How to Make Your Own Digital Planner: Complete DIY Guide (2026)

Want to create a custom digital planner that perfectly matches your workflow? Making your own digital planner is easier than you think. Whether you want a personalized design, specific layouts, or just want to save money, this guide walks you through creating a hyperlinked PDF planner from scratch.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive in, here’s what you’ll need to create your own digital planner:

Design software – Canva (free), PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, or Affinity Designer
A clear plan – What sections do you need? Daily? Weekly? Monthly?
Time – Expect 2-4 hours for a basic planner, longer for complex designs
Your target device – iPad, reMarkable, BOOX, Kindle Scribe, or Supernote

Step 1: Choose Your Design Tool

Your choice of software depends on your skill level and budget:

Canva (Recommended for Beginners)

Canva is the most popular choice for DIY digital planners. The free version includes everything you need:

Drag-and-drop interface
Thousands of templates to start from
Easy hyperlink creation
Direct PDF export with clickable links
Works in your browser – no software to install

PowerPoint / Keynote / Google Slides

If you already own Microsoft Office or use Google Workspace, these are excellent options:

Familiar interface most people already know
Easy to create consistent page layouts
Built-in hyperlink support
Export to PDF maintains links

Affinity Designer / Publisher (Advanced)

For professional-quality planners with precise control:

One-time purchase (no subscription)
Professional layout tools
Master pages for consistent headers/footers
Best for selling planners commercially

Step 2: Plan Your Planner Structure

Before designing, map out your planner’s structure. A typical digital planner includes:

Section	Pages	Purpose
Cover	1	Title page with navigation
Year at a Glance	1-2	12-month overview
Monthly Spreads	12-24	Calendar view for each month
Weekly Spreads	52-104	Detailed weekly planning
Daily Pages	365 (optional)	Detailed daily tracking
Notes Section	10-50	Blank/lined pages
Trackers	5-20	Habits, goals, finances

Pro tip: Start simple! Your first planner doesn’t need 500 pages. Begin with monthly + weekly layouts, then expand based on what you actually use.

Step 3: Set Up Your Document

Configure your document size based on your target device:

Device	Recommended Size	Orientation
iPad Pro 12.9″	2732 × 2048 px	Landscape or Portrait
iPad 10.9″	2360 × 1640 px	Landscape or Portrait
reMarkable 2 / Paper Pro	1404 × 1872 px	Portrait
BOOX Note Air	1404 × 1872 px	Portrait
Kindle Scribe	1860 × 2480 px	Portrait
Supernote A5X	1404 × 1872 px	Portrait

In Canva, create a custom size document. For universal compatibility, Letter size (8.5″ × 11″) works well on most devices.

Step 4: Design Your Pages

Create a Master Template

Start by designing elements that appear on every page:

Navigation tabs – Sidebar or top bar with section links
Header – Month/week indicator, page number
Footer – Quick links to calendar, notes, home
Background – Subtle pattern or solid color

Design Core Layouts

Create these essential page types:

Monthly calendar – Grid layout with 31-42 day boxes
Weekly spread – 7 columns for each day, space for tasks/notes
Daily page – Schedule, to-do list, notes section
Notes page – Lined, dotted, or blank

Color Considerations

If your planner is for e-ink devices (reMarkable, BOOX, Kindle Scribe):

Use high contrast (dark text on light background)
Avoid light gray text – it may be invisible on e-ink
Test color planners on grayscale devices first
reMarkable Paper Pro and BOOX Color support limited colors

Step 5: Add Hyperlinks (The Magic!)

Hyperlinks transform a static PDF into an interactive planner. Here’s how to add them:

In Canva

Select the element you want to link (tab, button, date)
Click the chain link icon in the top toolbar
Choose “Link to page” and select the destination page
Repeat for all navigation elements

In PowerPoint

Select the shape or text box
Right-click → Hyperlink → Place in This Document
Select the target slide number
Save as PDF to preserve links

Essential Links to Include

Navigation tabs → Each major section
Month names → That month’s calendar
Week numbers → Weekly spread
Dates → Daily page (if included)
“Home” button → Cover or index page
“Today” button → Current date (useful trick: link to a blank “today” page)

Step 6: Export as PDF

Export your planner as a PDF with these settings:

Format: PDF Standard (not PDF/X or Print)
Quality: High (for crisp text and images)
Flatten: No (preserves hyperlinks)
Compression: Medium (balances file size and quality)

Canva tip: Download as “PDF Standard” – not “PDF Print” which removes hyperlinks.

Step 7: Test on Your Device

Before using your planner daily, test it thoroughly:

Transfer to your device – Use your device’s app or web interface
Test every hyperlink – Click each tab and button
Check readability – Is text clear? Are boxes big enough to write in?
Test annotation – Write on each page type with your stylus
Check file size – Large files may slow down your device

Tips for Professional Results

Design Tips

Use consistent fonts (2-3 maximum)
Align elements to a grid for clean layouts
Leave adequate margins for device bezels
Make tap targets at least 44×44 pixels
Use visual hierarchy – larger text for headers

Performance Tips

Compress images before adding to your design
Limit decorative elements that add file size
Keep file size under 100MB for smooth performance
Test on older devices if possible

Organization Tips

Name your pages/slides logically (e.g., “Jan-W1” for January Week 1)
Use layers in design software to organize elements
Save your source file – you’ll want to update dates next year!
Create a template version without dates for reuse

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too many pages – Start with essentials, add more later
Tiny tap targets – Make buttons and tabs large enough to tap
Forgetting to test links – Export and check every hyperlink
Wrong export format – Use PDF Standard, not Print
Ignoring device differences – Test on your actual device
Over-designing – Simple, functional designs work best

Free Resources to Get Started

Canva – Search “digital planner template” for starting points
Pinterest – Endless layout inspiration
YouTube – Search “how to make digital planner Canva” for tutorials
r/digitalplanners – Reddit community with tips and feedback

When to Buy vs. Make Your Own

Making your own planner is rewarding, but not always the best choice:

Make your own if you:

Have specific layout requirements
Enjoy the creative process
Want to learn a new skill
Need something very customized

Buy a premade planner if you:

Value your time over customization
Want professional polish
Need complex features (multiple hyperlink layers, bookmarks)
Prefer to start planning immediately

Check out our digital planner collection for professionally designed, fully hyperlinked planners for reMarkable, iPad, BOOX, Kindle Scribe, and Supernote.

Conclusion

Creating your own digital planner is a fun project that results in a tool perfectly tailored to your needs. Start simple with Canva, focus on the layouts you’ll actually use, and don’t forget to add those magical hyperlinks!

The skills you learn creating a planner transfer to making other digital products too – notebooks, journals, trackers, and more. Happy planning!

Related Guides

Continue exploring digital planning with these related guides:

Recommended Planners

Ready to start planning? Check out our professionally designed planners:

Custom Digital Planner