6 Best Ball Pits for Kids, Tested by Families

This pick received top scores across the board, marking it out as the overall best ball pit for babies and toddlers. According to product tester Kayla, the ball pit went down a storm with her 3-year-old and 10-month-old. So we weren’t surprised to find it earned a 10 out of 10 score for play and entertainment value. “My child was immediately excited when he first saw the Big Little Playroom ball pit and said ‘WOW,’” shared Kayla. It’s perfect for independent play, and Kayla told us her eldest “loved diving into the balls and spent a lot of time throwing them around at me and hiding underneath.” She noted that it kept him occupied for a full hour, which is a long time for a toddler with a short attention span! Better yet, this ball pit is safe to use for babies as young as 6 months (with adult supervision of course) meaning Kayla’s children could enjoy lots of quality time together. “The Big Little Playroom ball pit was perfect for my toddler and infant, offering plenty of room to move and play for the both of them,” adds Kayla.

Despite the fact that two children can comfortably play together in the ball pit, it's still relatively compact, which was a big plus for our product tester. In her own words, Kayla said: “Its compact size makes it easy to store in a closet when not in use. This feature is convenient for maintaining a clutter-free playroom!” Kayla also noted that her son was able to climb in and out of the ball pit independently as “the walls were a good height—not too high, but tall enough to keep the balls contained and for my infant to see over.”

This ball pit comes with 200 balls, which fill it about halfway. “The balls felt soft but durable, and they didn’t dent easily, even with rough play and feet stomping on them,” explains Kayla. While this pick does come with a decent amount of balls, our product tester felt you would need another 100 to 200 balls to truly fit it up to the top. But remember, more balls means more mess! One area in which this ball pit excelled was materials and construction. “The Big Little Playroom ball pit is made from soft, high-quality foam that feels smooth and cushioned to the touch,” says Kayla, noting that it felt sturdy and well-constructed. Unlike other options, the base and walls are made from the exact same material, which is a big indicator of quality. “The base is nicely cushioned, making it comfortable for long play sessions and fun jumps into the ball pit,” says Kayla.

As any parent knows, a ball pit can get grubby fast, making hygiene and ease of cleaning a major area of consideration. Fortunately, this ball pit is very easy to clean, thanks to the wipeable surface “that made removing dirt and crumbs simple.” But if you’d like to give it a deep clean every once in a while, the cover is removable and machine washable. Kayla put it through its paces and said the cover maintained its shape and quality after a wash and dry cycle. At just under $200 this ball pit is on the higher end of the scale; However, our product tester still gave it a 10 out of 10 score for value for money. She adored the functionality and style of this ball pit, saying “the durability and aesthetic design make it worth the investment.”

Age rating: 6 months to 5 years | Dimensions: 16" (H) x 38" (D) | Materials: Memory foam | Weight: 15 lbs.

Looking for a no frills ball pit you can use anywhere? Check out the Infantino Pop Up Ball Pit. It comes highly recommended by mom of two Jennell, who gave it a 10 out of 10 score for every single testing category. Wow! At under $25, it’s easy to see why this ball pit earned a top score for value for money—but it’s more than just a budget-friendly option. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, it’s a versatile option for busy parents. “The ball pit was really easy to set up. You just unfold and it pops up,” explains Jennell, who said the simple set-up and portability was a major plus point. “Sometimes I move it around the house, like if I’m cooking I’ll move it to the dining room, so I can watch her play while I cook,” says Jennell, noting that the ball pit is super-lightweight. It also comes with a zip-up storage bag, which our product tester loved and described as the “cherry on top” of a great design.

