Does this notebook exist?
October 31, 2021 9:42 AM Subscribe
I have a few very specific criteria (measurements etc.). Even though what I want sounds quite standard (no weird measurements!) nevertheless it's been impossible for me to find this notebook! Can you help?
I need a notebook that meets the following requirements:
1. Softcover (should be thin: paper or I guess plastic might work, I'm NOT looking for leather or leather-like soft covers)
2. Dotted sheets (not lined, not blank)
3. Size 140mm x 210mm (approx 5.5" x 8.2"), with no more than 5mm difference either way in measurements - this is supposedly A5 "standard" size but I've found to my frustration that A5 actual sizes vary wildly.
4. Minimum 75 sheets/150 pages, ideally 125 sheets / 250 pages, and maximum 150 sheets/300 pages). (I can find 60-sheet or 30-sheet pocket journals, but I do not want those.)
5. Under $20 per notebook.
It would be nice to have decent paper quality, but if not, I can make do with moderate paper, I don't plan to write with fancy pens nor is this for fancy use.
The reason I have such exacting requirements is that I own a beautiful leather notebook cover in these exact dimensions which is of great sentimental value to me. I want to start using it again, it's been months since the notebook that came with the leather cover was used up.
Please, hivemind, can you help me? If anyone finds a seller I swear I will buy a fucking lifetime supply stat.
I need a notebook that meets the following requirements:
1. Softcover (should be thin: paper or I guess plastic might work, I'm NOT looking for leather or leather-like soft covers)
2. Dotted sheets (not lined, not blank)
3. Size 140mm x 210mm (approx 5.5" x 8.2"), with no more than 5mm difference either way in measurements - this is supposedly A5 "standard" size but I've found to my frustration that A5 actual sizes vary wildly.
4. Minimum 75 sheets/150 pages, ideally 125 sheets / 250 pages, and maximum 150 sheets/300 pages). (I can find 60-sheet or 30-sheet pocket journals, but I do not want those.)
5. Under $20 per notebook.
It would be nice to have decent paper quality, but if not, I can make do with moderate paper, I don't plan to write with fancy pens nor is this for fancy use.
The reason I have such exacting requirements is that I own a beautiful leather notebook cover in these exact dimensions which is of great sentimental value to me. I want to start using it again, it's been months since the notebook that came with the leather cover was used up.
Please, hivemind, can you help me? If anyone finds a seller I swear I will buy a fucking lifetime supply stat.
This is something that a printer could make for you, in theory. If you're willing to buy a large supply at once, you can probably get a decent deal on them, plus you'd get to pick your paper, cover and binding style!
I also think you'd be able to make these yourself with a printer, a paper trimmer and cardstock. If it is going to live inside a cover, you would not have to get fancy with the binding, either.
posted by soelo at 10:07 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
I also think you'd be able to make these yourself with a printer, a paper trimmer and cardstock. If it is going to live inside a cover, you would not have to get fancy with the binding, either.
posted by soelo at 10:07 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
A5 is 148mm by 210mm, which may be your issue. The Fabriano EcoQua Dot Grid Notebook would fit those measurements and has 90 sheets.
posted by jimw at 10:12 AM on October 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by jimw at 10:12 AM on October 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
Dimensions are close but not quite. I'm finding that to be a stumbling block.
posted by tiny frying pan at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by tiny frying pan at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Sounds like the size notebook that might work for you is B6 not A5. They come in at 125mm x 175mm but like you noticed with A5 that's the paper size not the binding size so they are a little bigger in actuality and so would fit the dimensions you requested.
Leuchtturm make a B6 plus which is slightly larger than a B6 but smaller than an A5, it is 125 x 190 mm, 5 x 7.5 in, which I think might be perfect for what you are looking for as it is a softcover too.
posted by wwax at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
Leuchtturm make a B6 plus which is slightly larger than a B6 but smaller than an A5, it is 125 x 190 mm, 5 x 7.5 in, which I think might be perfect for what you are looking for as it is a softcover too.
posted by wwax at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2021 [3 favorites]
There are some Miquelrius notebooks that are A5, with dotted paper, but they are the 148mm measurement.
Amazon has these dotted paper refills, that are the right size. You would also need an empty ringbinder to put them in - could be handmade I think, with cardboard and rings.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Amazon has these dotted paper refills, that are the right size. You would also need an empty ringbinder to put them in - could be handmade I think, with cardboard and rings.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
“Half letter” (140mm x 216mm) sounds like it may the size you are actually seeking.
posted by jimw at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by jimw at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2021 [5 favorites]
You might have better luck with a search for 'traveler's notebook insert'. Etsy has a lot of other vendors with options. This one is dotted, and the Cashier size might be closer to what you need.
posted by hydra77 at 10:41 AM on October 31, 2021
posted by hydra77 at 10:41 AM on October 31, 2021
Since you didn't specifically say, I have to ask, is there no way to order a replacement from the company that made the cover?
