Moleskine vs Leuchtturm1917: Which Notebook Brand Is Best for Stationery Lovers?

Last Updated May 26, 2025

Moleskine notebooks are celebrated for their sleek design, durable covers, and smooth paper, making them ideal for daily journaling and sketching. Leuchtturm1917 offers superior paper quality with excellent ink resistance, numbered pages, and customizable labels, appealing to professionals and bullet journal enthusiasts. Both brands provide thoughtful features, but Leuchtturm1917 stands out for organizational tools, while Moleskine excels in classic style and portability.

Table of Comparison

Feature Moleskine Leuchtturm1917
Paper Quality 70 gsm acid-free ivory paper 80 gsm acid-free cream paper
Page Numbers No page numbers Pre-numbered pages
Page Count 192 pages 249 pages
Covers Hard and soft cover options Hard and soft cover options with extra vivid colors
Binding Sewn binding Sewn binding
Sticker Labels No Includes labels for archiving
Index & Table of Contents No Included
Price Range Moderate Moderate to slightly higher
Popular Uses Journaling, sketching, note-taking Bullet journaling, organization, note-taking

Introduction: Moleskine vs Leuchtturm1917

Moleskine and Leuchtturm1917 are premier notebook brands known for quality and design, favored by writers, artists, and professionals. Moleskine notebooks are celebrated for their classic, minimalist look with smooth, acid-free paper and iconic elastic closure. Leuchtturm1917 stands out with numbered pages, built-in index, and superior paper quality offering optimal ink resistance and crisp lines.

Brand Heritage and Story

Moleskine boasts a rich heritage rooted in the legendary notebooks used by artists and thinkers like Picasso and Hemingway, emphasizing timeless design and creative inspiration since the 1990s revival. Leuchtturm1917, established in Germany in 1917, is renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship, archival-quality paper, and functional features such as numbered pages and customizable index, catering to professional and organizational needs. Both brands emphasize durability and quality, but Moleskine leans toward artistic legacy while Leuchtturm1917 focuses on precision and practicality.

Design and Aesthetic Comparison

Moleskine notebooks feature a minimalist design with rounded corners, elastic closures, and a classic black cover that appeals to users seeking timeless elegance. Leuchtturm1917 offers a more vibrant palette, numbered pages, and color-coded index tabs, enhancing organization while maintaining a sleek and modern aesthetic. Both brands prioritize high-quality paper and craftsmanship, but Moleskine's simplicity contrasts with Leuchtturm1917's functional design elements tailored for detailed note-taking and planning.

Paper Quality and Writing Experience

Moleskine notebooks feature acid-free, ivory-colored paper with a smooth texture ideal for fountain pen and ballpoint ink, though they may exhibit slight feathering with wetter inks. Leuchtturm1917 offers slightly thicker, bright white paper with superior ink resistance and minimal bleed-through, enhancing the writing experience for various pen types, including fountain pens and markers. Both brands provide durable paper quality, but Leuchtturm1917 is often preferred by users who prioritize ink clarity and minimal bleed, making it a top choice for detailed note-taking and sketching.

Cover Options and Color Varieties

Moleskine offers a range of cover options including classic hard and soft covers with materials like leatherette and fabric, available in limited editions with vibrant or muted tones. Leuchtturm1917 features durable hard and soft covers crafted from premium materials, often praised for its variety of colors ranging from bold primary hues to pastel shades. Both brands provide extensive color palettes, but Leuchtturm1917 is frequently recognized for offering more diverse and unique color selections in stationery.

Notebook Sizes and Formats

Moleskine notebooks offer classic sizes such as pocket (3.5" x 5.5"), large (5" x 8.25"), and extra-large (7.5" x 9.75"), catering to portable and spacious preferences with hardcover and softcover formats. Leuchtturm1917 presents a wider range of sizes, including A6, A5, and A4, emphasizing versatility with hardcover and softcover editions, along with specialized formats like dotted, ruled, squared, and plain pages. Both brands excel in providing durable bindings and high-quality paper, appealing to artists, writers, and professionals seeking reliable notebooks for diverse organizational and creative needs.

Features: Numbered Pages, Index, and Accessories

Leuchtturm1917 notebooks feature numbered pages and a built-in index, enhancing organization and quick reference, while Moleskine notebooks typically lack page numbering and an integrated index. Accessories for Leuchtturm1917 include stickers for labeling and customizable inserts that complement its organizational tools. Moleskine offers a broader range of accessory options like pen loops and hardcover covers but prioritizes minimalist design over built-in structure elements.

Price and Value for Money

Moleskine notebooks typically range from $15 to $25, offering a blend of classic design and reliable paper quality, whereas Leuchtturm1917 notebooks cost slightly more, from $20 to $35, but provide enhanced features such as numbered pages, archival-quality paper, and customizable index. Leuchtturm1917 often delivers better value for money due to its superior paper weight, ink resistance, and organizational tools that appeal to professionals and creatives alike. Choosing between them depends on whether the buyer prioritizes affordability or additional usability features for long-term journaling and note-taking.

User Preferences and Community Feedback

Moleskine notebooks are often praised for their sleek design and classic aesthetic, attracting users who value style and brand heritage, while Leuchtturm1917 is favored for its superior paper quality and practical features like numbered pages and index, appealing to organized planners and bullet journal enthusiasts. Community feedback highlights Moleskine's tendency for thinner, bleed-prone paper, which artists and writers find limiting, whereas Leuchtturm1917's ink resistance and archival quality paper receive consistent positive reviews. User preferences tend to split between Moleskine's iconic look and portability versus Leuchtturm1917's functional layout and durability, making the choice dependent on whether style or utility is prioritized.

Final Verdict: Choosing the Best Notebook

Moleskine offers a classic design with smooth paper ideal for sketching and note-taking, while Leuchtturm1917 provides numbered pages and superior archival quality favored by professionals and journalers. The choice depends on whether you prioritize aesthetic tradition and portability or enhanced organization and paper durability. For users seeking detailed indexing and long-term preservation, Leuchtturm1917 is often the preferred option, whereas Moleskine appeals to those valuing style and simplicity.

Moleskine vs Leuchtturm1917 Infographic

Moleskine vs Leuchtturm1917: Which Notebook Brand Is Best for Stationery Lovers?


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