It comes with 50 balls, which didn’t fill the pit, but Jannell felt that it was “the perfect amount for them to play with.” While both her kids like to play with the pit, it’s definitely favored by her youngest. “My daughter loves to lay in the ball pit rolling around with the balls,” says Jannell, who reported that her 22-month-old plays with it for at least 30 minutes at a time. In terms of construction, our product tester said the mesh “walls are sturdy and flexible at the same time” and the pit easily accommodates both of her kids. The pastel color-scheme is child-friendly without being garish, and Jannell loved the words around the rim that read “you are my sunshine.” It’s also super-easy to clean. “I usually just shake it upside down,” says Jannell. “I haven’t had any stains or anything yet, but I do spray it with some Lysol to keep it fresh,” she continues. All in all, this affordable ball pit is a great addition to any playroom and our product tester said she would definitely recommend it to other parents.

Age rating: 9+ months | Dimensions: 32" (D) | Materials: Polyester | Weight: 2.5 lbs.

Willing to invest in a ball pit for kids (plural)? Lily & River’s aptly named Giant Ball Pit is the best of the bunch. With an external diameter of 45 inches, this roomy ball pit comfortably accommodates multiple children at the same time. “As a mom with four young kids, I was so excited about the massive size of this ball pit, as all four kids could play in it at the same time,” says product tester Brittany, who gave it a 10 out of 10 score for size. Better yet, it’s suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers alike. And Brittany told us: “I don't think they are going to grow out of this toy anytime soon…as even my almost 6-year-old LOVES it!” Having a toy suitable for the whole brood is a major win for larger families, as parents can avoid the inevitable squabbles that come with kids having to wait their turn to play in the ball pit.

The large ball pit comes with a whopping 600 balls, which is the largest amount of any of the products we tested. On the plus side, the biodegradable balls are soft, plentiful and 100 percent recyclable—but they aren’t as robust as we would have hoped. “I liked how soft the balls were, but unfortunately, they are pretty fragile,” explains Brittany, who reported that a couple of balls popped within the week-long testing period. While the quality of the balls could be improved, this product earned a top score for features and design as well as play and entertainment value. The ball pit is made from a soft foam, which feels "sturdy yet comfortable.” And the durable walls, which won’t cave in, were one of our product testers favorite features. “I truly appreciated the height of the sides, because it helped to contain all of the balls,” says Brittany. “I was also impressed with how easy my petite 11-month-old was able to climb in and out of it, without the entire ball pit moving /[or] tipping,” she added, noting that ball pits they’ve used in the past were liable to tip over or collapse, leading to a tidal wave of plastic balls.

Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about her kid’s reaction to this play pit. Brittany told us her baby loved climbing around and picking up the balls. Meanwhile, her “2.5 year old (and his big brothers), love ‘swimming’ in it, jumping into it, throwing the balls, etc.” She adds that “this might be their most favorite toy right now” and concluded her review by saying that: “They could honestly play with it for hours, both independently, and with each other. They run right to it every morning when they wake up.” Yes, it’s expensive, but we think this ball pit is well worth the price.

Bonus: New customers can purchase the ball pit on Maisonette and take 10 percent off with code BUMP10.

Age rating: 6 months to 6 years | Dimensions: 45" (D) x 16" (H) | Materials: Foam and cotton | Weight: N/A

Next up on our list of the best ball pits is this pick specifically designed for babies. The versatile design can be used from birth as an activity gym or as a play mat for tummy time, complete with dangling rings, crinkle paper and musical features. Then once your child is able to sit upright, you can fold up the sides to create a self-contained ball pit. “The ball pit is small in my opinion, but it’s the right size for my 10-month-old,” says product tester Nisha, who believes it would easily fit children up to 18 months in age.

Speaking about her child’s reaction, Nisha said: “My daughter was excited to see a new toy and played in the pit initially for a few minutes then she would walk away and come back to it time and time again throughout the day.” The pit comes with 40 balls plus a carry case for easy storage, and our product tester said the balls were her daughter’s favorite element. “She enjoyed banging [the balls] together and would often take them to other areas of the room to play with,” explains Nisha. It also comes with a detachable toy bar, and our product tester said her little one “did enjoy looking at herself in the mirror and removing the rattles to play with separately.” Unlike most ball pits, this option is rectangular in shape, but this wasn’t an issue for our product tester who said it was sturdy and looked comfortable to sit in. The side walls are high enough to keep the balls contained, but low enough to allow Nisha’s daughter to crawl in and out with “little to no help.” An added bonus: The mat is machine-washable, so you can stick in on a cold cycle whenever the ball pit is in need of a deep clean.

