Bullet Journal Supplies You Need to Get Started

This list of bullet journal supplies will help you get started making your own journal and planner. Easily customizable for your needs!

bullet journal supplies spread out over a wooden tabletop

I came across bullet journaling a few years ago and fell in love with the concept. As an organization freak, planners are always a necessity, but I could never find one that fit my specific needs. They either had too many extra pages I would never use, or they were missing pages I actually needed. So, when I heard about the concept of bullet journals and that you use them to create your own custom journal and planner, I knew I wanted to give it a try.

I am currently in my third bullet journal. Each one has been so different from the others, but they each served their purpose for what I needed at that exact time. I keep track of appointments, play dates and field trips, while also meal planning, tracking my Bible and book reading, and homeschool planning and attendance. The possibilities are endless for how you can use your bullet journal!

Best Bullet Journal Notebook

The first thing you need to start is the actual bullet journal. There are several key features you want to look for when shopping for a bullet journal.

First, find a notebook that is specifically made for bullet journaling. This means that instead of lines on the page, it will have a dot grid spaced evenly all over the page. The dots help you fully customize your bullet journal by making it easy to draw horizontal and vertical lines.

Second, you want pages that are thick so that they do not bleed through when you draw your designs. I prefer to use markers, but watercolor is an option too if that is more your style of creativity. Make sure to get at least 160gsm thick paper. I have also seen bullet journals made specifically with watercolor paper.

Third, decide what color paper you want. The majority of bullet journals use white paper on the inside, but you can find the occasional black or brown (kraft) paper. Gel pens really pop on that black paper if you are looking for something different!

Fourth, you want a bullet journal that lays flat when it is open. It will drive you insane if it keeps flipping closed when you are trying to draw, write or paint in it.

Finally, make sure your bullet journal has plenty of pages! You can always roll over into another journal part way through the year if necessary, but I like to try to keep all of mine in one journal for each calendar year. 160 pages seem to be just about right for my needs.

Best Pens and Markers for Your Bullet Journal Supplies

Zebra mildliner markers held up in front of a bullet journal calendar

Choosing the right pens and markers is mostly personal preference. You definitely don’t want any that bleed through the pages or smear, especially if you are left-handed like I am.

Something to think about is the colors that you will want. I stick with black ink for the main grid and dates and days of the week, and then go with fun color pops in other areas. My favorite black pen is the Tombow calligraphy pen, hard tip. It is the perfect thickness and boldness for my needs, draws crisp lines, and doesn’t smear. If you are looking to do some calligraphy in your bullet journal, the soft tip calligraphy pen is another great option.

Don’t stress if you don’t know how to do calligraphy! I didn’t when I started, and I still don’t. There are ways to do fake calligraphy that still look great and don’t take much practice.

I also like to add in pops of color. In my first bullet journal, I went very artistic with lots of fancy lettering and drawings. Since then, I have majorly simplified. As a mom of 4 and homeschool mom who is out and about a lot, I needed a more simplistic bullet journal. Simple can still be beautiful and functional. My favorite markers for adding in pops of color are the Zebra Mildliner markers. I love that they have different size tips on each end, and they come in a variety of colors, so you never get bored.

Note: It’s also a good idea to keep a pencil for when you are drawing out your pages. I like to draw my pages out in pencil first and then go over it in pen.

Bullet Journal Supplies

When it comes to bullet journal accessories, I like to use items that help to simplify the process. Keeping it simple is my motto because even though I enjoy bullet journaling, I don’t want it to take up all of my free time. I still have to keep up with laundry for a family of 6, and cook and clean three meals a day after all…

Bullet Journal Supplies for Decorating

Stickers – buy sheets of your favorite stickers and go to town decorating. Saves you time and makes your bullet journal a simpler process to create. You can even buy themed stickers and change it up each month.
Washi tape – similar to stickers but comes in a roll. Another time saver and if you buy lighter color tape, you can also write on top of it.
Stencils – a fun way to add pizazz to your bullet journal and be a little more artistic than just using stickers.

Bullet Journal Supplies for Function

Ruler – to help you get straight lines for boxes and calendar pages. A regular ruler will work just fine, but you can also find rulers specifically made as a bullet journal accessory that can help with a few more functions.
Bookmarks – to keep track of your current week and the current page you are working on. Some bullet journals come with ribbon bookmarks already in them.

Note: If you have a steady hand, you can easily draw straight lines without the use of a ruler. The dots in the dot grid are spaced less than a centimeter apart to make it easy to draw straight lines. Just use a pencil first if it makes you nervous, and then go over it with your black pen after.

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My favorite place to buy a bullet journal
Tombow pens
Zebra Mildliner markers
Bullet journal ruler