While we’re excited for the holidays and to give some of the best gifts to our loved ones this year, we’re even more excited for the start of 2024.
Sure, we’re all trying to get past the hustle and bustle tempo. But there’s something about a clean slate, a fresh wardrobe, new goals and a set plan that ignites the fire in everyone’s bellies.
If you’re Type A like me, you thrive on organization. I have my planner, notebook and gratitude journal on my desk at all times, organize my lipsticks from nudes to reds and geek out on color-coded Google Calendars.
Not to mention, sitting down with a lo-fi playlist and getting things in order (with a coffee on standby, of course) just sounds perfect.
To help you kickstart your New Year’s refresh, I tested and reviewed four planner brands so you don’t have to scour the internet for the ones that have the perfect layouts and just enough room. After using countless planners throughout high school, college and beyond, I’ve found that daily planners can be just as useful (depending on the layout) and pastel highlighters make a world of difference.
Tapping into every price point, design and size, here are the best 2024 planners you should order ASAP before January 1:
Testing planners is pretty much like starting to write a novel — you make an outline, you flip through the pages and you see what works (and what doesn’t). Not to mention, I’ve had a physical planner on deck since my freshman year of high school — that’s 10 years with my 2024 planner already on my desk, so I’ve had my fair share of different top-market brands.
While the planner you purchase centers on your preferences, there are a few components I kept in mind while running through the gamut of options:
Size: If you’re a teacher or work-from-homer and are looking for a lesson planner-type of system, you’ll opt for something larger than someone who is looking for a commuter-friendly option to bring to your 10:00 a.m. work meeting. I fall on the latter side (and, of course, I like to work in coffee shops sometimes), so I’m looking for something that’s portable and not too laptop-sized.
Weight: Similar to size, weight is a component worth considering if you don’t want to cause your backpack or work tote to become too heavy. Especially with on-the-go versatility in mind, I kept each planner’s size into account.
Layout: Regardless if you’re eyeing a weekly or monthly spread, the layout of the planner’s pages make a difference. I kept in mind the monthly layout, weekly layout and other pages to discern if there was enough room for all of my planning needs.
Space: Along with layout, space is another primary concern. One of my pet peeves is when I can’t write enough in the monthly boxes (the prime example of, “if you know, you know”), so I made sure to analyze each spread for every planner tested.
Sections: This is a matter of preference, but some planners come with additional planning pages or sections for each spread. You may find travel packing lists, budgeting lists, gratitude sections, goal-setting and more. I marked each of these as bonuses below, depending on the brand tested.
Simple layout with some nice finishing touches to each section
Cons:
May take longer to ship, though not a dealbreaker
Doesn’t provide a daily overview for this particular planner, though its monthly and weekly spreads are wonderful
Among all of the agendas I’ve written in and used, Papier is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a clean and not-too-overwhelming layout, along with a stunning cover and even personalization tied into the mix, too.
Papier is the brand I’ll be taking into 2024 with me. I’ve already began filling out some of the pages and, most of all, I love how it’s clean and concise. The physical planner I’ve been loving is the Joy Spiral 2024 Planner ($35). Multiple colors are available, though I couldn’t resist the light pink with red lettering (after all, I had to channel my inner Glossier).
The Papier Joy Spiral 2024 Planner is also available in a hardcover option and has personalization available if you so choose. I opted to write my name, though you can also include a phrase like “best year ahead.”
This planner, in particular, is my favorite because of its quality. Sure, other spiral-bound planners exist on the market but this one has a sharp look, a monthly overview and then — much to my delight — a two-page spread section (January to December), featuring a box for your top three monthly goals, a long bulleted “to-do” list, a brief three-bullet “top priorities” section, a brief bulleted “new habits” list and a full page for notes.
Victoria Giardina
This planner covers 12 months — from Jan. 2024 to Dec. 2024, and is ideal for monthly and weekly planning use. Students, work professionals and the personal at-home planner can all benefit from this spiral-bound beaut; it’s truly the best I’ve used and I find it to have the right amount of pre-planned lists and sections without being too busy.
Additionally, the monthly spread is spacious enough for me to jot down doctor’s appointments, parties, dinners and more. I don’t feel like I have to squeeze anything into each section, either.
While my Papier planner doesn’t have a daily to-do list section, I find that I don’t necessarily need one (I have a separate list pad for that). For me, the monthly and weekly spreads are the bread and butter of this agenda. That way, if I don’t have a busy day, my planner can sit nice and pretty on my desk and I can resort to a sticky note for quick reminders instead.
The pages aren’t as smooth as some other planners tested
May experience some wear and tear over time, more quickly than other planners used
Blue Sky is a brand I used rigorously in high school. I remember heading to Target each August and making my most-anticipated purchase of the year: a new Blue Sky planner.
