Best for Chocoholics on a BudgetGodiva Holiday Classic Chocolate Advent CalendarRead more$41 $37 (10% off) Amazon
Best for Bread LoversBonne Maman 2025 Advent CalendarRead more$55 Bonne Maman
Best Advent Calendar for SnacksDM Snacks 24 Days of Nuts and Snacks Advent CalendarRead more$50 $26 (48% off) Walmart
Best for Tea LoversVahdam Advent CalendarRead more$70 $50 (29% off) Amazon
Which are The best Advent calendars? All of them, I think. There's something undeniably exciting about them. To me, they were the first example of a little treat. I'd get done with a hard day of being an 8-year-old and come home to crack open a cardboard door to eat some powdery chocolate the way a sitcom dad makes a beeline for his post-work or lawn-mower beer. As an adult, spending just a moment every single day with a special little treat or gift can help you stop feeling overwhelmed by all the tree trimming and gift wrapping and societal breakdowns—enough so you can start enjoying the ride.
Advent calendars are cooler now than they ever were when I was a kid, and the contents aren't limited to novelty Santa-shaped chocolates anymore. I painstakingly tore into several cardboard doors to get to the bottom of the best Advent calendars. My favorites are below. Even though the first of December has passed, a lot of these Advent calendars are just 12 days long. Plus, who needs rules? Just double up on treats!
Be sure to check out our other gift guides, including the Best Gifts for Newlyweds, the Best Gifts for Bird Lovers, Best Fake Christmas Trees, and the Best Gifts for Golfers.
Updated December 2025: We've added new Advent calendars for Red Bull, Beetles nail polish, Christmas socks, Burt's Bees lip balm, old-fashioned cocktails, beef snacks, and Glasshouse fragrances; removed any sold-out options; and ensured up-to-date links and prices.
Godiva
Amazon
$58Godiva
Kiss that fat-bloomed, powdery chocolate of yesteryear goodbye. Godiva's 24-piece chocolate Advent calendar isn't the most expensive you can buy, but it is frickin' delicious. After having tested it for a few years in a row, I can confirm that this year's is the same as last. And that's not a problem to me! There's a solid mix of white, dark, and milk chocolate distributed throughout the box, and none of the pieces I received were damaged during shipment. You'll get two each of 12 different flavors, including salted caramel, mint, almond marquise, praliné, and more. Each is downright scrumptious. There's a glossary on the back so you can deduce the flavor before sinking your teeth in.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeVideo: Louryn StrampeChevronChevronBonne Maman
Bonne Maman
The box the Bonne Maman Advent calendar arrives in is heavy—the calendar itself weighs over 5 pounds. Unboxing each of the calendar's 24 little boxes, you'll find a mini glass jar of various spreads (the majority of which are fruit, though a few are sinfully delicious caramel). Each of the adorable 1-ounce jars contains a flavor bound to shake up your loved one’s palate. Highlights from my tasting included the silky, creamy goodness of the Milk Caramel with Salted Butter Spread, the fresh and earthy Cherry with Violet Leaves Spread, and the Christmasy delight of the Plum and Pear with Star Anise Spread. I didn't try a single one that I disliked.
Bonne Maman is a French brand that doesn’t use any high-fructose corn syrup or preservatives, so this calendar is for somebody who enjoys starting their day with all-natural jam on toast or augmenting their afternoon tea with a sweet little treat. I will say that, though they're adorable, the little jars do get to be a bit annoying. People on Reddit have repurposed them for spice mixes and travel-size toiletries, but I usually end up just pitching them in my recycling bin because I find them too small to be truly useful. Also, the bigger box that the smaller boxed jars are housed in doesn't have a way of latching, and trust me when I say you want to make sure it's facing right-side up at all times, lest you be met with a clatter and several tiny packages to put away.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeDM Snacks
Walmart
$50 $35 (30% off)World Market
This Advent calendar is packed full of flavors. The first item I tried—the Lemon Blaze Chickpeas—was spicy, savory, and intense, but other snack mix flavors behind the 24 doors range from beer cheese and honey barbecue to buttery caramel and maple crunch. In fact, this calendar was borderline problematic, as my penchant for grazing kept overriding my willpower. There wasn't a single snack in this box that I disliked, and I know because I would have happily eaten all of it had I not begged my family members to take it away from me. I can safely recommend it to anyone—especially if you've got helpers around. There are no repeat flavors, and each 1-ounce bag ranges from 120 to 170 calories; Not every mix contains nuts, but the snacks are not technically allergen-free since they're made on the same equipment.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeVideo: Louryn StrampeChevronChevronVahdam
Amazon
$80 $50 (38% off)Vahdam
Vahdam India makes a few different Advent calendars (that webpage says 2024, though it is current). This giftable box is my favorite. The packaging is sturdy, stable, and festively decorated. Each of the 24 drawers contains five individually packaged pyramid tea bags apiece, so in total you're getting 120 bags of tea (and it's nice that the box doubles as storage, if you don't have room for all those bags). The tea is perfectly dried and delicious. Steep a bag in 200 milliliters of hot water for two to five minutes (each bag has specific instructions and brewing tips, including whether or not you should include milk, and how to brew if you want it iced), and you'll soon have a wonderful, cozy cup of comfort.
