How to Decide on the Perfect Size for Your Planner
You stare at the wall of planners, notebooks, and journals in the aisle at Target and realize . . . there are SO MANY STYLES of planner binding, sizes, covers, and more.
How on earth do you make these decisions for your own custom planner design?!
I’m kicking off a planner construction series created to help walk you through what you need to know to make smart and profitable decisions when it comes to the construction details of your custom planner.
First up: planner size.
You probably already know what feels good in your hands and on your desk . . . but have you ever measured existing planners to compare what’s out there, what’s common, and what sells the best?
If you haven’t, don’t stress — I’ve got you covered.
The most important thing to think about first and foremost when it comes to your planner size is your customer and how they will be using your planner. Remember: you are making a product that your customer will be using on a daily basis. That means it’s an extremely personal part of their lives and should cater to their exact needs.
The most common planner sizes on the market are A5 and 7” x 9”.
But does that mean one of these sizes is right for your planner and customer?
Here are a few specific questions to think about when choosing your planner size:
What is the age of your user?
The age of your user is a huge factor when creating a planner. Young children, who would perhaps use a planner for homeschooling, have larger handwriting, so your planner should allow for plenty of writing space to accommodate this. The larger size also helps to keep the planner from getting lost among their other school supplies.
Suggested size: 8.5” x 11” or 8” x 10”
High school or college-aged individuals, on the other hand, most likely need something portable that they can use on the go when traveling between classes. It should fit in a backpack and be on the lighter and smaller side.
You can also get away with a smaller planner for this audience because they can typically read smaller text compared to someone middle-aged, like me . . . eek!
Suggested size: A5 or 7” x 9”
Where will the planner be used?
A family planner, for example, can be on the larger side. These are usually used as a command center for families — something that either hangs on a wall or has a home on your kitchen counter. You’ll want this to be large enough so everyone notices it and can easily keep up with each family member’s activities.
Suggested size: 12” x 16” or larger
Individuals with personal goals, on the other hand, probably don’t want all of their biggest hopes and dreams out on display, so goal planners should be sized to be tucked away in a bag or desk/dresser drawer. BUT, you don’t want it to be too small because these types of planners are most effective when they include lots of space for journaling — so it’s best to find a happy medium for this one.
Suggested size: 7” x 9”
What is the size-to-page-count ratio?
This may be the biggest factor to consider when it comes to planner size — how many pages your planner includes.
The amount of pages compared to the size of your planner requires just the right balance.
If you have a daily planner that also includes monthly views, it’s going to have a lot of pages and could end up being very thick — depending on your paper choice and how many extra features you include. If you make it too large, like 9” x 12” or bigger, it will end up looking like an encyclopedia or coffee table book. If you make it too small, like an A5, it could end up looking like a Bible.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with coffee table books or Bibles, but in the context of a personal planner, those two types of books could look very overwhelming — and planners are supposed to eliminate overwhelm. So keep this ratio in mind when choosing your planner size.
Choosing your planner size is a delicate balance between usability, readability, and portability, and generally, you should allow the individual user, their usage of the planner, and page count to dictate the size you land on for your custom planner design.
Keeping these key guidelines in mind will ensure your planner is used and loved as much as you envisioned it from day one!
Have you been feeling inspired and ready to kick off the design process for your own custom planner?
I created a guide featuring 5 things your day planner MUST include . . . and it’s available now at the link below.