Best Laboratory Notebooks of 2026
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Laboratory notebooks are essential tools for scientists, researchers, and engineers to record and maintain their research data, experiments, observations, and results. These notebooks come in various sizes, binding types, and paper types to suit different research requirements. They enable researchers to maintain a chronological record of their work, providing a legal and scientific document of their research findings. Laboratory notebooks are often used to comply with regulatory requirements, patent applications, and publication submissions. They also serve as a reference for future research, ensuring that experiments can be replicated and findings can be verified.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 10 Laboratory Notebooks
Amazon Basics Quad-Ruled Graph Paper Pads
The Amazon Basics Graph Paper is perfect for anyone needing reliable note-taking or technical drawings. Each pack includes two pads, each sized at 8.5 x 11.75 inches, providing ample space for your ideas. The thicker paper ensures that ink won’t bleed through, allowing you to write on both sides without worry. Plus, the sturdy chipboard backing gives you the support you need while writing, making it easier to jot down notes anywhere. With top-edge perforation, tearing out sheets is simple and clean, so you can share your work or organize your notes effortlessly.
BookFactory Chemistry Lab Notebook - 50 Sets
The BookFactory Chemistry Lab Notebook is a durable and reliable lab notebook for scientific record-keeping. The notebook features a translucent cover and wire-O binding, allowing the book to lie flat when open. The notebook is designed with 1/4" (6 mm) grid format pages with a carbonless duplicate system that consists of an original numbered permanent record and an identically numbered perforated carbonless transfer page with a "Duplicate" watermark. Proudly produced in Ohio by a veteran-owned company.
BookFactory Lab Notebook
The BookFactory Lab Notebook is a hardbound book with a blue imitation leather cover, perfect for laboratory use. The book is Smyth sewn, ensuring it lies flat when open, and features tamper-evident, acid-free paper in 1/4" grid format. The pages are 8 7/8" x 11 1/4" and include a "User Data" page, a "Documentation Guidelines" page, and a "Table of Contents" page. Proudly made in the USA and produced by a veteran-owned company.
H&P Notebook - Medical History and Physical Notebook
The Medical Basics H&P Notebook is a comprehensive medical history and physical notebook designed specifically for medical students. With 100 complete H&P templates, this notebook provides all the fields that you need and nothing else. The 2-page view, with pages oriented side by side, offers a convenient layout for easy reference. The notebook features a durable plastic cover, perforated pages, and premium non-spiral wire binding, ensuring its quality and longevity. Measuring 8.5” x 5.5”, this compact notebook can conveniently fit in the pockets of any white coat or scrubs. Additionally, when you buy in bulk, you can save money with the 2 or 3 pack options.
BookFactory Carbonless Lab Notebook
The BookFactory Carbonless Lab Notebook is a durable laboratory notebook that contains carbon copies. Each copy set consists of two fully formatted pages, including an original numbered permanent record and an identical perforated carbonless transfer page with a "Duplicate" watermark. The notebook features wire-o binding and scientific grid format with a 1/4" grid ruling, and contains 100 sheets of archival quality, acid-free paper. BookFactory is a Veteran-Owned Firm that produces their books in Ohio, USA.
National Laboratory Notebook - 5 x 5 Quad Ruling
The National Laboratory Notebook features a center sewn binding with a durable green marble cover. Its 96 sheets of white recycled paper have 5 x 5 quad ruling, 5 squares to an inch. This notebook is perfect for laboratory use, where detailed note-taking is required.
National Laboratory Notebook
The National Laboratory Notebook is a 4 x 4 quad ruled notebook that comes with 100 carbonless numbered sets. The notebook features stitched binding with brown pressboard cover, and white and yellow paper. The second sheet is micro-perforated for easy removal. The notebook measures 11 x 9.25 inches, making it a perfect fit for laboratory use.