My favorite so far is the India's Original Chai, which tastes unlike any other chai I've ever had. It's rich, earthy, fragrant, and fantastic. There are other unique flavors I'm eager to try, like Turmeric and Hibiscus Rose, in addition to some more commonly found blends like Chamomile or Earl Grey Citrus. One percent of the company's revenue is donated toward Teach Me, a program that helps educate the children of farmers in India. The products are also climate- and plastic-neutral. And, finally, unlike some other consumable Advent calendars, this one expires in two years—so you have plenty of time to enjoy its contents. If you're a tea enthusiast or your giftee enjoys a warm beverage during the chilly winter months, this is a no-brainer.
Red Bull
Amazon
$137Walmart
This Advent calendar from Red Bull has been difficult to find in stock since it was released, though it's available online (at a marked-up price) and might be in local stores near you. But it's delightful. You'll get 24 cans of the energy drink that gives you wings, in 11 flavors (including the Fuji Apple and Ginger Winter Edition, which I loved). Could you simply just go get yourself 24 cans of Red Bull? Yeah, absolutely. But this still makes for a fun and versatile gift.
Pokémon
Amazon
$90Walmart
This Advent calendar is a great buy for the Pokémon card enthusiast (or so I have been told by my circle of such friends). It includes 25 different surprises. You’ll get eight foil cards with a festive stamp, six booster packs, seven three-card fun packs, and coins and sticker sheets. Online reviews run the expected gamut: Some people are happy with their great pulls, and some people are upset that the item is not returnable. But if you’re addicted to the pack-open shuffle, or you have a youngster who's in it for the love of the game, this might be exactly up your Advent alley.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeFisher-Price
Amazon
$69Walmart
The Barbie Little People Advent Calendar was an absolute delight to every toddler girl in my circle who saw it. Many “oohs” and “aahs” and squeals of delight were had. The box doubles as a backdrop for the 24 different pieces behind each door. The majority of the prizes are furniture and decor, but there are six different figures, including a puppy, a kitten, three little people, and a holiday Barbie. There's also a little ornament that can go on the kiddo's real-life Christmas tree. Depending on the age of the youngster in question, it may be best to open a few doors at a time so they aren't disappointed by opening up a door and getting a couch or a sign—or maybe bring along some other toys during the opening process so they can put the new prize to use right away.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena FarrellChevronChevronMattel
Amazon
$36Walmart
The Hot Wheels 2025 Holiday Advent Calendar is made for car-loving kids like mine. It only comes with 10 vehicles, but if they’ve already got a collection of their own, you really don’t need more than 10 cars. It also comes with 24 holiday accessories, and while some of them are just decor, the ones that really interact with the cars were my son’s favorite part. He especially loves the reindeer and harness that can pull a car around (listening to him pretend-play with that and try to make reindeer hoof noises is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard), and the sleigh that a car can sit in. The box’s lid doubles as a little track, which is cute. —Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena FarrellBrass Monkey
Amazon
I love a good wooden ornament, especially as a parent to both a troublesome cat and a wily 3-year-old. There are no more delicate ornaments allowed in my house, and this Advent calendar from Brass Monkey is a perfect option for someone looking for wooden ornaments that still add some extra fun to them. Each one is painted for a different ornament design (plus a classic holiday jello) and the big numbers on the box are fun to go through with a younger kiddo learning to read their numbers. There are 12 ornaments to enjoy. Even though the numbers count down ("11 days left"), I’d probably open this box the first 12 days of December so that you can enjoy the ornaments all month long. —Nena Farrell
Photograph: Kat Merck
Photograph: Kat MerckVideo: Kat MerckChevronChevronGalison
Walmart
$27Galison
