Are you starting a bullet journal but feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of bullet journal supply choices? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re going for a minimalist or elaborate journal, you’ll find everything you need in this complete list of best bullet journal supplies for beginners. Every supply I mention in this list is something I’ve used and loved. The supplies are also affordable and will last you a good amount of time (months to even years, depending on the frequency of usage).
Here are the categories of bullet journal supplies I cover:
- Notebooks
- Basic tools
- Pens and markers
- Watercolor supplies
- Brush pens
- Washi tapes
- Miscellaneous accessories
- Supply organizers
Of course, you don’t need to get supplies from every category. Only the first two categories””notebooks and basic tools””are bullet journal essentials. For the rest of the categories, you can pick and choose based on the artistic elements you want to add to your bullet journal.
Let’s jump in!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that when you make a purchase through a link, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Bullet Journal Notebooks
Choosing the right notebook is essential for a successful bullet journaling experience. If your journal isn’t good quality, doesn’t have enough pages, or ghosts or bleeds easily, these can all lead to an unsatisfactory experience.
In this section, I provide brief reviews of the notebooks I’ve used to help you choose one that suits you.
Leuchtturm1917
The Leuchtturm1917 is one of the most popular notebooks in the bullet journal community. It has a premade index, 240 numbered pages, and 2 bookmark ribbons. It’s great for beginners, but the pages are on the thinner side.
As such, you’ll likely see some ghosting when using fineliners and brush pens. If you want to get even more creative with watercolors and heavier ink markers, you may notice some page bleeding.
Minimalist Art
I switched to the Minimalist Art notebook after using the Leuchtturm1917 for a year because of its thicker pages. It has a premade index, 186 numbered pages, and 2 bookmark ribbons.
This notebook is noticeably thicker than the Leuchtturm1917 despite having fewer pages. However, it’s much better for exploring different artistic techniques without ghosting or bleeding.
SeQeS
The SeQeS notebook has a textured cover with a small nature design. It does not have a premade index, but has 160 numbered pages, 2 bookmark ribbons, and a pen holder. It also has thick pages, so you won’t see any ghosting or bleeding with this notebook.
Basic Bullet Journal Tools
There are a few items that everyone who bullet journals should use. In this section, you’ll find the best bullet journal essentials for writing, fixing mistakes, and setting up spreads.
Ticonderoga Pre-sharpened Pencils
Of all the No. 2 pencil brands I’ve used, Ticonderoga remains my favorite. It’s the most durable, easiest to sharpen, and has a high-quality eraser that doesn’t leave marks.
Paper Mate Clearpoints
This spread was inspired by AmandaRachLee
Both the classic Paper Mate Clearpoints and newer Break-Resistant Clearpoints are great mechanical pencils that will last you a long time. They’re easy to use and have replaceable erasers.
Pilot G-2
The Pilot G-2 pens are simple black pens that are durable, refillable, and don’t smudge.
Uni-Ball Signo Black Gel Pens
The Uni-Ball Signo black gel gens are slightly inkier than the Pilot G-2 pens, which is why I like using them as well.
Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers
The Pentel Hi-Polymer erasers are great for erasing bigger mistakes done in pencil. They don’t leave marks when used and last a long time.
BIC Wite-Out Tape
We all make mistakes in our bullet journal at some point. Luckily, that’s where the BIC Wite-Out tape comes in. It’s perfect for covering up mistakes done in ink.
EBOOT Plastic Rulers
A ruler is a must-have for drawing straight lines in bullet journals (the dot grid doesn’t help much, which I learned the hard way). The EBOOT 6-inch plastic rulers are the perfect size and will help you draw straight lines without stress.
Helix Circle Maker
Instead of spending tons of time on drawing perfect circles by hand, you can use the Helix Circle Maker to draw circles of different sizes quickly.
Bullet Journal Pens and Markers
If you want to add fun colors and designs to your bullet journal, you should consider investing in some high-quality pens and markers. In this section, you’ll find the best bullet journal pens and markers to use as a beginner. They’re all affordably priced and easy to use.
