How to Create a Calendar Template in InDesign

Step 1: Set Up Your Document

  1. Go to File > New > Document to open the New Document window.
  2. Set your dimensions (for a traditional folded 10″ x 10″ wall calendar, use 
    20 inches height by 10 inches wide).
  3. Uncheck Off Facing Pages so you are working with single pages instead of spreads.
  4. Set Margins to 0.5″ on all sides and Bleed to 0.125″ on all sides for full-bleed imagery, then click Create.

Step 2: Build the Calendar Grid on Parent Pages

  1. Open the Pages panel (Window > Pages) and double-click A-Parent.
  2. Turn on rulers (View > Rulers) and drag a guide from the top ruler down to the 10″ mark (halfway down) to indicate where the calendar folds.
  3. Go to Table > Create Table and set up 1 Header Row, 5 Body Rows, and 7 Columns (for Sunday through Saturday). Click OK and drag to place the table on your page.
  4. Resize rows (using the Type Tool) as needed (making the header row smaller for the days of the week).
  5. Type the days of the week into the header row, center-align the text, and style your table and cells using Table Styles and Cell Styles (Window > Styles).

Step 3: Add and Format Automatic Dates

  1. Double-click the first data cell of your table and go to Type > Bulleted & Numbered Lists > Apply Numbers.
  2. Type a space to generate the initial number (“1.”).
  3. Open the Properties panel (Window > Properties), locate Bullets and Numbering Options, and change the Numbering Style from ^#.^t to ^# to remove the period after the number.
  4. Customize the font size and cell padding via your Cell Styles panel.
  5. • 5. Copy the first styled cell, select all the remaining calendar cells, and Paste to fill the grid with an automatic sequence of numbers.

Step 4: Add Imagery and Placeholders

  1. Use the Text Tool to add a placeholder month name (like January).
  2. Use the Rectangle Frame Tool (F) to map out the image area on the top half of the calendar.
  3. • 3. Select the frame, go to File > Place, and choose your image. Double-click inside the frame to adjust or scale the image contents.

Step 5: Adapt and Reuse for Additional Months

  1. In the Pages panel, click Create New Page to add subsequent months using the Parent Page template.
  2. Hold Shift + Command (Mac) or Shift + Control (PC) to override and select parent elements on your active page.
  3. Update the month name and swap out the top image.
  4. • 4. Highlight and Delete any leading or trailing date numbers that fall outside the current month. The remaining numbers will automatically stay in sequence.

Step 6: Save Your Work

  1. Save as a standard InDesign project (INDD) or choose InDesign Template (INDT) from the Save dialog format options to preserve your master layout for future use.

What to Submit

  1. Packaged InDesign Files: A fully packaged folder containing the .indd document, all linked images/graphics, and used fonts to ensure the project opens correctly without missing asset links.
  2. Exported Print-Ready PDF: A properly exported PDF version of the calendar layout, maintaining proper page dimensions, margins, and the required 0.125″ bleed.

Reference: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-calendar-template-in-indesign–cms-33886