For “Elf on the Shelf”–type Christmas elves, they usually go back to the North Pole on the night of December 24, after Christmas Eve is over.

Short answer

Most Scout Elves leave on Christmas Eve night (December 24), often “hitching a ride” with Santa’s sleigh after he has delivered the presents.

When the elves go back

  • The official tradition says the elf’s job ends the night before Christmas.
  • On December 24, most elves say goodbye and fly back to the North Pole to help Santa prepare for the next year.
  • Many guides for parents recommend that the elf is gone by the time kids wake up on Christmas morning so the magic feels complete.

Can they stay longer?

Some families choose to let their elf “stay” a bit past Christmas as a house rule, but that is treated as a special exception to the normal tradition. In the official story, though, elves are meant to leave on Christmas Eve and return the following holiday season between late November and December 1.

Meta description: Wondering when do the elves go back? In the Elf on the Shelf tradition, Scout Elves usually leave on Christmas Eve (December 24) and return between late November and December 1 each year.

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