Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Sizes: Which One Won't Collect Dust on Your Shelf?

Why I Started Hating the ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ Approach to Notebooks

When I first started handling office supply orders for our team back in 2019, I assumed the A5 Leuchtturm1917 was the universal answer. It’s the classic size, right? Everyone loves it.

Three re-orders and a lot of shelf space wasted later, I realized my assumption was dead wrong. I’d stockpiled A5 dotted notebooks for a department full of sketchers who exclusively used A4, and pocket-sized planners for project managers who needed to see three months at a glance. I want to say I figured it out quickly, but don’t quote me on that—it took roughly $600 in unused inventory for the lesson to sink in.

There’s no one-size-fits-all notebook. What I mean is: the right size depends entirely on what you’ll write, how you’ll carry it, and where it lives. Let’s break it down by the three main scenarios I’ve seen in our office (and a few others).

Scenario A: The Everyday Carry (EDC) – You Need It With You Everywhere

If you’re the type who takes notes in meetings, jots down ideas on the train, or has a running to-do list that’s never more than arm’s reach away, you’re in the EDC camp. Your notebook is a daily tool, not a decorative bookend.

Your best bet is the Pocket size (A6, roughly 3.5” x 5.5”). I initially dismissed this as “too small” for real notes. That was mistake number one. An A5 is awkward in a suit jacket pocket or small bag. The Pocket Leuchtturm1917 fits in your back pocket or a small purse easily. It forces you to be concise—perfect for action items, not full paragraphs. I recommend this for anyone who moves between rooms or buildings frequently.

One real-world win: Our logistics coordinator uses a Pocket dotted notebook for warehouse checks. She logs 40-50 quick inspections per shift. It’s small enough to hold in one hand, and the dot grid lets her draw a quick layout when something’s out of place. If she’d used an A5, it’d be propped on a box half the time, getting crushed.

But what if you need to write more than a few sentences in your EDC?

Consider the A5 Slim (not standard A5, which is 5.8” x 8.3”). The Slim is about 5.8” x 8.3” but thinner in the spine. It gives you more page real estate but stays portable. I’ve seen this work well for field sales reps who need to take brief client notes and draw a quick diagram.

Scenario B: The Desk Queen – Your Notebook Stays at Your Workspace

This is your main planning notebook, journal, or the book you use for detailed project notes. It sits on your desk, attended by pens and sticky notes.

The A5 (5.8” x 8.3”) is your sweet spot. It’s the most popular size for a reason—it’s spacious enough for mind maps, bullet journal collections, and daily logs without being overwhelming. It fits in most standard desk drawers and briefcases when you do take it somewhere.

My initial approach with our creative team was to assume everyone wanted the dot grid A5. That was wrong for two of our graphic designers. They needed a plain A5 for sketching, and another team member needed a lined A5 for extensive technical writing. The lesson: even within the same size, choose the right page format.

For bullet journaling, the A5 dotted is king. I’m not 100% sure of the exact stats, but based on our order history from Q3 2024, roughly 70% of our A5 Leuchtturm1917 purchases are the dotted version. The dot grid gives you the flexibility of blank paper (for drawings, diagrams, or custom layouts) with the subtle guide of lines (for neat text). If you’ve ever tried to draw a table in a lined notebook and given up, you’ll understand.

The less common but powerful choice: A4 (8.3” x 11.7”)

I see very few people getting this for daily desk use, but it’s a secret weapon for project planners or engineering logs. We have a team that uses the A4 Leuchtturm1917 with a blank page for system architecture diagrams (lots of one-page summaries). It’s not portable—more of a reference book that sits on a shelf and gets updated. If your work involves any kind of large-format visual thinking, consider an A4. But for 95% of desk-based note-taking, the standard A5 is the better, more practical choice.

Scenario C: The Specialist – Your Notebook Has a Specific, Weird Job

This is where the answer isn’t A4, A5, or Pocket. You have a unique workflow that demands a different form factor.

Example: The Master Slim (5.8” x 8.3”, but very thin). If you’re a writer who wants a notebook for a single project draft, the Master Slim gives you a focused amount of paper without the bulk of a full A5. I had a client (not a competitor, just a specific user) who used one per novel chapter. She would fill it, archive it, and start a new one. The thinness made it easy to stack on her desk.

Another example: The medium (A5 size but hardback with an elastic closure and 2 ribbon bookmarks). I’ll be honest—this is the standard Leuchtturm1917 A5 hardcover. It’s the workhorse for most specialist use cases. The elastic keeps it closed in a bag, and the 2 bookmarks let you keep one page for your weekly planner and another for your project roadmap. I recommend this for anyone whose notebook crosses between personal and work tasks.

A cautionary tale about the dot grid for specialists

I once ordered 28 dotted A6 notebooks for a team that wanted to do rapid process auditing. They needed to draw standardized checklists quickly. The small size felt portable, but the dot grid in such a small space made it hard to see where one row started and another ended. We ended up re-ordering in a plain A5. The dot grid is fantastic—but for very structured data entry in a small book, sometimes plain or lined is better.

How to Know Which Scenario You’re In

This is the part I always wish someone had told me earlier: don’t guess. Ask yourself three questions:

1. Where does this book live 80% of the time?
   • In your pocket/bag → Pocket or A5 Slim.
   • On your desk → A5 (standard or hardcover).
   • On a shelf as a reference → A4.
2. What do you write most?
   • Lists and actions → Pocket dotted or lined.
   • Full sentences and paragraphs → A5 lined or blank.
   • Diagrams and layouts → A5 dotted or A4 blank (if large).
3. Do you carry it alone, or with other things?
   • Alone in a pocket → Pocket.
   • In a bag with a laptop → A5 fits in most laptop bag sleeves.
   • Separately in a briefcase → A4 is fine, just heavy.

If you’re still stuck, pick an A5 dotted. It’s the most forgiving choice for a beginner. But if your scenario screams “pocket” or “specialist,” listen to it. That’s the lesson I had to learn the hard way—and that cost about $600 and some well-meaning embarrassment.