Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook: 8 FAQs From Someone Who's Made Every Mistake

I've been handling Leuchtturm1917 orders for my team for six years. In that time, I've personally made five significant mistakes, totaling roughly $1,800 in wasted budget. Now I'm the one who maintains our buying checklist. Here are the questions I wish someone had answered before I started. (Maybe 180? More like 6, I'd have to count. It's been a while.)

Is the Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebook worth the hype?

Yes—but only if you actually use it. When I first started, I assumed the numbered pages and table of contents were gimmicks. Then I needed to find a note from a client meeting two months prior. The indexing alone saved me an hour that week. That said, it's not a magic productivity device. If you're a digital-first person, it might sit on a shelf. The A5 is the sweet spot for note-taking and journaling—not too big for a bag, not too small for actual writing. In my experience, the A5 is the most requested size in our office, and the dot grid version is the most flexible.

Does Staples carry Leuchtturm1917?

Yes—and this is where my 'save money' story begins. I once skipped Staples because I thought I could save $2 per notebook by ordering bulk online. Shipping took a week and half the order arrived with bent covers. Staples actually had them in stock, and their price match meant I didn't save anything by waiting. Lesson: factor in time and damage risk. (Like most office supplies, buying local can be the smartest move for urgent projects.) If you're ordering for a team, call ahead to check stock or check online for same-day pickup.

What's the difference between bullet journaling and regular planning with a Leuchtturm1917?

Bullet journaling is a system; the notebook is just a container. The Leuchtturm1917 works for both because of the dot grid and the index. But you don't need to become a bullet journal artist to appreciate it. For our team, we use the A5 dotted notebooks for weekly sprint notes. The page numbers let us link related tasks across pages—something I didn't understand until I tried to skim a disorganized meeting log. If you're new to bullet journaling, start with the basics: rapid logging, signifiers, and migration. The notebook's structure supports that without getting in the way.

How do I avoid ghosting and bleeding with my Leuchtturm1917?

Let me be clear: no paper is completely bleed-proof. The Leuchtturm1917 uses 80 gsm paper (roughly 60 lb text). For reference, standard copy paper is about 75 gsm (20 lb bond), so this is slightly heavier. With a fine-tip marker or a standard ballpoint, you're fine. But a heavy, wet fountain pen can ghost—meaning you see the shadow of the previous page. I learned this the hard way after ordering 50 notebooks for the team and distributing Sharpies. Use a fine-tip pen (like a Micron 0.5) and test your ink before you commit. (That's the advice I now give every new hire.)

What are common mistakes people make when buying Leuchtturm1917 for their team?

The biggest one is assuming 'same specs' means the same experience across all vendors. I once ordered 40 A5 notebooks assuming the dot grid would be what my team wanted. Turns out half of them preferred ruled. The wrong ruling on 40 items = $450 wasted plus embarrassment. Another mistake is buying the cheapest option you can find. I saved $80 by switching to a 'budget vendor' once—then spent $400 on reprinting when the quality didn't match. Now we have a checklist: confirm the ruling, confirm the size, and request samples before bulk orders. We've caught 47 potential errors using this checklist in the past 18 months.

What about accessories like lanyards or covers?

If you're buying these as gifts or conference swag, pay attention to dimensions. Our team uses lanyards for ID badges, and I once ordered a beautiful leather cover that was sized for the A6, not the A5. It didn't fit, and the return cost more than the cover itself. Also, lanyards usually don't fit inside the notebook's back pocket, but you can use a binder clip to attach one for events. (Not ideal, but works in a pinch.) A better accessory is the Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel pen—it matches the notebook's aesthetic and writes well, though it's not a lanyard.

Is there a way to make an envelope out of printer paper for a gift?

If you're gifting a Leuchtturm1917 and want a handwritten note to go with it, a homemade envelope is a nice touch. Here's the simplest method: place a sheet of printer paper in a diamond orientation, fold the bottom corner up to the center, fold the side corners in, then fold the top corner down. Use a small piece of tape to seal it. It's not elegant, but it works. I actually did this for a client's order once—they were more impressed by the note than the notebook. For a cleaner version, you can buy a proper card envelope, but the DIY route adds character.

How do I calculate the true cost of notebook purchasing?

This might sound overengineered, but I ran a coast fire calculator to understand what my notebook habit costs over 30 years. A coast fire calculator normally helps you figure out how much you need saved for retirement. I used it as a reminder that recurring small expenses add up. If you buy 10 Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebooks a year at $25 each (a placeholder based on current online pricing), that's $250 annually. Compounded at 7% for 30 years, that's roughly $23,000 in potential growth. That's not to say you shouldn't buy them—just be intentional. The calculator made me realize how many unused notebooks I had sitting in a cabinet. Now I buy in smaller batches and track usage. It's a budgeting mindset that applies to any office supply.