The 10 Best Magnetic Toys for All Ages

Truly great toys do more than just occupy your little one’s attention—they spark creativity, entertain, and teach. That’s exactly what makes so many magnetic toys such a worthwhile investment: They encourage kids to conceptualize and build their wildest ideas with age-appropriate ease.

Going beyond magnetic building sets, which dominate the magnetic toy market for good reason, other magnetic toys engage them through science projects, games, and more. There’s something for every age and interest, allowing each child to channel their inner architect, engineer, or artist.

The Best Magnetic Toys

What to Consider

When it comes to magnetic toys, safety is paramount. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping any small or loose magnets away from young children and supervising young children around magnets, as well as checking magnetic toys for cracks in which the internal magnets could come loose. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also has a list of magnetic toy companies that have violated mandatory safety standards, which is useful for referring to prior to making a purchase.

The AAP also warns against the purchase of toys with high-powered or “rare-earth” magnets, which are among the strongest (and thus most dangerous) types. Companies typically advertise the use of this type of magnet on a toy’s packaging or product info. Some teens and adults should be able to use such toys, but always proceed with caution.

Once you’ve considered safety concerns, next think about your child’s interests, ability level, and dexterity. And of course, keep your budget in mind as there are great magnetic toys at all price points, but some building kits skew expensive.

How We Evaluated

To recommend the best magnetic toys, I thought about the ones my own son and his friends have enjoyed, giving special consideration to those that have withstood the test of time. I made sure to keep safety in mind, and only included two products with rare-earth magnets (these are intended for older children, and should always be used under supervision).

Amazon’s list of best-selling magnetic toys and online customer reviews also informed my research. I made sure to account for whether they were paid reviews—which have greater potential for bias—or independent ones.

Finally, I sought out various types of magnetic toys for different age groups and made sure to include ones that would work for a variety of budgets. These 13 toys are the very best ones that made the cut.

If you’re looking for other great toys that will spark your little’s imagination, check out these science toys, robotics kits, and other gifts for curious kids.