Create your own DIY dry erase calendar using a glass picture frame, a free yearly calendar printable, and this simple step-by-step tutorial. It’s an inexpensive, effective way to get organized.
I’m a true planner addict—I use a personal planner for daily tasks and long-term goals, and I also keep a shared calendar on my phone for family events. In the kitchen I like a quick month-at-a-glance photo calendar so everyone can see what’s coming up at a glance.
Despite all those tools, I still needed a dedicated calendar for work projects, blog posts and important deadlines. At the start of the year I printed twelve monthly pages and taped them to the wall, but that solution didn’t last long: the ceiling fan sent the pages flying.
My paper yearly calendar solution — which fell off the wall the first time the fan was turned on.
I’d been eyeing large dry erase yearly calendars because they stay on the wall and let you erase and reuse months as you move through the year. You can plan a rolling 12 months and simply erase and update dates rather than waiting until January to print new pages. But the ready-made versions I saw were expensive.
Then I realized the expensive calendars were essentially a framed printable behind glass or plexiglass. That lightbulb moment led me to build my own for a fraction of the price.
You can get very large prints inexpensively from local print shops using “engineer prints” or blueprint-style poster printing. A 24″ x 36″ engineer print costs only a few dollars. The paper is thinner and the image is grainier than a high-end poster, so you’ll need to handle it carefully during transport, but it works perfectly for a dry erase calendar behind glass.
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Scroll to the bottom of this post for the free printable yearly calendar you can use for your DIY project.
Items You’ll Need for DIY Dry Erase Wall Calendar
1. 24 x 36 printable yearly calendar (see the free printable at the end of this post).
2. 24 x 36 frame with glass (or plexiglass if you prefer a lighter option).
3. Optional plexiglass (if your frame doesn’t include it; note that plexiglass can bow).
4. Dry erase markers with a fine tip so you can write clearly in each day’s small space.
How to Make a DIY Dry Erase Wall Calendar
Step 1 — Print your calendar. Use the free printable at the end of this post or any calendar file you prefer. Take the file to a local print shop and order a 24″ x 36″ engineer print or poster print. Engineer prints are inexpensive and work well behind glass; poster prints are higher quality if you want a crisper look. If your print shop has an option to “fit to size,” you may not need to resize your file. If you do need to adjust dimensions, simple online photo editors or basic image tools can resize the art to the required pixel dimensions.
Step 2 — Frame the print. Place your printed calendar into a 24″ x 36″ frame. If the frame includes glass, that protects the paper and creates the dry-erase surface. I experimented with plexiglass, which made the display lighter, but it tended to bow slightly, so I preferred the original glass from my frame.
Once framed, hang the calendar in a convenient place and start writing in your events, deadlines and reminders. I use mine to map out blog content and to mark vacations, holidays and conferences so I can see where there are conflicts or quiet periods for focused work.
Marker tips: Fine-tip dry erase markers work best on this format because each day’s box is fairly small. Use a marker that dries quickly and won’t smudge when you accidentally brush your hand across it. To erase, use a damp cloth for a clean finish.
The whole project is quick and inexpensive, and the framed calendar looks polished while giving you a reusable planning surface. It’s especially useful for anyone who plans months in advance or manages multiple projects at once.
Free Printable Calendar Download
I created a free printable yearly calendar you can use to make your own DIY dry erase wall calendar. This printable is provided for personal use only. Use it with a 24″ x 36″ print job to create your framed, reusable calendar.
Enjoy your new organizational tool—simple, affordable, and practical for planning a full year at a glance.