A5 vs A6 Notebooks: Which Size Actually Gets Used?

A5 offers considerably more writing space and suits desk-based, structured note-taking, while A6 is genuinely pocket-sized and suits quick, on-the-go notes — the right choice depends entirely on how and where the notebook will actually be used, not which size simply looks nicer as a gift. Here's a practical comparison.

A5: the standard, versatile choice

A5 is roughly half the size of standard A4 paper, offering genuinely comfortable space for structured notes, sketches, or longer entries without feeling cramped. It remains the most commonly chosen notebook size for general use, striking a reasonable balance between writing space and portability.

A5 suits:

• Desk-based note-taking — meetings, project planning, and general office use where the notebook mostly stays at a desk rather than being carried constantly.

• Journaling and reflective writing, where more space per entry supports longer, more developed writing.

• A general-purpose gift, since A5 comfortably suits the widest range of actual uses without limiting the recipient to a specific style of note-taking.

A6: genuinely pocket-sized and portable

A6, roughly postcard-sized, fits genuinely into a jacket pocket or small bag pouch, making it the more practical choice for anyone who wants to jot down quick notes, ideas or reminders while out and about, rather than only at a desk.

A6 suits:

• On-the-go note-taking — quick ideas, reminders, or short lists captured throughout the day without needing to carry a bulkier notebook.

• A specific, minimal use case — a dedicated small notebook for a single, narrow purpose (a reading log, a quick-reference list) rather than general, varied note-taking.

• Gifting to someone with a known, active, mobile lifestyle, where portability genuinely matters more than maximum writing space.

The honest truth about size and actual use

A larger notebook offers more space but is more likely to stay at a desk or in a bag rather than being carried everywhere; a smaller notebook is more likely to be genuinely carried and used spontaneously, but limits how much can comfortably be written per entry. Neither size is universally "better" — the more useful question is honestly assessing how and where the specific recipient (or you, if buying for yourself or your team) actually tends to take notes.

Considering the recipient's actual habits

If you're gifting a notebook and know the recipient's habits — someone who takes detailed meeting notes at a desk versus someone who jots quick ideas while commuting or between meetings — matching size to their genuine pattern of use makes the gift considerably more likely to actually get used rather than set aside unused on a shelf, regardless of how nicely designed or personalised the cover is.

Business and team considerations

For a business ordering notebooks across a team — for meetings, training, or as part of a welcome pack (see our guide to personalised notebooks and journals as gifts) — A5 is generally the safer, more broadly useful default, since it comfortably handles the widest range of typical workplace note-taking without limiting anyone to an unusually small writing area.

Combining both sizes strategically

Some businesses and individuals genuinely benefit from both — an A5 for structured, desk-based work and a smaller A6 kept in a bag or pocket for quick, spontaneous notes captured elsewhere. If budget allows and the use case genuinely justifies it, offering both as a small paired set can cover a wider range of actual note-taking habits than either size alone.

Thickness and page count alongside size

Size isn't the only dimension worth considering — page count and overall thickness affect how a notebook feels and behaves alongside its footprint. A thinner A6 notebook is genuinely easier to slip into a pocket than a thick one, while a thicker A5 notebook, holding more pages, reduces how often it needs replacing for someone doing sustained, regular note-taking. If longevity of use matters — a journal meant to last a full year, for instance — page count deserves as much consideration as the paper dimensions themselves, since a beautifully sized notebook that runs out of pages within weeks creates its own kind of frustration.

Cover material and how it interacts with size

A softer, more flexible cover suits a smaller A6 notebook well, since it bends comfortably to fit a pocket or small bag without resistance; a firmer, more structured cover suits A5 better, providing a stable writing surface even without a desk underneath. This is worth factoring in alongside pure size when choosing between the two, since a stiff cover on a pocket-sized notebook can undermine some of the portability advantage that made A6 the right size choice in the first place.

A simple way to decide

Choose A5 for general-purpose, desk-based use and as a safer default for team or broad gifting. Choose A6 specifically for genuine on-the-go, pocket-carried use, or a narrow, specific purpose. When in doubt about a specific recipient's habits, A5 remains the more broadly useful, lower-risk choice. Browse our booklets and notebooks range, or visit the Gloss Label homepage for everything else we print.