Canson XL Mix Media Pad: Sizes, Weight & Wet Media
The Canson XL Mix Media pad is a side-wire-bound pad of 98 lb (160 gsm), fine-textured, acid-free paper with heavy sizing, which Canson says suits both wet and dry media. Five sizes, from 5.5 × 8.5 in to 14 × 17 in, hold 60 micro-perforated sheets; the 18 × 24 in pad holds 30.
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Product facts
- Product
- Canson XL Mix Media Pad (98 lb / 160 gsm, side wire bound)
- Brand
- Canson
- Brand origin
- France
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- 98 lb (160 g/m²) acid-free paper, side wire binding
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per ream or pad
Notes on these facts
- Made by Canson (Annonay, France). Country of manufacture not stated: Sources conflict. An Amazon listing for the 9×12 in pad says it is manufactured in France; School Specialty lists the United States as the country of origin, and STL Art Supply says the pads are made in the USA from French paper. Canson's US page doesn't say, and its French site says only that Canson papers are made in France. Check the back of the pad you buy. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Paper: 98 lb (160 g/m²), heavy sizing, acid-free, sold for both wet and dry media; Canson's French site adds ISO 9706 permanence and FSC certification.
- Six pad sizes: 5.5×8.5, 7×10, 9×12 and 11×14 in (portrait) and 14×17 in (landscape) with 60 sheets each; 18×24 in (landscape) with 30 sheets.
- Side wire binding with micro-perforated, true-size sheets that tear out cleanly.
- For heavy watercolor washes, the Canson XL Watercolor pad (140 lb / 300 gsm, cold press, 30 sheets) is the heavier paper; retailers say the 98 lb Mix Media sheet can buckle under heavy washes.
- On Amazon it ranks No. 1 in Mixed Media Paper with about 50,000 ratings averaging 4.8 stars, per listing snapshots from 2026.
What is the Canson XL Mix Media pad?
It is a wire-bound pad of 98 lb (160 gsm) drawing paper with heavy sizing, sold for both wet and dry media. Canson, the French paper maker based in Annonay, sells it as part of its XL line of art pads.
“Mixed media” paper is a middle ground. It is heavier and more water-resistant than sketch paper, so it can take ink, marker and light washes, but it is lighter and cheaper than real watercolor paper. If you mostly write and doodle, it is far heavier than anything in a composition notebook or copy paper.
Canson XL Mix Media pad specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Canson (XL range) |
| Paper weight | 98 lb (160 gsm) |
| Surface | Canson’s US page says “fine textured” in its description and “medium grain” in its specs; French site “grain léger” (light grain) |
| Sizing | Heavy, for wet and dry media (Canson’s description) |
| Archival | Acid-free; ISO 9706 and FSC certified (Canson’s French site) |
| Binding | Side wire, micro-perforated true-size sheets |
| Sheets | 60 per pad; 30 in the 18×24 in pad |
| Made in | Not stated consistently: France or USA, depending on the listing |
Weight, sizing and binding come from Canson and retailer spec sheets (Amazon, Dick Blick, Jerry’s Artarama). One retailer, Nasco, lists the 18×24 in pad at 96 lb; everyone else, including the product title on Amazon, says 98 lb.
What sizes does the Canson XL Mix Media pad come in?
Six sizes, from 5.5 × 8.5 in to 18 × 24 in. Five hold 60 sheets; the largest holds 30.
| Size (in) | Size (cm) | Format | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 8.5 | 14.0 × 21.6 | Portrait | 60 |
| 7 × 10 | 17.8 × 25.4 | Portrait | 60 |
| 9 × 12 | 22.9 × 30.5 | Portrait | 60 |
| 11 × 14 | 27.9 × 35.6 | Portrait | 60 |
| 14 × 17 | 35.6 × 43.2 | Landscape | 60 |
| 18 × 24 | 45.7 × 61.0 | Landscape | 30 |
Sizes, formats and sheet counts are from Dick Blick’s listings; centimetre values are converted from inches. Some sizes are also sold in multi-packs (Staples sells the 11 × 14 in pad as a 2-pack).
What media can you use on Canson XL Mix Media paper?
Canson says the heavy sizing makes it suitable for both wet and dry media; in practice it suits dry media, markers, ink and light washes best.
- Dry media: pencil, colored pencil, charcoal and pastel. Retailers describe the fine tooth as easy to erase and blend on.
- Markers and pens: buyers on the Amazon listing frequently mention little bleed-through from markers, fountain pens and paint pens. That is a reviewer observation, not a Canson spec. For tracing marker roughs, the lighter, semi-translucent Canson XL Marker pad is 70 gsm.
- Wet media: Staples’ listing says the sizing makes it work for watercolor and acrylic, and Jerry’s Artarama says the 98 lb sheet can take light collage. Rainbow Resource and Amazon reviewers warn that it buckles or wrinkles under heavy washes. For ink and light washes in a bound book, the Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook has 62 sheets of 150 gsm paper.
How does it compare to Canson XL Watercolor and XL Sketch?
Mix Media sits in the middle: heavier than XL Sketch, lighter than XL Watercolor.
| Pad | Paper weight | Surface | Sheets (18×24 in pad) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canson XL Sketch | 50 lb | Sketch paper | 50 | Pencil, charcoal, pastel |
| Canson XL Mix Media | 98 lb (160 gsm) | Fine texture, heavy sizing | 30 | Markers, ink, dry media, light washes |
| Canson XL Watercolor | 140 lb (300 gsm) | Cold press | 30 | Watercolor, gouache, repeated washes |
The XL Sketch figures come from Amazon’s listing title; the XL Watercolor figures from DeSerres and School Specialty. Pound weights for different paper types are measured on different base sheet sizes, so compare the gsm numbers where you have them. We cover the Canson XL Watercolor pad and the 60 lb Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad in their own guides.
