Do you fill your notebook with doodles only to realize you’re out of space when it’s time to make a grocery list? To say doodling is fun would be an understatement. This art form is nothing short of an addiction, a healthy outlet for creative expression, and an even better way to get better at drawing. But regular notepads are hardly the right medium to doodle away. Instead, consider using a doodle journal.
Doodle journals are specially designed and organized to allow you to maximize your creativity. Some include engaging prompts while others have partially completed illustrations so you can complete the remainder. No matter what your art skills are like or how imaginative you are, there’s a doodle journal out there for you to have fun with!
So, give your hands the canvas they deserve with the highest-rated doodle journals in 2025. Immerse yourself in the world of art diaries and choose one that suits your needs and style. There are also great options for kids, too. Let’s take a look!
Searching for a doodle journal that keeps it simple but fun? Look no further than the Daily Doodle Journal by Spike Maguire. Filled with 365 engaging prompts, you won’t need anything else to scribble on the whole year. This journal encourages users to draw their whimsical side without fear of coloring inside the box. From mythical creatures to amazing backdrops, there is plenty to be admired. The rest is left to your imagination. Additionally, buyers enjoy ample space to let their creative side run wild. This doodling diary is perfect for artists of all ages since it has nothing too complicated and lets you take full artistic control, making it the best overall option on this list.
This decorative doodle journal makes a lasting first impression with its bold design. Unlike traditional options, Cindy Guentert-Baldo’s compact doodle notebook provides a lot more structure to individuals who like to be pushed in a certain direction when doodling. You get a total of 240 pages filled with cute prompts. Separate chapters allow users to take a different creative approach each time. The best part? You can create personalized sticker illustrations in just a few steps. An immersive guide on how to make cute designs takes the difficulty out of coming up with new ideas when doodling without a prompt. Rest assured, this product is very well designed and geared toward an audience of kids and adults alike.
If you’re looking for an interactive doodling guide for young girls, Dawn DeVries Sokol’s much-loved doodle diary is a great pick for anyone with an artsy side. Compared to regular varieties, it has 160 pages that maximize quality over quantity. Each page flaunts a unique pattern with fun prompts to add in memories for a true journaling experience. For example, you can add movie tickets, photos with friends, or cutouts from magazines. There are a bunch of tips and tricks on how to improve your skill, adopt a freestyle approach, and make the most of various materials and mediums. Feel free to use pens, watercolors, markers, pencils, and more with this doodle journal.
Another option specifically curated for preteens and teenage girls, the Life Is A Doodle Journal has a very attractive and intriguing design. In this lockable drawing diary, your kid can feel comfortable to doodle and journal their private thoughts and feelings. This all-in-one set also offers much more than just a notebook. The package includes a sleek pencil pouch, silver bracelet, and matching gift box. So, if you’re in the market for a present, this one’s your best bet. This doodle journal ranks highly in the quality department and offers a lot of room to budding artists eager to do their own thing. A total of 300 pages are evenly split into blank paper for drawing and ruled sections for writing.
This illustrated doodle journal by Andrew Pinder can help your daughter or another family member express herself and get in touch with her creative, artsy side. The activity book features lively drawings, bright colors, and quality perforated pages for easy tear-off. This product is a tad larger than others but maintains its structural quality even when transported. Sturdy binding coupled with thick pages are only a few reasons why it’s worth its price. On the plus side, each page has engaging prompts that bolster the user’s creative expression and help nurture imagination.
Fuel your doodling addiction with a journal that never puts a cap on imagination. This detailed buyer’s guide can help you spot a high-quality product and stay away from flimsy versions made of cheap paper or ones with unsuitable designs. To ensure that you’re happy with your purchase, pick one that feels like it’s made just for you.
Investing in a doodle journal rather than a regular notepad underscores the presence of additional features. Simply put, a doodle diary without some form of engaging prompts or illustrations doesn’t qualify as a worthy purchase. These features help provide a little bit of structure to artistic thoughts and uniquely redirect creative expression. For those seeking a doodle journal for meditative purposes, prompts can also be a soothing alternative to mindlessly scribbling on paper.
Whether you doodle with pen, watercolors, or thick markers, if the paper quality of your doodle journal is bad, bleeding ink will ruin everything. Thick paper isn’t just preferred, it’s necessary. To determine the quality of a doodle pad, pay close attention to buyer reviews. Even one complaint about ink bleed-through is a red flag.
Do you know what’s worse than a boring doodle journal? One that tries too hard and ends up confusing you with too much text. Remember, blank space is very important. You shouldn’t be overburdened by stringent prompts that give little to no room for creative control. So, if you’re opting for a product that has pages with ruled lines, make sure it has enough blank pages too. That said, too much of the latter may not be a great idea if you’re buying for younger kids who need a little nudge to exercise their artistic side.
Embossed hardcovers feature three-dimensional artwork or texts. The process of creating a raised surface for a superior aesthetic impression also uses more materials and is usually pricier than an old-fashioned paperback. Don’t be fooled into paying a lot of money, though; embossed covers are beautiful but they shouldn’t be drastically more expensive.
Experienced doodlers know that this art form knows no geographical bounds. If you or the person you’re scouring this guide for can’t help but draw whatever comes to mind, bear in mind that size will play an important role in the purchase. Your doodle pad won’t always sit on the bedside table so it should be compact enough for carrying, but not too small that you’re left wishing for more space. On average, standard products in this category are around 7 inches tall, whereas larger versions can be as tall as 12 inches.
Some doodle pads offer lined pages to jot things down, and it’s totally up to the user as to what they wish to write. At the same time, a lot of journals mainly focus on drawing and don't leave much room for planning.
Fortunately, wrinkled pages are the kind of aesthetic defect with a clever solution. Unless torn, ironing out pages can remove even the worst of creases. Be careful when attempting this, however, as an iron set to very high temperatures will degrade the paper’s color.
Spiralbound doodle journals make it easy to pull pages out and might be more durable when the doodle pad is handled with care. But brands that use flimsy wire for the ring might have lower product quality.
Recent research in neuroscience, psychology and design shows that doodling can help people stay focused, grasp new concepts and retain information. A blank page also can serve as an extended playing field for the brain, allowing people to revise and improve on creative thoughts and ideas
Yes, doodling reduces stress by giving your brain something to focus on.
At Art Life Today, our passion for arts and crafts is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that the right tools and materials can make all the difference in your creative projects, so we take our responsibility as reviewers seriously. Our goal is to help you discover the best products that will inspire your creativity and bring your artistic visions to life.