Despite our digital age of calendar apps and online appointment portals, printed calendars are more popular than ever. And for good reason. Research shows that people who use printed calendars “develop higher quality plans and are more successful in plan fulfillment.” 

Unlike mobile calendars and apps, printed calendars come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, each with its own purpose. But how do you know which calendar size will set you up for plan-making success? In this article, we’ll cover the most popular calendar sizes and how you can choose the best calendar for your needs.

Understanding Different Calendar Sizes

Printed calendars come in a range of standard (and custom) sizes. Their size/ dimensions depend on the type of calendar it is. Choosing the correct calendar size boils down to what you plan to use it for and where you need to use it. 

Pocket calendars, for instance, are naturally smaller because they’re for everyday tasks on the go. While wall calendars for family scheduling or project planning at work are larger so you (and others) can easily see your plans. Let’s dive into the most popular calendar sizes on the market and how they could benefit you.

Popular Calendar Sizes

Wall Calendar Size

A wall calendar is one of the most common calendars for personal and professional use. You can easily view your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule when hung on the wall. They’re also ideal for customizing with family photos or artwork. 

The most common wall calendar size is 11” x 8.5”. Of course, you’ll find larger wall calendars at 12” x 12” or smaller ones at 8.5” x 5.5”. 

If you have limited wall space, opt for a smaller wall calendar. Likewise, choose a larger size if you need more writing space and have room for it.

Common Uses for Wall Calendars

• Home decor
• Scheduling events, reminders, and appointments for the family
• Co-scheduling and collaborative planning at home or work
• Project planning at work
• Student course scheduling and planning

Wall calendars of all sizes come with a host of benefits. For one, they’re highly visible and accessible, keeping everyone in the know about upcoming plans. They also boast ample writing space convenient for listing your plans, especially on those busy days. 

Desk Calendar Size

Perfect for home, school, or the office, desk calendars are a type of standing flip calendar, meaning they sit propped up on your workspace surface. Similarly, desk pad calendars lay flat on your desk, taking up more real estate yet offering much more room to pencil in your appointments and other upcoming to-dos.

When choosing a desk calendar size for a standing flip calendar, consider whether you prefer a wider and shorter format such as 10” x 4.5”, or a taller version that takes up less horizontal space on the desk, such as 8.5” x 5.5”.

Common Uses for Desk Calendars

• A quick-glance view of your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule
• Detailed project planning at work
• Inputting and tracking personal appointments or work-related meetings
• Scheduling course dates and assignment due dates for students

Desk calendars are popular for their accessibility. Any time you use your workspace, your desk calendar is in plain view, allowing you to add new plans and cross off those you’ve already done. Plus, they’re compact and won’t clutter your desk.

Pocket Calendar Size

You can pop a pocket calendar into your bag or slide it into your back pocket, taking it wherever you go. Unlike the calendar on your phone, a pocket calendar doesn’t require charging. And if you’ve ever had your phone run out of battery while out and about, you know how frustrating it is not to have access to your itinerary (or anything else).

The standard pocket calendar size is 3.5” x 6”.

Common Uses for Pocket Calendars

• Personal and professional scheduling on the go
• Keeping track of personal appointments and professional engagements from anywhere
• Convenient for students for assignment scheduling and due dates that can change
• Family shopping lists and weekly meal planning
• Used for marketing and generating brand awareness

Large Calendar Sizes

Some of the most common large calendars include canvas and poster styles. Designed for greater visibility, they’re useful in multiple settings, especially collaborative environments like conference rooms and classrooms. They are easily readable due to their size and also offer a lot of space for writing notes or recording multiple events.

Large calendar sizes can vary, but the most common sizes are 16” x 20” and 18” x 24”.

Common Uses for Large Calendars

• Tracking work project timelines and deliverables
• A collective group or family calendar that everyone can easily engage with and contribute to.
• Used in classrooms to display daily activities and assignment schedules
• For sports teams to track practices, games, and tournament schedules

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Calendar Size

Purpose and Environment

You don’t just want to choose any calendar size without considering a few key factors. Instead, think about how you plan to use the calendar and where you want to use it. Doing this will save you money (from buying a calendar that’s too big or won’t work for you).

For example, if you’re a high school teacher who needs to post a classroom schedule that the students can easily access, you’ll need a large calendar size that your students can access and read.

Or, if you’re renting an apartment and your landlord doesn’t allow wall hangings, a desk calendar might be more suitable for your needs. 

Let’s say you have a large family with a busy schedule — after-school sports, dentist appointments, PTO meetings — you name it. A large wall calendar will likely be best to keep everyone in the loop about what’s going on daily and for the entire month.

What if you’re not planning to use the calendar yourself? Perhaps you’re a business owner and you’re looking for a perfect token of appreciation for your clients. Sending custom calendars to your clients is a great way to strengthen those relationships. Before you choose a size, consider how you would like the recipient to use the calendar. Smaller desk calendars are more suitable for an office space, but larger wall calendars can be taken home for your clients to enjoy in a more relaxed setting. 

Readability and Space

Calendar size can impact the readability of a calendar. For instance, a smaller pocket calendar won’t have the same font size or writing space as a large poster calendar. The same goes for the layout. Where a wall calendar can give you a full monthly view, pocket calendars may have a daily or weekly layout on each page.

If you plan to pencil in multiple events, deadlines, etc., you’ll need adequate space to accommodate them. Anything you put on your calendar should be legible and readable to anyone who views it. Going with a large calendar size will likely meet your needs. 

Aesthetic and Design Considerations

A custom calendar is an everyday example of functional art. It’s as useful as it is personal and artsy. Your chosen theme, design, font, and layout will impact which calendar size you choose and what it can (or can’t) accommodate.

Let’s say you’re ready to create a calendar the whole family can use. First, you want it to be big enough that they’ll notice it. So, a small desk calendar is out of the running. You also want to make it fun by including silly photos of everyone so they’re more likely to engage with it.

In this case, you’ll likely need a large wall calendar with much more space for family photos as well as room for writing. Also, since you’re going with a family theme, you can upload your pictures easily. The color and shape of those pictures will guide you as you choose your color scheme and layout. 

Before you settle on a calendar size, take into account your design preferences and make sure to find the dimensions that make the design truly shine.

PrintingCenterUSA’s Calendar Printing Services

Now that you know how to find the right calendar size, it’s time to make your planning and scheduling dreams a reality!

PrintingCenterUSA is a true leader in the custom calendar printing world. With our customer-first approach and focus on innovative and high-quality products, we do whatever it takes to deliver what you’re looking for on time every time. 

You’ll also enjoy access to a wide range of calendar printing options! The easy-to-use design tool, predesigned templates and layouts, and our live customer service team standing by will ensure you get the custom calendar you’ve been looking for.

Let our team at PrintingCenterUSA pencil in your custom calendar project on our company calendar today!

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