How to Print Free Planner Pages at Home (and Make Them Last)

Free printable planners are only useful if they survive a year in your bag. Here is how to print them so they look good and stay together.

Choose the right paper

• Everyday pages: 24 lb (90 gsm) bright white paper keeps ink from bleeding through.
• Covers and dividers: 65 to 110 lb cardstock.
• Half-letter planners: print two pages per sheet on US Letter, then cut in half to 5.5 x 8.5 in.

Printer settings

1. Open the PDF in a free PDF reader rather than your browser for the most reliable scaling.
2. Set the page size to Letter (or A4 in most of Canada's office stores, which carry both).
3. Choose Actual size so lines and boxes stay the size they were designed.
4. For double-sided pages, print odd pages first, flip the stack and print even pages.

Bind it your way

• Three-ring binder: a standard 3-hole punch fits US binders.
• Discbound: a discbound punch lets you move pages around later.
• Spiral: most office supply stores will coil-bind a stack for a few dollars.

Make it last

Laminate the cover or use a clear plastic sheet protector, and keep a few spare weekly pages printed so you never miss a week.