Elf on the Shelf accessories and kits: what is worth buying
The Elf on the Shelf accessories worth buying are the ones that save you time at night. Here is what prop kits, tool kits, clothes and companions contain, what to make at home and which alternatives exist.
The Elf on the Shelf accessories worth buying are the ones that save you time late at night: a prop kit with a planning calendar, something that lets the elf stand or hang without help, and one or two outfits. Most other props are already in the toy box and the kitchen cupboard. Before you buy any kit, check one detail: most do not include the elf itself.
Types of Elf on the Shelf kits and accessories
The tradition began with the 2005 book by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, sold with a Scout Elf doll, and its maker, The Lumistella Company, says more than 31 million Scout Elves, Elf Pets and Elf Mates have been adopted worldwide since then. The accessory range has grown with it. Here is what each type contains and when it earns its place:
| Type | What you get | Worth it if |
|---|---|---|
| 24-day prop kit | Props and a planning calendar for every morning. The official Polar Props 24-Day Elf Ideas Super Set has more than 80 props, a 24-day planning calendar and MagiFreez standing gear; the official UK store lists the 24-Day Ultimate Elf Ideas Kit, with 24 sets of props and daily set-up instructions | You want December planned in one go |
| Tool and pose kit | The official Scout Elves at Play kit: a 60-page idea book and 15 tools, including climbing boots, a grappling hook, a harness and message cards, for more than 100 set-ups (ages 3 and up) | Your children inspect every scene |
| Clothes | Official Claus Couture Collection outfits, MagiFreez outfits with standing pants, or handmade sets | You want a new look each week |
| Companions | Elf Pets: a reindeer, an Arctic fox or a Saint Bernard | You want the story to grow in year two or three |
| Arrival and goodbye items | Letters, balloons, a mini door for the elf’s entrance | You want a big first and last morning |
| Printables | Letters, speech bubbles, signs and excuse notes, often free | You only need paper and ink |
Official prop kits and outfits are marked “Scout Elf not included”, and handmade mischief kits (snowballs, a shovel and a sign, for example) are usually props only. In your first year, you need the book-and-elf set as well.
Which Elf on the Shelf kit is best for your family?
The best kit is the one that matches the time you have at night. In 2026 the elf has 24 mornings, from Tuesday 1 to Thursday 24 December: 18 weekday mornings and 6 weekend ones.
- Busy parents: a 24-day kit with a planning calendar. Save the bigger scenes for the weekend mornings of 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December.
- First year with a toddler: the elf, two or three props and free printables. At that age, finding the elf in a new spot is the whole game.
- Children of 6 and over who inspect every scene: a tool kit with standing gear and hooks, so the elf can climb and hang.
- Two or more children: one companion, such as an Elf Pet, adds a second character without a second elf.
- Families who want less watching and reporting: see the alternatives at the end of this guide.
For nightly scenes once the kit runs out, our list of Elf on the Shelf ideas covers every night of December.
Elf on the Shelf clothes and standing gear
The classic Scout Elf does not stand up by itself, which is why two official lines exist. MagiFreez outfits include standing pants that hold the elf upright without support. The newer poseable Scout Elf, in boy and girl versions with brown or blue eyes, has bendable limbs that hold a pose.
- Claus Couture Collection: the official outfit range, made for the Scout Elf.
- MagiFreez outfits: clothes with the standing gear built in.
- Handmade and unbranded outfits: check that the listing names the Scout Elf and gives measurements.
- Doll clothes from the toy box: easy to borrow for one night, as some elf planners suggest.
Outfits, props and standing gear sit together in our Elf on the Shelf accessories, so you can match a costume to the scene you have planned.
Build your own elf kit from things at home
A home-made kit covers most nights with what you already own. Gather these in one box before 1 December:
- Doll clothes, doll furniture and play kitchen pieces for scenes.
- Balloons and streamers for the arrival morning.
- A small chalkboard or notepad for the elf’s messages.
- Toilet roll tubes, cotton wool balls and sticky tape for snowmen, crafts and zip wires.
- Your children’s own toys, which the elf can borrow for a scene.
