Teens are almost as hard to buy for as your mother-in-law (and they're equally as judgy). Buying an advent calendar for teens is a tall order. They're still very much a fan of the ridiculous, but you need to toe the line between childish and grown-up. My own tween and teen are notoriously hard to please, so I made sure to get their input on what they thought about our picks, as I have no desire to get made fun of by my kids more than I already do when I use the word "riz" incorrectly. (It's short for charisma, but not always used like it. I cannot make it make sense either.)

　　The choices on this list range from edible gifts like candy from Dylan's Candy bar, to beauty calendars like the Sabon calendar, to, of course, Five Nights at Freddy's because that movie and book series has our kids in a chokehold. I don't mind, though — at least they're all reading!

　　Our favorite 20 advent calendars for teens are highlighted below, and trust me — I'm sure you'll find something that fits your child's personality well. After all, they're all teen-approved!

　　1For Family Fun

　　SOLV The Escape Room Advent Calendar

　　I suck at escape rooms, but my teens are certified experts. This is also why it's so hard to track them online. Anyhow, this is another riddle style calendar, but with an obvious theme. It's just the thing for families who love to do escape rooms together on the weekends.

　　2For Swifties

　　Generic 1989 Taylors Christmas Advent Calendar 2023

　　I spent the entire walk to the bus this morning with my daughter explaining to me which season matches up with each Taylor Swift album. So, this advent calendar feels like an absolute no-brainer. Is it silly and kitschy? Absolutely, but 2023 has been *the* year of Taylor Swift, so it just feels right.

　　3For the One With a Sweet Tooth

　　Dylan's Candy Bar 24 Days of Sweets Advent Calendar

　　Dylan's Candy Bar makes the best gummy candy on earth, in my opinion. It feels luxe when you eat it, and the whole experience of their candy is just on another level. Their 24 Days of Sweets Advent Calendar is full of her greatest hits, and every teen will be enthralled by the gorgeous way it's presented.

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　　4For Riddle Fans

　　Thames & Kosmos EXIT: Advent Calendar

　　I actually have this advent calendar, and we worked through it. It contains 24 different riddles for you to solve, and they're not as easy as you may think. There's an interesting angle to how they all go together, and it gets pretty intense! 10/10, no notes.

　　5For the Beauty Junkie

　　Sabon 31-Day Advent Calendar 2022

　　The Sabon calendar is my favorite advent calendar every year. Not only do you get hundreds of dollars worth of lotions, fragrance, body washes, and more, it is beautifully packaged. Each day is an experience. My daughter gets so excited every time she opens the mail and sees that the Sabon calendar has arrived.

　　6Best for Pokemon Fans

　　Funko Funko Pop! Holiday Calendar

　　There are plenty of adults who collect Funko! Pop figurines, so don't worry about the "doll" aspect of this being too childish. It's actually just right for most teens, combining two of their favorite things, Pokemon and Funko, and making it a 24-piece advent calendar they're sure to love.

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　　7For the Teen Obsessed With Marvel

　　LEGO Marvel Avengers 2023 Advent Calendar

　　LEGO never disappoints with their advent calendars. They're always well done, on-theme, and are a great value — and given the fact that this advent calendar for teens comes with 24 minifigures and props for just under $40, it's clear they've nailed it again. This year, it's Marvel's Avengers, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Ms Marvel!

　　8For the Sanrio Fans

　　Williams Sonoma Hello Kitty® Advent Calendar

　　Hello Kitty is the moment. She's still everything. And this year, she's in Williams Sonoma's advent calendar, that's filled with things like marshmallows and gummy candies. You're definitely buying this one for the brand and the aesthetics, but as a devotee of Williams Sonoma marshmallows, I can tell you it will be delicious.

　　9For the Hungry Teen

　　Man Crates Jerky Advent Calendar - Ho-Ho-Holy Cow

　　24 days of jerky? Why not? It's tasty, it's fun, and it's full of protein. I think this is a win all around. Also, if you've ever fed a teenager, you will know just how important it is to fill them up with protein so that they won't request more food in 5 minutes. With 25 flavors of jerky ranging from jalapeno to root beer, it's practically a Bertie Bots of beef!

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　　10Make Counting Down All Fun and Games

　　PeaZeLee Brain Teaser Puzzle Advent Calendar

　　This advent calendar for teens is what we like to call "matching their energy." Because as often as your teen confuses you, it's nice to occasionally, or in this case, for 24 days, confuse them just as hard. Only instead of trying to figure out the difference between two almost identical pairs of jeans, it's a series of slightly less difficult puzzles.

　　11Get the Stress Out

　　Generic Christmas Advent Calendar Stress Balls

　　Your kid can have a stress ball in their bookbag, their locker, on their computer desk, and just stashed in various places after this advent calendar is opened fully. Stress balls are trendy sensory toys that feel like magic under your hands because of how amazing they are to squeeze. And with this calendar, having 24 different patterns means 24x the awesomeness.

　　12For the Snacker

　　Amish Country Popcorn 12 Days of Popcorn and Seasoning Delight Advent Calendar

　　Ranch, spicy cajun, salt, and vinegar, all of these seasonings and more interesting ideas will be presented to your kids in this popcorn seasoning advent calendar. They're salty, savory, sweet, and yummy. All you need to do is pop some popcorn, and you're off to the races. You don't need to try them every day, but getting a new one daily is wonderful.

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　　13For The Office Fans

　　Ripple Junction The Office 12 Days Of Socks Advent Calendar Gift Set

　　If your kids can't pass a Chili's without saying, "I feel G-d in this Chili's right now," this is the calendar for them. It's also the calendar for me because I am the manager of my department of parenting, and yes, I am the only person in my department, but I'm a lot to manage.

　　14Spice Up the Season

　　UncommonGoods 12 Days of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar

　　This one came at a specific request from both my son and, well, me. Hot sauce is really having a moment, and so many teens are huge fans. Why not let them enjoy one of their favorite spicy condiments as they also countdown to their favorite day of the year?