Age rating: 0-36 months | Dimensions: 26.8" (L) x 27.6" (W) x 19.7" (H) | Materials: Fabric, plastic and metal | Weight: 2.8 lbs.

Most foldable ball pits are of the thin, pop-up variety—but this option by Gathre combines premium design with easy storage. The concertina-style design folds down into a compact rectangular package and can be stored in the cotton bag that comes with the ball pit. “The ball pit is made about as strong as it can be for it to still be foldable/collapsible,” says product tester and mom of two, Jen. She liked the foldable design and said that “with it being portable it would be very convenient for a parent.”

In terms of size, this ball pit is perfect for two toddler-aged children. “I think the size of this ball pit is pretty perfect—large enough but not bulky,” says Jen who awarded it a 10 out of 10 score for size, weight and height. The side walls were also a good height, as her one-year-old could climb in fairly easily without balls falling out or the walls caving in and her 3-year-old could step in and out of the ball pit with ease. While Jen said the ball pit was good-quality and durable, she wished that the base was cushioned for her child’s comfort. Another important thing to point out is that this ball pit doesn’t come with balls. (The Bump editorial team provided Jen with 200 balls for the purpose of testing this product.) Jen estimated that you would need 400 to 500 balls to fill the ball pit, so the costs could rack up fast. On the plus side, our product tester appreciated the design of this ball pit. She noted that the vegan leather material was super-soft and incredibly easy to sanitize with a wet wipe or damp cloth, earning it a 10 out of 10 score for ease of cleaning.

Another area in which this ball pit achieved a top score was play and entertainment value. Referencing her 1- and 3-year-old’s reactions, Jen said “they both were equally excited for a ball pit and have played with it nonstop since getting it.” While her eldest likes to leap into the ball pit, his little brother enjoys hiding toys in the ball pit and digging them out. Both kids also enjoyed using fishing nets to “catch” the balls contained in the pit. Talk about endless ways to play!

Age rating: N/A | Dimensions: 41.5" (W) x 12.5" (H) | Materials: Vegan leather | Weight: N/A

Last up on our list of the best ball pits for kids is this fun, inflatable option. Our product tester awarded this fun-shaped ball pit for toddlers a 10 out of 10 score for several categories, including play and entertainment value. An inflatable ball pit can be designed in slightly more creative shapes, and this one is made to look like a bright red fire truck—it’s perfect for slightly older toddlers already engaging in pretend play. “The ball pit also works well for imaginative play,” confirms Alyssa, our product tester and mom of two, who told us her 4-year-old put on his firefighter costume to play inside the truck.

Alyssa said “the setup is pretty straightforward” and it took her less than five minutes to inflate the ball pit. It didn’t come with a pump, but it did include a small straw that can be used to inflate the ball pit if you don’t own a hand pump. Although the walls are “solid” our product tester is slightly concerned that this ball pit won’t last long with daily rough-housing from her two young children. But she added that she hasn’t noticed any punctures yet, and “thankfully, it did come with a patch kit.”

With regards to her child’s initial reaction, Alyssa had this to say: “My children were thrilled when they first saw the ball pit—they squealed with excitement and ran straight for it.” It comes with 20 balls and has a steering wheel that moves for an added interactive element. She added that her children play in it twice a day, and it typically keeps them entertained for about 20 minutes before a squabble breaks out. This ball pit also earned a top score for ease of cleaning. While our product tester did notice a slight “plastic” smell immediately after unboxing it, the ball pit arrived in pristine condition and the plastic material is easy to wipe clean. “Given the material, I’m confident that any future marks or dirt will be simple to clean, which is a big plus,” explains Alyssa.

Age rating: 18+ months | Dimensions: 38" (L) x 30" (W) x 26" (H) | Materials: Vinyl | Weight: 3.6 lbs.