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens
The Paper Mate InkJoys are perfect for adding more color to your bullet journal. They come in a rainbow of colors, write smoothly, and don’t smudge.
Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliners
I generally opt for fineliners over pens in my bullet journal because they’re inkier and smudge less. The Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners are some of my favorites because they write smoothly, don’t smudge, and last a long time.
The pack comes with a variety of tip sizes and a brush pen.
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens
This spread was inspired by AmandaRachLee
The Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are another great option for fineliners. They write smoothly, don’t smudge, and are durable.
The pack also comes with different tip sizes and a brush pen.
Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens
The Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens are perfect for putting white text or designs on a black background. Throwing some white over black into spreads can make them much more visually interesting.
These pens come in different tip sizes and are easy to write with (some white gel pens I used in the past were difficult to control).
Sakura Metallic Gelly Roll Pens
You can use the Sakura Metallic Gelly Roll pens to add a little color and glitter to your bullet journal spreads.
Crayola Super Tips
The Crayola Super Tips pack of 100 comes in all the colors you could ever want. They’re also super affordable, especially compared to other popular markers.
They can be used for coloring, highlighting, and even basic hand lettering.
Zebra Mildliner Highlighters
The Zebra Mildliner highlighters come in a variety of beautiful colors, including vibrant and pastel tones. They’re great for highlighting and coloring.
You may also like “15 Minimalist Student Bullet Journal Spreads To Boost Grades”
Bullet Journal Brush Pens
If you want to do hand lettering in your bullet journal, good-quality brush pens are a must. Low-quality pens may have inflexible tips or not write smoothly. Super high-end brush pens may be too costly if you’re just starting.
In this section, you’ll find the best bullet journal supplies for beginners in hand lettering. The following pens are easy to control for beginners and affordably priced.
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
I don’t think there’s a single bullet journal spread in which I haven’t used my Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens. These pens come in a soft and hard tip, depending on how you want your lettering to look.
If you’re a beginner in hand lettering, the soft tip provides just enough flexibility for lettering without being difficult to control. The hard tip is great for narrower lettering and becomes easier to use as your lettering motions become smoother.
In addition to hand lettering, these brush pens are great for adding drop shadows, coloring in solid black spaces, and adding thicker lines to drawings.
Tombow Dual Brush Pens
The Tombow Dual Brush Pens are also very beginner-friendly brush pens. They come in a variety of colors and are water-based, making them easily blendable. In fact, not only can you use them to create gradient lettering, but you can also use them to create a watercolor effect.
Zebra Mildliner Dual Tip Brush Pens
If you love the colors of the Zebra Mildliner highlighters, you can also get brush pens in the same colors! The Zebra Mildliner Dual Tip Brush Pens have a brush tip on one end and a fine pen tip on the other.
They’re beginner-friendly and can be used to create beautiful lettering.
Bullet Journal Watercolor Supplies
Although using watercolors may sound intimidating as a beginner (unless you already have experience in watercoloring), there are supplies that make it extremely easy. There are also many step-by-step tutorials online that guide you through incorporating watercolors into your spreads.
In this section, you’ll find the best bullet journal supplies for beginners in watercoloring.
Pentel Aquash Water Brush
The Pentel Aquash Water Brush is perfect for beginners who don’t have much experience with watercoloring. That’s because it’s super easy to use. First, you fill the brush with water. Then, you squeeze the brush to mix water into your watercolors and to blend colors together.
These water brushes can also be used with the Tombow Dual Brush Pens to create beautiful watercolor effects.
Sakura Assorted Watercolors Set
This spread was inspired by AmandaRachLee
The Sakura Assorted Watercolors Set contains 24 beautiful colors and a small pan to mix colors together. It also comes with a water brush and sponges.
You may also like “How to Start a Bullet Journal for Beginners in 5 Easy Steps”
Bullet Journal Washi Tapes
Washi tapes provide a quick way to add color and fun patterns to your spreads. In this section, I’ve listed the ones that I use most frequently.
