Best planners for 2025, tested and reviewed for peak organization

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.

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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, Post Wanted tested and reviewed the best planners 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 2025 planners you should order ASAP before January 1:

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.

In past years, I’ve used the Papier Joy Spiral Planner. When I filled out the pages, I loved how they were clean and concise. There are multiple colors available, but couldn’t resist the light pink with red lettering (after all, I had to channel my inner Glossier).

The Papier Joy Spiral 2025 Planner is also available in a hardcover option and has personalization available. 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.

The planner covers 12 months — from Jan. 2025 to Dec. 2025 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.

What’s more, you can also pick up the brand’s catalog of stationery accessories to up the ante on your planner’s design this year.

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.

Size: 7 x 9 inches | Layout: A mix of dotted, lined, and gridded pages | Cover type: 10 softcover colors to choose from

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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 2025 Weekly and Monthly Planner is a beautifully bound planner that’s less than $20. 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. 2025 to Dec. 2025 spread that’s complete with college-ruled pages. This planner resembles a dated notebook, making it a top pick for anyone’s schedule.

Blue Sky is readily available to order online so you can receive it in a jiffy before 2025 (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 wear and tear more quickly compared to others used. However, you simply can’t beat the price, the beauty, and the organizational power this brand holds.

Size: 8.5 x 11 inches | Layout: Lined | Cover type: Laminated with pocket for storage

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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 2025 Weekly Agenda & Monthly Calendar 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 of them now, though, as I’m traveling a bit more frequently.

Size: 5 x 8.25 inches | Layout: Lined | Cover type: Hardcover

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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. Now, it’s my 2025 planner of choice. I also swear by the brand’s Lined Notes Desktop Pad ($14) when I’m working from home.

The Day Designer 2025 Daily Planner is what helped me survive the latter college years — and transition into work life. The brand has an entire suite of stunning prints and colors to choose from, which I love, and its floral prints are simply stunning to use all year long.

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. It’s part of the reason why I mostly keep it at home and reference it after my work day. 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 for most. They are compact yet house a full daily page for the 365 years 2025 has to offer.

What’s more, 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.

Size: 9 x 9.75 inches | Layout: Lined | Cover type: 16 hardcover colors to choose from

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The Moleskine Classic 12-Month 2025 Daily Planner offers a structured layout with one page per day, providing ample space for appointments, to-do lists and notes. It features a hardcover with a smooth, durable finish, and includes a ribbon bookmark for easy navigation. Available in various sizes and colors, it’s a sleek, functional tool for organizing your year with style and simplicity.

“I’ve been using the Moleskine Classic 12-Month 2025 Daily Planner for two years now and it even made it into my wedding planning; my wedding photographer included it in our collection,” Michelle Moezam, senior commerce social media marketing manager, shared. “I love the weight of it and how the paper is archival so I will be able to revisit these pages years later and the pages wont be faded or worn out.”

Additionally, Moleskine has long been synonymous with premium, timeless stationery. The Classic Daily Planner features their signature smooth, high-quality paper that resists ink bleed-through, making it a delight to write in. The sleek, minimalist design (often in black, but with some color options) appeals to people who appreciate elegance and simplicity. It’s a staple for those who want a planner that feels luxurious, without being overly flashy.

Size: 5 x 8.25 inches | Layout: Lined | Cover type: 4 colors to choose from; polyurethane material

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“I was a hardcore planner in my school days, but fell off until I discovered the world of digital planning,” Angela Tricarico, commerce writer/reporter, shared. “As someone whose tasks and assignments change often, I prefer this to paper because I can erase things without having tons of scribbled-out things moving around constantly. Using my iPad Air, I’ve found the most success with the Goodmondayspaper planner, so much so that I purchased it again for 2025.”

Tricarico noted that it’s, by far, “the most customizable of the bunch” that she’s tried, from colors to a handful of different weekly and daily layouts to choose from based on what works best for you.

“There are also monthly planning pages for everything from finances and wellness to goals and a month-end review,” she added. “It comes with a full 12-section notebook built into the back, too, eliminating the need for a separate digital notebook. While ultimately, you have to pick the layouts that work best for you, I’ve found that Goodmondayspaper has an abundance of layouts that work for me.”

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How we tested

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). 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 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.

FAQs on Planners

What is the most popular type of planner?

The most popular type of planner varies depending on individual preferences and needs, but one of the most widely used formats is the daily planner. This type of planner typically offers detailed daily layouts, with sections for time-blocking, to-do lists and sometimes goal tracking. Daily planners are favored for their ability to break down tasks and appointments into manageable chunks, helping users stay organized and focused. They are especially popular among people with busy schedules or those who prefer a structured, highly organized day.

Another highly popular type of planner is the weekly planner. Weekly planners provide a broader view, often with a full week spread across two pages. This format is favored by individuals who want to have an overview of their entire week while still having space to jot down important tasks and appointments. Weekly planners tend to strike a balance between structure and flexibility, making them ideal for people who need to keep track of recurring events, deadlines and projects but don’t want the intensity of a daily breakdown.

Additionally, digital planners have gained significant popularity, particularly with the rise of productivity apps and digital tools. These planners offer the convenience of being accessible on smartphones, tablets or computers, allowing users to easily sync, edit and share their schedules. Digital planners often come with added features like reminders, task management and integration with other apps. Although paper planners remain a staple for many, the shift toward digital options reflects the growing trend of incorporating technology into everyday organization and time management.

Are hourly planners worth it?

Hourly planners can be incredibly useful for individuals who have highly structured days or need to manage their time with precision. For those with a packed schedule that includes meetings, appointments or multiple tasks, an hourly planner allows for clear time-blocking and a visual representation of how their day will unfold. This level of organization can improve focus and efficiency, as it helps prevent overbooking, forgetfulness, and last-minute scrambling. It’s particularly beneficial for people who thrive on detailed schedules, such as busy professionals, students with tight class schedules or anyone with multiple appointments that require exact timing.

However, hourly planners may not be for everyone. For individuals with more flexible or less predictable schedules, an hourly layout can feel restrictive or unnecessary. If your day isn’t strictly segmented by time, you may find a simpler daily or weekly planner more suitable, offering enough structure without the pressure of rigid time slots. Additionally, some people find that an hourly planner can add stress if they become overly focused on keeping to exact timeframes. Whether an hourly planner is worth it ultimately depends on your specific organizational needs and how comfortable you are with a highly detailed approach to time management.

What are ADHD planners?

ADHD planners are specialized organizational tools designed to help individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) manage their time, tasks, and daily responsibilities. These planners typically feature layouts and strategies that cater to the unique challenges faced by people with ADHD, such as difficulty with focus, time management and follow-through. Common features of ADHD planners include clear, visual layouts, large spaces for writing and sections for breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

Some ADHD planners also incorporate color-coding, reminders and motivational prompts to keep users engaged and on track. The goal is to reduce overwhelm by offering a structured yet flexible approach to organizing tasks, making it easier to prioritize and accomplish goals.

Uniquely, many ADHD planners also encourage frequent check-ins or “daily reviews” to help individuals assess their progress and adjust as needed. For individuals with ADHD, the use of these planners can provide a sense of control and accomplishment, breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more achievable steps. While ADHD planners don’t cure the disorder, they can offer valuable support in managing the day-to-day aspects of life by providing the structure and external cues needed to stay focused and productive.

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