Christmas Eve Box ideas for kids and adults 2021

Looking for Christmas Eve box ideas for this year? Take a look at our list of present ideas to fill the box with alongside some of the cutest boxes about.

These inspired Christmas Eve box ideas are sure to get the festivities started (and the whole family smiling too!)

Christmas Eve boxes are traditionally given on 24th December as a special treat to get kids feeling as festive as possible before Santa arrives. The idea is to fill it with things that get your child (and other half) excited for the big day, that can even have some use on Christmas Day itself, such as matching family Christmas pyjamas to wake up and unwrap presents in or the best Chiristmas jumpers to wear during dinner.

But before you start panicking about the thought of a whole other load of gifts to get, these ones aren't meant to be anything fancy. Rather small somethings to commemorate the night before and a whole new Christmas tradition to keep for years to come. Be it a homemade Christmas wreath, some festive food and drink or some tiny Christmas kids toys to entertain them for a few hours - we've rounded up 35 of the best Christmas Eve box ideas to help you fill yours fully.

- Christmas Eve box ideas for kids - Christmas Eve box ideas for teens - Christmas Eve box ideas for adults

Christmas Eve box ideas and fillers for kids:

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Kids are some of the easiest people to create a Christmas Eve box for as they love all the classic Christmassy gifts like chocolate, sweets and little presents relating to their hobbies, favourite films and books. Take a look at some of these Christmas Eve box ideas…

1. JoJo Maman Bebe Reindeer Onesie

Reindeer onesie

Credit: Jo Jo Maman Bebe

If there’s one thing you can count on this Christmas, it’s going to be chilly. Warm kids up with a cosy onesie in their Christmas Eve box. We love this particular Reindeer one from Jo Jo Maman, especially with its cute antler head. It's also fleecy on the outside with an inner cotton lining - making it super comfortable to laze around in too. One happy mum was full of praise for this festive onesie. She commented: "So glad we paid a bit more for this, extremely well made, top quality onesie. Its gorgeously soft, striped, lining makes this a cosy choice for the colder months. My little boy looks adorable in it."

VIEW AT JO JO MAMAN BEBE | £26

2. Boots Hedwig Slipper Socks

boots Hedwig Slipper Socks

Credit: Boots

Keep little ones’ feet warm with a pair of slipper socks from their favourite Disney films. These adorable Hedwig ones are sure to go down a treat with Potter fans. Plus it's the perfect accompaniment to the Harry Potter advent calendar that's packed with Hogwarts themed bath and beauty goodies.

VIEW AT BOOTS | £8.50

3. Christmas Eve: The Board Game

The Christmas Eve board game

Credit: Amazon

Keep them occupied and away from your room while the last-minute present wrapping is going on with a board game they can play with siblings or other family members. And why not make it an extra-special and topical one with this Christmas Eve: The Board Game. Father Christmas's sleigh has crashed and you must race the other players to find the lost presents and save Christmas!

VIEW AT AMAZON | £28.99

4. Baker Ross AF808 Christmas Stampers (Pack of 10)

Baker Ross AF808 Christmas Stampers (Pack of 10)

Credit: Amazon

Kids love crafting, we know this. So let them make their own thank you cards this year with their own seasonal stamps. These Baker Ross ones come in snowman, penguin and more designs to help creativity flow. As one Amazon customer simply put it: "Lovely little stamps of Christmas themed like santa, presents, pine trees. Kids loved making Christina cards using these foam shapes, clean up easy."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £6.95

5. The Works Bubble Wand - Assorted

Baker Ross AF808 Christmas Stampers (Pack of 10)

Credit: The Works

A simple bubble blower is a great addition to the box and is bound to keep little ones (and adults!) entertained for hours in the lead up to Christmas. Pick one up for a pound at The Works - which are available in a wide variety of colours.

VIEW AT THE WORKS | £1

6. Glitter reindeer antlers aliceband fancy dress Christmas Celebrations

Reindeer antlers - one of our Christmas Eve box ideas

Credit: Etsy

There’s plenty of festive fun to be had with these glittery reindeer antler boppers (available in gold and silver). And they're sure to make the perfect accompaniment to any Christmas Day outfit too. One happy Etsy shopper gave this 5 stars, adding: "Perfect present for my goddaughter! Thank you!"

VIEW AT ETSY | £3.49

7. Personalised Cadbury Dairy Milk 850g

Baker Ross AF808 Christmas Stampers (Pack of 10)

Credit: Firebox

If you can handle the sugar rush, kids of all ages will love a giant chocolate bar. And of course there's nothing more classic than a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar they can tuck into. They’re easily found in the supermarket. Or why not going the extra step and personalise with their name?

