The Best List of Bullet Journal Supplies You Need

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Coming into the bullet journaling world, I remember watching tons of videos and reading even more blog posts and thinking with a mix of excitement and horror “OMG there are so many bullet journal supplies!”. 

From tons of journals to consider, literally millions of markers and pens, washi tape, stencil sets, stamps, stickers, glue tape, there is just so MUCH to look through.

So, for those of you who are just getting started on your bullet journal journey, I know that all the choices can be overwhelming.

That’s why I made this list of the best bullet journal supplies. It’s a list of the bullet journal supplies I recommend when starting your journal.

I’ve also included some other things you can consider depending on your style or how big your budget is.

And make sure to get your checklist at the end of the post!

Must Have Bullet Journal Supplies

The essentials of bullet journal supplies are simple. But they will be your most important decision. Investing in a good journal and a fantastic pen will change the complete experience. Make sure you pick the right ones!

JOurnal

Every bullet journaler needs a journal/notebook to write in so let’s just dive into that.

There are three types of journals that you can consider: blank, lined and dotted. 

Blank

A blank journal is best for the super creative types. If you want to mind map, list, blurb and doodle but don’t need boundaries to house your ideas a blank journal will give you a ton of flexibility and freedom.

Lined

If you’re not quite sure what you want to do but want to keep things simple to start, a lined journal can be great. You probably already have one anyway! Lists, charts and notes are easily documented in a lined notebook so taking this approach can be great as a minimalist approach to your journal.

Dotted

Dotted bullet journals seem to be the norm in the community. If you want to do it all (or aren’t sure what you want to do) starting here is the thing to do.

Personally, I use a dotted journal and like that it allows me to space things easily. The dots are also light enough that they don’t interrupt the more creative elements of bullet journaling like doodles and quotes.

Whichever one you choose I would recommend making sure the journal you choose has two features. The first, a bookmark, and the second, make sure it can lie flat. I have my journal open beside me ALL the time and if it wouldn’t lie flat I’d be ticked.

Above is the journal I, along with many other bullet journalers use. It’s a great size, has an index, is super customizable, and has a little pocket in the back for whatever you want.

In 2019 I started using this Peter Pauper dotted journal. It’s been awesome. The pages are thicker so there is no ghosting or bleed through and the cover is beautiful. It has fewer pages than the Leuchttrum but is also half the price. A great option that has a bunch of different covers!

Pens

As far as bullet journal supplies go, any pen will do.

Typically I like gel pens. The ink is very pigmented and when they’re black they add a bit of shine which I dig. The only thing is that if you’re a lefty or planning on shutting your journal immediately after writing they can smudge.

My favourite pens to use in my bullet journal are these, they don’t smudge or bleed through but their ink is dark and the point so fine that it’s easy to read, even in my small script.

Can Have Bullet Journal Supplies

This list could be endless but some common bullet journal supplies are here to give you an idea. These are not things you need but things you can have to add personality or organization to your bullet journal. What you want will depend on what your goal is.

The Bullet Journal Method

Ryder Carroll, the creator of the bullet journal system just released this book explaining everything there is to know about bullet journaling. If you want to get some insight from the creator himself. This is the place to start.

If you’re not into buying it you can get if for free by signing up for FREE trials of Audible or Kindle

fine liners

Fine liners come in every colour of the rainbow and are great when used to add some saturated colour to your journal. Be careful to test them out first so that you don’t get bleed through. Here is a place to start.

On that note, metallic markers are an amazing addition to your collection. They show up on top of other colours and really add a lot of fun shine to your spreads.

MEtallic gel pens

I also LOVE using metallic gel pens for finer details. There is nothing like adding a little sparkle to your spreads. It just makes them eye catching no matter what!

Washi tape

Washi tape is a super easy way to decorate your journal without needing to draw a thing. It’s also awesome to separate sections, label days or add inspiration. Washi tape is also easy to go overboard with when buying since there are so many to choose from.

I’d recommend getting a 3 pack of complementary washi tape that matches your journal and, more importantly, your style.

Originally when I started my bullet journal I thought that I would be drawing nothing but flowers… I was wrong. But, I had bought a three-pack of floral washi tape and I used it to decorate the cover of my journal and a ton of my spreads through the year.

It only cost me a few dollars and it added a ton of consistency throughout my journal. This is one of the bullet journal supplies in the “can haves” that is almost a “must” in my opinion.

Brush Pens

I wasn’t so much excited about lots of colour in my journal as I was excited about trying to use a brush pen for titles. Let me tell you, it takes some practice. I have this set of pens but there are a ton of different ones to choose from and often, Crayola Supertips can be used to make faux calligraphy in a pinch.

White Gel Pen

A good white gel pen has many uses. I like to use it over blacked-out spaces for a chalkboard effect or as a quick way to clean up a small mistake. Being able to write white over a spot that didn’t go your way gives you options for how you choose to correct mistakes.

Glue Roller

Many bullet journalers swear by this type of product. If you’re thinking of adding in photos or printouts this could be super helpful. Personally, I draw most of my bullet journal decoration (except in May) so I haven’t found it necessary to buy but if you’ve got a different style go for it!

Stickers

Stickers are awesome. Remember when you used to get a sticker on your homework and it always made you excited? Stickers still do that for me. I have a bunch of stickers that I like to add to my journal on occasion. I thought that I would use them more than I did but I love to look at them.  I have a set like this.

Stamps

If you’re hardcore or have other projects that you would use stamps for they can make it so fast to do your monthly spreads. With dates and calendars being just the tip of the iceberg, there are a ton of different stamps to suit anyone’s fancy. I personally don’t have a stamp set but the one I linked is the one I’d try if I do end up getting some!

How to decide what you need

Personally, I was super excited about starting my bullet journal so I went a bit overboard with my bullet journal supplies. On the upside, it gave me so much choice when I was deciding on what I wanted to do.

I use my black gel pens most frequently followed by my brush pens. If this was all I had that would be a-ok.

Starting out, a good journal that suits your purpose and a smooth pen are musts. If you’re a minimalist then that’s really all you need. If you want to have “accent” colours getting a set of brush pens or fine liners will open up a world of possibilities.

Taking it a step further, grab a few rolls of washi tape or some inspirational quotes stickers for when you’re feeling lazy. Throw in that glue roller after Christmas when you’re hastily trying to add in all your photographic memories.

Pick the things that will be useful for you and don’t worry about “having it all” before you start. Bullet journals evolve with the journaler so start and see what you’d like to have and get it.

But if you only take one thing from this post, definitely invest in a good journal.

Take a look at How to Start a Bullet Journal for Beginners if you’re new to all this, there’s even a free e-course you can enroll in to help you take those first steps.

Looking forward to seeing your spreads!

Did I miss any bullet journal supplies that you consider ride or die? Let me know in the comments!