Black paper makest colored pencils, markers, gel pens, gouache and other media just pop off the page. If you’ve never tried it, you should definitely try some in your studio.
For this guide, 11 different pads and sketchbooks were tested and compared for quality of paper, ability to handle a variety of media, and price. There were some clear favorites and a range of papers that are worth exploring. First a quick overview, and then more info on each pad tested.
What we recommend:
Best everyday drawing pads:
Top Pick: Canson XL Black Drawing Pad
Strathmore 400 Artagain Black Drawing Pad is also great
Best for finished artwork / thicker, more vesatile paper:
Top upgrade pick Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad
Fabriano Black Black
Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad
Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Watercolor Paper
The other papers tested were thinner and more expensive than our top pick, the Canson XL. All the pads are covered below. Shopping tip: Most of these pads are cheaper at Blick but you can find them at Amazon and many other stores.
TOP PICK: Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook
The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook is our top pick for an everyday sketchbook.
The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook is our top pick for an everyday black paper. It’s got enough body and heft that it feels almost professional grade, but it’s still affordable enough that it’s great for an everyday sketchbook or for use by students and kids.
The paper is made in France for Canson North America, and each sketchbook features 40 pages of 92 lb / 150 gsm paper. Try it with colored pencils, gel pens, metallic markers, or regular crayons. The paper has a matte black finish and it’s just thin enough that is can be folded or creased, but it does have a great body and feels like the perfect paper weight for an affordable sketchbook.
These sketchbooks have a cardstock cover, heavy board back, is spiral bound on the long side, and each sheet is perforated for tearing out.
The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbooks
Spiral bound, available in 7x10” and 9x12”
40 sheets
92 lb paper
9x12” pad generally retails for around $8.50 or $0.21 per sheet
UPGRADE PICK: Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad
The Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad is our top pick for professional-grade paper.
There are a few black paper pads tested that are great for professional-grade, finished artwork — or just if you like thicker paper — but the all-around favorite for an upgrade pick was the Strathmore 400 Series Black Mixed Media Pad. Made in the USA in Appleton, Wisconsin, each pad features 15 sheets of acid free, 184 lb / 300 gsm paper that is matte, thick, and wonderful for drawing, wet media such as ink or gouache, and can be used for collage or other techniques. And best of all, it’s a great paper that is also quite affordable. At the time of this writing, it was easy to find a 9x12 inch pad for around $6, or about $0.40 per sheet. If you like drawing on black sketchbook paper, order one of these pads and see what happens when you do the same thing on thicker paper.
Each pad is glue-bound on the top edge and has a thin cover and hard cardboard back. The pages removed easily but you may need to cut off a bit of the glue edge for finished artwork.
Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x8”, 9x12”, 11x14”, 18x24”
184 lb / 300 gsm paper
15 sheets per pad
9x12” pad generally retails for $6.00 or $0.40 per sheet
Table of Contents
Top Pick: Canson XL Black Drawing Pad
Upgrade Pick: Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad
Best for Watercolor / Ink / Wet Media: Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black Watercolor
Best for thick and smooth cardstock: Fabriano Black Black
Also great: Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad
Best recycled option: Strathmore 400 Artagain Drawing Pad
Best for Pastel: Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Paper
Not worth it: Arteza Black Drawing Pad, Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook, Conda Black Sketchbook
Best for guestbooks or sketching: Fabriano Hardcover Black
Summary
The top two picks are great, but there are a few more pads that we recommend and might work for you in the studio:
Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black Watercolor: Best for Watercolor / Ink / Wet Media:
The Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress is a really interesting black watercolor paper that is great for wet media and collage.
Another great upgrade / professional grade pick is the Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black watercolor paper from Legion Paper. Advertised at 140 lb / 300 gsm, the paper is 100% cotton, acid free, and feels and handles just like a high-grade watercolor paper, except it is black. Try this with watercolor, gouache, metallic inks and pens, or acrylics, this is a heavyweight paper that can do it all. It feels thicker and more absorbent than our top upgrade pick, the Strathmore 400 Mixed Media paper, but it’s great for wet media.