(I have a notebook cover that I love that I can only get replacement notebooks from the company that makes the cover because the size is non-standard.)
posted by hworth at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2021
(I have a notebook cover that I love that I can only get replacement notebooks from the company that makes the cover because the size is non-standard.)
posted by hworth at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2021
I've found to my frustration that A5 actual sizes vary wildly
Anything sold as A5 with dimensions other than 148x210mm is deceptively labelled.
5.5" x 8.2" is more like half the size of US Letter (8.5" x 11") than half the size of A4 (210x297mm).
posted by flabdablet at 11:42 AM on October 31, 2021
Anything sold as A5 with dimensions other than 148x210mm is deceptively labelled.
5.5" x 8.2" is more like half the size of US Letter (8.5" x 11") than half the size of A4 (210x297mm).
posted by flabdablet at 11:42 AM on October 31, 2021
If you don't mind Amazon, I've used these and they are good quality for less than $10 each: Dotted Notebook A5 Size Bullet Journal WINSAFE 80 sheets/160 Pages-2 Per Pack, 8.27inX5.67in
posted by mcbaya at 12:06 PM on October 31, 2021
posted by mcbaya at 12:06 PM on October 31, 2021
Seconding the Fabriano EcoQua Dot Grid Notebook that jimw recommended above. Nice, ivory paper. I've used them for mixed media projects and they have held up nicely. Ivory toned paper. Just saw some in my local Joann Fabrics of all places. Also seen at Dick Blick.
posted by sarajane at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2021
posted by sarajane at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2021
Response by poster: Oh, man, these are killing me, because none of them would fit. My leather cover was hand-made by a friend, who I am guessing was a fair few mm off standard measurements. The notebook she put inside said it was A5 (and the maker of the brand seems to be now out of business) but I've never found any other notebooks billed as A5 which are exactly that size. The search continues! Thanks for suggesting half-letter sizes, that might work.
posted by MiraK at 2:04 PM on October 31, 2021
posted by MiraK at 2:04 PM on October 31, 2021
A5 is 148mm by 210mm
If you can find a friendly local printer, they will have a chopper/guillotine/paper cutter that can slice off that extra 8mm on the outside edge for a nominal cut fee.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:17 PM on October 31, 2021 [13 favorites]
If you can find a friendly local printer, they will have a chopper/guillotine/paper cutter that can slice off that extra 8mm on the outside edge for a nominal cut fee.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:17 PM on October 31, 2021 [13 favorites]
Can't you just trim down a softcover notebook's outer cover?
posted by knucklebones at 2:49 PM on October 31, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by knucklebones at 2:49 PM on October 31, 2021 [2 favorites]
If you can find a friendly local printer, they will have a chopper/guillotine/paper cutter
Your local library may as well. That's where I've always gone for paper-cutting needs that couldn't be handled with scissors. Look for a makerspace type area.
posted by basalganglia at 4:32 PM on October 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
Your local library may as well. That's where I've always gone for paper-cutting needs that couldn't be handled with scissors. Look for a makerspace type area.
posted by basalganglia at 4:32 PM on October 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
Does your notebook cover have a slot on either end (or both) that your notebook front and back cover slide into? If so, just make your own using Atoma or Arc.
So, you buy an Arc hole-punch for $50 (if you're outside North America, the system is called Atoma).
Purchase Arc rings ($5) -- the larger the ring the more sheets it will hold but you want to make sure that your cover can fold over them so don't go crazy big without measuring first. (Bring your cover into Staples, put the rings in the middle of the cover and fold it over to make sure they're the right size.)
Punch a piece of plastic or heavy cardstock with your punch. This will serve as the "notebook cover" that holds your pages into your leather cover.
Then you just get a Printing House or Kinko's or Staples or your local equivalent to print you some dotted sheets and cut them to the size you want (probably about 3 cents a page plus $1 per cut (you'll need two cuts). Then punch the pages with your punch.
I use this system to refill my Freitag Notebook (previously an Agenda) (self-link), which has a non-standard size. (Watch the video to see how the system goes together -- I assume your leather piece is similar to Freitag's tarp cover). The brown piece the rings go onto on the right in the video would be your piece of plastic or cardstock.