Which size should you choose?
Pick by how much room you need: 9 × 12 in is a common middle choice, and only the 18 × 24 in pad drops to 30 sheets.
- 5.5 × 8.5 in: pocket and travel sketching, and a sturdier alternative to a small notebook for marker doodles.
- 7 × 10 and 9 × 12 in: everyday drawing, class work and practice.
- 11 × 14 in: finished pieces and studies with room to work.
- 14 × 17 and 18 × 24 in: large studies and figure drawing; the 18 × 24 in pad has only 30 sheets.
Where is the Canson XL Mix Media pad made?
Sources don’t agree, so we list it as not stated. An Amazon listing for the 9 × 12 in pad says it is manufactured in France.
School Specialty lists the United States, and STL Art Supply says the pads are made in the USA from French paper, which would explain both answers. Canson’s US product page doesn’t state it; its French site says Canson papers are made in France at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay, which fits “French paper” but not where the US pad is bound.
In France the same paper is sold in spiral albums, not side-wire pads. The country printed on the back of the pad you buy is the reliable answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is mixed media paper?
Mixed media paper is a heavier drawing paper with extra sizing so it can take both dry media (pencil, charcoal, marker) and light wet media (ink, light watercolor washes, acrylic) on the same sheet. It sits between sketch paper and watercolor paper.
Can you use watercolor on the Canson XL Mix Media pad?
Yes, for light washes. Canson and retailers say the heavy sizing suits wet and dry media, but retailers and reviewers note that the 98 lb (160 gsm) sheet can buckle or wrinkle under heavy washes. For heavy watercolor, the 140 lb (300 gsm) Canson XL Watercolor pad is the better fit.
What sizes does the Canson XL Mix Media pad come in?
Six sizes: 5.5×8.5, 7×10, 9×12 and 11×14 inches in portrait format and 14×17 inches in landscape format, each with 60 sheets, plus an 18×24 inch landscape pad with 30 sheets.
How heavy is Canson XL Mix Media paper?
It is 98 lb paper, which is 160 gsm. That is heavier than the 50 lb Canson XL Sketch pad and lighter than the 140 lb (300 gsm) Canson XL Watercolor pad.
Do markers bleed through Canson XL Mix Media paper?
Buyers on the Amazon listing frequently praise its resistance to marker and pen bleed-through, but that is a reviewer claim, not a manufacturer specification. Alcohol markers soak into most papers, so put a scrap sheet underneath.
Is the Canson XL Mix Media pad acid-free?
Yes. Retailers including Dick Blick and Jerry's Artarama list the paper as acid-free, which means it is made to resist yellowing and turning brittle over time.
Where is the Canson XL Mix Media pad made?
Sources disagree. An Amazon listing says the pad is manufactured in France, while School Specialty lists the United States and STL Art Supply says it is made in the USA from French paper. Canson is a French company based in Annonay. The country printed on your pad's packaging is the reliable answer.
Is Canson XL Mix Media the same as Canson XL Fluid Mixed Media?
No. Canson XL Fluid Mixed Media is a separate pad in the XL range with its own paper. This guide covers the original 98 lb (160 gsm) XL Mix Media pad.
Sources
- Canson (French): XL Mixed Media (160 g/m², grain léger, spiral albums, FSC, acid-free, ISO 9706)
- Canson (French): Qui sommes-nous ? (papers made in France at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay)
- Canson USA: XL Mixed Media (98 lb/160 g pads; medium grain; heavy sizing; wire-bound, micro-perforated true-size sheets; acid-free)
- Dick Blick: Canson XL Mixed Media Wirebound Pads (sizes, acid-free, micro-perforated)
- Dick Blick: Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, 18 x 24 in, Landscape, 30 Sheets
- Dick Blick: Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 in, Portrait, 60 Sheets
- Dick Blick: Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, 14 x 17 in, Landscape, 60 Sheets
- Amazon: Canson XL Mix Media Pad 9x12 (specs, country of origin)
- Amazon: Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad, 98 lb, 14 x 17 in, 60 sheets
- Jerry's Artarama: Canson XL Mixed Media Pads (heavy sizing, acid-free)
- Walmart: Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, 11 x 14 in, 60 Sheets (micro-perforated)
- Staples: Canson XL 11 x 14 in Wire Bound Mixed Media Pad, 2-pack
- Rainbow Resource: Canson XL Mix Media Pad 9 x 12 in (buckling with heavy washes)
- School Specialty: Canson XL Mixed Media Paper Pad, 98 lb, 9 x 12 in (country of origin)
- STL Art Supply: Canson XL Mix Media pad (made in USA with French paper)
- Nasco: Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, 18 x 24 in, 30 sheets (listed as 96 lb)
- Desertcart: mirror of the Amazon 11 x 14 in listing (rank and ratings snapshot)
- DeSerres: Canson XL collection (XL Watercolor 140 lb / 300 gsm, cold press, 30 sheets)
- School Specialty: Canson XL Watercolor Pad, 140 lb, 18 x 24 in, 30 sheets
- Amazon: Canson XL Series Sketch Pad, 50 lb, 18 x 24 in, 50 sheets
- Cult Pens: Canson XL Fluid Mixed Media pad (a separate product)
- Wikipedia: Canson (company background)