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A Nearly Perfect Planner
The Happy Planner
Runner-Up
Erin Condren Coiled Weekly LifePlanner
Ideal for Students
Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner
Best for Kids
Bright Day Kids Daily Checklist
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.
Everyone has their own preferences, types of tasks, and degrees of willingness to scribble and organize, so we don’t have one best overall planner. I grilled WIRED staff for their favorites and have tested a ton on my own. Once you’ve found something that works for you, check out our Work From Home Gear, Best Smart Pens and Tablets, and Best Laptop Backpacks guides for more.
Updated August 2023: We’ve added planners from Ban.do, The Skinny Confidential, and Laurel Denise, plus updated prices throughout.
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Photograph: Amazon
A Nearly Perfect Planner
The Happy Planner
No matter how many perfectly adorable planners I try and love, I always repurchase a Happy Planner, though I’ve switched from a vertical layout to a large dashboard (there is also horizontal). These planners have room to lay out work and to-do lists with enough extras for other planning and notes without feeling overwhelming. The divider tabs 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.
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Photograph: Amazon
Runner-Up
Erin Condren Coiled Weekly LifePlanner
If Happy Planner isn’t for you, you might lean more towards the Erin Condren LifePlanner (ECLP for short). WIRED writer and reviewer Louryn Strampe calls this the Rolex of paper planners. With tight coil binding, three size options, three layout options—horizontal, vertical, or hourly—and more bonus features than are really necessary, it’s one of the most popular planners for weekly-spread enthusiasts. The layouts are gorgeous—we especially like the vertical weekly—and there’s room all over the place to jot down notes or doodle.
You can personalize your planner with monogrammed covers, special sections for goals, and more. 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 it makes a great gift).
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Photograph: Amazon
Ideal for Students
Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner
I still have nightmares of being in school with no idea what my next class is, or showing up having missed the last six weeks because I didn’t know where the classroom was. Class Tracker’s first three pages are designated for outlining your semester schedule from Monday to Sunday, 6 am to midnight. Hopefully, I’ll be dreaming of that from now on.
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’d change is adding tabs for easily sifting through months. The planner pictured here is the college version, but there are middle school and high school options, too.
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Photograph: Amazon
Best for Kids
Bright Day Kids Daily Checklist
Even second-graders need (or want) to remember things! WIRED senior associate reviews editor Adrienne So didn’t want to spend a lot of money on her 7-year-old’s planner, and didn’t want just a notebook that they’d fill with drawings instead. This Daily Checklist fits the bill. There are pre-written to-dos like brushing teeth and making the bed, with extra lines for items to be written in. There are a few other prompts for them too. It’s also sturdy and has held up under aggressively rough treatment in her backpack.