We all know Andy Warhol for his pop art, but did you know that, during his commercial-designer days in the 1950s, he made many a Christmas-themed card and illustration for clients, including Tiffany & Co.? Twelve of them are represented as little 80-piece puzzles in this Advent calendar—ornaments, fancy ladies’ shoes, and my personal favorite, a perturbed-looking cat wearing a holly wreath. Which puzzle is located behind which door is a mystery, but once you dump out the pieces, it’s relatively easy to guess based on color with the included key. Each finished puzzle measures 5 x 7 inches and might take an experienced puzzler about 15 minutes—just enough time to finish their morning coffee. Note that the puzzles come in non-resealable plastic bags, so you may want to have some sandwich bags on hand for storage. —Kat Merck
Beetles Gel Polish
Amazon
$300 $200 (33% off)Beetles Gel Polish
As someone who also does her manis and pedis at home, I’m very familiar with Beetles' presence in the DIY nail space. If you know someone who is just beginning their nail art journey, or does it as a hobby, then this Advent calendar lines up quite nicely with that. It comes complete with a mini LED lamp, gel polishes galore, nail stickers, nail art brushes, a clipper set, and false nails, as well as holiday-themed accessories (a mini Christmas tree is front and center within the box), all wrapped in gold glittered packaging. While the packaging is absolutely gorgeous, I could have done without some of the tchotchkes. That being said, if the recipient is operating in a dorm or apartment or could use these trinkets in addition to all the tools you’d need to set up a nail station, it could absolutely work. Now, to perfect my mini Santa hat French tip set. —Julia Forbes
Photograph: Louryn StrampeFabFitFun
FabFitFun
You’ll need to be a FabFitFun member to get this price, though you can sign up now and buy it before canceling your membership. This 12-day calendar is a tad expensive, but the company makes one of our favorite beauty subscription boxes, and its Advent calendar is a favorite as well. The calendar is full of festive, cozy scents and products—many of which are full-size. Standouts for me included some ultra-fuzzy Unhide socks, a cinnamon-vanilla body lotion from Korres, a lipstick from Hourglass, and a moisturizer from Dr. Jart. The lipstick and moisturizer sell for $38 and $39, respectively, so you are definitely getting your money’s worth if you’re OK with signing up for a membership first. And I liked the festive packaging too!
Photograph: Louryn StrampeLush
Lush
This Advent calendar is perfect for your friend who's always restocking Lush products—or is frequently taking bubble baths. In addition to a huge array of bubble bars and bath bombs, it also includes body care products like lip scrubs, lotions, soaps, and shower gels. Ten of the 25 items are Advent calendar exclusives, and most are full-size. (A full list of inclusions is available on the product page.)
The packaging is gorgeous and reusable, with locking latches on top, metal handles, and a drawer at the bottom. My Advent calendar did have a damaged bath bomb, which made everything inside dusty (though amazing-smelling). Such is the price we pay for handmade goods! It wasn't a big deal to me, but maybe it'd be best to open the box in a garage rather than on your dining room table—just in case. I've been immensely enjoying the Sticky Dates body wash and finding excuses to take bubble baths with a dizzying assortment of color-changing, fizzy bubble makers.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeVideo: Louryn StrampeChevronChevronSephora Collection
Sephora
This Sephora advent calendar is packaged in a delightful little tin that I can't wait to reuse. Its contents include several Sephora-branded beauty products, with 16 full-size, four travel-size, and four accessories. The world of beauty Advent calendars is as vast as it is pricey. This option is relatively inexpensive, but still offers solid value. Unlike some other “cheap” beauty Advent calendars, you actually get makeup in this one—not just random tools and brushes. (Though there are a few of those, too.)
Highlights include eyeshadows, blushes, mini nail polishes, an assortment of lip products, and even a tiny setting spray. I especially think this would be good for a young lady who's just now getting into makeup since it includes enough products for a few different looks—and since it costs the same as one high-end product would. I'm also a big fan of the pom-pom scrunchie and keychain, as were my teenage sisters when they saw it.
