The 9 Best Journals With Locks
Updated by · How we research
Most of these nine locking journals look alike, so we compared lock, size, pages, paper and cover, from pocket size to real leather. The WEMATE A5 Diary leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A diary lock keeps out a curious roommate or sibling, not a determined snoop, and a forgotten code is a real hazard, so write it down. Most locking journals use a three-digit combination dial on a strap, and a few use a small key. Adults buy them for private journaling, planning and gifts, and teens use them as diaries.
Editor's Notes
October 17, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
Most people who land here want a lockable journal for themselves, so the children's toys from the 2020 list, such as the Mattel My Password Journal and the Just My Style Light Up diary, are out. The Personal Secret Business journal is unavailable, we couldn't confirm the HuiDai Diary or the Peaceable Kingdom Keep Out are still sold, the Too Personal Executive now comes from a different seller at a much higher price, and the Cagie Mini had little owner feedback behind it.
The Jaald Leather Journal and the Peter Pauper For My Eyes Only stay, for real leather and an old-fashioned key.
Most of the new picks look alike at first glance: a faux-leather book with a three-digit brass lock on a strap. So we sorted them by what actually differs, such as size, cover, paper and pockets. The WEMATE A5 Diary leads because it gets the basics right for little money, and the CAGIE Locking Journal is here for the many readers who want a big page.
One honest warning. These locks keep out a curious roommate or sibling, not someone determined, and a forgotten code is a real hazard. Set the code with the book open, test it a few times, and write it down somewhere safe.
Evidence is thin in this category. We found no independent tests of locking journals, so we compared published paper weights, page counts and lock designs, read owner reports, such as code resets that left books locked, and checked recalls.
November 23, 2020:
At this time, we've opted to keep a balanced selection of choices that are appropriate for adults and kids. On the business-friendly side, we still like the Too Personal Executive, and we've added the Cagie Mini, as well. The Too Personal model is crafted from a faux leather that would pair well with a variety of leather portfolios, while the Cagie model has a fabric cover that's offered in several attractive colors. Neither has tons of embellishments and design flourishes; instead, they're relatively simple, with classic styling that won't draw unwanted attention at the office.
If you're looking for something that isn't overly juvenile, but don't want something as plain as the aforementioned, consider instead the Peter Pauper Press For My Eyes Only, the Jaald Unlined Notepad, or the HuiDai Diary. These have just enough adornment to be interesting, but not so much that they are garish or childish.
Finally, if you're trying to please a young user, try instead the Peaceable Kingdom Keep Out, the Just My Style Light Up, or the VIPbuy Magic Notebook. We still think the VIPbuy option is especially fun thanks to its sequins, which might encourage a reluctant writer to practice journaling.
We also selected the Mattel My Password Journal, which opens via a voice-activated lock. Unfortunately, this lock isn't perfect; anyone who can mimic the sound of the owner's voice can bypass it. But it has a nifty secret compartment, an invisible ink pen, and a black light, which you won't get with most other options. And don't worry, you can write on the pages with a regular ink pen, too.
July 18, 2019:
When you think about it, not securing your private thoughts with some kind of lock seems kind of risky. While locks won't prevent a truly determined snooper, they will discourage casual lookers from flipping through your diary on a whim.
Our selections come in a variety of sizes suitable for a range of budgets. Most are made of leather, faux leather, or tough fabric and are designed to stand the test of time. We also looked for a variety of page styles--some people want lined pages while others prefer blank so their journal can include sketches and a more free-spirited writing style.
In this update, we removed an item due to concerns about its availability. Added the VIPbuy Magic Notebook in one of our top slots because who doesn't like reversible sequins? We also think it's a great value for the price.
Special Honors
Day One Day One is a journaling app for people who want a lock that actually protects their writing. It can lock behind a passcode or your phone's face or fingerprint unlock, and it offers end-to-end encryption for journals synced between devices. It's free to download on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android, and it also runs in a web browser. dayoneapp.com
How Much Privacy A Diary Lock Buys
If you want journaling that's truly protected, a journal app with encryption is the stronger choice.
A diary lock is a privacy screen, not a safe. Most locking journals use a small three-digit combination lock on a strap or flap, and a few use a miniature padlock or a key lock. Either kind stops a family member or roommate from flipping the book open on a whim. Neither stops someone who means to get in: a lock-pick supplier's guide walks through opening a diary lock with a paper clip or a bobby pin (Art of Lockpicking), and the covers are faux leather or paper that a blade would cut anyway.