The best thing about the Arc system is that you can easily remove pages and move them around or punch things that aren't paper and fit them in (again, this is shown in the video).
Once you've paid for your punch and rings, the refills will be very cheap. Just do 1000 sheets at a time or whatever your copy plays gives you the best price on.
posted by dobbs at 4:34 PM on October 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
So, you buy an Arc hole-punch for $50 (if you're outside North America, the system is called Atoma).
Purchase Arc rings ($5) -- the larger the ring the more sheets it will hold but you want to make sure that your cover can fold over them so don't go crazy big without measuring first. (Bring your cover into Staples, put the rings in the middle of the cover and fold it over to make sure they're the right size.)
Punch a piece of plastic or heavy cardstock with your punch. This will serve as the "notebook cover" that holds your pages into your leather cover.
Then you just get a Printing House or Kinko's or Staples or your local equivalent to print you some dotted sheets and cut them to the size you want (probably about 3 cents a page plus $1 per cut (you'll need two cuts). Then punch the pages with your punch.
I use this system to refill my Freitag Notebook (previously an Agenda) (self-link), which has a non-standard size. (Watch the video to see how the system goes together -- I assume your leather piece is similar to Freitag's tarp cover). The brown piece the rings go onto on the right in the video would be your piece of plastic or cardstock.
The best thing about the Arc system is that you can easily remove pages and move them around or punch things that aren't paper and fit them in (again, this is shown in the video).
Once you've paid for your punch and rings, the refills will be very cheap. Just do 1000 sheets at a time or whatever your copy plays gives you the best price on.
posted by dobbs at 4:34 PM on October 31, 2021 [4 favorites]
I read your ask with interest, and i went to look up some things because I've personally went thru similar trouble because an older relative wanted inserts for the filofax-style planners she's got which apparently has gone out of style everywhere else but in East Asia. In her case it was even more troublesome because nowhere else does 'personal' size papers anymore. Fwiw, this is a Malaysia seller listing, but the stock is from either Japan or China and sometimes Taiwan or South Korea. I'm not sure if you're anywhere in the region so maybe that's why Google assumed you wanted metric or American sizes only. TL; DR you're right there is an 'A5' size with those dimensions but it's very much not international metric and seems to be a legacy from the planner market.
posted by cendawanita at 6:00 AM on November 1, 2021
posted by cendawanita at 6:00 AM on November 1, 2021
If plastic ring binding isn't a problem, Muji has some very nice A5 dotted books that might work. We use them as lab notebooks. I haven't measured them, but could do.
posted by eotvos at 6:47 AM on November 1, 2021
posted by eotvos at 6:47 AM on November 1, 2021
I have seen Muji and other Japanese stationery companies offer an "A5 Slim" size (210mm x 130mm, though the width dimension can vary).
If there's a binding, it could take up the space left in the remaining 10mm; or the extra space could accommodate a filofax-type system cendawanita mentioned that you could refill with loose-leaf sheets as needed.
But in your shoes I might just get a bunch of inexpensive Muji A5 notebooks and have the extra width shaved off. Went through a similar surprisingly difficult search to refill a leather cover and what I landed on was a couple different "grades" of notebooks from Muji (one with better paper, one that lies flat, etc), none of which was more than about $5 IIRC.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:53 AM on November 3, 2021
If there's a binding, it could take up the space left in the remaining 10mm; or the extra space could accommodate a filofax-type system cendawanita mentioned that you could refill with loose-leaf sheets as needed.
But in your shoes I might just get a bunch of inexpensive Muji A5 notebooks and have the extra width shaved off. Went through a similar surprisingly difficult search to refill a leather cover and what I landed on was a couple different "grades" of notebooks from Muji (one with better paper, one that lies flat, etc), none of which was more than about $5 IIRC.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:53 AM on November 3, 2021
Can you get a larger notebook and have a print shop chop it to size?
(Get one that's too big by inches, because paper cuts better when there's actual substance on both sides of the blade - chopping off a couple inches of notebook will probably give a cleaner cut than trying to shear off a few millimetres of notebook)
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:44 PM on November 6, 2021
(Get one that's too big by inches, because paper cuts better when there's actual substance on both sides of the blade - chopping off a couple inches of notebook will probably give a cleaner cut than trying to shear off a few millimetres of notebook)
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:44 PM on November 6, 2021
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5mm smaller is fine but the measurements I provided should be considered the max; it's the only realistic way to fit the notebook into my tightly stitched cover.
posted by MiraK at 9:47 AM on October 31, 2021