Branded notebooks: A5 or A4 for meetings and events? Choose according to what attendees need to write and how they will carry it, then make the cover and branding work around that practical choice.
Key Takeaways
- Choose A4 when attendees need room for detailed meeting notes, diagrams or working alongside handouts.
- Choose A5 for brief notes and easier carrying between sessions or in a welcome pack.
- For a conference giveaway, match page capacity to the schedule and the amount of note-taking attendees will do.
- For a mixed audience, lined pages and a useful pen make a straightforward, ready-to-use choice.
- For branding that lasts beyond the event, keep the logo proportionate and make the notebook useful for everyday notes.
- Browse our branded notebook range for more formats and styles.
Choose A5 for portability or A4 for working space
A4 measures 210 × 297 mm, while A5 measures 148 × 210 mm. Choose an A4 branded notebook when attendees will write detailed notes, sketch diagrams or annotate handouts; choose an A5 branded notebook when concise notes and easy carrying matter more.
The practical difference is the page area. A4 gives writers more room to spread out information, while A5 takes up less space in a delegate bag and is easier to carry between sessions.
| Format | Best suited to | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | Detailed notes, diagrams and working alongside handouts | More writing space, but a larger item to carry |
| A5 | Brief notes, session changes and compact welcome packs | Easier to carry, with less room on each page |
With numerous lined pages, a back tuck and an elastic strap, the A4 notebook, lined ALEC is £5.
The compact A5 Intimo Recycled Notebook combines a wiro-bound format, 60 sheets of recycled paper and a matching recycled pen for £2. Both the notebook and pen can be personalised, making it a handy option for short meeting notes or a welcome pack where space is at a premium.
Do not pick a larger notebook simply because its logo has more room. Brand visibility matters, but it earns its place when the notebook is opened and used, not when it is too awkward to carry.
Match the notebook to the event and attendee
The best notebook for meetings depends on the work attendees will do. At a conference with several sessions and substantial note-taking, favour useful page capacity; for a short welcome event, a compact promotional notebook is more likely to travel home in the attendee’s bag.
Think through the whole event welcome pack, too. A notebook sits alongside any programme, badge and other pack contents, so its size should fit comfortably without making the bag cumbersome.
For a mixed audience, keep the choice versatile. Lined pages, a practical size and a pen that is ready to use suit more people than a layout designed for a single specialist activity.
With 60 sheets of recycled paper in a wiro-bound format and a matching recycled pen with black ink, the A4 Intimo Recycled Notebook is £2. Its pen can also be personalised, so the set is ready for a conference session without attendees having to find a writing tool.
For an A5 notebook with more pages, the Suber Set, A5 Cork Notebook With Pen is £5. It is case-bound and has a hard cork cover, 160 lined recycled-paper pages, an elastic closure and pen holder, plus a matching cork-barrel ball pen in a gift box.
Pairing a notebook with a pen removes a small but familiar event-day frustration: receiving somewhere to write, but nothing to write with. It also makes the giveaway feel complete and useful from the first session.
Choose a page layout that suits the activity
Lined pages are the tried and tested choice for written meeting notes, because the ruling guides handwriting and makes action lists easier to scan later. They suit conventional meetings and conference sessions where attendees need to capture decisions, names and follow-up tasks.
For workshops that involve diagrams, mind maps or sketching, blank pages give people room to build ideas without the lines constraining their drawings. A custom notebook layout can also combine a few structured pages with plenty of open space.
For an event-specific notebook, add useful content such as a programme, session prompts or an action-note area. Keep most pages flexible so attendees can continue using the notebook for general notes after the event has finished.
Think about the writing tools as well as the layout. Open pages give more freedom for drawing, while ruled pages support handwriting; wetter inks and broad markers can show through thinner paper, so choose paper suited to the tools attendees are likely to use.
Ballpoint pens and pencils generally work well on standard notebook paper. Gel pens and fountain pens can show through or feather on lighter stock, while broad markers and highlighters may bleed through; paper weight alone does not tell the whole story, since opacity matters too. Ask whether a sample is available, test it with the pens attendees are likely to use, and check the reverse side. If show-through would disrupt notes, choose thicker, more opaque paper or keep bold markers to blank pages.
Consider covers, binding and useful details
Wiro or spiral binding lets a notebook open flat, which can make it easier to write in at a meeting table. A casebound notebook has a more structured feel, while a softcover notebook may suit a pack where a lighter, more flexible cover is preferred.
