500+ Advent Calendar Gift Ideas For Absolutely Everyone!

Yey, you’re making a homemade advent calendar! But the pressure to come up with 24 thoughtful unique advent calendar gift ideas (without breaking the bank!) can be quite overwhelming.

I get it – I make advent calendars every year for my whole family (all three generations!).  So allow me to help you. I’ve got over 500 fun, practical, easy, festive, cute, thoughtful ideas for everyone from the tots to the teens, and all the adults too.

Plus, I’ll share my tips for keeping costs down and thoughtfulness high with some out-of-the-box calendar inspiration.

By the time we’re finished, you’ll have filled next year’s calendar too 😉

Advent Calendar Gift Ideas

So let’s start with simple advent calendar gift ideas that are bound to hit the mark.  Filler ideas that you can pick up in the shops for everyone – the toddlers, kids, tweens, teens and adults.

Later we’ll explore some homemade advent calendar filler ideas as well as activity vouchers that you can add too.  In fact, in total, if my maths is correct, I’ve got 564 advent calendar gift ideas for you to explore!

Advent Calendar Filler Ideas For Toddlers

Christmas is just starting to get exciting. So here’s some cute ideas for what to put in a toddler’s advent calendar:

• Crayons
• Bubbles
• Finger puppets
• Jingle bells
• Christmas book
• Playdough
• Stickers
• Hairclips
• Slippers
• Cuddly toy
• Toy animals
• Bath squirters
• Road tape
• Christmas flannel
• Light-up Christmas spinner

Click button below for the complete list of 45 advent calendar fillers for toddlers.

Advent Calendar Filler Ideas For Kids

The most fun age to shop for! Here’s some fun ideas for what to include in a child’s advent calendar:

• Magic fire
• Magic snow
• Pack of cards
• Cookie cutters
• Colouring book
• Washi tape
• Earmuffs
• Christmas socks
• Bath disco light
• Christmas decoration
• Temporary festive tattoos
• Christmas Mad Libs
• Indoor sparklers
• Hot chocolate
• Chocolate coins
• Glow-sticks
• Christmas game
• Colouring pencils
• Thinking putty
• Collectibles

Click button below for the complete list of 85 advent calendar fillers for kids.

Advent Calendar Filler Ideas For Tweens & Teens

Keeping the magic alive for our tweens and teens is such fun. Here’s some ideas for what to include in a teen homemade advent calendar that won’t make them groan:

• LED string lights
• Lip balm
• Sparkly highlighters
• Reusable straw
• Mini frisbee
• Cable tidy
• Slipper socks
• Gloves
• Reusable straw
• Charms
• Mini succulent
• Face masks
• Nail polish
• Christmas travel mug
• Coffee gift voucher
• Screen wipes
• Popcorn kernels

Click button below for the complete list of 79 advent calendar fillers for tweens and teens.

Adult Advent Calendar Filler Ideas

It’s not just the kids who get to enjoy the countdown fun! I’ve got hundreds of advent calendar gift ideas for adults too. For him, for her, for foodies, for the home. Plus, plenty of Christmassy treats. Here’s a few to get you started.

• Woolly hat
• Christmas bottle stop
• Lottery ticket
• Scentsicles
• Christmas soap
• Bag clips
• Coaster
• Koozie (can cover)
• Christmas underpants
• Charging cable
• Handcream
• Mini backscratcher
• Christmas nail file
• Bath salts
• Pocket Christmas tissues
• Festive pen
• Christmas tree ornament
• Christmas car scent
• Miniature of their favourite tipple
• Snood
• Whisky stones
• Christmas pins
• Touch-screen friendly gloves
• Wine glass charms
• Decision dice
• Christmas dishcloth
• Turkey baster
• Bottle stopper
• Nutcracker
• Mulling spices
• Beef jerky
• Seed packets
• Favourite tea / coffee
• Spatula
• Ring dish
• Plant self-waterer
• Ice scraper
• Keyring
• Bird seed
• Fairy lights

Click the buttons below for the complete list of advent calendar filler ideas for adults – with nearly 300 ideas in total!

Homemade Advent Calendar Gift Ideas

Adding homemade gifts to advent calendars is a brilliant way to up the thought and personalisation and can help manage the costs too.  

Homemade Advent Calendar Fillers

Edible goodies, handmade treats, thoughtful repurposing – there’s lots of great homemade filler ideas:

• Homemade ornament
• DIY pom pom jewellery
• Christmas playlist
• Handwritten messages, jokes or riddles
• Charade clues
• Homemade hot chocolate mix
• Christmas photo booth props
• Handmade candles
• String of photos
• Homemade mulling spice sachet
• Reindeer food
• Handmade bookmark
• DIY matchstick holder
• A Christmas Journal
• Printed copy of ‘The Night Before Christmas’

Click button below for the complete list of 31 homemade advent calendar gift ideas.

