5 Best Ball Pits for Kids (Plus the Top Pit Balls), Tested by Families

When you buy a ball pit, you want something sturdy enough to last, soft enough to feel safe, easy enough to clean without dreading it and—ideally—that doesn’t require a second shopping trip just to get the pit balls. The Nuby Grey Velvet Ball Pit checks every single one of those boxes, which is exactly why it’s our overall best pick.

Our tester Alexis, mom of an 11-month-old, put this ball pit through multiple days of play and gave it a near-perfect score. Her son’s first reaction was shock and curiosity. But once he climbed inside, he found so many ways to play with this ball pit. “My child also uses the ball pit to hide his trucks inside, then he digs to find them,” explains Alexis. “He liked flapping his hands in the ball pit with balls going everywhere,” she continues, adding that he also dives in as if he were swimming underwater.

For babies and younger toddlers especially, this pit checks our expert's boxes, too. Suma Metla, DPT, a pediatric physical therapist based in Honolulu, Hawaii, recommends looking for ball pits with walls at least 12 to 18 inches tall for babies, and the Nuby’s soft-but-supportive foam walls hit that sweet spot. “My child was able to climb in the ball pit on his own, no assistance needed,” says Alexis, who awarded the ball pit a 10 out of 10 score for size. “The height of the walls are perfect,” she adds, noting that her son can easily step inside.

Where the Nuby really shines, though, is the pit balls. It comes with 200 of them, in a soft aqua, white and grey palette that actually looks aesthetic in a living room. “The balls don’t dent at all which is soooo cool,” Alexis raved. If you’ve ever stared at a ball pit full of sad, caved-in balls and wondered why you bothered, you’ll understand why this matters so much.

The one thing Alexis wished it came with? A dedicated storage bag. As she put it, “Storage isn’t hard at all. It could be more convenient, though.” A fair ask, and a small note for a pit that otherwise performed beautifully. And unlike other ball pits on the market, the base and walls are made from the exact same material, which is a big indicator of quality. “It’ll withstand years [of use] if taken care of properly,” says Alexis.

Age suitability: 10+ months | Dimensions: 35.4" (D) | Material: Foam | Weight: 8 lbs. | Foldable: Yes | Ball pit balls included: Yes | Price with balls: $99.99

If you have more than one kid, the SHJADE Foam Ball Pit is the one I’d hand you without hesitation. I tested this one personally with my 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, and it was honestly hard not to name this as the overall best—in fact, if it came with its own balls, it might have made the cut!

At 47.2 inches in diameter, this pit is huge once it’s unrolled—but that’s exactly the point. There’s a lot of wiggle room with this one to jump around, dive, roll and crawl. My kids could both be inside at the same time without stepping on each other. And we even fit a Little Tikes plastic slide in there for some extra fun. Both kids were happy and occupied for a solid hour, which, as any mom of multiples knows, is a very important unit of measurement for a successful toy.

The safety piece here is a huge part of why I love this pit. The 2-inch-thick high-quality foam walls are soft enough that I have zero worries about my wild-child one-year-old taking a tumble into them. Yet they are sturdy enough to hold their shape and pop right back up when leaned on. I don’t have to worry about my kids getting hurt in this foam ball pit at all. And because the walls fold down to the ground when they lean on them, my one-year-old can even climb out on his own—which expert Metla specifically flagged as an important quality in ball pits.

Cleaning is surprisingly easy for this foam pit, too. Drool and even dog slobber (yes, really) came off with a damp cloth. And the stretchy outer fabric unzips so you can pull the foam out and wash the cover for a more in-depth clean.

The biggest downside? It takes about 200 balls—at least—to fill it, and the pit doesn’t come with any when you purchase it. Factor in a couple of bags of our favorite balls, and you’re looking at around $150 all-in. Worth it, in my book. But still definitely worth keeping in mind as you shop.

Age suitability: 12+ months | Dimensions: 47.2" (D) x 13.8" (H) | Material: Foam | Weight: N/A | Foldable: Yes | Ball pit balls included: No | Price with balls: $149.97

The Infantino Pop-Up Ball Pit comes highly recommended by mom of two, Jennell, who gave it a 10 out of 10 score for every single testing category. 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 parents on the go. “The ball pit was really easy to set up. You just unfold and it pops up,” explains Jennell, who said the simple setup and portability were a major added benefit. “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.

In terms of construction, our product tester said the mesh walls are both sturdy and flexible, and the pit easily accommodates both of her kids. Plus, the pastel color-scheme is child-friendly without being garish, and Jennell loved the words around the rim that read “you are my sunshine.” Not to mention, it’s also super-easy to clean! “I usually just shake it upside down,” says Jennell. “I haven’t had any stains or anything yet, but I do spray it with some Lysol to keep it fresh,” she continues.

While both her kids like to play with the pit, it’s definitely favored by her youngest. “My daughter loves to lie in the ball pit rolling around with the balls,” says Jennell, who noted that her 22-month-old plays with it for at least 30 minutes at a time.

The Infantino comes with 50 balls, which didn’t fill the pit, but Jennell felt that it was “the perfect amount for them to play with.” That said, if you want your toddler to reap more sensory benefits from a well-filled pit, adding our top-tested set still makes this one of the more affordable options on our list at $58.97. All in all, this budget-friendly pop-up ball pit is a great addition to any playroom, and our product tester said she would definitely recommend it to other parents.

