Best Leather Journal Blanks (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Five A5 leather journal blanks were compared for engraving projects, ranked by page count, paper weight, cover material and listed extras.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
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- 1
Best OverallMaleden 7-Pack Journals9.7/10View on Amazon - 2
Best Page CountThreepacers Tree Journal9.6/10View on Amazon - 3
Best ExtrasRettacy Blank Journal9.6/10View on Amazon - 4
Best Artist PickKwulp Blank Journal9.5/10View on Amazon - 5
Best Leather CoverLeagim Blank Journal9.5/10View on Amazon - 6
Wavyknot 100 Pcs Leather Keychain BlanksView on Amazon - 7
Wavyknot 30 Pcs Leather Keychain BlanksView on Amazon - 8
Leather Keychains Blank Round PU Leatherette Keychain BlanksView on Amazon - 9
Mozeat Lens Aluminum Engraving BlanksView on Amazon
A personalized journal sells well at craft fairs and in online shops: a name or a small design engraved on the cover turns a blank notebook into a gift. This guide compares candidates for the best leather journal blanks, all in A5 size, using only what each listing publishes: page count, paper weight, cover material and the extras in the box. Every number below comes from the listings.
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Quick picks
- Best Overall Maleden 7-Pack Journals: 7-pack of A5 journals with 120 GSM paper and vegan leather covers Check price on Amazon
- Best Page Count Threepacers Tree Journal: 256 pages with a tree-ring debossed vegan leather cover Check price on Amazon
- Best Extras Rettacy Blank Journal: 2 drawing stencils, pen holder and inner pocket in the box Check price on Amazon
- Best Artist Pick Kwulp Blank Journal: 160 pages aimed at sketching with a leather hardcover Check price on Amazon
- Best Leather Cover Leagim Blank Journal: Leather cover stated in the spec table with 192 pages Check price on Amazon
Machines on the list
Blank Notebook, Hardcover Sketchbook
A 7-pack of A5 journals with 120 GSM paper, vegan leather covers and lay-flat thread binding.
Pros
- 7-pack of multicolored journals for sorting projects by color.
- Lists 120 GSM paper against 100 GSM for the other picks.
- Thread-bound lay-flat design with elastic closure and pen holder.
- 2 inner pockets, 2 sticker labels and 2 colored ribbon bookmarks per journal.
Cons
- 160 pages per journal against 256 for the Threepacers.
- No warranty term is stated.
- No laser safety certification is stated.
- Cover composition beyond vegan leather is not stated.
Blank Journal Notebook,Tree Growth Ring,256 Pages
A single A5 journal with 256 pages, 100 GSM paper and a tree-ring debossed vegan leather cover.
Pros
- Lists 256 pages against 160 to 192 for the others.
- Tree growth ring debossed pattern on the vegan leather cover.
- 180° lay-flat design with pen holder, elastic closure and 2 ribbon bookmarks.
- Inner pocket for loose materials.
Cons
- 100 GSM paper against 120 GSM for the MALEDEN.
- No warranty term is stated.
- No laser safety certification is stated.
- Single journal; no multi-pack option is stated.
RETTACY Blank Journal Notebook, 192 Pages
An A5 journal with 192 pages of 100 GSM paper, a hardcover and 2 drawing stencils.
Pros
- 192 pages of 100 GSM acid-free paper.
- Includes 2 drawing stencils, a pen holder and an inner pocket.
- 180° lay-flat design with elastic closure band and 2 ribbon bookmarks.
- A5 size at 5.7 x 8.3 inches.
Cons
- The spec table lists faux leather while the title and bullets say leather.
- No warranty term is stated.
- No laser safety certification is stated.
- 100 GSM paper against 120 GSM for the MALEDEN.
Blank Journal Notebook, A5 Leather Hardcover Blank
An A5 journal with 160 pages of 100 GSM paper and a leather hardcover aimed at sketching and art journaling.
Pros
- Leather hardcover stated in the title.
- 180° lay-flat binding for double-page spreads.
- 2 ribbon bookmarks, inner pocket, elastic closure and pen/pencil holder.
- 100 GSM acid-free paper for pencils, markers and light watercolor washes.
Cons
- 160 pages against 256 for the Threepacers.
- No cover material entry in the spec table.
- No warranty term is stated.
- No laser safety certification is stated.
Blank Journal Notebook, A5
An A5 journal with 192 pages of 100 GSM paper and a leather cover stated in the spec table.
Pros
- Spec table states a leather cover, the clearest leather claim here.
- 192 pages of 100 GSM acid-free paper.
- 180° lay-flat design for left- and right-handed use.
- 2 ribbon bookmarks, elastic closure, pen holder and inner pocket.
Cons
- 5.8 x 8.5 inches against the 5.7 x 8.3 inch A5 of the others.
- No warranty term is stated.
- No laser safety certification is stated.
- Binding listed as Unknown Binding in the spec table.
