In the last few years, the best advent calendars have stepped up their game. Long gone are the times when a chocolate-filled Christmas calendar was enough. Now, you can get a calendar filled with pretty much anything – alcohol, scented candles, beauty products…you name it! The problem is that the best advent calendars tend to sell out pretty quickly, much like the best artificial Christmas trees – which is why you need to snap them up pretty quickly, ideally as soon as they drop.
Most brands and retailers have jumped on the elevated advent calendar bandwagon, so that's why I've been getting my hands on as many advent calendars as possible in order to assess which ones are actually worth the investment.
At the end of the day, the main downside of these cool alternative advent calendars is their price point when compared to the traditional chocolate-filled calendars. Instead of spending something like £7, you could be suddenly dishing out anywhere from £50 to a few hundred pounds.
But, of course, to get some lovely goodies from your favourite brands every day of December in the run-up to Christmas makes up for it. So these are the advent calendars I rate as the top ones to buy this year, whether you’re looking to treat yourself or your lucky loved ones.
I rate good, pretty design and great value for money – so I won’t let an overpriced advent calendar slide. That’s why I've put in the hours to see, try and open as many of this year's advent calendars as possible to keep this guide up to date on the best ones out there.
Best advent calendars 2024
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Launch date: Available now
Every year, The White Company advent calendar impresses me, and this year is no exception. It never disappoints and even treats you on Christmas day, providing 25 treats rather than the traditional 24. The calendar has a good mix of various products from home fragrance (candles and a diffuser) to body and skincare like shower gels and lotions – several of which are full sized, rather than the usual mini versions that many other advent calendars offer. Retailing for £195, it’s certainly not the cheapest calendar out there, it's not the most expensive either, and if you're a fan of the brand it's definitely worth it.
Launch date: 11th October, available for pre-order now
One of the main criteria when judging these advent calendars was value for money, but when it comes to this luxurious Diptyque advent calendar, logic really goes out the window in all honesty. I’m a big Diptyque candle fan – and so is the majority of the Ideal Home office. So if I was to spend a lot of money on an advent calendar - and £390 undeniably is a high price point - this would be the one. The box in itself is beautiful and it’s certainly a keeper - you can refill it with other treats for Christmasses to come! Inside, you get 25 mini versions of some of Diptyque’s bestselling candles, as well as Christmas tree decorations, room sprays and even perfumes.
Launch date: Available now
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the Diptyque calendar (join the club), then this Yankee advent option delivers candles aplenty with the much more affordable price tag of £49.99. While there is the even more affordable option of the Advent Wreath for £27.99, the Advent Book looks and feels more expensive with larger sized (but still mini) candles inside. Both designs include 24 candles in 24 different scents to discover every day in the lead up to Christmas. It may not look as impressive as some of my other top picks, but it’s very good value for money. And who doesn’t love a Yankee candle? It’s a wholesome classic.
Best coffee and tea advent calendars 2024
Launch date: Available now
Love GRIND? Love your pod coffee machine? Introducing the GRIND Advent Calendar, which combines the best of both worlds. We at Ideal Home love The GRIND One pod coffee machine and if you know someone who does too, this could make the perfect present. You get a pod of coffee on each of the 24 days, and two on Christmas Day itself, and it's a great opportunity to try all their blends including their limited edition spiced festive flavour. Plus, we're a sucker for the pink aesthetic of the box!
Launch date: 15th October
If you, or someone you know, owns a Nespresso coffee machine - as most of the country does - then a Nespresso Advent Calendar would be the perfect treat. We have the Nespresso Vertuo in the office and the Ideal Home team (myself included) really enjoyed the variety of new flavours included, developed in collaboration with professional chef Jean Imbert. Peanut and roasted sesame anyone? And for the final day of Christmas eve, you get a Nespresso mug. There are two versions of the advent calendar available - one with pods for the original Nespresso machines for £38 and the other with the Vertuo pods, selling for £42.
Launch date: Available now
I don’t know about you but for me, Pukka tea is something of a luxury. I know it’s not that expensive with one box of 20 tea bags costing £5 but that’s just not how much I spend on tea on an everyday basis. So a Pukka Tea Advent Calendar is up there for me – especially since you don’t actually have to spend that much, as this is priced at £12.99 for 24 sachets. You get both some lovely classics and seasonal treats like Liquorice & Cinnamon or Winter Warmer with rooibos, orange and star anise. It also makes for the perfect Secret Santa gift for any tea lover. I’d certainly be pleased with it.
Best beauty advent calendars 2024
Launch date: 21st October, available for pre-order now
Beauty calendars these days can get ridiculously expensive. And while I love the look of a lot of them, I really appreciate those that kept their price point relatively affordable. Enter the Anthropologie Beauty Advent Calendar, selling for £88 but filled with items worth £300, according to the brand. I first came across this calendar on Instagram – and that’s because it is very pretty indeed with its illustrated design. The 24 items are packed in illustrated boxes which you take out one by one as the month of December goes on. The one downside is that all the products are minis, there are no full-sized items. But there are some great brands like Sunday Riley and Malin+Goetz and also items like scrunchies.
