Advent calendar gift ideas for kids, dogs, adults, and filler ideas. Start a fun tradition of counting down the days until Christmas day!
Advent calendars can be a fun and memorable tradition for anyone during the holiday season. With so many different advent calendars to choose from I thought I’d share some top rated and fun ideas I found.
Curious to know how advent calendars started? They actually started as poster boards filled with chocolate but have evolved into so many different kinds such as a DIY homemade advent calendar, toy based, wooden, tree shaped to a kindness calendar.
Advent calendars are used to countdown to the big day (AKA Christmas morning!) starting on December 1st! It’s a lot of fun for all family members to have their own advent calendar (or at least for each child!)
First, let’s talk about some great advent calendar gift ideas and then I’ll give you a list of my favorite advent calendars to purchase for anyone and everyone!

Advent Calendar Ideas
You can definitely make your own advent calendar from as easy as writing numbers on a poster board and taping candy on to making a gorgeous wood advent calendar if you are good with tools.
But what if you are not the crafty type? You are in luck! There are a ton of cute and easy Christmas calendars out there. Some are reusable so you won’t have to buy a new one next year, and some are specific to the year.
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Advent Calendar Gift Ideas
Depending on the size and what advent calendar you have, you’ll need to fill each day with little gifts. You can put in 24 totally different things or 24 of the same item, just different variations!
Here are some great options of fun things to put in for each day:
Advent Calendar Filler Ideas for Girls and Boys
- chocolate
- small toys – like party favors
- legos
- fidget toys
- scripture scrolls
- printable bible verses
- printable acts of kindness to do each day
- printable jokes
- stamps
- mini puzzle
- mini trains
- magnets
- wind up toys
- mini stuffed animal or squishies
- hot cocoa packets or pods
- miniature ornaments
- candy
- keychains
- scrunchies
- paintable ornaments
- playdoh
Filler Ideas for Adults
- chocolate
- mini alcohol
- If they have a Bartesian (it’s amazing!), then make sure to check for their cocktail capsule advent calendar.
- chocolate liqueur bottles
- nail polish
- lip balm
- keychain
- K pods
- inspirational quotes or notes
- what I love about you notes
- gift cards
- tea bags
- small craft supplies like paint
- ornaments
- bible scripture
- beauty products
- check out these ideas for Christian women if you have a woman of faith on your list!
Advent Filler Ideas for Dogs and Cats
- actual advent calendar for dogs like this one from Trader Joe’s
- toy packs for dogs
- plush squeaky toys
- toy packs for cats
- any kind of dog treats
Advent Calendar Ideas 2024
Simply click on the Go to Amazon button to learn more about each Christmas advent calendar.
Empty Advent Calendars
If you are wanting to use some of the advent calendar filler ideas from above, then you'll want an empty calendar where you can put small gifts.

LampLust Wooden Advent Calendar with Drawers, 12 Inch Reusable Advent Calendar with Lights, White Wood, Battery Operated, Empty Boxes to Fill
A cute light up advent calendar with separate boxes.

JOYIN Christmas 24 Days Countdown Advent Calendar with a Tabletop Wooden Christmas Tree and 28 Ornaments
Cute 3D tree with ornaments that you get for each day to hang up.

BRUBAKER Reusable Wooden Advent Calendar to Fill - Gingerbread House with LED Lighting
How cute is this gingerbread house? Would be cute to put little pieces of candy or chocolate in to string out our treats over the holidays!

Reusable Wooden Advent Calendar to Fill - Red Christmas Book with 24 Doors
A foldable advent calendar is a great idea if you have limited space.

Best Choice Products Wooden Christmas Advent Calendar, Shooting Star Holiday Decoration w/Battery-Operated LED Light Background
Love this wooden advent calendar with a few different Christmas scenes.

Battery-Operated Wooden LED Nativity Advent Calendar
A rustic option with nativity scenes that light up at the top is a great way to show off the true meaning of Christmas!

Sunlit Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar with Drawers, Unfinished Wooden, House Shaped Countdown Calendar Ready to Decorate and Personalize
If you are crafty, then this blank advent calendar wooden box would be perfect to design however you like it!

