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What kind of calendar or planner do you need?
Desk calendar
Ideal for: Quickly referring to important dates and days of the week.
Key features:
- A small desk calendar is typically 3½" x 6" and is essentially a desk accessory.
- Typically has either one or two pages per day. Provides previous, current, and future month references on daily pages. A full–year calendar reference page is usually included as well.
- For maximum organization, opt for ruled pages. Some models also offer half–hour appointment slots.
- Regular–year format.
- Has a plastic, molded base, which allows you to refill it each year. (Refills sold separately). Some bases offer built–in compartments for pens, pencils, pads, rubber bands, and paper clips.
Desk pad calendar
Ideal for: Seeing a whole month at a time and tracking appointments, meetings, and notes.
Key features:
- A desk pad calendar is typically 22" x 17". Some come with eyelets if you prefer to hang up the calendar.
- Generally offers a convenient monthly view (one page per month). Daily blocks provide space for writing in appointments, meetings, and notes. For maximum organization, opt for a desk pad calendar with ruled daily blocks.
- Full–year reference at the top or bottom of each page.
- Most desk pad calendars provide space in the margins for notes.
- Most desk pad calendars are non–refillable, though there are a couple of refillable models.
- Regular–year format.
Wall calendar
Ideal for: Quickly referring to an individual month or entire year.
Key features:
- Comes printed with one month, three months, or entire year per page. One–month variety typically offers the most writing space, with full year offering the least amount.
- Generally offers full–year reference at the top or bottom of each page.
- Hole punched for easy hanging.
- Some models are wire–bound so you can go back to old calendar pages. Others require that you rip off the page at the end of the month.
- Most wall calendars are non–refillable, though there are a couple of refillable models.
- Regular–year format.
Erasable wall planner
Ideal for: Organizing schedules, notes, and messages all in one place for yourself, for the entire office, or for your family.
Key features:
- Offers write–on/wipe–off surface, which allows for easy updates. Simply erase with a dry eraser or damp cloth. (Dry–erase markers and erasers sold separately).
- One–month, two–month, three–month, and 12–month views available. 12–month view has pre–printed dates for one calendar year. One–month, two–month, and three–month views require that you write in dates but, therefore, allows you use the planner for more than one year.
- Some wall planners are specifically designed to track employees’ work/vacation schedules.
- A small number of wall calendars offer a 2–sided erasable planning surface that allows you to jot down notes.
- For maximum versatility, opt for a planner that can be hung vertically or horizontally.
- Typical size is 24" x 36".
Appointment book
Ideal for: Scheduling and tracking appointments. Appointment books are hand–held, portable, and very convenient. Choose from daily, weekly, and monthly format.
Key features:
- Daily format offers the most writing space, with one or two pages dedicated to each day of the year. Provides quarter– or half–hour appointment slots. Weekly or monthly calendar generally printed somewhere on each page for easy reference. Some offer a section for notes or a to–do list.
- Approximately 5" x 7".
- Weekly format displays entire week on either one or two pages, with one column devoted to each day. Typically provides half–hour appointment slots. Some offer a weekly notes section. Sizes range between 5" x 8" and 8" x 11".
- Monthly format presents the entire month on one or two pages. Past and future month references printed on each page. A separate page for general monthly notes is usually included. Typically provides hourly appointment slots.
- All three types generally offer a regular–year format.
- Some models offer a telephone/address section as well as an expense summary section. An advanced appointment book may also have pockets for business cards, computer disks, Post–It® notes, pens, and writing pads.
Tip: For maximum use, look for an appointment book that is refillable and can be used year after year. (Refills sold separately.)
Personal planner
Ideal for: Anyone who is looking for a comprehensive, portable organizational tool. A personal planner allows for scheduling and tracking appointments, taking notes, and keeping all of your personal and professional contact information in one place. Three sizes available: pocket, desk, and folio.
Key features:
- A pocket planner easily fits into a purse, briefcase, or jacket pocket. Portable, but offers the least amount of writing space. Approximately 3¾" x 6¾".
- A desk planner offers more writing space than a pocket planner. Fits in a briefcase or tote bag. Most popular variety. Approximately 5½" x 8½".
- A folio planner provides the most writing space. Best option for coordinating multiple schedules, appointments, phone numbers, and other valuable information. Approximately 8½" x 11".
- Most varieties come with monthly divider tabs and one month of undated calendar pages. Additional dated, note, address, and telephone pages are sold separately.
- Many planners provide additional pockets for loose papers, credit cards, business cards, computer disks, and other essential business tools. Some planners zip or clip closed, so papers and stored items are less likely to fall out.
- Some planners have a page locator, which acts like a bookmark.
- Generally regular–year format and refillable. (Refills sold separately.)
Tip: Make photocopies of the important pages in your planner, such as contact information or meeting notes, just in case you misplace your planner.
