Extra Large Monthly Wall Calendar: Best Jumbo Options

Okay so I just spent the last three weeks testing like eight different extra large wall calendars because honestly my old one was too small and I kept missing appointments, and here’s what actually matters when you’re dropping money on these things.

Size Actually Means Different Things Apparently

First thing – and I wish someone had told me this before I ordered three calendars that were all supposedly “extra large” – the measurements are all over the place. Some brands call 24×36 inches extra large, others don’t start using that term until you hit 32×48 inches. I ended up with one calendar that barely fit my wall space and another that I literally couldn’t hang because it needed like six feet of clearance and my ceiling is… not that high.

The sweet spot I found is around 24×36 or 27×39 inches. That’s big enough that you can actually write stuff in the daily boxes without needing a magnifying glass, but it’s not gonna take over your entire wall. Unless you want it to take over your entire wall, which is totally valid.

The AT-A-GLANCE Jumbo Erasable Wall Calendar

This one is 32×48 inches and it’s the first one I tested because my productivity coaching client actually had it in her office and I got weirdly obsessed with it. The boxes are huge – like 2.5 inches each – so you can fit multiple appointments per day without that cramped feeling.

It’s erasable which sounds great in theory but here’s the thing: you need the right markers. I tried using a random dry erase marker I had and it left these ghost marks that wouldn’t come off. The AT-A-GLANCE brand markers work perfectly though, and honestly any high-quality dry erase marker will do fine. Just don’t cheap out on dollar store markers or you’re gonna have a bad time.

The material is this thick laminated paper that‘s surprisingly durable. My cat jumped at it once (long story, there was a moth) and her claws didn’t even puncture it. It comes with mounting tape but I used command strips because I’m paranoid about wall damage.

Price is usually around $35-40 depending where you get it. Ships rolled up which is nice for storage if you’re buying ahead.

Who Should Get This One

If you’re coordinating schedules for multiple people or you run a small business where everyone needs to see what’s happening, this is probably your calendar. The size makes it readable from across a room, which I didn’t think mattered until I was trying to check my schedule while making coffee and realized I could actually see it from the kitchen.

Blue Sky Large Wall Calendar

This is 24×36 inches so it’s more manageable if you don’t have a massive wall. I have the Bakehouse design which has this pretty floral border, but they make like 20 different patterns if you care about that stuff. I mostly don’t but my office looks weirdly more professional with the floral one so there’s that.

It’s paper-based, not erasable, so you’re writing with regular pens. The paper quality is actually really good – I tested it with fountain pens, gel pens, and regular ballpoints. No bleed-through with any of them, though I’d maybe avoid super wet fountain pens just to be safe.

The boxes are about 1.5 inches square which is smaller than the AT-A-GLANCE but still totally usable. I can fit 3-4 short entries per day comfortably. There’s a notes section on the side of each month which I use for tracking my blog deadlines and it’s been super helpful.

One thing that bugs me – it only covers 12 months, no bonus months at the beginning or end. So if you’re buying it in like November, you’re only getting two months of use before the new year. Plan accordingly.

Costs around $15-20 which is way cheaper than the erasable options. You’re replacing it yearly anyway so the cost difference adds up.

Quartet Infinity Glass Dry Erase Calendar Board

Okay so this is gonna sound weird but this isn’t technically a calendar – it’s a glass whiteboard with a calendar grid printed on it. But hear me out because it’s actually amazing if you want something permanent.

It’s 23×35 inches and the surface is tempered glass which means it’s never gonna ghost or stain. I’ve had mine for six months and it still looks brand new. You can use any dry erase marker, any cleaner, whatever. I once left marker on it for three weeks (forgot to erase it before vacation) and it still wiped off perfectly.

The mounting is more involved – you’re screwing it into the wall, not using adhesive strips. It’s heavy, like 15 pounds, so make sure you’re hitting studs or using really good anchors. I had to get my neighbor to help me hang it because holding it level while drilling was a two-person job.

The calendar grid is subtle, just thin lines, which some people love and some people hate. I like it because it doesn’t feel as “calendar-y” if that makes sense, but my friend tried one and returned it because she wanted the dates pre-printed.

Price is around $90-120 depending on the size and where you buy it. More expensive upfront but it’s basically a forever purchase.

The Jumbo Sized Wall Calendar from House of Doolittle

This one is 24×37 inches and it’s made from 100% recycled paper which doesn’t affect functionality at all but I’m mentioning it because some of you care about that. The pages are bound at the top with a heavy-duty wire that hasn’t bent or broken after months of flipping pages.

What I really like about this one is the ruled daily blocks – they have faint horizontal lines inside each date box. Sounds like a tiny detail but it makes your writing look neater and helps you separate multiple appointments without everything running together. My handwriting is messy at the best of times so this actually helps.

The paper is thick enough for most pens but I did have some bleed-through with my juiciest gel pens. Stick to ballpoint or fine-tip markers and you’ll be fine.

There’s a yearly reference calendar at the bottom of each month that shows the whole year at a glance. I use this constantly for planning blog content months in advance. Also little icons for moon phases which I literally never use but they’re there if you’re into that.

Runs about $20-25. Very solid mid-range option.

Actually Hanging These Things

Oh and another thing I learned the hard way – the hanging mechanism matters way more than you’d think. Some calendars come with a punched hole at the top that you’re supposed to hang on a nail, which is fine if your calendar is light but terrible if it’s heavy or large. The paper tears, the calendar tilts, it’s a whole situation.

