Choose lined planner inserts for fast everyday writing, dot grid inserts for flexible layouts and trackers, and blank inserts for sketching or completely free-form pages. If you want one style that can handle both writing and custom planning, dot grid is the most versatile. If you mainly take meeting notes or journal in sentences, lined is easier. If visible guides distract you, blank paper gives you the most freedom.
The page style matters, but fit comes first. Before buying any refill, confirm the finished page size, number of holes, hole diameter, and center-to-center spacing against a page that already fits your binder.
Blank vs lined vs dot grid: quick comparison
| Page style | Best for | Main advantage | Possible drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lined | Notes, journaling, meetings, study | Writing stays straight with almost no setup | Less flexible for boxes and diagrams |
| Dot grid | Lists, trackers, bullet-journal layouts, mixed notes | Guides both writing and drawing without a full grid | Takes a little more setup than lined paper |
| Blank | Sketches, mind maps, lettering, visual notes | No printed structure limits the page | Long-form handwriting may drift |
JOYJOY Blank Planner Inserts
The most open option for sketches, visual notes and layouts drawn from scratch.
From $4.99 · M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal and A5 · 50 sheets
View Blank Inserts
JOYJOY Soft Ruled Notes
The easiest starting point for notes, lists, meetings, study and journaling.
From $4.99 · M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal and A5 · 50 sheets
View Lined Inserts
JOYJOY Soft Dot Grid
The most flexible option for trackers, boxes, project maps and mixed notes.
From $4.99 · M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal and A5 · 50 sheets
View Dot Grid InsertsChoose lined inserts for writing that needs to move quickly
Lined paper is the simplest choice when most of the page will be sentences, lists, or chronological notes. The guides are immediately familiar, so you can open the binder and begin without drawing a layout first.
Best for: meeting notes, class notes, journaling, running lists, and people who prefer a page to feel organized before they write.
Not ideal for: frequent diagrams, custom weekly boxes, or layouts that need both horizontal and vertical alignment.
JOYJOY Soft Ruled Notes inserts use 6 mm line spacing and a small Notes heading. The ruling is designed to stay visually quiet while keeping handwriting aligned. View Soft Ruled Notes Planner Inserts.
Choose dot grid inserts for the most flexible structure
A dot grid gives you reference points in both directions without enclosing every space in a square. It works well when one page may contain a heading, a checklist, a small tracker, and a few free-form notes.
Best for: bullet-journal-style planning, habit trackers, project maps, tables, boxes, charts, and mixed writing-and-drawing pages.
Not ideal for: someone who wants every line ready immediately or who finds even a light guide visually distracting.
JOYJOY Soft Dot Grid inserts use a 5 mm grid. The dots are soft gray-blue with restrained mist-lavender accents, so the guide is present without becoming the main visual element. View Soft Dot Grid Planner Inserts.
Choose blank inserts when the page should not decide for you
Blank paper works best when ideas do not arrive in neat rows. It lets a sketch sit beside a note, a mind map expand in any direction, or lettering take up as much room as it needs.
Best for: sketching, brainstorming, mind maps, visual notes, collage planning, lettering practice, and custom layouts drawn from scratch.
Not ideal for: fast long-form writing if you depend on guides to keep lines level.
JOYJOY Blank Planner Inserts keep the writing area open with only a small watermark beside the punched edge. View Blank Planner Inserts.
Use this three-question test
- What will cover most of the page? Choose lined for sentences, dot grid for mixed layouts, or blank for drawing and visual thinking.
- Do you want to draw the structure yourself? Choose dot grid if you want help aligning it; choose blank if you want no visible framework.
- Will you use the refill at a desk or carry it? Page style does not change portability, but the planner size does. Choose the paper pattern and the physical size as two separate decisions.
If you are still choosing the physical format, use the planner size guide. For the two larger six-ring formats, compare A5 and A6 Personal. If planner refills are new to you, start with what planner inserts are and how to choose them.
JOYJOY basic planner insert specifications
| Feature | Blank | Soft dot grid | Soft ruled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed guide | None | 5 mm dots | 6 mm lines |
| Paper | 120gsm uncoated | 120gsm uncoated | 120gsm uncoated |
| Pack | 50 double-sided sheets | 50 double-sided sheets | 50 double-sided sheets |
| Sizes | M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal, A5 | M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal, A5 | M5, A7/Pocket, A6 Personal, A5 |
Compatibility note: planner names are not perfectly standardized across brands. JOYJOY A6 Personal pages measure 95 × 170 mm; they are not ISO A6. JOYJOY A5 pages measure 148 × 210 mm. Always compare the exact page and hole measurements shown on the product page with a refill that already fits.
Can you mix all three page styles?
Yes. A ring planner does not require one paper style throughout. A practical setup might use lined pages for meeting notes, dot grid pages for projects and trackers, and a few blank pages for sketches or mind maps. Start with the style that solves your most frequent task, then add another only when a real use appears.
Honest limitations
A heavier paper weight can feel more substantial, but 120gsm alone does not guarantee zero ghosting or bleed-through with every pen, marker, or ink. Wet inks, broad nibs, and alcohol markers may behave differently. JOYJOY will add photographed pen-test guidance after the production stock arrives and is tested.
Ready to choose? Browse all JOYJOY planner inserts, select the page style that matches how you work, and verify the exact size and punch pattern before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Is dot grid better than lined paper?
Dot grid is better for custom layouts, trackers, boxes, and mixed notes. Lined paper is better when you mainly write sentences or lists and want to begin immediately.
What is the easiest planner insert for beginners?
Lined inserts are the easiest for familiar note-taking. Dot grid is a better first choice if you specifically want to create your own planner layouts.
What is 5 mm dot grid paper used for?
A 5 mm dot grid can guide handwriting, checklists, tables, habit trackers, boxes, charts, and bullet-journal-style layouts while staying lighter than a printed square grid.
Can I use blank, lined, and dot grid pages in the same planner?
Yes. If the page dimensions and hole pattern fit the same ring system, you can arrange the three styles in any order and move them whenever your setup changes.
Is A6 Personal the same as ISO A6?
No. JOYJOY A6 Personal inserts measure 95 × 170 mm. ISO A6 measures 105 × 148 mm, so the formats are not interchangeable without checking the binder and punch pattern.