Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad: 60 lb Paper & Sizes

Drawing of the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 9 × 12 in, 229 mm wide, closed with its wire binding and opened to a sheet with a pencil sketch; inset: fine-tooth surface, 60 lb — The 9 × 12 in pad, closed and open, drawn to scale; the cover artwork is simplified.

Product facts

Product: Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad, 9 x 12 in, 60 lb, 100 sheets (455-3)
Brand: Strathmore
Brand origin: United States
Made in: United States^*
Material: 60 lb (89 g/m²) fine-tooth sketch paper (acid-free per retailers), micro-perforated sheets, wire binding
Price range: $$$5–20 per ream or pad

Notes on these facts

Made by Strathmore Artist Papers, a division of Dixon Ticonderoga (F.I.L.A. Group); owned by Pacon Corporation from 2006. Made in United States: Staples listings for the 5.5 × 8.5 in and 9 × 12 in pads carry a Made in America label, and Zoro lists the United States as the country of origin for a related 400 Series drawing pad. Strathmore's product page and Dixon's 2025 price list don't state the country. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Paper: 60 lb (89 gsm), fine tooth, acid-free, for dry media such as graphite, colored pencil, charcoal and pastel.
Strathmore lists 100-sheet pads at 5.5 × 8.5, 9 × 12, 11 × 14 and 14 × 17 in, 50-sheet pads at 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in, and a 30-sheet 18 × 24 in pad.
The 9 × 12 in pad (model 455-3) has about 33,800 Amazon ratings averaging 4.8 stars, per AS INSIGHT's June 2026 data.
Strathmore grades its papers from the 100 to the 500 Series; 400 is the step below its top grade.
Staples labels the 5.5 × 8.5 and 9 × 12 in pads made in America; Strathmore is now a division of Dixon Ticonderoga of Appleton, Wisconsin.

What is the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad?

It is a wire-bound pad of 60 lb (89 gsm), fine-tooth sketch paper, made for dry drawing media. Strathmore lists it for graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, sketching stick and soft or oil pastel, for practice, quick studies and preliminary drawing.

It is one of the most popular sketch pads in the US. AS INSIGHT’s June 2026 data shows the 9 × 12 in pad with about 33,800 Amazon ratings averaging 4.8 stars, and Utrecht calls the recycled version one of Strathmore’s most popular pads.

Strathmore 400 Series Sketch specs

Spec	Value
Brand	Strathmore (400 Series)
Paper weight	60 lb (89 gsm); basis 500 sheets of 25 × 38 in
Surface	Fine tooth
Archival	Acid-free (retailers)
Binding	Wire bound, micro-perforated true-size sheets
Sizes	5.5 × 8.5 in to 18 × 24 in
Sheets	100 in most sizes; 50-sheet pads at 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in; 30 in the 18 × 24 in pad
Item (9 × 12 in, 100 sheets)	455-3; UPC 012017455094
Made in	United States (Staples “Made in America” label)

Weight, surface, binding, sizes and item numbers come from Strathmore’s product page; the UPC from Dixon’s 2025 price list. Acid-free is from Drafting Supplies Dew.

What sizes does the Strathmore 400 sketch pad come in?

Five main sizes, from 5.5 × 8.5 in to 18 × 24 in. Sheet counts differ by size and by pack, so read the cover.

Size (in)	Size (cm)	Sheets
5.5 × 8.5	14.0 × 21.6	100
9 × 12	22.9 × 30.5	100 (455-3) or 50 (455-9)
11 × 14	27.9 × 35.6	100 (455-4) or 50 (455-11)
14 × 17	35.6 × 43.2	100
18 × 24	45.7 × 61.0	30

Sizes, counts and item numbers are from Strathmore’s product page (14 × 17 in is 455-5, 5.5 × 8.5 in is 455-8, 18 × 24 in is 455-18). Centimetre values are converted from inches.

