If you’re new to bullet journaling, you might be looking for some pointers to get you started.
Although you can dive right in and start bullet journaling with just a notebook and a pen, having other journaling supplies on hand can give you a truly satisfying creative experience as you track of your schedule, to-do list, ideas, and artwork.
Today’s post features a list of the essential bullet journal supplies you need to get started organizing your life.
Let’s check them out now!
Dot Grid Journals/Notebooks
1. Dingbats Earth Dotted Hardcover Journal
The cover of Dingbats Earth Dotted Hardcover Journal is made from 100% PU vegan leather, with 12 vibrant colors to choose from. It feels luxurious and provides an elegant protective cover for the pages of your bullet journal.
If you’re looking for a notebook that’s primarily designed for bullet journals, you might want to try this one. It features dot-grid, numbered pages. The first few pages are labeled for bullet journal use, including index, key pages, and future log. The pages are creamy white 100 gsm paper, so they’re thick enough for sketches and heavy writing.
This notebook also comes with an expandable envelope for essential documents you need to carry with you. In addition, there are 16 perforated pages, so you can easily detach art work or to-do lists. Lastly, there are a couple of ribbon bookmarks that make it easy for you to find your place within the journal.
If you’re looking for a high-end notebook, this is a very good option.
2. Minimalism Art Classic Notebook Journal
If it’s a more affordable notebook that you’re after, Minimalism Art Classic Notebook Journal is worth a try.
This notebook also has 100 gsm paper. Its cover is made from PU leather and comes in 10 colors.
Many bullet journal enthusiasts prefer using a dot grid notebook because it allows them some flexibility in creating their spreads, which can be a bit difficult to pull off on a squared or lined page. A dot grid notebook also provides some structure compared with a plain notebook.
Plain Journals/Notebooks
3. Dingbats Wildlife Collection Notebook
Here is another notebook from the Dingbats line. This time, the notebook contains plain pages.
Dingbats Wildlife Collection Notebook is ideal for those who do bullet journaling, but also use their notebooks as sketchbooks. This product also has a vegan leather cover. Its 192 pages are entirely perforated, and it comes with a pen holder, an expandable envelope, and a single ribbon bookmark.
4. AmazonBasics Classic Blank Notebook
AmazonBasics Classic Blank Notebook is another option worth considering if you’re looking for a journal with blank pages.
Its sturdy black cover has a classic, elegant design. There are 240 pages on 120 leaves of acid-free paper. That gives this notebook an archival quality, ensuring that your notes do not fade with time.
It also comes with a ribbon bookmark and an expandable pocket.
Need other notebook options? You can also check out our review of the best bullet journals for a better idea about which notebook perfectly suits your needs.
Black Pens
5. Scriveiner Luxury Pen
Scriveiner Luxury Pen provides a smooth writing experience, such as you’d get when using a fountain pen. In addition, it offers the convenience of a ballpoint in an elegant writing instrument.
If you want a luxury pen for filling in the daily, weekly, and monthly spreads in your bullet journal, this pen is worth a try.
6. Sakura Pigma Micron Pen
Are you looking for pens that are suitable for both writing and sketching?
Sakura Pigma Micron Pen set offers various nib sizes, making it ideal for writing and sketching. The set provides great value for money. Furthermore, the ink is archival quality, which ensures that what you write in your journal won’t fade as time passes.
For more pen options, check out this review of the best smudge-proof pens for 2020.
Colored Pens
7. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens
Using colored pens adds visual interest to bullet journals. Gel pens, such as those found in Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, are popular for drawing icons, sketches, and other images for your spreads.
Gel pens have the advantage of working on almost any type of paper. They produce less ghosting, and rarely bleed through a page.
There are a lot of choices for writing tools that work well with bullet journals. Your choice should be determined by how comfortable you are when handling these pens, markers, etc. Always take into consideration:
- How comfortable you are using the pen
- If you’re doing more sketching or more writing
- How well your pen prevents bleed-through or ghosting
Remember, just because a pen is expensive does not necessarily mean it will perform best for your needs.
8. iBayam 18-Color Fineliner Pens
Most bullet journal users have a favorite set of fineliner pens. These are typically used for creating graphics. However, they are also a favorite for writing by hand. Perhaps this has something with the softer feel of the fiber tip that you cannot get with a regular ballpoint pen.
iBayam 18-Color Fineliner Pens comes in 18 colors, and provides great value for your money. The ink does not bleed through your journal’s pages, and people have used the pens for creating calendars, drawing, coloring, charting their trackers, and more.
Markers/Highlighters
9. Zebra Mildliner Creative Marker
Zebra Mildliner Creative Marker is a favorite amongst creatives. It features soft colors that are pleasing to the eye. The highlighters come with double tips—a broad and a fine tip—that can accommodate all types of journaling, drawing, and other applications.
10. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pen
This set of black, felt-tip pens is awesome for bullet journals. You’ll appreciate the vivid black ink that makes note-taking a pleasurable experience. The best part is that these Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens do not bleed through paper. And in bullet journaling, that is a big plus.
Colored Pencils
11. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
If you’d like to incorporate more color into your bullet journal, colored pencils are ideal. They do not bleed, feather, or ghost on paper.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils comes with 150 richly saturated colors, providing a smooth coloring experience. In addition, they are durable and lightfast.
12. Wanshui Oily Color Pencils
Wanshui Oily Color Pencils are more affordable alternative to the set featured previously. It comes with 12 metallic colors and 8 fluorescent ones, for added fun while you’re coloring.
Ink
13. Tom Holtz Distress Mini Ink Set
Although inks are often considered “advanced” bullet journal supplies, you can start incorporating them into your journal designs early on to make interesting spreads. Tom Holtz Distress Mini Ink Set provides awesome effects when used as a medium in bullet journals.
It can be written, stamped, and drawn over. Tom Holtz’s Distress Ink guarantees no bleed-through when used even on the thinnest journal paper.
14. Lsushine Craft Pad Ink
Lsushine Craft Pad Ink comes in 15 vibrant colors. Use it with stencils to create awesome effects in your bullet journal.
Here are some other ways that bullet journal owners incorporate ink in their journaling:
Stencils
15. Nablue Alphabet & Numbers Plastic Stencil Set
Nablue Alphabet & Numbers Plastic Stencil Set provides consistency and a polished look to your bullet journal.
Stencils are an easy way to create an artistic effect in your bullet journal no matter what level of artistic talent you possess. They work well with any writing medium.
Furthermore, stencils give you consistent shapes, letters, and other images every time. This is quite useful when you’re creating icons for your trackers and banners for your page headers.
16. 20-Piece Journal Stencil
20-Piece Journal Stencil contains the alphabet, banners, and other icons and shapes that you usually encounter in a bullet journal. Enjoy using them to add artistic touches to your journal pages.
Here are some other types of stencils that you definitely need in your collection:
Journal Stickers
17. Zicoto Sticker Set
Stickers are another way to add attractive designs to your journal. Featured here is Zicoto Sticker Set with over 1,500 designs that you can use in your trackers, monthly pages, and other parts of your bullet journal.
If you want to create a themed bullet journal layout, stickers provide a professional look with minimal effort on your part.
18. So Many Planner Stickers
So Many Planner Stickers has 2,600 stickers and is great for decorating planners and bullet journals. The stickers are just the right size, and there are a lot of designs to choose from.
The book’s format is wonderfully convenient, especially when you’re doing your bullet journaling on the go.
You can also check out more sticker options in this post.
Washi Tapes
19. Kovano 48 Rolls Washi Tape Set
Washi tapes are another quick and awesome way to decorate your bullet journal. They can be used for practically anything, such as:
Kovano 48 Rolls Washi Tape Set depicts charming landscape scenes and are a great addition to your collection of journaling supplies. This set has 48 uniquely designed washi tapes. They are versatile, eye-catching, and durable.
20. Aguatape 48 Rolls Washi Tape
Aguatape 48 Rolls Washi Tape features assorted designs that are great as page dividers in your bullet journal. The set provides great value for your money, and is a great way to grow your washi tape collection.
Storage/Organizers
21. Qianshan Pencil Case Holder
When you get serious about bullet journaling, you tend to accumulate a lot of supplies. If you don’t have the right storage system, items could get misplaced or lost.
Furthermore, if you’re constantly on the go, you will want to make sure that you have all your essential bullet journaling supplies with you.
Qianshan Pencil Case Holder has the capacity for up to 202 colored pencils, and comes in nine eye-catching designs. There are four compartments so you can organize your pens, coloring materials, adhesives, etc. in their appropriate receptacles.
22. Easthill Big Capacity Pencil Case
If you are carrying only the basic supplies for your bullet journal, you can use the non-expanded version of this carrying case. Easthill Big Capacity Pencil Case expands if you need to store more items, and it comes in a size that’s convenient for taking in a backpack.
The design is minimalistic, and is available in four color options.
Final Thoughts on Bullet Journal Supplies
There you have it—our recommendation for the best supplies you need as you begin your journey into bullet journals.
As a rule of thumb, the best products are those that you feel most comfortable using. We hope you’ve found several favorites among the supplies featured here today.
If you need further resources about bullet journals, the following posts are worth checking out:
Finally, if you don’t know the “right” way to journal, then check out this seven-step process for building a journaling habit that sticks.
