TN-style notebooks come in three classic sizes, Passport, Pocket and Regular, plus covers built around A6, B6 and A5 paper. Passport is the smallest and fits a pocket, Regular is tall and slim at roughly A5 height, and A5 covers give you full-width pages. Exact sizes vary by maker, so always compare the listed measurements.
Key Takeaways
- TN-style sizes are conventions, not official standards. Two "Regular" covers from different makers can differ by several millimeters.
- Our TN-style Regular inserts are listed at 21 x 12 cm: the height of an A5 page but much narrower.
- A6, B6 and A5 TN-style covers are sized around standard paper, so their inserts follow ISO or JIS paper dimensions.
- An insert should be a little smaller than the closed cover in both height and width so the cover protects its edges.
- Each elastic band usually holds one insert, so the number of bands on a cover decides how many inserts it carries comfortably.
TN-style sizes at a glance
Here are the six TN-style sizes you will see, smallest to largest: Passport, A6, Pocket, B6, Regular and A5. The chart shows the paper reference for each size and the measurements listed on our own covers and journals, so you can see how a real product compares with the paper it is built around.
| TN-style size | Paper reference (W x H) | PageFrond listing | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | Close to a passport booklet, 88 x 125 mm (3.46 x 4.92 in) | Cover 13 x 10 cm (5.1 x 3.9 in); journal 13.5 x 10.5 cm packed | Palm-sized, fits a jacket pocket |
| A6 | A6, 105 x 148 mm (4.13 x 5.83 in) | A6 tri-fold cover for 10.5 x 14.8 cm inserts | A paperback-sized pocket notebook |
| No standard paper size | Cover 17 x 10 cm (6.7 x 3.9 in); journal 17.5 x 11 cm packed | Slim and tall, between Passport and Regular | |
| B6 | JIS B6, 128 x 182 mm (5.04 x 7.17 in) | Not currently in our range | A compact journal with a wider page |
| Regular | About A5 height (210 mm), narrower than A5 | Inserts 21 x 12 cm (8.3 x 4.7 in); cover 22 x 12 cm; journal 22 x 14 cm packed | Tall and slim, easy to hold in one hand |
| A5 | A5, 148 x 210 mm (5.83 x 8.27 in) | Journal 22 x 15.5 cm (8.7 x 6.1 in) packed | Full-width pages for long entries |
Sources for the chart: the passport booklet format is the ID-3 card size of 125 x 88 mm in the ISO/IEC 7810 reference; A6 and A5 come from the ISO 216 dimensions; JIS B6 comes from the paper size tables. The PageFrond numbers are taken from our crazy horse leather refillable journal cover, our genuine leather crazy horse travel journal, our refillable PU leather travel journal set and our A6 tri-fold PU leather cover. Packed sizes include the cover and packaging, so the pages inside are smaller.
Why TN-style sizes vary from maker to maker
TN-style sizes vary because no standards body defines them. Passport, Pocket and Regular grew up as names for refillable leather covers with elastic bands, and each maker cuts covers and inserts to its own measurements. A6, B6 and A5 versions are more predictable because they are sized around standard paper.
That is the main reason so many people buy the wrong refill once. A "Regular" insert from one maker may be a few millimeters taller or wider than another's, and a "Passport" insert can be slightly too big for a cover cut tightly by a different maker. The fix is simple: ignore the name and compare the millimeter measurements of the cover and the insert. Our broader notebook sizes guide explains the A and B paper sizes these covers are built around.
Cover vs insert: how much clearance you need
The insert should be slightly smaller than the closed cover in both height and width, so the leather overhangs and protects the page edges. Subtract the insert height from the cover height and the insert width from the cover width; both numbers should be positive and small. If either is negative, the insert will stick out.
Here is how the arithmetic works with numbers from our listings. It is an example of the method, not a promise that any two specific products fit together, so check both listings or ask us before you mix products.
| Check | Example | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height clearance | Regular cover 22 cm minus Regular insert 21 cm | 1 cm in total | About 5 mm of cover above and below the insert when centered |
| Width clearance | Regular cover 12 cm minus Regular insert 12 cm | 0 cm | Flush edges; check the cover is measured closed and whether the insert is meant to sit flush |
| A6 in a Passport cover | Passport cover 13 cm minus A6 page height 14.8 cm | Minus 1.8 cm | Will not fit; the A6 page is taller than the cover |
| A5 in a Regular cover | Regular cover 12 cm minus A5 page width 14.8 cm | Minus 2.8 cm | Will not fit; A5 is too wide for a Regular cover |
Two more things affect fit beyond flat measurements. First, thickness: a cover that holds one slim insert well may not close evenly over three thick ones. Second, cover stiffness: soft leather and PU wrap around inserts more easily than a stiff cover. When in doubt, measure what you already own with a millimeter ruler and compare it with the listing.