To-scale drawing of five Strathmore 400 Series Sketch pad sizes from a shared corner: 5.5×8.5, 9×12, 11×14 and 14×17 inch pads with 100 sheets, and an 18×24 inch pad with 30 sheets — The five pad sizes drawn to scale from one corner.

What media work on Strathmore 400 sketch paper?

Dry media work best: Strathmore lists graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, sketching stick and soft or oil pastel. The fine tooth grips pigment, so you can layer and blend. For pastel on toned paper, the 98 lb (160 gsm) Canson Mi-Teintes pad is the usual next step.

At 60 lb (89 gsm) the paper isn’t made for water. For markers, ink and light washes, the heavier 98 lb (160 gsm) Canson XL Mix Media pad is a better fit, and for watercolor the 140 lb Canson XL Watercolor pad. For finished ink drawings, Strathmore’s own 300 Series Bristol pad is 100 lb (270 gsm).

What does “400 Series” mean?

Strathmore grades its papers in series from 100 to 500, and higher numbers mean higher quality. Strathmore calls the 400 Series best quality for advanced artists, one step below the professional 500 Series. Its history page says the line began in 1974, when the older Alexis student papers were renamed the 400 Series.

Which size should you choose?

The 9 × 12 in pad is the common all-rounder; pick the others by how big you draw.

5.5 × 8.5 in: a pocketable size for travel and daily practice.
9 × 12 in: class work, studies and most everyday drawing.
11 × 14 and 14 × 17 in: bigger studies and finished pieces.
18 × 24 in: figure drawing and charcoal at arm’s length, with only 30 sheets.

If you’d rather keep drawings in a bound book, the Leuchtturm1917 Sketchbook has 112 pages of 150 g/m² paper in an A5 hard cover.

Who makes Strathmore, and where is the pad made?

Strathmore is now a division of Dixon Ticonderoga of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Staples labels the 400 Series sketch pads made in America. Pacon Corporation bought Strathmore in 2006, and Dixon’s 2025 price list notes the Strathmore mark is used under license from Mohawk Fine Papers.

The brand’s history begins in 1892, when Horace Moses opened a paper mill in West Springfield, Massachusetts; the Strathmore name appeared on art papers from 1899, per Strathmore. Strathmore’s product page doesn’t state the country, so the back of your pad is the final word on origin.

Frequently asked questions

What paper weight is the Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad?

It is 60 lb paper, which is 89 gsm. That is a medium-weight sketch paper: heavier than newsprint and student sketch pads, lighter than drawing or mixed-media paper.

How many sheets are in a Strathmore 400 sketch pad?

Strathmore lists 100-sheet pads at 5.5 × 8.5, 9 × 12, 11 × 14 and 14 × 17 in, 50-sheet pads at 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in, and a 30-sheet pad at 18 × 24 in, so check the cover.

Can you use markers or watercolor on Strathmore 400 sketch paper?

Strathmore lists it for dry media: graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, sketching stick and soft or oil pastel. At 60 lb (89 gsm) it isn't sized for washes, so for markers and light wet media use a heavier mixed-media pad, and for watercolor a 140 lb watercolor pad.

What is the difference between Strathmore 300 and 400 Series?

Strathmore grades its papers from the 100 to the 500 Series, with higher numbers meaning higher quality. It calls the 400 Series best quality for advanced artists, above the 300 Series for beginning or student artists.

Is the Strathmore 400 sketch pad acid-free?

Retailers such as Drafting Supplies Dew list the 400 Series sketch paper as acid-free, so drawings resist yellowing over time. Strathmore's own sketch page doesn't mention it.

Where are Strathmore sketch pads made?

Staples labels the 400 Series sketch pads made in America; Strathmore doesn't state the country on its product page. Strathmore is now a division of Dixon Ticonderoga, based in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Is there a recycled Strathmore 400 sketch pad?

Yes. Dixon's 2025 price list gives the 400 Series Recycled Sketch the same 60 lb (89 gsm) weight with 30% post-consumer fiber, in pads from 3.5 × 5 in to 18 × 24 in.

Sources (19)

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