Notebooks & Planners: A Guide to Finding the Perfect One

Whether it's for back-to-school, a marathon of meetings, or simply jotting down your ideas, a good notebook or planner is never just an accessory. Yet, faced with an overwhelming variety of sizes, papers, and bindings, it's easy to feel lost.

This guide is here to help you make sense of it all and find the perfect tool for your needs. As a bonus, we've selected a few standout gems for you.

The Essential Criteria for Making the Right Choice

Before you buy, ask yourself the right questions. Three points are crucial for making the right choice.

1. Size and Binding: A Notebook for Every Need

Size is the first indicator of use. The essential 24x32 cm notebook remains the star of school and office supply lists in France, offering a large surface for note-taking. For meetings or bullet journaling, a more portable and convenient A5 spiral notebook is preferable. Its spiral binding, which allows for a 360° fold-over, is a real daily advantage. Finally, don't underestimate a hardcover: it guarantees your notes are protected from the hazards of transport.

2. Paper Weight and Ruling: Comfort Is Key

The paper's weight (its thickness) makes all the difference in your writing experience. While the standard is around 70-80 gsm, a 90gsm or 100gsm paper truly stands out. It's thicker and higher quality, preventing ink from bleeding or ghosting. A must-have for fountain pen and marker enthusiasts.

The ruling (the lines on the page) is just as personal. The famous Sèyes ruling (French ruling) reigns supreme in French schools. For more creative freedom, whether for drawing or organising, lined, dotted, or completely blank pages are perfect alternatives.

3. Dated or Undated Planner: A Matter of Pacing

The classic dated planner is perfect for following a linear schedule, week after week. It's the ideal tool if you have a structured timetable. Conversely, the undated planner (or organisational planner) is the champion of flexibility. Start it whenever you want, pause it without wasting paper, and customise it to track your projects or goals. You set the pace.

Recommended Notebooks and Planners

To put theory into practice, here are three products that caught our eye, each meeting a specific need.

Jubiluu A5 18-Month Undated Planner - Lavender

Why We Love It

This planner is the king of custom organisation. Its 18-month undated structure frees you from the constraints of a classic calendar, allowing for long-term planning. With its hardcover and excellent paper, it's built for daily use.

Advantages

• Total Flexibility: Its undated planner format lets you start organising at any time of the year.
• High-Quality Paper: The cream-coloured 100gsm paper pages ensure an optimal writing experience and prevent ink from ghosting.
• Thoughtfully Designed: It includes monthly and weekly views, a ribbon bookmark, and an elastic closure to keep everything secure.
• Ideal Size: The A5 format strikes the perfect balance between writing space and portability.

Who Is It For?

Ideal for professionals, students, or creatives who want an organisational planner to manage their projects at their own pace, without the rigidity of a fixed calendar.

Clairefontaine Koverbook 24x32 cm Notebook - Purple

Why We Love It

Clairefontaine's Koverbook is a classic for a reason. It's the gold standard for school supplies. Its all-in-one concept, with an integrated polypropylene cover, makes it an ultra-practical and durable companion for the entire year.

Advantages

• Smart 2-in-1 Design: No need for a separate book cover! Its sturdy, transparent cover with integrated flaps does all the work.
• The School Standard: Its large 24x32 cm notebook format and Sèyes ruling are exactly what's required on supply lists for middle and high school in France.
• Clairefontaine Quality: The brand's signature 90gsm Velvety Vellum paper offers unmatched whiteness and smoothness.
• Made in France: PEFC certified (for sustainable forest management), this notebook is a local product.

Who Is It For?

The hassle-free choice for middle and high school students. A robust, functional notebook that perfectly meets the requirements of the French Ministry of Education. The flaps for holding loose papers are the icing on the cake.

Jubiluu A5 Spiral Notebook - Lavender

Why We Love It

This A5 spiral notebook successfully combines the elegance of a hardcover with the convenience of a metal binding. Its high-quality cream paper and sleek design make it the ideal companion for your note-taking.

Advantages

• Maximum Convenience: Its twin-wire spiral binding allows it to open a full 360°, perfect for writing comfortably anywhere, even without a desk.
• Excellent Paper: The cream-coloured 100gsm paper is easy on the eyes and thick enough to handle any pen without ink ghosting.
• Sturdy and Chic: The hardcover protects your notes from bumps, and the elastic closure keeps everything secure during transport.
• Versatile: Perfect for the office, university, journaling, or simply as a personal notebook.

Who Is It For?

For anyone who loves the convenience of a spiral binding but also demands quality and durability. An excellent choice for mobile professionals, students, or for stylish personal use.

Want a 100% Coordinated Desk?

If the lavender and purple tones in our selection caught your eye, why not create a harmonious set for your workspace?

Discover our entire collection of purple office supplies for a perfectly matching desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

90gsm vs. 100gsm Paper: What's the Difference?

A 90 gsm paper is already an excellent choice, offering very good opacity and a superior writing experience. The 100 gsm paper, a step above, is even thicker and more rigid. It perfectly withstands ink from fountain pens or markers, which won't ghost through. In either case, it's a real step up in quality compared to standard 80 gsm paper.

What's an Undated Planner For?

The whole point of an undated planner is freedom. You can start it whenever you like, use it for a project that lasts a few months, or take a break without wasting a single page. It's the tool that adapts to your rhythm, not the other way around.

Is Sèyes Ruling Really Mandatory in School?

In France, Sèyes ruling is the standard from primary school onwards to help children learn proper letter formation. It remains the absolute benchmark in middle school. While not "mandatory" in the strictest sense, it is required in 99% of cases on school supply lists. It is simply the standard set by the French Ministry of Education.