Planner FAQs: Get Answers to Your Most Common Planning Questions

Questions? Chaos? Planner Confusion? Let’s Unpack It.

We know. Planner sizes are a mess, foil freaks people out, and don’t even get us started on Amazon returns. This is your one-stop hub for all the need-to-know answers about CityGirl Planners: what we make, how we ship it, and what to check before hitting that buy button.

No fluff. No corporate robot-speak. Just clear info, delivered with a wink and a caffeine buzz. So if you’ve got a burning question like “Will this fit my weird binder from 2012?” or “What’s the deal with Final Sale items?”—scroll down, we’ve got you.

Planner sizing is the wild west—no rules, just vibes. And unfortunately, a lot of brands throw around terms like “A6” or “Personal” without actually meaning the same thing.

Behind the Paper: How We Work & What We Make

We’re not a factory. We’re not a drop shipper. We’re a small, mildly obsessive team with label makers and strong opinions about paper. Here’s what you’ve been dying to ask.

Yes. Every tab, punch, trim, and package is done in-house by actual humans. No outsourcing, no bulk imports, no cutting corners. Because we’re control freaks with label makers—and we like things done right.

All inserts are designed, printed, punched, and packed by us right here in central Kentucky. We don’t use outside printers, drop shippers, or overseas factories. It’s all hands-on, all in-house.

Nope. Everything we sell is physically printed and shipped. We’re a print shop, not a PDF warehouse. If you’re looking to DIY, we wish you luck (and a steady printer).

We don’t offer custom layouts or fully custom designs. Some products allow for personalization (like names or colors), but we don’t create one-off formats or make edits to our templates.

Our inserts are printed on 80# text weight bright white paper (that’s about 32lb for you U.S. folks). It’s smooth, durable, and holds up to pens like a champ—without being cardstock thick.

Some specialty designs—like journaling pages or colored paper—may use slightly thinner or thicker stocks depending on the layout. Always check the listing details for paper notes on those. If it doesn’t say otherwise, assume it’s our signature bright white.

We don’t currently offer gift wrapping (yet—we’re working on it), but you can leave a gift note during checkout. We’ll include it in your package, no glitter bombs required.

Rarely….sometimes….when we remember. We price fairly all year long, and we don’t play the mark-it-up-to-mark-it-down game. Occasionally we’ll drop a special offer for newsletter subscribers. So keep an eye on your inbox if you’re on the list.

Yes. Every layout, checklist, and insert in our shop was created by us.

That’s also why it takes us forever to release new stuff. We’re a tiny team doing all the things — designing, printing, packing, answering emails, and sometimes remembering to eat. If it’s not listed yet, it’s probably still trapped in a sketchbook or buried under a to-do list.

Let’s Talk Planner Refills (Because “A6” Apparently Means 12 Different Things)

Here’s how we define sizes at CityGirl Planners, and how to make sure you’re getting the right fit. (Spoiler: it’s probably not the one your Instagram bestie uses.)

Contacts address book planner insert with fields for name, phone, email, and address

We currently offer inserts in six sizes: Pocket, A6, Personal, Half, A5, and Classic. Not every insert is available in all sizes, check the dropdown menus on each product listing for options.

CityGirl Planners size chart for planner insert refills. Sizes include Pocket, A6, Personal, Half size, A5, and Classic.

We wish planner sizing was standardized, but unfortunately, it’s a wild ride. A6 doesn’t always mean A6, and half the binders out there are mislabeled. So ignore the label on your binder and grab a ruler instead.

The fastest way to figure it out? Measure a sheet from your current insert—or measure the distance between the middle rings of your binder (see the image below for a reference). That’s what determines the size, not the cover or what the product listing claimed.

Here are the six sizes we carry:

  • A5 (5.83 x 8.27) – fits Moterm, Filofax A5 & LV GM
  • Half (5.5 x 8.5) – fits Half Letter 3- & 7-ring and discbound systems
  • Personal (3.74 x 6.73) – fits LV MM, Filofax & Moterm Personal
  • A6 (4.1 x 5.8) – common in many European planners
  • Pocket (3.2 x 4.7) – fits LV PM, Filofax & Moterm Pocket
  • Classic (7 x 9.25) – fits Happy Planner Classic and similar discbound notebooks

There are other sizes out there—like Personal Wide, Franklin Covey Compact, and B6—but we don’t make those and won’t be adding them, even by special request. We only support the six listed above.

