19 Best Kid’s Sandboxes: Compared & Reviewed

The KidKraft Caban Sandbox is without question one of the best kid’s sandboxes out there.

One of the most important choices anyone needs to make when picking a sandbox is deciding how big it needs to be. The more spacious a sandbox is, the more room kids have to play, and the less the parent needs to worry about them hitting their heads off the ceiling.

This sandbox is particular is very roomy. With dimensions of 57.25-inches by 48.25-inches by 50.5-inches, that’s 50-inches between the floor and roof. Plenty of space for a child to climb in and stand up.

On the storage side of things, there are three storage bins for any sandcastle-building accessories your child may own. Although let’s face it, those bins are almost certainly going to be filled with toys.

In terms of durability, another important factor when selecting sandboxes, this sandbox is built from Sanmu weather-resistant outdoor wood, so not only is it sturdy, you won’t need to worry about rain damaging the wood.

Recommended Ages: 36 months – 15 years

The Costzon Kids Wooden Sandbox with Canopy has a really neat feature every other sandbox should steal. Fold back the wooden lid, angle them upward, and you’ve got two benches.

Sandboxes need something to cover the sand, so it doesn’t get wet when it rains, so why not have the cover turn into something useful, like seats? It’s ingenious.

What’s more, this sandbox is made from heavy-duty fir wood and is coated in non-toxic paint in order to ensure children’s safety.

Recommended Ages: 3 and Up

This is probably the most obvious statement you’ll read today, but the Step2 Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center comes with both a sandbox and a waterbox. 

Why is this important? Well, the vast majority of sandboxes don’t include a water play area. If you think back to what bath time was like when you were younger, hopefully you’ll remember the sheer joy of being able to dunk toys and splash about without a care in the world.

This set is most likely the closest you get to going to the beach without ever needing to leave the house.

Not only does this set come with an umbrella to keep out the sun, but there is also a plastic lid that can be placed over the sandbox and water areas to create a small table.

So even though this is primarily a sandbox, it also doubles up as a table that’s perfect for playing or drawing on.

Recommended Ages: 36 Months to 12 Years

The Best Choice Products Kids 3-in-1 Sandbox is a really cool invention. Why stop at just a sandbox?

This wooden bench is designed for kids thanks to its smaller frame. No child wants something that’s too large to climb onto. 

I really need to put this out there, how much sleeker would a bench look in the backyard than a typical, square sandbox? You know I’m right. 

But this thing isn’t just a boring bench. The middle panel lifts up to reveal two areas – one for sand, one for water. It’s the best of both worlds. 

You also get an adjustable umbrella to protect from the sun’s harmful rays.

It’s fun and factors in safety. What’s not to love?

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

What’s better than a hexagonal sandbox? Easy. An octagonal sandbox.

This Wooden Backyard Sandbox has a width of 78-inches, this thing is huge, and can hold a total of 500 pounds of sand. Enough to fill a beach, practically.

As with all good sandboxes, this Wooden Backyard Sandbox Outdoor Octagon is made from three-quart-inch cedar timber, meaning it’s designed to last several years.

The space inside this sandbox is the most important factor. If you’ve got multiple kids, they’re going to want their own space to play or build. What’s more, four of the sides come with a beam to sit on so they can sit on the side when they need a breather. It’s the small details like that that make this such a great sandbox.  

It also comes with a free cover to keep away excess moisture and unwanted animals. After all, nobody wants to come home and find a bear playing in their sandpit. 

Recommended Ages: 3 and Up

Okay. This might just be one of the best kid’s sandboxes out there.

This Costzon Kids Wooden Sandbox with Bench Seats and Storage Boxes is 49 x 47.5 x 7. In short, it’s massive. You’ll easily be able to fit several children in here and still have room for play.

What most impressive here is the cost. The general rule with sandboxes is the larger something is, the more it costs. But for whatever reason, this set is large, while still retaining quality, but doesn’t break the bank. It’s the best of both worlds.

If that wasn’t enough there’s also four small seating areas in each of the corners (to avoid kids coming back in the house with sand-ridden butts), as well as a storage area for either extra dry sand or even toys. 

Honestly, that last bit is such an ingenious bit of design work. Why not have extra storage baked into the design? It’s smart, and the difference maker between good sandboxes and great sandboxes. 

Recommended Ages: 3 and Up

This Tierra Garden Large Children’s Wooden Sandbox With Roof is proof ‘affordable’ and ‘smart’ can go together.

The interior dimensions stand at a whopping 44-inches in length by 44-inches in width… So yeah, it’s big.

On top is wooden roof that can be lowered to keep the sun off the little ones or better yet, to keep unwanted creepy crawlies or animals out when it’s not in use. 

The wooden panels are reinforced to help prevent warping and weathering, too, so it should last a long while.

