What Are Planner Inserts and How Do You Choose Them?
Planner inserts are removable refill pages for a ring planner. Choose them in this order: first the job the page needs to do, then the page style, then the exact size and punch pattern that fit your binder. For most beginners, the useful starting set is a monthly page, a weekly or daily planning page, a notes page, a simple list page, and one specialized insert for a repeated need.
If you are shopping JoyJoy, start with the planner inserts and refill pages collection, compare physical formats in the planner size guide, and use the blank vs lined vs dot grid guide when you are choosing a page style.
What are planner inserts?
If you are deciding whether removable pages suit you, compare refillable planners and bound planners before choosing your first inserts.
Planner inserts are the removable pages that turn a refillable planner into a system you can change over time.
Unlike a fixed bound planner, inserts let you:
- replace only the pages you use up;
- rearrange sections as your routine changes;
- keep a small everyday setup instead of carrying a full archive;
- mix planning, tracking, notes, and themed pages inside one cover.
People also call them planner refills or planner page inserts. The exact term changes by shop, but the idea is the same: they are refill pages designed for a specific size and punch pattern.
Planner inserts vs planner refills
In everyday shopping language, planner inserts and planner refills often mean the same thing: removable pages made for a refillable planner. The more useful difference is intent. Inserts can mean the full page system you choose for planning, notes, tracking, or budgeting. Refills often means replacement pages or extra sheets for the same system.
Before buying, check the finished page size, ring count, hole diameter, and center-to-center spacing. Matching the words A5, A6, A7, Pocket, Personal, or M5 is not enough because planner brands do not always use those names the same way.
The easiest way to choose planner inserts
Choose inserts by job, not by aesthetic category.
Most useful insert systems fall into five families:
| Insert family | What it helps you do | Start with it when... |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | See dates, tasks, and time clearly | You need a month, week, or day view |
| Track | Keep a repeated log visible | You repeat the same habit, expense, or workout |
| Decide | Turn mental clutter into next steps | You often feel overwhelmed or stuck |
| Reflect | Review what worked and what did not | You want to learn from the week, not just survive it |
| Collect | Keep reference information handy | You repeatedly need notes, lists, passwords, or ideas |
This matters because a beginner does not need one of everything. A beginner needs enough insert variety to keep the planner useful without turning it into a heavy stack of pages they never touch.
Choose a page style: blank, lined, or dot grid
After you know the job of the page, choose the lightest structure that helps you use it.
| Page style | Best for | JoyJoy path |
|---|---|---|
| Blank planner inserts | Open notes, sketches, lists, brainstorming, and custom layouts | View blank inserts |
| Lined planner inserts | Fast writing, notes, journals, checklists, and cleaner text rows | View lined inserts |
| Dot grid planner inserts | Flexible layouts, boxes, habit grids, light structure, and mixed notes | View dot grid inserts |
If you are deciding between the three, read Blank vs Lined vs Dot Grid Planner Inserts. That guide compares writing style, layout flexibility, and current JoyJoy basic-insert specifications without making untested paper-performance claims.
The five-page starter system most people can actually use
If you are building your first insert setup, start with five kinds of pages:
- a monthly overview;
- a weekly planning page;
- a flexible notes page;
- a simple list or task page;
- one specialized insert tied to a real repeated need.
That fifth page is where the system starts feeling personal. For one reader it might be a budget page. For another it might be a workout log, meal plan, habit tracker, or project map.
The point is not to build a giant planner on day one. The point is to make sure your planner earns its space in your bag or on your desk.
A practical example
If you mostly need to remember dates and keep a short weekly plan, your starter setup might look like this:
- monthly overview for appointments and deadlines;
- weekly page for priorities and tasks;
- notes page for ideas and reminders;
- running list page for errands and loose tasks;
- one specialty page that solves a real problem.
For example, a fold-out monthly layout is useful when you want more calendar room without moving up to a larger planner. JoyJoy's A7 Fold-Out Monthly Inserts are a good example of a specialized insert that solves a specific space problem rather than adding random extra pages.
How to choose the right insert size
The right insert is not only about layout. It has to fit the planner you own.
