10 Best Academic Planners That'll Help You Stay Organized Throughout the School Year
With the demands of classes, extracurricular activities, and a social life, some may find that staying organized during the school year can be quite a challenge. That's why it's so important to find the best academic planners when shopping for back-to-school supplies (along with the best backpacks for school and pens for note-taking!).
Academic planners can assist you in remembering important dates, keeping track of your classes, and experiencing the satisfying feeling of physically crossing off tasks on your to-do list – it just doesn’t hit the same on a phone. And if you haven't used a planner before, let us introduce you to a whole new and super-organized world. We happen to think that planners are incredibly useful and can aid in developing organizational skills regardless of whether you're in high school, college, or pursuing a Ph.D.
Plus, there are a lot of daily academic planners to choose from. You can opt for dated planners, which come pre-printed with dates, or go for undated planners, which provide more flexibility as you can fill in the dates yourself. The binding of the planner is another consideration. Spiral binding (how cute is this floral-print Erin Condren planner?!) allows for easy flipping of pages and provides a flat writing surface, while hard binding (we love the chic look of this popular Artfan Amazon pick) offers durability and a more professional appearance.
Check out our top picks for the best academic planners 2023-24 for high school and college students for the upcoming semester below, complete with detailed explanations and pros and cons.
Our Top Picks:
- Best academic planner for college students: Aimpeak Academic Planner 2023-2024, $10
- Best academic planner for grad students: Lilly Pulitzer Daily Planner, $30
- Best academic planner for teachers: Tullofa Store Academic Planner, $12
- Best planner for students with ADHD: The Everygirl x Day Designer 2023-24 Academic Planner, $20
- Best planner for high school students: Blue Sky 2023-24 Academic Planner, $13
Lilly Pulitzer Daily Planner
There are few relationships that last longer than the one you embark on with your Lilly Pulitzer daily planner. Perfect for the type A crowd (grad students), this adorable planner comes with weekly calendars featuring lined sections for planning out each day of the week. With the major holidays listed and ample space for daily tasks and activities, it keeps you organized and on track with ease. Plus, it includes a travel journal, making it the perfect companion for the “catch flights, not feelings” crowd.
Dating: August 2023 - December 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Multiple design options
Pros: Hand painted art, Laminated tab dividers
Cons: Elastic strap is loose for some
Tullofa Store Academic Planner
A teacher’s best friend is his... planner? This academic planner is not only visually appealing but also sturdy, well-made, and designed with round edges, making it durable enough to toss in your bag without fear of damaging the cover or crinkling the pages. Moreover, it features tabs to easily separate each month, thick paper to prevent pen bleed-through, and an elastic closure band to ensure your planner stays securely closed. In addition to keeping track of your schedule, this planner offers a range of useful features. It includes a gratitude planner section, space to track your workouts, meal plans, budgeting, jotting down ideas, and even writing wish lists.
The length: 136 Pages
Dating: July 2023 - June 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: One design
Pros: Back inside pocket, Elastic closure band
Cons: Reviewers say that the inside has no design or color
The Everygirl x Day Designer 2023-24 Academic Planner
This academic planner is simple, well-made, and built to withstand the demands of social butterflies. It offers lined weekly calendars, monthly overviews, and ample space for to-do lists. But that's not all. It also includes goal-setting worksheets that empower you to plan for a more productive school year. With these worksheets, you can set meaningful goals and track your progress, ensuring that you stay focused and motivated throughout the semesters. So, when you need that extra boost beyond inspirational quotes and “pain is temporary, GPA is forever” pep talks, this planner has got you covered.
The length: 90 pages
Dating: July 2023 - June 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Mutiple designs
Pros: Lined notes pages, Storage pocket
Cons: May be a bit large for some students
Blue Sky 2023-24 Academic Planner
Get your life in order with this academic planner from Blue Sky. It contains both weekly and tabbed monthly calendars, allowing you to achieve capital O organization. The planner's wire binding adds a convenient touch, allowing for easy flipping (important when cramming for exams) and laying flat on any surface. Additionally, there are lined note pages, holidays, a contacts sheet, important dates, and a yearly overview. There's even a page dedicated to states and capitals because you never know when someone might quiz you on the capital of Maryland.