Glasshouse Fragrances
Glasshouse Fragrances
This luxurious Advent calendar is heavy—the box weighs 10 pounds. Be warned that everything in it is strongly scented, which makes sense considering that it's from a fragrance company. The box is gorgeous, and there are even little stickers you can use to decorate it. I also appreciated the careful packaging. Everything is nestled and padded perfectly with care inside the 24 little drawers. You get a mix of various products, including candles, hand lotions, body washes, solid fragrances, eau de parfum sprays, and interior scent sprays. Some scents weren't my favorite, and others I adored. There are eight different scents in total, so there'll probably be at least one that's up your alley. Everything is perfect for regifting, too. The company says these are miniature versions, but I thought the product sizes were generous and that the calendar is worth its price if you're into fine fragrances and delicious-smelling home goods.
Burt's Bees
Amazon
Fans of Burt’s Bees—or just lip balm in general—will love this 12-day advent calendar that stands up on its own and opens like a book. Each door reveals a different flavor of beeswax-based, non-tinted lip balm. Some are seasonal (Sugar Cookie, Cranberry Spritz), some are not (Watermelon, Lavender Vanilla), but all are fun and taste delicious. I especially appreciate how easy the lip balms are to remove from the packaging, with cutouts on either side of the lip balm tube. —Kat Merck
Photograph: Louryn StrampeBenefit Cosmetics
Ulta
$149 $127 (15% off)Macy's
Most beauty-focused Advent calendars focus on just one brand. This 24-piece one doesn't. It's packed full of items from Benefit Cosmetics, a brand well known for its brow products and mascaras (among other things). If you or your gift recipient already use a lot of Benefit items on a daily basis, it offers a lot of value. But if you're hoping for more of a “discovery” beauty Advent calendar, there are plenty of other recommendations on this list worth considering. I love the Rubiks-Cube-esque packaging, and I didn't mind that most of the products are miniature-sized, since I'm always traveling with my makeup. If you don't mind minis, I think it's worthwhile, since you'll get several—including highlighters, blushes, mascaras, and primers. There are a couple of full-size items included as well, such as the infamous Benetint liquid blush.
Photograph: Kat MerckMan Crates
Amazon
This Christmas-sweater-themed box contains 12 of what can best be described as gourmet Slim Jims, each 2 inches long, individually wrapped, and featuring ostensibly man-approved flavors like IPA, Jalapeño, and Oregon Pinot Noir. There are two of each variety, so expect duplicates, and I couldn’t discern a great deal of difference between the flavors, but it still makes for a fun, festive gift for the man who has everything. —Kat Merck
Photograph: Kat MerckGive Them Beer
Give Them Beer
As the only female in my household, I appreciate that Give Them Beer always has a huge variety of fun Advent calendars geared toward those with more masculine tastes. Pickle-flavored snacks, for example, or moonshine, or even a ManVent calendar with manly things—all carefully curated anew each year with on-trend selections, and they tend to sell out pretty quickly. This year, I tested the brand’s new-to-me 12-day Bourbon Advent Calendar. It’s not a money saver, or necessarily a pick for true connoisseurs, but those with a casual interest will find it’s got a fun mix of staples, artisanal favorites, and finds from smaller, regional distilleries. I won’t spoil the surprises, but there are no repeats. Whether it’s your family’s turn to host the holidays or you’ll be traveling out of town, it’s a funny gift to buy your spouse as a countdown until you leave. Note: Someone 21-plus will need to be present to sign for delivery. —Kat Merck
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageMeliora Forever
Meliora
First I was skeptical. Then I decided it was ingenious. Meliora Forever’s 12 Days of Christmas whiskey Advent calendar is something wonderful: 12 old-fashioned cocktails in a box. You supply the whiskey, but each window contains a little container with two sugar cubes, infused with fruit and bitters mixes from some of the best makers in the county, including Scrappy’s and Bittermans. Muddle the sugar with a tiny bit of warm water, mix with alcohol, and pour over ice. Because the fruit’s in the cube, you needn’t even squeeze an orange rind, though no one would stop you. Each cube is themed for a day in the interminable 12 Days of Christmas song. My favorite so far is Seven Swans-a-Swimming, a fireside mix of black walnut, Woodford Reserve sassafras bitters, and tart cherry saffron bitters from Georgia company 18.21. Meliora also makes Advent calendars with mixer cubes for gin drinks and champagne cocktails. But it’s hard to imagine anything working as well as a good ol’ fashioned old-fashioned. —Matthew Korfhage
NeeDoh
Walmart
The NeeDoh Advent calendar is so incredibly fun. The packaging is sturdy and easy to open, and each of the 24 doors hides a fun, squishy trinket to play with. There are rubbery lava lamps, liquid-filled gemstones, and even a miniature Nice cube. If you or your kids like squishy, sensory toys, this colorful Advent calendar is worth every penny. Obviously, be aware that these are choking hazards and best suited for kids old enough to play with them responsibly. It might also be a smart buy if you want to rip it apart for 24 little stocking stuffers.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeSmile Makers
Smile Makers
A sex toy Advent calendar might seem a little … different, but this week-long box is filled with surprises worth your while. It includes seven different bestselling vibrators, all of which are waterproof, rechargeable, and very beginner-friendly. Each vibrator offers a different design and use-case scenario. There's a tongue vibrator, a clitoris and labia vibrator, a bullet vibe, a lipstick vibe, a G-spot vibe, a vibrating butt plug, and a jack-of-all-trades general-use vibrator.