Check these four things before you buy planner inserts:
- page width and height;
- punch pattern and hole count;
- how much writing space you really need;
- whether the planner is a main system or a portable companion.
| JoyJoy insert path | Finished page size | Punch pattern | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 / Mini 5 planner inserts | 67 x 105 mm | 5 holes; 4 mm holes; 19 mm spacing | For Mini 5 style systems; do not assume every tiny planner uses the same holes. |
| A7 / Pocket planner inserts | 80 x 120 mm | 6 holes; 4 mm holes; 19 mm spacing | JoyJoy Pocket is not ISO A7 paper size. |
| A6 Personal planner inserts | 95 x 170 mm | 6 holes; 5 mm holes; 19-19-50-19-19 mm spacing | A6 Personal is not ISO A6, which is 105 x 148 mm. |
| A5 planner inserts | 148 x 210 mm | 6 holes; 5 mm holes; 19-19-70-19-19 mm spacing | Use A5 when writing room matters more than portability. |
For any brand mix, compare the finished page size and hole spacing with a refill that already fits your planner before ordering.
How much should a beginner buy?
Less than you think.
Many people buy too many inserts before they know how they really plan. A better starting point is:
- one monthly section;
- one main planning section, weekly or daily;
- one notes or list section;
- one specialty section;
- a small backup stack of refills for the pages you use most.
That gives you enough structure to learn what belongs in your planner without filling it with unused trackers, archive pages, or layout experiments you have not earned yet.
When a specialized insert is actually worth adding
If movement is the specialized job, use our guide to what to track in a workout journal to choose a small set of useful fields before adding fitness pages.
Specialized inserts are worth buying when they remove repeated friction.
Add a new insert when you keep running into one of these problems:
- you need more room for a recurring type of plan;
- you keep rewriting the same information on blank paper;
- a habit or routine matters enough that you want to review it;
- your planner handles one area of life poorly even though the rest works.
Examples:
- Add a workout insert if your weekly plan never leaves enough room for training details.
- Add a budget insert if money notes are scattered across random pages.
- Add a fold-out calendar if a compact planner works well except for monthly visibility.
If you cannot describe the problem the insert solves, do not buy it yet.
A simple test before you expand your planner
Before adding more categories, use your core setup for two weeks and ask:
- Which pages did I reach for automatically?
- Which pages felt cramped?
- Which pages stayed untouched?
- What did I still need blank paper for?
Those answers tell you more than trends or planner tours online.
When you are ready to expand, do it one problem at a time. That is how a refillable planner stays flexible instead of becoming cluttered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which planner insert layout should I choose first?
Choose blank pages for open notes or sketches, lined pages for fast writing, and dot grid pages when you want light structure for boxes, lists, trackers, or flexible layouts.
Are A6 Personal inserts the same as ISO A6 paper?
No. JoyJoy A6 Personal inserts measure 95 x 170 mm, while ISO A6 paper is 105 x 148 mm. Compare the finished page size and six-hole spacing before ordering.
Do JoyJoy planner inserts include the binder?
No, unless a product listing clearly says a binder is included. Insert and refill listings are for the pages only; binder covers and accessories are sold separately.
What planner inserts should a beginner start with?
Start with a monthly view, a weekly or daily planning page, a notes page, a simple task or list page, and one specialized insert for a repeated real-life need.
Are planner inserts the same as planner refills?
Usually yes. Shops may prefer one term over the other, but both usually describe refill pages made for a specific planner format.
How many planner inserts should I keep in one planner?
Keep only the pages you need for your current planning window plus a small backup supply. Too many sections make a planner harder to use, not easier.
Can I mix planner inserts from different brands?
Sometimes, but only after checking exact measurements and punch pattern. Matching size names alone are not enough.
Are Pocket planner inserts the same as A7?
Not always. Pocket is often used as a market name, while A7 is a defined paper size. Always compare the listed measurements before ordering.
Ready to build a planner that stays useful instead of just looking full? Explore JoyJoy planner inserts.
If you are still deciding between a compact setup and a larger page size, read the JoyJoy planner size guide first.
Not every plan needs another app. See how to combine reminders with refill pages in Paper Planner vs Digital Planner.
Shop inserts by exact planner format
- M5 planner inserts: 67 × 105 mm, five holes.
- A7 Pocket planner inserts: 80 × 120 mm, six holes.
- Personal planner inserts and JOYJOY A6 products: check the collection specifications before ordering.
- A5 planner inserts: check page and punch measurements against your binder.
Format names can overlap, so choose by measured page size and hole spacing rather than by the word “mini,” “Pocket” or “A7” alone.
For six-ring compatibility, use the measured A7 Pocket planner insert size guide before choosing refills.
Once you have chosen your inserts, use planner dividers to organize them into clear sections and compare side tabs with top tabs before ordering.
If you are choosing the paper pattern itself, compare blank, lined and dot grid planner inserts by writing style and use.