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  • 10 Best Personal Planners for Business in 2022 (Lemome, Panda Planner, and More) 1
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  • 10 Best Personal Planners for Business in 2022 (Lemome, Panda Planner, and More) 3
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10 Best Personal Planners for Business in 2022 (Lemome, Panda Planner, and More)

With smartphones swarming all over the market, many of us now use apps to stay on track. But there’s something about putting pen to paper that makes you more productive and makes things easier to remember. That’s where personal business planners (also known as paper organizers) come in handy.

Slow down your planning process and re-set your goals and re-prioritize. By doing so, you'll be more productive and less likely to procrastinate. Here are some tips on how to find a personal planner for business that’s right for you and a top list of our favorites, including our best pick from Traveler's Company.
Last updated 09/26/2023
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Table of Contents

How to Choose Personal Planners For Business

You’ll be checking your planner every day, so you want to buy something that you like. Here are some tips on how to find the perfect paper planner for business that suits your lifestyle.
1

Choose Something That’s Easy to Use

There are two major types of paper planners: refillable binders and notebooks. Choose one after figuring out which is easier for you to use.

Refillable Planner Binders: Easy to Personalize

Refillable Planner Binders: Easy to Personalize
With planner binders, you can personalize what goes inside, constantly. You can stick in monthly and weekly schedules, lined paper, little sleeves for business cards, and address books. You can take out old stuff and easily revise schedules. That’s the strength of a planner binder: it can be customized in whatever way you like.


When you choose a planner binder, make sure the rings are big enough. Most are 0.9 to 1-inch, which means you can insert about 150 to 200 sheets of paper. A year’s worth of weekly schedules is already 100 pages, so if you get something too small, you may have to give up your contacts section.

Notebook Planners: Includes All the Basics

Notebook Planners: Includes All the Basics

Notebook planners have all the basics inside, such as annual calendars, monthly or weekly schedules, to-do lists, and pages for notes. 


Most are for 12 months starting from January, and when September rolls around, shelves are lined with the following year’s planners. You can’t change the pages that are inside, which means you don’t have to worry about refills.


From planners with hourly schedules to planners that are like productivity coaches–enjoining you to jot down your goals and plans–there are all sorts of types out there. It’s fun to look at all of them and figure out what you like best.


If there’s a lot in the planner, though, it’ll be thick and heavy. If you want something light, then you'll need to choose a thin monthly or weekly planner, rather than a page-heavy daily one.

2

Pick Between Compact or Easy to Write In Planners

Pick Between Compact or Easy to Write In Planners

When looking at size, ask yourself the following questions: is it easy to carry around and is it easy to write in? If you’re looking for something that will fit in your purse, go for something compact, such as a 5 by 8-inch planner. If you want a planner with plenty of space to write in, then go ahead and get one that’s closer to 11.4 by 9.5 inches.


Smaller options may be easy to carry around, but you’ll have to cram in all your notes. On the other hand, huge planners leave plenty of space for writing, but take up more room in your bag. So figure out what means more to you.


If you’re on the fence, then just go for the middle ground. One that's A5 (around 8 by 12 inches) or B5 (around 7 by 10 inches) is a good size.

3

Find a Planner With an Approach You Like

Find a Planner With an Approach You Like

Planners have different layouts. To choose between them, think about how much organizing you need in your life. If you need to plan for the long term and jot down big dates–business trips, conferences, and deadlines–then get a monthly planner. These have a calendar that spreads across two pages and spans 31 days.


If you just need to scribble down a few important tasks per day, then a weekly planner could be for you. 


There are two main types. One has the days of the week listed down the page on the left, and lines for note-taking on the right. These are flexible–you can write whatever you want in them. The other has the days of the week spread out in boxes across two pages. These are great for organizing and planning out a weekly schedule.


Then there's the daily planner, which gives you an entire page to write down your plans for a single day. Get one if you like planning out your day in detail.

4

Make Sure It’ll Look Professional at Work

Make Sure It’ll Look Professional at Work
Personal planners for business tend to have simple covers with dark, solid colors. There are planners with flower patterns and bright, colorful paintings and sketches of characters, of course, but they may clash if you’re heading to the office in a dark suit every day.


This holds doubly true if you’ll be writing in front of clients from various backgrounds. Though it may sometimes be hard to draw the line between unprofessional and professional, a subdued design and color is the safest, most practical choice.

5

Choose Something That’s Durable

Choose Something That’s Durable

When in a business setting, you generally don’t want to use a battered planner in front of your clients, boss, or colleagues. So pick something that’s durable, with a tough cover, like faux leather. Don’t get a plastic cover because they tend to crack.


If you want to protect your planner from coffee stains, you could also purchase an additional transparent protector for your book. If you want the planner to look luxurious, you can also choose one with a cover that simulates leather.


The important thing is that you find a planner that looks good for at least a year. So think twice about that genuine leather planner–because it needs to be handled gently and stains in the rain. If you want something that is low maintenance, go with faux.