A combination lock has no key to lose, and with three dials of 0 to 9 it has 1,000 possible codes. A key lock is simpler to use but depends on keeping track of a tiny key. The Peter Pauper For My Eyes Only ships with two keys, and the Jaald Leather Journal's padlock comes with two as well.
So don't write down anything that would do real harm if read, such as passwords, bank details or ID numbers, and don't rely on a zip pocket behind a diary lock for cards. If you want journaling that's truly protected, a journal app with encryption is the stronger choice. Day One, for example, offers end-to-end encryption for synced journals (Day One).
Setting The Code Without Locking Yourself Out
Combination journals almost always arrive set to 000. To change the code, you open the lock, press or slide a small reset button or lever on the lock body, turn the dials to your new number and release it. The exact steps are on the card that comes in the box, so keep it. The key rule is the same as for combination padlocks: a code can only be changed while the lock is open (GV Lock).
The most common trouble owners describe is a code that won't open the book after a reset. Avoid it by setting the code with the book open, then closing and opening it three times before you write inside. Note the code somewhere separate from the journal.
If you do forget it, contact the seller first; sellers' listings and answers point owners to them for help. As a last resort, you can try every combination from 000 to 999, which takes a while but leaves the lock intact. Cutting the strap or forcing the lock ends its usefulness.
Size, Paper And Cover
Most locking journals are sold as A5. A5 paper is 148 by 210 millimeters, about 5.8 by 8.3 inches (Paper Sizes), and the covers run a little larger, around 8.5 by 5.9 inches. A6, half that size, fits a bag or coat pocket but leaves little room for long entries. B6, at 125 by 176 millimeters (Paper Sizes), sits in between. For planning, study notes or long entries, a large format such as 7.5 by 10 inches gives the most room.
Check the page count carefully. Listings count pages, not sheets, so 240 pages means 120 sheets. Most of these journals use 100 gsm cream paper, heavier than typical 75 to 80 gsm copy paper, which helps with ballpoints and gel pens. Very wet fountain-pen ink may still show through. Ruled pages suit writing, blank pages suit sketching, and some books mix the two. Many have a refillable page block that slips out when it's full, so the cover and lock keep working.
Nearly every cover in this category is polyurethane faux leather, even when a listing just says leather. It's cheap and wipes clean but can crack or peel after years of handling. Genuine leather, like the goat hide on the Jaald, ages better but costs more, weighs more and wants an occasional leather conditioner. Paper-covered hardbacks are the lightest and the least durable.
We checked every brand on this list in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's database and found no recalls (CPSC).
How we researched this
We screened 21 current and former locking journal listings and compared nine finalists by lock type, size, page count, paper, cover material and extras. These journals come from small brands that publish no manuals or spec sheets, so most specs are the sellers' own listings; we say so where it matters. We used a lock-pick supplier's guide and a lock maker's reset guide for the buyer's guide, looked for patterns in owner feedback and questions, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent tests of locking journals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best journal with a lock for adults?
For most people, the WEMATE A5 Diary: a plain black A5 journal with 240 ruled, refillable pages, a pen and a three-digit combination lock at a low price. For real leather and a key, the Jaald Leather Journal is the alternative.
Can a diary lock be picked?
Yes. Diary locks are small and simple, and lock-pick guides show them opened with a paper clip or bobby pin. They keep out casual snoops, so don't write passwords or bank details in any locking journal.
What if I forget the combination on my journal?
Contact the seller first. If that fails, you can try every code from 000 to 999 without damaging the lock. To avoid the problem, set the code with the book open, test it several times and write it down somewhere else.
Is a key lock or a combination lock better on a journal?
A combination lock has no key to lose; a key lock has no code to forget. Both offer similar, basic privacy. Pick the one whose risk you're more comfortable with, and keep the spare key or a note of the code somewhere safe.
Are there large journals with locks?
Yes. Most are A5, about 8.5 by 5.9 inches, but the CAGIE Locking Journal has a 7.5 by 10 inch page, and the Jaald Leather Journal measures 10 by 7 inches.
Are locking journals made of real leather?
Usually not. Most use polyurethane faux leather even when the listing says leather. The Jaald Leather Journal is genuine goat leather, and the Peter Pauper For My Eyes Only is a paper-covered hardback.
