We're just over halfway through November, so you know what that means: The holiday season is right around the corner! (Or, if you're like us, it's already begun.) Soon, it’ll be time to stock up on matching pajamas, secure the perfect gifts for everyone in your family, hunker down with hot cocoa and reveal all of the goodies that await in your Advent calendars.
Advent calendars have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and now there are so many on the shelves that it can be overwhelming! To help make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best Advent calendars across styles, budgets and ages (including a few that have the Shop TODAY seal of approval). Plus, lifestyle expert Meredith Sinclair stopped by Jenna & Friends to highlight some of her favorite advent calendars for everyone on your list.
Advent calendars to shop during Cyber Monday
This Advent calendar is loaded with sweets from, as the brand describes it, “every candy food group.” Inside, you’ll find everything from gummy candies to peppermint twists and chocolate bits.
Meat and vegetable treats, oh my! Your furry friend will think every day is a holiday with the treats included within this Advent calendar from DreamBone.
This Advent calendar contains 12 mini puzzles (42 pieces each) that all join together in the end to create one large 500-piece puzzle! The mini jigsaws are so fun to put together with the family or build solo as you sip your morning coffee or unwind before bed, Brach says. The larger image depicts what the brand describes as a “cozy and merry living room scene.”
This puzzle calendar contains a dozen 80-piece mini-puzzles. Each puzzle is 5-by-7 inches when completed (so you can do it on your coffee table) and shows how a different country around the world celebrates Christmas. These are so fun to do with the family or solo — it took one of our editors under an hour to complete.
This Advent calendar is loaded with toys your four-legged friend will be excited to play with. It includes everything from a plastic ball with an inner bell to silverine-and-catnip-stuffed plushies.
In each box, you’ll find the supplies needed to create a new little craft everyday. It’s perfect for kids who like to get creative or for adults who want something fun-yet-simple to help them wind down after work. Either way, it’s something the whole family will enjoy.
From a holiday ham to a holiday lights, each ornament in this Advent calendar includes a set of googly eyes and a witty comment.
The YumEarth Advent calendar is filled with 12 days of sweets made with organic, simple ingredients. With no GMOs, no artificial dyes and an allergy-friendly recipe, these candies are perfect for kids and sweet-lovers alike. Associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson says they’re so good, you wouldn’t think they were vegan off taste alone!
For the child who is always asking for souvenir rocks at museum gift shops, gift them with this Advent calendar that includes 24 days worth of rocks, from gemstones to fossils and minerals.
If you want to try something new with your morning cup of joe, opt for this general Advent calendar from Keurig. It contains pods from several brands, including Lavazza, La Colombe, Caribou Coffee, Cinnabon, McCafe, The Original Donut Shop and more.
As the winter season nears, so does the annual release of the coveted Starbucks holiday menu. So, why not surprise the coffee-lover in your life with a taste of Starbucks’ iconic holiday blend from the comfort of their own home? This gift is sure to put a smile on their face each morning as they brew their daily cup.
Whether they like pairing shortbread with their morning tea or evening scotch or just like to savor it solo, Walker’s Shortbread’s classic countdown will please any kind of cookie lover. While its approach is traditional by today’s Advent calendar standards (the biggest surprise is the shortbread shape behind each door), you’ll feel good knowing each day will be a guaranteed treat.
“If you’re a shortbread fan, you know that Walker’s is pretty much the best you can get on the market,” says deputy managing editor Jess Bender. “I, like many, grew up with the perfectly buttery, slightly crumbly cookie, so eating through this Advent calendar is like taking a 24-day trip down memory lane for me.”
Tis’ the season of gifting — and of dry lips. With the cold weather causing irritation, dryness and more to our pout, Burt’s Bees lip balm-filled Advent calendar will have us counting down the holidays with moisturized lips. And if you do the math, it comes down to less than $2 per lip balm — talk about a steal.
Don’t be a cottonheaded ninnymuggins and miss the opportunity to gift your favorite elf with this Advent calendar, which gives them the chance to be surprised with 25 accessories based off the movie.
