Personal size is great for when you're getting started

If you’re looking to get a ring planner, the chances are that personal size is one of the first planner sizes you’ll come across. This also means that they’re very popular, and along with A5, it’s one of the first sizes people start with before they start testing out other sizes. The popularity of personal size brings along with it a really important advantage; it’s really easy to get inserts in a wide range of designs for them.

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Personal Size Starter Bundle

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Have you considered matching your planner to your planning style?

Personal size planners have a distinctive long and narrow page size, which is brilliant for when you like to make focused notes or lists. Although it’s a good middle-ground size, personal size is probably best for when you don’t tend to write lots of detailed notes - you may find yourself running out of space quickly compared to a more roomy size like A5.

Are personal size pages too narrow? Let's fix it!

The narrow page in personal size planners doesn’t have to be an issue - it’s easily solved with a little experimenting. If you’re struggling to fit everything you need on a monthly spread, a foldout insert gives you almost twice as much space and lots of potential for adding structure and organisation to your planning system. Foldout inserts are available in all sorts of designs, so they’re worth considering if you’re finding it hard to squish everything on to your page.

As useful as they are, foldouts aren’t the only way to give yourself more space in your planner. Depending on your cover, you may be able to fit Franklin Covey Compact inserts in there. The page height and punching are the same, but FCC size will give you an additional 13mm (0.5 inches) in page width - just where you need the additional space.

If you’re considering this, have a think about how you use your planner to determine whether it’ll work for you. If you like to use side tabs, getting these in FCC size will add a little extra width to the already widened pages, which may make things a little too wide for your planner - especially if you like to use pen loops. Top or bottom tabs may be a better idea with this option. Not all personal planner covers are the same size - some are a little more generous in their width, so it’s worth trying out FCC on a sample piece of paper cut to size first. It’s also worth having a look at how the page sits when your planner is closed - the ring size has an impact on how much extra width you might be able to add to your pages.

If you’d like to check to see if FCC is a better fit for you than personal size, you can use the link below for the printable guide.

FCC or Personal Size? (print on A4 paper)

FCC or Personal Size? (print on US Letter paper)

Is planner portability important to you?

Personal size offers the best combination of writing space and portability. It’s large enough to be practical but small enough to fit in a bag, which makes it the perfect on-the-go planner that doesn’t feel like a compromise. The real question is whether this matters to you. It may be that you need a larger A5 planner for work and taking it with you is no issue because the additional size is essential. When I was teaching, A5 was my perfect work size and carrying a tote bag with my A5 planner with everything I needed in there in was really useful. However, if all you need it for is making shorter notes, keeping track of appointments or tasks, personal size may be easier.

However, portability isn’t just about taking your planner to work - I’ve enjoyed taking my personal size planner with me on the school run to catch up with things while waiting for my daughter to come out of school, or just chucking it in a bag for a quick plan on the beach or in a coffee shop. If you’re planning to use it out and about, it’s the perfect size. It’s also much more practical to use away from a desk, it’s my favourite size for a bit of sofa-planning in the evenings.

Is personal size the same as A6?

No!

Let me be really clear - personal and A6 size are very different, and unlike FCC, personal wide and B6, personal and A6 size don’t use the same hole spacing.

As a planner shop owner, this is an issue I come across several times a week. Personal planners are commonly mis-sold as ‘A6’ planners, especially on Etsy, Amazon or shops that specialise in budget and cash stuffing supplies. I’m not sure how this became such a widespread problem, but I’ve resorted to messaging A6 customers to check on page dimensions, and most of the time, it’s personal size that they need. It’s a blessing in disguise, as the range for personal size inserts and accessories in most shops is much wider.

If you’d like to check if your A6 planner is actually personal size, you can use the link below.

A6 and personal size free printable (US Letter paper)

A6 and personal size free printable (A4 paper)

How does personal size compare to other planner sizes?

If personal size still isn’t for you, depending on the issue, there are lots of options to consider, so let’s have a look at some of the common problems.

Is the personal page too narrow?

If you’re looking to size up from personal size, FCC offers a little more room - as mentioned earlier. However, if you’d like to size up properly, then personal wide is a great choice. It’s the same height, but the pages are 25mm (1 inch) wider, which could address any issues you’re having with a narrow page size, but it won’t feel as large as an A5 planner. If you’re looking for a personal wide cover, it’s also worth considering B6 covers too. With the exception of Aura Estelle, B6 is a tiny bit larger than PW and the hole spacing is the same, but it may mean you have a larger choice of covers.

Do you need something spacious but compact?

If you’re looking for a compact but wider page size, A6 is a brilliant size. Although it’s a shorter page length, the additional width gives you a lot more room - it feels surprisingly spacious. If you’re considering trying A6 size, be sure to check planner shops have the correct dimensions for their A6 products.

Do you need something smaller?

If you’re looking for something smaller, pocket size is much more compact and many are sold with large back pockets so they can double-up as wallets. Pocket size is also a very popular size and pocket plus inserts can also be used along with foldouts to give you a little extra space if you need it.

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