Countdown Gift Boxes Cardboard Pillow Treat Boxes with 1 to 24 Countdown Number Stickers for Xmas Gift Giving Goodie
These gift boxes are cute and festive and easy to put a special treat in!

O Christmas Tree Treasure Box Advent Calendar
A simple and easy Christmas tree advent calendar with cardboard boxes for treats.

Our Warm Christmas Advent Calendar 2024 Decorations, 24 days Dimity Burlap Gift Bags Favors for Christmas Toys Home Decor
Grab a 24 pack of burlap sacks to put all sorts of different treats in to countdown to Christmas Eve!

Refillable Christmas Countdown Calendar with 24 Gift Boxes
Not your typical Christmas colors! I love this blue-themed calendar.

DIY Advent Calendar: Beautiful Craft Advent Calendar with 24 Paper Treat Bags and Sticker Paper with Numbers – Empty Adult Advent Calendar to Fill Yourself
Paper treat bags! These would be great to fill with Christmas cookies.

GMOEGEFT Burlap Advent Calendar 2024 Countdown to Christmas with Truck Applique Hanging Xmas Home Wall Fabric Decoration
Cue and easy hanging advent calendar where you just move the piece from one number to the next!
Lego Advent Calendars
Now moving on to already filled advent calendars. In case you don't want the pressure of having to come up with advent calendar gift ideas yourself, these ones are already done for you! (but a little more expensive and you can only use it for one year!)
Lego advent calendars are probably the most popular Christmas countdown calendars you can find and have become a holiday tradition for a lot of families!
There is a wide variety of sets and they keep coming out with new ones. If you have a lego lover in the house (who doesn't??), one of the following will be well loved!

LEGO Disney Advent Calendar 2024 for Kids - Christmas Advent Calendar W/Mini Builds & 8 Minifigures
Disney princesses, yes, please! Very cute!

LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2024 for Kids - Christmas Advent Calendar W/Mini Builds & 5 Minifigures
If your kids just love legos, then they probably will love some Christmas lego pieces!

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2024, 18 Mini Models and 6 Characters to Collect
Star Wars has a few different advent calendars so there might be a few to choose from. There are so many great Star Wars lego pieces included in this box.

LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Awww, Harry Potter! We are fans and if your kids are too then I'm sure they'd love all these fun Harry Potter lego pieces!

Funko Advent Calendar: Marvel 80th Anniversary, 24Pc
My family is a big fan of the Marvel movies. If you are like this, then your kids or even adults will love this countdown calendar with different Marvel figures.

A Christmas Story Advent Calendar 2024 Includes 24 Windows Filled with Silly and Festive 1-inch Figures & Accessories!
One of my favorite movies growing up, so had to include this one!

Disney The Simpsons Advent Calendar Holiday 2024-24 Days of Surprises with Mystery Characters
There are a lot of kids and grownups who would love this Simpson countdown.
Disney Advent Calendars
Disney fans, you are in luck! There are quite a few super cute Disney themed advent ideas that won't break the bank!

Disney Encanto Casa Madrigal Advent Calendar
If you have a child that's been swept up in Disney's latest great movie, look no further than this adorable Encanto advent.

Disney 100 Advent Calendar a Storybook Library: Coutndown to Christmas with 24 Exciting Storybooks
So this is probably my favorite one because I'm a big fan of books. And then adding Disney to it... woo hoo! 24 Disney books in a cute little case = perfect in every way!

Disney Princess: Enchanted Christmas: Official Pop-Up Advent Calendar
For the princess lovers in your life, you make want to grab this princess pop up calendar.

Disney Mickey & Friends Advent Calendar Box Set - with Storybook, Daily Family Activities, and 3D Christmas Tree
A very traditional Mickey and Minnie Mouse advent calendar exclusive to Amazon.

Disney Doorables 2024 Advent Calendar | 24 Pieces with Stickers (Disney Doorables)
For the younger kids, these bobble head looking doorables might be a big hit!

Disney Pixar Cars Minis Advent Calendar Playset
Another Disney beloved movie! And more Cars for Christmas!

Hyp Harry Potter Houses Men's 12 Days of Socks in Advent Gift Box
This is a different kind of advent box and perfect for sock and Harry Potter fans!
Advent Calendar for Boys
The following list are advent calendars marketed towards boys, but they could be for any child!


