Magnetic tiles are a great toy for kids as they promote creativity, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills. They also encourage open-ended play, allowing children to build and experiment with different designs and structures.
While Magna-Tiles are often considered the top choice for magnetic tiles for toddlers and kids, it’s important to note that they aren’t the only option available. As the concept of magnetic building toys has been around for a while, several toy manufacturers have created their own versions.
We have researched and compiled a list of the best magnetic tiles in the market based on their quality, durability, safety, and value for money. Whether you’re looking for a starter set or a larger collection, our list has something for everyone.
Our Top Picks
- Best Magna-Tiles Set: Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Clear Colors Set
- Best Picasso Tiles Set: PicassoTiles 100 Piece Set
- Best Budget Magnetic Tiles: BMAG Magnetic Tiles
- Best Magnetic Tiles For Toddlers: Discovery Kids 50-Piece Magnetic Building Tiles
- Best Wooden Magnetic Blocks: 42 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
- Best Magnetic Construction Tiles: Magformers Amazing Police 50 Piece Set
- Best Large Magnetic Tiles: Magformers Smart Set (144-piece)
- Most Versatile Magnetic Tiles: Batlofty 178 PCs Magnet Building Tiles
- Best Glow In The Dark Magnetic Tiles: Magna-Tiles Glow In The Dark Set
- Best Magnetic Tiles With Marble Run: MAGBLOCK Magnetic Tiles
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Magnetic Tiles Picks
Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Clear Colors Set – Best Magna-Tiles Set
- Durable
- Easy to clean up and store
- The magnets are pretty strong, so they hold structures well
- The magnets are completely enclosed in plastic and can’t come out
- They are not as easy to put together as one might think
The Magna-Tiles Clear Colors set is a versatile and imaginative toy that includes 100 pieces, consisting of 46 triangles, 50 small squares, and four large squares. The triangles and small squares have a 3-inch base, making them the perfect size for little hands to manipulate and create with.
These translucent tiles are a refreshing change from other building blocks, with their vibrant and dark colors. They catch the eye from every angle and can be arranged in endless configurations, which helps your child transition from two-dimensional designs to more complex, three-dimensional structures.
PicassoTiles 100 Piece Set – Best Picasso Tiles Set
- Magnets are strong
- 4 different shapes
- Variety of colors
- Encourages kids to think in 3D and is a great boost to the imagination
- Mainly square tiles
This set consists of 100 exciting magnet-building pieces that can be used to create an endless number of unique designs. And the best part is that you can keep expanding this collection by purchasing additional sets.
This set is perfect for helping your child develop a variety of important skills and concepts, including an understanding of color, geometry, 3D forms, numbers, counting, magnetic polarities, and even architectural design. As they play and experiment with the blocks, they will also develop their social skills and learn how to work together to achieve a shared goal.
BMAG Magnetic Tiles – Best Budget Magnetic Tiles
- Easy to play with magnetic tiles
- Sturdy
- Can build a lot of stuff
- Affordable
- Magnets are not the strongest
This set contains 118 basic shapes and 2 cars, and each piece is made of food-grade ABS plastic with powerful magnets, making it safe and durable for children to use.
One of the best features of this set is that the magnetic blocks are riveted shut, preventing the tiles from shattering or being ingested by young children. Additionally, the magnetic construction block set has beautiful colors that attract kids and stimulate their senses, making them want to play and create more.
The concave surfaces of the blocks are less likely to scratch, more robust, and silky smooth, giving children a great tactile experience while playing with them. Moreover, the kid-safe features like rounded corners and edges make it perfect for playtime without worrying about any injuries.
Discovery Kids 50-Piece Magnetic Building Tiles – Best Magnetic Tiles For Toddlers
- They come with a cloth bag carrying sack which helps to keep the house tidy
- Pretty durable
- The magnets are pretty strong
- They click together
- These only come in 2 shapes- triangle and square
With 25 squares and 25 triangles, this set is perfect for honing fine motor skills, color and shape identification, and problem-solving. The strong magnets snap together to form various 3D constructions, allowing your child to unleash their imagination and experiment with magnetic and gravitational forces.
In addition to being fun, these building pieces offer educational value as well. They can help develop your child’s spatial reasoning and cognitive abilities, as they learn to plan and execute their constructions.
Furthermore, safety is a top priority. The magnets are designed to be strong enough to hold the constructions together, yet not too powerful to cause harm to young hands. Plus, the set is also made of durable and non-toxic materials.