Is this one of the best kid’s sandboxes? We’ll let you decide. 

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

While the Backyard Discovery Beach Front Wooden Swing Set isn’t for everyone due to the high buy-in price, it’s too good not to mention. 

While sandboxes are fun, figuring out how to get your child into exercise is also important. As any fitness expert will tell you, the best way to get a child active is through play. If it’s fun, they won’t even notice how tiring it is.

That’s where this outdoor play sandbox comes in. Not only is there a sandbox with a solid amount of headroom, you’ve also got two swings, a slide, a climbing frame, and a trapeze.

Should you be worried about durability, this set is made from solid wood. It’s worth keeping in mind with any purchase like this, always check the wood before you start assembling. Nine times out of 10 it’ll be fine, but that’s a bit of general guidance everyone should adhere to. 

The only downside here is the roof section isn’t going to keep the whole thing dry. So if the heavens do open up, kids won’t be able to play. Admittedly that’s not the biggest downside in the world, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Recommended Ages: 3 and Up

The Costzon Kids Wooden Sandbox is one of the more simple sandboxes on this list, but if you’re after a more affordable sandbox, you can’t go wrong with this one. 

Despite the lower price-point, this thing holds up thanks to the sturdy fir wood which shouldn’t fade or crack. 

As with a few of the sandboxes on this list, it also comes with four bench posts for sitting on in the corners of the sandbox.

On the safety side of things, this sandbox has both ASTM and CPSIA certification

This may not be the largest sandbox ever, but if you’re after something for a younger child that won’t break the bank, this is definitely worth considering.

I would recommend thinking about replacing the canopy, however. Despite being made from waterproof PVC Oxford cloth, these things have a tendency to rip after a while. That’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but it’s always worth keeping in mind. 

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

If there’s one thing better than a sandbox, it’s a sandbox with an activity center.

The Step2 Clubhouse Climber has everything your child needs to get active. Steps on the far side lead into a sheltered area. Cross the walkway, speed down the slide, then maybe spend some time climbing through the underneath.

The sandbox, as well, is pretty neat; featuring a natural stone-and-brick look with a cover to match.

Granted the price may make your eyes water, this set is a behemoth that’s sure to keep kids busy during time off from school or days where you just want some peace and quiet.

Recommended Ages: 36 Months to 12 Years

Look, not everyone wants a massive sandbox. Sometimes you want something simple that’s easy to manage when you’re starting out.

That’s where the Best Choice Products Kids 3-in-1 Sandbox comes in. This is a much more budget-friendly sandbox. Not just in terms of how much it costs, but also in how much upkeep it’ll require. You don’t need a beach-worth of sand to fix it. One bag should be plenty. Plus as you’re filling a plastic box instead of an entire sandbox, cleaning it out is as simple as dumping the old sand and refilling it with clean sand. Easy. 

Although the image here shows one sandbox and one water box, don’t forget you’re free to ignore that and fill both boxes with sand if you want. That’s sure to stop kids fighting if you’ve got more than one. 

The 3-in-1 design here is another solid reason to pick this up. You can have the umbrella in or out, and there’s a wooden cover to place over the play areas to keep out bugs and other animals. So not only is this a sandbox, it’s also a bench for when they want to eat their lunch outside. 

Another factor is construction. Some sandboxes take a lot of work to put together. This one? Not so much. It’s as simple as they come, which is great if you’re not experienced with woodwork. 

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

Sometimes you want something simple and affordable. If that’s you, the Step2 Play and Store Sandbox With Cover comes easy to recommend. 

This 28 x 42 x 11 kids’ sandbox is as straightforward as they come. It requires zero setting up, which is a huge plus if you’ve looked at the larger sets and thought they’re too complex. Buy it, open it, plop it in the yard and fill it with sand. It doesn’t get any easier than this. 

What’s crazy is despite the simplicity of this set, Step2 really nailed the little things. It comes with a lid that sits firmly above the sandpit, meaning animals won’t feel the need to hop in at night and have a party. It most likely won’t keep all bugs out, but that’s not the end of the world. 

In short, this is a sandbox for those who don’t want to do the whole DIY thing but still want something fun for their kids to do when the sun’s out. Plus it’s affordable. What’s not to love?

There’s nothing wrong with opting for a cheaper alternative to the Goliath-sized sandboxes. If you’re after something more compact that’ll stay mostly inside, there’s always the Step2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity

This set in particular has a few neat features going for it. First up, the top that covers the sand when it’s not in use has a racetrack built-in for tiny cars. This isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it’s still a nice idea that’s sure to keep the kids entertained.

Next, we have the actual design of the sandpit, which is plastic but has a wood design embossed into it. If you take a look at the legs, you’ll notice that they’re rounded, which means they’re better for absorbing impact should a child bump into it.   