VIEW AT FIREBOX | £14.99

8. Keel Toys Keeleco Polar Bear W/Scarf

Keel Toys Keeleco Polar Bear W_Scarf

Credit: Hamleys

Send them off to sleep on Christmas Eve in comfort with a new soft toy like this super sweet Hamley's Christmas polar bear. It comes with a cute Christmas red scarf to keep him warm. And is sure to go down a storm with your little one.

VIEW AT HAMLEYS | £7.79

9. LEGO 30573 Recruitment Bags Santa Claus

A mini LEGO set - one of our Christmas Eve box ideas

Credit: LEGO

If your child loves LEGO and is set to get plenty more on Christmas Day, why not get them (even more) excited with a small hint of what’s to come? You can pick up a number of festive themed (and budget friendly) LEGO sets online for under £10 these days. Including this sweet Father Christmas 67-piece set. One Amazon customer was delighted with this purchase. They wrote: "Wasn’t too complicated to build and good pieces to role play once built."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £7.79

10. Red Robin Knitted Christmas Stocking

Keel Toys Keeleco Polar Bear W_Scarf

Credit: JoJo Maman Bebe

Whether it’s the same homemade Christmas Stocking you get out every year or a brand new personalised one, if you put this in a Christmas Eve box your children can hang them up themselves, ready for the big day ahead.

VIEW AT JOJO MAMAN BEBE | £19

11. Personalised Rabbit The Christmas Tale of - Small Christmas Gift Sack

Personalised Rabbit Christmas Stocking

Credit: Etsy

And if a Christmas stocking isn't to your liking - what about a personalised present sack to help them get excited over the sheer number they can expect the morning after. We love this one from Etsy that features the classic Peter Rabbit. One satisfied shopper gave this 5 stars and called it "Amazing. My nephew loved it."

VIEW AT ETSY | £10.99

12. The Snowman Paperback

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Credit: Amazon

Young kids will love getting into the spirit of the season with a magical children's Christmas book. And we recommend reading a Christmas classic, like Raymond Brigg's The Snowman.

VIEW AT AMAZON | £7.45

13. Personalised Santa Elf Nice List Certificate Christmas Eve Box Filler

Personalised Santa Elf Nice List Certificate Christmas Eve Box Filler

Credit: Amazon

This is a fun one. Congratulate your children for being good this year and make them a ‘nice list’ certificate. Take the faff out of it by ordering a ready-to-go one from Amazon. This A5 certificate allows personalisation to add your child's name and comes wrapped up in a neat brown envelope. One Amazon shopper was thrilled with this purchase. She commented: "When I received these, my heart skipped a beat, because the detail was beautifully made. For that split second it made it all feel real. I got 3 of these and I'm so glad I did. They're just the right size too, and i can't wait until I'm putting these in my kids Christmas eve boxes and looking at their faces on christmas eve."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £2.99

14. Magical Reindeer Food Bag

Magical Reindeer Food Bag

Credit: Amazon

Make a cute festive bag and pop in some little biscuits, carrots, hay or dog treats and pass them off as reindeer food. Or equally make it extra special by ordering this magical reindeer food goodie bag. It features a sealed bag of oats and biodegradable edible glitter made from coloured seeds and aromatic cinnamon. Your child will be so excited to put it out for Rudolph and his friends.

VIEW AT AMAZON | £2.59

15. Personalised First Christmas Photo Bauble

A personalised Christmas ornament is just one of our Christmas Eve box ideas

Credit: Not on the High Street

Getting each child their own individual Christmas ornament is a lovely tradition to start, they can hang their new one on the tree every Christmas Eve and keep them for their own tree one day. We also love the idea of a personalised photo bauble that they can cringe at as they're older. One pleased mum gave this 5 stars online. She wrote: "Very cute and special as my baby's first Christmas. Was unsure if the image was going to come out clear as photo taken from mobile gallery but excellent quality."

VIEW AT NOTHS | £10

16. Christmas Crayon Stocking Filler

Christmas Crayon Stocking Filler

Credit: Not on the High Street

Every little one loves a colouring-in session and if they're not quite ready for colouring pencils, why not go for a new set of crayons like these fabulous Christmas theme shaped ones. You'll find five festive shaped crayons inside the box - including a Christmas star, tree and of course Father Christmas himself. And the best part? They're all handmade by a small business by the sea in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

VIEW AT NOTHS | £9.75

17. Mega Colouring: Christmas

Mega Colouring_ Christmas the works

Credit: The Works

What use is crayons without a festive colouring book? We love this traditional, bumper Christmas book for instance which boasts over 90 jolly pictures full of playful reindeers, mischievous elves and much more. Perfect for 2 to 4 year olds.

