When it comes to remembering appointments, special dates and, at the simplest level, what day of the week it is, you need a calendar in your life. In spite of having a zillion mobile apps to help you organize your day, for many people there’s nothing quite like owning one of the best desk calendars to physically look at, write on and feel between their fingers. Let’s consider why these seemingly obsolete day trackers remain as popular as ever.
Advantages of a Desk Calendar
While smartphone and tablet-based, electronic calendars certainly have their benefits, including a number of advantages their physical counterparts can’t compete with, you’d be wrong to assume there’s no longer any reason to keep traditional-style calendars in your home and office. Here are some of our favorite reasons to keep a desk calendar on hand:
- They’re Simple – One of the biggest reasons for choosing a desk calendar over an app is simplicity. On arrival, a desk calendar is easily set up, written on and viewed. There’s no downloading, customizing or any kind of ‘complicated’ process involved.
- Instantly Viewable – There’s no need to unlock a screen or open an app. These calendars are instantly viewable, making them great for quick glances to check dates or scheduled appointments.
- Ideal for Sharing in a Household – Desk or tabletop calendars are an ideal addition to busy households. By having a central, public calendar, everyone in a household can add their own plans and keep track of everything going on at the same time.
- Great for Home-Schooling – With so many parents thrown into the domain of homeschooling, desk calendars provide a proficient way to keep track of topics and progress.
- Fun Novelty Benefits – Perhaps the best thing about desk calendars is the unrelated extras that are often included with them. From learning new words every day to testing your trivia knowledge, the best desk calendars aren’t just about remembering what day and date it is.
- Can’t Be Erased/Lost – While apps and electronic-based calendars can be erased or wiped from existence, you can remain confident that desk-based options will remain in place until moved.
- Battery-Free – Unlike their electronic-based counterparts, desk calendars don’t run on batteries, meaning they work all hours of the day, without worry.
- Better For Viewing The Big Picture – Some people find looking at physical writing or whole month-spreads more useful when creating plans. If this is the same for you, a desk calendar may be preferable.
Below we’ve rounded up the top desk calendars and flip calendars for your desk. These desk calendars will keep you turning the pages just to see what each new day brings. Many options pack a punch of personality to brighten each day and give your desk or countertop a touch of individuality.
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Read on to discover our selection of the 21 best desk calendars to record plans and keep tabs on 2021.
1. AT-A-GLANCE 2021 Desk Calendar
BEST OVERALL
Keeping it simple? Take the minimalist approach and go with a classic desk calendar. Whether you need it for your office desk or just to keep tabs on the daily happenings at home, there’s really nothing you won’t be able to record and access easily with this calendar. It comes backed by over 4,500 five-star reviews from Amazon and includes space for additional notes every month. It also has key dates marked and uses high-quality paper, which won’t bleed ink, to ensure everything remains clean and clear.
2. Toyvian 2021 Mini Calendar
BEST BUDGET
This minimalist Toyvian 2021 Mini Calendar stands up, so even when your desk starts to get cluttered, you’ll always be able to easily glance at the date. While this isn’t the most ideal calendar to keep special notes or reminders, it’s still a compact calendar that will tell you the date whenever you need to rattle it off quickly. Additionally, it’s available in either black, dark grey or white, meaning it’s easy to choose the one which matches your room decor best.
3. Rustic Kraft 2021 Desk Calendar
RUSTIC PICK
The Rustic Kraft 2021 Desk Calendar sports a unique look that fits in with a range of interiors, from offices to entryways. It is made in the USA and runs for 18 months with a single premium-quality, tear-away page for each month as well as individual boxes for every day. You’ll also find a large space for writing additional notes and pre-punched holes for easy hanging.
4. TOWWI Monthly Desk Pad Calendar
BEST LAYOUT
The TOWWI Monthly Desk Pad Calendar incorporates everything you could want in a desk calendar for work or school-related planning. The large, 16.7 by 11.6-inch pages each display a single month with space in each day for writing as well as a generous amount of space for things to do, projects and general notes, too. The design also includes easy-to-tear-off pages, pre-punched eyelets for optional hanging and black corners for keeping pages flat during use.
