Custom Wall Calendars

Binding Options

Wiro binding, the metal double-loop spine along the top, is the most popular choice. Pages turn easily, lie flat against the wall and do not tear at the hanging point. A small metal hanger set into the binding makes hanging simple on a nail or hook. Saddle stitching, with staples through the centre fold, is lighter and cheaper and suits A4 calendars with a punched hanging hole. The same stitching is used on our printed brochure booklets.

For year planners, a single sheet can be supplied flat, rolled or laminated so staff can mark it with dry-wipe pens and clean it again. Metal strips top and bottom give a planner a neat finish and stop it curling.

Building a Calendar Page by Page

A typical wall calendar has a cover and twelve monthly pages, each with an image area and a date grid. Some customers add an introductory page with contact details or a year-to-view page at the back. Think about the order of your images so the strongest ones land on the months people will look at longest, and so similar shots are spread out rather than bunched together.

The date grid needs to be practical. Leave enough space in each box for people to write appointments, and mark UK bank holidays so the calendar is useful. You can add your own dates too, such as open days, match fixtures, events or service reminders. A strip along the bottom of each page is a natural place for your logo, phone number and website, kept the same on every month so it becomes familiar.

If you are not a designer, we can set the date grids for you; you supply the images and branding and we lay out each page for your approval. Matching printed company letterheads carry the same logo strip into your post.

Photos That Print Well

Calendar images are printed large, so resolution matters more than on a website. Images straight from a modern phone or camera are usually fine; images saved from social media often are not, because they are compressed and come out soft when enlarged. Aim to send original files and avoid screenshots.

Landscape images suit the standard image area best. If your favourite photos are portrait, we can design some pages with a split layout or a full-bleed image across the top half. Bright, well-lit shots reproduce more faithfully than dark ones, which can lose detail in the shadows when printed on silk or uncoated paper.

If you are running a photo competition among staff, members or customers to fill the pages, set a clear deadline and ask for files at full size by email rather than through a messaging app, which tends to shrink them. Ask entrants to confirm they took the photo themselves and that anyone pictured is happy to appear. A short caption under each image, crediting the photographer or naming the place, adds a personal touch and gives people another reason to keep the calendar on show. Leftover photos make good printed postcards to send with calendars.

Paper Choice and Finish

A 170 to 200 gsm silk paper is a good all-round choice for monthly pages; it shows photographs well and still takes biro and pencil. A heavier 250 to 300 gsm card gives a more substantial feel for the cover and backing board, which also stops the calendar flapping against the wall. Uncoated paper is the easiest to write on and gives a softer, natural look that suits illustrated or artwork calendars.

Gloss paper makes photographs pop but can be hard to write on, so it is best for calendars that are mainly decorative. A backing board in heavy card keeps the calendar flat. Our guide to board and card types explains backing board weights.

Ordering Your Calendars

Tell us the format, binding, paper, quantity and whether you need help with the date grids. A custom quote is sent by email within one working day, and minimums are low and quoted per job, so a small club can order just enough for its members. Every order includes a free proof showing every page, which you should check carefully for dates, bank holidays and your contact details.

Production takes 4 to 7 working days once the proof is approved, and free tracked UK mainland delivery takes 2 to 3 working days. If calendars arrive misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days and we will reprint or refund. Order a few spares; new clients and late supporters often ask for one after the main batch has gone out. A4 calendars post flat in printed C4 envelopes.