How to Make a Calendar in Google Docs

In Google Docs, create a calendar by inserting a 7×6 table, labeling days, and styling months, or start with a template for speed.

Need a clean monthly or yearly planner without leaving Docs? This guide shows simple, repeatable ways to build a printable calendar in minutes. You’ll learn fast methods, a from-scratch approach, layout tweaks, and printing tips that keep the grid crisp on paper or PDF.

Quick Steps: How to Make a Calendar in Google Docs

Open Docs → Blank.
Switch page layout as needed: File → Page setup (set orientation, paper size, margins).
Insert a table for one month: Insert → Table → pick 7 columns × 6 rows (days + weeks).
Type weekday labels in the top row (Sun–Sat or Mon–Sun).
Fill dates for the month, leaving empty cells before day 1 and after the last day.
Style it: adjust row height, align text, set borders, add shading for weekends.
Copy the finished month and paste below to build more months, or duplicate the file per month.
Print or export: File → Print or File → Download → PDF.

Making A Calendar In Google Docs: Best Methods

There isn’t only one “right” way. Pick the path that fits your timeline, design needs, and how much you plan to update month to month. The table below compares your choices so you can move straight to a method that suits the job.

Calendar Build Methods Compared

Method	What You’ll Do	Best For
Docs Template Gallery	Start from a pre-made layout; swap colors and fonts.	Fast setup with minimal formatting
Manual Table In Docs	Insert a 7×6 table, label days, fill dates, style borders.	Total control over look and spacing
Copy From Sheets	Create a month in Sheets; paste as a table into Docs.	Auto date logic in Sheets, polished print in Docs
Year-At-A-Glance Grid	Build 12 small 7×6 tables; reduce font size.	One-page yearly overview
Weekly Planner	7-column table with extra notes rows.	Task planning with space for details
Events Tracker	Keep dates small; add bullet lists per day cell.	Meetings, deadlines, reminders
Template File You Reuse	Save one styled month; duplicate for each new month.	Repeatable workflow all year

Use A Template (Fastest Route)

Templates cut setup time. In a new Doc, open the Template Gallery and pick a calendar or planner layout. A copy opens in your Drive so you can edit colors, fonts, and spacing. If you need a different size later, change page settings and let the layout reflow. See the official steps under Use templates for the exact clicks.

When A Template Fits

You want a quick printable month with light edits.
You prefer preset typography and spacing.
You share a layout with teammates who just fill dates.

Make It Yours

Change title type, add your logo, and tweak brand colors. To keep headers compact, reduce top margin in File → Page setup. If the weekend should pop, add cell shading to Sat/Sun. When the layout is set, save this doc as your personal template file and duplicate it for new months.

How to Make a Calendar in Google Docs From Scratch

This path gives complete control. You’ll build one month, snap spacing into place, then duplicate.

Step 1: Set Page Size And Margins

Open File → Page setup. Pick Portrait or Landscape, choose paper size, and set margins (many planners use 0.5–0.75 in for roomy cells). Google’s help article shows where these settings live: Change page settings.

Step 2: Insert A 7×6 Table

Go to Insert → Table and pick 7 columns × 6 rows. The top row holds weekday names. The remaining rows hold the days of the month. If a month begins on Wednesday, leave the first two cells blank. End-of-month blanks are fine; they preserve grid alignment across months.

Step 3: Label Weekdays

Type short labels like Sun, Mon, Tue across the top. Pick a small, bold font for weekday labels so date numbers don’t feel cramped. Center the labels vertically and horizontally for a tidy header row.

Step 4: Size The Grid

Drag row borders to increase height. For even rows, right-click the table → Table properties → set a fixed row height. Keep one height for all week rows so weeks line up. Increase column width for longer weekday names if you use Mon–Sun.

Step 5: Enter Dates Quickly

Start with the first day of the month. Press Tab to jump across cells. Use a thin date style (e.g., small bold number in the top-right corner). Add short notes under each number on new lines.

Step 6: Style Borders And Shading

Use a medium border weight for the outer frame and a hairline for internal lines. Shade the header row. Lightly tint weekends so they stand out at a glance. These controls sit in Table properties; see Google’s guide to tables here: Add and edit tables.

Step 7: Duplicate Months

Select the entire table, copy it, and paste below. Update weekday alignment and dates. Repeat until you reach December, or keep one month per page for a lean file you can print outdoors on a clipboard.

Why Many Users Start In Sheets, Then Paste Into Docs

Sheets can auto-fill dates and shift the layout when a month starts mid-week. After that, copy the month grid and paste it into your Doc. It arrives as a regular table, which you can style with Docs’ tools. This mix gives you date smarts from Sheets and free-form layout in Docs.

