Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

The Leuchtturm1917 has become almost synonymous with bullet journaling. Its numbered pages, table of contents, and dotted grid have made it the default choice for the bujo community. But is it genuinely the best notebook for your writing practice, or is its dominance more about marketing than merit? After years of daily use, here is our honest assessment.

What You Get

The Leuchtturm1917 A5 hardcover — the flagship product — includes:

251 numbered pages
A pre-printed table of contents (3 pages)
Dotted, ruled, plain, or squared grid options
Two ribbon bookmarks
Adhesive labels for the spine and cover
A gusseted back pocket
Elastic closure band
Sticker sheet with dates for tab markers

The overall impression is a thoughtfully designed product where every feature serves a purpose. The numbered pages and table of contents, in particular, are features that no other mainstream notebook offers at this price point.

Paper Quality

Weight: 80gsm acid-free paper Color: Slight cream/ivory tone Texture: Lightly textured, not glossy

The paper handles most writing instruments well:

Ballpoints and gel pens: Excellent. No issues whatsoever.
Fine-point gel pens (0.38-0.5mm): Very good. Minimal feathering.
Fountain pens (fine nib): Good with most inks. Some ghosting (visible show-through) but rarely actual bleed-through.
Fountain pens (medium-broad nib): Noticeable ghosting with wet inks. Not ideal for heavy fountain pen use.
Markers and brush pens: Ghosting is significant. Heavy markers will bleed through.

The 80gsm paper is the Leuchtturm’s one genuine weakness. Compared to Rhodia’s 90gsm Clairefontaine paper or Archer & Olive’s 160gsm pages, it is thinner and less forgiving with wet media. For pure writing with pens, it is fine. For fountain pen enthusiasts who use wet inks, it can be frustrating.

Build Quality

The hardcover is sturdy without being bulky. The binding is thread-sewn and opens flat — essential for comfortable writing. After a year of daily use, the spine remains intact and pages stay firmly attached. The elastic closure keeps the notebook shut in bags and prevents pages from bending.

The two ribbon bookmarks are a small feature that makes a big difference. One marks your current daily log, the other marks a frequently-referenced collection. This alone justifies choosing Leuchtturm over competitors with single or no bookmarks.

The Numbering Advantage

For bullet journalers, the pre-numbered pages and table of contents transform the notebook from a blank canvas into a navigable system. You can reference any page by number, create an index without counting pages, and direct others to specific locations in the notebook.

For non-bujo users, the numbering is harmless — easy to ignore if you do not need it.

Size and Format Options

Leuchtturm1917 offers:

A5 (5.7 x 8.3 in) — The standard. Fits most purposes.
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 in) — Full-page size. Good for sketching and extensive notes.
B5 (6.9 x 10 in) — Between A5 and A4. Popular for those who want more space.
Pocket (3.5 x 6 in) — Portable. Good for quick notes and travel.

The A5 dotted grid is by far the most popular configuration. It works for bullet journaling, traditional journaling, note-taking, and general writing.

Color Range

The cover comes in over 20 colors, from classic black and navy to vibrant berry, azure, and emerald. Special editions appear regularly. The color range is a genuine delight — you can match your notebook to your personality, your season, or your mood.

Who Should Buy It

Yes, if you:

Bullet journal and want the best-designed notebook for the system
Write primarily with pens (ballpoint, gel, fine-point fountain)
Value organizational features (numbered pages, table of contents)
Want a reliable, well-built daily notebook

Maybe not, if you:

Use wet fountain pen inks or broad nibs as your primary writing tool
Use markers, brush pens, or watercolors extensively
Prioritize paper quality above all other features
Are on a tight budget (at $20-25, it is not cheap)

The Verdict

The Leuchtturm1917 earned its reputation. It is a genuinely well-designed notebook that balances features, build quality, and usability better than any competitor at its price point. The paper is good (not great), but the overall package — numbered pages, table of contents, dual bookmarks, elastic closure, flat-lay binding, color range — makes it the best all-around journaling notebook available.

If paper quality is your top priority, look at Rhodia. If thickness is paramount, look at Archer & Olive. But if you want the notebook that does the most things well, with the thoughtful organizational features that no one else offers, the Leuchtturm1917 remains the one to beat.