Advent calendars count down the days to Christmas, usually starting on December 1, so you need yours before the end of November. Popular calendars, especially toy and beauty calendars, often sell out in October and November.
Choose by who will open it. Kids love toy and LEGO advent calendars, with a small build or figure each day. Beauty advent calendars are popular gifts for adults, often with full-size and travel-size products. Chocolate and food calendars range from classic chocolate to tea, coffee and snacks.
Want to fill it yourself each year? A reusable wooden advent calendar lets you choose treats, notes or small gifts and becomes part of your family's decor. Set a budget before you browse, because prices range from a few dollars for a chocolate calendar to well over a hundred for premium beauty and toy calendars.
Check the number of days: most calendars have 24 doors, while some have 12 or 25.