Summary:
Designing custom calendars in Canva is simple to do as long as you start with the right template and prepare your files properly for print. Canva’s drag-and-drop tools make it simple to customize images, fonts, and important dates, while Little Rock Printing’s templates ensure proper sizing, bleed, and layout from the start. With high-resolution images, clean typography, and the correct PDF export settings, Canva designs can translate smoothly into professional, print-ready calendars.
Updated January 2026
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Calendars make useful personal organizers, office gifts, or novelty items, but if you want your calendar to truly pop, it pays to make it one-of-a-kind. And designing a custom calendar is easier than you might think, thanks to Little Rock’s collection of free Canva templates!
Of course, a template is just there to help you get started. You’ll also need to know how to fill it out with details that will make the finished product truly your own!
Fortunately, as high-quality independent printers with years of experience, we’ve got some tips to share. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to creating a beautiful custom calendar with Canva.
See Also:
Getting Started with Canva
Canva is free online design software that makes graphic design simple and accessible. Unlike design programs that come with a steep learning curve, Canva is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. For the most part, you just select elements from the left side of the screen, then drag-and-drop them into your design and tweak them by clicking on their different properties (we’ll cover these steps in more detail below).
In addition to calendars, we have Canva templates for banner stands, business cards, stickers & labels, and many other print products. You’ll need a Canva account to use these templates, so make sure to create one if you’ve never done this before. Click here to make your Canva account in just a few minutes.
Step 1: Choose Your Calendar Size
We’ve made this first part easy by grouping our templates into three categories: the square calendar (8.5 x 8.5 inches), vertical calendar (8 x 10 inches), or the standard size (11 x 8.5 inches). Just click on the option you want, and it will redirect you to Canva, where the corresponding template will automatically open.
Opening the template automatically creates a copy just for you, so you can change absolutely anything you want. Now the fun begins!
For Best Results
- Plan your theme and prepare some images beforehand. This will make choosing a size easier.
- Consider signing up for a Canva Pro account if you don’t have one. You can still make a beautiful custom calendar without one, but the extra stock images and other options that come with Pro accounts are nice to have if you want even more freedom for your design.
Step 2: Change Out the Photos
You’ll notice that our calendar templates come with photos, but it wouldn’t really be a custom calendar if you had to use the ones we provided, would it? So the first thing you’ll want to do is replace those with your own.
To do so:
- Click on the existing images
- Click the trash can symbol that appears
You can also right-click, then select “delete” from the drop-down menu or “detach image from background” (if you do this, the images will come loose from the background, and you can drag them out of sight to make room for your new ones).
To put in the images you want instead, you can either:
- Select them from the “Elements” section on the left-hand side of the screen, or
- Upload your own in the “Upload” section right beneath it
You can also simply drag images in most formats straight from your desktop and drop them into your project.
To make the new image the background of a given page, right-click it and select “set as background” from the drop-down menu.
For Best Results
- Use high-resolution images (at least 300 dpi). Remember, you’re going to print this, so even though you’re designing it online, it needs to be print quality!
- Drag the corners of each image to resize it so that it fits your design.
Step 3: Adjust Your Calendar’s Dates & Other Info
Our calendar templates come with all the provincial holidays for Alberta, but if you’re ordering calendars for somewhere else (or if you want to add custom dates like birthdays or events for your organization), they’re easy to modify!
The easiest way to do this is to simply select a date from the template, then copy and paste it so you can drag it elsewhere without losing the original (unless you want to, in which case, just drag that). Clicking on the text lets you change it to reflect any kind of milestone you want.
For Best Results
- If your calendar will be used somewhere other than Alberta, make sure to include all the official holidays for your area.
- Add dates relevant to the people who will be using your calendar. If it’s a gift for someone specific, you might want to include their birthday. If you’re making office calendars, be sure to include company-specific celebrations or mandatory events.
Step 4: Change the Fonts (& Other Stylistic Details)
Switching up fonts in Canva is easy! Whenever you click on a piece of text, you’ll notice that the toolbar at the top of your screen changes. There, you’ll find a menu for adjusting the font, as well as menus for font size, color, style elements, bullet points, and more.
Similar controls pop up when you click on graphics or other elements, too, so play around and see what you discover! Don’t be afraid to experiment (remember, the “undo” command is always an option).
For Best Results
- Choose fonts that are easy to read, especially in areas where the font size needs to be small.
- Don’t pack too many different fonts into your calendar. You want to make sure the design looks organized.
- Avoid font colors that will blend in with your background (the standard background for our template is white, but you can change that as well).
Step 5: Download & Send Your Print-Ready Calendar
Now that you’ve finished designing your calendar, all you need to do is save it in the correct format and send it off to us when you place your order. Follow the steps below to make sure your design comes to us ready for printing!
For Best Results
- Hit the “Download” button at the bottom and send us the file when you place your order online!
- Click the “Share” button at the top right of your screen
- Click “Download” from the drop-down menu that appears
- Select “PDF Print” under “File Type”
- Check “Crop marks and bleeds”
- Select “CMYK” under “Color Profile”
Video Walk-Through
Want more visual references to help you get comfortable with the process? Check out the video below to see us design a custom calendar step-by-step!
Design the Perfect Custom Calendar Today
Designing a custom calendar is easy with our help! By following the steps above, you’ll be able to make an incredible calendar for any person or organization with Canva’s easy-to-understand tools and get high-quality prints from our expert team. To learn more about our printing process or talk to us about your order, contact us now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it typically take to design a calendar in Canva?
If you have your photos and content ready, most people can design a full calendar in Canva in under an hour. The process is much faster when you start with a pre-sized template and reuse layouts across months instead of designing each page from scratch. But the more elaborate you get, the longer it will take.
Do calendars need extra margins compared to other print products?
Yes. Calendars are flipped and handled frequently, so keeping text and important details comfortably inside the safe area is especially important. Designs that push content too close to the edges or to the binding can feel cramped or harder to read over time.
Should I design all calendar months individually or duplicate pages?
It’s typically easiest to duplicate your pages. After you’ve created a month or two that you like, just copy that layout to keep things consistent and save time. Then you can change the images and update the dates while keeping the fonts, spacing, and alignment the same.
Can I mix portrait and landscape images in the same calendar?
Absolutely! Canva lets you blend portrait and landscape images on a single calendar page using frames or grids. However, you are limited to one page orientation per document, so you cannot switch between portrait and landscape layouts from month to month.
Is a calendar still an effective marketing tool?
Yes. Calendars remain one of the few print products that stay visible year-round. When designed well, they offer ongoing brand exposure and practical value, which is why they’re commonly used as client gifts, promotional giveaways, and internal branding tools.
Can I order a proof before printing my full calendar run?
Yes! Little Rock Printing offers free proofs when you order a single copy using the FREEPROOF code at checkout.