This box is a great exploratory set for those new to vibrator play, and also a solid way to bolster the nightstand supply at a less-expensive cost. And while many of them are marketed toward erogenous zones like the vagina and the clitoris, most are versatile enough that anyone could derive some pleasure from using them. Every vibrator is designed thoughtfully and playfully, with pretty, approachable colors. They're all easy to use and have a no-frills, no-pressure vibe (sorry) that should be fitting for basically any bedroom. And, yes, they work as intended.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeLovehoney
Lovehoney
This spicy Advent calendar offers astounding value for the price. There are 24 sexy surprises, including two sex toys from Womanizer that are valued at over $200. In addition to those two toys, there are other toys, vibrators, and assorted accessories, plus practical items like cleaning wipes and lube. There are even games to play with your lover(s). Chargers are included, and the packaging is nondescript despite its contents being anything but safe for work. Lovehoney makes other Advent calendars too, but this offers the most bang for your buck—pun very much intended.
Photograph: Louryn StrampeVideo: Louryn StrampeChevronChevronA Brighter Year
A Brighter Year
Maybe you want cardboard doors hiding a gajillion different treats, and that’s OK. But if you want to keep things simple or less cluttered while you’re Advent calendar-ing, this tiny coloring book is a great way to do it. It’s a flip-style 3 x 3-inch book featuring 24 pages with festive illustrations and tear-out pages. I think it would be fun for kids, too, but I am looking forward to taking a few moments of mindful coloring to myself each day in December. You can opt to purchase it with a little stand for display for a few bucks more.
Glitopper
Amazon
Who doesn’t like a good pair of festive Christmas socks? This calendar packs 24 pairs of them into a 3-pound cardboard box. The cover looks like something someone made on their home printer, and some of the pairs feature odd themes or hilarious translation errors (my family is still laughing at the “Snow Mam”), but the quality of the socks is surprisingly decent—on par with any dress-style sock—and they even fit my teen son’s huge size-12 feet. Do note, however, that the image of the socks included in the Amazon description is not what appears in the box; the themes are quite Santa-heavy, and maybe two to three pairs are clearly meant to be for women. Though the Glitopper version is the one we tested, there are a couple of other versions right now with lower prices that are likely the same thing, just different designs. —Kat Merck
Photograph: Kat MerckSaje
Ulta
$135Saje
Anyone interested in essential oils (or even general plant-based wellness) will love this artfully packaged Advent calendar, with 12 little drawers that slide out to reveal a different bestseller from Canadian wellness brand Saje—oils, roll-ons, and even a shiatsu massager. The contents are listed on the front of the box, but the descriptions are intentionally vague so as not to spoil the surprise, and you won’t know what’s in each drawer. It’s pricey for what you get, but everything smells divine, and the box would make a great gift. —Kat Merck
How Does WIRED Test Advent Calendars?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronAside from the obvious, aka tearing into every cardboard door to see what's inside, we try to neutrally assess the value of a calendar's contents versus what it costs. We also take note of packaging and, of course, the quality of the items behind each door. When researching Advent calendars, we look for unique or popular options that appeal to a wide range of people.
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Louryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering deals, beauty, home goods, and gifts. She’s written about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and other shopping holidays since 2013, offering tips and tricks and sleuthing out fact-checked discounts for fun and for a living. She previously covered ... Read MoreWriter and ReviewerTopicsgift guidesShoppingholidaysbuying guidesDedicated ServergiftsRead More
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