Bullet journaling on a budget? Here are the best bullet journal supplies on Amazon, along with my top picks for alternatives.
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As each year passes, it seems there are more and more stationery supplies being released.
As a long-time user of the bullet journal system and an avid stationery collector, I am confident that I have nailed down the best bullet journal supplies for 2019.
Luckily, everything on this list can be purchased on Amazon (hello Prime Shipping). There is no need to click to five different websites, pay shipping, and wait on 5 different packages over a week or more.
And, hopefully, this post will help take your shopping anxieties away and ease the shopping process so that you don’t have to second-guess if you are spending your hard earned money on something you’ll like or not.
You can also check out my continually updated Amazon Recommendations for EVERYTHING, here.
Related: The Best Alternatives to Expensive Bullet Journal Supplies
The Best Bullet Journal Supplies of 2019
I want to give you the most comprehensive list possible, so you can leave with no doubt that you are getting what you want. So, I’ve prepared my 10 favorite bullet journal supplies of all time and then added alternatives where they fit.
Be sure to read through each product description and note if there is a better alternative for beginners or something similar at a lesser price.
Nuuna Dot Grid Journal
Since the beginning of my bullet journaling journey, I have had the chance to try a number of notebooks. But none quite compare to the Nuuna. It’s slightly larger than A5 size, has a smaller dot grid (which, at first was weird, but now I love it), and bright white pages. The paper quality isn’t superior to all other notebooks but it is 120gsm and does hold up to Tombows, single-layer Mildliners, and even light watercolor. And, with the Large size (not Lite), you get 256 pages, which is more than most notebooks offer.
The Nuuna is priced quite a bit higher than other dot grid notebooks. But, you aren’t going to find another notebook that offers the design elements that the Nuuna has.
Each cover is very unique in design. They have pattern designs, text designs, map designs, and more. And to compliment the aesthetic, they have added colored edges to the pages to match the cover design.
Alternative: Scrivwell A5 Dot Grid Journal
- The Scrivwell Dot Grid notebook comes in 12 different colors and boasts 208 pages of lightly coated 120gsm paper. And, it’s only about 1/4 of the price of the Nuuna.
- You will be missing out on the slightly larger size, bright white pages, and artistic cover designs.
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens
There are a ton of black fineline pens on the market. And honestly, most are really good, have rich black ink, and come in a variety of nib sizes. And, most of them are pretty similar price point wise. But, what I think sets the Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens apart from the rest is the longevity. I use my Small nib pen in my bullet journal on a daily basis and I have been using the same pen for the past 4 months. In comparison, a Micron typically lasts me about a month to a month and a half.
Also, the set shown above comes with a the regular sized nibs and then a couple brush pens, a calligraphy pen, and a bullet nib.
Alternative: Muji Gel Pens
- If you don’t love fineliners gel pens are a great option. Muji, a brand out of Japan, is known for their smooth, juicy ink.
- Muji pens do come in different line widths, but you will have to purchase each size separately.
- Currently, Muji offers 0.38, 0.5, and 0.7mm sizes
Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Of all the markers I own, I use Tombows the most. The colors are rich and vibrant, and the dual tip allows for multiple uses. For large headers, the brush pen side is perfect. For smaller cursive or print headers and coloring, the bullet nib side is my go-to. Tombow Dual Brush Pens currently come in 108 different colors. You can purchase all 108, a pack of 96, themed 10-packs, and individual colors. My favorite has long been the pastel set as they have a variety of colors that work for different seasons and they can be used as highlighters with their light tones.
I will note that the brush pens are difficult and even frustrating to use if you have never done brush lettering before. If you are looking for a brush pen to do lettering with be sure to check out this post with free practice sheets and then the alternative brush pens below.
Alternative: Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens
- While the Tombow Fude Pens don’t come in the variety of colors that the Dual Brush Pens do, they offer a greater benefit for beginners. The brush tips are smaller and less flexible, making them easier to create thin and thick strokes.
- These are also wonderful for smaller brush lettering for weekday headers, quotes, habits, and more.
Helix Angle & Circle Maker
This tool is a game changer for circular elements like circle habit trackers, circle calendars, and circular weekly spreads. The protractor itself is 6″ in diameter, making it a bit large for A5 journals. However, the inside plastic piece rotates and has different notches to create different size circles. From my experience and from reading the reviews on Amazon, this product does have a flaw. The interior circle doesn’t move as smoothly as I would like and can lead to jagged circles. To counteract this, I use the interior rotating plastic and a pencil to draw my circles. Then I remove the protractor and use a pen to go over my pencil lines.
This is likely one of the most affordable items on the list, and in my opinion, everyone should have one in their arsenal of planning supplies.
Alternative: Cosmos Protractor and Circle Maker
- Unlike the Helix, this protractor does not have a rotating piece. But it does have smaller circle stencils that can be traced.
- Again, this is another tool I keep handy at all times for doodling and drawing smaller circular elements.
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Prismacolor makes amazing quality colored pencils at a reasonable price for the payoff. These have a soft thick core that makes them perfect for applying rich, vibrant color with ease. Unlike lesser quality colored pencils, the Prismacolors are easy to blend to make perfect ombre effects. This pack has 72 different colors for every season and theme you can think of.
Alternative: Crayola 100 Pack Colored Pencils
- If you are looking for colored pencils that are more budget friendly, I recommend the Crayola Colored Pencils.
- While they do require a bit more effort to get a smooth transition or rich saturation, the price point may justify this alternative. Plus, you get 100 pencils instead of 72.
Stabilo 88 Fineliners
So, we’ve already gone over the best black fineline pens for your everyday spreads and filling in trackers. But, for colored fineliners, Stabilo takes the cake. This pack offers 50 different colors including neutrals, pastels, and bright vivids. They have a 0.4mm tip that’s perfect for drawing designs, patterns, and doodles. You can also use them to fill in your habit trackers and mood trackers. And, when you aren’t using them in your bullet journal, they are wonderful for adult coloring books.
Alternative: Arteza Fineliners
- Arteza in a bit newer to the art supply world, but in their short time here they have built a pretty decent reputation for being affordable, quality art supplies.
- This pack boasts 72 unique colors at almost half the price of the Stabilo pens.
Other Bullet Journal Supplies You Might Like
The above are my must-haves. They are what make up my arsenal of daily planning supplies and the tools that I use the most often. But again, this doesn’t mean that all of these will suit your needs.
Some of the other supplies I love but don’t use as frequently include:
- Prima Press Letter Stamps: These are amazing for classic serif headers and overall adding a different feel and look to your bullet journal pages.
- Ecoline Brush Pens: These brush pens have watercolor-like ink that creates beautiful brush lettering and gradients. However, I have to warn you that if this ink is very wet and may bleed through thinner journal pages.
- Washi Tape: There are a million brands of washi tape and even more patterns and designs. You can buy it on Amazon, at Walmart, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and other big box stores. If you need to add a pop of color to your pages without spending a lot of time, washi tape is a great option.
- Finetec Metallic Watercolors: While I don’t use these often, I love to add a pop of high shimmer metallic color to my pages from time to time. With a small watercolor brush, these lay down opaque and with more glimmer than any gel pen on the market.
Sound off with your favorite bullet journal supplies in the comments below or let me know which of these you will be picking up next.
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