VIEW AT THE WORKS | £2

18. Baker Ross Christmas Ducks Assorted - Pack of 4

Baker Ross X275 Christmas Ducks, Assorted,Pack of 4

Credit: Amazon

Toddlers and up will have plenty of fun with these fun and bright rubber ducks that have been given the full festive treatment. Split between your child's boxes or spoil your only child with all 4! One happy Amazon customer said: "I have bought these as a stocking filler for my daughter for xmas, so haven't used them yet but they look fab in the pack. I know she will love them."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £4.95

Christmas Eve box ideas and fillers for teens:

Stuffing your box for someone a bit older? Teens might think they’re too grown up for many family traditions. But we reckon that a Christmas Eve box definitely isn’t one of them! Update their box with some of these classic small presents, easily bought online or on your weekly shop…

19. Swarovski Constellation x Skinnydip Shock Case

Christmas Eve box ideas - Swarovski Constellation x Skinnydip Shock Case

Credit: SkinnyDip

It might be a challenge to choose the right one, so why not opt for a touch of festive sparkle that can used into the New Year and beyond. Stylish and cute with real Swarovski crystals - it's sure to raise a smile on Christmas Eve. One happy customer gave it 5 stars online and commented: "The design is gorgeous and the case provides ultimate protection whilst not being overly bulky. The camera lenses are well protected and it’s has great grip on the sides. The Swarovski Crystals have stayed on (one thing I was worried about when buying this case). Definitely recommend 5/5!"

VIEW AT SKINNYDIP | £24

20. Shine Bright Red Berry & Cedar Bath Bomb Bauble

Shine Bright Red Berry & Cedar Bath Bomb Bauble

Credit: Cath Kidston

What teen won't love a fruity Christmas bath bomb to pimp up their bath time? A lovely festive evening treat to indulge in during those chilly winter months.

VIEW AT CATH KIDSTON | £3.50

21. ASOS DESIGN tote bag with mushroom print in natural

ASOS DESIGN tote bag with mushroom print in natural

Credit: ASOS

Whether it has their favourite brand on it, a catchy slogan or is just in their favourite colour, teens love a tote bag. There's plenty of popular ones from ASOS. But we think this mushroom one in particular is cute and fits the bill perfectly.

VIEW AT ASOS | £8

22. Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Gift Bar 850g

Christmas Eve box ideas - Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Gift Bar 850g

Credit: Amazon

They might be growing up but kids of any age love chocolate! And what teen can resist this giant chocolate bar from Cadbury’s. Perfect for nibbling on at night or in between courses. Well it is Christmas!

VIEW AT AMAZON | £9.44

23. Ted Baker Spritz & Go Gift Set

Ted Baker fragrance gift set - one of our Christmas Eve box ideas

Credit: Amazon

Some of the smaller fragrance gift sets make for perfect Christmas Eve box ideas. Boots stock two mini scent sets by Ted Baker - like this opulent duo set for men. The Ted Baker Spritz and Go Gift Set is also perfect for girls too, and only £10.

VIEW AT AMAZON | £8.99

24. Buyagift Cinema Tickets with Popcorn Gift Experiences Box

Christmas Eve box ideas - Buyagift Cinema Tickets with Popcorn Gift Experiences Box

Credit: Amazon

Whether it’s renting the latest film online from the likes of Amazon Prime or iTunes or actually going to the cinema in some places, a film or cinema voucher is a lovely idea to see the latest and greatest films from Hollywood over the festive season. Pick this one up (with popcorn) to use at any 85 VUE cinemas across the country. One Amazon customer wrote: "My 12-year old grandson is hard to buy for. This was perfect. He and his Dad enjoyed watching a film together in comfortable seats and with a big box of popcorn."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £24.99

25. Amazon.co.uk Gift Card in a Greeting Card

Amazon.co.uk Gift Card in a Greeting Card

Credit: Amazon

Still can’t find anything else to include in a teenager’s Christmas Eve box? That’s fair enough – try a gift card from Amazon. They’re sure to find something they like in no time.

VIEW AT AMAZON | From £10

Christmas Eve box ideas for adults:

Kids don't have to have all the fun with Christmas Eve boxes. Which is why we've racked our brains and come up with some touching small pressie ideas to fill you and your partner's own night before offering. From beauty to food and drink and festive clothing, these are sure to go down a treat with both mum and dad.

26. Santa Paws Family Pyjama Set

Christmas Eve box ideas - Santa Paws Family Pyjama Set

Credit: Marks and Spencer

Get in on the matching family Christmas pyjamas trend with this wacky design from Marks and Spencer. It features cute cartoon animals modelling a festive hat or two. And has proven so popular that M&S have even added it to their Christmas bedding collection. Pick up the women's Santa Paws set and kid's Santa Paws pyjamas and find the link for the men's below.

