16 Best Paper Planners (2024): Weekly and Daily Planners, Pens, Stickers, and a

Buying a new planner gives me an endorphin rush like no other, whether it’s for a new school semester, work year, or a much-needed fresh start. A good one should help you stay on track without overwhelming you. Some folks on WIRED’s Gear team prefer paper planners over digital tools. Plus, writing things down has the added benefit of improving retention.

There’s no such thing as the best paper planner, but I’ve grilled WIRED staff for their favorites and have tested a ton on my own. Once you find something that works for you, read our guides on work-from-home gear, the best digital notebooks, and the best laptop backpacks for more.

Updated January 2024: We’ve added more planners we like, including options from My PA Planner, Brass Monkey, Miquelrius, and Levenger.

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Weekly Planners

Weekly planners are some of the most popular types of paper planners. They’re great for students, professionals, and parents who need to plan each day but also see the entire week.

No matter how many perfectly adorable planners I try and love, I’ve been repurchasing Happy Planners since 2017—though I’ve switched from a vertical layout to a large dashboard (there is also a horizontal style). These planners have room for organizing work and to-do lists with enough extras for other planning and notes without feeling overwhelmed. The divider pages are cute and sometimes include phrases and quotes, but they aren’t unbearably corny (usually).

The Happy Planner is almost infinitely customizable. Stock and themes fluctuate throughout the year, but in addition to the layouts already mentioned, you can choose between Classic, Skinny Classic, Mini, or Big sizes, and dated or undated pages. There are daily planners, ones tailored to teachers and students, among many others. You can get extension packs to add a few more months or to keep track of things like your budget and fitness goals. If you need it, the Happy Planner probably has it.

If the Happy Planner isn’t for you, you might lean more toward the Erin Condren LifePlanner (ECLP for short). WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe says it’s the Rolex of paper planners. It’s one of the most popular for weekly-spread enthusiasts, with gorgeous layouts and room for notes or doodles. It’s customizable and there are extra touches, like a storage pocket and snap-in ruler. Together, these features aren’t cheap (or lightweight), but Strampe has used an ECLP for the past three years, and it’s her favorite system of them all (and makes a great gift).

Once you find the size and cover you like, finish designing it with your desired layout—hourly, horizontal, or our favorite, vertical—choose a coil color and internal color scheme, plus add your name or quote to the cover. The minimal Focused Planner can’t be personalized as much, but you can add a monogram and choose the coil. A cheaper version is available from Target, but you lose the customization options.

I still have nightmares of being in school and having no idea what or when my next class is. If that’s you, Class Tracker’s first three pages are designated for outlining your semester schedule from Monday to Sunday, 6 am to midnight.

Like most planners, there are monthly calendars, but the weekly pages shine. Each day gets a section for things to remember, tests, papers, or projects due that day, and larger spots for assignments and a daily plan. There’s a Self-Care Corner for non-school things you should focus on and a countdown box for something you’re looking forward to. The only thing I want is tabs to easily sift through months. The planner pictured here is the college version, but there are middle school and high school options.

This planner is hefty, but it’s full of pages for business owners to organize their thoughts and plans along with their weekly tasks (the PA stands for personal assistant). The first section is for filling out your mission and goals, marketing plans, and finances. Each month, you get spaces for goals, projects, and a social media content planner for the next 30 or so days. Then there are weekly overviews like the other planners here, broken down by hours with spots for that day’s goals, and weekly notes and expenses.

There are also little illustrations for tracking water intake and minutes of meditation and exercise. At the end of each week, a weekly review section gives you space for achievements or misses, sales, and subscribers, plus a brainstorming space for the following week.

There are a lot of quirky planners, but Ban.do might be my favorite. It’s the cool aunt of the planner world. The art and included stickers are incredible—cowboy…