16 best empty advent calendars 2022 & DIY filler ideas for what to put inside

June 24, 2024

It won't be long before December is here, so it's time to get your Christmas 2022 thinking hats on. First priority, which advent calendar will you be going for this year?

MORE: Best beauty advent calendars for 2022

While there are plenty of pre-made advent calendars, from beauty advent calendars to men's advent calendars – and even some totally unique Christmas countdowns – you may want to choose an empty reusable DIY advent calendar to make your own bespoke creation that you can cherish as a keepsake for years to come.

MORE: 30+ best advent calendars for kids: Disney, toys, chocolate and more options to get children excited

Check places like eBay or Etsy, which has a whole section devoted to creating your own advent calendar, from empty boxes to advent calendar bags, boxes and fillers.

There are empty DIY advent calendars for just about any decor or need, including make-your-own advent calendars made of wood, hanging advent calendars and inexpensive paperboard advent calendars, too.

We’ve put together an edit of the best empty DIY advent calendars you can shop now, and also have some suggestions about what kinds of treats and treasures you can put in your make-your-own countdown for this Christmas 2022.

Reusable DIY Advent Calendars under £25

If you're on a budget, take a look at these make-your-own advent calendars at wallet-friendly prices.

24-day Craft Advent Calendar 2022, , Amazon

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Fill this 25-day advent calendar with your own treats for a Christmas countdown everyone would love.

Wall-hung advent calendar, more designs available, £12.99, H&M

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This H&M wall advent calendar has 24 loops through which to hang presents.

Fill Your Own Christmas Advent Boxes, Pack of 24, £12, John Lewis

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This set of 24 advent boxes from John Lewis includes jute twine so you can hang them on your Christmas tree after you put treats inside.

Advent calendar paper bag kit, £20, NotOnTheHighStreet

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How cute are these paper bags for filling with treats? The pegs, stickers and twine are all provided.

Fill your own advent calendar, £7.99, Amazon

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Amazon's Choice for DIY Advent Calendar is this simple set of Christmas boxes you fill and stack yourself.

DIY Advent calendar coffee cups, more designs available, £19, Amazon

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These twenty-four ‘Coffee to Go’ cups are perfect to create your own coffee or tea advent calendar.

Wooden empty advent calendars

These make your own advent calendars are built to last! Make them part of your yearly Christmas decor as a cherished keepsake.

Personalised Wooden Advent Calendar House, £40, My 1st Years

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This jolly advent calendar house can be filled with the loveliest treats for your little one, and can be personalised for free too.

Personalised advent calendar for drinks, £82, Etsy

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Fill this personalised oak advent calendar with your favourite beers and wines – it holds both 330ml size beer bottles and mini-bottles of wine, Prosecco or Champagne in 187-200ml sizes.

Brubaker traditional wooden DIY advent calendar, various models, from £32, eBay

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On eBay, this seller has a whole array of refillable DIY Christmas countdown displays, from traditional nativity scenes to a gingerbread house.

Christmas Scene Wooden Advent Calendar, £32.99, Wayfair

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With 2 small white wooden numbered blocks which you can use to change the date each day. beautifully decorated with festive details, this is the perfect advent calendar to bring out every Christmas.

MacKenzie-Childs Jolly Snowman Advent, £107, Amara

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This jolly snowman MacKenzie-Childs advent calendar is hand-painted, making it a very special addition to your Christmas decor.

What can you put in an empty advent calendar?

The sky is really the limit – as long as you think small! You can find inexpensive DIY calendar fillers or party packs from places like Amazon, or you can REALLY go custom and handpick 12 or 24 treasures yourself to fill those empty boxes with individually chosen gifts you know they'll love.

Need some ideas about what to put in your make-your-own advent calendar? We have some suggestions!

If you're looking to fill a...

DIY advent calendar for him: Socks, pocket sized-tech like mini USB phone chargers, coffee or tea bags, beer or mini-bottles of his favourite tipples are all good choices.
DIY advent calendar for boys and girls: You can stash sweets, coins, tiny toys, chocolate or even kids’ jewellery and accessories inside.
DIY advent calendar for adults: Jewellery and hair accessories, handwritten notes, mini tipples, travel size beauty or grooming products or treats for the home, like mini candles.

Here's a handy DIY advent calendar tip: Look for packs of travel sizes and minis, whether beauty products, candles, grooming or manicure sets, splitting up the set to put one treat in each day of the advent calendar.

Advent calendar filler ideas

If you’re still unsure about what to fill your DIY advent calendar with, here are some ideas for your bespoke calendar, plus some advent calendar filler packs that are ready to go!

25 advent calendar chocolates, £8.99, Etsy

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Chocolates are always a fail-safe treat.

Fever Tree Ultimate Gin and Tonic Selection Gift Set, £33, Amazon

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If you're making an advent calendar for an adult, you could fill them with wine, beer, whisky or gin. You can get creative with mini bottles to pop into a DIY advent calendar for a make-it-yourself treasure trove of tipple.

ESPA Fireside Jewels Candle Collection (Worth £52), £36, Lookfantastic

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