The Leitner box method is a spaced repetition system using physical boxes to organise flashcards by how well you know them. Setting it up takes about 10 minutes: get three boxes, label them, write your first cards, and start reviewing Box 1 daily.
What You Need
The appeal of the Leitner box method is that it requires almost nothing. You need boxes (shoeboxes, pencil cases, recipe card boxes, or labelled envelopes), index cards (3×5 or 4×6), a pen, and about 15 minutes a day. That’s it. No app, no subscription, no battery.
Setting Up Your Boxes
For a beginner setup, use three boxes. Label them Box 1, Box 2, and Box 3. Download the free printable labels if you want something to tape on. Place them somewhere visible — on your desk, not in a drawer.
Your review schedule for a 3-box system: Box 1 daily, Box 2 every other day, Box 3 every 4 days. Print the 3-Box Schedule and put it next to your boxes.
Writing Your First Cards
The single most important rule: one fact per card. Front: a specific question. Back: a short answer (1–5 words). Don’t put definitions, paragraphs, or lists on a card. If you can’t answer in 5 words, split it into two cards.
Write 5–10 cards today. Put them all in Box 1. Don’t write 50 — you’ll overwhelm Box 1 before you’ve built the review habit.
Your First Week
Day 1–7: review Box 1 every day. Move correct cards to Box 2, wrong cards stay in Box 1. After Day 2, also review Box 2 on its scheduled days. By end of week one, you’ll have a working Leitner system and understand exactly how it feels in practice. Read the full Leitner System guide for everything beyond week one.
Ready to run your whole Leitner system from one sheet?
The Leitner OS Dashboard is a Google Sheet with everything pre-built: a Due Today list, box-by-box counts, a rewrite queue for problem cards, and settings you can adjust in seconds. No app, no subscription, no installation.
- ✓ Know which cards are due today — automatically
- ✓ Spot backlog before it hits you
- ✓ Track which cards need rewriting, not just more repetition
- ✓ No app. No syncing. Just a Google Sheet.
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