The size you choose affects how you write, where you carry it, and whether you actually reach for it every day. Leuchtturm1917 notebooks come in four formats available in Singapore and Malaysia — A5 hardcover, A5 softcover, A6 pocket hardcover, and B6+ softcover. Here is what each one is actually for.

148 × 210mm · 251 numbered pages · Hardcover

A5 Medium Hardcover — The One Everyone Buys

The A5 hardcover is the most popular notebook in the Leuchtturm1917 range, and for good reason. It is large enough to write comfortably — proper paragraphs, diagrams, meeting notes, journal entries — without being awkward to carry. It fits in most bags, sits flat on a desk, and the hardcover means you can write on it without needing to rest it against anything solid. That last point matters more than it sounds: in a meeting, on a commute, at a café, the hardcover is its own writing surface.

This is the format that covers everything. If you are buying your first Leuchtturm1917 and are unsure which size to choose, choose this one.

Best for: Daily writing, journaling, meeting notes, bullet journaling, planning, and anyone who wants one notebook to do everything. The hardcover is especially practical for Singapore and Malaysia users who write in varied environments — air-conditioned offices, cafés, commutes — where you rarely have a firm surface available.

• Available in dot grid, ruled, plain, and squared
• 251 numbered pages, table of contents, ribbon bookmark, elastic closure
• Full colour range — over 20 colours available
• Also available: Bullet Journal Edition and Edition 120g (fountain pen and art journaling)

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148 × 210mm · 123 numbered pages · Softcover

A5 Medium Softcover — Same Size, Half the Weight

The softcover A5 is the same page size as the hardcover — same rulings, same numbered pages, same organisational features — but thinner, lighter, and more flexible. Where the hardcover is a structured daily companion, the softcover is for users who prioritise carrying weight above everything else.

It is popular among minimalist users, students who already carry heavy bags, and writers who want a notebook that bends and fits into tight spaces. The tradeoff is that without a hardcover, you need a surface to write on — but if you always write at a desk, that rarely matters.

Best for: Lightweight daily carry, students, minimalists, and writers who always have a desk or table available. Also a strong choice for secondary notebooks — a softcover for rough notes alongside a hardcover main journal.

• Available in dot grid — core colours including Black, Navy, Sage, Powder, Lilac
• 123 numbered pages, table of contents, ribbon bookmark
• Noticeably lighter and thinner than the hardcover — easier to slip into a slim bag

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105 × 148mm · 187 numbered pages · Hardcover

A6 Pocket Hardcover — Small Bag, Big Habit

The A6 pocket hardcover is half the size of the A5 — small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, a small crossbody bag, or a clutch. It is a standalone notebook for users who want a Leuchtturm1917 but genuinely do not carry a large bag.

What is notable about how the A6 sells compared to the A5 is the ruling distribution. For the A5, the typical split is roughly two dotted, two ruled, one plain. For the A6, it is much more even — and in some locations, plain outsells dotted. This tells you something about who buys the A6 and what they use it for: less structured planning, more sketching, quick notes, and scribbling ideas.

Best for: Small bag carriers, urban commuters, quick notes and sketching, and users who want the Leuchtturm1917 hardcover quality in a pocketable format. If you already use an A5 and want a second notebook for when you travel light, the A6 is the natural companion.

• Available in dot grid, ruled, and plain — plain sells proportionally higher than in A5
• 187 numbered pages, table of contents, ribbon bookmark, elastic closure
• Hardcover means it writes without needing a surface — key at A6 size where surfaces are often awkward
• Available in Black, Navy, Lemon, and selected other colours

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125 × 190mm · 123 numbered pages · Softcover

B6+ Softcover — Between Sizes, For Specific Users

The B6+ sits between the A6 and A5 in both dimensions and weight. It is slightly larger than A6 — more writing space — but smaller and lighter than A5. The softcover keeps it flexible and slim.

This format has a specific audience: users who found the A5 slightly too large for their bag but the A6 slightly too small for their writing. It is also well suited to corporate users who move between meetings with minimal carry: the B6+ softcover fits neatly into a suit jacket's inner pocket or a slim document folder.

Best for: Users who need more writing space than the A6 but want lighter carry than the A5. Corporate professionals who move between meetings without a bag. A considered second choice once you know the A5 is slightly more than you need.

• Available in dot grid — Black and selected colours
• 123 numbered pages, table of contents
• Slimmer and lighter than A5 — fits in jacket pockets and document folders

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Size comparison

Which ruling to choose

Dot Grid

The most versatile ruling. Small, light dots guide alignment without dominating the page — ideal for mixing writing, drawing, and layouts. The default choice for bullet journalers and anyone who does more than just text. Read the bullet journal guide for more on how dot grid works in practice.

Ruled

For users who write predominantly text and want the guidance of lines. Meeting notes, lecture notes, journaling, and any context where you are writing sentences rather than creating layouts.

Plain

Maximum freedom — no guides at all. Disproportionately popular in the A6 format, where users tend toward sketching, quick diagrams, and freehand notes rather than structured writing. Also used by artists and visual thinkers who find even dot grid constraining.

Squared

Grid paper — popular with architects, engineers, designers, and anyone who draws technical diagrams or does visual planning that benefits from precise alignment.

A note on size and corporate gifting

For corporate gifts, the A5 hardcover is almost always the right choice. It is universally practical — suitable for every recipient, every role, every context. The hardcover means recipients can use it in meetings without needing a clipboard or folder underneath.

The one exception: if your recipients are senior executives or field staff who carry minimal bags, a B6+ softcover or A6 pocket can be a more considered, distinctive choice — particularly as part of a premium executive gift set.

For corporate gifting enquiries in Singapore, visit our Singapore corporate page. For Malaysia, visit our Malaysia corporate page.