A printed calendar on the wall or fridge is still one of the best ways for a family or team to see what's coming up. Make your own and it can show your photos, everyone's birthdays and the dates that matter to you. Here's how.
Choose the layout
| Layout | Best for |
|---|---|
| One month per page, landscape | Wall and fridge calendars, with room to write in each day |
| One month per page, portrait, with photos | Photo calendars and gifts |
| Whole year on one page | Planning holidays, school terms and projects at a glance |
| Just one month | A monthly planner or rota |
Make it
- Open the calendar maker and choose the year and starting month. Starting in September works well for a school year.
- Pick the layout, paper size and whether weeks start on Monday or Sunday.
- Add photos, one for each month, in the order you want them.
- Add events, one per line. Leave out the year for things that repeat every year, like birthdays: “03-14 Mum's birthday”.
- Choose a colour and font, then download the PDF.
Printing tips
- Print at actual size, not “fit to page”, so nothing is cut off.
- Thicker paper (120 to 200 g/m²) is easier to write on and lasts the whole year.
- For photo calendars, use photos straight from your camera, not ones saved from chat apps, which are compressed.
- A print shop can bind the pages with a wire spiral and add a hole for hanging.
Photo calendar ideas
- Family: a photo from the same month last year on each page.
- Gift for grandparents: grandchildren's photos and everyone's birthdays already filled in.
- Small business: your products each month, given to customers.
- Team: deadlines, holidays and events on the year-at-a-glance page.