Our 8 Favorite Paper Planners to Prioritize and Organize Your Life
Dive into our editor-approved mix of monthly planners, academic planners, productivity planners, and more.
Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
In a world of constant tasks and to-dos, it's important to stay on top of them to avoid feeling stressed or overwhelmed. A planner is a great way to do this. While many have made the switch to digital planning, there's still something to be said about sitting down to handwrite your agenda for the days ahead. Call it old-school, but picking up a pen or pencil will help you remember your tasks easier. Plus, as an added bonus, a paper planner makes it appear to others as if you have your life together — even when you don't. Fake it till you make it, right?
For those seeking a new paper agenda, I tapped our team at Woman's Day to share their recommendations for the best planners that they've personally tested, and the answers greatly varied. Favorites included everything from affordable, undated weekly planners and notebooks to luxury, refillable monthly planners. Depending on your intended usage and needs, there's a paper planner on this list to assist you on your 'how-to-get-organized' journey.
If you're looking to organize other areas of your life as well, we have organizing tips, organization gifts, and closet organization storage ideas to read through next.
Pros
- Includes monthly tabs
- Sections for contacts, important dates, and notes
Cons
- Meant for students, so it starts in July 2024
Format and organization are important when it comes to planners but so is design. Fun colors and patterns may excite you and prompt you to use a planner more, or at least that's the case for Deputy Editor Andra Chantim. She likes the variety of patterns Blue Sky offers. They have everything from floral planners to geometric planners to gradient planners and more in a variety of formats: daily, weekly, and monthly.
These bright and beautiful planners are perfect for those who place a high priority on aesthetics. Pair this jewel-toned planner with a solid-colored pink notebook and blue mechanical pencils for a matching work ensemble.
| Size | 5 x 8 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | Multicolor Smoke |
| Type | Academic |
| Length | 12-Months |
Pros
- Includes stickers and movable tabs
- Sections for to-do lists, habit tracking, and notes
Cons
- Minimal color and pattern options
Because I repurchase a new planner every year, I try to stick to something affordable that still has all of the bells and whistles I appreciate. This planner from Burde ticks all of the boxes. It's under $10, organized into weekly spreads, has space to write to-dos, and is small enough to bring to meetings or toss in my work bag.
This budget-friendly planner is perfect for students, interns, young professionals, or anyone who wants to save a buck. And let's not forget the planner's cute fonts and hardcover. You don't have to sacrifice beauty for function with this pick.
| Size | 5.8 x 8.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | 2 pattern options |
| Type | Annual |
| Length | 12-Months |
Global Printed Products Essential Weekly & Monthly Planner 2024-2025
Pros
- Includes daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns
- Includes sticky notes, flags, and a ruler
Cons
- Not available in patterns or designs
Digital Director Kayla Keegan has never been one to color coordinate her to-do lists. She prefers to keep it simple, which is why she's such a big fan of this essential daily, weekly, and monthly planner. It has an old-school design, void of bold graphics, trackers, or fonts, that allows her space to write and customize as she pleases.
This simplistic planner is perfect for minimalists or those seeking room for personalization. Even though the planner is straightforward, it still has everything a person will need to stay organized. In fact, some may argue it has more since it includes daily, weekly, and monthly breakdowns.
| Size | 8.5 x 11 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | White |
| Type | Academic |
| Length | 14-Months |
Pros
- Offered in daily, weekly, and undated formats
- Includes stickers and a ribbon bookmark
Cons
- Not available in patterns or designs
You can't beat the classic — at least, that's what Creative Director Peter Hemmel thinks. This Moleskine daily planner has had the same consistent look for centuries. It's stripped back, leaving just an 8-20 UTC breakdown of the day for users to fill with meetings, classes, self-care time, and more.
This hardcover Moleskine is ideal for anyone seeking an inconspicuous planner because it looks like an ordinary journal from the front. Because Moleskine is such a well-established and well-remarked brand, you can expect good quality from the planner as well.
