Whether the Soucolor sketch book is worth it depends on what you actually need. At ten bucks for a hundred sheets of 9×12 paper, you’re getting a solid buy for casual drawing, not a premium art pad. This Soucolor sketch book review will walk you through exactly what works and what doesn’t.
Offers exceptional value with high-quality paper and a large page count at a low price point, earning outstanding customer ratings.
Price vs. rivals
Typical
CheaperTypicalPricier
Priced slightly below the typical mid-range for comparable sketchbooks of this size and sheet count, offering good value given its high rating.
Ease of use
Excellent 95/100
The sketchbook is straightforward to use—simply open and draw on any page, making it highly accessible for average users.
Overview: Soucolor Sketch Book Review
This is a no-frills sketchbook aimed at kids, beginners, and anyone who goes through paper quickly. The twin-ring binding lies flat, the cover is thick cardstock, and the pages are standard 60 lb paper. It solves one problem: giving you a lot of drawing surface without spending much.
The real audience is parents buying for school projects, hobbyists who sketch in bed, and people testing if they want to draw more. If you expect professional-grade paper that handles heavy wet media without buckling, this isn’t it. For dry media like pencil, colored pencil, and light marker use, it’s exactly what you need.
Key Features
100 sheets, 9 x 12 inches – That’s 50 double-sided pages. Enough for a sketch a day for three months. The size is standard, which makes it easy to trim into most portfolios or binders.
60 lb / 90 gsm paper – Lightweight but acceptable for dry media. Pencil erases cleanly, colored pencil lays down well. Markers will bleed through if you saturate the page.
Twin-wire spiral binding – Lies completely flat when open, and you can fold the cover back against itself. No fighting a glue-bound spine to draw in the gutter.
Perforated sheets – Each page tears out cleanly. Good for handing in homework, pinning up a sketch, or framing one you actually like.
Cardstock cover – Thicker than the pages, with a matte finish. It protects the sheets inside without adding much weight. Fine for tossing in a backpack, but don’t lean on it in the rain.
Two-hole punched – Each page has holes that fit standard three-ring binders. Handy if you want to file completed work or store loose sheets.
Fit for You
You have a kid who draws constantly and runs through a sketchbook every month.
You want something cheap enough that messing up a page doesn’t matter.
You primarily use pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, or ballpoint pen.
You need a spiral pad that stays open on a desk or your lap without constant pressure.
You’re buying for a classroom or arts camp where pads get shared or lost.
You’re not sure if you’ll stick with drawing and want a low-risk entry point.
Uses for the Soucolor Sketch Book
Pencil sketching at the kitchen table. You’ll spend more time drawing and less time worrying about wasting paper.
Kids’ art homework. The perforated sheets mean they hand in clean pages without torn edges. The cardstock cover survives a week in a school bag better than a softcover.
Practicing anatomy or perspective. A hundred pages gives you room to fill up with quick gesture drawings and loose studies. You won’t feel precious about any single sheet.
Light ink work. A fine-liner pen behaves reasonably on 60 lb paper. Expect some ghosting on the back side if you press hard.
Colored pencil projects. The tooth of the paper grabs layers well enough for most school work and casual art. Blending with a lighter pencil works fine.
Experience: How It Feels Day to Day
The first thing you notice is the rings. They’re metal, not plastic, and they line up well. No pinched fingers from misaligned spirals. The paper has a slight texture — not hot-press smooth, not cold-press rough. Somewhere in between, which works for most dry media.
You’ll get about halfway through the pad before the last few sheets start to bend at the corners from flipping pages. The cover could be stiffer, but then it wouldn’t cost ten dollars.
The perforation tears cleanly about eight times out of ten. Every once in a while a page rips a little uneven. Not a big deal for a sketchbook this cheap.
The paper handles erasing well. Multiple passes with a plastic eraser won’t scuff through or pill like some cheap pads. You can redraw a line three or four times before the surface degrades noticeably.
Markers are the weak point. A standard Copic marker laid down in one pass will ghost through to the next page. Two passes and you’ll see bleed-through spots. If alcohol markers are your main medium, spend more on paper.
The pad at rest weighs about a pound. It fits in a backpack side pocket, though the rings can snag on fabric if you’re not careful.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Price per sheet – Ten cents a sheet for a usable sketch pad is hard to beat. You can fill whole pages without second-guessing.
Lies flat – The spiral binding does what it should. Open to any page and it stays put without weights.
Decent tooth – The paper grabs pencil and pastel well. Enough texture for visible strokes, not so much that it eats your eraser.
Practical extras – Perforated sheets and binder holes are thoughtful touches that cost little but save time.
Lightweight – Carrying it around isn’t a chore. Kids can handle it easily.
