Advent calendars are starting to land in pre-Black Friday bins at big-box stores, and the good ones are already flying off the shelves.
From beauty vaults to Lego builds and gourmet food countdowns, early discounting is happening on limited-run calendars that almost never make it to December.
The lure is obvious: great value, the element of daily surprise and built-in giftability. In recent holiday seasons, big multipack calendars have included hundreds of dollars in merchandise at a fraction of sticker value, a trend analysts anticipate will repeat this year. Adobe Analytics has observed sharp discounts on toys and beauty before Black Friday, a portion of the weeklong sales that some critics decry as gimmickry while others consider bonanzas of opportunity, prices be damned. The retail federation reports that a majority of shoppers today are in the holiday spirit well before the big weekend.
If you have found a calendar featuring a specific theme or brand, buying it now is likely to be a saner choice than holding off on shopping for one. Supply is limited, shipping deadlines approach quickly and once a hero calendar sells out, you’ll have little chance of seeing it again before the holiday.
Why Advent calendar deals are important for shoppers
But beyond the discount, calendars also provide outsized value through curation. Prestige beauty kits often cram $200 to $600 worth of products, and even midrange options are filled with full-size or deluxe products that exceed single-purchase costs. Circana’s holiday monitoring has also revealed that gift sets and discovery kits are overperforming in Q4, recruiting new customers to brands featuring try-me-friendly assortments.
On the toy side, calendars focus on licensed minifigures and exclusives that don’t appear anywhere else. They offer daily variety in food and drink — jams, teas, coffees, chocolate and even craft spirits — for less per item than buying 24 singles.
Best Advent Calendars That You Can Buy Now
- 1. Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar: Hunt down the fan-favorite minis and seasonal builds — these are usually among the first to go; early % cuts on licensed sets.
- 2. Lego City Advent Calendar: Good value for younger builders, with vehicles and figures; often discounted in pre-Black Friday toy promos.
- 3. Pokémon TCG Holiday Calendar: Mix of booster packs, foil promos and accessories; watch for bundle savings or gift-card-with-purchase specials from gaming retailers.
- 4. Funko Pocket Pop Advent Calendar: Last year’s featured rotating themes each day (Marvel, Disney, Harry Potter); multi-retailer markdowns are common prior to the holidays.
- 5. Playmobil Christmas Advent Calendar: Themed sets with a scene, figures and accessories each day; consistent early toy-category markdowns.
- 6. Kiehl’s Holiday Advent Calendar: Deluxe skincare minis and sometimes full sizes; beauty retailers often throw in bonus samples or % off.
- 7. The Body Shop Advent Calendar: Cruelty-free bath and body bestsellers; tiered calendars commonly experience early price reductions.
- 8. L’Occitane Classic Advent Calendar: Proven cult products such as shea hand creams and shower oils; look for sitewide promos and gift-with-purchase.
- 9. Sephora Favorites Advent Calendar: I am so impressed by past editions of certain gift sets that were amazing values when you look at the price versus what’s inside.
- 10. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Advent: Iconic makeup and skincare minis, plus a few full sizes to surprise by the day; limited stock, often with loyalty-member % discounts.
- 11. Benefit Cosmetics Advent Calendar: Travel-size mascara, brow, and cheek heroes; retailer-exclusive promos land early.
- 12. Lookfantastic Beauty Advent: Heavy on prestige skincare and haircare; historically high contents value vs. price with a side of flash sales pre-Black Friday.
- 13. Bonne Maman 24 Jams Advent Calendar: Seasonal preserves and honeys; harvest-season sellout repeats with an uncommonly early smidge of discounting — grab at first sight.
- 14. Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar: Each day features a blend of hot cocoa with high-quality mix-ins and spices; kitchen retailers typically offer bundle or shipping promos.
- 15. Yankee Candle Advent Book: Tealights and votives in seasonal scents; look out for stackable coupons and multi-buy offers.
- 16. DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Tea: Black, herbal and specialty; tea and coffee calendars trend early with small % cuts and free-shipping thresholds during the holidays.
- 17. Drinks by the Dram Whisky Advent: Curated drams for enthusiasts (see local shipping restrictions when ordering alcohol, and compare to retailer-exclusive pricing).
How we selected these 17 standouts for early deals
Our focus was on calendars that are well known for providing good content-to-price value, highly dependable quality from the brand and widely available both in the U.S. and internationally. We also gave preference to versions with past records of early sellouts or clearance markdowns confirmed by big retailers and patterns of promotions from previous years.
Queries for “Advent calendar” on Google Trends increase months before December, and deal trackers report that category-wide discounts often go into effect the week before Black Friday — not simply on that day alone.
Smart Shopping Tips Ahead of Black Friday
Compare per-item value: contents vs. price. That’s the structural integrity of a calendar. Look at ingredient lists for allergens, and consider minis if you’re gifting. For beauty, check return policies — a lot of seasonal sets are final sale once they’re opened.
Further maximize your savings by pairing with loyalty programs for additional % back, early access or cash back on stackable coupon/promo codes. Multi-category retailers love running buy-more-save-more sales, in which calendars qualify as well as their free shipping thresholds.
Stock and shipping watchouts before December 1 delivery
There’s an inherent deadline for calendars: delivery before Dec. 1. Carrier cutoff dates differ, so choose standard shipping now instead of paying expedited rates later on. If you’re torn between two choices, go with the one that can be delivered more swiftly.
And lastly, if a marquee calendar is what you crave, shop early. Add to that the circumstances of limited runs, increased demand and retailers who are cutting their own deals at a faster pace than in years past, and waiting for an even closer (and likely too-little-too-late) deal can quickly result in going empty-handed instead.