Free Printable Christmas Countdown Banner (Numbers 1–25)
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Is there anything more exciting for kids than counting down the days until Christmas?
Every December, it seems like the question “How many more days until Christmas?” comes up over and over again!
That’s why I love having a simple Christmas countdown that the kids can look forward to each morning.
I made this free printable Christmas countdown banner with numbers 1 through 25. You can hang it across your fireplace mantel, on a wall, or just about anywhere in your home.
It’s an easy way to add a little Christmas cheer without spending much money or adding another complicated activity to your already busy December. All you need is the printable, some string, and a few mini clothespins!
Free Printable Christmas Countdown Banner
This Christmas countdown printable includes 25 numbered cards, one for each day from December 1 through Christmas Day.
You can print them at home, cut them out, and hang them up to make your own Christmas countdown banner.
Each morning, let your child remove the card for that day. By the time Christmas arrives, all 25 cards will be gone! It’s a simple little tradition, but sometimes those are the ones our kids remember most.
Download Your Free Christmas Countdown Printable
Ready to make your own banner?
Once you’ve downloaded the printable, save it to your computer so you can use it again next Christmas.
Supplies You’ll Need
You probably already have most of these supplies at home.
- Printed Christmas countdown number cards (1–25)
- White cardstock or regular printer paper
- Scissors
- Twine, ribbon, or baker’s string
- Mini wooden clothespins
- Tape or removable hooks for hanging
I recommend cardstock because the number cards hold their shape better, especially if you want to save them for another year. But regular printer paper works just fine, too!
How to Make Your Printable Christmas Countdown Banner
You can put this banner together in just a few simple steps.
- Print the countdown cards. Download the free printable and print all the pages. Make sure you have numbers 1 through 25.
- Cut out each number. Use scissors to cut along the edges of the numbered cards.
- Hang your string. Choose where you’d like to display the banner and hang a piece of twine, ribbon, or string.
- Attach the numbers. Use mini clothespins to clip the cards onto your string. You can arrange them in order or spread them across more than one row if you need extra space.
- Start counting down! Beginning December 1, remove the number for that day. Keep going until you remove number 25 on Christmas Day.
That’s it! You don’t need any special tools or fancy supplies to make a cute Christmas decoration that your kids can enjoy all month long.
A Little Tip for Counting Down to Christmas
Because this printable includes numbers 1 through 25, I like the idea of removing the card that matches the date.
So on December 1, remove number 1. On December 2, remove number 2, and so on until Christmas Day. If you’d rather have the numbers show how many days are left until Christmas, you can arrange them in reverse order instead.
Either way works! Just choose what makes the most sense for your family.
Where to Hang Your Christmas Countdown Banner
One of my favorite things about this printable is that it doubles as Christmas decor.
You don’t need a lot of space, and you can make it fit just about anywhere. Here are a few places you could hang it:
- Across your fireplace mantel. This is a cute spot if you already decorate your mantel for Christmas.
- On a wall in the living room. Hang it somewhere the whole family will see it every morning.
- Above a hot cocoa station. Such a fun little addition if you have a Christmas drink or snack area.
- In your child’s bedroom. They can look forward to removing a number when they wake up.
- Along a staircase or doorway. A good option if you have a longer space to work with.
- On a large mirror. Use removable hooks to hang the string without damaging the surface.
You can also split the numbers into two rows if you don’t have enough room for one long banner.
Make Your Christmas Countdown More Meaningful
I love all the excitement that comes with Christmas, but I also want to make sure we’re taking time to remember why we celebrate.
One easy way to do that is to pair your Christmas countdown banner with a short Bible reading or family activity.
Each morning, after removing a number, you could read a few verses from the Christmas story, say a prayer together, or talk about something you’re thankful for. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time.
If you’d like a simple way to read through the Christmas story with your kids, I have a 25-Day Advent Bible Reading Plan for Families that would go perfectly with this countdown banner.
You could also choose one activity from my 25 Fun Christmas Activities for Families and enjoy some extra time together.
The goal isn’t to fill every day with something elaborate. It’s simply to enjoy the season and make memories along the way.
Want to Make Your Own DIY Christmas Countdown Banner?
If you don’t have a printer or just want to make your own version, you can easily create a Christmas countdown banner with supplies you already have.
Cut 25 small squares or tags from cardstock or scrapbook paper.
Write the numbers 1 through 25 on the cards, and let your kids help decorate them with stickers, markers, stamps, or washi tape.
Then clip the numbers onto a piece of string using mini clothespins.
You can even let each child decorate a few of the cards to make it a family project.
It’s a simple Christmas craft that doesn’t require a trip to the craft store.
Frequently Asked Questions About Printable Christmas Countdowns
How many numbers are included in this Christmas countdown banner?
The free printable includes 25 numbered cards, from 1 through 25. You can start on December 1 and remove one card each day through Christmas Day.
Should I print the Christmas countdown on cardstock?
Cardstock works best because it’s sturdier and easier to hang with mini clothespins. But you can use regular printer paper if that’s what you have at home.
Can I reuse the Christmas countdown banner next year?
Yes! If you carefully remove and store the number cards after Christmas, you can use them again next December. You could also laminate the cards if you want them to last longer.
What can I use instead of mini clothespins?
You can use small paper clips, ribbon, or tape to attach the number cards to your string. Mini clothespins are convenient because they make it easy for kids to remove one card each day.
Where should I hang my Christmas countdown banner?
A fireplace mantel, living room wall, doorway, staircase, or child’s bedroom are all good choices.
Just choose a spot where the kids can easily see the numbers and safely reach them with your help if needed.
Is this Christmas countdown printable free?
Yes! The Christmas countdown number banner is free to download and print for personal use.
What is a Christmas countdown banner?
A Christmas countdown banner is a fun way to mark each day of the holiday season until Christmas day. It usually includes numbered tags or cards you hang up and remove daily as you count down to the big day.
More Free Christmas Printables and Family Activities
If you’re looking for more simple ways to enjoy Christmas with your family, here are a few other ideas from the blog.
- Christmas Left Right Game: Nativity Story + Free Printable — A fun Bible-based Christmas gift exchange game for family parties and church gatherings.
- Christmas Bible Trivia Questions and Answers — A fun way to see how much everyone knows about the Christmas story.
- Free Printable Christmas Mazes for Kids — Four Christmas mazes for a quiet activity at home.
- 25-Day Advent Bible Reading Plan for Families — A simple way to read Scripture together throughout December.
- Christian Alternatives to Elf on the Shelf — Ideas for keeping the focus on Jesus during the Christmas season.
- 25 Fun Christmas Activities for Families — Easy activities and traditions to enjoy with your kids.
A Simple Christmas Tradition to Enjoy Together
Christmas can get busy so quickly, and I know how easy it is to feel like we need to do all the things to make the season special for our kids.
But I’ve learned that it doesn’t always take a big activity or an expensive tradition to make sweet memories.
Sometimes it’s something as simple as taking down a little paper number each morning and watching the excitement grow as Christmas gets closer.
I hope this free printable Christmas countdown banner brings a little extra joy to your home this December.
And most of all, I hope it helps you slow down and enjoy this beautiful season with your family.
From my home to yours, Merry Christmas!
