10 Advent Calendars You’ll Love (Trust Us — We Actually Tested Them All!)

The holiday season is right around the corner, but instead of patiently waiting to unwrap gifts on Christmas Day, consider getting an Advent calendar so you can open up presents daily leading up to December 25. There are thousands of Advent calendars to purchase out there, so we (Apartment Therapy editors) took on the “hard job” of finding and testing the best ones to get right now. Below you’ll find our favorite Advent calendars that are worth getting for yourself or a loved one.

Cozy season calls for lots of candles, which is exactly what this Voluspa Heritage 12-Day Advent Calendar supplies. “I love that they come in a variety of fragrances, from Crushed Candy Cane to Sparkling Cuvée (which smells to me like an expensive bubble bath), so that even if winter wraps and you haven’t finished burning them all, there are plenty of options that don’t smell like the holidays,” shares Dorm Therapy and Special Projects Editor Sofia Rivera.

“Each 2.5-ounce glass vessel is supposed to burn for up to 25 hours, so while they’re petite, they’ll definitely keep your space smelling spiced, citrusy, sweet, or whatever else you choose all day long.” 

Good for: The person in your life who always has a candle burning (and whose home always smells amazing). 

Personally I’ve been eyeing the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar for years, and this time around I finally got my hands on it. And guess what? It’s converted me into an Advent calendar lover. I loved unboxing all 24 flavors and then finding new ways to use the adorable mini jars. For $55, it’s definitely worth buying as a gift or even for yourself to enjoy. 

Good for: A friend who loves delicious spreads or miniature things (or both!). 

“My family and I firmly believe that no malady can’t be solved by a soup (preferably my mom’s matzoh ball soup) and a schvitz. While the former can be hard to come by, the latter is easily solved by a hot, steamy shower,” shares Executive Editor Terri Pous. “And as timing would have it, I caught a cold right around when I received this Advent calendar to try. It turns out, a shower steamer really amps up those healing vibes. This cute set comes with 24 differently scented cubes that make your schvitz feel like it’s happening in a spa.”

Good for: People who love aromatherapy, self-care, and spa-like moments. It’s on the pricier side, but offers a lot of enjoyment!

At $175, this one isn’t exactly a budget buy, but it was the “most special Advent calendar” Sofia has ever opened. The three-tier Papier Stationery Advent Calendar features full-sized treasures, ranging from pens to journals and of course stationery. “It makes each of the 24 days feel like a little adventure, and I looked forward to it even more than I usually do as a long-time Advent calendar lover,” says Sofia.

Good for: Someone in your life who has opinions about pens, loves writing a to-do list, and adores gorgeous packaging. 

For your tea-obsessed friend — or your friend obsessed with romanticizing their daily rituals — the Vahdam foldable Advent calendar tea gift is “fun, eminently affordable, and delicious,” shares Lifestyle Editor Lizzy Francis. She loves that it’s small-space-friendly, as it hangs flat against any wall, and that you can get a choice between loose-leaf tea or tea bags (she has the loose-leaf one).

Good for: Anyone who loves tea, wants to romanticize their daily rituals, or wants to enjoy an Advent calendar that doesn’t take up much space. It’s also budget-friendly, as it costs only $24.99.

Terri let her nephew do the testing for this $45 LEGO Minecraft Advent calendar, and she might have just won the “best aunt” award. “I’ll let my 8-year-old nephew Tommy explain this in his own words: ‘It’s awesome super mega,’” says Terri. “I can’t really top that, but if I have to, I’d say what’s great about this Advent calendar (aside from the clear appeal for fans of both LEGO and Minecraft) is that each day comes with a fun new figure to assemble (about 10 pieces each) in seasonal styles like Santa and ‘Christmas Steve,’ and it easily combines with other LEGO sets.”

Right now the Minecraft Advent calendar is completely sold out online (so check your local LEGO store), but there are still LEGO Advent calendars for Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Disney’s Frozen fans available.

Good for: People who love LEGO, people who are into Minecraft, and the middle of the Venn diagram of these two groups. It’s for ages 7 and up, but there is truly no upper limit to that age range!

“My cat did not care one bit about the Advent calendar of treats I got her last year, but minutes after I left this one out in my apartment, I heard her pawing at the perforated doors,” shares Sofia. The Frisco Holiday Advent Calendar for Cat is a new offering from Chewy, with “a dozen mini toys inside of a big cardboard enrichment toy [the box itself, one of her favorite categories of things].” 

Good for: Your cat, or a friend who has a cat. This advent calendar is going to go down a treat. 

After testing my first Advent calendar ever, it unlocked my love for these surprise boxes. The Fly by Jing Advent calendar was another one I was excited to unbox. The 12-day calendar combines fan-favorite and limited-edition chili crisps, sauces, seasonings, and noodles. What I love most about the Fly by Jing calendar is the variety of items and flavors — and I couldn’t wait to share some with my friends and family.

Good for: The foodie in your life, and anyone who loves spicy food. 

The holidays can often feel so unusually chaotic and busy — even when they’re magical — and what always helps Editor-in-Chief Charli Penn is slowing things down with a good holiday puzzle. “I’ll take my time and take one on with a festive holiday theme,” she shares. “It’s a relaxing escape from decorating and gift hunting.”

If there’s a puzzle enthusiast on your holiday list, Charli promises they’ll love the Through the Window Advent Calendar from Uncommon Goods. “Each day you’ll reveal one individually wrapped mini puzzle to enjoy, which are each challenging enough to stimulate your brain but easy enough for a puzzle pro to complete in 20 minutes or less,” says Penn. 

Good for: The busy bee in your life who could use an excuse to slot in a little more chill time this season — and anyone who loves a good puzzle!

If you’re a Costco regular, you probably already know that Bocce’s Bakery dog treats don’t stay on the shelves for long. Charli, who has two miniature schnauzers at home, says she always stocks up when she spots them because her pups just can’t seem to get enough of these soft and chewy delights.

“Because my dogs are big fans, when I spotted the Bocce’s Bakery 12-Day Advent Calendar on Chewy.com, I knew it would be the perfect holiday treat for them — and it didn’t disappoint.” This Advent calendar includes a variety of flavors and treats, and Charli shares that by day three, her pets already started to recognize the box.

Good for: The dog-lover or pampered pooch in your life.