Notion Sketch Block: How to Use It & Why It's Not Enough
Everyone wants to draw in Notion. Here's the honest truth: Notion doesn't have a real drawing block. This guide shows you what Notion does offer, how to use it, and the tool that actually solves the problem.
TL;DR — The Truth About Drawing in Notion
As of 2026, Notion does not have a native freehand drawing or sketch block. You can embed external whiteboard tools (like Excalidraw) using the /embed command, but these create separate iframes — you cannot draw on top of your existing Notion content. For drawing directly on Notion pages without embedding, JotLayer is the only Chrome extension that overlays freeform drawing tools (pen, highlighter, shapes, arrows) on top of your page content. JotLayer starts free for 5 pages, with Pro at $3/month including cloud sync. It works on any Chromium browser including Chromebook with stylus support.
What Notion Actually Offers for Drawing
Let's clear up a common misconception. If you search for "Notion sketch block" or "Notion drawing block," you'll find a lot of confusion. Here's what Notion actually gives you:
Notion does NOT have a native sketch/drawing block
Unlike apps like GoodNotes or OneNote, Notion has no built-in freehand drawing canvas. The "sketching" you see in tutorials is always done through embedded third-party tools — not a Notion feature.
What Notion does offer is the /embed block — you can paste a URL from an external whiteboard tool and it renders inside your Notion page as an iframe. This is the closest thing to a "sketch block" that Notion provides.
How to Add a Basic Sketch to Notion (Step-by-Step)
While it's not a native feature, here's how to get a basic drawing canvas into your Notion page using embeds:
Open an external whiteboard tool
Go to a free online whiteboard like Excalidraw (excalidraw.com) or any other whiteboard tool. Create a new board and draw whatever you need.
Get the shareable link
In your whiteboard tool, click "Share" or "Export" and copy the shareable URL. Make sure the link is set to public or viewable by anyone.
Use the /embed command in Notion
In your Notion page, type /embed and select the "Embed" block. Paste the whiteboard URL into the field and click "Embed link."
Resize the embedded canvas
Drag the corners of the embedded block to resize it. You can make it full-width for a larger drawing area, but it's still limited to the iframe boundaries.
Video Tutorials
Watch these tutorials to see the embed method in action — and understand its limitations firsthand:
How JotLayer Draws Directly on Notion (No Embeds)
See the difference: JotLayer draws on top of your Notion page, not inside an embedded iframe.
How to Draw in Notion Using Embeds (The Traditional Way)
This video demonstrates the embedded whiteboard approach — notice how the drawing lives inside a separate box, not on your actual page.
5 Limitations of Notion's Embed "Sketch" Approach
The embed method technically works, but here's why it frustrates most users:
You can't draw ON your content
The embedded sketch lives in a separate box. You can't circle a paragraph, draw an arrow to an image, or annotate a table. Your drawing and your content are completely disconnected.
It requires leaving Notion's flow
To edit your sketch, you need to click into the embed, which opens the external tool. You lose the seamless Notion experience and have to context-switch between apps.
Limited canvas size
The embedded iframe is constrained to a small area on your page. You can resize it, but it's never truly full-page. And scrolling inside an iframe within a scrolling page is a terrible UX.
No offline support
Since the sketch depends on an external URL, it won't load if you're offline or if the third-party service goes down. Your drawings are at the mercy of another service's uptime.
Looks clunky and breaks page aesthetics
An embedded iframe box in the middle of a clean Notion page looks out of place. It doesn't match Notion's design language and makes your page feel cobbled together.
The Better Way: Draw Directly on Notion with JotLayer
JotLayer takes a completely different approach. Instead of embedding an external canvas inside your page, it overlays drawing tools directly on top of your Notion page. You see your text, images, and databases — and you draw right on top of them.
What JotLayer Does Differently
Embed Method vs. JotLayer — Side by Side
| Feature | Notion Embed | JotLayer |
|---|---|---|
| Draws on existing content | ||
| No embedding needed | ||
| Works offline | ||
| Native Notion look & feel | ||
| Annotate images & text | ||
| Free tier available | ||
| Stylus support | Depends on tool | |
| Cloud sync | Depends on tool | Pro plan |
| Setup required | Create account on external tool | Install Chrome extension |
How to Start Drawing on Notion with JotLayer (30 Seconds)
Install JotLayer from the Chrome Web Store
Click the link below or search 'JotLayer' in the Chrome Web Store. It works on Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, and Opera.
Open any Notion page
Navigate to notion.so and open any page you want to draw on. JotLayer activates automatically on Notion pages.
Click the JotLayer icon and start drawing
A minimal toolbar appears. Pick your tool (pen, highlighter, shape, eraser), choose a color, and draw directly on your page. Your drawings are saved automatically.
Pro Tip
JotLayer is perfect for design reviews, student note annotation, visual project management, and quick brainstorming. If you're on a Chromebook with a stylus, JotLayer gives you a GoodNotes-like experience right inside Notion.
Who Needs Drawing on Notion?
Students & Note-Takers
Annotate lecture notes, highlight key concepts, draw diagrams over study materials — all without leaving your Notion workspace.
Designers & Product Teams
Circle UI issues, draw arrows to problem areas, leave visual feedback directly on design docs and spec pages.
Project Managers
Mark up timelines, annotate project boards, add visual status indicators that plain text can't capture.
Teachers & Educators
Grade assignments, add corrections, draw explanations over student submissions — all within shared Notion pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stop Embedding. Start Drawing.
JotLayer is the only tool that lets you draw directly on Notion pages. No embeds, no iframes, no workarounds. Install the free Chrome extension and start sketching in seconds.