The length: 72 pages
Dating: July 2023 - June 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Multiple designs
Pros: Lightweight, Enough space to write
Cons: Might be too big for some students
Rifle Paper Co. 2024 12-Month Academic Planner
Where some people prefer a heavy-duty planner to meticulously track every second of their life, others seek something pretty and lightweight to capture the essentials. With this option, you can easily view the entire month at a glance using the calendar pages, or you can jot down notes and appointments on the lined pages that follow. The best thing about Rifle Paper Co is that if you really wanted to commit to the bit, you could. They have matching pens, sticky notes, and blank notepads in the same or similar designs.
The length: N/A
Dating: August 2023 - July 2024
Page types: Canvas paper cover with white text paper interior
Binding: Thread-stiched
Colors: Two floral designs
Pros: Designed so that you can see the entire month at a glance, Extra pages for notes
Cons: The design may be too floral for some
ban.do Daily Planner 2023-2024
Why settle for a planner that you aren't proud to post on Instagram everyday? With this adorable option from Ban.do, you'll be eager to show off your planner to everyone. There are various designs available, each equipped with all the bells and whistles to enhance your planning experience. This planner also comes with fun extras like stickers, a coloring sheet to help you destress, a ribbon bookmark, and color-coded laminated tab dividers. It spans across 17 months, making it an item that brings you daily joy—take that, Marie Kondo!
The length: 314 pages
Dating: August 2023 - December 2024
Page types: Hardcover
Binding: Thread-stitched
Colors: Three graphic designs to choose from
Pros: Comes with three pages of stickers, Lightweight and compact
Cons: Some reviewers find it to be too small
Erin Condren 2023-24 Academic Planner
The best thing about this planner is that it’s easy to get the hang of, with weekly, monthly, and yearly planning spreads. There’s ample space to write down your daily schedule, priorities, to-do list, and other notes and ideas. The planner is thoughtfully designed with high-quality paper, so you don't have to worry about your pens bleeding through. It even includes inspirational quotes inside and space for doodling, which is essential for sparking creativity throughout the school day.
The length: N/A
Dating: July 2023- June 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Watercolor stripes
Pros: Wet erase cover, comes with stickers
Cons: Doesn’t allow for a full day of planning
AIMPEAK Store Planner 2023-2024
If you're looking for an affordable introductory planner, this is the one for you. And it's not just for schoolwork either. With dedicated sections for gratitude, habit tracking, and major holidays, this planner helps you stay organized in both work and personal activities. What's more, it features a waterproof cover, providing added peace of mind. So, if your water bottle happens to leak through your backpack (we've all been there), you can rest assured that your precious planner and all your hard work won't be affected.
The length: N/A
Dating: July 2023 - June 2024
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Mutiple color options
Pros: Waterproof, Pen-loop
Cons: Some people report missing pages
Thinkable To Do List Planner
If you consider yourself to be laissez-faire, try your hand at an undated planner. That way, you don't need to worry about wasting pages, and you're free to use it every day or only when you need it. The brand offers both hardcover and softcover options, so pick your poison. Plus, rest assured that your pens won't bleed through the pages, as the paper is super thicc.
The length: 160 pages
Dating: Undated
Page types: Paper
Binding: Wired
Colors: Two designs to choose from
Pros: Cute designs, Thick paper prevents bleeding through
Cons: May be too large for some bags
17-Month Academic Planner - Be Nice to Yourself
Besides including weekly and monthly at-a-glance pages, this planner also has two sheets of stickers. We're sold!
The length: 314 pages
Dating: Dates
Page types: 100 GSM wood-free paper
Binding: Elastic band closure
Colors: Two designs to choose from
Pros: Cute stickers, Plenty of space to write weekly dates and tasks
Cons: May be too large for some bags
