The All-In-One Buying Guide to Custom Padfolios with Logos and Promotional Notebooks

updated: July 21, 2023

Padfolios vs. Portfolios: What’s the Difference?
Custom Padfolios
Padfolio Materials
Padfolio Features
Padfolio Imprint Methods
Padfolios for Every Budget
Promotional Notebooks, Journals and Notepads
Notebook and Journal Materials
Notepad Materials
Notebook, Journal and Notepad Imprint Methods
Notebook Features
Notebooks, Journals and Notepads for Every Budget
Padfolios and Notebooks for Education
Additional Options to Consider

For organizations of all kinds, promotional desk accessories like custom padfolios and notebooks are well worth the investment. That’s because they’re:

Cost-efficient, especially when buying in bulk.
Capable of spreading your message far and wide.
Practical for students, employees, prospects, clients and colleagues alike.
Useful at a variety of events from trade shows to conferences.

Plus, they can be used in a wide array of settings and industries, including:

Schools
Offices
Churches
Medical practices and hospitals
Financial and legal firms
Volunteer organizations

Whether you choose to distribute them at an event or keep them on hand for teachers, students, and staff, your branded padfolios and promotional notebooks have the potential to generate tons of real-world exposure.

In the words of Crestline’s own Director of Vendor Relations:

"Promotional office products like padfolios and notebooks are some of the best investments. By sitting on recipients’ desks, they get fantastic exposure on a daily basis.

They never get thrown away when given, and are useful to just about everyone, from soccer moms going to committee meetings to business professionals going to budget meetings. No matter who they are, everyone needs paper and a writing surface."

If you’re interested in choosing the perfect personalized padfolios, you’re in the right place, as this buying guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Padfolios vs. Portfolios: What’s the Difference?

Before we go any further, let’s clear up the difference between custom padfolios and portfolios.

A padfolio is a pad of paper secured inside a folder. That folder may also contain three-ring binder clips, organizer pockets for papers and documents, pen loops, business card holders, calculators and more. The padfolio’s contents may be held in place with a zipper, Velcro closure, buckle or snap. Finally, a padfolio is intended to be carried under the arm.

By contrast, portfolios tend to be roomier, are often shaped like a briefcase and often come with a handle. They’re typically closed with zippers and come in a variety of sizes depending on what they’re designed to hold. Visit our portfolio page to browse for a style and price point that will work for your brand.

While those might not sound like major differences, being aware of them can help you choose the best personalized items for your recipients.

Custom Padfolios

With their slim profile, multifunctional features, and an array of attractive materials, everyone can appreciate a high-quality custom padfolio with an eye-catching logo.

As an added bonus, personalized padfolios are an indispensable tool for a variety of uses, including:

Classes
Meetings
Business trips
Presentations
Job interviews
Conferences, trade shows, and other industry events
Marketing and advertising pitches

Let’s look at some of the options you can choose from when shopping for your custom printed padfolios.

Custom Padfolio Materials

Before you purchase a custom padfolio with your logo, you’ll need to think about your preferred material. There’s a wide range of options available to suit.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC for short, is an ultra-popular synthetic plastic polymer with a staggering number of applications. In fact, Zion Market Research reports that PVC is the third-most widely produced plastic in the world, likely due to the material’s lightness and strength.

Promo PVC padfolios, like the Arch Padfolio pictured below, are both durable and sleek.

The Arch Padfolio features interior and exterior pockets, pen loops and business card holders, making it ideal for business meetings and events.

Simulated Leather

While simulated leather can be made from many different materials, we’ve found UltraHyde to be one of the best.

UltraHyde is a premium faux leather product that’s crafted from polyurethane-coated fabric. This construction makes it astonishingly similar to real leather, as well as impressively rugged and long-lasting.

Branded UltraHyde padfolios, like the Pedova Zippered Padfolio shown below, have a beautiful leather-like appearance that will last for years.

The Pedova Zippered Padfolio is outfitted with a secure zippered closure, gusseted document pocket, pen loops, business card holders, USB flash drive holders and more.

Carbon Fiber

When it comes to lightweight and super-strong materials, carbon fiber is a superhero.

Composed of thin filaments of carbon atoms, carbon fiber is stiff, strong, heat-resistant and chemical-resistant, all while maintaining a feather-like weight. Plus, many people love its distinctive woven checkerboard-esque appearance.

With this in mind, it makes sense that carbon fiber custom padfolios are sought-after for their superior durability and light weight.

The Heavy Duty Writing Pad picture below is a prime example of a high-quality carbon fiber promo padfolio. With elegant contrast stitching and sleek carbon fiber detailing, it’s both rugged and sophisticated.

Cardboard

Sometimes less is more, and cardboard padfolios are a testament to that.

Although we all know cardboard as a popular material for boxes and crafts, this sturdy paper-based board is a great choice for custom padfolios, too.