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| Size | 5 x 8.25 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | 6 color options |
| Type | Annual |
| Length | 12-Months |
Pros
- Includes stickers, a ribbon bookmark, and monthly tabs
- Features unique pages
Cons
- Bulky in size
I'm also a big fan of this bold, retro-looking weekly planner from ban.do. There are charts and graphics for tracking all kinds of data, plus a mix of colorful, unique pages to interact with along the way. It includes everything from a coloring page to a mood tracker to a fill-in crystal ball, and more. Each month is designed by a different artist, making it a vibrant display of illustrations to look forward to every few weeks.
This planner is perfect for data seekers, those wanting to organize multiple areas of their life (not just their agenda), and maximalists.
| Size | 5 x 8.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | 3 pattern options |
| Type | Academic |
| Length | 17-Months |
Pros
- Easily customizable
- Includes clear case to protect cardstock cover
Cons
- Not available in patterns or designs
How many people actually use a planner in its entirety, from the week it starts to the week it ends? Design Director Isabel Abdai certainly isn't one of them. To get the most out of her planner, she prefers MUJI's undated agenda so she can use it whenever she needs it without feeling tied to specific dates.
This agenda is perfect for the occasional planner, minimalist, and/or creative, as the simple appearance leaves a lot of room to personalize with stickers, colorful pens, and more.
| Size | 5.8 x 8.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | Tan |
| Type | Undated |
| Length | 15-Months |
Pros
- Includes stickers
- Can be added to other agenda covers, not just Louis Vuitton
Cons
- Headlines are in French
Twenty years ago, Editor-in-Chief Meaghan B Murphy's husband bought her a small ring agenda cover with refillable pages from Louis Vuitton, and she's used it every year since. The agenda cover has held up incredibly well, requiring only a page refill every 12 months.
The good news is, if you're not looking to invest quite as much in an agenda cover, you can purchase the refillable pages and add them to an agenda of your own. This planner is a great fit for the designer fan on a budget or user who prefers to refill rather than repurchase a new planner every year.
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| Size | 3.1 x 4.9 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | Colorful Illustration |
| Type | Annual |
| Length | 12-Months |
Pros
- Personalizable
- High-quality materials
Cons
- Small, pocket-size
This beloved London-based brand is another one of Peter Hemmel's favorites. It oozes luxury from every corner and crevice. It's silk-lined, bound in crocodile-embossed calf leather, and features gold gilt-edges. Best of all, it can be personalized with a symbol or initials, making it a great gift idea.
This stylish planner is perfect for the luxury lover or small agenda fan, as its size is pocket-friendly, making it easy to carry from meeting to meeting.
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| Size | 3.5 x 5.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Color/Pattern | 5 color options |
| Type | Mid-Year |
| Length | 15-Months |
What to Look For When Buying a Planner
✔️ Size: When buying online, especially, make sure to check the size measurements of the planner. The standard planner size tends to be around 5 x 8 inches, as it's small enough to fit in most bags but large enough to write all of your necessary information. For something more compact, opt for a pocket-sized planner (3.7 x 6.7 inches). If you struggle to read small text, consider purchasing a large planner (8.5 x 11 inches).
✔️ Organization: Arguably, the most important feature is how the planner is organized. Is it a daily, weekly, or monthly planner? For those with a busy day-to-day schedule, a daily planner can help you map out your plans by the hour. For those recording multi-day tasks and assignments like students, a weekly planner will be the most helpful. For those with large-scale plans and long-term to-dos, a monthly planner will suit you best. Thankfully, most planners feature at least two types of organization, such as weekly and monthly. By identifying your needs and how you hope to use the planner, you can pinpoint which organization will suit you best.
✔️ Type: Depending on your age and profession, you may need a particular type of planner. For most, a standard planner will do — one that follows the calendar year. Students, on the other hand, will likely get the most use out of an academic planner that starts in July/August and goes until July/August of the next year. Teachers, for example, will likely find a lesson planner the most helpful in organizing classes. Depending on what you hope to plan, there are also health and fitness planners, wedding planners, financial planners, and more.
✔️ Features: Are you keen on having a habit tracker, notes section, stickers, or built-in bookmark? If so, make sure to check out the features of the planner. A habit tracker is a great way to track progress on personal goals while a to-do list section is perfect for jotting down chores and small tasks that could otherwise slip off your radar.
Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
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