Their hearts might grow three sizes when they open their way through this Grinch-themed holiday countdown calendar. Awaiting behind every door are a variety of treats that Whovillians can’t get enough of — twisty caramels and gummy rings and stars, to start.
If you know someone with a furry friend, or are simply looking to spoil your own dog, this Petco Advent calendar will do the trick. Filled with a variety of dog treats and holiday toys, pups will definitely be wagging their tails for this gift.
Brach says this is a great creative gift for kids, grandkids and more to kickstart the holiday season and keep them entertained all month long. Each day for 25 days, you’ll find a mini kit with instructions and felt stickers to put together a new craft. The felt backs are adhesive, so no glue is required and there’s no mess! Plus, the completed crafts double as soft, kid-friendly ornaments, so you can put them on the tree together each day.
Moon says she’s gifting this Advent calendar to her parents (or rather, their cat) and that it’s “prettier than it looks online.” Each mouse has an accompanying plush toy, so it’s like you’re getting 24 days worth of toys!
Macy’s has an amazing multi-brand Advent calendar this year featuring bestsellers from luxury brands like Clinique, Kiehl’s, Shiseido, Caudalie, Too Faced, Lancôme and more.
“This calendar has beauty favorites to pamper yourself from head to toe... literally,” Brach shares. “We’re talking everything from a heat-guarding hair mask to a shea butter foot mask. Macy’s says it has a $325 value, but you can get it for under $100!”
Give (yourself or someone else) the gift of the perfect blowout with this Advent calendar that comes with nearly everything you need to get there. It comes with travel-sized versions of six of the brand’s bestsellers, including the Triple Sec 3-in-1 finishing spray and Detox dry shampoo.
It’s not just holiday season for musical theatre fans and Arianators alike — it’s “Wicked” season. And what better way to celebrate than with a daily dose of 24 delicious Compartés chocolates based off of the movie and its characters?
Pop this calendar from Williams Sonoma on the table and snack your way to the holidays. From sweet and savory popcorn to savory and spicy seasonings, each of the delights inside are just as tasty as they sound.
This gift box is thoughtfully packaged with Kitsch’s bestselling self-care accessories, along with some limited edition picks any fan of the brand won’t want to miss out on.
Editor Vivien Moon is most excited about this Advent calendar from Dermstore. While she knows it’s a bit of a splurge, she says there’s “a nearly $100 Skinceuticals treatment in there along with other $$$ products, so I think it’s worth it.”
Other brands you’ll find in this box are Medik8, Virtue, Paula’s Choice, Obagi, PerriconeMD, Tarte and more.
Best Advent calendars seen on TODAY
Ready to glow? According to Glow Recipe, the 12 Days of Glow has sold out three years in a row. So we suggest grabbing it before it is gone, again!
In our opinion, it’s never too early to put up the tree. Case in point: This building block Christmas tree set. Each day welcomes new pieces to the puzzle that the whole family can join in on.
Each box — adorned with a lyric from “The 12 Days of Christmas” carol displayed — contains a different sweet treat, from popcorn to chocolate-covered cherries, truffles and more.
Best Advent calendars previously seen on TODAY
Each day of this 12-day calendar contains a little mechanical toy that little ones can build, with kid-tested instructions so they’re easy to follow. Hang them up as decorations in your house or use them as ornaments for the tree, Brach suggests.
“Each toy moves and does something different, and your child will be building skills while they’re making these toys,” Brach says. “If you’ve got a little engineer at home, this calendar is perfect for them!”
The countdown to Christmas should be a treat. This under-$15 Advent calendar fully embodies that, featuring 24 pieces of chocolate candy the whole family will love opening up.
You’ll have the perfect manicure every day in December with this Advent calendar from OPI. The set includes 12 mini fast-drying nail lacquers in festive shades, from a red shimmer to bright candy pink. Both you and your nails will be holiday ready.
Best beauty Advent calendars
Inside of this budget-friendly beauty Advent calendar, you'll find a small pack of makeup-removing wipes, a hydrogel sheet mask, a mini cleansing mask, a hand cream, a lip sleeping mask, a water gel cream and a pack of pimple patches.
