Calendar sizes: wall, desk and poster calendar dimensions

The most common printed wall calendar is 8.5 x 11 inches when closed. It opens to 11 x 17 inches when it hangs, with a picture on the top half and the month grid on the bottom. Businesses, schools, nonprofits and clubs give calendars as client gifts and fundraisers because people keep them on display for a full year.

This guide lists the standard calendar sizes, how many pages a wall calendar has and how to set up the file.

Wall calendar sizes

• 8.5 x 11 in (opens to 11 x 17 in): the most common wall calendar. It fits a 9 x 12 in envelope for mailing.
• 11 x 8.5 in landscape (opens to 11 x 17 in): a wider picture area for landscape photos.
• 12 x 12 in (opens to 12 x 24 in): a square format that suits photo calendars.
• 11 x 17 in (opens to 17 x 22 in): a large wall calendar with room to write on each day.

Desk and poster calendars

• Desk calendars: small easel-back or tent calendars that stand on a desk or counter, often around 5.5 x 8.5 in, with smaller tent formats for reception desks.
• Poster calendars: the full year on one sheet, such as 11 x 17 in or 18 x 24 in. They are inexpensive to print and easy to mail flat or rolled.
• Wallet calendars: a full year printed on the back of a business card size card, 3.5 x 2 in.

Our poster size guide lists more single-sheet sizes.

Page count and binding

A saddle-stitched wall calendar usually has 28 pages: a front cover, a picture page and a month grid for each of the 12 months, and a back cover. Saddle-stitched booklets need a page count that is a multiple of four, which is why 28 pages is the standard. A 13-month calendar that starts in December, or a school-year calendar that runs August to July, changes the page count, so plan the layout before you design.

• Saddle stitch: stapled through the fold, with a drilled hole for hanging. The most economical binding for wall calendars.
• Wire-O: a wire binding with a hanger, so the calendar opens flat and pages flip cleanly.
• Easel back: a stand built into desk calendars.

Our guide to saddle stitch vs perfect binding explains how page counts work.

Paper

Wall calendar pages are usually printed on 80 lb to 100 lb text so they hang flat and take a pen. A heavier cover stock protects the calendar in the mail. Uncoated paper is easy to write on. Coated paper prints photographs with more contrast but can smear some pens. Our paper weight guide explains text and cover weights.

File setup

• Build each page at the closed size, such as 8.5 x 11 in, in the order the calendar is read.
• Add 0.125 in of bleed where photos or color run to the edge.
• Keep dates, text and logos at least 0.25 in inside the trim, and clear of the binding edge and the hanging hole.
• Check every date, holiday and day of the week against a printed calendar for that year.
• Leave enough room in each day for people to write.

Our guide to bleed in printing covers trim and safe area.

Ideas for custom calendars

• Client gift calendars for real estate, insurance and financial offices, with contact details on every page.
• Photo calendars for schools, clubs and nonprofits, sold as fundraisers.
• Restaurant and retail calendars with an event or offer for each month.
• Company calendars with team photos, holidays and key dates.

Calendars need to be in people's hands before the year starts, so plan the schedule backward from the date you want to hand them out or mail them. See our custom calendars to request a quote.

Common questions

What is the standard size of a wall calendar?

8.5 x 11 inches is the most common wall calendar size. It opens to 11 x 17 inches when it hangs.

How many pages does a wall calendar have?

A standard saddle-stitched 12-month wall calendar has 28 pages, including the front and back covers.

What size is a desk calendar?

Desk calendars are usually small easel-back or tent formats, often around 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

What paper is best for a wall calendar?

80 lb to 100 lb text pages with a heavier cover. Uncoated paper is easiest to write on.