Grid Washi Tape
This Grid Washi Tape set comes in a variety of pastel and neutral colors. These washi tapes are minimalist and make a great addition to any spread.
Watercolor Washi Tape
This Watercolor Washi Tape set from Hobby Lobby comes with 50 rolls of washi tape in all kinds of designs. They’re very versatile and beautiful and even come in different width sizes.
Holiday Washi Tape
This Holiday Washi Tape set contains 24 rolls of washi tape with a variety of seasonal designs.
Waterproof Plastic Tape
This Waterproof Plastic Tape set comes in several cute designs. A fun twist on classic washi tapes, you can use these tapes like normal washi tapes or even as individual stickers.
If you’re worried about having too many washi tapes to organize, check out the “Best Bullet Journal Supplies Organizers” section of this article.
Bullet Journal Accessories
In this section, I’ve listed a miscellaneous collection of other supplies I use with my bullet journal for aesthetic and utility purposes.
Stickers
If you don’t want to draw everything on your own, stickers are a great alternative. Here are close matches to the packs you see in the picture above (some packs are no longer available, so I couldn’t link them):
Happy Planner Stickers (1829 pieces)
More Happy Planner Sticker Packs
The Paper Studio Food Stickers
Letter Stamps
You can use these Letter Stamps to add interesting font variation in your bullet journal. These don’t come with a stamp pad, so you’ll need to buy one separately. I use the CARTERS Felt Stamp Pad.
Bullet Journal Clips
You can use clips to hold your bullet journal open or to bookmark pages. I like this Rose Gold Binder Clips and Paper Clips set by VENCINK.
Stencils
One of the best bullet journal supplies to save time are stencils. Stencils help you make calendars, trackers, and other spreads much faster. The Ultimate Productive Journal Stencil Set is a great option with a variety of stencils to suit your different needs.
Scrapbook Paper
Scrapbook paper is easy to use and can be an interesting artistic element in bullet journal spreads.
I frequently use this vintage set from The Paper Studio (pictured in the image above).
Best Bullet Journal Supplies Organizers
Bullet journal supplies can easily get cluttered on your desk if not stored properly. In this section, you’ll find a variety of bullet journal supplies organizers that are highly durable and will keep your workspace neat.
Pencil Case With Compartments
When I’m on the go, I carry my most-used bullet journal supplies in my pencil case. I currently use the ANGOOBABY Large Pencil Case, which has several compartments to organize stationery. It also comes in a variety of colors and designs.
Storage Desktop Carousel
If you need to store lots of stationery in a way that makes it easy to grab, this Storage Desktop Carousel is the perfect solution. It has several deep compartments, drawers, and hangers to store stationery on your desk without clutter.
Washi Tape Organizer
If you have a big washi tape collection, having these Washi Tape Dispensers can be very convenient. They’re easy to use, durable, and take up little space on your desk because they’re stackable.
Tray Organizer
Stationery like brush pens, fineliners, and gel pens should be stored horizontally so that the ink doesn’t flow away from the tip. That’s why I enjoy using an acrylic desk organizer like this one (I couldn’t find the exact one I have, but this is similar).
Summary of the Best Bullet Journal Supplies for Beginners
Starting a bullet journal can be overwhelming not just because it’s a new planning system but because of the wide selection of supplies to choose from.
In summary, you MUST choose a good quality notebook and basic tools. The basic bullet journal tools are:
- Pencils
- Pens
- Erasers
- White-out
- Ruler
- Circle maker
If you want to add artistic elements in your bullet journal, you should consider buying the following:
- Gel pens
- Fineliners
- Markers/highlighters
- Brush pens
- Watercolors
- Washi tape
If you want to save time on spreads but still make them fun and artistic, you should consider buying the following:
- Stickers
- Stamps
- Stencils
- Scrapbook paper
Lastly, if you have a lot of stationery and don’t want it to clutter your desk, you should consider buying the following:
- Pencil case with compartments
- Storage desktop carousel
- Stackable washi tape organizers
- Tray organizer
I hope this post helped you decide which bullet journal supplies to get!
For more on bullet journaling, check out these posts:
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