Bullet Journal Starter Kit

This post is going to tell you the exact items to invest in if you want to build a basic bullet journal starter kit from scratch!

So, you want to start a bullet journal? And you’ve found a ton of ‘best bullet journal supplies’ posts, but all you want to know is what exactly you really need to buy to get started? Well then you’ve come to the right place!

Because I’m going to show you exactly what you need to buy to build a basic bullet journal starter kit from scratch.

You can either read through the whole post, or if you’re in a rush just skip to the end where I’ve included all the items in a quick list for you (and also a list for Amazon UK as well as US).

Sound good? Then let’s get right to it!…

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1) Bullet journal starter kit item numero uno – notebook

The first item you need in your bullet journal starter kit is, rather obviously, a notebook to act as your bullet journal.

Now, you can just look for an inexpensive notebook of any description and it’ll be fine to get started with.

But I promised you that this was going to be a straightforward list of what to order to get your bullet journal starter kit together with no fuss… so I’m just going to tell you the one notebook to get which, in my opinion (and that of most seasoned bullet journalers to be fair), is the best choice.

And that would be the Leuchtturm 1917 dotted A5 notebook.

Leuchtturm 1917 notebook for bullet journal starter kit

This one stands out above other options for several reasons:

It’s sturdy, durable, looks good and comes in a huge range of colors.
It has a built in index and numbered pages – so much easier than creating your own index and numbering your pages yourself.
The dotted pages make it easy to write in straight lines, but are subtle enough to blend in with any creative doodles you want to create.
Plus, they provide a grid format which is super-handy for things like habit trackers and even just creating boxes for days of the week etc.
The paper is good quality, so you don’t get too much showing through on the other side of the page.

I think that’s it. And it’s a reasonable price – more expensive than a standard notebook, but well worth it for creating a great bullet journal.

You can pick up one on Amazon here.

2) Bullet journal starter kit item number 2 – a PoooliPrinter

I really wasn’t sure whether or not to include this on the list!

It is clearly not an essential, but I think a PoooliPrinter is an amazing little gadget to have in your bullet journal kit. It can make a huge difference to the look of your bullet journal, and mean that you can create some very fancy spreads very quickly.

If you want to keep costs super low for your bullet journal starter kit, then leave this one out. But if you want to take a peek with my 15% off link (use code TARA15), I really recommend these little guys!

bullet journal supplies uk poooliprinter example

3) Bullet journal starter kit item number 3 – a decent black pen

You need a decent pen to write with. No surprises there!

But you need to make it one that dries nice and quickly so that you’re not creating smudges all over the place, and one that creates a fairly fine line to keep things neat, but still flows well and feels comfortable.

To tick all those boxes, pick up a Sakura Pigma Micron fineliner. I like the 03 size (.35mm nib) for general writing, but it’s handy to also have something a bit thinnner for intricate stuff like habit trackers, and something a little more substantial for doodles.

This three pack is perfect because it gives you those options and is reasonable priced.

PS Also get yourself a pencil for drawing out lines… but I’m not going to include that in the list because, well, a pencil is a pencil!

4) Bullet journal starter kit item number 4 – colored pens

Unless you want to go for a seriously minimalist bullet journal, you’ll probably want some colored pens for creating doodles, cover pages and the like.

Colored pens for bullet journal starter kit

Sakura do some nice colored pens as well as the black ones, but a set of those can be a little pricy so I suggest starting off with this great value set.

All the colors you could need, nice fine lines, nice budget price… what’s not to love?!

5) Lovely coloring pencils!

You could treat yourself to some nice brush pens for shading, in addition to your colored fineliners, but I suggest going for some lovely coloring pencils instead.

For a basic bullet journal starter kit they’re more versatile, and you can get yourself a much wider color selection for a lower price.

This set of Arteza colored pencils is a lovely one to start out with – you get 48 for around $13, and they have soft wax which is perfect for coloring.

You can do without this item if you want to get the bare minimum number of items for your bullet journal starter kit to begin with… but I think it’s a shame to miss out on these as coloring in your doodles and cover pages can be one of the most addictive parts of bullet journaling!

6) A good eraser

You need a good eraser that won’t leave smudges all over your page or damage the paper.

These Prismacolor erasers do the job perfectly.

7) A decent pencil sharpener

And you also need a decent pencil sharpener. Not much more to say on that one really!

Oh, except perhaps that you might as well get one with a little bin attached to save on mess and the hassle of walking over to the trash can!

We’re nearly done now!…

8) A metal ruler

While this might not seem like an essential item for your bullet journal starter kit, I’ve included it because a really good metal ruler can make the difference between a super-neat bullet journal spread and a… well, not so neat one!

Also these rulers are just nicer to use than plastic ones, so few dollars you might as well!…

9) And finally for your bullet journal starter kit!… some lovely washi tape

Once again, if you’re going minimalist then you don’t need this, but if you fancy getting a bit creative then definitely treat yourself to a little selection of washi tape in your bullet journal starter kit!