Cons
Paper too thin for wet media – Watercolor, acrylic wash, or heavy marker work will bleed through. Stick to dry or dry-adjacent tools.
Cover could be stiffer – It won’t last a full semester in a teenager’s backpack. By page 70, expect creases and scuffs.
Ring binding snags – The wire spirals catch on backpack pockets and sweater sleeves. Minor, but it happens often enough to notice.
Not archival – The paper will yellow over a few years. Not a problem for practice pieces, but don’t expect museum-grade longevity.
Limited size options – This comes in 9×12. No A4, no pocket size, no landscape format in this line.
Advantages Over Other Sketchbooks
Compared to other budget sketchbooks, the Soucolor pad earns its keep mostly through small quality-of-life details. A comparable Canson spiral sketchbook costs roughly the same but gives you fewer sheets — usually around 50 or 60. You get twice the paper here for a dollar or two difference. If you’re weighing the Soucolor vs Canson sketchbook question, sheet count is the main difference.
More sheets than equivalently priced pads – 100 sheets vs 50-60 from name brands at the same price point.
Perforation and binder holes are standard – Many competitors offer one or the other. Soucolor gives both on every page.
Consistent paper quality across the pack – No thin spots or rough patches. You get the same surface page after page.
That said, if you compare the paper to a Canson 1557 or Strathmore 300 series, the Soucolor paper has less tooth and a lighter weight. Those pads handle more abuse. For the price difference, the trade-off makes sense for casual use.
Who Should Buy the Soucolor Sketch Book
Buy it if: You need a cheap, plentiful pad for dry media practice. Kid drawers, adult doodlers, sketchbook newbies.
Buy it if: You’re stocking a classroom or art club. Low risk, high sheet count, perforated for easy handing.
Skip it if: You work mainly with alcohol markers, watercolor, or heavy ink washes. The paper won’t hold up.
Skip it if: You want a sketchbook that survives being thrown in a bag for a year. Look for a stiffer cover and sewn binding.
Consider instead: For wet media, look at the Canson XL Watercolor pad or Strathmore 400 series. They cost more but won’t bleed.
FAQ: Soucolor Sketch Book
Is the Soucolor sketch book worth it?
For the price, yes. You get a hundred sheets of usable drawing paper with perforated edges, binder holes, and a spiral binding that lies flat. It’s not professional grade, but it doesn’t claim to be.
How does it compare to a Canson sketchbook?
The Soucolor vs Canson sketchbook question comes down to sheet count versus paper feel. Soucolor gives you about twice as many sheets at the same price. Canson’s paper has a slightly nicer tooth and handles erasing a bit better. If you burn through pages quickly, Soucolor wins on value.
Is this the best sketchbook for kids drawing?
It’s a strong candidate. The price means you won’t mind when a page gets scribbled on and discarded. The perforated sheets make it easy for kids to tear out finished work for display or homework. For parents, that’s a real time-saver.
Is the Soucolor 9×12 drawing pad good for beginners?
Yes. The size gives you room to practice without being overwhelming. The paper works well with pencil, the most common tool for new artists. And at this price, there’s no pressure to make every drawing count.
How is the Soucolor sketchbook 100 sheets quality?
Consistent across the whole pad. The 60 lb paper takes pencil and colored pencil well, erases without tearing, and has a moderate tooth. It’s not thick enough for markers or wet media, and the paper isn’t archival, but the quality is reliable for its class.
Can this pad handle travel and daily carry?
It’s light enough, but the spiral binding snags on things. Slide it into a backpack spine-first to avoid catching the rings. The cardstock cover offers basic protection — enough for a desk drawer or a tote bag, not enough for checked luggage.
Final Verdict: Is the Soucolor Sketch Book Worth It?
The Soucolor sketch book is the right call when you want more paper and aren’t fussy about paper thickness. It’s built for quantity over quality, but the quality it does offer is completely fine for dry media. If you’re a parent buying art supplies, a beginner testing the waters, or someone who just needs a lot of pages to fill, this is your pad.
The catch is simple: know what you’re buying. This paper won’t handle wet media. The cover bends. The rings snag. But none of that matters when you’re on page 40 and still have sixty clean sheets left. This Soucolor sketch book review comes down to one question — do you need a hundred usable pages for ten bucks? You do. That’s the whole story.
The Soucolor sketch book sits squarely in the budget sweet spot—under ten bucks for a hundred sheets of 9×12 paper. It’s not trying to be premium, but it’s not junk either. It’s the kind of pad you grab for a kid who needs to draw through a whole stack, or for yourself when you want to sketch without worrying about wasting expensive paper. Against the usual suspects—Canson, Strathmore, and U.S. Art Supply—it holds its own, but the trade-offs are real. Here’s where the differences actually matter.
