The Best Calendars

Buying Guide for Calendars

Why buy a calendar?

A calendar is an essential tool for staying organized. Many people find that writing things down helps them to remember their tasks; plus, it’s great to have your schedule on display. There are many different calendar options to keep you organized: pocket calendars, desk calendars, wall-mounted calendars, and even dry-erase calendars.

What should you consider when buying a calendar?

• Intended Purpose: The first thing you want to ask yourself when buying a new calendar is where and how it will be used. If you want to streamline your planning to strictly home use, the calendar you choose will be different than the one you might use in an office setting. For example, you may choose a calendar for home with room for notes for planning chores or family vacations. A school calendar may include lesson plans and school events, unlike a home or office calendar. So keep your intended purpose in mind.
• Portable or Stationary: Will you need to carry your calendar with you? Many parents like having a portable calendar to keep activities and events at hand. Portable calendars are also great for people setting fitness goals or for salespeople working on the road. Stationary calendars, however, are perfect for office use and fantastic in a classroom. They also make a great centralized hub for day-to-day planning for families.
• Design: Some people love pretty things more than practical ones, but why not have both? Your calendar doesn’t have to be black and white. You can choose designs with stickers, flowers, your favorite characters, or clean lines. It’s all a matter of taste.

How much line spacing will you need in a calendar?

When buying a calendar or day planner, make sure you have enough line spacing to suit your needs. If you’re making simple notes or jotting down chores, you may need less space than if you’re using your calendar to keep your work and social life organized. If you like taking extensive notes or are trying to keep a whole family organized, be sure you have ample space to write.

Our Picks for the Best Calendars

Pros: This durable and unique whiteboard calendar is compact enough that it won’t take up too much space, so you can access your schedule at a glance. The sticky backing means you can hang it on a non-magnetized fridge, a magnetized fridge, or just about any wall. The surface is easy to clean over and over for 2000 or more uses without staining. And it comes with a long-lasting wet-erase pen, a calendar, a weekly list, and a checklist to keep your whole family organized. The foam backing keeps this calendar sturdy, unlike some bargain brands. It’s designed and manufactured in Denver, Colorado.

Cons: The included wet-erase marker isn’t the best. We suggest buying a separate one to use with this calendar.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a magnetic monthly calendar that’s built to last, this may be the right one for you. Because it’s made for wet-erase markers, you don’t have to worry about accidentally erasing your schedule.

 

Pros: This large wall calendar can help you keep track of all your tasks and family needs for each month of the year and more! In fact, this is an 18-month calendar for a wallet-friendly, affordable price which makes it an excellent value. It’s easy to write and recall all of your notes because the boxes are nice and large. The premium thick paper won’t bleed through and ruin your notes, so they remain legible. And for reference, there are miniature monthly calendars for the rest of the year in the footer of each month.

Cons: It’s very plain.

Bottom Line: For those who enjoy a simple calendar to hang on the wall at home or in the office, this may be a great selection for you. It’s got a price tag that most people can afford and plenty of space between the lines to plan your month.

 

Pros: You’ll likely enjoy this remarkable 2023 wall calendar printed on high-quality, eco-friendly, glossy paper and filled with breathtaking photographs from America’s national parks. Each of the 12 months of 2023 showcases an astonishing view and detailed information about breathtaking sites from coast to coast, plus significant anniversaries and events in park history, holidays, observances, and more! Each 12- x 12-inch calendar page offers ample writing space each day to stay organized. And this calendar features a QR code to learn more about all of the parks protected by the National Parks Foundation.

Cons: This calendar lacks the previous and next month’s calendars on the grid of each page.

Bottom Line: Nature lovers, this may be the best calendar for you! It features over 25 photos of our beautiful National Parks. And proceeds go directly to The National Parks Foundation.

 

Pros: With this easy-to-read calendar clinging to your fridge, you may never miss an appointment again! You can help teach kids the value of staying organized and keep communication on point with your partner or spouse. Everything on this calendar is well-organized with large writing areas in each day so that your schedule is easy to read. And this fridge calendar has a stain-resistant high-performance PET surface. You can erase countless times without any smudgy “ghosting” or staining.

Cons: This calendar does not come with a marker. You must buy one separately.

Bottom Line: If you prefer to keep your schedule centralized for all to see, this refrigerator calendar may be just what you need. It’s great for keeping the entire family’s schedule organized. And it’s easy to read and easy to clean.

 

Pros: This 8- x 6-inch desk calendar is perfect if you need to keep things organized in a compact space. It features an appropriate print celebrating each month of the year. And it’s made from thick, premium paper, so the ink from your notes won’t bleed through to the next month. There are 18 months featured on the calendar, taking you into the following year with ease. Each page features a reference calendar for the previous and next month. And it comes with additional features like a day counter and useful stickers.

Cons: The print in the boxes is a bit small and may be difficult for some people to see clearly.

Bottom Line: Small and mighty, this little desktop calendar offers a lot of features that many small calendars don’t. There’s ample space to take notes and keep your family organized. And there’s even a preview of the following year.

Final Thoughts

There are many calendar options out there to fit your needs, whether you’re looking for something to carry in your purse, keep on your desk, or mount on your wall. There are even dry-erase and wet-erase options for reusability. And most come with extra space to write reminders and help keep you organized.