Dot grid notebook sizes
A layout only fits if it is planned for your notebook’s grid. Two A5 notebooks can have different page widths, dot counts and margins, so a spread copied from someone else’s photo often runs out of room.
| Notebook | Size (manufacturer) | Dot spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard A5 (ISO) | 148 × 210 mm | Usually 5 mm |
| LEUCHTTURM1917 Medium A5 | 145 × 210 mm | 5 mm |
| Bullet Journal Edition 2 | 145 × 210 mm | Not stated |
| Scribbles That Matter Pro A5 | 145 × 210 mm | 5 mm |
| Archer and Olive A5 | 146 × 210 mm | 5 mm |
| Dingbats* Earth A5+ | 155 × 215 mm | 5 mm |
| Moleskine Classic Large | 130 × 210 mm | Not stated |
| Rhodia Goalbook A5 | 145 × 210 mm | 5 mm |
| PAPERAGE Medium | 142 × 203 mm | Not stated |
| Minimalism Art Premium A5 | 147 × 211 mm | Not stated |
| Midori MD Notebook A5 | 148 × 210 mm | 5 mm |
Sizes come from manufacturer or retailer information and are usually the notebook size, so the page can be slightly smaller. Usable dot counts and margins vary; treat them as starting estimates and check them on your own copy. Each notebook page opens the editor set to that size.
How to measure your dot grid
- Count the dots in one row, including the first and last dot. A row of 27 dots spans 26 gaps.
- Count the rows from the top dot to the bottom dot in the same way.
- Check the spacing. Measure across 10 gaps and divide by 10. Most dot grids use 5 mm.
- Measure the margins from each paper edge to the nearest dot: top, bottom, inner and outer.
Enter these numbers in drawlater and the page size follows from them. For example, 27 × 41 dots at 5 mm with 4 mm margins on every side gives a 138 × 208 mm page, a little smaller than standard A5 (148 × 210 mm).
Why dots, not millimetres?
When you draw, you count dots, not millimetres. drawlater places everything relative to the grid: a box 12 dots wide spans 60 mm at 5 mm spacing, and it starts on a specific dot you can find on paper. When a layout is ready, print an actual-size PDF stencil and trace it, or copy the measurements by hand.
Plan a layout for your notebook →
drawlater is not affiliated with or endorsed by any notebook maker. Product names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the notebooks.