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Personal Planners For Business Ranking

Here are the best Personal Planners For Business, ranked according to 10 Best Personal Planners for Business (as of 11-04-2022). The products are ranked independently by mybest.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Traveler’s Company

Traveler’s Notebook Brown LeatherSmall

Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook Brown Leather 1

$49.99

High Mid

A Beautiful Planner With Space for Creativity

2

Gallery Leather

Desk Weekly Planner

Gallery Leather Desk Weekly Planner 1

$24.00

Mid

A Handcrafted, Colorful Planner That Let's You Plan Two Years Ahead

3

Book Factory

2021 Weekly Pocket Calendar

Book Factory 2021 Weekly Pocket Calendar 1

$9.99

Low

Cost-Effective and All-Inclusive Pocket-Size Planner

4

Action Day

Weekly Planner 20216x8 in.

Action Day Weekly Planner 2021 1

$19.99

Mid

Get Things Done With This Goal-Oriented Planner

5

Papercode

The Simple Elephant

Papercode The Simple Elephant 1

$17.99

Mid

All-in-One Planner, Journal and Guide

6

Lemome

Planner 2021

Lemome Planner 2021 1

$14.44

Low Mid

A Classic and High-Quality Planner With Simple Features

7

At-a-Glance

Monthly PlannerLarge

At-a-Glance  Monthly Planner 1

$16.99

Mid

Tabbed to Make Each Month Easy to Reference

8

Global Printed Products

Monthly & Weekly Planner

Global Printed Products Monthly & Weekly Planner 1

$12.95

Low Mid

Minimalist Riff on the Dotted Journal

9

Filofax

Malden Ochre Personal Size Leather Organizer

Filofax Malden Ochre Personal Size Leather Organizer 1

$99.95

High

Look More Professional With a Luxurious Leather Option

10

Panda Planner

Best Daily Calendar

Panda Planner Best Daily Calendar 1

$20.97

Mid

Motivate Yourself by Writing down Priorities, Reviews, and Tasks

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Traveler’s CompanyTraveler’s Notebook Brown LeatherSmall

Traveler’s Notebook Brown Leather 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$49.99
High Mid
Reference price
$49.99
High Mid

A Beautiful Planner With Space for Creativity

More commonly known by its original name, Midori, this planner is one of a kind. This cover only comes with blank inserts, but you can, of course, put in anything you’d like: monthly or weekly schedules, lined paper, dotted grids, maps, a picture of your cat.

It’s also highly durable–some reviewers have commented they’ve been using this cover for more than 3 years, but it’s still in perfect shape. And it has a vintage look and is 4.72 by 0.39 by 8.66 inches. It may seem like a big investment at first, but since you can use it year after year, it’s definitely worth it.
Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

Gallery LeatherDesk Weekly Planner

Desk Weekly Planner 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$24.00
Mid
Reference price
$24.00
Mid

A Handcrafted, Colorful Planner That Let's You Plan Two Years Ahead

This durable soft leather planner is sure to stand out–it has the most beautiful covers, available in 10 different colors, including kiwi and burgundy. Handcrafted in Maine, it comes with a weekly, a monthly, and a notes section, and all have plenty of lines and space, so you can write down whatever your heart desires. It’s portable, too.

The weekly section is for a year, while the monthly section is for two years. It’s great if you want to plan in advance, but if you don’t think that far ahead, the second year might be a waste of space. Reviewers warn that it doesn't lay flat, but they also say that it has plenty of space for notes and has everything you need of a planner included.
No.3

Book Factory2021 Weekly Pocket Calendar

2021 Weekly Pocket Calendar 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$9.99
Low
Reference price
$9.99
Low

Cost-Effective and All-Inclusive Pocket-Size Planner

This two-colored planner is weekly—the days are spread out across two pages, and there is plenty of space to take notes (Saturday and Sunday are more skimpy, though). It also has inspirational quotes and notes on how to give CPR—but still somehow fits right into your shirt pocket. 

If you go on overseas business trips, you’ll be happy to know it also contains colored world maps and international calling codes


The planner’s durability seems to be on the weak side, with some reviewers saying the cover comes off easily. It doesn’t lie flat on the desk either. But it’s a good choice if you’re new to planning out your life on paper and don’t know if you can keep it up.

No.4

Action DayWeekly Planner 20216x8 in.

Weekly Planner 2021 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$19.99
Mid
Reference price
$19.99
Mid

Get Things Done With This Goal-Oriented Planner

For those who have a bunch of projects to move forward with at work: this Action Day Planner has sections for you to write in your daily tasks, allot roles for team members, set goals, and plan projects. 

This planner is 8 by 6 by 0.7 inches and there’s a larger option, too. It has an elastic band, a pen loop, and a durable cover that keeps the planner from getting all smushed in your bag.


It’s designed to fit a 9 to 5 schedule, with just a bit of space for Saturday and Sundays, so stay away if that’s not how you work. Reviewers mention that the quality has gone down in recent years, with the paper being fairly see-through. However, reviewers still love the way the planner is set up, and say it's very useful for planning goals.
No.5

PapercodeThe Simple Elephant

The Simple Elephant 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$17.99
Mid
Reference price
$17.99
Mid

All-in-One Planner, Journal and Guide

If you want to be more proactive at work, try depending on this hardcover planner. It comes with monthly and weekly spreads, 58 pages of notepaper for free writing, and stuff meant to motivate you, such as boxes for yearly goals and mind maps. 