This gift box is the perfect present for the beauty gurus in your life. With 24 days of essential beauty products, you’ll be able to glam all season long. Plus, who could resist that adorably nostalgic Rubix cube packaging?
The L’Occitane Advent calendar is filled to the brim with 24 days of their bestselling skincare essentials, including three full-sized bottles. Bender says that this calendar is “always a highlight” for her, and that “they knock it out of the park with the aesthetic every time.”
Bender is excited about this Advent calendar from Jurlique. It contains a variety of full- and travel-sized items including face mists, serums, creams, gels and more!
Best food and drink Advent calendars
For the perfect, classic holiday gift, give them this 24-piece Belgian milk chocolate. With a unique holiday design on each new piece, they’ll look forward to this delicious chocolate every day. Associate editor Allie Wise went to the factory herself, and says that she “can attest to the fact that this chocolate is absolutely delicious.”
Unveil 24 days of nuts, pretzels and high-protein snack mixes that the brand says are “sweet, savory, tangy or fiery.” You can pre-order this calendar to arrive shortly after it releases, or you can select a specific date closer to the holidays.
Peet’s has released their first-ever Advent calendar this year and it’s already a hit amongst Stewart-Jackson, her friends and the rest of the office! “All of my friends were enamored both by the beautiful packaging and by the delicious smell emanating from it,” she says.
Behind each door, you’ll find a small bag of coffee that makes four or five 8-ounce servings, for a total of 60 cups of coffee! That breaks down to less than $1.50 per cup. With the variety of flavors inside, you’ll never get bored (and maybe even find a new favorite roast).
Fuel them through the holidays with this advent calendar containing 24 cans of Red Bull in 11 fun flavors. Each 8.4-ounce energy drink contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is a little less than the amount you’ll find in a cup of coffee.
Best puzzle Advent calendars
Into puzzles? This festive Advent calendar is built with 24 boxes that are packed with puzzle pieces. Each compartment has enough pieces to complete a portion of the puzzle, and when you’re done, you’ll have a vintage-style, Christmas-inspired display. Best unique Advent calendars
Take your paint-by-numbers hobby to a new level with this Advent calendar. Included is 24 days worth of holiday-themed outlines to fill in, from a Christmas tree to ornaments, gifts and more.
For the person who’s always got their head in a book, a reading-themed gift is probably your best bet. Luckily, this Advent calendar is designed just for them. Inside the pocket for each day, they’ll uncover fun (and practical) knick knacks such as magnetic bookmarks, stickers, ornaments and more.
Fans of Dungeons and Dragons can ring in the season with this custom, holiday dice set that’s designed to add a little winter whimsy to your next DnD match. Stewart-Jackson is excited to give this one to her husband for the holidays, especially since he loved the brand’s Halloween countdown calendar so much.
Best Advent calendars for kids, babies and teens
What better way to count down to the holidays then by introducing your little one to some classic Sesame Street characters? All 24 books are individually wrapped in a paper sleeve to keep every story leading up to Christmas a surprise!
12 days of Smoko! Perfect for the teen that can’t get enough of the super cute brand, each day comes with plush ornaments of their favorite characters decked out in their holiday finest.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Adrianna Brach.
- Adrianna Brach is the editorial director at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
- Meredith Sinclair is a lifestyle expert and frequent contributor on TODAY.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
How we chose the best Advent calendars
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best Advent calendars to jumpstart your countdown to the holidays. We comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Don't forget to check out Shop TODAY's other gift guides to find the best Advent calendar for every person in your life, including kids, beauty lovers and more.
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- Advent calendars to shop during Cyber Monday
- Best Advent calendars seen on TODAY
- Best Advent calendars previously seen on TODAY
- Best beauty Advent calendars
- Best food and drink Advent calendars
- Best puzzle Advent calendars
- Best Advent calendars for kids, babies and teens
- Meet the experts
- How we chose the best Advent calendars