Paste Cleanly

Copy a plain grid without extra formulas or frozen rows.
In Docs, use Edit → Paste and adjust column widths so text fits without wrapping the weekday labels.
If borders look heavy, reset to a single weight and reapply outer frame lines.

Layout Choices That Keep The Calendar Readable

Good readability comes from simple spacing and contrast. Tweak these few settings and your months will print cleanly and look consistent on screen.

Margins And Orientation

Landscape gives wider cells for notes. Portrait fits better in binders. Narrow margins yield larger boxes. If a printer trims near edges, leave at least 0.5 in on all sides.

Type And Alignment

Use one font for labels and a matching or slightly lighter font for dates.
Keep weekday headers 1–2 points larger than date numbers.
Right-align date numbers; left-align tasks in the same cell.

Color And Contrast

Pick a single accent shade for the month title and header row. Use a subtle tint for weekends. Avoid heavy fills that make text hard to read on grayscale printers.

Room For Notes

Add an extra row at the bottom of each month for “Next month” or general notes. Many users prefer one empty column at the far right for weekly priorities.

How to Make a Calendar in Google Docs For Any Schedule Type

Reuse the same grid model for a wide range of planning needs. You only change labels and a few cells while the table stays stable.

Monthly Planning

Standard 7×6 table with Sunday or Monday start. Keep date numbers compact. Use two lines of text per day for top tasks.

Weekly Planner

Make a 7-column table for days and 24–30 rows for time blocks or tasks. Freeze the top row for weekday names, then fill rows with meetings and deadlines.

Editorial Or Content Plan

Keep the month grid, add color tags for draft, edit, and publish. Put links in cells to briefs or assets. If a post moves, cut and paste the entire cell content to a new date.

Habit Or Goal Tracker

Add a small checkbox under each date or a two-column mini-table inside each day cell for progress marks. Weekly summaries live in the bottom notes row.

Formatting And Printing Cheatsheet

These quick targets help you fix spacing, borders, and output without hunting through menus.

Element	Where To Change	Pro Tip
Margins	File → Page setup	0.5–0.75 in keeps boxes roomy
Orientation	File → Page setup	Landscape for bigger notes space
Row Height	Table properties → Row	Set a fixed height for even weeks
Borders	Table properties → Border	Heavier outer frame, thin inner lines
Weekend Tint	Cell background	Light shade so text stays legible
Header Row	Bold + background	Small caps or bold label works well
Print	File → Print	Preview scale; test one page first

Troubleshooting Common Snags

Cells Collapse When I Type More

Set a fixed row height. If text clips, keep date numbers small and wrap only task text. Use shorter lines and bullets to avoid tall cells.

Grid Breaks Across Pages

Reduce margins a touch or scale down font size by 1 point. If a month still breaks, use landscape or move notes to a separate page.

Weekday Labels Wrap Onto Two Lines

Switch to short labels (Mon, Tue, Wed) and widen columns slightly. Smaller label text also helps.

Printed Lines Look Too Thick

Lower border weight inside the grid. Keep a clean 1-pt frame around the table and 0.5-pt inner lines.

I Need A Fresh Month Fast

Keep a master file with one styled month. Duplicate the file, adjust weekday alignment, paste the month title, and fill dates. That keeps spacing consistent across the year.

Share, Export, And Print Cleanly

When you’re ready to share, use Share for live collaboration or download a PDF for a locked layout. To print, open File → Print and check scale and margins in the preview window so the outer frame doesn’t clip. Google’s help page outlines the print flow and PDF export steps; see Print a file.

Pro Tips To Save Time All Year

Month Title Style: Create a heading style for the month name. Update once; apply everywhere.
Color Coding: Pick one accent for work, one for personal. Reuse the same two shades across months.
Reusable Icons: Keep a mini legend above the table with small symbols for calls, bills, and travel.
One-Click Duplicate: Right-click the file in Drive → Make a copy to spin up a new month with the same layout.
Sheets Assist: Generate dates in Sheets, then paste into Docs when you need quick month shifts.

Wrap-Up And Next Step

You’ve seen two fast paths and one precise build. Pick a template when speed matters. Build a table when layout needs are specific. Mix in Sheets when auto dates help. Either way, you now know how to make a calendar in google docs that prints clean, reads well, and takes only a few minutes to refresh for the next month.

Bookmark this guide and reuse the steps whenever a new planning cycle starts. The same workflow also covers weekly planners, content plans, and simple habit trackers. With these steps, you’ll repeat the process smoothly the next time you’re asked how to make a calendar in google docs for a team or a client.