Other machines to compare
Wavyknot 100 Pcs Leather Keychain BlanksCheck price on Amazon
Wavyknot 30 Pcs Leather Keychain BlanksCheck price on Amazon
Leather Keychains Blank Round PU Leatherette Keychain BlanksCheck price on Amazon
Mozeat Lens Aluminum Engraving BlanksCheck price on Amazon
Specs compared
| Journal | HQ Score | Pages | Paper | Cover | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maleden 7-Pack Journals | 9.7/10 | 160 per journal | 120 GSM | Vegan leather | 5.7 x 8.3 inches |
| Threepacers Tree Journal | 9.6/10 | 256 | 100 GSM | Vegan leather | 5.7 x 8.3 inches |
| Rettacy Blank Journal | 9.6/10 | 192 | 100 GSM | Leather hardcover | 5.7 x 8.3 inches |
| Kwulp Blank Journal | 9.5/10 | 160 | 100 GSM | Leather hardcover | 5.7 x 8.3 inches |
| Leagim Blank Journal | 9.5/10 | 192 | 100 GSM | Leather | 5.8 x 8.5 inches |
Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 23 October 2026.
What the listings tell you, and what they leave out
Cover material is the key detail for laser work, and the listings are uneven about it. The LEAGIM spec table states Leather, the RETTACY, MALEDEN and Threepacers spec tables state faux or vegan leather, and the KWULP listing names a leather hardcover in its title without a spec-table entry. None of the listings names the exact faux-leather composition, so treat any faux or vegan leather cover as unknown material: never laser PVC or vinyl, and confirm the composition with the seller before engraving. Page counts and paper weights are stated for every pick, from 160 to 256 pages and 100 to 120 GSM, but a work area figure for the cover itself is not stated anywhere.
Buying guide: choosing the best leather journal blanks
All five picks are A5 journals, so the choice comes down to pages, paper, cover and extras. The notes below use the listed specs.
Match the page count to the project
The Threepacers lists 256 pages, the RETTACY and LEAGIM list 192 pages each, and the KWULP and MALEDEN list 160 pages each. More pages suit a long project like a travel series, while fewer pages keep a gift journal light. Note the MALEDEN is a 7-pack, so its 160 pages apply per journal.
Check the paper weight
The MALEDEN lists 120 GSM paper while the other four list 100 GSM, and every pick describes its paper as acid-free. Heavier paper resists bleed-through better with markers, according to the listings. If the journal is for sketching with wet media, the 120 GSM figure is the one to beat.
Confirm the cover material before lasering
Only the LEAGIM spec table states a leather cover outright. The KWULP and RETTACY titles name a leather hardcover, while the MALEDEN and Threepacers name vegan leather. Faux leather can be PVC-based, and PVC must never go under a laser, so confirm the composition with the seller for any faux or vegan cover. For background on how leather behaves under the beam, see wood vs leather for laser engraving and best leather for laser engraved bookmarks.
Count the extras in the box
Every pick lists a pen holder and an elastic closure band, and every pick lists ribbon bookmarks: two each. Inner pockets appear in all five listings as well. The differences are the RETTACY with 2 drawing stencils, the MALEDEN with 2 sticker labels per journal, and the KWULP with a pen and pencil holder. None of these change engraving, but they change the gift.
Project Match
- Batch gifts and sets: the MALEDEN 7-pack gives seven multicolored journals for sorting projects by color.
- High page count journals: the Threepacers with 256 pages.
- Sketch and art journals: the KWULP, whose listing targets sketching, drawing and art journaling.
- Leather-cover engraving: the LEAGIM, whose spec table states Leather; confirm any faux cover is not PVC before lasering.
- Journals with stencils: the RETTACY, which includes 2 drawing stencils.
How the scores add up
The HQ Score weighs performance, build, value, safety and warranty. For engraving blanks, performance covers the cover material and the paper specs, and safety covers laser-relevant certifications and material warnings. None of the five listings states a laser safety certification or a warranty term, so safety and warranty score zero across the picks. How we pick explains the weights.
| Product | HQ Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maleden 7-Pack Journals | 9.7 | 30 | 21 | 22 | n/a | 0 |
| Threepacers Tree Journal | 9.6 | 32 | 21 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| Rettacy Blank Journal | 9.6 | 29 | 20 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| Kwulp Blank Journal | 9.5 | 28 | 20 | 19 | n/a | 0 |
| Leagim Blank Journal | 9.5 | 28 | 19 | 19 | n/a | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.
FAQ: lasers and CNC
Can I laser engrave these journal covers?
The LEAGIM spec table states a leather cover, which suits engraving. The RETTACY, MALEDEN and Threepacers state faux or vegan leather, and the KWULP title names a leather hardcover. Never laser PVC or vinyl, so confirm the cover composition with the seller before engraving any faux leather cover.
What size are these journals?
The RETTACY, MALEDEN, KWULP and Threepacers list 5.7 x 8.3 inches, and the LEAGIM lists 5.8 x 8.5 inches; all are described as A5. A work-area figure for the cover itself is not stated.
How many pages do the picks have?
The Threepacers lists 256 pages, the RETTACY and LEAGIM list 192 pages each, and the KWULP and MALEDEN list 160 pages each.
Which pick has the thickest paper?
The MALEDEN lists 120 GSM paper; the other four list 100 GSM. All five describe the paper as acid-free.
Related: the engraving materials hub. Also see our best leather for laser engraved bookmarks. Also see our best leather for laser engraved hat patches. Also see our wood vs leather for laser engraving.
