Free template
The content calendar template that fits on one sheet
A content calendar is a list of what you'll post, where, and when. That's it. This template keeps it that simple: one row per post, one dropdown for status, and 4 weeks of dates already filled in so you can start typing captions instead of drawing grids.
It's built for a solo creator or a small team planning 2 or 3 platforms. Week 1 has example rows for Instagram and LinkedIn so you can see how a filled-in week reads. Delete them, add your own, and share the sheet with whoever writes or approves posts.
Download the template
Free, no email needed. Pick the format you work in.
Last updated 2026-09-03. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and Numbers.
What's inside the sheet
- Calendar tab: one row per post with Date, Weekday, Time, Platform, Format, Theme, Caption, Media link, First comment, Status, Owner, and Notes
- 4 weeks of dates filled in from the first Monday of the month, with 10 example rows for Instagram and LinkedIn in week 1
- A Status dropdown (Idea, Drafted, Approved, Scheduled, Published) and a Platform dropdown for all 9 major networks
- Themes tab: 5 example content pillars with what each covers, a sample post idea, and a share of posts
- Platforms tab: a posts-per-week target for each platform, left blank on purpose so you set what you can sustain
- A First comment column, because hashtags and links often belong there rather than in the caption
How to use it
- 1
Download the Excel file, or the CSV if you prefer Google Sheets or Numbers, and open it.
- 2
Read the example rows in week 1, then delete them or overwrite them with your own posts.
- 3
Fill the Themes tab first. 3 to 5 pillars is plenty, and every post you plan should fit one of them.
- 4
Set a weekly target per platform on the Platforms tab. Pick a number you can hit in a busy week, not a quiet one.
- 5
Add one row per post. Move the Status from Idea to Drafted to Approved as the caption and media come together.
- 6
When a week is approved, schedule it. If you use Lemonpost, import the Calendar tab as a CSV with bulk scheduling and every row is checked before it lands on your calendar.
Tips from people who've kept one going
Plan 4 weeks, not 12 months
A quarter of ideas goes stale by week three. Fill 4 weeks, review what worked, then fill the next 4.
Leave gaps for timely posts
Keep 1 slot a week open. Something will happen in your industry, and you'll want to post about it without bumping a planned post.
One pillar per post
If a post doesn't fit any of your themes, it's either a new theme or a post you don't need.
Write the caption before the date
Rows with a caption get published. Rows with only a date and a platform get pushed forward forever.
FAQ
Content calendar template questions
Yes. Download the Excel or CSV file, no email or signup needed. Use it, change it, and share it with your team.
Yes. Open Google Sheets, choose File, then Import, and pick either file. The Status and Platform dropdowns carry over from the Excel file. From the CSV, you can add them again under Data, then Data validation.
4 weeks. The dates in the sheet cover exactly that. It's long enough to batch captions and media, and short enough that the plan still reflects what's happening in your business.
Yes. Save the Calendar tab as a CSV, then use bulk scheduling in Lemonpost to map the Date, Time, Caption, Media link, and Platform columns. Every row is validated before import, and the posts land on your calendar as drafts you can fine-tune per platform. Media has to be a public URL; text-only rows can have media attached after import.
The sheet plans, a tool publishes. Keep the sheet if you post by hand from your phone. Once you're posting to 2 or more platforms every week, a scheduler with a drag-and-drop calendar saves the copy and paste, and the sheet becomes the place you draft before scheduling.
The sheet plans. Lemonpost publishes.
Schedule to 9 platforms from one calendar, track the numbers in one place, and keep the spreadsheet for drafting. Seven days free, every feature, unlimited team members.