If you use fountain pens, brush lettering, or just like crisp everyday notes, rhodia paper is often on the shortlist for one reason: it feels consistently smooth under the tip. In this roundup, we look at six popular pads and notebooks and what each format is best at.
We compared page format, ruling style (dot, lined, margin), binding style, portability, and the kinds of writing tools each paper tends to suit. The goal is practical: help you match the right pad or notebook to how you actually write, sketch, plan, or practise letterforms.
First, here is a quick lens to narrow your choices, then we will get into the picks.
- Dot grid wins Dot ruling is the easiest all-rounder for lettering practice, layouts, and tidy notes without heavy lines.
- Choose your size A4 and A4+ suit big pages and study notes, while A5 and memo formats are better for carry-everywhere writing.
- Tear-outs matter If you share work or file pages, pick a pad designed for clean tear-outs rather than a bound notebook.
- Dry time varies Smoother paper can make ink look sharp, but it can also increase smudge risk if you write fast or close the book quickly.
How We Chose This Rhodia Shortlist
For this rhodia roundup, we compared the core specs that change your daily experience: page size, ruling style, binding, and whether pages are meant to stay bound or tear out cleanly.
We also considered common use cases like fountain pen notes, planning, and lettering practice, then matched each pick to the person it suits best so you can choose quickly and avoid a format mismatch.
A quick note on the classic Bloc: the orange Bloc No.16 is the heritage pad most people picture when they hear the Rhodia name, and it is still the benchmark for the tear-off format. At the time of this review it was not reliably stocked on Amazon.ca, so it does not get a card below. The Memo Pad Refill No.13 in our shortlist is the closest bloc-style pad you can buy right now, with the same clean tear-off design in a pocketable size.
What to Look for in Rhodia
If you are using wet ink, give the page a few extra seconds before turning it or stacking sheets. Smooth papers can stay tacky longer than you expect.
01
Smooth dot-grid for ink
Rhodia DotPad No.18 A4 pairs a 5 mm dot grid with smooth 80 gsm Clairefontaine paper that users love for fountain pens. Micro-perforated sheets tear out cleanly, and the cardboard backing keeps it stable on the go.
- Smooth Clairefontaine 80 gsm paper
- Fountain pen friendly performance
- Micro-perforated clean tear-out
- Stapled binding limits page flipping
- Dots may be too subtle
Rhodia DotPad No.18 A4 is a dependable A4 dot-grid pad when you want structure without heavy lines. We like it for handwriting, planning layouts, and sketch-notes because the 5 mm dots stay unobtrusive. The 80 gsm Clairefontaine vellum paper is frequently praised for smoothness and fountain pen use, and the sheets are micro-perforated so you can remove pages neatly. A soft-touch coated cover and cardboard back add rigidity for desk or lap writing.
02
Smooth paper for everyday notes
Rhodia Staplebound Notebook is a slim A5 lined notebook with 96 sheets of 80 gsm Clairefontaine paper and a coated card cover. We like it for tidy, everyday notes and smooth, consistent writing.
- Smooth 80 gsm paper
- Lined ruling for organising
- Coated card cover protection
- Staplebound, not lay-flat
- No perforated tear-out pages
Rhodia Staplebound Notebook keeps things simple: a slim A5 format, lined pages, and a sturdy coated card cover that travels well in a bag. Based on the specs, the 80 gsm Clairefontaine paper is the main draw, with a smooth satin finish and good opacity for clean-looking notes. The side-stapled binding is classic and low-profile, which many people prefer over spirals, but it will not open as flat as sewn or ring bindings.
03
Fountain pen friendly lined pages
Rhodia Composition Book Orange pairs a tough clothbound hardcover with 80 gsm Clairefontaine paper. The lined-with-margin layout suits notes and lettering drills, and reviewers consistently call it smooth, fountain pen friendly, and “luxury” feeling.
- Smooth Clairefontaine paper
- Fountain pen friendly pages
- Clothbound hardcover durability
- Only lined with margin
- B5 size not pocketable
Rhodia Composition Book Orange is a B5 clothbound hardcover notebook with 160 pages of 80 gsm Clairefontaine brushed vellum paper. Based on its specs and user feedback, it is a strong pick when you want smooth, fountain pen friendly paper in a durable cover that holds up in a bag. The grey rulings include a left margin, which helps keep notes tidy and can guide practice lines for consistent letter height.
Smooth paper, clean tear-outs
Rhodia Stapled Notepad A4+ Orange pairs smooth 80 gsm Clairefontaine paper with a sturdy cardboard back and a soft coated cover. Micro-perforated, detachable sheets make it easy to share clean pages for class or work.
