies flat without the annoyance of the spiral on the side – great for left-handed artists.
Best to avoid rippling
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
Pages / paper weight: 20 / 140lb
Mixed-media pads can be useful but rarely perform as well as pads designed for specific tasks. This watercolour pad is specially made to withstand repeated washes. Thick paper ensures that it won't ripple or deform as it dries, and there'll be no bleeding. Pages are perforated, but Canson has factored that into the size, so you don't lose paper.
Best for markers
Size: 8.3 x 8.3in / 8.3 x 11.7in
Pages / paper weight: 78 / 120lb
Ohuhu creates markers so it makes sense that offer a decent sketchbook for them. The paper is pleasingly thick, and markers glide across it easily. A translucent sheet stops bleed through, but you'll be able to see markers on the other side of the paper, which means you can only really use one side with markers.
Best toned sketchbook
Size: 9 x 12in
Pages / paper weight: 50 / 80lb
The best sketchbooks with toned paper are ideal for learning to use values since they encourage a whole range, helping achieve more realistic results. Strathmore offers a grey-toned pad, but this is our pick since its warm colour lends life to portraits. The smooth texture works strongly with coloured pencils and graphite, though it carries all dry media well.
Best pocket sketchbook
Size: 4 x 6in
Pages / paper weight: 80 / 70lb
This is the best sketchbook compact enough to fit in a pocket – and tough enough to survive rough treatment. Its hard cover prevents damage from knocks and scrapes, while its double-wire spiral binding is resistant to bending. There are no perforations for tearing out pages, so this is better for exercises and rough work.
Best large-format sketchbook
Size: 18 x 24in
Pages / paper weight: 35 / 65lb
Many sketchbooks are around A4, but there's no need to confine your work. This comes in a version that's two feet long. The spiral binding lets it lie flat as you work, while the hard cover provides protection and support. Pages are easy to remove to store in a portfolio. It doesn't have a great deal of tooth, so it's best for pencils and charcoal.
How do I choose the best sketchbook for me?
The best sketchbook can be different for each artist. Different paper is different for different mediums: you'll need thick, heavy paper for markers and watercolours, and lighter paper for dry media. You'll also need to consider the 'tooth' or 'texture' of the paper. Pencils and inks work best with smooth paper, whereas charcoal and pastels are well suited to paper with more bite, as the pits and grooves hold pigment.
The binding of the sketchbook is also worth considering. A spiral-bound sketchbook will lie flat when you work on it, whereas some hardbound sketchbooks can be more tricky to use. Lastly, there's the question of size. For sketching on the move, a smaller hardcover sketchbook is handy as it fits into a bag or pocket and protects your work. Large-format sketchbooks will offer more space and freedom on the page.