On the move, an elastic closure helps keep pages together, and a pen loop keeps a writing tool close at hand. An envelope pocket can hold loose notes or receipts, while a ribbon helps attendees find their place quickly.
Several of these details come together in the Notes London – Wilson A5 Certified Sustainably Sourced Notebook in White, priced at £5. It has a soft-touch PU leather cover, 160 ivory lined pages of sustainably sourced certified paper, date marks, an inside back-cover envelope pocket, a colour-matched ribbon, a pen loop and an elastic closure.
These features matter because an event notebook is often used away from a desk as well as at one. Choose details that solve a real carrying or note-taking need, rather than adding features attendees will never use.
Make branding and material choices purposeful
Keep logo printing clear and proportionate, and give the cover enough space to feel like a notebook rather than a sign. The pages should remain comfortable to write on and the cover useful after the event, so the item passes the kitchen drawer test.
A useful branded notebook can build familiarity through repeated use. When you give someone a practical item with your logo, they interact with your brand each time they reach for it, and that thoughtful gesture can support reciprocity.
Custom internal content can add value when it serves the event. An agenda, session prompts or action notes can help attendees follow proceedings, while a generous share of general-use pages gives the notebook a life beyond the programme.
Be specific when describing materials and sustainability. Recycled paper, a cork cover, a PU cover and sustainably sourced certified paper describe different components or attributes, so use precise language rather than relying on a broad eco claim.
For a more tailored A5 presentation, the Infusion A5 Custom Made Notebook, Yellow costs £5. It has a soft-feel PU cover, 224 ivory lined pages, a ribbon, pen loop and elastic, with one-position de-bossing or foil blocking; the stated lead time is four weeks.
Its bespoke options can also include printed pages, tip-in pages, coloured page edges, a pocket, belly bands or printed sleeves. For another colour option in the same style, view the Infusion A5 custom-made notebook in burgundy.
Choose customisation to support the attendee, not to fill every available space. We want the notebook to stay on a desk and be used, because a gimmicky item that ends up in a kitchen drawer defeats its purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A5 easier to use while standing?
Yes, an A5 notebook has a smaller footprint, so it is easier to support in one hand while jotting down a brief note. For longer writing, rest it on a table or a firm surface to keep your handwriting comfortable.
Will an A4 notebook fit in a standard conference tote?
Many conference totes are designed to carry documents, but tote dimensions and openings vary. Allow extra room beyond the A4 page size for the notebook cover and any other pack contents, particularly if the bag has a narrow opening.
Should an event notebook have dated or undated pages?
Undated pages suit events with changing attendee lists or distribution dates because recipients can start using them whenever they like. For a fixed multi-session programme, a dated agenda insert can orient attendees without making every page event-specific.
How many branded notebooks should I prepare for an event?
Start with the number of attendees expected to receive a notebook, then include speakers, staff and other planned recipients. Keep a small reserve for late registrations or replacements, and base the final quantity on your distribution plan.
How can I make a branded notebook useful after the event?
Add a discreet QR code or short link inside the cover to the event’s follow-up resources, so attendees can return to useful material later. A simple project reference or contact detail can also help connect their notes to the work that follows.
Are notebooks usually A4 or A5?
A5 and A4 are both useful formats; choose between them by considering what attendees will write and how they will carry the notebook.
What are the best corporate notebooks?
A good corporate notebook should reflect the recipient’s day-to-day work and be easy to keep close at hand.
Where can I find A5 branded notebooks?
Browse our branded notebook range or go straight to the A5 notebook options. Compare the format, cover, page layout and branding choices against how attendees will use the notebook.
What is the best notebook for a CEO?
An A5 casebound notebook with lined pages, a substantial cover, a pen loop and restrained branding is a strong default for a CEO: it is easy to carry between meetings while still offering useful writing space. Pair it with a pen for a presentation gift. Choose A4 instead if the recipient often annotates reports or works through diagrams and needs the extra page area.
The Decision
For branded notebooks: A5 or A4 for meetings and events, let attendee tasks decide. Choose A4 for detailed notes, diagrams and handouts; choose A5 when people need a compact notebook that moves easily between sessions or fits neatly in a welcome pack.
Then match the page layout, binding, cover and branding to the way the notebook will be used. We believe in personal service and practical promotional favourites: get the choice right, and it can keep your brand in view long after the event.
Looking for Branded Merchandise for your next marketing campaign?
Call us on 0151 650 6969
Or use our Contact Form