They’re popular for a reason — they’re an excellent value for the price. If botanical-printed flowers aren’t your thing (side note: they’re totally mine), the brand has more neutral options up for grabs.
The Blue Sky Fly By 2024 Weekly Monthly Planning Calendar is a beautifully bound gold-trimmed planner that’s less than $25. For the money and value it provides, you’ll appreciate its well-spaced monthly and weekly spreads, along with ample room for notes.
Inside, you’ll find a full Jan. 2024 to Dec. 2024 spread that’s complete with college-ruled pages for notes. This planner resembles a dated notebook, making it a top pick for anyone’s schedule.
What’s more, Blue Sky is readily available to order online so you can receive it in a jiffy before 2024 (in other words, order now). From years of using the brand — especially in my earlier years of high school — I’ve always felt well-equipped and well-prepared with all of my color-coded writings.
While Blue Sky typically releases planners that are a bit smaller than the standard planner, it makes them even more ideal to stash in your backpack. The only cons about the brand are that the pages can be smoother and the planner, as a whole, tends to experience more wear and tear more quickly compared to others used, but you simply can’t beat the price, the beauty and the organization power this brand holds.
A bit larger and heavier than other planners tested
May not be the best if you don’t travel often
Lily Pulitzer, otherwise known as the “preppy brand” is one of the best for planners. I lived on these toward the end of high school and into college because of how much acclaim these received on both Pinterest and YouTube. Honestly, I felt like the whole world was using these at the time — and they still have all their valor to them.
The Lily Pulitzer 2024 Large Monthly Planner — 12 Month is an option that’s giving all the nostalgia right now. With exceptional prints and stunning (and spacious) weekly and monthly overviews, it’s a top pick you’ll become obsessed with for the entire year, no questions asked.
For starters, this is another wonderful, spiral-bound option that lays flat, though it’s hardcover. I never felt the covers on either side or the pages, to feel flimsy or low-quality. The pages had a heavier feel (not quite like card stock but crease-free, as opposed to thin printer paper) and that made jotting down assignments and social obligations a pleasing experience.
Every time I opened up a Lily Pulitzer planner, I felt like a million bucks. The artwork is simply beautiful and the stickers made planning a fun and worthwhile hobby. Organizing weekly and monthly obligations didn’t feel like a chore at all, and I would 100% purchase one again.
Though Lily Pulitzer planners skew a bit larger than most, they’re one of the most spacious. Everything is straightforward and to the point, allowing for an uncluttered overview of your month, week and year. For this reason, they make exceptional monthly and weekly planners alike.
However, I did find myself neglecting the travel packing lists and travel planning sections. Hailing from a true Southern brand, I wasn’t surprised to see these areas incorporated into its agenda though I hardly used them — if at all — when I was still a student. I would make use for them now, though, as I’m traveling a bit more frequently.
Oh, and my pro tip — pick up the Ink Pen Set ($20) because they’re some of the best easy-glide ones you’ll use, along with the Journal with Pen ($24) to lavish in the Lily love some more.
A bit larger and heavier than other planners tested
Not the best for on-the-go use if you opt for the largest size
As its name suggests, Day Designer is a brand that deserves all the hype. This was the planner I used majorly during my last few semesters of college and into internships and full-time work (because, let’s face it — to optimize your time, you sometimes need to plan hour-by-hour.
It was a heavy planner when I used it previously but effective nonetheless. I felt like I had everything together with this brand and, though I’m using a different planner as we foray into 2024, I swear by the brand’s Lined Notes Desktop Pad ($14) when I’m working from home.
The Day Designer 2024 Daily Planner is what helped me survive the latter college years — and transition into work life. I had this exact black-and-white-striped planner, though the brand has an entire suite of stunning prints and colors to choose from if you prefer something different.
With crisp, glossy pages and a grandeur aesthetic, you’ll love getting your -ish together in the new year with Day Designer — especially if you love daily planning.
If you’re thinking the planner looks too large, that’s valid. That’s the only reason I don’t use a hardcover agenda now. Because I commute to NYC from NJ for work, I don’t want to add more weight to the laptop and meal prep container already stashed in my work tote.
What I enjoy most about Day Designer layouts is the hour-by-hour spread. I can plan my workouts, meal-prep time, and work assignments by the hour and more general to-do’s that I don’t feel like time-blocking. It’s a phenomenal system for me, which is why I can’t shy away from its to-do list pad — regardless of which planner brand I use in a given year.
However, Day Designer has smaller options — the Mini Daily Planners — which I feel are the ideal size. They are compact yet house a full daily page for the 365 years 2024 has to offer (actually, 366, as 2024 is a Leap Year!)
Truth be told, I surely miss my Day Designer planner. And, if you’re not a fan of daily planning, Day Designer offers weekly planners as well so you can take note of all the special occasions on your calendar on a less-often cadence.
