Idaho Notary Supplies: Stamps, Journals, and How to Avoid Overpriced Packages

What You Actually Need

For a traditional paper commission, Idaho notaries need exactly two mandatory items: a $10,000 surety bond (purchased before you apply) and a compliant stamping device (purchased after you receive your commission certificate). Everything else is either recommended or optional.

Here's the full supply list, split by requirement level:

Mandatory:

• Surety bond ($30–$130 for a six-year term)
• Physical inked stamp that meets Idaho Code § 51-117 and § 51-118 specifications

Strongly recommended:

• A bound notary journal with numbered pages ($10–$50)
• A secure storage case or locked drawer for your stamp

Optional:

• Errors & Omissions insurance
• A self-inking or pre-inked stamp (vs. a traditional rubber stamp with separate ink pad)
• Certificate pads with pre-printed acknowledgment and jurat language
• A notary carry bag if you do mobile work

Stamp Requirements: What Matters

Your stamp must produce a legible, photographically reproducible inked impression. Idaho law specifies:

• Rectangular stamps: maximum 2.25 inches wide by 1 inch tall
• Circular stamps: maximum 1.75 inches in diameter
• Required text: your name as commissioned, your commission number, and "Notary Public" and "State of Idaho"
• Optional: your commission expiration date (some notaries include it for convenience, but it's not required)
• Prohibited: county names, the state seal, decorative graphics, or any other text not authorized by statute

A basic self-inking rectangular stamp from a reputable manufacturer runs $15 to $30. That's your actual cost for a compliant stamp.

The Package Trap

The major notary supply companies — NNA, Notary Public Underwriters, American Association of Notaries — sell pre-assembled packages that bundle your bond, stamp, journal, and sometimes E&O insurance into a single purchase. Prices range from $80 to over $200.

These packages aren't scams, but they're often not good deals either. Here's what a typical NNA Idaho package includes and what you'd pay buying each item separately:

NNA Basic Package (~$164): Bond + stamp + course access + certificate holder If you bought separately: Bond ($40–$60) + stamp ($15–$25) + free Secretary of State course = roughly $55–$85

NNA Complete Package (~$218): Everything above plus E&O insurance, journal, and a carry case If you bought separately: Bond ($40–$60) + stamp ($15–$25) + journal ($10–$20) + E&O ($50–$100) = roughly $115–$205

The difference narrows at the high end, but for a basic commission where you don't need E&O insurance, buying your bond from one vendor and your stamp from another typically saves $50 to $80 over the convenience of a package.

Where to Buy Your Bond

Several surety companies write Idaho notary bonds. Premiums for the mandatory $10,000 six-year bond typically range from $30 to $130, depending on the company and any credit-related underwriting. National providers like Surety Solutions, Notary Bonding, and the surety divisions of major insurance carriers all serve Idaho.

You can also get your bond through the NNA, Notary Public Underwriters, or other notary supply companies — they partner with surety companies to bundle the bond with their stamp packages.

Price is the main differentiator here. The bond itself is a standard financial instrument; a $40 bond from one company provides the same $10,000 protection as a $100 bond from another.

Where to Buy Your Stamp

Any reputable rubber stamp manufacturer can produce an Idaho-compliant notary stamp if you provide them with your commission certificate. Online options include:

• Notary supply specialists: NNA, Notary Public Underwriters, SimplyStamps
• General stamp manufacturers: Rubberstamps.com, office supply retailers with custom stamp services
• Local print shops: Some Idaho print and office supply shops handle notary stamps

When ordering, verify that the vendor asks for your commission certificate or commission number. Any manufacturer that produces a stamp without verifying your commission is cutting a corner that could result in a non-compliant seal.

The Journal Decision

Idaho law does not require traditional paper-based notaries to keep a journal. But the Secretary of State strongly recommends it, and for good reason: a journal is your primary defense if a notarization is ever questioned. Without a journal entry, you have no independent record of who appeared before you, when, or what document was involved.

A bound journal with sequentially numbered pages costs $10 to $50. For the protection it provides, skipping it to save a few dollars is hard to justify.

RON notaries, by contrast, are required to maintain an electronic journal — that's mandated by IDAPA 34.07.01 and typically handled by your RON platform.

The Idaho Notary Commission Guide includes a vendor-neutral supply checklist and cost comparison that breaks down exactly what you need, what you don't, and where the real savings are.

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