5. 2021 Dad Jokes Boxed Calendar
BEST FOR DADS
If you love dad jokes (and who doesn’t?), then this is one of the best desk calendars you’ll ever find. Filled with 365 pun-believable dad jokes, this desk calendar is sure to bring you 12 months of joy. It’s a great gag gift for friends and fathers with a terrible sense of humor. It also makes a fun addition to office environments that could do with a daily dose of fun.
6. Dilbert 2021 Day-to-Day Calendar
BEST CARTOON
The Dilbert 2021 Day-to-Day Calendar is a popular option for just about any office. This comic-based Dilbert 2021 desk calendar will bring forward all of the workplace dry humor one could ever wish for, with each page flip. Every page offers a different Dilbert cartoon strip for you to enjoy.
7. You Had One Job! Day-to-Day 2021 Desk Calendar
MOST HUMOUROUS
This seriously entertaining You Had One Job! Day-to-Day 2021 Desk Calendar will have you excited for every page turn. Every day features a different hysterical fail, all of which find their inspiration from the same idea: You had one job. From incorrectly worded signs to even lazier translations, viewing the mistakes for yourself is a great way to put a smile on your face before your work or school day begins.
8. Date Works Deluxe 2021 Star Wars Day-at-a-Time Box Calendar
SCI-FI PICK
Given Disney’s recent success with The Mandalorian series and subsequent announcements of new feature films, shows and mini-series to come, there’s no better year to brush up on your Star Wars knowledge than 2021. Each page of this day-at-a-time calendar includes the date, mini month and a Star Wars-related picture and accompanying fact or information from the franchise. You’ll also find 100 handy calendar stickers for marking important days or events.
9. You Are A Badass 2021 Desk Calendar
BEST BOOK INSPIRED
Based on the book You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, this You Are A Badass 2021 Desk Calendar includes money-making inspiration and, of course, motivational messages that will inspire you to kick each new day in the butt, embrace what you love about yourself and change what you don’t. The tear-away page calendar includes a recyclable plastic easel backer and comes accompanied by positive reviews from over 95% of Amazon users.
10. The Argyle Sweater 2021 Desk Calendar
BEST GIFT IDEA
The famous Scott Hilburn comic, The Argyle Sweater, works wonderfully as a desk calendar. Each tear-away day offers simple bits of daily humor that will help the days swim by. Every new day provides plenty of entertainment, as you’ll find a fun cartoon on the front of the page in addition to bonus content on the back. Plus, this calendar has been awarded positive ratings from over 95% of Amazon users, meaning any investment is sure to be a positive one.
11. 365 Dogs Page-A-Day Calendar 2021
PET PICK
Put simply, seeing a picture of a different dog every day will either appeal to you or it won’t. For those who it does, there’s no better calendar choice than this 365 Dogs Page-A-Day Calendar 2021. Each page includes a picture of a dog and some accompanying general information about dogs, whether it’s facts about their different coats or interesting tidbits about whether dogs should have dairy products to eat. In addition, to cover every corner, we’ve included a link to the cat calendar alternative, if dogs aren’t your thing.
12. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die Page-A-Day Calendar 2021
BEST FOR TRAVELERS
If you work at a desk and regularly find yourself dreaming of all the places in the world you’d love to travel one day, the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die Page-A-Day Calendar 2021 could be the choice for you. As the name suggests, it offers day-by-day inspiration of the most interesting places to visit. Examples of destinations include Tsibli in Georgia (the country not the state), the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Casa Azul in Mexico City, Mexico.