Age suitability: 9+ months | Dimensions: 32" (D) | Material: Polyester | Weight: N/A | Foldable: Yes | Ball pit balls included: Yes | Price with balls: $58.97

Foam ball pits are incredible. However, they’re usually expensive—often well over $150 once you add on the price of balls. But the Playtopia 36’’ Foam Ball Pit is definitely the one I’d point any budget-conscious parent to. It delivers the softness, safety and aesthetic of premium foam pits at a price that feels almost too good to be true. I personally tested this one myself, and I’m still a bit shocked it’s under $60.

Even better, this Playtopia ball pit comes with 250 balls! Which I think is actually the perfect amount for a pit this size. And the pit balls themselves are one of my absolute favorites —thicker, more air-filled, smoother and in a gorgeous teal-and-white palette that pairs beautifully with the soft grey foam. Compared to the traditional chaos of multi-colored balls on the market, these are a breath of fresh air.

When I put it to the test, I was genuinely impressed by how well the Playtopia balances softness and sturdiness. Its solid 2-inch+ thickness is sturdy enough to hold up the sides, yet moldable if your kid needs to get out and push down the walls. My kids have been rolling over the walls, folding them and running laps around them (read: through them) for weeks, and the ball pit still looks brand new. I can truly see this pit lasting years!

At 36 inches in diameter, this ball pit is a great fit for one child or two small babies—my very-on-the-move one-year-old and my 4-year-old definitely felt the squeeze. In fact, my older daughter told her little brother he could have this ball pit to himself because it suited him better. Realistically, this one is best for a one-child household, a young-baby setup or a smaller home.

Another plus was how easy this pit was to spot clean messes. I easily wiped up baby drool, smashed snacks and orangey-yellow mac and cheese stains off this one. But if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t want to deal with a full-blown accident due to it being full-on-foam. “Foam is porous and absorbs liquids deeply,” confirms Metla. “A surface spray of disinfectant does not reach contamination that has wicked into the interior of the foam.” For a minor surface spill, she recommends rinsing with cold water and applying an enzymatic cleaner (the same type used for pet accidents). For anything bigger, her guidance is to replace the affected foam pieces. My personal solution? A strict “no drinks inside the pit” rule has worked beautifully so far.

Age suitability: 12+ months | Dimensions: 36” (D) × 14” (H) | Material: Foam | Weight: N/A | Foldable: Yes | Ball pit balls included: Yes (250) | Price with balls: $55.99

For the tiniest ball pit users, you need something a little different. A baby realistically doesn’t need a super deep and wide foam pit—they need a contained, developmentally appropriate space that supports sitting, grabbing and exploring. The Bright Starts 5-In-1 Your Way Ball Play Activity Gym & Ball Pit is the one I’d recommend to any parent of an infant or young toddler.

This pit’s versatile design can be used from birth as an activity gym or as a play mat for tummy time, all 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.

The neat part is that this pit comes with a carry case for easy storage and 40 ball pit balls. Which our product tester said was 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,” Nisha explained.

This pit 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. Plus, the side walls are high enough to keep the pit balls contained, but low enough to allow Nisha’s daughter to crawl in and out with little to no help.

The real standout feature, though? The mesh canopy with holes designed for dropping balls through. It’s Nisha’s favorite feature to help with fine motor skills for her daughter’s age. Which is exactly the kind of developmental play pediatric experts would sign off on. In fact, Metla specifically explained that good ball pits should help build dynamic balance skills, coordination, sensory integration and cause and effect. The Bright Starts setup, with its attached toys, mirror and canopy, builds that kind of activity right in.

And an added bonus: The ball pit mat is machine-washable. So you can throw it in on a cold cycle whenever the ball pit is in need of a deep clean. All in all, if you’re using this as a transitional product for a baby who isn’t quite ready for a bigger pit, this one works beautifully.

Age suitability: 0 to 36 months | Dimensions: 26.8” (L) × 27.6” (W) × 19.7” (H) | Material: Fabric, plastic and metal | Weight: N/A | Foldable: Yes | Ball pit balls included: Yes (40) | Price with balls: $88.95

After testing several ball sets alongside ball pits, the Little Tikes Balls for Kids’ with Reusable Mesh Bag are my personal go-to. They’re the ones I’d reach for if I needed to top off any of our pits, which is saying a lot because they’re the smallest pack I tested (only 100 balls, compared to 250 and 400 from competitors).

The reason for all this love? Quality, quality, quality. Out of all the ball pit balls I’ve used, they’re the softest and smoothest, yet they're thicker and hold up better—they don’t stay dented after playing. I can’t stand looking at a ball pit with dented, uneven, cracked balls, but I can see these lasting years. One morning I even woke up to my son sliding down our play slide into the ball pit with these balls—he was having a blast!

From a safety standpoint, they earn full marks too. They’re filled with just enough air to spring back after squeezing, and at around 2.5 inches in diameter, they’re the right size for small hands but not too small to be a hazard—my kids couldn’t bite these ones and carry them around in their mouths like they could with the other pit balls we tested.

A small but underrated perk is the included mesh storage bag with a handle. It fits all 100 balls perfectly without any squishing, and the zipper and handle make it easy to carry around. It sounds like a tiny perk, until you’ve been on your hands and knees hunting stray balls at 8 p.m.

The only honest downside is quantity. 100 is great for topping off a smaller pit or using it with a younger child. But if you’re filling a larger pit from scratch, you’ll want at least two bags of these. But that's more of a logistical note than a dealbreaker, especially at this price point.

Age suitability: 2+ years | Dimensions: 2.5” (D) | Material: BPA-free plastic | Weight: N/A | Ball pit balls included 100 | Price: $16.99