Sketchbook shopping often focuses on cover design and price, but three paper specs actually determine whether a sketchbook will work well for what you draw with.
Paper Weight (GSM)
GSM (grams per square meter) measures paper thickness/density. As a rough guide: under 90gsm will bleed through with most markers and many pens; 90–150gsm handles pencil, most fineliners, and light marker use reasonably well; 200gsm+ is suited to wetter media like watercolor or heavier marker work without significant bleed-through or buckling. Always check GSM before assuming a sketchbook will handle your preferred medium — a beautiful cover with thin paper will still bleed through.
Paper "Tooth" (Texture)
Tooth refers to how textured or smooth the paper surface is. Smooth ("hot press") paper suits fine linework, ink, and detailed pencil work, since there's less texture to interrupt a clean line. Toothier ("cold press" or textured) paper grips pencil and charcoal more readily and is often preferred for looser sketching or media that benefits from texture, like soft pastels. Watercolor paper specifically is usually toothier to hold pigment and water better.
Binding Type
How a sketchbook is bound affects how it opens and lies:
- Spiral/wire-bound — lays completely flat, pages can fold back individually. Least polished-looking, most functional for actually working in.
- Thread-bound (sewn) — lies mostly flat, looks more finished and book-like, generally more durable than glued bindings.
- Glued/perfect-bound — often doesn't stay open on its own, especially early pages, and is the least durable binding type for a book that gets a lot of use.
Matching Paper to Medium
As a general guide: pencil and fineliner work reasonably well on most paper above 90gsm; alcohol markers need thicker paper (150gsm+) or marker-specific paper to avoid heavy bleed-through and ghosting on the next page; watercolor needs dedicated watercolor paper (usually 200gsm+, often with a cotton content) rather than standard sketchbook paper, which will buckle and pill under wet media.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GSM should a general-purpose sketchbook be?
Around 100–150gsm handles the widest range of dry media (pencil, fineliner, light marker) without being specialized for any one medium — a reasonable default if you're not sure yet what you'll primarily use.
Can I use a regular sketchbook for watercolor if I go light on water?
You can get away with it for very light washes on thicker (150gsm+) paper, but it will still buckle more than dedicated watercolor paper. For serious watercolor work, a dedicated watercolor sketchbook is worth the difference.