36 Best Advent Calendars for Kids in 2024

Desiree DeNunzio is the gift guide editor for CNET's Commerce team. When she's not writing and editing, she's either hiking through the redwoods or curled up with a good book and a lazy dog.

Natalia Lusinski Contributor

Natalia is a contributing writer for CNET. Her work can also be seen in places like Business Insider, Yahoo and Forbes. She spent several years living abroad, from goat-sitting in the Swiss Alps to staying with nuns at a monastery in Venice. Back in Los Angeles, she runs a popular pizza Meetup and is still on a quest to find her favorite slice.

Lego Marvel Spider-Man Advent Calendar

Spider-Man fans will love this Advent calendar, which includes 5 mini-figures: Spider-Man, Green Goblin, Miles Morales, Ghost-Spider and Venom. Peter Parker’s desk and a cozy fireplace (complete with Christmas stockings) are some of the fun accessories included in this calendar and kids can use their imaginations to come up with fun scenes to create.

Lego Friends Advent Calendar

We love how Lego switches things up a bit with its Friends calendar each year. If you've got a kid who's really into Lego Friends, this is a great choice. For this year’s, Paisley and Olly are preschoolers and all kinds of interactive builds come in this calendar, as well as festive activities, like mailing a letter to Santa and an area for them to bake Christmas cookies.

Lego City Advent Calendar

A snowy village scene is the backdrop of this Advent calendar, which is chock-full of fun characters and mini-builds. As kids reveal more surprises day after day, each new one can help them create more stories around the characters.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar

Lego makes some of my all-time favorite Advent calendars ever, and we are excited to see what follows the 2024 batch, which includes the ultra-popular Lego Star Wars calendar. Kids get to start off each day building a new toy they can then add to the fold-out Star Wars holiday scene. Not only is it fun to see which vehicle or Star Wars character they get each day (Emperor Palpatine! Princess Leia!), but these toys will last well beyond the holiday season. 

Mattel Disney Princess Advent Calendar

Kids will get 24 days of royal surprises in this calendar, including 4 small princess dolls and accessories for them. Some of the princesses’ friends are in the calendar too, like Flounder and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast.

Disney Doorables Advent Calendar

Kids who want 24 days’ worth of collectible figures from their favorite Disney and Pixar films will love this Advent calendar and will be excited to see which character they get each day. The toy figures come from movies like Monsters, Inc., Wall-E, Frozen and many more.

Lego Disney Advent Calendar

Disney fans will love building their favorite movie set-pieces with this Advent calendar, like Elsa’s ice palace and Moana’s mini boat. The 253-piece Lego set includes 24 days’ worth of characters and fun surprises.

Mattel Disney and Pixar Cars Mini Racers Advent Calendar

Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez and other vehicles and accessories from Cars? Yes, please. Your child will look forward to opening a new Advent calendar window each day to see who -- or what -- comes out next.

Wizarding World Harry Potter Glow-in-the-Dark Advent Calendar

For a twist on a traditional Harry Potter Advent calendar with mini figures inside, these glow in the dark, making the calendar extra magical.

Harry Potter Marauder’s Map Trivia Advent Calendar

For those who are truly obsessed with all things Potter, you can't go wrong with this Marauder's Map Advent calendar. It captures all the details of the magical map, and it's filled with 10 different flavors of Jelly Belly beans.

Funko Pop Harry Potter Calendar

For kids who want to count down to Christmas with Harry Potter and his Wizarding World friends, this super cute Funko Pop Advent calendar is the way to go. And once the figures are unveiled, they can stand in front of the calendar's backdrop, Diagon Alley.

Lego Harry Potter Advent Calendar

Your child can enter the wizarding world through this Lego Harry Potter Advent calendar, which includes 7 beloved characters, like Harry and Professor Flitwick, as well as festive items, like a mini Hogwarts Express Train.

Funko Pop Star Wars Advent Calendar

A red-and-green Darth Vader? These Star Wars figures are dressed in ways you’ve never seen them before and are ready to help your child get in the Christmas spirit.

Funko Pop Pokemon Advent Calendar

If your child is a Pokemon fan -- and which one isn’t? -- they will love popping open these little squares every day and seeing which Pokemon character comes out next.

Funko Pop NFL Advent Calendar

This calendar features fans’ favorite NFL players and you’ll definitely score a (field) goal with this gift.

Funko Pop Marvel Advent Calendar

Two trends combine in this cool Advent calendar. Funko Pop figurines are popular collectibles, and Marvel and Spider-Man are still going strong. Twenty-four mini Marvel figures are included here, creating quite the menagerie. Kids will love discovering Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Hulk, Iron Man -- and many more of their favorites.

Mattel Barbie Doll And Fashion Advent Calendar

This Barbie Advent calendar is all about her getting glammed up. In addition to a Barbie doll, the calendar comes with fun accessories for her to wear, like a chic floppy hat, sparkly silver jacket and various pairs of high heels.

Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Advent Calendar

This 24-figure set with holiday-themed play pieces will help your child think up plenty of creative stories. When open, the Advent calendar has a Barbie ski chalet setting, which is perfect for the holidays.

