Because regular handwriting is fine, but cute lettering just hits different
Okay, so before you read any further, you do not need to be a professional calligrapher to add a little lettering flair to your bullet journal.
I promise.
No fancy tools required (unless you want to, of course), no perfection needed.
Lettering in your Bujo is more about adding your personality, making pages fun to look at, and letting yourself play with your handwriting a little.
It’s kind of like doodling… but with letters. And once you start, you’ll see how addictive it is.
A cute heading here, a bold quote there, some bubble letters just because, and suddenly your whole spread feels more “you.”
Why Add Lettering to Your Bullet Journal?
Besides the fact that it’s really fun to do (like, seriously therapeutic), lettering can help organize your pages in a visual way.
Different styles for different sections. A big title that says “OKAY THIS IS IMPORTANT.” Or just a quote you want to make stand out.
Lettering also makes your journal feel more creative, even if the rest of the spread is super minimal. It’s one of the easiest ways to turn a plain page into something a little special.
Plus, it’s a great excuse to slow down and enjoy the journaling process. You’re not just rushing to fill in to-do lists, you’re making space for a little play while you plan.
Where to Use Lettering in Your Bujo
You can use a bit of fancy bullet journal lettering anywhere. But here’s a few fave spots:
- Monthly Covers: Probably the #1 place people use hand lettering. Write the month name in big, beautiful letters and pair it with a doodle or washi border.
- Weekly Spreads: Use different styles for the days of the week, or bold headers for task sections.
- Trackers: Mood, habit, sleep—you name it. Fun lettering makes these pop and gives them personality.
- Quotes + Affirmations: These really shine with a little lettering love. It’s like giving your words a frame.
- Collections: Use bold, styled titles for things like “Books to Read,” “Travel Bucket List,” “Self Care Ideas,” etc.
- Headers + Sub-Headers: Break up your pages with different font styles to keep things looking neat but interesting.
You don’t have to use it on every page either.
Sometimes just one word in bold brush lettering or cute cursive is enough to make the spread feel balanced.
How to Practice Bullet Journal Lettering (and Actually Enjoy It)
So here’s the deal. It’s not gonna look “Instagram-perfect” right away,and that’s okay. Like really okay.
My first brush pen pages looked like tired spaghetti. But you keep going, and it gets better. You find your own style.
Here’s some chill ways to practice:
- Alphabet Pages: Do a whole page of A–Z in different lettering styles. Print, cursive, serif, sans serif, bubble… whatever feels fun.
- Word of the Day Practice: Pick a word each day (like cozy, breathe, focus, moon, etc.) and try writing it in 3–4 lettering styles.
- Tracing: Yep. Print out cool fonts and trace them in your notebook. It builds muscle memory like nothing else.
- Lettering Challenges: Find monthly prompts or challenges online. They’re great motivation and give you words to try out.
- Mix & Match Practice: Take one word and do it 5 different ways—caps, cursive, thick/thin lines, outlines, drop shadows…
Don’t forget to play. Add little flourishes, underline things, make your “y”s super loopy or try out tiny serif edges.
This is your journal, it should look like you, not some Pinterest stranger.
Favorite Lettering Styles to Try (Even if You’re a Beginner)
- Block Letters: Start here. Just regular caps but a bit thicker and wider. You can outline or color in.
- Brush Lettering (or Fake It): If you’ve got a brush pen, go wild. If not, fake it with any pen—write cursive, then thicken the downstrokes.
- Bounce Letters: Write cursive but make the letters go up and down a bit for a cute bouncy look.
- Monoline Script: Light, even cursive with no fancy strokes. Perfect for headers or quotes.
- Bubble Letters: Throwback to school days. Still the cutest.
- Minimalist Capitals: Thin, all-caps lettering with wide spacing for that clean, airy look.
Bullet Journal Lettering Alphabet Ideas To Try
How cute is this watermelon lettering by @bujobeyond.
This cute Bullet Journal Lettering alphabet by @lilly_bujo would look great in an ocean monthly theme spread.
Bullet Journal Lettering doesn’t have to be super fancy to look amazing. This gorgeous Spring theme lettering by @oopsadaisyuk is so cute and simple for your spring theme spreads.
Bullet Journal brush lettering is one of the most popular lettering styles. The shading on this example by @notikjournal really makes it pop.
This cute heart bullet journal lettering by @jodie_journals doesn’t have to be just for february pages.
This amazing cactus lettering by @dontworryurbeautiful would be perfect for Cactus themed pages and summer bujo spreads.
@thedoodleplanner has created this great stitch effect lettering with just a few simple lines and shading.
To recreate this fancy bullet journal lettering by @littlemissrose be sure to use the grid on your page to help you get spacing correct.
This space themed lettering by @bumblebujo would be amazing as headers for a space bujo spread.
This rainbow lettering by @themonsterofstationery will make any page look fabulous.
Make any page bee-utiful with this bee bullet journal lettering by @lilly_bujo
Cat lovers will love this adorable cat lettering by @roseyestudies
@ellyidee has created a simple and fun bullet journal alphabet by adding an extra loop to letters and then coloring them in. You could color them to match the style of your page.
Although this stunning floral bullet journal lettering by @themonsterofstationery looks complicated if you look closer it is made with just a few shapes, lines and dots and is easy to try!
How cute is this strawberry lettering by @ellyidee
Lettering in your Bullet Journal doesn’t have to be over the top. This simple but effective lettering by @planwithady is created by using a color to make a shadow effect.
This star theme lettering by @kittystudie is so easy to try yourself.
Create Kawaii Bullet journal lettering by adding cute faces to your letters like @seed_sucessful_you
You could change this flower lettering by @planwithaddy to match any floral bullet journal spread you are creating.
Add a little magic to your pages with this unicorn lettering by @roseyestudies
Typewriter lettering looks great and can be simple to try. @my_bulletjournal_journey
@brightsidebujo has created a bright and cheerful bullet journal aplhabet with colored pens and a black fineliner.
Bullet Journal Lettering Supplies
Here are some supplies that will help you create gorgeous Bullet Journal Lettering:
- Fineliner pen (I love the following brands: Sakura, Pentel and Faber-Castell)
- Highlighters (I love the Stabilo Boss highlighter, the Zebra mildliners and the Bic marking highlighter grip)
- Brush pens (I love the tombow colored and black brush pens)
You don’t need perfect handwriting or the fanciest markers on the planet ( although you can enjoy using them). All you need is a pen, a page, and a little time to try.
Bullet journal lettering is supposed to be fun, not stressful. There are no rules. You don’t have to make it fancy unless you want to.
Try something new, mess it up, laugh at your squiggly “S,” and keep going.
Because at the end of the day, your Bujo is for YOU. It’s a space to plan, create, and just be a little messy human with pretty pens.
So go write big. Make those words pop. And have a good time doing it
PIN FOR LATER!
