How to Choose the Right Leuchtturm1917 Notebook: A 6‑Step Checklist from Someone Who Wasted $800 Getting It Wrong

Who This Checklist Is For

If you're sourcing notebooks for your office, ordering for a creative team, or just tired of buying the wrong Leuchtturm1917 for your own use, this checklist is for you. I've been handling stationery procurement for a mid‑sized design agency for 5 years, and in that time I've made enough mistakes to fill a small landfill. Basically, I've ordered the wrong size, the wrong grid, and once even a batch of 200 notebooks that looked right on the website but turned out to be the soft‑cover version when we needed hard‑cover. That cost us about $800 in redo plus a week of unhappy designers.

So I put together this 6‑step checklist. It's not theoretical – every step came from a real screw‑up. Follow it, and you'll skip the pain I went through.

Step 1: Nail the Size – Don't Assume “Pocket” Is Standard

Leuchtturm1917 offers several sizes: A5, A6 Pocket, Master (A4+), and a few specialty ones. Here's the trap: A6 Pocket is not the same as a generic pocket notebook. Actually, Leuchtturm1917's A6 is 9×14 cm (roughly 3.5×5.5 inches), which is slightly taller and narrower than some competitors. I once ordered 100 “pocket” notebooks assuming they'd fit our standard leather covers – they didn't. The cover I'd bought for everyone was too short. That was a $450 mistake (cover + return shipping).

Checklist action: Measure your intended cover or bag slot first. If you're buying for a team, ask them what they'll carry the notebook in. Leuchtturm1917's official dimensions are on their site (I still check before every order).

Step 2: Pick the Page Layout – Dot Grid Is Not Always the Answer

People think dot grid is the “best for everything.” Honestly, it's great for bullet journaling and sketching, but for pure note‑taking, ruled or blank can be better. I learned this the hard way when I ordered 50 dotted notebooks for our copywriting team. They hated it – the dots distracted them, they said. Turned out they preferred plain ruled lines. So the batch sat in storage for months.

Here's my rule of thumb after that failure:

• Ruled – best for linear note‑takers (writers, project managers)
• Dot grid – ideal for hybrid users (designers, bullet journalists)
• Blank – for sketchers and free‑form thinkers
• Planner – if you need structured daily/weekly layouts

Checklist action: Survey your users before ordering. Show them a sample page if possible. Don't assume – I still cringe thinking about those 50 dusty notebooks.

Step 3: Decide on Hard Cover vs. Soft Cover – It Matters More Than You Think

This is where I made my $800 blunder. I saw “hard cover” on the listing and clicked without verifying the product code. The 200 notebooks arrived with soft covers – they looked sleek but didn't hold up to being tossed in bags. The soft covers bent after a week. And because I'd assumed, I didn't check the order confirmation until it was too late.

Checklist action: Double‑check the product name and SKU. Leuchtturm1917 hard covers are labeled “Hardcover,” and soft covers are “Softcover” or “Flexible.” Look for the specific model number. If you're ordering for heavy‑duty use (fieldwork, travel), go hardcover. For desk‑bound or lightweight use, softcover is fine – and cheaper.

Step 4: Check the Page Numbering & Table of Contents – Yes, You Actually Use Them

One of Leuchtturm1917's standout features is pre‑numbered pages and a table of contents. I used to think this was gimmicky – “Who actually fills in a TOC?” Turns out, once your team starts using them, they become essential. Our engineering lead told me it saved him hours when he needed to find project notes from six months back.

But here's the catch: only some sizes have them. All A5 and A6 hardcover notebooks come with numbering and TOC, but the Master size (A4+) does not have numbered pages (as of 2024). Also, some soft‑cover models skip the numbering.

Checklist action: If your team relies on indexed note‑taking, confirm the model includes page numbers and a TOC. Check the Leuchtturm1917 product page under “Features.”

Step 5: Test Your Pens – Especially if You Use Fineliners or Fountain Pens

Leuchtturm1917 paper is good – 80 gsm, which is thicker than Moleskine's 70 gsm. But “good” doesn't mean bulletproof. I've seen people assume their fountain pens will work perfectly, then get bleed‑through. Actually, it depends on the nib size and ink. Fine nibs are fine; broad nibs or wet inks can ghost.

Checklist action: Before a bulk order, buy one sample notebook and test with the pens your team actually uses. I keep a test sheet with a Sharpie, a Pilot G2, a Lamy Safari (fine), and a Tombow brush pen. This saved us from ordering 300 notebooks that would have bled like crazy with our designers' brush pens.

Step 6: Don't Forget the Cover – Compatibility Can Bite You

You'd think “Leuchtturm1917 notebook cover” would fit all Leuchtturm1917 notebooks, right? Wrong. I assumed “A6 cover” meant it fits A6 pocket – but I bought a cover designed for the old A6 format (which is slightly different from the current Pocket model). Didn't verify. The notebook slid right out.

Leuchtturm1917 sells its own covers that are designed for specific models (e.g., “Pocket Notebook Cover” for the A6 Pocket). Third‑party covers can be hit‑or‑miss. Always check the exact dimensions on the cover listing and compare with the notebook you have.

What This Checklist Won't Tell You (And Why That's Honest)

This works for 80% of situations. But if you're ordering for left‑handed users who need hardcover notebooks that open flat – the Leuchtturm1917 lies flat, but the hardcover edge can be uncomfortable. Some lefties prefer softcover or spiral‑bound. Also, if you need waterproof paper or extreme durability, you're better off with a brand like Rite in the Rain. Leuchtturm1917 is premium for everyday office and creative use, not for fieldwork in rain.

I can only speak to what I've personally ordered and messed up. If your context is very different – like international logistics or custom branding – you might hit factors I haven't encountered. But for most B2B office orders, these six steps will keep you out of trouble.