Launch date: Available now
When I first got up close and personal with Lookfantastic’s beauty advent calendar, I didn’t know how much it cost. So when I found out the price, I was shocked at how low it is compared to some of the other retailers, especially given the quality of products within. Selling for £100, the estimated value of the products inside is £565 – most of which are full size rather than minis. There are 25 treats to be had, from an Estee Lauder serum to a Rituals candle and even a satin sleep mask. This beauty advent calendar has got variety and is a great way to try out some new brands.
Launch date: 24th October
Marks & Spencer’s Beauty Advent Calendar might be a latecomer, dropping only on the 24th October. But it’s worth the wait, I promise! Selling for an amazingly budget-friendly price of £50, it contains 25 beauty products, six of which are full-sized, the rest are mini versions, all in all worth more than £300. There is a slight catch which is that you have to spend £35 on other clothing, home and beauty items at M&S to be able to buy the £50 beauty advent calendar. But in my opinion, £35 is not too much extra to spend and at least you can get some extra underwear or home decor out of your shop. So better set a reminder for the 24th!
Best alternative advent calendars 2024
Launch date: Available now
Yep, that's right, your favourite stationery brand (and mine!) has released its second-ever advent calendar. Featuring both mini and full-sized treats to make your desk set up more pleasing, this calendar promises to not only look the part but will help make you more organised too. On sale for £140, the gifts inside are said to be worth £200, including treats like bookmarks, pens and notebooks. So if you love adding to your never-ending supply of stationery, then make sure your loved ones know this calendar is on your wish list.
Launch date: Available now
If you’re a budding gardener or happen to know one, then why not tap into that with your choice of advent calendar? I’m by no means a gardening expert myself but this 24-day advent calendar from Border in a Box gets the stamp of approval from Ideal Home’s Garden Editor, Sophie King. Every day, you’ll get a sachet filled with flower, veg or herb seeds, each decorated with a lovely hand-drawn illustration. The box this advent calendar comes in also lives up to its ‘luxury’ title and feels high quality. For £50, I think it’s fairly priced.
Launch date: Available now
If you’re looking for the best reusable advent calendar, then this limited edition collab between Emma Bridgewater and Biscuiteers would be my top pick. The fabric calendar can be hung on the wall with each of the 24 pockets embroidered with a number in a golden thread. Each of those pockets fits a single beautifully hand-decorated iced vanilla Biscuiteers biscuit, which come packed separately in a tin. You can also buy the calendar on its own for £68 but who can say no to a Lapland sign in a biscuit form or a little baby reindeer?!. And they stay fresh for 9 months after arrival so you don’t have to worry about them going off.
How we test
Christmas advent calendars are more difficult to ‘test’ compared to something like the best air fryers. The way I judge each advent calendar is firstly on their aesthetics – most advent calendars are going to be displayed so how they look is important. I believe an advent calendar should be visually pleasing.
Secondly, I open all of the compartments, take out and look at the products. I judge the quality of the products within and see their size. Based on this, I then assess the products against the price of the overall calendar to see whether the contents are worth the price tag.
Additionally, I also compare the advent calendars to what else is available on the market, rather than judging each calendar in isolation. How does it measure up next to other calendars on offer in the same calendar? These are the type of questions I ask myself and also the wider team.
How to choose an advent calendar?
If you’re in the market for an advent calendar, whether that’s for yourself or for a loved one as a gift, the choice available can be overwhelming. But there are a few crucial criteria to consider when choosing the best advent calendar for you.
First of all, start by establishing your budget. If you can only afford to spend £50, then the likes of the £390 Diptyque Advent Calendar are automatically out of the running.
Then, establish your or your loved one’s interest and hobbies to decide on the type of advent calendar that would work best. Do you (or they) have a passion for gardening? Or is it makeup and skincare that you think would work best?
From there, I would look at existing reviews (if there are any, perhaps from previous years as well), as well as best advent calendar buying guides like this one and the retailers’ descriptions and images of their advent calendars. Do you like the look and sound of what’s inside the advent calendar? Do the products and/or brands included appeal to you? If so, that’s the one for you. If not, keep looking until you’re hooked.
FAQs
Is the M&S Advent calendar any good?
Just like most of the good advent calendars on the market, the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar is also very popular. And for good reason – it’s a great value for money. Which is exactly why I included it in this round-up of the best advent calendars.
Selling for only £50, that kind of price point is pretty much unheard of in the beauty advent calendar space. Most of the other retailers sell theirs for around £200 to £300. So that’s why I back the M&S advent calendar, filled with 25 products worth over £300, coming in a lovely cosmetic bag which you can easily put to good use.
Is the Selfridges advent calendar worth it?
The Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar is certainly a luxury one, selling for £250. But if you have the cash to splash, I would say that it is worth it. Filled with 38 beauty products, as some compartments include more than one item, 22 of them are full-sized – and the overall value is £1024! That’s because the brands included in the calendar are the likes of Byredo, Charlotte Tilbury and even the influencer and celebrity favourite, Dr Barbara Sturm. So if I was to recommend a luxury beauty advent calendar, it would be this one. Consider this an honourable mention.
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