Choosing a layout
The checklist suits lists that are not tied to a day: errands, a project, things to buy or to pack. Pick fewer lines for big handwriting or short lists; the space that is left becomes a notes box.
The daily layout is for one day at a time. The three numbered lines at the top hold the tasks that matter most today, and the checklist below takes everything else. Write the date on the line at the top right, so old lists still make sense when you look back.
The weekly layout gives each day a block of tick boxes, in the order of the week you pick, and a Notes block for tasks that have no day yet. It works well on a fridge or a desk, where everyone can see what is planned.
Making the list work
- Start each task with a verb and keep it small enough to finish in one go: "Call the dentist" instead of "Dentist".
- Pick the top three before you look at anything else, and do the first one before the smaller tasks.
- Tick a box only when the task is done. Anything left at the end of the day moves to tomorrow's list, or gets crossed out if it no longer matters.
- Keep the list where you work, not in a drawer. A half-size list fits next to a keyboard or inside a notebook.
Printing two lists on one page
With two lists per page, the PDF uses the paper sideways and prints the same list twice, side by side. Print at 100 % or actual size and cut along the dashed line in the middle. Each half keeps a margin on all four sides after cutting. Two halves from one sheet also save paper when you print a list every day.
Tools and templates that go with it
To work through a task without checking your phone, the focus timer runs focus sessions and breaks in a loop, and the online timer counts down any time you set. For a deadline further away, the countdown timer shows the days and hours left to a date. If a list is not enough, the daily planner adds an hourly schedule, the weekly planner lays out the whole week, and the habit tracker keeps track of what you do every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the to-do list free?
Yes. Print as many copies as you like, at home, at school or at work. There is no signup and no watermark, only a short line with our web address at the bottom of each list.
What is the difference between the three layouts?
Checklist is a plain list with a tick box on every line. Daily puts three numbered priorities on a tinted band at the top, then a checklist for everything else. Weekly gives each day of the week its own block of tick boxes, plus a block for notes. Checklist and Daily add a lined notes box when the lines you pick leave room for one.
What does two lists per page mean?
The PDF turns the sheet sideways and prints two copies of the same list next to each other, with a dashed line between them. Cut along the line and you get two half-size lists: on US Letter each half is 5.5 by 8.5 inches, on A4 each half is 148.5 by 210 mm. That size fits a clipboard, a planner or the space next to a keyboard.
How many lines can I get?
Pick 10, 15, 20 or 25 lines for the Checklist and Daily layouts. Fewer lines get taller rows, up to a comfortable height, and a notes box fills the space below. On a half-size list with the Daily layout, the most lines may not fit; the line under the preview then shows how many will print. The Weekly layout fits as many lines into each day as its block allows.
Can I print a list for every day?
Yes. The list has no date printed on it, only a line to write the date, so one PDF works for any day. Set the number of copies in your print dialog, or print a fresh page each morning.
Why are some characters missing from my title?
The PDF uses a standard font that covers English and most Western European letters. Emoji and other scripts such as Greek, Cyrillic or Japanese cannot be printed with it, so they are dropped, and some rare accented letters lose the accent. A note under the field appears when that happens, and the preview shows the title as it will print.