When Is the Latest to Order Custom Printed Advent Calendars?
The Most Important Rule for Advent Calendars
The earlier you order, the sooner the delivery and the lower the price.
Advent calendars are a seasonal product with a fixed deadline (1 December). Production capacities at our suppliers are limited. Between September and November, thousands of orders come in simultaneously. Those who order late join the queue at the back and pay more.
Time Windows at a Glance: When to Order, What Happens?
June – August
Best TimeEarly bird phase: Best prices, full capacities, guaranteed on-time delivery. Design changes and additional revision rounds are easily possible.
September
Still FeasibleThe peak season begins. Delivery times remain stable, but prices increase. Those who order now are usually on time, without stress.
October
Time-CriticalHigh utilisation at all producers. Delivery times extend to 5–6 weeks. Express surcharges possible. Design approval should be given within 2 business days.
November
On Request OnlyOnly remaining capacities. Not all models available. Delivery before 1 December is not guaranteed. Express production at an additional charge — please enquire by phone in advance.
Why Do Advent Calendars Get More Expensive After August?
The price increase from September is not an arbitrary surcharge — it has solid reasons rooted in production reality:
Production capacities become scarce
From September, our suppliers handle hundreds of orders simultaneously. Those who fall into this phase compete for limited machine slots — that drives up costs.
Raw material prices rise seasonally
Packaging materials and chocolate are in higher demand in autumn. Manufacturers pass on seasonal price increases — with early orders, we can still absorb them.
Express surcharges for late orders
Those who order after early October typically need accelerated production. That means weekend shifts, special deliveries and prioritised processing — all at a surcharge.
Less room for revisions
During the early bird phase we can incorporate 2–3 design revisions without time pressure. In peak season, the design needs to be right first time — otherwise delivery slips.
Details on exact costs and tiered pricing can be found in our complete price overview.
Realistic Planning Timeline for Companies
In practice, companies need more lead time than the ordering process alone suggests. If you want to place your order on 1 November, you should ideally have started internal planning on 1 September. Here is the typical workflow we know from hundreds of corporate projects:
| Timing | What should happen internally |
|---|---|
| June/July | Align budget internally, define recipient list (customers, employees, both?) |
| July/August | Compile logo and CI files, designate the person authorised to approve |
| August | Send enquiry to Logokalender.de, take advantage of early bird pricing |
| August/September | Receive design preview, approve internally (ideally within 1 week) |
| September | Production running, finalise delivery addresses (for split deliveries) |
| October | Receive delivery, check quality, plan internal distribution |
| November | Distribute or ship calendars to recipients |
How to avoid the most common delays (brand approval, cost centre, delivery addresses) is explained in our detailed process guide.
What Happens If I'm Too Late?
We'll be honest: we can't save every late order. But a lot is possible if the conditions are right. Here is what we can specifically offer after the deadline has passed:
Express Production (until mid-October)
With an existing design approval, we can produce certain models in 2–3 weeks. Surcharge depending on quantity approx. 15–25%. Not all models are express-capable — we check this in advance.
Switch to a Quickly Available Model
If your preferred model is fully booked, we suggest an equivalent alternative that can still be produced within the delivery window.
Partial Delivery + Follow-Up Delivery
In exceptional cases, we produce part of the order on an accelerated basis and deliver the rest later. This ensures at least the most important recipients (VIP customers, executives) are covered on time.
Honest Decline
If on-time delivery is realistically no longer possible, we say so directly — an honest assessment is better than a broken promise. In this case, we help with timing for the following year.
The Early Bird Advantage: What You Actually Save
Companies that order before the end of August not only benefit from lower prices — they also receive preferential treatment throughout the entire process chain:
Lowest unit price of the year
Early bird conditions until the end of August are typically 10–15% cheaper than the regular seasonal price from September.
More design flexibility
During the quieter phase we can create 2–3 design variants and incorporate revisions without time pressure.
Guaranteed model availability
All calendar models — including custom calendars from 50 pieces — are fully available until August. From October, premium variants and tea calendars are often sold out.
Priority production slots
Early orders receive prioritised machine slots, making delivery more reliable than for late orders — even in the event of unforeseen bottlenecks.
Less internal time pressure
Those who order in August have until November as a buffer for internal coordination, delivery address collection and any quantity adjustments.
Regular customers take advantage of this systematically. How the difference between a specialist and a platform plays out long-term is explained on a dedicated page. Particularly popular as corporate advent calendars are our custom Lindt advent calendars.
Even with small quantities, ordering early pays off — learn more about the minimum order quantity for custom printed advent calendars.
Ready for your custom advent calendar?
Send your logo, specify the quantity and preferred delivery date — we take care of the rest. Free design preview included.
Choose a calendar & request a quote