Independent stationery reviews · 100 products on the shelf · Updated October 2026

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Notebooks & Notepads

Rhodia Dot Pad (A5)

by Rhodia

8.9

Quill Pier score

  • Paper9.1
  • Binding9.1
  • Build9.0
  • Value8.5

The Rhodia Dot Pad is a reliable, high-quality notepad that blends excellent paper performance with a minimalist dot grid layout, making it ideal for writers, planners...

  • Smooth bleed-resistant paper
  • Precise dot grid layout
  • Clean tear-out pages

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what you get

Key features

  1. 01Dot grid pattern for precise writing and sketching
  2. 0280gsm vellum paper resistant to ink bleed
  3. 03Micro-perforated pages for clean tear-out
  4. 04Orange or black durable cardboard cover
  5. 05Staple-bound with 80 sheets per pad

the honest bit

Pros & cons

What we liked

  • Extremely smooth paper surface great for fountain pens
  • Dot grid helps with layout, tables, and sketching without being distracting
  • Perforated pages tear out cleanly and evenly
  • Sturdy cover protects pad in bags
  • Classic compact size fits easily in a bag or drawer

What could be better

  • Staple binding doesn't lie fully flat
  • Cover corners can bend over time with heavy use
  • Limited color options for the cover
  • Pricier than standard notepads
  • No elastic closure or built-in pen loop

from our desk

Our Rhodia Dot Pad (A5) review

The Rhodia dot pad belongs to that distinctive family of French-made notepads recognized instantly by its vivid orange cover and black coil-free spine, a staple among designers, engineers, and anyone who appreciates understated precision in their stationery. Unlike the brand's classic ruled or graph pads, this version replaces solid lines with a subtle dot grid, offering the structure needed for sketching, diagramming, or keeping handwriting level without the visual clutter of printed rules taking over the page. The dots sit faintly in the background, guiding the eye just enough to keep columns aligned or boxes even, while still leaving the page feeling open and uncluttered for freehand notes, quick illustrations, or bullet journaling layouts.

Each sheet is made from Rhodia's signature 80gsm vellum paper, a smooth, almost silky surface that handles fountain pen ink, gel pens, and fine liners with minimal feathering or bleed-through, a detail that has earned the brand a loyal following among pen enthusiasts. The paper's pale ivory tone combined with the dot grid makes it especially suited to technical drawing, wireframing, or journaling where legibility and clean presentation matter. The pad itself is perforated at the top, allowing sheets to be torn away cleanly along a micro-perforated line, so individual pages can be handed off, filed, or scanned without leaving ragged edges behind.

The pad's construction reflects the same practical design sensibility found throughout the Rhodia lineup: a sturdy cardboard back that provides a firm writing surface even without a desk underneath, and a glued binding at the top that keeps the stack secure until each sheet is torn free. Available in multiple sizes, from pocket-friendly notepads to larger desk pads, the dot grid version suits anyone who wants a quiet structure beneath their notes rather than an intrusive one. It's the kind of notebook that disappears into the background of daily work, favored by architects, students, and writers alike for its reliability, its fine paper quality, and its small but confident orange presence on any desk.

how it stacks up

Compared with top notebooks

ProductBest atPaperBindingBuildQP scoreOpen
Rhodia Dot Pad (A5)This reviewSmooth bleed-resistant paper9.19.19.08.9
Moleskine Classic NotebookMoleskineElastic closure band9.09.19.59.4
Leuchtturm1917 NotebookLeuchtturm1917Numbered pages with index9.38.89.19.3
Rhodia WebnotebookRhodiaSmooth fountain-pen-friendly paper9.19.38.69.1

The verdict

Our verdict

The Rhodia Dot Pad is a reliable, high-quality notepad that blends excellent paper performance with a minimalist dot grid layout, making it ideal for writers, planners, and sketch-note enthusiasts. While the binding and price point are minor drawbacks, the overall writing experience justifies its reputation as a stationery staple.

8.9
Rhodia Dot Pad (A5)Quill Pier score 8.9 / 10
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