- Smooth 80 gsm paper
- Micro-perforated clean tear-out
- Sturdy cardboard backing
- Stapled binding limits lay-flat
- Orange cover not for everyone
Rhodia Stapled Notepad A4+ Orange is a dependable choice for everyday writing when you want paper that feels smooth and stays tidy. It uses 80 gsm Clairefontaine vellum paper that reviewers often describe as luxurious, and the lined-with-margin ruling suits study notes and meeting pages. The soft coated orange cover adds protection in a bag, while the cardboard back gives you a firm surface. Micro-perforated sheets detach neatly for handouts or filing.
Fountain pen friendly everyday notebook
Rhodiarama Soft Leatherette Notebook pairs a soft faux-leather cover with 90 gsm ivory paper that stays crisp with fountain pens. Practical extras like an elastic closure, ribbon marker, and inner pocket make it easy to carry and keep organised.
- 90 gsm fountain pen friendly
- Soft leatherette cover feels durable
- Elastic, ribbon, inner pocket
- Lined pages only
- Softcover offers less rigidity
Rhodiarama Soft Leatherette Notebook is a polished A5 lined notebook built around Clairefontaine 90 gsm ivory vellum paper, chosen for smooth writing with minimal feathering and bleed-through. The soft Italian faux-leather cover and glued square back give it a refined feel for daily journalling, planning, or class notes. We like the practical details for a carry-around notebook: elastic closure, ribbon page marker, signature orange front page, and an expandable inner pocket for loose sheets.
Dotted refill for neat notes
Rhodia Memo Pad Refill No.13 is a compact dotted pad refill with 240 micro-perforated sheets. The light grey dot grid helps with lettering layout and quick sketches, and the smooth paper is fountain pen friendly.
- Light grey dot matrix guide
- Micro-perforated clean tear-out
- Smooth, fountain pen friendly paper
- Glued binding limits lay-flat
- Small size for big layouts
Rhodia Memo Pad Refill No.13 is a practical, compact dotted refill made for quick notes, layout planning, and small lettering practice. The subtle 5 mm dot grid keeps guidelines unobtrusive while still helping you align slant, spacing, and margins. Sheets are micro-perforated, so you can tear pages out neatly for sharing or filing. It also has a cardboard backing with a non-slip underside, and the smooth, acid-free paper suits fountain pens and many markers.
| Rating | Size | Ruling | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rhodia A4 Dot Notepad
Best Overall Rhodia Pad
|
9.5/10 | A4 | Dot grid | – | BUY NOW |
|
Rhodia A5 Staplebound Notebook
Top Pick for Practice
|
9.0/10 | A5 | – | C $6.99 | BUY NOW |
|
Rhodia B5 Composition Book
Premium Paper Pick
|
8.9/10 | B5 | Lined | C $12.82 | BUY NOW |
|
Rhodia A4+ Stapled Notepad
Top Pick for Note-Taking
|
8.8/10 | A4+ | – | C $12.98 | BUY NOW |
|
Rhodiarama A5 Lined Notebook
Also Great
|
8.7/10 | A5 | Lined | C $24.28 | BUY NOW |
|
Rhodia No.13 Dotted Refill
Strong Runner-Up
|
8.6/10 | 4.1 x 5.8 in | Dot grid | C $13.79 | BUY NOW |
How to Choose the Right Rhodia Paper
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Dot vs lined
Start with the ruling because it controls how you place letters, margins, and spacing. Dot grid: Best for lettering drills, layouts, and bullet-style notes because it guides you without shouting. · Lined with margin: Great for structured writing and school-style notes, especially if you like a left margin for headings. · Blank preference: If you hate visible guides, choose the lightest ruling available and add a guide sheet underneath.
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Pad vs notebook
Your workflow decides this more than the paper does. Tear-out needs: Choose a pad if you plan to remove pages for feedback, scanning, or filing. · Keep it together: Choose a notebook if you want your notes and practice to live as an archive in one place. · Desk vs travel: Pads tend to shine at a desk, while notebooks usually survive bags better.
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Size and layout
Pick the size that matches how wide you write and where you use it. A4 and A4+: Comfortable for full-page notes, large diagrams, and practice pages with plenty of warm-up room. · A5-ish sizes: Easier for daily carry, quick journaling, and compact planning without a huge footprint. · Memo formats: Ideal for lists, daily priorities, and consistent small handwriting, especially when you want a standard pocket size.
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Ink and smudging
Smoother papers can make strokes cleaner, but you may need to adjust how you handle the page. Dry-time reality: If you close a book quickly, pick a format where you can let pages rest open for a minute. · Hand position: Left-handed overwriters should prioritize faster dry time and consider a blotter sheet when using wetter ink. · Show-through check: If you want both sides, choose the option that feels thick enough for your pen pressure and ink flow.
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Binding behaviour
How a book opens affects comfort during long writing sessions. Flat opening: For long note-taking, look for a binding that stays open without you holding it down. · Staplebound feel: Stapled formats tend to feel lighter and simpler, which some people prefer for quick notes. · Cover durability: If it lives in a backpack, choose a sturdier cover style to prevent corner crush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rhodia paper best for?