VIEW AT M&S | £19.50

27. Barley Lane by Totes Robin Slipper Socks

Barley Lane by Totes Robin Slipper Socks

Credit: Boots

Reindeers, snowmen or cheeky elves, a pair of Christmas socks to wear on Christmas Eve or at lunch on the big day are sure to be a winner. We think any female will be particularly fond of these sweet robin ones in a punchy pink.

VIEW AT BOOTS | £6

28. Sipsmith London Mini Trio of Gins, 3 x 5cl

Sipsmith mini gin gift set

Credit: Amazon

Adults will love raising a small tipple to the incoming festivities, be that a mini Gin set like this one for Mum or a Talisker whiskey taster set for Dad. One satisfied Gin shopper gave this 5 stars on Amazon and commented: "Perfect little inexpensive gift for a gin lover. Nicely presented in little box. Bought as a gift and I will definitely buy again for another lucky recipient."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £9.99

29. Love Actually [2003] DVD

Christmas Eve box ideas - Love Actually [2003] dvd

Credit: Amazon

Most Christmas films are relatively old and can be picked up on DVD for a few pounds, plus you can start a tradition of watching a new one every Christmas Eve. Can you believe this Richard Curtis classic is nearly twenty years old?!

VIEW AT AMAZON | £3.75

30. Whittard Luxury Hot Chocolate

Whittard Hot Chocolate gift set - one of our Christmas Eve box ideas

Credit: Whittard

A festive mug, with some mini marshmallows and hot chocolate is the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas film viewing. And because it's Christmas - go for the very best like quality brand Whittards. You won't regret it.

VIEW AT WHITTARD | £9

31. Personalised Text Upload Cadburys Milk Tray

PERSONALISED TEXT UPLOAD CADBURYS MILK TRAY

Credit: Firebox

There are lots of Christmas-themed goodies around, especially a fancy Christmas chocolate selection box - which is super easy to pick up from your local supermarket. But then again, why not make it extra special - with their name on the front via Firebox?

VIEW AT FIREBOX | £12.99

32. Yankee Candle Gift Set | 3 Christmas Scented Votive Candles

Yankee Candle Christmas scent set

Credit: Amazon

Nothing like setting the Christmas mood and adding a little ambience. We reckon mums will love these cute Christmas Yankee Candles that fill the home with the familiar festive smells of mulled wine and so on. One 5-star Amazon reviewer wrote: "Really good strong scents even when burning, which is super, though they don’t over power."

VIEW AT AMAZON | £10.50

33. Johnny's Chop Shop Beard Oil 30ml

Christmas Eve box ideas - Johnny's Chop Shop Beard Oil 30ml

Credit: Boots

Help them look well-groomed come Christmas morning by slipping in a pocket sized Johnny's Chop Shop beard oil. Definitely one of our more unique Christmas Eve box ideas. One happy Boots customer gave it 5 stars, adding: "If you are fortunate to be blessed with a beard, you need this product in your life. This oil has a nice smell to it and last surprisingly long. Since using this product I'm pretty sure my beard has been growing faster and thicker too."

VIEW AT BOOTS | £6

34. Sanctuary Spa Ultra Rich Hand Cream 75Ml

Sanctuary Spa Ultra-Rich Hand Cream

Credit: Superdrug

Mums hands will need some extra TLC after all the present wrapping. So why not surprise her with this divine smelling Sanctuary tube - one of the best hand creams for dry hands.

VIEW AT SUPERDRUG | £7

35. Personalised Initial Leather Heart Page Corner Bookmark

Christmas Eve box ideas - Personalised Initial Leather Heart Page Corner Bookmark

Credit: Not on the High Street

Avid readers are always in need of a bookmark to keep track of their progress. And this leather heart one is a super stylish one that'll last years to come. One five star NOTHS reviewer commented: "Looks good and personalised lettering adds to the effect."

VIEW AT NOTHS | £9.50

Do you wrap presents in a Christmas Eve Box?

The best thing about a Christmas Eve box is that it can be anything you want it to be – wrapped or unwrapped, box or even just a bag.

Some people like to individually wrap the presents inside the box in their favourite seasonal paper to kick off the festive present-opening early. While others like to save that tradition for the big day and just place all the little gifts inside a decorated box.

It’s completely up to you!

Emily Stedman
Features Editor

Emily Stedman is the former Features Editor for GoodTo covering all things TV, entertainment, royal, lifestyle, health and wellbeing. Boasting an encyclopaedic knowledge on all things TV, celebrity and royals, career highlights include working at HELLO! Magazine and as a royal researcher to Diana biographer Andrew Morton on his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. In her spare time, Emily can be found eating her way around London, swimming at her local Lido or curled up on the sofa binging the next best Netflix show.