Crafted from sturdy natural cardboard, these custom padfolios are biodegradable, recyclable, lightweight and aesthetically-pleasing. Which makes them perfect for distribution at conferences, trade shows or any event with a conservation theme.

Leather

Known for its beautiful appearance and premium feel, genuine leather is a luxurious material that complements any number of styles and themes.

Best of all, leather is durable, flexible, and will only look better with time. This means that a leather custom padfolio imprinted with your logo will last for many, many years.

Take a look at the stunning Grain Leather Padfolio showcased below.

With antique gold hardware, plenty of pockets, reversible pad positioning and a gorgeous debossed logo, this padfolio is designed to make a sophisticated statement.

If you’re looking for a custom padfolio that will impress even the most discerning recipients, the Grain Leather Padfolio is for you.

Moleskine®

Beloved by artists and luminaries including Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, Moleskine is an Italian maker of luxury pocket notebooks, journals, stationary, planners and more.

Moleskine notebooks, padfolios, portfolios and the like are crafted from textured oilcloth covers and high-quality paper. Fans around the world love Moleskine products for their simplicity, elegance and durability.

The Moleskine Cahier Ruled Journal pictured below is perfect for artists, businesspeople and everyone in between. It features 120 pages of ruled, acid free paper and an inside flap pocket for loose papers.

Custom Padfolio Features

Custom padfolios can be equipped with a wide array of functional features suited to an assortment of purposes.

Here are some of the features you can look for when selecting your custom padfolios:
Pen loops: With built-in pen loops, your recipients will never have to worry about losing their favorite pen or pencil (hint: promotional writing instruments are the perfect companion gifts to give with your custom padfolios).
Calculator holders: Custom padfolios with dedicated calculator holders are particularly useful for financial professionals, scientists, engineers, economists, analysts and statisticians.
Business card holders: Padfolios with business card holders are great for everyone, but they’ll be particularly appreciated at industry and networking events.
Pockets and pouches: When it comes to products like custom padfolios that are designed to help with organization, the more pockets, the better. Pockets are perfect for storing extra documents, pens, resumes, breath mints and more.
Binder rings: Padfolios with binder rings are built to make securely storing paperwork and documents even easier.
Rulers: Whether your recipients are architects, artists, engineers, carpenters, or anything in between, they’re sure to love having a ruler handy in their padfolio.
CD slots: While CDs may no longer be the most popular way to listen to music, they’re still used to compactly store product demos, presentations and more. So, custom padfolios with CD slots can be useful for a wide variety of users.
Tablet holders: In the age of e-readers, iPads and other tablets, padfolios with tablet holders are both convenient and ultra-functional.
Zipper closures: For users who are storing a large number of documents and accessories, zipper closures are the best way to keep everything secured.
Elastic closures: Custom padfolios with elastic closures are both easy and quick to use, making them ideal for users at industry events and business meetings.
Snap closures: Falling between zipper and elastic closures, snap closures are capable of keeping everything in place while still being quick to open and close.

Custom Padfolio Imprint Methods

When shopping for your custom padfolios, you’ll be presented with a variety of options in terms of imprint methods. These are the imprint methods you’ll be able to choose from.

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a tried-and-true imprint method that’s used on clothing, ceramics, glass, padfolios, notebooks and pens alike. Screen printed designs are not only long-lasting—they also have the added benefit of allowing for a rainbow of color choices.

Custom padfolios with screen printed designs, like the Arch Padfolio shown below, can be decorated with logos in either one, two or three colors. The Arch Padfolio also features a front slip pocket, organizer panel, pen loop, clear business card holder and an included writing pad.

Debossing

Debossing is an imprint method that involves stamping a surface so that the chosen design is permanently indented.

It is the opposite of embossing, since embossed custom padfolios sport a raised design rather than a depressed one

The Penmanship Padfolio shown below features a beautifully debossed logo, an elegant horizontal stitching design, a zippered closure, interior pockets, a pen loop and an included writing pad.

Custom Padfolios for Every Budget

In the world of custom padfolios, there’s a product for every budget, occasion and recipient imaginable. For example, padfolios under $5 are ideal for large events where you’re trying to distribute padfolios to the greatest number of people possible.

On the other hand, higher priced padfolios are ideal for showing employee appreciation, impressing high-profile prospects and thanking clients.

Let’s look at some of the best custom padfolios available in four price tiers.

Under $5

These custom padfolios are all available for less than $5, and are perfect for handing out at a trade show, large conference or school.

Singular Padfolio

The super-sleek Singular Padfolio comes in a downright staggering array of vibrant colors. From tranquil teal to eye-catching red, the choice is yours.

It features a large interior pocket, business card holder and small interior pocket that’s perfect for holding a calculator or CD. Plus, a 30-page notepad is included.

Viva Junior Padfolio

Whatever your logo is, the slim Viva Junior Padfolio will complement it perfectly in a selection of bright colors.

Each of these custom padfolios comes with a clear business card holder and a 20-page notebook.

