Finding the best photo album for your photos isn’t always easy. With all the different colors and sizes, there are so many to choose from. But having photos in an album makes it easier to share and look at. And that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Photos should be seen, not just piled up in a cupboard.
Our top pick is this Rustic Town leather cover photo album. It is big, stylish, and will protect your prized photos.
What Is the Best Photo Album?
There are tons of different types of photo albums. You can choose between simple “magnetic” albums where a flap of clinging plastic holds the photos in place. Or your album can have plastic pockets to simply slip the pictures in. Finally, you can use glue or corners to fix photos, tickets, or postcards into a “scrapbook” style album. The best photo album is the one that works for you.
Before we look at the albums we’ve chosen, here’s a summary of them all.
- Handcrafted genuine leather, wrap closure
- High quality acid-free cotton rag paper
- Holds 200 4 x 6-inch or 5 x 7-inch photos
- Versatile use for weddings, travel, and scrapbooking
- Handcrafted, stylish leather design
- Gold-embossed accents, acid-free vellum
- Holds 120 4 x 6-inch or 4 x 7-inch photos
- Lifetime guarantee, assembled in Maine
- Combines analog charm with modern design
- Holds 200 photos, easy assembly
- Archival-grade, acid-free art paper
- Customizable 3 x 3-inch cover window
- Deluxe raised rounded spine design
- Holds 200 photos with memo area
- Bidirectional pages for versatility
- Archival-quality paper is acid and PVC-free
- Self-adhesive clear plastic overlays
- Holds popular print sizes, including panoramics
- Stainless steel screw-post binding for unlimited refills
- Deluxe, washable faux leather padded cover
- High-quality durable PU leather cover
- Holds various sizes of photos and tickets
- Dust-free, waterproof preservation
- Perfect gift for special occasions
- Padded cover with front frame
- Holds 24 4 x 6-inch photos
- Clear pockets, black mesh background
- Uses acid and PVC-free paper
- Sturdy, elegant design for durability
- Archival-quality sleeves protect photos
- Compact size for easy portability
- 2-pack album set for extra storage
- Elegant design for timeless memories
- High-quality paper fits various photo sizes
- Over 800 adhesive tabs included
- Convenient storage pockets for mementos
- Spacious layout for various photo sizes
- Quality self-adhesive pages preserve memories
- Stylish PU leather cover with photo window
- Perfect gift for special occasions
The Best Photo Albums in More Detail
Now let’s look at what each of our recommendations has to offer.
1. Genuine Leather Photo Album: Rustic Town, Scrapbook Style
| Brand |
Brand
RUSTIC TOWN
|
| Size |
Size
12 x 8.7 inches (30.5 x 22 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Scrapbook
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.7 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Acid-free cotton rag pages with interleaves
|
| Best For |
Best For
Storing a mixture of sizes and items with style
|
This Rustic Town leather photo album will look great on your shelves or coffee table. It has an Indiana Jones vibe about it. The cover is held closed by a flap and leather strap. I confess this is a little bit of a triumph of style over function. But this album is for style-conscious people.
There’s nothing quite like leather photo albums for looking classy. And the leather is soft and supple and will only improve with age.
The pages are made from acid-free cotton rag. There is a patterned, semi-transparent interleaf between all the pages. You’ll need glue or adhesive photo corners to add your photos. But you can mix and match sizes, labels, and other media to the pages.
For stylish flexibility, the Rustic Town photo album is a great choice. It comes nicely nestled in a presentation and storage box. Its success as a photo album will depend on the quality of the glue or photo corners that you use.
2. Gallery Leather Acadia Tan Photo Album 11.75 x 10.5
| Brand |
Brand
Gallery Leather
|
| Size |
Size
11.75 x 10.5 inches (29.9 x 26.7 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Bonded leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Pocket, loose-leaf
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Mix and match various inserts, lifetime guarantee
|
| Best For |
Best For
Scrapbooking and storing mixed media
|
This Gallery Leather photo album is a good choice if you’re looking for a big leather album. It’s not as quaint as the Rustic Town album, but it has some great features. It is a loose-leaf design, which means you can mix and match the inserts to your photos.
You can add inserts for photos of three different sizes. They are 4 x 7 inches (10 x 17.7 cm), 5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.7 cm), and 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm). You can also choose black scrapbooking inserts.
You can also add photo notes in the 4 x 6-inch leaves. They come on a sheet, making it easier to write or print on than if they are in the album.
The inserts are free from PVC and acid. Like all Gallery Leather products, the whole photo album carries a lifetime guarantee. The ability to mix and match the contents is a real benefit to this album.
3. Kolo Hudson 2up Photo Album
| Brand |
Brand
Kolo
|
| Size |
Size
8.25 x 8.75 inches (20.95 x 22.23 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Cloth-covered board
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Pockets
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
12 different colors, quality paper with room for notes
|
| Best For |
Best For
Hard-wearing storage of photos
|
One neat feature of the Kolo Hudson is the archival acid-free paper. Even though it has pocket-style photo storage, the pockets are fixed to high-quality paper. This means you can write any notes or memories right next to the photo.