Still unsure? Send us a quick picture of one of your inserts next to a ruler. We’ll help you figure it out before you buy—because we’d rather avoid the “wrong size” drama later.

Planner size guide showing how to measure ring gap for 6-hole binders. Chart includes A5, Personal, A6, and Pocket insert sizes based on inner ring spacing.

Yes, unless you tell us not to. Most inserts are punched to fit your selected binder type—6-ring, 7-ring, disc-bound, or unpunched if you’ve got your own setup.

Just pick your punch style from the dropdown on each listing. If you don’t see it, message us before assuming we’re psychic.

Yes. Our A6 is 105mm x 148mm. But heads up: some “A6” binders (especially from overseas) are cut smaller and won’t fit true A6 pages.

If your binder is from Amazon, Etsy, or came with sparkles and no brand name, it’s probably not true A6. Personal size is a safer bet.

Technically, yes. But we don’t use brand names in listings due to trademark restrictions here and our other online marketplace shops.

Here’s the cheat sheet:

  • Small / PM Agenda = Pocket size
  • Medium / MM Agenda = Personal size
  • Large / GM Agenda = A5 size

We try to make it clear in our tags and descriptions so LV lovers know what to grab.

Short answer: If the product listing says returns are accepted — yes. Most functional refills can be returned within 7 days, as long as they’re unused and in original condition. Want all the nitty-gritty? Check out our Return Policy page.

But heads up: Certain items are non-returnable. That includes certain calendars, foiled products, custom planners, personalized items, and anything marked Final Sale. They’re made just for you, so we can’t restock or resell them.

We don’t refund original shipping, and return shipping is on you. We may also charge a restocking fee on some items (like calendars), especially if they were customized.

Not sure before you buy? Message us! We’re happy to help double-check your size and punch settings before anything goes to print.

Compact = just the calendar pages.
Deluxe = calendar pages plus bonus sheets like This Month dashboard and Notes pages.

Want the basics? Go Compact. Want the extras? Deluxe is your jam.

Learn the difference between our Month on 2 Pages Deluxe and Compact formats in the video below.

Tabs are only available in the Deluxe format—no exceptions. You’ll find them on Monthly and Complete planners, but not on weekly layouts.

We print tabs directly onto the same paper as your calendar pages—no cardstock here. Each tab is laminated and precision-cut by hand in our studio. It’s a process, but totally worth it for that clean, durable finish.

TL;DR:
Want tabs? Default Deluxe.
Want Compact? No tabs for you.
Want tabs on weeklies? Still dreaming.

How It Ships, Where It’s From, and Why We Don’t Sleep

We make everything in-house, pack it ourselves, and yes, we know exactly where your order is right now. Here’s what to expect when the mailperson becomes your best friend.

Most orders ship within 5–8 business days, but we try to get them out faster whenever we can. Some things (like foiled calendars or complicated combos) take a little extra time because every order is made by actual humans—on real machines—with coffee-fueled precision.

You’ll get a shipping confirmation with tracking as soon as it’s on the move. Promise we’re working on it!

We ship from Kentucky, USA. If you see a return label with our actual names on it… yes, that’s us. Not a warehouse. Not a robot.

Yep! All planner refills and bound planners ship free within the U.S.—no codes, no hoops, just paper joy on the house.

We’re still working on how to bring the Accessories section into the fold (shipping calculators are a necessary evil). But here’s the deal:
if you’ve got accessories and one of the free-shipping items in your cart, go ahead and choose Free Shipping at checkout—even if “Economy” pops up too. You qualify. No worries, no side-eye. Check “Free Shipping” with abandon.

Yes, we do! We ship to most countries around the world—except a select group we’ve had ongoing issues with (like delays, lost packages, or weird customs drama).

If your country is available at checkout, you’re good to go. If it’s not showing, it’s probably one of the excluded ones. We’re always keeping an eye on those restrictions and may open up more locations in the future.

Heads up about customs fees: Some countries charge import duties, VAT, or handling fees before they’ll release your package. Those charges are set by your local government—not us—and we have no way to predict or prepay them. If you’re unsure, check with your country’s postal or customs office before ordering.