Each pad is glue bound on the top edge with a cardstock cover and heavy cardboard back. During testing, the final few pages got a bit hard to remove from the glue top so definitely plan to cut them off and you may need to cut off the glue edge so that it matches the look and feel of the other three edges. The pads typically cost around $18 for a 9x12 inch which is a lot for a drawing pad, but a fair price for watercolor at about $1.20 per sheet.
Stonehenge Aqua Black Watercolor Pads
Glue bound, Cold press available in 7 sizes, square or rectangular, ranging from 2.5x3.75” to 10x14”
Glue bound, Hot press available in 4 rectangular sizes ranging from 2.5x3.75” to 10x14”
15 sheets per pad
140 lb / 300 gsm paper
9x12” generally retails for $18.00 or $1.20 per sheet
Fabriano Black Black: Thick and smooth cardstock that is great for drawing
The Fabriano Black Black pad is a great option for dry media, pens, and has a similar feel to cardstock.
The Fabriano Black Black is a great option for a thicker drawing paper that feels like smooth cardstock but still takes dry media really well. A word of advice: don’t use any wet media on this paper as it will buckle and bubble when exposed to water or anything wet. But it’s still great for pens, markers, colored pencils, and crayons. It doesn’t work as well with glue if you were thinking of using it for collage though, as the smoother paper really resists any glue.
Made in Italy, the Black Black pads are glue at the top and have a thin paper cover and cardboard back. Each sheet peels out quite cleanly from the glue top.
Fabriano Black Black pads
Glue bound, available in 8x8”, 9x12”, and 11.75x16.5”
20 sheets
300 gsm
9x12” generally retails for $12.50 or $0.63 per sheet
Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad: Another great option for thicker paper
The Clairefontaine PaintON Black Mixed Media Pads is a great option for finished, pro grade drawings, paintings, and collage.
The Clairefontaine PainON Black Mixed Media Pad is another great option for finished or professional grade artworks. The paper is double sized and works with wet or dry media, and is great for sketching, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pastel, or for glue / collage. The paper is made in the Netherlands but the sketchbook also says “Made in Morocco” so maybe it is assembled there.
The pads are glue-bound at the top and each pad features 20 sheets of 250 gsm paper. It’s a bit lighter than the other “pro grade” papers, but the paper is still thick, heavyweight and is absorbent. It’s really a great pad but it is on the expensive side, around $19 for a 9x12 inch pad or almost $1 per sheet.
Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Mixed Media Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x8”, 7x10” and 9x12”
20 sheets per pad
115 lb / 250 gsm paper
9x12” generally retails for $18.99 or $0.95 per sheet
Strathmore 400 Artagain Drawing Pad: Great drawing paper made from recycled content
The Strathmore 400 Series Artagain drawing pad has black paper made from 30% post-consumer fiber.
The Strathmore 400 Series Artagain Drawing Pad is a great recycled paper option for an everyday black paper sketchbook. Made in the USA, it has acid-free, 60 lb /160 gsm paper made with 30% post-consumer fiber. It has a slightly glossier, smoother finish than the Canson XL Black paper and even though it is 60 lb weight, it is still a decent thickness for drawings and sketches. This paper is best with dry media.
Each pad is glue bound at the top edge and pages remove easily. If you like this paper, you can also find it in rolls, which is great for banners, huge drawings, or if you want to work with a custom size.
Strathmore 400 Artagain Black Drawing Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x9”, 9x12”, and 12x18”
24 sheets per pad
60 lb paper
9x12” generally retails for $6.50 or $0.27 per sheet
This paper is also available in a 42” wide, 10 yard roll (shop at Amazon)
Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Paper: Best for pastel / charcoal or for textured paper
The Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad features 24 sheets of black paper with one side more textured.
The Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad is your best option for a more textured paper. It features a dual sided paper with a woven texture on the top side and a flatter surface on the back side. The paper is matte black and not shiny. It’s made in the USA with materials from France, including some cotton.