42 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set – Best Wooden Magnetic Blocks
- The wood blocks are well-cut and painted
- The wheels add more fun
- Great wooden option
- STEM appeal
- The wood blocks only stick to each other in certain ways
Tegu has completely transformed the humble wooden block, giving it a new and exciting purpose. The Tegu blocks incorporate magnets into each piece, making them a fun and engaging toy for both children and adults alike.
At a time when open-ended play is increasingly rare, Tegu blocks offer a refreshing and much-needed return to the simple joy of creation. These blocks have been designed to be highly addictive for children (and those young at heart) with their sustainably sourced hardwoods and secure water-based coatings.
The 42 blocks in this set have been thoughtfully designed to inspire generations to come. There are nine different shapes in this set, including 2 parallelograms, 4 short angles, 4 wheels, 6 short planks, 6 long planks, 6 Mega planks, 6 cubes, 4 tall columns, and 6 medium columns.
Magformers Amazing Police 50 Piece Set – Best Magnetic Construction Tiles
- Encourages pure imagination and building
- Can create real police cars or trucks
- Lots of play options
- Easy to assemble
- Relatively expensive for 50 pieces
Unleash your child’s imagination with this exciting 50-piece set that includes 24 magnetic parts, 2 figures, an emergency truck siren, and more. Designed for children aged 3 and above, this set is perfect for constructing their own adventure or following along with the concept guide that provides 50 different building ideas.
As the genuine and original Magformers, each piece features magnets that never repel, providing a satisfying clicking sound as they snap together. This makes building and storing the pieces effortless and enjoyable for children. With 8 triangles, 14 squares, 2 rectangles, and 24 accessories, including wheels, sirens, and police cars, your child will have everything they need to create their own police vehicle and save the day.
Magformers Smart Set (144-piece) – Best Large Magnetic Tiles
- Variety of shapes
- Colorful
- Guaranteed hours of learning
- Good quality
- Magnets rotate inside the plastic so you will get opposing magnet forces
The Magformers Smart Set 144 Pieces includes a mixture of squares, triangles, pentagons, and hexagons, allowing your child to build complex 3D geometric shapes.
The cutout forms on the pieces make it easy to connect them, and the magnetic force keeps the structures sturdy. This set also includes 16 attachments, including two sets of wheels, enabling children to construct not only geometric shapes but also their very own vehicles.
You can rest easy knowing that the blocks are CPSIA-certified and made from safe, food-grade ABS plastic with nickel-plated magnets for enhanced durability. Plus, the blocks’ rounded edges make them kid-friendly and safe to play with.
Batlofty 178 PCs Magnet Building Tiles – Most Versatile Magnetic Tiles
- There are enough pieces to build whatever your child wants
- Lights and all the accessories for the windows and vehicles
- Very durable
- Easy to use
- The tiles are smaller than other brands
This 178-piece magnetic building tiles set is designed to be compatible with your existing magnetic blocks from other brands. This versatile set allows your child to construct a wide range of structures and designs, providing them with hours of imaginative play.
Made from premium original ABS material that is non-toxic and safe for children to play with, these magnet blocks have rounded edges for a comfortable grip and a smooth surface. Plus, the vibrant colors of the transparent blocks make them visually appealing and easy to connect.
Magna-Tiles Glow In The Dark Set – Best Glow In The Dark Magnetic Tiles
- Colorful, and sparks the imagination
- You can combine it with other magnetic tiles
- Unique glow in the dark feature
- Strong magnets
- They are not as big tiles
The possibilities for creativity are endless with this 16-piece collection of Magna-Tiles that light up in the dark.
Crafted with the same high-quality workmanship as the original set, these tiles are made to last and provide hours of fun. The added feature of illumination enhances the play options and adds a unique twist to building and experimenting with shapes and patterns.
Your child can even get creative with their designs by writing on the tiles or covering them with other toys to create a cool and unique glowing effect. To activate the glow, simply expose the tiles to direct sunlight or supercharge them with the included LED light. The longer the exposure to light, the brighter and longer-lasting the glow will be.