A three-inch square window on the front can be used for a cover picture. The book cloth cover material is durable and should last a long time. The album comes in 12 different colors as well as black leather. There is also a 3up version with space for 300 4 x 6-inch (10 x 15 cm) photos.
Kolo says that the Hudson 2up is the best-selling premium album in the US. And it’s easy to see why, as it offers incredible quality and ease of use.
4. 200-Pocket Euro Bonded Leather Photo Album 4x6 Prints
| Brand |
Brand
Pioneer Photo Albums
|
| Size |
Size
9.25 x 9.25 inches (23.5 x 23.5 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Bonded leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Pockets
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Low-cost option, leaves are free of acid, lignin, and PVC
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone needing good-looking storage at a decent price
|
This Pioneer Photo Album solves a common headache. One problem with slip-in leaves for photo albums is that you can normally only insert photos in one orientation. So you have to rotate the whole album to see any photo that’s oriented otherwise.
Pioneer Photo Albums has overcome this problem with a patented slip-in page that accepts prints in either format. At least for the standard 6 x 4-inch picture size.
Alongside the pockets is a “memo section” where you can write details of the photograph. But some users have warned that the ink can smudge easily. So you have to be careful with your pen choice.
The leaves themselves are free from acid, lignin, and PVC. This should ensure a long life for your photos.
The cover is bonded leather. It’s not as fancy as full-grain leather, but it does add a touch of luxury at a more affordable price. At this price, the Pioneer is an affordable solution for collecting your photos with a touch of style.
5. Pioneer X-Pando Magnetic Album, Hunter Green
| Brand |
Brand
Pioneer Photo Albums
|
| Size |
Size
12 x 12.7 inches (31 x 32.4 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Faux leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Magnetic
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
11.4 x 11.75 inches (28.9 x 29.8 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Post-and-screw page fixing for versatility
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking to simply fix multiple sizes of photos
|
The Pioneer Photo Albums X-Pando offers a flexible-format album with so-called magnetic leaves. This is the commonly used term for a card leaf with a plastic overlay. This overlay adheres to the card stock but not the photo.
The inserts are free of acid, lignin, and PVC and are held in place with posts and screws. This means you can add extra pages as and when you wish. The large, almost-square format accommodates everything up to 8 x 10-inch prints.
The free-form possibilities mean you can add concert tickets, postcards, notes, or anything flat to the pages. The Pioneer Photo Albums X-Pando is a great choice for holidays or family celebrations.
6. Large Leather DIY Photo Album
| Brand |
Brand
Zoview
|
| Size |
Size
13 x 13.2 inches (33 x 33.5 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Faux leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Magnetic
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
12.4 x 12.8 inches (31.5 x 32.5 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Post-and-screw page fixing, elegant decorative stitching
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a good-looking but reasonably priced album
|
This Zoview Album is our last large-scale album. The Zoview is another magnetic album with acid-free leaves. And the plastic covers should protect your photos even if you spill liquid on them.
The photo album looks the part. Although it’s only faux leather, it’s nicely stitched to give it a classy look.
The leaves are big enough to hold two 4 x 6-inch or even 5 x 7-inch prints. Like other magnetic pages, you’re not limited to a uniform size or even just to photos. If you run out of space, a simple post-and-screw system allows you to add new pages.
The Zoview provides good-looking storage at a lower price than a premium album. Its flexibility and expandability make it a good choice.
7. Pretty in Pink: KZ-46 Mini Frame Photo Album
| Brand |
Brand
Pioneer Photo Albums
|
| Size |
Size
4.88 x 6.5 inches (13.4 x 16.5 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Plastic
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Pockets
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Cheap and fun photo storage, easily portable
|
| Best For |
Best For
Taking your photos to show family and friends
|
This Pioneer Pretty in Pink album is small and cheap. So far, the cheapest photo album we’ve seen was under $20. But if even that’s more than you want to spend, then this Pioneer photo album might suit you. It is smaller in size and capacity. But with its bright pink cover, it’s larger in attitude.
This is an album simply designed for convenience and compactness. The pockets have no memo space, and will only accept the standard 4 x 6-inch photos in one orientation. But it’s clearly intended for easy portability. And there is a small frame on the front to showcase a cover photo.
Despite this, the Pioneer Mini Album’s pockets are free from acid, lignin, and PVC. So your photos are protected from premature aging better than other budget photo albums.
8. 2-Pack Black Flexible Photo Albums, Holds 48 4 x 6 Photos
| Brand |
Brand
Dunwell
|
| Size |
Size
5.3 x 7.4 inches (13.5 x 18.8 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Flexible plastic
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Pockets
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
4 x 6 inches (10 x 15 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Glare-free and non-cling pockets
|
| Best For |
Best For
Quickly and easily storing your 4 x 6-inch photos
|
This Dunwell photo album is most useful for quickly storing and displaying your favorite photos. If you have a lot of photos to archive, it can be helpful just to get them in an album. Fancy labels and annotations have their place. But sometimes life is too short.