Command Picture Hanging Strips are your friend here. Get the ones rated for like 16 pounds even if your calendar is lighter. Better to overestimate. I use four strips (two sets) for anything over 30 inches wide because I’m paranoid about it falling at 3am and scaring me to death.

For the glass calendar I mentioned, you gotta drill. No way around it. But for paper calendars, adhesive is totally fine and way easier.

Writing Tools That Actually Work

Wait I forgot to mention – if you’re going with an erasable calendar, invest in good markers. The Expo Low Odor Dry Erase Markers are the standard and they work great. I keep a set of fine-tip ones for writing and chisel-tip ones for headers or blocking out days.

For paper calendars, I’ve tested a bunch of pens. Pilot G2 gel pens in 0.7mm are my go-to because they’re dark enough to read from a distance but don’t bleed through. Sharpie Pens (not markers, the actual pens) also work really well and they’re slightly more permanent if you don’t want entries smudging.

One trick I learned from a client – use different colored pens for different categories. Work stuff in blue, personal appointments in green, deadlines in red. Makes scanning the calendar way faster.

The Oversized Academic Wall Calendar Situation

If you need your calendar to run from like August to August instead of January to January, your options get more limited. The Blue Sky brand makes academic year versions of most of their designs. AT-A-GLANCE also does academic calendars but they’re harder to find.

I tested the Blue Sky Academic Year calendar in the 24×36 size and it’s basically identical to the regular version, just with different months. Same paper quality, same layout. If you’re a teacher or student or just prefer planning on an academic schedule, this works perfectly.

The Weird In-Between Size Nobody Talks About

There’s this size that’s like 20×30 inches that some brands make and honestly I can’t figure out who it’s for. Too big for a desk area, too small to be a proper wall calendar. I tested one thinking it would work in my home office and it just looked awkward. Maybe if you have a really specific space constraint it makes sense but generally I’d skip this size and go either smaller or bigger.

Magnetic Calendars Are A Thing

Okay so funny story – I was watching The Great British Bake Off and eating leftover pizza when I saw an ad for magnetic dry erase calendars and fell down a research rabbit hole. These are basically the same as regular dry erase calendars but they have a magnetic backing so you can stick them to any metal surface.

The U Brands Magnetic Dry Erase Calendar is 20×30 inches and sticks to filing cabinets, fridges, metal doors, whatever. The magnetic backing is strong – like genuinely strong, not that weak fridge magnet strength. I tested it on my filing cabinet and it hasn’t budged in two months.

The monthly format is pre-printed which I actually prefer for this one because you’re not having to redraw the grid every month. Just erase and refill. The surface wipes clean easily and I haven’t had any ghosting issues.

Downside is the size – 20×30 is smaller than most “extra large” options. But if you’re tight on wall space and have a metal surface available, this solves a real problem. Around $30-35.

What About Wet Erase vs Dry Erase

Some calendars are wet erase, which means you need a damp cloth to remove the writing. Sounds annoying but it’s actually better if you have entries that need to stay up for a while without risk of accidental smudging. I tested a wet erase calendar for a month and it’s definitely more permanent-feeling, but changing entries takes more effort.

For most people, dry erase is the way to go. It’s just more convenient for frequent updates. But if you’re doing like quarterly planning or something where the info doesn’t change often, wet erase could work.

The Real Question: Do You Actually Need Extra Large

Here’s the thing nobody wants to admit – sometimes a regular sized calendar is fine. I know, I know, we’re talking about jumbo options here, but I’ve coached enough people to know that sometimes we buy the giant calendar thinking it’ll solve our planning problems and then we still don’t use it effectively.

You need an extra large calendar if you’re dealing with multiple schedules, if you need to see the calendar from across a room, if you’re writing a lot of detail per day, or if you just have the wall space and want the visual impact. Those are all valid reasons.

But if your schedule is pretty simple and you mostly need to track a few appointments per week, a 17×22 inch calendar might actually be better because it fits more easily and you’re more likely to keep it in your line of sight.

I say this because I tested all these giant calendars and then realized my bathroom calendar (yes I have a bathroom calendar, don’t judge me) is regular sized and I actually reference it more often because I see it every morning. Sometimes the best planner is the one you’ll actually look at.

Maintenance and Longevity Stuff

Paper calendars last exactly one year, obviously, but erasable ones can last years if you take care of them. The key is cleaning them regularly – don’t let marker sit for weeks at a time. Even “no-ghost” surfaces will eventually stain if you’re not wiping them down.

I clean my erasable calendar every Sunday night. Takes like two minutes. Just wipe with the eraser, then do a quick pass with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. Keeps it looking new and prevents any buildup.

For the glass calendar, I use regular glass cleaner once a month. Makes it sparkle and removes any stubborn marker residue.

Where to Actually Buy These

Amazon obviously has everything but the prices fluctuate wildly. I’ve seen the same AT-A-GLANCE calendar range from $32 to $48 depending on the day. Office Depot and Staples usually have better selection of business-oriented calendars and you can see them in person which helps with the size thing.

Target carries the Blue Sky calendars and sometimes has them on sale. Got mine for $12 during back-to-school season which was a steal.

For the glass boards, I’d buy direct from Quartet or from a office supply store where you can verify the return policy. They’re heavy and expensive enough that you wanna make sure you can return it if it doesn’t work out.

Okay I think that covers most of what I learned during my weird calendar testing phase. The short version is: AT-A-GLANCE if you want erasable and huge, Blue Sky if you want paper and affordable, Quartet glass if you want permanent and fancy. But honestly they’re all good depending on what you need. Just measure your wall space first because I definitely didn’t do that initially and ended up with a calendar that technically fit but looked ridiculous.