13. 365 Days of Amazing Trivia! Page-A-Day Calendar 2021
TRIVIA PICK
The 365 Days of Amazing Trivia! Page-A-Day Calendar is a fun way to give your brain a daily workout. On each page of this eco-friendly calendar, you’ll find a knowledge-testing question, such as, “What is the hottest planet in our solar system?” or “What is the smallest snake species in the world?” You’ll find the answers on the back of each page. If your knowledge falls short, this may be used as a handy way to learn some interesting facts.
14. 365 New Words-A-Year Page-A-Day Calendar
BEST BRAIN BUILDER
There are few better ways to build your vocabulary than with a handy word-a-day calendar. This 365 New Words-A-Year Page-A-Day Calendar comes backed by over 1,000 five-star reviews from Amazon users. Each page includes a new word alongside the day, month and year for easy reading. Examples of new words you’ll learn include malversation, borborygmus and sockdolager – and if you’d like to know what they mean, you’ll have to buy the calendar.
15. 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Daily Desk Calendar
BEST QUOTES
This hilarious 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Daily Desk Calendar will have your coworkers paying your cubicle frequent visits just to check out the latest “stupidest thing.” With close to five million copies sold, this page-a-day calendar will leave you in stitches before lunchtime. Memorable quotes come from a range of sources, including Jean-Claude Van Damme and the former Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Cherno.
16. Motivational & Inspirational Perpetual Calendar
INSPIRATIONAL PICK
If you like the sound of a little inspirational pep talk every morning, pick this Motivational & Inspirational Perpetual Calendar. While it may not be an audible sound you can hear, each page does offer you a range of varying quotes, including things like, “Things do not change, we do” and “It is up to you to see the beauty in everyday things.” Additionally, this calendar is available in four different designs, and because this standing calendar is not marked with a year, it can be reused again and again.
17. Blueline 2021 Doodle Plan Desk Calendar
MOST ARTISTIC
This unique Blueline 2021 Doodle Plan Desk Calendar is the ideal choice for the creative worker who can’t stand to go a day without splashing a little color around their desk. This desk calendar features beautiful, ready-to-color designs that can be used as a convenient distraction during conference calls or when you just need five minutes of quiet during a particularly busy day. Plus, it will make for a beautiful cubicle decor piece when you’re done doodling.
18. Gone for a Run 2021 Daily Desk Calendar
ATHLETE PICK
If you’re the type who keeps a pair of running sneakers on your feet or under your desk, this daily desk calendar will be perfect for you. The calendar not only includes running quotes and inspiration to get you out there, but each new day offers space for you to jot down your own daily running notes. This is a great gift for regular runners and friends or family looking to take up running in 2021.
19. Grupo Erik Marvel Comics 2021 Desk Calendar
BEST COMIC
Get back to your Marvel roots with this Grupo Erik Marvel Comics 2021 Desk Calendar. While most people are more familiar with the feature film versions of each classic superhero, this “retro-style” calendar uses their original forms. The pages include some of your favorite Marvel characters, like Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain America and, of course, everyone’s favorite population-removing supervillain, Thanos. This standing calendar includes both whole month and month-within-day-boxes on individual pages. It also boasts a ringed spine, which makes turning pages especially simple.
20. Global Printed Products Professional Desk 2021 Calendar
LARGEST
At 22 by 17 inches, this Global Printed Products Professional 2021 Desk Calendar is the biggest option available on our list. It’s ideal for offices and communal spaces in households. Each page of the calendar covers a single month and gives you ample space for writing down your daily plans with additional notes. The design also includes punched holes for optional hanging as well as protective corners and easy tear-away pages for greater convenience.
21. Quanzhou Soulman 2021 Standing Desk Calendar
BEST PERPETUAL
If you prefer the idea of having a calendar you can use year after year, consider the Quanzhou Soulman 2021 Perpetual Desk Calendar. The design includes flippable panels which show the date, day and month, making it a quick and easy job to change them every morning. Furthermore, at 10.7 by 6.1 inches, the modestly sized calendar is both easy to read and compact enough not to waste space on your desk or countertop. The timeless and stylish design makes this a solid choice for kitchens, offices or bedrooms.