Sketch Pads and Sketchbooks: How to Choose One

A good sketch pad is the most useful thing an art student can own. It is where you practise, plan paintings and fill pages with ideas. This guide explains how to choose a sketch pad or sketchbook: paper weight, size, binding and paper type, plus the pads we stock and a few habits that make daily drawing easier.

Sketch pad or sketchbook?

The names are often used for the same thing. Usually, a sketch pad has sheets you can tear out, which suits class work and pieces you want to hand in or frame. A sketchbook is bound like a book, so it keeps all your work together as a record of your progress.

How to choose a sketch pad

• Paper weight (gsm): around 110–120gsm is fine for everyday pencil and pen sketches. 160–180gsm is sturdier, takes heavier shading and repeated erasing, and copes better with charcoal and pastel.
• Size: A5 is easy to carry everywhere. A4 suits most class work. A3 gives room for larger studies, portraits and still life.
• Paper type: natural wood-pulp sketch paper is affordable and good for practice. Acid-free paper is made to resist yellowing over time.
• Paper colour: brown kraft paper makes white and coloured pencils stand out.
• Wet media: ordinary sketch paper buckles with water. For watercolour, use a watercolour pad; see our watercolour paper guide.

Sketch pads and sketchbooks we stock

• Bomeijia Sketch Pad A4, 160gsm, 24 sheets and Bomeijia Sketch Pad A3, 160gsm: sturdy wood-pulp paper for pencil, charcoal and pastel.
• Art Nation Sketch Pad A3: acid-free, fine-textured paper for all dry media.
• Canton Drawing Dessin A3, 180gsm: a heavyweight sketch book for pencil drawing and light painting.
• Mont Marte Sketch Book A5 and A4: 80 sheets of 110gsm paper for daily sketching.
• Bomega Sketch Pad A5: a small, budget-friendly pad for students.
• Craft Paper Art Pad (135 × 190mm, 60 sheets): brown kraft paper for white and coloured pencils, journalling and craft.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all papers and pads for pencil drawing. For single sheets and finished work, see our Fabriano Accademia paper guide and drawing paper guide.

What to put in your sketching kit

• A few graphite pencils, such as HB, 2B and 6B. Our pencil grades guide explains the grades.
• A kneadable eraser and an eraser pen for highlights.
• A sharpener and a blending stump.
• A fineliner, such as a Sakura Pigma Micron, for ink sketches.
• A clip or rubber band to keep pages from flapping outdoors.

Habits for daily sketching

• Draw for ten minutes a day rather than for hours once a week. Short, regular practice builds skill fastest.
• Date your pages so you can see how much you improve.
• Draw what is around you: cups, shoes, plants, your hand.
• Don’t tear out “bad” pages. They show what you have learned.
• Keep your sketchbook flat and dry, away from damp, so the pages stay crisp.

A simple first exercise

Pick one object, such as a mug. Draw its outline lightly with an HB pencil in two minutes, then draw it again more slowly, adding the shadows with a 2B or 4B. Finish by lifting a highlight with your kneadable eraser. Repeat with a new object each day, and you will soon see your shapes and shading improve.

Frequently asked questions

What size sketchbook should a beginner buy?

A5 or A4. A5 is easy to carry for daily practice, and A4 gives more room for class work.

What gsm is good for a sketch pad?

Around 110–120gsm for everyday sketching, and 160gsm or more if you shade heavily or use charcoal and pastel.

Can I paint in a sketchbook?

Light washes may work on heavier paper, such as 180gsm, but for real watercolour painting use a watercolour pad.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you pick the right sketch pad for your class or hobby.

More Haanz Art Guides

Die Cutting and Embossing for Beginners: Cards and ScrapbooksRead the guide →Charcoal Drawing for Beginners: Pencils, Sticks and PowderRead the guide →Soft Pastels for Beginners: Paper, Blending and FixingRead the guide →Calligraphy for Beginners: Dip Pens, Nibs, Ink and PaperRead the guide →

See all Haanz Art Guides