MAGBLOCK Magnetic Tiles – Best Magnetic Tiles With Marble Run
- Edges allow taller builds and more stability
- Slightly larger size than some mag tiles
- Generous in size
- Work perfectly with Duplo characters
- Vehicles are too boxy
This pipe magnetic tile set has marbles that move quickly up and down the track. The addition of the kaleidoscopic windmill and steering adds even more possibilities and excitement. With 176 pieces of clear magnetic building tiles in this set, your children can not only build large playground and castle models, but also countless miniature 3D objects such as a home, robot, telescope, snail, and more.
The sturdy plastic and strong magnets used to create this magnetic toy ensure heavy models won’t easily collapse, while the rounded edges prevent any sharp edges. Plus, the connection components also make it easy to assemble and disassemble the magnetic tiles.
How To Choose The Best Magnetic Tiles?
- Compatibility: The ability of many magnetic tile sets to be used interchangeably is a great feature. This means that there are no issues when combining different sets. For example, it is easy to mix and match Magna and Picasso tiles to create something remarkable. As long as the magnetic tiles you are considering have two rectangular magnets on each 3-inch side, they will work with most other types of magnetic tiles.
- Magnet Strength: Check the magnetic strength of the tiles to ensure that they are strong enough to hold up the structures your child creates. Bigger magnets are typically associated with greater magnetic strength. Hence, magnetic tiles with larger magnets tend to be more robust. Opting for a pricier brand often entails receiving this advantage.
- Durability: Some brands of magnetic tiles have additional safety features such as glued/sonically sealed edges and metal rivets. However, keeping the magnets out of children’s reach is another level of security you can provide. When it comes to the tiles’ surface, cheaper options may be more susceptible to superficial scratching. This does not affect the tiles’ functionality, but it may affect the appearance of the surface.
- Age-Appropriate: Consider the recommended age range of the magnetic tiles. Some sets may be more appropriate for older children, while others are designed specifically for toddlers. Partly due to the difficulty in creating the structures.
What Are Magnetic Tile Toys?
Magnetic tile toys are educational building sets made up of flat magnetic pieces that can be connected to create 3D structures, buildings, and more. These tiles come in various shapes and sizes, typically featuring geometric shapes like squares, triangles, and rectangles. The pieces connect to one another using the magnets that are embedded within the edges of each tile, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Are Magnetic Tiles Good For Kids?
Yes, magnetic tiles are generally considered good for kids. They provide a fun and interactive way for children to learn and develop important skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and spatial reasoning. Magnetic tiles also help promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, as well as introduce children to basic concepts such as geometry and physics (1).
Which Magnetic Tiles Brand Is Best?
Magna-Tiles is a well-known brand that has been around for over two decades. Their tiles are made of high-quality materials and feature strong magnets that allow children to build intricate structures. Picasso tiles are similar to Magna-Tiles but are often more affordable (2). They are also highly durable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Playmags are another popular brand of magnetic tiles that are known for their strong magnets and colorful designs (3). Tegu is a unique brand that uses sustainably sourced wood to create magnetic tiles. They feature strong magnets and are often praised for their educational value.
Are Connetix Better Than Magna-Tiles?
Connetix tiles are known for having stronger magnets than Magna-Tiles, which can make it easier to build larger and more complex structures (4). They are also made with clearer plastic than Magna-Tiles, which can make them more visually appealing and allow for more creative color combinations. In addition, Connetix offers a greater variety of tile shapes and sizes than Magna-Tiles, which can provide more creative building possibilities.
Are Magnetic Tiles Safe?
Magnetic tiles are generally safe when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and with proper adult supervision (5). However, some magnetic tile toys may pose a choking hazard for young children if they accidentally swallow small pieces. It’s important to choose magnetic tile sets that are age-appropriate and meet safety standards.
How Many Magnetic Tiles Do You Need?
The number of magnetic tiles you need depends on what you plan to build and how many children will be playing with them. A small set with 32-60 pieces can be enough to make simple structures, while a larger set with 100-200 pieces will allow for more complex designs and multiple children to play at once. It’s also worth considering if you plan to combine sets from different brands, in which case having a larger collection of tiles can provide more flexibility and creativity.
Are My Electronics Safe Around Magnetic Tiles?
Magnetic tiles are generally safe to use around electronics, as they do not generate strong enough magnetic fields to damage most electronics.
Can You Use These Magnetic Tiles With A Light Table?
Yes, many magnetic tiles can be used with a light table, which can enhance the visual appeal of the tiles and make them even more engaging for children. In fact, some brands even offer specific light table-compatible sets, and the transparent or translucent nature of many magnetic tiles makes them particularly suitable for use with a light table.
