No. 10: Dog and Cat Advent Calendars: Treats, Toys and What to Check
How to pick a dog or cat advent calendar: treat ingredients to avoid, chew size and choking risks, toy calendars, and safe ways to open 24 doors with a pet.
Buying guideGift guides
All guides
Guides to advent calendars for every kind of December: beauty, LEGO and toys, tea and chocolate, pets, and reusable calendars you fill yourself.
14 entries
Advent calendars picked by who they are for, from adults and kids to pets, plus the main roundup.
No. 05: Best Advent Calendars of 2026: Fun, Useful and Unusual Picks
The best advent calendars for 2026 by type: LEGO, toys, beauty, treats and puzzles, plus what is new this year and how to buy a sold-out one safely.
GuideGift guides
No. 03: Advent Calendars for Kids 2026: LEGO, Toys, Crafts and Collectibles
Kids' advent calendars for 2026 sorted by age: LEGO, Hot Wheels, NeeDoh, Pokemon and Funko, craft and science kits, plus the small-parts rule for under-3s.
Buying guideGift guides
No. 02: Advent Calendars for Adults 2026: Beauty, Food, Puzzles and More
Advent calendars for adults in 2026, sorted by interest: beauty, jams and snacks, puzzles, crafts, fishing, tools and jewelry, with what to check before buying.
Buying guideGift guides
Skincare, makeup, fragrance, bath and candle calendars, and how to judge what is inside.
No. 04: Beauty Advent Calendars 2026: Skincare, Makeup and Fragrance Compared
2026 beauty advent calendars from Sephora, Ulta, Anthropologie, Charlotte Tilbury and more, with what the advertised value means and how to choose.
GuideBeauty and self-care
Building sets, collectible figures, puzzles and game calendars, current and past years.
No. 11: Puzzle and Game Advent Calendars: Jigsaws, Mysteries and Dice
Puzzle Advent calendars compared: 12-day jigsaws, wooden puzzles with no box image, 24-day escape room mysteries and dice calendars for tabletop gamers.
Buying guideToys, LEGO and games
No. 09: NeeDoh Advent Calendar 2026: Squishmas, Halloween and More Squishies
What is inside the 2026 NeeDoh Squishmas and Halloween advent calendars, other squishy calendars to compare, age labels, safety and buying genuine ones.
Buying guideToys, LEGO and games
No. 08: LEGO Advent Calendars 2026: Every Set, Plus Past Years Still Sealed
All five 2026 LEGO advent calendars with set numbers, piece counts and ages, which one suits which child, and how to buy an older calendar sealed.
How toToys, LEGO and games
Tea, coffee, chocolate and snack calendars. No alcohol.
No. 13: Tea, Coffee and Chocolate Advent Calendars (No Alcohol)
Tea, coffee and chocolate advent calendars compared: DAVIDsTEA, Fortnum & Mason, Keurig, Door County Coffee, Compartes and more, plus allergen checks.
Buying guideFood and tea
Wooden, fabric and drawer calendars you fill yourself, and ideas for what to put inside.
No. 12: Reusable Advent Calendars: Wooden, Fabric and Drawer Styles
How to choose a reusable Advent calendar: wooden drawers or fabric pockets, real drawer sizes, wall or tabletop, and how to make it last for years.
Buying guideReusable and DIY
No. 01: Advent Calendar Filler Ideas: Small Gifts That Fit Each Door
What to put in an Advent calendar: filler ideas by age and budget, non-candy options, what fits a small drawer, and safety checks for young kids.
How toReusable and DIY
History, timing and how to choose: the reference pages.
No. 14: When to Start an Advent Calendar: December 1 or Advent Sunday?
Start most advent calendars on December 1. Advent itself begins November 29, 2026. Here is how 24, 25 and 12-day calendars fit the dates.
QuestionAdvent guides
No. 07: How to Choose an Advent Calendar: Doors, Dates, Budget and Age
How to choose an advent calendar: how many doors you need, when it starts, how to judge value per door, age labels, allergens and buying safely online.
QuestionAdvent guides
No. 06: History of the Advent Calendar: From Chalk Marks to Chocolate
Where the Advent calendar came from: chalk marks in 19th century Germany, Gerhard Lang's printed calendars, doors, chocolate, war and its spread to America.
QuestionAdvent guides