Advent Calendars: The Ones Worth Opening Every Day
13 advent calendars from brands people already know, from $14 [1] to $80 [1], with who each one suits and the honest catch for every pick.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 28, 2026 · Sources
Lindt chocolate
Wooden calendar
Bluey surprises
Gem calendar
Makeup calendar
Hot Wheels
Playmobil
Funko figures
LEGO Star Wars
Jam calendar
LEGO Harry Potter
Crayola art
Tool calendarFor most kids, buy the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar or the Hot Wheels Advent Calendar, because every door is a toy they keep playing with [1]. For adults, the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is the breakfast calendar that gets finished, and the Wera Tool Advent Calendar ends December as a real toolkit.
Pick by situation
| If they quote Star Wars at dinner | LEGO Star Wars |
| If they have read Harry Potter twice | LEGO Harry Potter |
| If the car collection fills a shoebox | Hot Wheels |
| If the kids watch Bluey every morning | Bluey surprises |
| If breakfast is their favorite meal | Jam calendar |
| If they fix everything around the house | Tool calendar |
| If you want a calendar to reuse every year | Wooden calendar |
Under $25: small calendars for little kids and stockings
A chocolate classic, a reusable wooden calendar and Bluey surprises for the youngest kids in the house.[1]
Lindt Teddy Chocolate Advent Calendar
- Lindt and Lindor minis
- Daily AR story
- Individually wrapped
Lindt's Teddy calendar holds mini Lindt bears and Lindor balls, each wrapped in festive foil, plus a QR code that opens a short augmented reality story every day. The cheap drugstore calendars hand out thin chocolate that tastes of wax; this is the same milk chocolate people buy Lindt for. It is the simple choice for a family that wants the classic calendar, just better. It also works as a small gift for a teacher or neighbor.[2]
- Good for
- Families who want the classic chocolate calendar, done well.
- Skip if
- The box will sit in a warm room; chocolate melts near a radiator.
Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar
- Reusable every year
- Magnetic wooden ornaments
- Ages three and up
A wooden tree with magnetic ornaments that kids add one a day, a star for the top on the last day, and a box at the base that stores every piece. Disposable calendars go in the recycling on Boxing Day; this one comes out every December. Nothing is eaten, so there is no sugar fight before breakfast, and a holiday poem on the back gives the family a read-aloud moment. It becomes a family tradition rather than a box.[3]
- Good for
- Families who want a calendar they reuse every year.
- Skip if
- The kids expect a treat behind every door.
Bluey Advent Calendar
- Bluey and Bingo figures
- Buildable mini tree
- Accessories and stickers
The official Bluey calendar hides figures of Bluey, Bingo and Bartlebee, holiday accessories and stickers behind the windows, plus a buildable mini tree to set them under. Preschool calendars are often sticker sheets; these are characters they already know by name. The figures go straight into pretend play, and the tree makes a small Christmas scene on a shelf. It suits the kid who watches Bluey every morning.[1]
- Good for
- Preschoolers who act out Bluey episodes at home.
- Skip if
- They want a figure every day; most windows hold accessories.
$25 to $50: the toy and makeup calendars
LEGO, Hot Wheels, Funko, Playmobil and gems for kids, plus makeup for grown-ups.[1]
National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar
- Polished gemstones
- Dig brick finale
- Five jewelry settings
Blue Marble's National Geographic calendar hides a polished gemstone behind each door, such as agate, tiger's eye and sodalite, with a pouch to keep them in. Candy is gone in a bite; a tiger's eye gets carried to school for show and tell. On the last day kids dig a rose quartz out of a small brick like a geologist, and jewelry settings turn favorites into a pendant. It suits the kid who fills pockets with rocks.[1]
- Good for
- Curious kids who collect rocks on every walk.
- Skip if
- The kid is under eight; the listing says eight and up.
W7 Beauty Blast Makeup Advent Calendar
- Face, eyes and lips
- Cruelty free
- Individually wrapped
The London makeup brand's calendar has a different W7 product behind every numbered door, from minis to full sizes, across face, eyes and lips. Many beauty calendars are foil sachets; this one is makeup you can actually put on. It is a low-risk way to try shades and finishes she would not pick in a store. It suits teens and young adults who play with makeup.[1]
- Good for
- Teens and adults who like trying new shades.
- Skip if
- She wears the same three products every day.
Hot Wheels Advent Calendar
- Eight die-cast cars
- Winter accessories
- Playmat included
Mattel's Hot Wheels calendar mixes die-cast cars and winter accessories such as a snowplow and a tree behind the doors, with a playmat to race on. A toy car is the rare surprise that gets played with the minute it comes out. Every second or third door is a car, and the rest build a snowy scene around them. Kids who already own a bin of cars get new cars plus a holiday setting for them.[1]
- Good for
- Kids with a shoebox full of cars already.
- Skip if
- They expect a car every day; most doors hold accessories.
Playmobil Christmas Baking Advent Calendar
- Sugar free
- Three cookie cutters
- Ages four to ten
Playmobil's Christmas Baking calendar builds a holiday bakery scene one door at a time, with figures and tiny props, plus three full size cookie cutters. Unlike a building set, nothing needs assembling, so younger kids can play straight away. By Christmas Eve they have a complete playset and real cutters for the cookie tray. It mixes with any Playmobil already in the toy box.[4]
- Good for
- Younger kids who like to help bake cookies.