How many inserts fit in a TN-style cover?
Most TN-style covers hold one insert per elastic band, so a cover with one band holds one insert, and a cover with more bands, or with extra connector bands, holds more. The real limit is thickness: the cover must still close comfortably over every insert, pocket and card you add.
- Start with what the listing includes. Our refillable PU leather travel journal set comes with four removable inner notebooks of 50 sheets each at 100 gsm, plus a card pocket, so you start with a ready-made layered setup.
- Thin inserts layer better. A 50-sheet insert takes up far less room than a 100-sheet one, so several thin inserts usually close better than two thick ones.
- Mix purposes, not just paper. A common setup is one insert for daily notes, one for travel or memories, and a folder or pocket for tickets and receipts.
- Watch the spine. If the cover starts to bow open or the elastic strains, take one insert out and archive the full one.
For a step-by-step setup with inserts, bands and pockets, read our guide on how to start a traveler's notebook style journal.
Choosing a size by how you will use it
Choose Passport or A6 if you want something truly pocketable, Regular if you want a slim journal for daily writing and travel, and A5 if you want full-width pages for long entries or planning spreads. Pocket and B6 sit in between and suit people who find Passport too small and Regular too tall.
| Use | Best TN-style size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday carry and quick notes | Passport or A6 | Fits a pocket or small bag, light enough to bring everywhere |
| Travel journal | Regular or Passport | Slim enough to hold while standing, room for tickets and sketches |
| Daily journal | Regular or B6 | Enough page height for a real entry without bulk |
| Weekly planning | A5 | Weekly spreads need the full A5 width |
| Memory keeping and collage | Regular or A5 | Room for ephemera, photos and layered pages |
If travel is your main use, our guide on how to keep a travel journal covers what to record each day and how to keep tickets and keepsakes in the pages.
How to make your own TN-style insert from A4 paper
You can make a Regular-height insert from ordinary A4 paper because A4 is 210 mm on its short side, the same height as our 21 cm Regular inserts. Trim the sheets to the width you need, fold, and stitch or staple the spine.
- Check your cover. Measure the closed cover height and width so the insert ends up slightly smaller.
- Trim A4 sheets. An A4 sheet is 210 x 297 mm under ISO 216. Turn it landscape and trim the long side to twice your insert width, for example 240 mm for a 120 mm wide insert.
- Fold a stack. Fold a small stack of trimmed sheets in half together to make one signature. A thin stack folds more neatly than a thick one, and each sheet becomes four pages.
- Add a cover sheet. Wrap a heavier sheet or kraft card around the signature to protect it.
- Bind the spine. Pierce three holes along the fold and sew them with a simple pamphlet stitch, or staple through the fold with a long-reach stapler.
- Test the fit. Slide it under an elastic band and close the cover. Trim the outer edge if pages peek out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best size for a traveler's notebook style journal?
Regular is the best all-round TN-style size because it is tall enough for real entries and slim enough to carry. Choose Passport or A6 if you want it to fit a pocket, and A5 if you plan weekly spreads or write long entries. Your bag and your writing style decide more than any rule.
What size is an A5 TN-style notebook?
An A5 TN-style notebook holds A5 inserts, which measure 148 x 210 mm (about 5.83 x 8.27 in) under ISO 216. The cover is a little larger than the inserts. Our crazy horse leather travel journal in A5 is listed at 22 x 15.5 cm packed.
What size are travel notebooks?
Travel notebooks usually come in Passport, Pocket, Regular and A5 sizes. Our crazy horse refillable cover is listed at 13 x 10 cm for Passport, 17 x 10 cm for Pocket and 22 x 12 cm for Regular, while our Regular inserts are 21 x 12 cm. Other makers' sizes differ slightly.
How can I make my own TN-style notebook?
Make the inserts from A4 paper: trim landscape sheets to twice your insert width, fold a small stack in half and sew or staple the spine. For the cover, use a strip of leather or heavy card slightly larger than the insert, punch holes at the spine and thread an elastic band through to hold the insert.
Find your TN-style cover and inserts
Once you know your size, browse refillable options in our notebook covers and inserts collection, where each listing shows the cover or insert measurements. If you prefer a complete leather travel journal, our leather journals collection includes the crazy horse cowhide travel journal in Passport, Pocket, Regular and A5.
US orders ship for a flat $6.99 and free on orders of $79 or more, and unused items can be returned within 14 days of delivery. Sizing questions are covered on our FAQ page, or start browsing the notebook covers and inserts collection.