Mattel Barbie Advent Calendar With Barbie Doll

Barbie is timeless and eternally popular -- and this Advent calendar comes with a Barbie doll that kids get on the first day. Each day following, a new clothing item or accessory is revealed, like a heart-shaped purse or trendy dress. This calendar will provide hours of fun for your child -- and for you as you see what clothing combinations they come up.

Mattel Fantasy Barbie Advent Calendar With Pink-Haired Doll

Barbie with pink hair? Who wouldn't be a fan? Kids who are also into mermaids, unicorns and fairies will love this Advent calendar. It comes with fun fantasy accessories too, like a mermaid tail skirt and clip-on butterfly wings.

KiwiCo Christmas Countdown Train Set

This holiday season, your child can put together this train set over the course of 12 days. For added fun, it can even circle the Christmas tree.

HearthSong Wooden Gingerbread House With Reusable Drawers

This sturdy wooden Advent calendar doesn't come with toys -- you fill the 24 little drawers yourself. It may be a little extra work, but this colorful gingerbread house could be the start of a DIY Advent calendar family tradition. Just add notes, chocolate, tiny toys, ornaments or any other itty-bitty holiday trinkets your child will love. And they'll probably enjoy helping you fill the drawers too.

KiwiCo Christmas Village Advent Calendar

This Advent calendar gives kids the opportunity to build their own mini village. Each day offers up a new part of the village to assemble, from a house to an evergreen tree to a reindeer. With 24 surprises, your kids will get plenty of play-based learning while having fun. 

Hasbro Play-Doh Christmas Advent Calendar

This Advent calendar is perfect for kids who enjoy creative play. Behind each of the 24 doors is a can of Play-Doh and various tools and cutters to help your little one craft holiday decorations. It comes with a set of cards suggesting craft ideas, but most kids will have a blast just using their own imaginations.

MindWare 12 Days of Science Advent Calendar

If your child is into doing creative science experiments, this Advent calendar is for them. Each day, they’ll open a new test tube to reveal the day’s experiment, whether it’s making instant snow or water disappear.

The Thames & Kosmos Science Advent Calendar

Any budding kid scientist into chemistry, biology or physics will love these 24 days of experiments. Each one comes in a nice box with the necessary materials and instructions -- and it’s fun for the whole family.

The Purple Cow Crazy Scientist Advent Calendar

Little scientists will love counting down to Santa with daily STEM activities. This comes with 24 boxes containing materials (with the exception of some common household ones) for projects and experiments. Bonus gift: The empty boxes come together after Christmas to form a board game.

National Geographic Rock, Mineral and Fossil Advent Calendar

For the science kid that loves collecting gemstones, this National Geographic Advent calendar is great for exploring the wonders of the world through rocks, minerals and fossils. From shiny to matte, there's a special surprise behind 25 doors, including a special rose quartz on the 25th day that kids get to dig out themselves. 

Sesame Street Advent Calendar Storybook Collection

Any child would love to celebrate the countdown to Christmas with all their favorite Sesame Street characters. From Elmo to Cookie Monster, they’ll find all their favorites in these 24 tiny -- and adorable -- storybooks. 

The American Girls Collection Advent Calendar

American Girl fans will love uncovering each day’s doll in this Advent calendar -- which is also educational. Each of the 24 dolls represents a historical figure and there are some fan favorites included too.

Mattel Hot Wheels Advent Calendar

Every day feels like Christmas with this Advent calendar, especially if your kiddo is into cars. Each door reveals a new Hot Wheels car or accessory, which they can add to the holiday-themed track. Kids will get tons of imaginative play out of this one and the toy cars will last well beyond Christmas.

Super Mario Advent Calendar (Amazon Exclusive)

Mario, Princess Peach and Luigi are still as popular as ever. So if you've got a Super Mario lover in your household, this Advent calendar will hit the mark. Pop open the little doors and discover 24 video game-themed action figures and accessories, including Santa Mario, Snowman Luigi and many more.

The Grinch Advent Calendar

Who doesn't love the Grinch? And it's even better when he's bringing a sweet treat to enjoy each day. This calendar is filled with delectable milk chocolates, gummies and caramels.

Sugarfina’s 24 Tastes of Christmas Candy Advent Calendar

For kids who are craving candy in their Advent calendar versus chocolate or toys, Sugarfina’s the choice for them. Each of the 24 squares houses four pieces of a select candy, including ones like Red Apple Gummies and Gingerbread Cuties.

Harry Potter Candy Advent Calendar

If your child prefers a candy Advent calendar -- and also happens to be a Potterhead -- this is the one to get. It's packed with all sorts of sweets, from Butterscotch Drops that taste just like Butterbeer to Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Each day offers a new tasty delight for kid Muggles.

Kinder Mini Santa Advent Calendar

Kids love Kinder chocolate and, lucky for them, this one is full of Kinder treats. Each chocolate has a milky filling and they’re the perfect size for a chocolate a day.

Williams-Sonoma Elf Advent Calendar

Any kids who loved the movie Elf will love this calendar. For 12 days straight, they’ll get sweet treats like chocolate, caramel, candy canes, marshmallows and more.

Dylan's Candy Bar Oh Christmas Tree

This candy calendar from Dylan's is filled with all sorts of classics from the New York sweets shop, including candy canes, gummies and a snowman lollipop.