Aldehydes are both versatile intermediates in chemical syntheses and used directly as pharmaceuticals, flavors, and fragrances. However, their synthetic preparation with traditional synthetic chemistry often requires harsh operating conditions and/or toxic metals, including osmium or chromium. To improve the sustainability of aldehyde synthesis, emerging efforts have focused on the production of bio-aldehydes via enzymatic oxidation, reduction, or de novo metabolic pathways. Here, we present a practical guide the different ways to synthesize aldehydes with enzymatic and whole-cell systems with an emphasis on circumventing common challenges, including product isolation and avoiding over-reduction or over-oxidation of the desired aldehyde.