- Skip if
- They are past pretend play; older kids may find it young.
Funko Pocket Pop Star Wars Holiday Advent Calendar
- Pocket Pop figures
- A figure every day
- Display backdrop box
Funko's Star Wars Holiday calendar puts a small Pocket Pop vinyl figure behind every door, and the box art doubles as a backdrop to line them up against. A chocolate calendar is gone by lunch; these figures stay on a desk or a shelf for years. Each one is under two inches tall, so the whole set fits on one shelf. It suits teens and adults who already own a Funko or two.[5]
- Good for
- Star Wars fans who collect small figures for a desk.
- Skip if
- They dislike clutter; a full set needs a shelf.
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
- 263 LEGO pieces
- Droid builds
- Ages six and up
This edition of LEGO's Star Wars calendar builds Babu Frik's droid workshop, with minifigures such as a holiday Jawa, Babu Frik herself and small buildable droids behind the doors. Most licensed calendars are stickers and candy with a logo on the box; this one gives a real LEGO build every day. Each build takes a few minutes before school, and by Christmas the workshop scene is complete. It suits the fan who rewatches the films every December.[1]
- Good for
- Star Wars fans who still build LEGO, kids and adults alike.
- Skip if
- They want one big ship; these are small droid builds.
$50 to $100: big boxes for fans, cooks and fixers
Bigger boxes: full jars of jam, Hogwarts builds, a month of crafts and real tools for the toolbox.[1]
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar
- Mini glass jars
- Made in France
- Reusable red check lids
The French jam maker's calendar holds small glass jars of holiday spreads, flavors made once a year that you will not find on the regular shelf. Most adult calendars are tiny samples you forget in a drawer; every jar here gets eaten at breakfast. The jars with the red check lids are worth keeping for spices or small gifts. It has become the adult food calendar people look for each year.[1]
- Good for
- Adults who care about breakfast.
- Skip if
- They watch sugar closely; it is almost all fruit spread.
LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar
- 278 LEGO pieces
- Eight minifigures
- Ages seven and up
The Wizarding World edition of LEGO's calendar, with minifigures in Christmas sweaters, creatures such as Hedwig and Buckbeak, and tiny models like a Sorting Hat and a Chocolate Frog. Wand and scarf merch gets worn once; these pieces become a small Hogwarts scene they keep out all season. Instructions are printed on the back of each door, so a build takes minutes. It suits the kid who has read the books twice.[6]
- Good for
- Harry Potter fans who still play with LEGO.
- Skip if
- You want the lowest price; this listing sits above LEGO's usual calendar price.
Crayola Christmas Countdown Activity Advent Calendar
- A craft every day
- Crayola supplies
- Ages three and up
Crayola's craft calendar puts a Crayola product and a small holiday project behind each door, from ornaments to presents kids make themselves. Candy calendars turn December mornings into a sugar rush; this one turns them into a quiet craft at the kitchen table. Kids end the month with decorations they made and supplies they keep using. It is a screen-free daily activity for younger kids.[7]
- Good for
- Younger kids who draw and craft at the kitchen table.
- Skip if
- You need a cheap calendar; this listing is priced high for crafts.
Wera Tool Advent Calendar
- Flashdriver torch
- Bits and hex keys
- Modular textile dock
The German tool maker's calendar hides a Flashdriver torch that also drives screws, shock absorbing bits, hex keys and a textile dock that holds them all. Novelty calendars for men are beer and jerky; this one ends as a toolkit they keep for years. The pieces click into Wera's modular storage, so they slot into a toolbox or a kitchen drawer. It suits whoever fixes things around the house, plus a bottle opener for when the job is done.[8]
- Good for
- People who fix things around the house.
- Skip if
- They already own a full Wera bit and key set.
How we picked
A good advent calendar is one where every door holds something worth keeping or eating, not a sliver of waxy chocolate. The calendars that disappoint are the ones bought for the box. The ones here come from brands that make the thing inside for a living: LEGO bricks, Hot Wheels cars, Wera tools, French jam, real makeup.
The 13 picks below span 3 budgets, from about $14 to $80, and each one links to Amazon so you can check today's price and delivery [1]. Order early and open the box before December to check that every door is sealed.
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FAQ
What is the best advent calendar for kids?
For most kids, a toy calendar beats chocolate. The LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar suits builders, the Hot Wheels Advent Calendar suits car kids, and the Bluey Advent Calendar suits preschoolers. Pick by what they already play with, so every door adds to a toy they use after Christmas too [1]
What is a good advent calendar for adults?
Look for a calendar of things they use up or keep. The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar holds holiday jam, the W7 Beauty Blast Makeup Advent Calendar holds makeup to try, and the Wera Tool Advent Calendar builds a real set of bits and keys. Consumables and tools beat trinkets for grown-ups who have enough stuff [1]
When should you buy an advent calendar?
Buy it in October or early November. The popular calendars from LEGO, Bluey and the beauty brands sell out before December, and prices often climb once they get scarce. It also gives you time to check the box arrived sealed and undamaged before the first door [1]
Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listings
- Lindt, official site, www.lindtusa.com
- Melissa & Doug, official site, www.melissaanddoug.com
- Playmobil, official site, www.playmobil.us
- Funko, official site, funko.com
- LEGO, official site, www.lego.com
- Crayola, official site, www.crayola.com
- Wera, official site, www-us.wera.de
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 28, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
As an Amazon Associate, GiftX earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon for the current price.