Product
Price Range
Key Strength
Key Weakness
Best For
Soucolor Sketch Book 9×12, 100 sheets
~$10
Thick 100 gsm paper that handles pencil, pen, and light marker without bleed
Paper has a slight tooth that may feel rough for fine-line detail work; binding can loosen after heavy use
Kids, beginners, and anyone burning through sketch pads on the cheap
Canson XL Sketch 9×12, 100 sheets
~$7–$9
Ultra-smooth surface ideal for fine-liners and detailed pencil work
Paper is thinner and tears more easily if you erase hard; not great for wet media
Drafters, illustrators who love crisp lines, and students on a shoestring
Strathmore 300 Series Sketch 9×12, 100 sheets
~$10–$12
Consistent, medium-tooth paper that accepts graphite and charcoal beautifully
Price per sheet is higher; the binding is stiffer and won’t lie flat without cracking the spine
Artists who prefer a classic sketch feel and don’t mind paying a little more
U.S. Art Supply Sketch Pad 9×12, 100 sheets
~$7–$8
Cheapest option; surprisingly decent for dry media like pencil and colored pencil
Paper is flimsy and prone to ghosting with markers; covers are thin and bend quickly
Ultra-budget buyers who need bulk sheets and don’t care about paper feel
Soucolor sketch book vs Canson XL Sketch
If you’re comparing the Soucolor sketch book vs Canson sketchbook, you’re really deciding between tooth and smoothness. The Soucolor 9×12 drawing pad review crowd often praises its 100 gsm paper—it’s thicker than Canson’s XL, which sits around 70 gsm. That extra thickness means you can use a light wash of watercolor or a chisel-tip marker without bleed-through. But here’s the catch: the Soucolor paper has a noticeable bite. It grips pencil lead well, but if you’re into ultra-fine crosshatching or gel pens, the Canson is smoother and won’t catch on your nib. The Canson also lies flatter out of the box. The Soucolor’s spiral binding is fine, but the cardboard back cover bends after a few weeks in a backpack. For $9.99, the Soucolor is worth it if you want a more versatile paper that can take a bit of wetter stuff. If you’re strictly a pencil-and-pen person, the Canson is the better deal at maybe two bucks less.
Soucolor sketch book vs Strathmore 300 Series Sketch
Is Soucolor sketchbook worth it when you can get a Strathmore? That depends on how much you value paper consistency. The Strathmore 300 has that medium tooth—the kind that feels “right” for charcoal and soft graphite. It’s produced by a company that’s been doing this for over a century, and it shows. Every sheet behaves the same. The Soucolor, on the other hand, can have slightly variable texture between pads. I’ve had one where the surface was almost like vellum, and another that felt like fine sandpaper. For the best sketchbook for kids drawing, that inconsistency doesn’t matter—kids aren’t nitpicking. For an adult who wants a reliable drawing surface, the Strathmore is worth the extra couple of dollars. The Soucolor does have one advantage: it’s often sold in multipacks, so you can get two for the price of one Strathmore. If you’re working through ideas fast and tossing pages, the Soucolor makes sense. If you want to keep a sketchbook that feels like a real artist’s tool, grab the Strathmore.
Soucolor sketch book vs U.S. Art Supply Sketch Pad
Here’s where price really separates the two. U.S. Art Supply’s pad is the cheapest option out there—usually around $7 for 100 sheets. But you get what you pay for. The paper is thin enough that I can see my pencil lines on the next page if I press hard. The covers are flimsy and the spiral binding sometimes pops apart. The Soucolor 100 sheets quality is a clear step up: thicker paper, sturdier covers, and a better spiral that actually stays closed. In a direct comparison, the Soucolor is the better choice for anyone who plans to use markers, or who wants a pad that survives being thrown into a tote bag. The U.S. Art Supply pad is fine for a single afternoon of doodling or for a child who loses things constantly. But if you’re asking which one lasts, the Soucolor lasts. That extra two or three dollars buys you a lot of durability.
So who should actually buy the Soucolor sketch book? Pick it if you need a reliable, cheap pad for dry media and light wet media, especially if you’re buying for a kid or for yourself as a sketch-junkie who goes through pages like paper napkins. The 100-sheet count at under ten bucks is hard to beat, and the thicker paper handles erasing better than the competition at that price. You should consider a specific alternative—say the Strathmore 300 Series—if you’re an artist who needs predictable tooth and a pad that lays perfectly flat for serious work. And if you’re on the tightest budget and only use pencil, the Canson XL is a smarter pick for that fine-line precision. But for the best sketchbook for kids drawing, or for anyone who wants a general-purpose pad that doesn’t fall apart, the Soucolor is the honest answer.
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