Journaling Bibles vs Notetaking Bibles: What's the Difference?

If you are looking for a "Bible with note space" this year, you are not alone.

We are seeing a massive resurgence of Christians wanting to interact physically with their Bibles. Instead of just reading passively, people want to write down sermon points, document their prayers, and even create beautiful watercolour art right next to their favourite verses.

But when you go to buy one, you are immediately hit with confusing terminology. Is a Journaling Bible different from a Notetaking Bible? What on earth is an Interleaved Bible? And can you get one that also has study notes?

Here is your complete guide to navigating the wide-margin Bible market in 2026.

The Terminology: Journaling vs. Notetaking

Let's clear up the biggest confusion first: They are the exact same physical format.

Both feature text pushed slightly toward the centre of the page, leaving a 1.5-inch to 2-inch blank (or lightly ruled) margin on the outside edge. The difference in the name comes down to who is publishing it and how they expect you to use it.

• The "Journaling Bible" Trend: When these first exploded in popularity a decade ago, they were championed by the "Bible Art Journaling" community. People used the blank space for watercolours, stickers, and hand-lettering. Major publishers like Crossway (ESV) and Zondervan (NIV) still use this term.
• The "Notetaking Bible" Trend: Recently, there has been a massive breakout trend led by boutique Christian design companies like Hosanna Revival. They popularised the term "Notetaking Bible" to emphasise writing, studying, and documenting your spiritual journey (rather than just painting). They are famous for their stunning, custom-painted floral covers.

The 3 Formats You Need to Know

Once you decide you want a Bible with note space, you have to choose how much space you actually need. There are three main layouts:

A. The Standard Wide-Margin (The Classic) This is the most common format. You get the biblical text on the page, and a 2-inch ruled margin on the side.

• Best for: Brief sermon notes, underlining, and writing down quick prayers.
• Top Pick: The ESV Single Column Journaling Bible

B. The Interleaved Bible (The "Blank Page" Trend) If 2 inches of margin isn't enough, you need an Interleaved Bible. In this format, every single page of biblical text is followed by a completely blank page. You get a massive, full page of empty space for every page of scripture.

• Best for: Pastors writing out full sermon outlines, or artists wanting to do full-page illustrations.
• Top Pick: The ESV Interleaved Journaling Bible

C. The Journaling Study Bible (The Hybrid) Historically, you had to choose: do you want a Study Bible (with historical footnotes) OR a Journaling Bible (with blank margins)? You couldn't have both. But recently, publishers have combined them into massive "Journaling Study Bibles."

• Best for: Serious students who want to read the academic footnotes at the bottom of the page and write their own thoughts in the margins on the side.
• Top Pick: The ESV Journaling Study Bible

Browse our full range of Journaling and Notetaking Bibles here

If you aren’t sure which Bible to get, there are a few ways we can help.

1. Try the Bible Finder: We’ve put together a simple way to filter down to the perfect Bible for you. Just choose a translation, pick the features you want and select a comfortable text size. You can try the Bible Finder here.
2. Read more from the Blog: We are always adding new guides, insights and articles that explore ways of understanding the different Bibles available tofay as well as how to make your decision. Read our Bible posts today
3. Read our Book: Over the years, we’ve explored hundreds of topics and questions about knowing which Bible to get. We’ve compiled all that information into an easy-to-read eBook that is completely free to download. Download our book “How to Choose Your Bible” today.