It’s almost time to leave this crazy year behind and welcome the next 12 months with open arms. We’ve put together a list of our top 7 best desk calendars for 2021 so you can get ready and start planning. Let’s make next year the best so far and one to remember – for all the right reasons.
Each item handpicked below is a little different from the rest and with a variety of styles and sizes there’s something for every office or home. As well as for planning appointments and jotting reminders, don’t forget to schedule in some “you” time – with all that 2020 has gifted us, I’m sure you deserve it!
We may well live in a digital age, but you can’t beat having your plans and appointments at your fingertips with a cool calendar pad – and you don’t need to charge it up! So let’s get organised and greet 2020 with open arms and a winning smile!
Before taking a closer look at our top 7, we’ve put together a short buyer’s guide to help you choose the right calendar for you, your colleagues or your loved ones.
The Desk Calendar Buyer’s Guide
Very briefly, here are some considerations to help you choose the right desk calendar :
Does Size Matter?
Are you limited for space or are you looking for a jumbo pad to dominate your desk? Will your planner proudly adorn the wall or are you looking for something you can also take out and about with you? How big do your boxes need to be? All the desk pads below are month by month with boxes to write your daily appointments in. Go for bigger boxes if you’re a busy bunny. (Or have large writing.)
Is Paper Quality Important?
Will you be using sharpies? Will the whole family be using your desk pad? Are you a heavy-handed note maker? If so, you’ll want to look for a higher quality pad that’s bleed and feather resistant. If you’ll just be jotting a few notes in pencil here and there the quality isn’t so important.
Are You Green?
If so, look out for environmentally friendly products – recycled paper and vegetable or soy based inks. Also keep your eyes peeled for manufacturers who have an environmental conscience which is reflected in their materials and manufacturing methods.
Keeping Things Tidy
Does your desk have a lot of traffic? Maybe you’ll need protected corners to avoid page curling. Are you a neat freak? (No offense – I am as well!) Look for a calendar with perforated pages so they tear off tidily. No mess please!
What’s Your Style?
Are you a minimalist who prefers a no thrills, no spills design or is your desk longing for splashes of color to keep things looking beautiful? Take a look at the different styles and designs below – we’re sure there’s something for everyone.
If you choose the wrong desk (or wall) calendar you’re going to be stuck with it for the year ahead. (Or 2 as some cover 24 months.) Now, we’re not suggesting that your whole world will fall apart if you choose one that doesn’t quite suit your needs, but by taking a few moments to browse through the options below, you could be setting yourself up for a year of happy planning and organisation…and who doesn’t need that?
Best Desk Calendars for 2021
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The Maalbok Large Desk Calendar
This 12 month calendar running from January through December 2021 can be used on your desk or it has holes for wall hanging. Whichever use you put it to, the large planner has good sized ruled blocks for note making and at the bottom of each monthly page is a full year calendar for at-a-glance referencing.
The paper is premium quality which is ink-proof and feather resistant for a smoother writing experience. The pages are perforated for easy tearing and there are 2 corner protectors so you can keep your planner looking neat and tidy throughout the year.
Each monthly page is a pleasure to reveal and the visual arrangement is simple but effective. The sheets are beautifully colored and the patterns are understated and elegant. This tastefully designed planner would look good in any surroundings.
Tastefully designed with plenty of room for notes, the Maalbok calendar would be a colorful addition to any environment. Great quality and suitable for use on the desk or on the wall.
Key features :
- 22″ x 16.8″
- 12 months
- Large for desk or wall hanging
The Reminder Binder 18 Month Desk Calendar
With this eye catching and colourful 18 month planner covering from January 2021 to June 2022, you can’t fail to be ultra-organised and on top of EVERYTHING! It features lists, checklists, worksheets, holiday dates and blank planning pages you can customise to your individual needs. With more than 300 stickers, you can really keep on top of bill payments, finances, even gift buying!
The smaller size makes this pad ideal for smaller workspaces or you can take it with you when you’re on your travels and stay up to date when you’re on the go. There are holes already punched so you can wall hang as well. This would make a fabulous gift for friends, family and work colleagues, not only suitable for business, but also for the home and house keeping.
At the back of the calendar is a dry erase poster where you can customise family details – ideal for someone holding the fort while you attend an appointment, or even for baby-sitters or dog walkers. This is a great little all-rounder!
This is a definite must for the super-organised planners amongst us – everything you could need for bill paying, gift buying, daily doing and thinky things!
Key features :
- 12″ x 9″
- 18 months
- Great design with stickers
- Smaller size – ideal for smaller desks or for taking out and about.
The 2021 – 2022 Peanuts Calendar Pad
Why not add a little fun to your planning with this cute calendar pad, featuring all of your favourite Peanuts characters. Including daily boxes for appointments and reminders plus a full length notes section on the right hand side. All major U.S. holidays are noted and this calendar runs for 24 months from January 2021 to December 2022.
Magnets are included in the pack, so if you don’t have room on your desk, you can put your planner on your filing cabinet, or any other metal object. Or even on the refrigerator so EVERYONE can remember those important dates.
