Sizing up your notebook

It’s a stationery item long engrained into our culture – from being a kid and having them at school, to taking them into important meetings, the notebook has a myriad of uses both in our personal and working lives.

But is there a science behind choosing the right notebook for the right job?

Well, no. But there is a huge variation in our personal preferences for the specific touch and feel of a notebook not to mention the issue of where you intend to keep it. Briefcase? Back pocket? Hand bag? Desk top?

Paul’s Paper and Pens offers a range of sizes, so your chosen notebook fits perfectly into your lifestyle – enhancing it, not cluttering it. For those of you who haven’t quite decided what size to go for, maybe our guide will help

 A4 and A4 landscape - 210 x 297mm (8.3 x 11.7in):

• Perfect for your desktop and daily to do lists – allowing enough space to keep a daily log and for notes alongside each task
• Meeting notes – A4 fits well into a briefcase / large handbag.
• Individual client records – designate each client their own A4 notebook for logging all meetings, telephone calls and tasks, increasing efficiency and organisation
• Great for school work, allowing lots of space and fitting comfortably into a school bag

A5 & A5 landscape - 148 x 210mm (5.8 x 8.3in):

• At half the size of A4, these notebooks are popular as journals – the size makes them easy to carry whilst still allowing lots of space
• Sketchbooks – easily transportable on days out
• Site visits – for any occupation having to regularly go out into the field – this size is ideal for plenty of notes without the bulk

B5 - 176 x 250mm (6.9 x 9.8in):

• This size falls in between A4 and A5 and makes for a perfect everyday notebook – they are not too big to carry around but allow you plenty of space if you prefer to finish your notes/tasks all on one page.

A6 -105 x 148mm (4.1 x 5.8in):

• A6 is true pocket size and ideal for carrying around everywhere on the off chance you may need to make a note
• Perfect for people with creative jobs or hobbies, who may want to log ideas as they occur throughout the day
• For daily journaling when you only want to record a sentence or two
• For logging things that happen when you’re out and about, as a reminder that you have to take action when you get home

A7 - 74 x 105mm (2.9 x 4.1in):

• Very cute and ideal as a stocking filler
• Often popular for arts and crafts as covers can be decorated and personalised
• Perfect for dotting round the house, for shopping lists and taking messages etc

And finally - Field Notes: A back pocket size of their own 89 x 140mm (3.5 x 5.5in):

• Originally inspired by an American tradition of promotional notebooks and ‘pocket-ledgers’ used by farmers, Field Notes offers a range of vintage style notebooks available in a range of sizes and paper types, for a variety of everyday uses.
• They are stylish, quirky and desirable, and versatile enough to for virtually any use. Field Notes make a beautiful gift, or a treat for yourself if you’re looking for something stylish but practical.

It goes without saying that notebooks of any size make great gifts. But if your notebook has a required function it’s best to size it up first. When buying online, we suggest you physically check the above measurements on a ruler before you purchase.

Whatever your requirements, the trusty notebook shows no signs of going out of fashion.