 Lastly, it comes with two shovels, two rakes, and a bucket, so there’s no need to buy anything extra (apart from sand, of course).

Recommended Ages: 2 to 5 Years

Not all sandboxes need to be elaborate or expensive. Sometimes a good idea can go a long way. The Costzon Pirate Boat Wood Sandbox is a good idea done well. Who doesn’t want to build sandcastles from inside a pirate ship?

If you’re after something more compact but still fun for kids, this sandbox is definitely worth your consideration. Included is a black sheet of fabric, which sits under the ship. When it’s time to tidy the sand away, all you need to do is move the ship then fold the fabric and drip the sand back into its container. Handy!

In an interesting twist, this design features a bottomless box. Should you decide there isn’t enough sand in the box, you could choose to dig up a trench under the sandbox and fill that with sand to help with drainage.

Of course, not everyone is going to want to excavate their backyard just for a sandbox, but the option’s there should you want it.

Much like the Costzon Kids Foldable Cabana Sandbox, this pirate ship sandbox is also made from heavy-duty fir and coated in environmentally friendly, non-toxic paint.

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

In a nice twist, the Little Tikes Turtle Round Sandbox is in the ‘not going to bankrupt you’ category.

There isn’t really much to pick fault with here. It’s affordable, looks nice, and does the job it’s meant to. Yeah, okay, it’s not the most eye-catching or exciting sandbox you’ve ever laid eyes on, but I’m certain kids will love it nonetheless.

Just be warned, it weighs around 16 pounds. When there’s sand in it, it will be much heavier, but if you don’t clean every last grain of sand out, there’s a high chance a child could knock it over and you’ll need to vacuum up sand for the remainder of your life. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something that’s worth keeping in mind.

Recommended Ages: 2 and Up

Want that ‘at the beach’ feeling from the comfort of your own backyard? Then you’re in luck.

The Kids Wooden Outdoor Sandbox with Canopy has some really solid design choices. A canopy covers the top should you need to get out of the sun. Great, yes, but what’s cool about this canopy is you can also lower it to cover the sand and keep it safe from bugs or wild animals. Handy or what?

Although this isn’t the largest sandbox on this list, it’s large enough to fit kids. And, let’s face it, not everyone wants a sandbox large enough to cover their entire yard. 

The other thing I love about this design is it’s not going to take an age to set up. Sure, it’ll take some time, but it’s nice and straightforward in its design. Don’t you just love sandboxes that are time-saving and practical?

Recommended Ages: 3 Months and Up

You can’t beat KidKraft. If there’s one brand I trust when it comes to consumer products, it’s KidKraft. 

The KidKraft Outdoor Covered Wooden Sandbox with Bins is, unsurprisingly, brilliant. Coming in at 64.25 x 60.25 x 51 inches, it’s got plenty of space for multiple kids at once. And not only that, it’s even got two bins to fill with sand, water, or, well, whatever you want. Maybe you could throw some toys in there so they’re not left on the grass?

You’ve also got a fairly sturdy canopy to protect kids from the sun, it’s made from weather-resistant wood, and because this is KidKraft, it’s easy enough to put up. 

Bottomless sandboxes are great when it comes to draining. I would, however, advise grabbing a piece of tarp to lay down first. That’ll make clearing up any rogue sand a cakewalk. 

The Kids Wooden Outdoor Sandbox with Canopy is, as you may be able to see, bottomless, save for a piece of tarp. Of course, not everyone wants a bottomless sandbox. The quick way to work out which is for you is as so: How are you going to keep the sand clean? If replacing the sand with new, clean sand is the easiest solution, a bottomless box is the way to go. Rolling up a tarp panel is going to be much easier than attempting to remove the sand as it’s encased in the sandbox. 

The other great thing about this sandbox is it comes with a canopy to protect kids from the sun’s harmful rays. Plus it’s got two benches that can be folded over to create a cover for the sand to stop unwanted animals from jumping in. 

The other thing to consider, with sandboxes like these, they’re not super difficult to put together. Sure, no sandbox is 100 percent easy, but some are easier than others. 

Recommended Ages: Not Stated

This Outdoor Wooden Sand Box with Cover is another good option if you’re looking for something a little more affordable.

What’s also great about this is how much more compact it is when compared with other sandboxes.

That said, if you’re looking for a more robust sized sandbox that’s capable of housing multiple children, this ain’t it, chief.

In case you didn’t spot it, this sandbox also comes four tiny seats in the corners. These aren’t proper seats, but that’s where the sandbox will be the strongest, so it makes sense to get kids sitting there rather than on the sides. 

Again, this isn’t going to be huge, but if you’re storing a bucket & spade or watering can, it shouldn’t be a problem at all.

It’s also recommended for any child over 18 months, so if you’re after something for a toddler, this is the one to go with.