Dry Erase Monthly Calendar: Best Board Options

Okay so I’ve been testing dry erase monthly calendars for like three months now because honestly my old one from Target was leaving ghosting marks and I got tired of looking at the faded remnants of “dentist appt” from February. Here’s what actually matters when you’re buying one.

Size Actually Makes or Breaks This

The biggest mistake everyone makes is buying too small. I did this. Bought a cute 18×24 inch board thinking it would be perfect for my home office and yeah it looked nice but I couldn’t fit anything in the daily squares. Like you get maybe three words per day before it’s illegible chaos.

Go for at least 24×36 inches if you’re actually gonna use this thing. I tested the Quartet magnetic calendar in that size and it’s honestly the sweet spot. Big enough that you can write “3pm – client call re: new project timeline” without abbreviating everything into hieroglyphics. The 36×48 inch ones exist too but unless you have a massive wall space that’s overkill and also weirdly intimidating? Like it becomes this giant monument to all the things you need to do.

Oh and measure your wall before you buy. Sounds obvious but I’ve had two friends text me photos of calendars they can’t hang because they didn’t account for the door frame. Just measure.

Frame Quality Is Where They Get You

The cheap ones have aluminum frames that dent if you look at them wrong. I tested one from Amazon Basics that arrived with a corner already bent and the frame never sat flush against the wall. It drove me insane for the two weeks I used it before returning.

The better boards have either thick plastic frames or actual quality aluminum. Quartet and U Brands both do decent frames. The Board Dudes one I tested had this plastic frame that felt sturdy but looked kinda cheap up close, though honestly from your desk you can’t really tell.

Frameless is having a moment right now and I actually like the look? The Quartet glass calendar is frameless and it’s gorgeous, very minimalist. But it’s also like $80 and you gotta be okay with the exposed edges. My dog ran into mine (long story, there was a squirrel outside) and I was SO glad it’s tempered glass.

Surface Material Changes Everything

This is gonna sound weird but run your hand across the surface before you buy if you can. Porcelain is the gold standard. It doesn’t ghost, doesn’t stain, and you can use it for years. The Quartet Prestige 2 is porcelain and after three months of daily use it still wipes completely clean. Even when I left marker on it for a week because I forgot to update it, everything came off with a damp cloth.

Melamine is the budget option and it’s fine for like a year. Then it starts ghosting no matter what you do. I tested the AmazonBasics melamine board and by month two there were faint shadows of old writing. Not terrible but annoying when you’re trying to look professional on Zoom calls.

Glass boards are the fancy option. They look incredible, super modern, and they don’t ghost. But here’s the thing nobody tells you – they’re reflective. If you have a window or light source nearby, you get glare. I tested the U Brands glass calendar and had to move it twice before finding a spot where I could actually read it without squinting. Also markers don’t glide as smoothly on glass? It’s a slightly different writing feel.

The Magnetic Situation

Okay so magnetic vs non-magnetic is a whole thing. Magnetic boards let you stick notes, reminders, whatever directly on them which is genuinely useful. I use little magnetic clips to hold receipts I need to expense and it’s so much better than having paper scattered everywhere.

But not all magnetic boards are created equal. Some have weak magnetism where your stuff slides down the board throughout the day. The Quartet Prestige 2 has strong magnetism. The cheaper Target one I started with? My grocery list was on the floor by noon every single day.

If you don’t care about magnets, you can save money and get a non-magnetic board. The writing surface is what matters most anyway.

Pre-Printed Grids vs DIY

Most boards come with the monthly grid pre-printed which is obviously convenient. But here’s what I learned – check if it’s printed or just a decal. The decal ones can peel at the edges over time. Had this happen with a Staples brand board where after six months the grid lines started lifting.

Some boards are completely blank and you create your own grid with tape or markers. I tried this thinking it would be flexible and customizable but honestly it’s annoying. You have to redo it every month and getting the lines straight is harder than it looks. Unless you’re really particular about custom layouts, just get a pre-printed grid.

Oh and another thing – check if the days of the week are printed or if there’s space for you to write them in. Sounds minor but some boards assume you start on Sunday and others give you flexibility. I start my weeks on Monday because that’s how my brain works, so having to cross out and rewrite that every month would drive me nuts.

What Actually Works Best

After testing like eight different boards, here’s my actual ranking for different situations.

Best Overall: Quartet Prestige 2 Magnetic Monthly Calendar

This is the one I kept on my wall. 24×36 inches, porcelain surface, strong magnetism, aluminum frame that actually feels quality. It’s around $60-70 depending on sales but it’s worth it. No ghosting after months of use. The grid is clearly printed and includes small boxes for each day that are actually usable.

The markers glide smoothly and it wipes clean with literally anything – I’ve used water, the eraser that came with it, even my sleeve when I was in a hurry (don’t judge). It comes with a marker tray that actually stays attached which is rarer than you’d think.

Best Budget: U Brands Magnetic Monthly Calendar

If you can’t spend $60, the U Brands one is like $25-30 and it’s decent. It’s not porcelain so it will eventually ghost, but for the price it’s solid. The frame is plastic but sturdy enough. Magnetic but weaker magnetism than Quartet.

