If you're new to disc-bound planning, the rings (or "discs") holding everything together can feel confusing at first. What size do you need? Does the shape matter? How many discs come in a set? Here's a straightforward guide to help you pick the right planner discs the first time.
What are planner discs, exactly?
Planner discs are the plastic rings that hold disc-bound planner pages, notebooks, and journals together. Unlike a spiral or ring binder, a disc-bound system lets you pop pages in and out anytime, so you can rearrange, add, or remove sections without any tools. All you need is pages punched for a disc-bound system and a set of discs to hold them.
28mm vs. 32mm: which size do you need?
The number refers to the disc's diameter, and it determines how many pages your planner can hold.
Our 28mm discs (about 1.1 inches) hold roughly 120 pages when using front and back covers with standard 32 lb copy paper, making them a great everyday size for a planner you're actively writing in.
Our 32mm discs (about 1.26 inches) hold roughly 160 pages, so they're the better choice if you like to keep a fuller planner, add extra inserts, or combine planning with journaling in the same notebook.
As always, actual capacity varies with paper thickness, dividers, pockets, dashboards, and covers, so it's worth comparing against what you're actually planning to load into your planner.
28mm Black Butterfly discs — everyday size
32mm Black Star discs — extra capacity
Butterfly vs. star: it's a style choice, not a functional one
Both of our shapes come in the same sizes and hold pages exactly the same way, so this one really comes down to which look you love more. Our Black Butterfly discs have a soft, feminine silhouette that peeks out along the spine, while our Black Star and Silver Star discs give a bolder, celestial look. Prefer a cleaner, more minimal edge? Our Silver 28mm discs keep things simple while still catching the light.
Black Butterfly
Black Star
Silver Star
Silver 28mm
How many discs do I need: sets of 9 or 11?
Each of our disc sets is available in a count of 9 or 11. As a rule of thumb, thinner planners with fewer pages, dividers, or accessories can usually get away with 9 discs, while a fuller planner with pockets, tabs, or a thicker cover holds together better with 11. If you're not sure, it never hurts to size up: extra discs simply mean a little more flexibility as your planner grows.
Will these work with my planner?
Our discs are designed to work with many popular disc-bound systems, including Happy Planner, Levenger, TUL, and similar punch patterns. Brand names are used only to describe compatibility; these discs aren't affiliated with or endorsed by those brands. Since disc sizing can vary slightly between manufacturers, it's worth comparing the disc size and quantity with your planner before ordering, especially if you're switching an existing notebook over to a new set.
Finish the setup
Once your discs are sorted, browse our full Planner Discs collection to compare all four styles side by side, then pair them with our sticker sheets and washi tape to make the whole spread feel like yours.