The pads are glue bound on the top edge and have 24 sheets per pad with 98 lb / 160 g paper.
Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad
Glue bound, available in 9x12” pad or loose sheets
98 lb / 160 gsm paper
24 sheets per pad
9x12” generally retails for $8.50 or $0.35 per sheet
Not worth it: Arteza Black Drawing Pad, Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook, Conda Black Sketchbook
The next three pads didn’t stack up to the quality and affordability of the Canson XL Black Drawing pad. They feature fewer pages with thinner paper, but if you prefer a ring binding on the top edge, a few of these may be right for you for an everyday pad that you can carry around for sketches or prepatory work.
Arteza Black Drawing Pads
The Arteza Premium Black Paper Sketch Pad is a good competitor to our top everyday pick, but generally is more expensive.
The Arteza Premium Black Sketch Pads generally come in a 2 pack and feature 30 sheets of 9x12 inch paper with a ring binding and perforation at the top. The paper is matte black, a bit absorbent, and best for dry media such as pastels or colored pencils. The paper and notebook are a great option if you like ring binding at the top, but even in a two pack, they are slightly more expensive than the Canson XL Black Drawing Pads. These pads were manufactured in China for the US-based Arteza company.
These pads are great option for students, kids, or anyone looking for an everyday black paper sketch pad.
Arteza Black Drawing Pad
Spiral bound, available in 9x12”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
30 sheets
9x12” two pack generally retails (60 sheets total) for $20 or $0.33 per sheet
Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook
The Faber-Castell Black Paper Sketch Pad had the thinnest paper tested and while it might be ok for kids, artists of any age will be better served by getting a higher quality sketch pad.
The Faber-Castell Black Paper Sketch Pad was the thinnest paper tested. Made in China for Faber-Castell USA, it doesn’t indicate the paper weight but it’s not much thicker than printer paper. It is, however, made with 50% post-consumer recycled fiber. Advertised mostly as a sketch pad for kids, I think they’d be better served with the Arteza pad above, or our top pick the Canson XL. But at 25 sheets with a tape binding, this is lightweight and easy for anyone to carry around.
Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook
Glue bound, available in 9x12”
25 sheets
9x12” generally retails for $7 or $0.28 per sheet
Conda Black Sketchbook
The Conda Black Paper sketchpad has 40 sheets and is ring bound at the top.
The Conda Black Sketch Pad is another cheaper option with thin, somewhat glossy paper. Advertised as 90 lb / 150 gsm paper, it feels thinner and lighter than that. The 40 sheet sketchbooks are ring bound at the top with unperforated pages. The Arteza or Canson XL are better options. There is no indication on the pad as to where it is manufactured.
Conda Black Sketchbook
Spiral bound, available in 9x12”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
40 sheets
9x12” pad generally retails for $11 or $0.27 per sheet
Fabriano Hardcover Black: Best for guestbooks or sketching
The Fabriano Hardcover Black Drawing book is a premium landscape-style notebook (or a relatively skinny page on the tall side) that is marketing as a drawing pad but most likely conceived as a guest book for signatures. It has a premium front and back cover that feels like fabric-covered cardboard, and 40 pages of slightly textured 90 lb / 190 gsm drawing paper. The paper itself is nice and great for drawings, but at this price, you’d be better served by any other cheaper sketchbook or just going for one of the premium pads. But if you like the nice cover (it is really nice and a fun sketchbook to use!) then go for it.
Fabriano Hardcover Black
Spiral bound, available in 6x6” or 8.25x11.75”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
40 sheets
8.25 x 11.75” generally retails for $35.00 or $0.88 per sheet
Summary
There are a lot of great options for black sketchbooks and drawing pads. After testing, the top two favorites were the Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook for it’s mix of quality and low price, and the Strathmore 400 Mixed Media Paper for it’s great quality, low price, and suitability for professional-grade artworks. But there were a variety of options for every budget. No matter what you go with, black paper is a great thing to experiment with and may just become your favorite type of drawing paper.
What is your favorite black paper for drawing, sketching, or painting? Let us know in the comments.
