Advent calendars by number of doors
One door a day from 1 December to Christmas Eve is the rule, and most calendars keep it. A 25th door for Christmas Day, a twelve-door countdown from 13 December, and a handful of odd lengths are the exceptions, all of them below.
70% of the 1068 calendars we list have 24 doors, 16% have 25 and 11% have 12; the rest run from 4 to 31.
Every length, and when it starts
The best 12-day calendars of 2026
All 12-day calendars
First pickDrinks by the Dram 12 Dram Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · 12 doors~$106
Runner-upDrinks by the Dram 12 Dram Whisky Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · 12 doors~$100
Also worth itSelfridges Fragrance 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 6.3× the box price · 12 doors~$402The best 25-day calendars of 2026
All 25-day calendars
The rare lengths, box by box
4 doorsDior Le Mini 30 Montaigne 2024Editors’ pick · 4 doors$198
4 doorsBlue Lagoon Skin Science Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 3.5/5 · contents worth 2.1× the box price · 4 doors$229
6 doorsMissoma Fine Jewellery 2025contents worth 1.3× the box price · 6 doors~$1855
6 doorsMissoma Gold 2026contents worth 2.8× the box price · 6 doors~$331
6 doorsMissoma Silver 2026contents worth 2.6× the box price · 6 doors~$318
6 doorsMissoma Solid Gold 2026contents worth 1.3× the box price · 6 doors~$1722
7 doorsSephora Collection Moving Lights Post-holiday7 doors~$43
7 doorsDouglas Collection MakeUp After christmas7 doors~$22
7 doorsAnua 7 Days of Glass Skin Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 3.5/5 · 7 doors$34
7 doorsBloomingdale's 7 Day Beauty Countdown Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 3/5 · contents worth 1.5× the box price · 7 doors$95
7 doorsBloomingdale's x Alice + Olivia 7 Day Beauty Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 3/5 · contents worth 1.8× the box price · 7 doors$225
7 doorsLovehoney Romance 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 2.4× the box price · 7 doors$129
7 doorsMaison Margiela REPLICA 7-Day Holiday Calendar 2026Our rating 3.5/5 · 7 doors$140
8 doorsMaison Francis Kurkdjian Countdown Calendar 2026Our rating 4/5 · 8 doors~$1283
16 doorsTIRTIR 2024 Makeup & SkincareEditors’ pick · contents worth 1.7× the box price · 16 doors$169
26 doorsCrocs Jibbitz Nostalgic Noel Advent Calendar 2026Our rating 3.5/5 · 26 doors$59.99
30 doorsLatest in Beauty The Grooming Kit Advent Edition 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 7.1× the box price · 30 doors~$132
31 doorsHalloween CountdownOur rating 4/5 · 31 doors$35.99
31 doorsMaybelline New York 31 daysEditors’ pick · 31 doors~$80
31 doorsMaybelline Beautiful Holidays 2026Our rating 4/5 · 31 doors~$78
31 doorsMaybelline Happy Holidays 31 Days 2025Our rating 3.5/5 · 31 doors~$78Frequently asked questions
How many doors does an advent calendar have?
Usually 24, one for each day from 1 to 24 December: 70% of the 1068 advent calendars we list. 16% have 25, adding Christmas Day, and 11% have 12, which start on 13 December. The rest run from 4 to 31 doors.
Why do some advent calendars have 25 doors?
The 25th door is for Christmas morning, and it is mostly a beauty-box habit: 62% of the 25-door calendars we list are beauty, against 31% of the 24-door ones.
When do you open the first door?
On 1 December for 24 and 25 doors; for a shorter calendar that ends on Christmas Eve, count back from the 24th: a 12-door box starts on 13 December. The start-date page dates every length.