Under $10

These custom padfolios are priced under $10, making them ideal for smaller conferences and industry events.

Companion Padfolio

The Companion Padfolio is a perfect example of a custom padfolio that provides a professional look for an affordable price.

It’s crafted from luxe-looking UltraHyde material for a leather-like look, and sports a pen holder, three horizontal pockets and 30-page notepad with subtle stitching on the cover.

FilePro Deluxe Padfolio

If you’re looking for a modern aesthetic, the FilePro Deluxe Padfolio will be right up your alley.

It’s available in a selection of bold translucent colors, and is equipped with a five-pocket accordion file, two card holders, two CD holders, pen loop, bungee cord closure and included writing pad.

Under $25

At a higher price tier, these under-$25 padfolios are fantastic for students or showing employee appreciation.

Durahyde Exec Brief-Padfolio

Don’t let the “executive” title fool you. Sure, the Durahyde Exec Brief-Padfolio is great for business professionals, but its notebook and organizational pockets make it a superb choice for students, too.

This custom padfolio is ultra-popular with a variety of customers, including educators from elementary schools to universities, as well as agencies and public service offices from military branches to letter carriers.

The sophisticated faux leather cover shows off your school logo or agency insignia in three different ways: keep it simple with a screen print, get classic tone-on-tone style with debossing or amp up the contrast with a foil imprint.

Urban Deluxe Padfolio

The Urban Deluxe Portfolio pairs stylish faux leather with a wealth of organizational tools to create a custom padfolio that’s as functional as it is contemporary.

It’s outfitted with a secure zipper closure, pen loops, multiple business card holders and several interior pockets.

As an added bonus, it includes a writing pad with a color-coordinated privacy cover.

Under $50

Crafted from only the highest-quality materials and equipped with the best features available, these under-$50 padfolios are sure to make a lasting impression.

Try handing these custom padfolios out to high-performing employees, star students, important clients and high-profile prospects.

Zip It Organizer Padfolio

Simply put: the Zip It Organizer Padfolio is everything you could ever want in a custom padfolio.

Made from gorgeous faux leather, this padfolio is ready for every meeting with several business card holders, multiple internal pockets, a color-coordinated pen holder, space for a tablet and a secure zipper closure.

All-In-One Power Bank Portfolio

The All-In-One Power Bank Portfolio is the crème de la crème of multitasking padfolios.

It’s visually appealing with a leather-like vinyl cover and understated stitching, and provides plenty of power with a built-in 5,000 mAh power bank to charge tech devices on the go.

It also includes four card slots, a frosted smartphone sleeve, a document slot, and hook and loop tabs to secure a tablet in place.

Promotional Notebooks, Journals and Notepads

Useful for notes, reminders and recording upcoming events, notebooks are an ultra-portable tool that everyone can appreciate.

Even in an age of endless calendar and note apps, nothing beats the reliability and permanence of handwritten notes in a compact, beautiful notebook. If that notebook is imprinted with your custom logo, all the better.

You can tell notebooks, notepads and journals apart by looking at their binding and cover.

Notebooks tend to:

Be securely bound along the sides of the paper, typically with a metal spiral.
Include a cover.

Notepads often:

Are Bound at the top.
Allow pages to be easily removed.

Finally, journals are usually:

Bound with stitching along the side.
Equipped with a durable cover.

So, why should your organization invest in promotional notebooks, notepads or journals? It all comes down to versatility. All three have a broad range of uses and can be distributed at an array of occasions.

For example, notebooks are perfect for:

Trade shows, conferences and other industry events.
Dentists’ and doctors’ offices.
Teacher, school and student giveaways.
Company onboarding
Financial firms.
Bookstore and office supply store complimentary gifts.

Let’s take a look at the options you can select when shopping for your promotional notebooks, notepads and journals.

Promotional Notebook and Journal Materials

As with custom padfolios, promotional notebooks and journals are available in an abundance of materials. Here are some of the many materials you’ll be able to choose from.

Eco-Friendly Materials

If your recipients are environmentally conscious, they’ll love receiving a promotional notebook or journal crafted from eco-friendly materials that support the planet while looking great.

In fact, 42 percent of consumers have a more favorable opinion of advertisers if the promo product they receive are environmentally friendly, according to ASI’s Global Ad Impressions Study.

Such materials include recycled cardboard, cork and cotton canvas, all of which are biodegradable and renewable.

The Recycled Doodle Freely Notebook pictured below features a hard cover made from recycled materials, as well as 80 pages of both lined and unlined paper for notes and drawings.

Denim and Linen

If you’re after a look that’s cozy and relaxed, you may want to check out promotional notebooks and journals crafted from denim and linen. Denim is made from cotton, while linen is woven from flax.

The Denim Bound Notebook featured below has a denim cover in a classic shade of dark blue, as well as an elastic fabric closure, faux leather pen holder and included bamboo pen. Inside are 96 pages of lined paper.