Advent Activity Vouchers

Advent calendars don’t just have to contain physical gifts of course. The promise of time together enjoying the Christmas countdown is just as magical.

Add tickets for Christmas events that you’ve booked. But also consider adding vouchers for fun festive activities at home.  Even the most simple of things can feel special if suggested through the advent calendar.

• Bake cookies
• Watch a Christmas movie
• Go for a winter stroll
• Play a game
• Toast marshmallows
• Decorate the Christmas tree
• Do a mince pie taste testing
• Have a spa night
• Make a Christmas wreath
• Fd our favourite decorated house
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Write to Father Christmas
• Have a paper chain making competition
• Wrap gifts
• Have a Christmas kitchen disco
• Snuggle & read

To save you making handmade vouchers, check out our free printable vouchers for 36 activities. Plus, I’ve put together suggestions of advent calendar treats you could pair them alongside if you want.

What Makes A Good Advent Calendar Filler?

When it comes to advent calendar fillers, anything goes—especially with a personalised calendar!

I like to think of fillers as mini stocking stuffers, but with a twist. Stocking gifts often replenish the drawers and cupboards for the New Year, with a few festive treats.

Advent fillers, however, are all about fun and festive surprises like Christmas socks, a quirky seasonal scrubbing brush, or even a Brussels sprout woolly hat!

By December 25th, it’s often too late to start a new Christmas book or paint sparkly red nails, but advent is the perfect time to spread a little festive cheer in time to be enjoyed.

Tips For Filling Advent Calendars

It’s all too easy to get carried away filling advent calendars. Or to feel overwhelmed before you’ve even started. So here’s a few things I’ve learnt from my years as an advent calendar filler!

• Set a budget. Be clear how much you want to spend and stick to it. Spread it evenly across the 24 days or choose a few days for bigger treats and keep other days to a simple chocolate or handwritten message to balance things out.
• Spread gifts out. Advent treats are supposed to be small tokens. Don’t hesitate to split apart multi-packs or gift items in stages to make them go further and help build anticipation.
• Be creative. Adding homemade treats and the promise of activities can be just as exciting and often more thoughtful as well as keeping the cost down.
• Take special days into account. One of the fabulous things about making an advent calendar is the scope for personalisation. Include birthday messages, good luck notes on big work or school days and memory gifts on anniversaries.
• Keep track! It’s a lot to keep in your head! Set up a spreadsheet or phone note to keep track of costs and what you’ve bought.  You’d be amazed how often I have ended up over-purchasing! And do make a note of what you’re giving each day as well in case you want to juggle things around later – everything always looks different when wrapped!

Do check out my full lowdown on how to make and fill a homemade advent calendar – it’s packed full of clever tips and tricks.

How To Actually Fit The Gifts In The Calendar

It’s the comment I get the most: these things won’t fit in an advent calendar. So, here’s my top tips to help you out.

Use A Calendar With Larger Containers

If you can, choose a calendar with larger containers.

This doesn’t mean it has to take over your entire house but it’ll save having to take a ruler to the shops!  From hanging calendars to baskets of goodies, there’s all sorts of ways of housing larger gifts.

I’ve put together details of my favourite fill-your-own calendars if you’re looking for something store bought.

Or if you’re in the mood to get crafty, one of my favourite ideas is to take a set of old fashioned striped sweet bags.  Fill, fold over the tops and secure them with numbered wooden pegs and display in a wicker basket.

Clever Hacks For When The Containers Are Too Small

If you do end up with fillers larger than your containers, here’s some fun workarounds to try:

• Put a note in the advent calendar with the location of the treat instead (e.g. on the doormat, under the bed, etc.).
• Make it into a treasure hunt, with clues to help find the treat – an extension of the idea above making the countdown even more fun.
• Instead of written clues or locations, print out a photo of where the gift is hiding – a great option for little ones.
• Create a combo calendar: place something little into the advent calendar – coin, chocolate or note.  And then on those days were there is a larger treat, place a special box, piece of fabric or bag alongside which is magically refilled overnight.

Have A Daily Delivery

Alternatively, you can get rid of the calendar altogether and simply have a daily delivery arrive. Use a special doormat or Christmassy box that magically refills overnight. Or have your elf deliver the gift instead.

This option is perfect if you’re short on space, don’t want to invest time or money in a calendar, or your recipient will struggle to wait to open the days.

Do hope these advent calendar gift ideas have been useful? Let me know what else you like to include in your calendars.

Starting to think gifts? Our Christmas Gift Guides are here to help – with inspiration for everyone, from Great Uncle Ted to Coco the Cat!