13 Bullet Journal Supplies that Won’t Disappoint & 3 to Avoid

These 13 bullet journal supplies won’t fall into that drawer that never gets opened. These are the supplies I count on every day and have loved since day one. Plus, 3 supplies I recommend you stay away from.*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure for more information.

If you’ve been in the bullet journaling game for a while and fallen into the stationery trap, you know there are supplies that are garbage. You also know there are hidden gems out there. This post is going to take you through 13 bullet journal supplies that I consider to be the best of the best, plus 3 that I think aren’t worth your money.

I have roughly two storage shelves packed full of notebooks, pens, washi tape, stickers, and strange odds and ends. I often order from Amazon because of Prime Shipping. But, I don’t limit myself to one website. I get supplies from all over the internet. A few of my favorites are Blitsy and Paperchase. And I have had decent luck on AliExpress. But, the reality is that every once in a while, I order something and it turns out to be complete shit. A huge waste of money.

It sucks when you spend your hard earned money on something that you thought was going to be great and it turns out to be garbage. So, I’m creating a list of the supplies I feel are worth your money.

13 Bullet Journal Supplies that Won’t Disappoint

1. Metallic Gelly Roll Pens– There are tons of metallic pens and markers on Amazon and in craft stores. The problem I’ve found is that none of them are all that sparkly. They’re like a dull shine. Like a 10-year-old used car. I want BAM, in your face sparkle. And that’s what these pens provide. They work on top of other pens and markers and leave a beautiful shimmery flow of ink.
2. Tombow Twintone Markers– These are by far the best dual tip markers (excluding brush tip). They are relatively affordable but offer so many uses because of the dual end. The thicker end is great for highlighting, coloring, and creating borders. The smaller tip is perfect for fine details and writing.
3. 5mm Ruler– Stop wasting time counting dots. This ruler is a game changer! Each space on the ruler is exactly 5mm apart and has marks every 5 spaces for easy calculating.
4. Habit Tracker Stencil– This is another major time saver. Especially if you’ve been wanting to create circular habit trackers or calendars. This stencil makes it easy to do without a ruler, compass, or protractor.
5. Practice Journal– I love having a practice notepad for doodling and lettering. The Rhodia pads are amazing to practice in because the paper quality is great and you don’t have to fork out $20 for a practice journal.
6. Helix Circle Maker– This is one of the best selling bullet journal supplies on Amazon. This thing is small enough to pack and offers tons of options for creating circles and angles. Plus it’s super cheap.
7. Pipsticks Subscription– Even if you don’t use a ton of stickers, this sticker subscription is worth it. Every month you get a themed pack of high-end stickers. They include clear stickers, glitter and metallic stickers, and lots of other high-quality stickers.
8. Letter Logic– This isn’t really a supply or product. But it is one of my top resources. I took the Letter Logic course and it immediately changed the way I did brush lettering. I learned new styles, how to pair and attach letters properly, and so many more awesome tips. Plus, the instructors are amazing.
9. Pen Case Organizer– If you travel often or like to pack your bujo around the house, a carrying case for your favorite pens is essential. This one holds up to 202 colored pencils or 136 gel pens.
10. Tombow Adhesive– This is my favorite alternative to glue. It’s incredibly sticky and will hold pictures, tickets, cut out stickers, etc. in place without leaving behind a tacky residue.
11. Muji Gel Pens– Some of the best gel pens around. They are comparable with Inkjoy Gel Pens but at a much cheaper price.
12. Stabilo Boss Pastel Highlighters– A lot of people have been disappointed with the Zebra Mildliners. But these Stabilo Pastel Highlighters are perfectly sized and the colors are so pretty and truly pastel.
13. Uni Pin Fine Line Pens– These pens are so great. The ink is a nice rich black color. Like other artist quality pens, they have archival ink that won’t fade and is water resistant. And they are affordable.

3 Bullet Journal Supplies to Avoid

The above are the products I use on a very regular basis. They are awesome, high quality, and worth the money. Now, let’s touch on the buying mistakes I’ve made and learned from.

1. Those crappy 20-piece stencils you see flooding Amazon. They look awesome and the price is right, but many of them are way too small and you just end up with a blob of ink instead of a clearly outlined design. Instead, try looking for Stencils on Etsy, where you can choose quality stencils.
2. Cheap Gel Pens. I know the appeal is real (poet in the making, here). But, many of those 120-piece gel pen sets you see on AliExpress or Amazon are cheaply made and half of them end up not working. Instead, buy smaller packs of higher quality gel pens and slowly build your collection. I love the Sakura Gelly Roll Pens.
3. Alcohol markers. This one isn’t here because it’s crap. Alcohol markers are fabulous for certain projects. But for your bullet journal, they are a big mistake. Alcohol markers bleed through almost all paper and can even stain the page underneath. Instead, buy water-based markers like Crayolas, Tombows, or Brushables.

Was this post helpful? Which of the products above is on your wishlist? Which ones do you already own? Let me know in the comments below.