Thomas & Friends MINIS Advent Calendar, 24 Miniature Toy Trains and Vehicles for Preschool Kids
Can't leave out trains, more specifically Thomas the Train. This advent calendar is full of mini trains for your conductor.

Christmas Advent Calendar Realistic Dinosaur Figurine Décor 2022 Xmas 24 Days Countdown
My youngest would love this dinosaur advent calendar!

Play-Doh Advent Calendar Toy for Kids
I'm a huge Play-Doh fan and so were my kids! This would be a fun one!

Advent Calendar 2024 for Kids - Christmas Gifts Brain Teaser Puzzles
If your kiddos like puzzles this one would be fun! Even teenagers would have fun trying to figure out all the different brain teasers.
Advent Calendar Ideas for Girls
Some fun advent calendars more geared toward girls.

2024 Christmas Slime Advent Calendar 24 Days Countdown DIY Slime Kit
If your child is into slime, this one looks like fun!

Advent Calendar 2024 Girls Unicorn Charm Bracelets Making Kit, 24 Days of Christmas Advent Calendars for Teens Kids Age 6-12,
Specifically for girls, this cute little calendar contains small little trinkets girls will love.


Fidget Advent Calendar 2024 for Kids - 24 Days Christmas Holiday Countdown Advent Calendars
With the craze of fidget toys, this Pop It countdown calendar will be well used!

NEW 2024 Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar - 24 Beautiful DIY Arts & Crafts Ornaments
If you have a crafty kiddo, you can't go wrong with a craft filled advent.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Gemstone Advent Calendar - 2024 Advent Calendar for Kids with 24 Gemstones to Open Each Day,
I love this idea for the rock lovers out there!
Toddler Advent Calendars
Need for the littles in your life?

My Little Pony: A New Generation Movie Snow Party Countdown Advent Calendar Toy for Kids - 25 Surprise Pieces, Including 16 Pony Figures (Amazon Exclusive)
I love that My Little Pony is making a come back!

BibleToys Nativity Set - Christmas Story Manger Scene, 18 Pieces With Birth of Baby Jesus Mini-Storybook
This one is pricier but displaying the true meaning of Christmas might be what you want. I love this nativity scene that the kids can play with any time of the year!

Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar - Magnetic Tree, 25 Magnets , Orange
My kids used to love Melissa and Doug products and so did I! They are so well made and last a long time. I'm sure a little one would love hanging the ornaments on this cute tree

BATTOP Advent Calendar Christmas Countdown Calendar Toy
Cute Mochi Animals Squishy Toys for Kids!

LEGO DUPLO Steam Train 10874 Remote-Control Building Blocks
Duplo blocks are a larger version of legos and great for toddlers!
Adult or Family Advent Calendar Ideas
Can't leave all the fun to the children! Here are some fun ideas for the entire family or for adults.

Madelaine Chocolate Advent Calendar With 24 Premium Milk Chocolates - 8 oz (227 grams)
For teenagers or adults, the traditional chocolate friendly advent calendar!

Coffee Junkie - Gourmet Coffee Advent Calendar Single Serve Coffee Pod
Try all sorts of different coffee with this coffee advent calendar of K-pods. These would also make great gifts for co-workers!

Pukka Herbs Herbal Tea Advent Calendar 2023 | Organic Tea Gift Set | Eco-Friendly 24 Tea Bags
If you are not a coffee lover, then try this tea bag countdown calendar!

NEW 2023 Advent Calendar FAMILY GAMES by The Purple Cow
24 OF THE BEST EVER FAMILY GAMES IN ONE BOX – put the screen aside and enjoy hours and hours of FUN. The perfect family bonding experience!

Pockets of Learning Merry Christmas Tree Advent Calendar, Holiday Décor, Seasonal Fabric Wall Hanging, Cloth Countdown
So I had to put this one on the list. This is very similar to the one I grew up with! My mother made ours and I loved pulling out the fabric ornaments and pinning them on the felt tree every day
If you have any other favorite advent calendar or filler ideas that you use to countdown to Christmas Eve, I’d love to hear them!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!