Plan the month before it starts
- Print a December planner and fill in the fixed dates first: school events, visitors, the nativity play, the last day of term.
- Give the busiest nights the easiest scenes, and the weekends the messy ones.
- Bag each scene’s props separately and number the bags.
- Keep two or three no-prop scenes in reserve for the night you forget.
Add one or two bought props from our Kids and Elf range for the mornings that need a bigger surprise, and keep anything small out of reach of toddlers: the official tool kit is marked for ages 3 and up.
The rules that decide which props you need
In the tradition set out in the book, children must not touch the elf or it may lose its Christmas magic. Each night the elf flies to the North Pole to report to Santa and lands in a new spot by morning, until its mission ends on Christmas Eve.
- No touching means adults do the posing: hooks, harnesses and standing gear do the work that children’s hands cannot.
- Notes and speech bubbles let the elf “say” things without anyone handling it.
- If a child does touch it, the official site suggests three fixes: a letter of apology to Santa, cinnamon sprinkled nearby (not on the elf) or a Christmas song sung together.
Our guide to the Elf on the Shelf rules covers what to tell children when they ask how it all works.
Alternatives to Elf on the Shelf
Some families prefer a version without the watching and reporting, or one for another festival. Three options:
| Alternative | How it works |
|---|---|
| Elf Mates | From the same company: a toy maker, a cobbler and a chef, each encouraging one kind of good deed, such as giving away toys, shoes and clothes, or food. Children can hug and play with them, and the company calls them year-round kindness elves |
| Kindness Elves | The elves leave notes thanking children for kind acts or suggesting new ones, instead of reporting on behaviour |
| Mensch on a Bench | A Hanukkah version with a storybook and a plush toy, launched in 2013 |
Whichever version you choose, start with a short list: the elf, one kit or a home-made box, and the Elf on the Shelf props and outfits that fill the gaps.
Elves Behavin' Badly
Girl elf with hat, red plush body and long legs, vinyl face, 30 cm
The Elf on the Shelf
Elf on the Shelf box set, girl Scout Elf with blue eyes and storybook
The Elf on the Shelf
Elf Pets Arctic Fox plush with storybook and adoption certificate
For Christmas Eve boxes, gingerbread house kits and the rest of the children’s Christmas, browse the full Kids and Elf collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Elf on the Shelf kit?
For most families, a 24-day kit with a planning calendar, because it removes the nightly planning. The official Polar Props 24-Day Elf Ideas Super Set has a 24-day planning calendar and MagiFreez standing gear; tool kits with hooks and harnesses suit older children who look closely at each scene.
Do Elf on the Shelf kits come with the elf?
Usually not. Official prop kits and outfits are marked “Scout Elf not included”, and handmade mischief kits are normally props only, so first-time buyers need the book-and-elf box set as well.
What are the two rules for The Elf on the Shelf?
Children must not touch the elf, or it may lose its Christmas magic. And the elf flies to the North Pole each night to report to Santa, landing in a new place by morning until it leaves on Christmas Eve.
What clothes fit an Elf on the Shelf?
The official Claus Couture Collection and MagiFreez outfits are made for the Scout Elf, and MagiFreez sets add standing pants. For handmade or unbranded outfits, check that the listing names the Scout Elf and gives measurements.
What is a good alternative to Elf on the Shelf?
Kindness Elves leave notes about kind acts instead of reporting on behaviour, and the same company’s Elf Mates each encourage one kind of good deed, such as donating toys. Mensch on a Bench, launched in 2013, is a Hanukkah version with a book and a plush toy.
What is replacing Elf on the Shelf?
Nothing has replaced it: its maker says more than 31 million Scout Elves, Elf Pets and Elf Mates have been adopted worldwide since 2005. What has changed is the range around it, with poseable elves, kindness-themed Elf Mates and Elf Pets, while some families switch to Kindness Elves.
What should you do if a child touches the elf?
The official site suggests three remedies: write a letter of apology to Santa, sprinkle cinnamon near the elf but not on it, or sing a Christmas song together. The message to children is that an accidental touch does not end the magic.
