We’ve covered unique advent calendars for men, Secret Santa ideas, and even the best cheese calendars… but what if you need Christmas gift ideas for a writer, journaler or calligrapher in your life?
For anyone struggling to find something for a papyrophiliac (that’s someone who loves all things stationery), this guide is exactly what you need.
We’ve got the lowdown on all the best stationery advent calendars on the market in the UK right now. Whether you’re buying for a devoted diary keeper or your young niece or nephew, we have options for all kinds of people.
Why buy a stationery advent calendar?
Maybe you’re buying a birthday gift for someone born in November, or you’re treating someone special to an early Christmas present? Perhaps you’re just on the hunt for some unusual advent calendars as an alternative to chocolate for you and your family this year. There are so many reasons why stationery advent calendars make fabulous gifts.
Whoever your recipient is, these niche calendars can offer great value for money. They’re also pretty easy gifts for people who are particularly tricky to buy for; you’re giving them a selection of smaller gifts rather than taking a punt on one bigger present.
While stationery lovers might be happy with a gift card for their favourite store, why lose the excitement? Niche advent calendars can make fantastic meaningful gifts for loved ones with very specific interests, and there are a fair few stationery calendars out there to choose from for Christmas 2023.
Keep reading if you want to find out our favourite stationery advent calendars available to buy right now. We’ve got products to suit a range of different budgets and there are even some retailers mentioned who offer cashback on your purchase when you shop via TopCashback.
Our favourite stationery advent calendars for 2023
There aren’t a huge number of stationery advent calendars on the market, which is both a positive and a negative.
On the bright side, it’ll be a lot easier for you to choose the right calendar for you because you don’t have hundreds of different products to choose from. However, you may find your options are a little limited, meaning you could struggle to find the right calendar for you/your recipient.
But we’re here to help. Check out our favourite stationery advent calendars for 2023 below. We’ve picked calendars to suit a range of budgets, so hopefully you’ll find something to suit you.
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For a touch of luxury
If you’re hoping to make a strong impression with your gift and are willing to loosen your purse strings a little, this indulgent advent calendar might be your best choice.
Papier’s 24 Days of Desk Delights
SOLD OUT
Price:
£120
For the most passionate of stationery lovers, this stunning calendar from Papier is the ultimate Christmas gift. This collection brims with sophistication and high quality, containing products such as sticky notes, ink refills, paper clips and two A7 mini notebooks.
Where to buy: Papier
For supporting independent businesses
If you’re looking to support a small business this Christmas, online marketplaces like Not On The High Street and Etsy are good places to check. You may also find more calendars made by independent artists and designers online (checking social media is a particularly good way to find independent makers!).
24-Day Craft Supplies Advent Calendar
Price:
£50
This 24-day Christmas calendar includes products from popular crafting brands like Creative Expressions and Habico, although it’s been compiled into one collection by an independent seller. A particularly good gift for crafty people, products include decoupage papers and floral embellishments.
Where to buy: Etsy
Colour Their Day 24 Days of Stationery Advent Calendar
SOLD OUT
Price:
£65
This eye-catching stationery collection from Colour Their Day will make a lovely gift for a keen notetaker. Products in this calendar include rainbow bulldog clips, to-do list desk pads and a selection of bookmarks.
Where to buy: Not On The High Street
For people who love to journal
Got a loved one who loves to journal or keep a diary? They’ll probably enjoy the majority of calendars mentioned in this guide, but we think they’ll particularly enjoy this one:
Coral and Ink 24 Days of Stationery Ultimate Advent Calendar
Price:
£99.50
This calendar contains 24 days of cute stationery items, including pens, stickers and even a pastel-coloured journal to test out each item. Perfect for anyone looking for an all-round journaling gift.
Where to buy: Not On The High Street
For keen scrapbookers
If you’ve seen the scrapbooking craze over on TikTok, you’ll know how oddly satisfying it can be. If you’re buying a Christmas gift for someone who already enjoys scrapbooking or even just someone who you think might enjoy it, this calendar could be a good option.