It costs less than $10 for a two-pack of these Dunwell photo albums. But you still get non-cling pockets that are anti-glare and acid-free. That means that you can quickly and easily get the photos safely stored and ready to view. It makes for good photo storage before moving the best ones into something nicer.
9. Elegant Wedding Album - 12 inch
| Brand |
Brand
Your Perfect Day
|
| Size |
Size
12.5 x 12.5 inches (31.8 x 31.8 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Scrapbook
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.7 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Luxurious leather cover, comes complete with mounts
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone who wants a beautiful memento of their special day
|
The Your Perfect Day Wedding Album wears its intent on its (plush leather) sleeve. Even when it looked like printed photos were dying, wedding photos refused to lie down.
Wedding photo albums are as much a part of the big day as the bouquet. And Your Perfect Day’s wedding album has a luxuriously soft leather cover. This gives it a sense of occasion that befits the memories it holds.
The leaves are plain with a semi-opaque protective page between the pages. The album comes complete with 800 photo mounts to fix your photos. The album is big enough to allow a combination of photo sizes and orientations.
It’s a wedding photo album, so it’s important that you can fit in those bigger photos. You can even include some Polaroids if your guests have been taking them. It also has room for service orders and other mementos inside the back cover.
Some people have even used it as a guestbook on the big day, adding photos and mementos later. This Your Perfect Day Wedding Album is a flexible solution to giving your wedding photos a touch of class while keeping them safe. It’s an album you will return to time and again.
10. RECUTMS Self Adhesive Photo Album
| Brand |
Brand
RECUTMS
|
| Size |
Size
13.6 x 13.2 inches (34.5 x 33.5 cm)
|
| Cover Material |
Cover Material
Faux leather
|
| Fixing System |
Fixing System
Magnetic
|
| Max Photo Size |
Max Photo Size
12.5 x 11 inches (31.8 x 27.9 cm)
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Magnetic leaves for flexible arrangements, comes in 12 different colors
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a wedding album that makes a bold statement
|
This RECUTMS wedding album also allows you to use a mixture of photo sizes. But because it’s magnetic, you don’t need to use glue or sticky pads. It also means you can change your mind (and your photo layout).
The photo album protects your photos with pages that are free of lignin, PVC, and acid. The faux leather cover is available in 12 different colors and is buttoned for a classic look. There is a front cover window to make the album more personal.
This RECUTMS photo album is great for a wedding album. It’s got beautiful colors and an elegant finish. And it’s perfect if you want versatile formatting options and no photo corners.
What to Look For in the Best Photo Albums
There are some important questions to ask yourself before choosing your album. Here are some thoughts to help you.
What Purpose Do You Want Your Album to Serve?
You don’t want a leather-bound monster to cart around with you to show your friends photos at the coffee shop. But you don’t want to throw your wedding photos in a dollar store plastic 4 x 6-inch photo wallet. So think about the purpose of each photo album when you choose it.
The best photo albums will display your photos well. But these are your own photos, so pick the best way to show them off.
What’s the Best Way to Stick Your Photos in Your Album?
It’s stating the obvious, but you have to stick your photos in your photo album somehow. Years ago, magnetic albums were cheap nightmares. They lost their stickiness and shed your photos like a Husky sheds hair in the spring. Thankfully, these have improved over the years. They’re certainly better now than the cheap ones of the past.
They’re made of a rigid board and a clear sheet of plastic that you place your photos between. You peel the plastic back, then place your photos and cover them. The plastic adheres to the pages but not the photos.
The benefit is that it’s not as fiddly as using glues or mounts. And it allows you to include other flat objects like tickets or postcards. You must remember to leave enough margin around the photos to give the plastic something to stick to.
Pocket photo albums have plastic sleeves with pockets for you to slip the photos into. The advantage is that it is quick and easy. On the downside, you are restricted to the photo size chosen by the manufacturer.
Scrapbook-style albums provide you with a blank canvas, so to speak. You can choose to stick whatever you want, wherever you want it. The advantage is that you can be very creative. You can place the photos however you want.
If you can draw or write beautifully, you can annotate or illustrate your pages. Like a magnetic album, you can add other elements like place cards from your wedding. The disadvantage is that your photo mounts, glue, or sticky pads have to be good. Otherwise, the photos can come loose.
What Else Should I Consider?
Perhaps the most important is the protection the album gives. I have been careful to choose albums that don’t include chemicals or substances that will harm your photos.
Acid is frequently used in paper production and can damage photos over time. Lignin, a natural part of paper pulp, is what causes it to yellow with age. This is also undesirable in your photo albums. It’s best to look for photo albums with pages that are free from PVC, acid, and lignan.
Conclusion: What Is the Best Photo Album?
There is such a wide range of purposes for a photo album. From the obvious wedding day to a carefully curated record of a holiday, our top pick is the Rustic Town leather photo album. We love its quality look. And as it gets older and more worn, it will look better and better. It’s big enough for most purposes and small enough to be practical.