I used this one in my spare room for tracking my content calendar and it worked fine. Writing surface is melamine which means in a year or two you’ll probably need to replace it, but at that price point that’s not terrible.

Best Fancy Option: Quartet Infinity Glass Calendar

If you want something that looks expensive and modern, the glass calendar is stunning. It’s around $80-100 but it’s a statement piece. Never ghosts, ever. Wipes completely clean. The frameless edges look so clean.

Just be aware of the glare situation and that it’s heavier than other boards. You need proper wall anchors for this one. I wouldn’t put it in a rental where you’re trying to minimize holes in the wall.

Markers Matter More Than You Think

Wait I forgot to mention – the markers that come with these boards are usually garbage. Like they work but they dry out fast or the tips get mushy.

Buy separate markers. I use the Expo fine point markers and they’ve lasted way longer than any included markers. The fine point is key because it lets you actually write normal-sized text in those daily squares.

Also get at least three colors. I use black for appointments, blue for deadlines, and red for important stuff I can’t miss. My system isn’t complicated but the color coding helps my brain process the calendar faster.

Some people swear by the Quartet markers but honestly Expo is cheaper and works just as well. Don’t overthink this part.

The Eraser Thing

Most boards come with those little rectangular erasers and they’re fine but they get dirty fast. I bought a pack of microfiber cloths and just use those. Works better, doesn’t leave residue, and I can throw them in the wash. Keep one cloth near your board and you’re set.

For stubborn marks that won’t come off with a dry cloth, use a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol on the cloth. Works on everything except maybe the cheapest melamine boards where it might strip the coating? But on porcelain and glass it’s perfect.

Mounting Without Destroying Your Walls

Okay so mounting these things is its own adventure. Most come with mounting hardware but it’s usually designed for drywall with studs.

If you’re in a rental or don’t want huge holes, try the 3M Command picture hanging strips. I’ve had my 24×36 board up with those for two months and it hasn’t budged. You need the heavy duty ones rated for like 16 pounds. Use more strips than you think you need.

The glass boards are too heavy for Command strips though. Those you gotta actually mount properly. Find the studs, use appropriate anchors, maybe bribe someone who’s handy to help you because getting it level solo is frustrating.

Weird Things Nobody Mentions

The marker tray that comes with most boards is either great or falls off constantly. There’s no in-between. The Quartet one screws into the frame and stays put. The cheaper ones use adhesive that fails within weeks. If your tray keeps falling, just use a small basket or cup on a nearby shelf. Problem solved.

Also some boards have a weird chemical smell when you first open them. It goes away after a few days but crack a window if you’re sensitive to that stuff.

My cat likes to watch me write on the calendar and has booped the surface with her nose multiple times leaving little smudge marks. Not a product flaw just something that happens when you have pets apparently.

What to Skip

Those combination boards that are half calendar half blank whiteboard? Seems like a good idea but the calendar section ends up too small to be useful. Just get a full monthly calendar and a separate small whiteboard if you need scratch space.

The really ornate decorative frames with colors and patterns – they’re cute in theory but they date quickly and can clash with your space if you ever rearrange. Stick with simple frames.

Boards smaller than 18×24 unless it’s literally just for you to track like three things. Anything smaller is basically a large notepad.

Maintenance Real Talk

Clean your board fully at the end of each month when you erase everything. Use a damp cloth with a tiny bit of dish soap, wipe it down, dry it completely. This prevents buildup and keeps the surface writing smoothly.

Don’t leave marker on the board for weeks at a time. I know life happens but the longer it sits, the harder it is to remove completely. Even on porcelain, super old marker can be stubborn.

Replace your markers when they start getting faint rather than pressing harder. Pressing hard can damage the surface over time, especially on melamine boards.

If you get ghosting on a newer board, try the rubbing alcohol trick. If that doesn’t work and it’s within the return window, return it. Some boards just have defective surfaces.

My Actual Setup

Currently using the Quartet Prestige 2 in my office for client appointments and deadlines. I have the U Brands board in my kitchen for family stuff and meal planning. The glass one is in my content planning area because it looks good on camera.

This is probably overkill for most people but I like having different zones. If you’re just getting one, go with the Quartet 24×36 unless budget is tight, then grab the U Brands.

The board transformed how I manage my schedule honestly. I was using Google Calendar but something about seeing the whole month physically in front of me makes it easier to plan. Plus I can see it without opening an app which means I actually look at it throughout the day.

Oh and pro tip – take a photo of your calendar at the end of each month before you erase it. Creates a backup record and sometimes I need to reference when something happened. I’ve scrolled back through calendar photos more times than I’d like to admit trying to figure out when I scheduled something.

That’s basically everything I learned from testing way too many dry erase calendars. The Quartet Prestige 2 is the one I’d buy again tomorrow if mine broke. But the U Brands is totally fine if you’re testing out whether you’ll actually use a wall calendar or if it’ll become decorative clutter that you ignore.