The Peanuts pad is made with good quality, non-smear paper which has a high recycled content and is better for the planet. If you’re not satisfied with this product for any reason there’s a 100% money back guarantee. (Terms and conditions apply.)
How could you fail to love this Peanuts and characters 2-year planner? Bring a little fun to your desk!
Key features :
- 16¼” x 11″
- 24 months
- Cute and colorful
- High recycled content
The AT-A-GLANCE Monthly Desk Pad Set
The AT-A-GLANCE deskpad is a simple black and white calendar which features large boxes for daily appointments and reminders. There’s a lined area at the top of the pad for making general notes and there’s a yearly rolling review calendar at the bottom which starts from the previous month and covers the following 11.
The superior quality paper is ink bleed resistant, there are holes for wall hanging at the top and a protector on each bottom corner so your pages stay tidy and curl-free.
In addition to the desk (or wall) pad, this pack includes 2 notepad refills which are compatible with Day-Timer and Franklin Covey organizers (sold separately.) Paper size is 3¾ inches by 6¾ inches and there are 24 pages in each refill. The pages are undated and lined with pretty watercolor flower designs on each header.
A great gift for the minimalist, this simple black and white pad is a good size and is complimented by 2 undated organizer refills for extra note taking and memory making . It’s also the Amazon #1 Best Seller in Desk Calendars.
Key features :
- 21¾” x 17″
- 12 months
- Simple monochrome design
- Pack features 2 x notepad refills
- #1 Best Seller – Amazon
The AT-A-GLANCE Jumbo Desk Calendar
As with the previous calendar, this planner is a very simple black and white design which features a lined notes section at the top and a rolling yearly reference calendar at the bottom for better planning. The daily blocks are lined and give that little bit more room for notes and appointments.
The superior quality paper is ink bleed resistant and there are holes at the top of the pad for wall hanging. To keep everything neat and looking fresh, the pages are perforated to make for tidy tearing and the bottom corners have plastic page protectors.
This calendar doesn’t come with extras like the previous pad, but with the extra inches on these jumbo sized pages you should have plenty of room to fit all your important reminders for the days and weeks ahead.
This jumbo desk calendar in monochrome gives you loads of room for planning and organizing the days, weeks and months ahead from January through December 2021. So, if size counts and bigger is better, go for the jumbo!
Key features :
- 24″ x 19″
- 12 months
- Jumbo size – more space for notes and appointments
The Blueline 2021 Coloring Desk Pad
Are you a doodler when you’re left holding on the phone? Do you tend to scribble when you’re deep in thought, planning the next moves to build your empire? Well, with this pad you can go one step further – the doodling is done for you and it’s ready for coloring! (But don’t worry – there’s plenty of room for more doodles!)
There are 12 monthly botanica designs running from January through December 2021 to help relieve stress and to keep those creative juices flowing! The daily boxes have plenty of room for you to write appointments and special dates and there is a handy yearly calendar at the bottom to help with longer term planning.
This calendar features a reinforced chipboard backer and top binding so you know you have a sturdy pad that won’t fall apart after a couple of weeks – whether you use it on your desk or hang it on the wall. Pages are perforated for easy tearing at the end of each month and there are vinyl corners so you don’t need to worry about page curling.
The heavyweight paper is 50% recycled post-consumer paper which is FSC certified so you can rest easy knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment.
Colouring is proven to reduce stress and anxiety, so if you’re in need of a little more calm in the workplace or at home, go for the doodle pad!
Key features :
- 22″ x 17″
- 12 months
- Coloring doodle pad for stress and anxiety relief
- Eco friendly paper
The House of Doolittle Seasonal Desk Pad
House of Doolittle have been making quality planners and calendars for over 100 years and since 1989 have pledged to use recycled paper and materials for all of their products. The paper on this calendar is 100% recycled containing 100% post consumer waste. It also uses soy based inks, so with this desk pad you can also be sure of doing your bit for the environment.
In addition, all House of Doolittle products are made in the USA and are FTC certified. What’s also reassuring to know is that 5% of profits are donated to organizations which are focused on creating a more sustainable environment.
The calendar runs for 12 months from January through December 2021 and each month features charming seasonal graphics to brighten up any desk. The top is bound with black leatherette which matches the bottom corner protectors. Pages are perforated for easy tearing when it’s time to move on to the next month.
This is a great calendar which as well as looking good would suit anyone with an environmental conscience. Made in the USA and FSC certified.
Key features :
- 22″ x 17″
- 12 months
- Recycled paper, soy based ink
- 5% of profits to environmental causes.
The Best Desk Calendar Sum-Up
If you haven’t already ordered your desk calendar, you’d better get a move on! We’ve just updated this post and time’s ticking away but there’s still time to get your order in and delivered before Christmas.
As well as ordering for friends or colleagues, treat yourself whilst you’re at it so you can be better organized next year. You could even make a note to start looking at desk calendars in October or November!
Finally, here’s wishing you the very best for next year. 2020 has been a very difficult year for most – if not all – of us, so give yourself a pat on the back for making it through, and may 2021 be a year filled with much joy, happiness and success.