Colour Their Day 24 Days Of Washi Tape Advent Calendar
SOLD OUT
Price:
£50
Washi tape is a must-have for all keen journalers, and this calendar comes packed with 24 individually wrapped tapes. There’s also an option to add gift wrap if you’re buying this for someone else.
Where to buy: Not On The High Street
For those who love Japanese stationery
For someone who loves all things kawaii, treat them to a Japanese-inspired stationery calendar. We only spotted this one for 2023, but seeing as Japanese stationery is so popular right now, we wouldn’t be surprised if more calendars cropped up.
Kawaii Stationery Advent Calendar
SOLD OUT
Price: £29.50 £23.60
This sweet homemade calendar contains a range of kawaii stationery items, including sticker sheets, washi tape and highlighter pens. Choose to have 12 days of gifts or 24, depending on your preference and budget.
Where to buy: Etsy
For calligraphers
Whether you know a keen calligrapher or you’ve got someone in mind who might like to give it a try, an ink advent calendar is an unusual, yet thoughtful gift.
Diamine Ink-Vent Calendar 2023 Edition Purple
Price: £84
This sophisticated Cult Pens advent calendar comes packed with 25 bottles of liquid ink in a range of beautiful colours. You’ll receive 24 12ml bottles and a 30ml bottle for Christmas Day itself.
Where to buy: Cult Pens
For film and TV buffs
We reckon these calendars would be best suited to kids and teens. However, if you know a serious Potter-head or Stranger Things enthusiast of any age, these film and TV-inspired calendars could be a hit.
Harry Potter Stationery Advent Calendar
SOLD OUT
Price:
£19.99
This 2023 calendar is packed with Hogwarts-inspired goodies including stamps, snap band bracelets and even a golden snitch pen.
Where to buy: Amazon
Stranger Things Advent Calendar 2023
SOLD OUT
Price:
£23.99
Step into The Upside Down with this all-new Stranger Things stationery calendar. Featuring pens, pencils, rulers, highlighters and stamps, to name just a few products, this is the ideal gift for a young Stranger Things fan.
Where to buy: Amazon
For kids
Whether you’re buying for a child who loves writing and getting creative, or just looking for an alternative to a traditional chocolate calendar, these kids' stationery calendars are a wonderful way to get their imaginations whirring.
Smiggle Stationery Advent Calendar
SOLD OUT
Price:
£35 £18
Smiggle’s children’s advent calendar comes packed with bright and colourful items, including quirky erasers, festive glitter glue and even a candy cane pen. This is guaranteed to bring a smile to any creative kid’s face and keep them entertained for hours.
Where to buy: Smiggle
Barbie 24-Day Advent Calendar
Price:
£14.99 £12.99
Know a child who’s just obsessed with Barbie? This fun little calendar includes colouring pencils and crayons, glitter glue, stamps, keyrings and more, and is suitable for kids aged three and up.
Where to buy: Amazon
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Wishing you a 'hole punch' of fun this holiday season
If you’re a stationery aficionado or buying a present for someone who is, hopefully it’s clear by now that stationery Christmas calendars can be a great option.
We’ve made sure to include calendars for a variety of different ages and interests, as well as a range of budgets, so there should be at least one product that piques your interest.
And while some of these calendars are on the pricier side, this doesn’t mean they’re out of the question. Why not split the cost with another person and get a calendar as a shared gift for someone you’re both buying for?
On the topic of saving money, don’t forget that quite a few of the retailers we’ve mentioned in this guide are also featured on TopCashback, including Not On The High Street, Papier and Cult Pens. Shop with any of these retailers through TopCashback this Christmas and you can earn cashback on your purchase.
Have you bought a stationery advent calendar, either for yourself or for someone else? Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed any good calendars out of this guide.