Clever Fox Engineering Notebook Hardcover
The Clever Fox Engineering Notebook is designed to help you keep track of your technical projects with ease. It features 192 numbered grid pages, so you can neatly organize your designs, calculations, and notes. The hardcover with lay-flat binding ensures durability and makes writing comfortable, while handy extras like a pen loop, ribbon bookmark, elastic band, and storage pocket keep your tools and papers secure. Plus, the thick 120 gsm no-bleed paper lets you draw detailed sketches or write clearly without ink bleeding through, making it perfect for engineers, inventors, and STEM students working on complex projects.
Varpotle Carbonless Lab Notebook 50 Sets
The Varpotle Carbonless Lab Notebook offers 50 sets of carbonless copy pages, perfect for students and professionals who need reliable record-keeping. With 100 sheets sized 8.5" x 11", it provides plenty of space for detailed notes and calculations. The carbonless two-part copy system ensures you create clear duplicates without messy carbon paper, making it easier to keep accurate records. Its Wire-O spiral binding lets the notebook lay flat, so you can write comfortably without the pages flipping. Plus, each set includes a transparent acrylic sheet to help you write precisely without affecting the other pages. The grid layout is ideal for organizing experiments, diagrams, and observations neatly.
BookFactory Carbonless Student Lab Notebook
The BookFactory Carbonless Student Lab Notebook is a durable and convenient laboratory notebook that features a translucent cover and Wire-O binding, allowing the book to lay flat when open. The notebook includes 50 sets of pages, each consisting of 2 fully formatted pages with an original, numbered permanent record and an identically numbered perforated carbonless transfer page with "Duplicate" watermark. The pages are in 1/4" (6 mm) grid format, making it easy to record scientific data. The notebook is made in the USA by a veteran-owned company.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the purpose of a laboratory notebook?
The purpose of a laboratory notebook is to document hypotheses, experiments, and initial analysis or interpretation of the experiments conducted by researchers. It serves as an organizational tool, aids in memory retention, and can also help protect intellectual property resulting from the research.
2. Do scientists still use lab notebooks?
Yes, scientists still use lab notebooks, although some prefer electronic note-taking methods. Many researchers store data electronically and utilize software like Word, Evernote, and Excel for writing notes, handling figures and graphs. However, some scientists still prefer traditional paper lab notebooks for their work.
3. Can I use a regular notebook as a lab notebook?
No, a regular notebook is not suitable for use as a lab notebook. Engineering or industrial research/development labs typically require specific lab notebooks with prenumbered pages, spaces for dates, and investigator's and supervisor's signatures. Pads of graph paper or spiral-bound notebooks without pre-numbered pages are not acceptable.
4. What is the difference between a lab notebook and a regular notebook?
Lab notebooks differ from regular notebooks in several ways. Lab notebooks are generally bound and ruled, have numbered pages, and each entry is dated. They often include a table of contents and voided blank pages. Lab notebook entries are written in permanent ink, and any mistakes are crossed out rather than erased.
5. What is the difference between a lab notebook and a composition notebook?
The main difference between a lab notebook and a composition notebook is in their binding and durability. Composition notebooks are hard to lay flat unless the spine is cracked, while lab notebooks are Smyth-sewn with robust binding thread, allowing them to lay perfectly flat. Lab notebooks also have spill-proof vinyl covers, making them more suitable for laboratory environments.
6. Do lab notebooks need to be written in pen?
Yes, lab notebooks should always be written in pen using permanent ink. This is to ensure that the data recorded is not falsified or modified. Pencil should never be used. Additionally, data should be recorded on the right side of each page in the lab notebook.
During our laboratory notebook research, we found 24 laboratory notebook products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 66,260 customer reviews through our big data system to write the laboratory notebooks list. We found that most customers choose laboratory notebooks with an average price of $17.55.
The laboratory notebooks are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of laboratory notebooks, including BookFactory, Medical Basics, National, Clever Fox, Varpotle. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.