Rhodia paper is best for people who want a smooth writing experience and clean-looking lines. It is a popular choice for fountain pen notes, journaling, and lettering practice because the surface helps pens glide and keeps small curves and hairlines looking crisp. The main tradeoff is that wetter inks can take longer to dry.
Dot pad vs dot notebook: which should you choose?
Choose a dot pad when you want pages you can remove cleanly for filing, scanning, or sharing. Choose a dot notebook when you want everything kept together in one place, like a journal, class notes, or a long-term practice log. The dot grid itself supports layouts either way, so the decision is mostly about workflow.
Is dotted ruling good for handwriting practice?
Yes. Dots give you consistent spacing cues without the visual weight of lines, which is helpful for keeping letter height and word spacing steady. For calligraphy practice, dots also make it easier to build guidelines for x-height, ascenders, and slant without drawing a full grid across the page.
Will rhodia paper bleed or feather with fountain pens?
In many cases it handles fountain pens well, but results still depend on ink flow and nib width. A wetter pen can increase show-through and smudging, especially if you write slowly or layer strokes. If you are unsure, use one page as a pen test page and check both the back of the sheet and dry time.
What is the difference between A4 and A4+ pads?
A4 is a standard page size that fits most folders and scanners easily. A4+ is slightly larger, which gives you extra margin space for headings, diagrams, or full-page layouts. If you often trim pages, file them, or scan them, A4 is simpler. If you want more workspace on the desk, A4+ feels roomier.
Which option is best for portable everyday notes?
For portability, a smaller notebook format is usually more comfortable than a large desk pad. The Rhodia Staplebound Notebook is a practical choice for quick notes and meetings because it is compact and lightweight. If you want something that feels more finished for daily carry, the Rhodiarama Soft Leatherette Notebook adds a sturdier cover.
Where can you buy rhodia paper in Canada?
You can often find it through Canadian stationery shops and larger retailers. For in-person browsing, check places like Wonder Pens, Blesket, Opus Art Supplies, Michaels Canada, Curry’s Art Supplies, DeSerres, Above Ground Art Supplies, Indigo, Staples Canada, or Walmart Canada. Stock varies by location, so it helps to confirm sizes and ruling before you go.
How do you prevent smudges on smooth paper?
Give ink time to dry before turning the page, and avoid stacking fresh pages face-to-face. If you write quickly, keep a blotter sheet or spare piece of paper under your hand to reduce oils and drag. For notebooks, letting the book rest open for a short moment after a page helps prevent transfer onto the facing sheet.
- Want one do-it-all page for notes and lettering practice? Start with Rhodia DotPad No.18 A4.
- Prefer a durable daily notebook that lives in your bag? Choose Rhodiarama Soft Leatherette Notebook.
- Need clean handouts or pages you can file? Go with Rhodia Stapled Notepad A4+ Orange.
- Writing long class notes with structure? Pick the lined format like Rhodia Composition Book Orange.
- Already own a cover system and just need more pages? Choose Rhodia Memo Pad Refill No.13.
If we had to recommend one place to start, the Rhodia DotPad No.18 A4 is the most flexible: the dot grid supports lettering drills, layouts, and neat notes without heavy lines. If you want something more everyday and portable, the Rhodiarama Soft Leatherette Notebook is a solid step up in “carry it everywhere” durability. Match the format to your routine first, and the paper will do the rest.
Recommended Reading
If you want to go beyond product picks, these books are worth shelf space. Each link goes to the current Amazon.ca listing.
- The Calligrapher’s Bible by David Harris. A visual reference of 100 complete alphabets, a natural companion when you are testing new paper with different hands.
- Just My Type by Simon Garfield. An approachable tour of typefaces and the stories behind them, easy reading for anyone who cares about letterforms.
Shopping for my sister who’s just getting into brush lettering – she doodles lots but also wants something “nice” for notes. Would the Rhodiarama soft cover be better than the Composition Book Orange, or is that overkill for a beginner?
If she wants something that feels a bit more “gift-y” and she’ll carry around, the Rhodiarama is the safer pick – it holds up well in a bag and feels more finished. If she’s mainly practising at a desk and you want something simple (and less precious), the Composition Book Orange is great for everyday drills and trying new pens/inks.
How do these hold up over time with sweaty hands + fountain pen ink? My old notebooks get shiny where my palm rests and then the ink starts feathering. Wondering if the Staplebound Notebook stays consistent after a few months of daily use.
Not sure if anyone else does this, but the DotPad No.18 A4 is my favourite for practice sheets: I lay a laser-printed slant guide underneath and the dot grid keeps my spacing honest. I tear off the page and clip it to my light pad when I’m doing envelopes.
Quick sizing thing: does the Rhodia Memo Pad Refill No.13 actually fit in a standard No.13 memo holder/cover? I’ve got an older leather cover from my dad and some refills are always a tiny bit off and curl at the edges.