The sheets are A5, and it comes with a pocket, a pen holder, an elastic band, and three string dividers.


Having said that, don’t get this if you take notes during calls. It does not lie flat, and you’ll have a hard time keeping the planner open without holding one or both sides down. Reviewers like how it helps with planning goals and is a great motivator
No.6

LemomePlanner 2021

Planner 2021 1
Source:amazon.com
Planner 2021 2
Source:amazon.com
Planner 2021 3
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$14.44
Low Mid
Reference price
$14.44
Low Mid

A Classic and High-Quality Planner With Simple Features

Although the book looks luxurious and sleek, the leather face is fake. It has plenty of space for notes in both the monthly and weekly sections, so it’s a good choice if you need something flexible. It’s also decently small, so it’s easy to carry around. Extras include a ribbon bookmark, a pen loop, and inner pockets for post-its.

Some reviewers found that there were several weeks missing in their planner, so the first thing you should do when you buy this is to make sure everything’s intact. If it’s not, have it replaced. On the other hand, reviewers like the sturdy pages, the clean design, and the features
No.7

At-a-Glance Monthly PlannerLarge

Monthly Planner 1
Source:amazon.com
Monthly Planner 2
Source:amazon.com
Monthly Planner 3
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$16.99
Mid
Reference price
$16.99
Mid

Tabbed to Make Each Month Easy to Reference

Do you want to sit down at your desk and schedule your business trips and family outings with more mindfulness? This large, classic, simulated leather planner will help you do just that. 

It’s like a desk calendar, so you can take one look and figure out what you’ve got planned for the month. And the squares for each day are big enough to jot down a few appointments.


But it’s not made for carrying–it has no pen holder, pockets, or elastic band. There’s also not enough space for people who have a lot of meetings in one day. Reviewers like the big boxes for each day where you can write a lot; plus, the tabs for each month were also a hit since they allow you to scroll through the pages easily.
No.8

Global Printed ProductsMonthly & Weekly Planner

Monthly & Weekly Planner 1
Source:amazon.com
Monthly & Weekly Planner 2
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$12.95
Low Mid
Reference price
$12.95
Low Mid

Minimalist Riff on the Dotted Journal

If all you need is monthly and weekly schedules, then this vinyl planner may be for you. The vertical columns are organized by day (a week spans two pages); scribble down tasks and your hourly schedule, so you can review your weekly to-dos at a glance. It also has tabs for easy flipping between the months and weeks.

It lies flat on your desk, so it’s easy to write in. The book is 5 by 8 inches, but it’s also available in bigger sizes. However, its simplicity has some drawbacks. 


There’s little space to take notes, so if you have a lot to record, you’ll have to get a separate notepad. Reviewers like that it's practical and how most pens don't bleed through the pages. 

No.9

FilofaxMalden Ochre Personal Size Leather Organizer

Malden Ochre Personal Size Leather Organizer 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$99.95
High
Reference price
$99.95
High

Look More Professional With a Luxurious Leather Option

Take notes during meetings using this soft leather planner binder–it’s a shortcut to looking more professional. It’ll also serve as a wallet; you can put change in the zip pockets and credit cards in the little slots along the cover. It comes with inserts–a weekly calendar, notepaper, contacts–and you can also customize and reuse it by purchasing other inserts.

It’s 6.73 by 3.74 inches and has a small pen loop. But if you like to dump your keys and planner into your bag, the leather will scratch, so be careful about scoffs. Reviewers like how soft and high-quality the cover is and how it can fit a lot in it and still close.
No.10

Panda PlannerBest Daily Calendar

Best Daily Calendar 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$20.97
Mid
Reference price
$20.97
Mid

Motivate Yourself by Writing down Priorities, Reviews, and Tasks

This goal-setting, undated planner is useful for motivating yourself to improve every day. It asks you to fill out fields for self-reflection–such as your top three daily priorities and your day-to-day successes. The hardcover planner also has a pocket and elastic band, so no worries about receipts getting lost–plus. it's easy to carry in your bag.

It has monthly, weekly, and daily sections too, but they will only last you for 90 days, provided you use it daily. Only purchase this option if you don’t mind using four of them in one year. 

Reviewers like that dates aren't preprinted, so you can utilize the book efficiently if you don't like writing in it on weekends or holidays. They also like that it has so many ways to help you organize yourself and keep track of your goals.

Other Books to Help You Organize

Besides planners, you can use journals or plain notebooks to help you keep track of your life and goals. It can also be stress relieving or motivating to write your feelings in a diary. Regardless of what purpose you will use a new writing book for, check out some of our articles below if you need a little help choosing the best one.

Top 5 Personal Planners For Business

No. 1: Traveler’s CompanyTraveler’s Notebook Brown LeatherSmall

No. 2: Gallery LeatherDesk Weekly Planner

No. 3: Book Factory2021 Weekly Pocket Calendar

No. 4: Action DayWeekly Planner 20216x8 in.

No. 5: PapercodeThe Simple Elephant

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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