It might seem trivial and outdated to those who are used to doing all their work on a computer, but paper is important. Research has indicated that writing on paper can help with creativity, memory, and focus. So it’s not surprising that there are lengthy debates on the best paper. This might be doubly true for those who work with grid paper.
There are a few things to look for in any paper — it should be thick enough to not ghost with a regular ballpoint pen, and the color of both the paper and the lines make a big difference. Some paper is too white, and this can cause visual strain. With grid paper, you want lines that are thick enough to be useful guidelines, but not so thick that they’ll be distracting and overwhelm the written information. With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that there’s a ton of variety in the quality of grid paper. There’s also a lot that comes down to preference.
Different kinds of grid paper suit different needs. Some need thicker lines for math and engineering, while others need fine lines for drawing or journaling. That’s why we’ve rounded up a few different kinds of gridded notebooks and composition pads. Whether you’re a journaler, an artist, a Mensa-level engineer, or just a teenager trying to pass geometry, this is some of the best-reviewed grid paper we could find.
1. Miliko B5 Dot Grid Spiral Notebook (2 pack)
These notebooks from Miliko come in a pack of 2, and each notebook has 80 sheets. The 80gsm paper is printed on visually pleasing ivory white paper, and the notebooks have a hardcover and spiral binding to protect the paper. The 0.2″ grid has fair, light dots.
Pros: Visually pleasing ivory paper. Hardcover and spiralbound for protection and convenience.
Cons: Gridded dots are faint, which may be a problem for some.
2. Northbooks USA A5 Graph Paper Notebook
For something that’s easy to carry on the go, this small softcover notebook has 144 sewn pages. The paper size is 5.8″ x 8.2″. The grid notebook has a stylish, minimalist gray cover with a small grid design on the front. The spine is meant to be broken in over time, allowing the pages to lay flat.
Pros: Stylish and minimalistic cover. Small and portable. Pages are a heavyweight 90 gsm, and a soft cream color. Made in America.
Cons: Only 72 sheets, the fewest of the options on this list.
3. NATIONAL Brand Computation Pad (200 pages)
If you’re looking for a computation pad, rather than a notebook, this 8.5″ x 11″ pad has a 5 x 5 grid on the back and a plain front, which is good if you need to work with multiple kinds of paper. It’s 3 hole punched, so you can put the pages in a binder to protect them. The yellow paper and green lines reduce eye strain compared with white paper.
Pros: Blank front and gridded back. The paper is smooth but thicker than other major brands like Tops and Ampad. Good option for engineers.
Cons: Lines might be faint for some, pages are prone to separating from the cardboard backing.