Advent calendars for adults and kids

Order in October, not November

Advent calendars have one deadline and it does not move. A calendar that arrives on December 3 is a box with two empty doors. The good ones also sell out, and several in this list are pre-orders that ship in November. Order now and you get the calendar you wanted instead of the one left on the shelf.

Read the shipping line on each shop page before you pay. Some calendars ship straight away and need to sit in a cupboard for weeks. Others are reserved now and dispatched in a window in November. A few let you pick the delivery week at checkout. If you are posting it on to someone else, add the carrier time on top.

Match the calendar to a habit

The calendars that get finished are the ones built around something the person already does every day. A tea drinker will open a tea calendar every morning. A coffee drinker with a grinder will work through 24 roasters. Someone who lights a candle each evening will use a candle calendar to the last door.

The ones that stall are the novelty picks: a skincare calendar for someone who uses soap and nothing else, or chocolate for a person who does not eat sweets. If you have to explain why they would like it, pick something else.

Read the small print on size

Calendar listings love a big number. Check what each door actually holds. Coffee and tea calendars often give one or two cups per door. Beauty calendars are mostly travel and sample sizes. Some calendars have 12 doors, not 24, which is fine as long as you know.

The stated value on a beauty calendar is what the items would cost at full price, scaled up. It says more about the shop than about the gift. Judge it on whether the person would use five or six of the items, not on the value claim.

Chocolate needs care

Better chocolate is the easiest upgrade on a supermarket calendar, but it comes with rules. Fresh confections are meant to be eaten within days of the door opening. Several calendars here carry a long allergen list, and a nut-free option is rare, so check before buying for a household with allergies.

In Australia, heat matters. A chocolate calendar kept above about 22 degrees in December will not survive the month. Plan where it will live, or pick caramels, tea or a craft calendar instead.

Calendars for two

A few calendars are designed to be shared, with two pieces behind every door. They suit a couple, two housemates or siblings who would otherwise fight over one. They cost more than a single calendar but less than two, and nobody gets left out of the daily ritual.

What we would buy

For most adults, a tea or coffee calendar. They match a daily habit, they are easy to post, and nothing melts. For a family, a puzzle calendar that turns into one big picture on Christmas Eve gets everyone around the table. For a child, good chocolate from a proper chocolatier beats the cheap version, in a size they can actually finish. Save the big hampers for someone who will be home all month to enjoy them.

Questions people ask

When should I buy an advent calendar?

In October if you can. Calendars sell out, and the most popular ones are pre-orders that only ship in November. A calendar has to arrive by November 30 to be any use, and if you are posting it to someone else, you need to allow time for the carrier as well. Buying early also gives you the full range to pick from.

What does pre-order mean for an advent calendar?

You pay now and the shop sends it when stock arrives, usually in November. The shop page gives the dispatch window. A few shops let you choose the delivery week at checkout. If the person needs it before a certain date, for example before you travel, check that the dispatch window works before you buy.

Are advent calendars worth the money?

The good ones are, if they match a habit the person already has. A tea or coffee drinker will use every door. A beauty or candle calendar is worth it for someone who already uses those things daily. Ignore the stated value on beauty calendars; judge it on whether they would use most of what is inside.

Which advent calendars are safe for nut allergies?

Very few chocolate calendars are. Most list tree nuts or peanuts, or say the factory handles them. In this list, one Canadian chocolate calendar is described by the shop as nut-free and gluten-free, though some of its truffles contain alcohol. For a child with allergies, a non-food calendar such as a puzzle or craft calendar is the safer route.