Advent calendar gift ideas
A good countdown fits something they already enjoy: a daily brew, a little puzzle or a story together. Compare Advent calendars by what is inside, the time they take and your budget.
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9 gift ideas
Storybook Advent Calendar
A new little book for story time
- Little stories behind the doors give you a reading moment to share.
Before you buy
- Hand it over ahead of the first reading day, after checking that the household wants the daily activity.
- Compare the story list with books they own, and choose for their reading level.
- Look for actual readable books if stories are the aim; some book-themed calendars contain ornaments or accessories.
- Check whether the daily contents mix stories with activities rather than providing a story every evening.
- Separate stories fit around evenings away more easily than a tale that must be read in order.
A countdown filled with your own small surprises
- Choose the contents to suit them, then keep the calendar to refill for another Christmas.
Before you buy
- Allow time to fill it before the countdown starts; if the gift is empty, explain that choosing the contents is part of it.
- Check the usable space inside each pocket or drawer before shopping for fillers; the overall calendar dimensions do not tell you what will fit.
- Budget for the surprises separately and allow time to fill the calendar; an empty version does not include ready-made treats.
- Narrow openings and small compartments can rule out gifts that look suitable until you try to fit them inside.
Stationery Advent Calendar
A daily surprise for someone who loves stationery
- Daily stationery discoveries leave them with small supplies to enjoy after Christmas.
Before you buy
- Have it with them before the first door opens so the stationery discoveries arrive throughout the countdown.
- Compare the actual writing and paper supplies with decorative extras; some calendars also contain socks, charms or keyrings.
- Choose colours and themes they enjoy, then look at the usable sizes of any pens and notebooks.
- Repeated stickers and miniature accessories can inflate the item count without adding much useful stationery.
Puzzle Advent Calendar
Something to solve while Christmas gets closer
- A little daily challenge makes the run-up to Christmas something they can take part in.
Before you buy
- Deliver it before the opening challenge, checking whether the daily puzzles stand alone or need to follow a sequence.
- Decide between individual puzzles, a jigsaw built in stages and an unfolding mystery; the daily routine is different for each.
- Use a sample challenge or stated solving time to judge the difficulty, rather than relying only on an age recommendation.
- An unfinished jigsaw occupies space between sessions; a solved mystery may offer little surprise the second time.
Building-Block Advent Calendar
Small builds to enjoy before Christmas
- Small building projects give someone who enjoys assembling models an activity during the Christmas countdown.
Before you buy
- Keep the daily packs and instructions in sequence, and give it ahead of their first planned build.
- Choose between separate daily models and stages of one larger scene to suit the way they like to build.
- Read the brick size, instructions, age guidance and small-parts warnings; flat acrylic ornaments are not a building kit.
- Very small bricks can be awkward to handle, and an ongoing scene needs somewhere to stay assembled.
Beauty Advent Calendar
A countdown chosen around their tastes
- For someone who enjoys discovering beauty products, the countdown offers little things to try before Christmas.
Before you buy
- Arrange for it to arrive before the first planned door, leaving the original directions with sealed products.
- Choose make-up, fragrance or bath and body contents around their existing tastes and routine.
- Read the product sizes and count useful cosmetics separately from brushes and other accessories.
- The advertised contents value can disguise a selection of shades or scents they will not use.
Chocolate Advent Calendar
A daily treat in the run-up to Christmas
- A chocolate behind each door turns the run-up to Christmas into a small daily treat.
Before you buy
- Give it before the first door is due, keeping the ingredients information with the daily treats.
- Match the milk, dark, white or filled selection to their tastes and check the actual ingredient and allergen information.
- For sharing, read the pieces per door and total weight rather than judging portions from the size of the box.
- Some calendars repeat a small selection and provide only a tiny piece each day.
Coffee Advent Calendar
New brews for the Christmas countdown
- A daily coffee sample brings a small tasting ritual to the run-up to Christmas.
Before you buy
- Check the first intended day and arrange delivery ahead of it; a shorter coffee countdown may suit their plans better.
- Find out whether they use instant coffee, grounds, beans or a particular capsule system before choosing.
- Compare portion weights as well as door counts, especially if two people will share each brew.
- Flavoured selections can be a poor match for someone who prefers plain coffee; some calendars repeat varieties.
Tea Advent Calendar
Something new to brew each day
- A daily tea discovery gives the countdown a small ritual they can enjoy at home or during a tea break.
Before you buy
- Have it with them before their first brew, checking the day count against the countdown they want to follow.
- Tea bags need little extra equipment; loose-leaf portions need a suitable infuser.
- Read the ingredients and caffeine information, especially for festive blends and herbal infusions.
- Several doors may contain the same blend, so compare tea variety with the calendar's day count.
Choose what they will enjoy opening
Start with the small pleasure, then choose the calendar. Would they enjoy a brew before work, something to make after school or a quiet story at bedtime? A countdown works best when the contents fit a routine they already like.
Read the contents list before choosing the box. Check whether each day brings something different, repeats a favourite or adds to one continuing project. A long list of surprises can still contain plenty they will never use.
A brew or a small treat?
A tea calendar suits someone who enjoys trying blends, provided the bags or loose leaves match how they brew. For a coffee calendar, check beans, grounds, instant sachets or capsule compatibility. A pod they cannot use is a rather unhelpful surprise.
With a chocolate calendar, start with their preferred chocolate and dietary needs. Compare the total weight and the portions behind each door. If two people will share it, confirm there is enough for both rather than assuming a large box means generous servings.
Something to do together
A building-block calendar can offer separate little models or pieces of a growing scene. Match the age guidance and brick size, then think about where the pieces will stay between days. A puzzle calendar may contain mini jigsaws, one larger picture or a continuing mystery; these ask for different amounts of time.
A storybook calendar offers another shared routine: a little book to read together each day. Check the reading level, actual titles and whether the set contains stories throughout or mixes in activities. Choose characters they enjoy, and look for overlap with books they already own.
Beauty and desk discoveries
For a beauty calendar, useful products matter more than a claimed saving. Read the shades, scents and product sizes; a selection of unwanted miniatures is still an unwanted selection. Keep the original ingredient information and directions with sealed products.
A stationery calendar suits someone who will use its pens, paper and desk accessories. Look for the tools and style they enjoy, and distinguish useful supplies from a box mostly filled with novelty extras.
Fill it yourself, with the filling planned
A reusable calendar lets you choose treats, notes or little activities for each day. Budget for the contents as well as the calendar. Measure the usable compartments before buying anything to go inside; an attractive drawer may hold less than it appears to.
You can mix small gifts with personal notes or invitations to do something together. Keep food in suitable packaging and follow its storage instructions. If you give the calendar empty, explain that filling it is part of the activity rather than leaving someone to discover a job.
Check when the countdown begins
Do not assume every calendar has 24 doors. Check whether it covers 12, 24 or 25 days, and when the recipient wants to start. A commercial December countdown and a religious Advent observance may follow different dates.
Use the current delivery estimate for their address and allow time for your own filling or wrapping. If you will exchange presents on Christmas Day, an undated tasting set or book collection can suit the occasion better than a countdown that has already finished.
Presents beyond the countdown
For a present to open on the day, explore our Christmas gift guide. An undated tea tasting set or coffee tasting set lets them enjoy new brews whenever they choose.