Yes. As soon as your order ships, you’ll get a tracking number via email. If you didn’t get one, check your spam folder. Or your cat’s inbox. They hoard stuff.

We know—it’s frustrating. Sometimes packages get marked “Delivered” before they actually are. A USPS postmaster once told us it’s tied to two-day delivery quotas (thanks, Amazon), but whatever the reason, it’s surprisingly common for items to show up a day or two later.

If your order’s marked as delivered but is MIA:

  1. Wait 1–2 business days. Packages sometimes catch up on their own.
  2. Check with neighbors or anyone in your household who might’ve grabbed it.
  3. Contact your local post office directly. Ask them to run a GPS scan on the package. USPS scans are geotagged, and your local office can verify exactly where the carrier was when it was marked delivered.

If the package was misdelivered, the post office can often recover it.

Still missing? You can:

We’re happy to help guide you through it, but here’s the bottom line:

We’re a small business—not a billion-dollar retailer. We paid USPS to deliver your order, and if they marked it delivered, we can’t reship it without confirmation of a carrier error or recovered package. Too many scammers have ruined that for the honest folks.

We’ll do our part. But the rest is between you and your carrier. Hold them accountable.

Start with your local post office. Then check with any neighbors, roommates, or anyone suspiciously enthusiastic about packages. If it’s officially missing, contact us within 7 days of the marked delivery date, and we’ll do what we can to help.

So You Want to Return It? Let’s Talk.

We’re not monsters…we get that sometimes things don’t work out. But since everything here is handmade, there are rules. Reasonable ones. Sassy ones. And ones you really should read.

Yep, but only if you email us first and the item is eligible. You’ve got 7 days from delivery to contact us, and then 7 days to ship it back once we give the green light. Unauthorized returns? Yeah… those get sent right back to you. No refund. No exceptions. Don’t ghost us. For more in-depth information, see our Return Policy page.

Buckle up. These are final sale:

  • Sale or clearance items
  • Anything personalized or custom (even if you didn’t add text)
  • Bound planners
  • Dated foil inserts (we said what we said)
  • Leather goods (covers, totes, pen sleeves, all of it)

If the listing says “Final Sale,” it means Final Sale. Not “I changed my mind.”

It happens. Especially with planner sizes. A6 vs. Personal is the chaos gremlin of the stationery world.
We’ll help you exchange it if:

  • It’s unused and in perfect condition
  • You email us first to confirm we have what you need
  • You ship it back within 7 days
  • You pay return shipping + any price difference

If the new size is cheaper, we’ll apply that to the shipping. If it’s more? We’ll invoice you for the difference.

Like-new. Meaning:

  • Unused, unbent, and not looking like it was at the bottom of your purse
  • Any freebie (like a BOGO insert) must be returned too or we’ll deduct the value
  • In original packaging when possible
  • Not soggy. Not crumpled. Not “the dog tried to help.”
  • Packed properly so it doesn’t get trashed in the mail

If it shows up looking like a toddler mailed it, we can’t refund it.

You do, unless we totally messed up.
We don’t refund the original shipping either, just the product cost (assuming it comes back in perfect shape).

You’ve got 4 hours to change your mind. After that, your order enters our “print it, cut it, punch it” machine of doom, and cancellation is no longer an option.

Refusing delivery or skipping customs fees? That’s considered a forfeited order. We can’t pull it back once it’s in transit, so no refund will be issued.

Mistakes happen. If something is defective or incorrect, contact us within 2 days of delivery with photos and your order number.

  • We’ll replace it with the same item
  • We’ll cover shipping as it’s our fault
  • Handmade quirks = normal. Missing pages = not.

If your package arrives damaged, don’t worry—we’ll help however we can. But since all of our shipments are insured through USPS or UPS, you’ll need to file the claim directly with the carrier. They require it to come from the recipient (we know, it’s annoying).

Here’s what to do:

  • Keep all original packaging
  • Take clear photos of the damage (including the shipping box or mailer)
  • File a claim with the appropriate carrier:

Once your claim is submitted, let us know—we’re happy to help with any supporting info the carrier requests to speed things along.

Only if you catch us before it hits production. If it’s already in motion, we’ll have to cancel and refund so you can place a new one. (But fair warning: your new order goes to the back of the line as we process in the order they are received.)