Notsu vs Leuchtturm1917: Which Dot Grid Notebook Should You Buy?
The Leuchtturm1917 A5 is the default recommendation for dot grid notebooks — the one every "best notebooks" list names. It's a good notebook. But it's not the only good notebook, and for a lot of writers it's not even the best value. Here's an honest, spec-by-spec comparison against our Dot Grid Lay Flat Notebook ($17.99), including the categories where Leuchtturm wins.
The Short Version
| Notsu Dot Grid Lay Flat | Leuchtturm1917 A5 Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 120gsm | 80gsm |
| Pages | 160 | 251 numbered |
| Binding | Smyth-sewn, opens flat | Thread-bound, opens flat |
| Cover | Cloth spine | Hardcover, 20+ colors |
| Extras | Elastic band | Elastic band, 2 bookmarks, pocket, stickers, index pages, perforated sheets |
| Price | $17.99 | ~$24–26 |
Buy Notsu if: paper quality is your top priority — you use markers, fountain pens, or highlighters and hate ghosting. Buy Leuchtturm1917 if: you want maximum pages and built-in organization features (numbered pages, index, pocket) in one package.
Paper: The Deciding Factor
This is the whole comparison, honestly. Paper weight — measured in grams per square meter (gsm) — determines how your pens behave.
- Notsu: 120gsm. Thick enough that most markers, highlighters, and fountain pens won't ghost through to the other side. You can use both sides of every page with confidence.
- Leuchtturm1917: 80gsm. Standard office-paper territory. Fine for ballpoints and gel pens, but the number one complaint about Leuchtturm1917 — across thousands of reviews — is ghosting and bleed-through with anything wetter than a ballpoint.
Leuchtturm calls its paper "ink-proof," and to be fair, it resists feathering well. But 80gsm is 80gsm: hold a marker-heavy page up to the light and you'll see the other side. If your journaling involves Tombows, Mildliners, or a fountain pen, this alone settles it.
(Leuchtturm does sell a 120gsm "Special Edition" line — but it's a limited, pricier variant, not the standard notebook everyone recommends.)
Page Count and Value
Leuchtturm wins here outright: 251 numbered pages vs Notsu's 160. If you want one notebook to last as long as possible, that's a real advantage — roughly 50% more writing space.
But run the per-page math: Leuchtturm at ~$25 for 251 pages is about 10¢ a page. Notsu at $17.99 for 160 pages is about 11¢ a page. Effectively identical value per page — except Notsu's pages are 50% thicker paper. You're paying the same per page; the question is whether you want more pages or better pages.
Binding and Build
Both notebooks are sewn (not glued), so both open flat — no cracked spines, no fighting the gutter when you write near the center. Notsu uses Smyth sewing with a cloth spine; Leuchtturm uses thread binding with a hardcover. Both will survive daily bag life.
The practical difference: Notsu's lay-flat design is the entire point of the notebook (it's in the name), while Leuchtturm's flat opening is a nice property of good binding. In daily use, they're equivalent here. Call it a draw.
Features and Extras
This is where Leuchtturm1917 earns its reputation as the complete package:
- Numbered pages + blank index: genuinely useful if you run an index-based system. (Notsu pages are unnumbered — numbering 160 pages by hand takes one sitting, but it's on you.)
- Two page markers vs Notsu's... none built in.
- Gusseted pocket inside the back cover for loose papers and stickers.
- 8 perforated, detachable pages at the back.
- Stickers for labeling and archiving.
- 20+ cover colors vs Notsu's black and white cloth spines.
If you want everything in the box on day one, Leuchtturm is the pick. Notsu's philosophy is minimalist: a superb blank canvas, fewer built-in systems. Neither is wrong — it's a question of whether you want features or focus.
The Honest Verdict
We make notebooks, so you'd expect us to declare victory. Here's the truth: these are both good notebooks for different writers.
- Choose Leuchtturm1917 if you want the most pages, built-in organization (numbered pages, index, pocket), and the widest color range — and you mostly write with ballpoints or fine gel pens.
- Choose Notsu if paper quality decides it for you — 120gsm that takes markers and fountain pens without ghosting, a lay-flat sewn binding, at $17.99 instead of $25.
The single question that settles it: what do you write with? Ballpoint and gel pen users will be happy with either. Anyone reaching for a marker, highlighter, or fountain pen should feel the paper difference first — it's the one thing about a notebook you can't change after buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 120gsm paper better than 80gsm? For most journaling, yes. Higher gsm means thicker paper, which resists ghosting and bleed-through from markers, highlighters, and fountain pens. 80gsm is standard copy-paper weight; 120gsm is premium notebook territory.
Does the Leuchtturm1917 ghost with markers? With most markers and highlighters, yes — some show-through is the most common complaint about the standard 80gsm Leuchtturm1917 paper. Ballpoints and gel pens are generally fine.
How many pages does the Notsu dot grid notebook have? 160 pages of 120gsm dot grid paper. Fewer than Leuchtturm1917's 251, but on 50% thicker paper at a lower price.
Is Notsu a good Leuchtturm1917 alternative? If your priority is paper quality and lay-flat binding at a lower price, yes. If you need numbered pages, an index, and maximum page count out of the box, the Leuchtturm1917 remains the safer pick.
Compare for yourself: the Notsu Dot Grid Lay Flat Notebook ($17.99, 120gsm, 160 pages, opens flat) — also in a white cloth spine. Also on Amazon. Get 10% off your first order when you join our list.