5 Best Ball Pits for Kids, Tested by Families

This pick received high scores across the board, marking it out as the overall best ball pit for babies and toddlers. Alexis tested the ball pit with her 11-month-old son and said his initial reaction was shock and curiosity. But once he climbed inside, he found a multitude of ways to play with this ball pit. “My child uses the ball pit to hide his trucks inside, then he digs to find them,” explains Alexis. “He likes 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. How cute is that?

“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 but it still contains the balls without them spilling over the sides. Our tester felt it was the ideal size for one child, but also noted that two kids could play together in the ball pit, so it’s great for siblings too!

From a practical point of view, Alexis notes that this ball pit was “very easy to set up” and store. It does arrive vacuum packed, so you may have to wait a couple of days after unboxing it for the foam to fully expand to its full size. But once that’s done, you simply need to pop in the base and add the balls. You can also remove the padded base and fold the main pit for easy storage when it’s not in use. It comes with 200 balls, which fill it about halfway. “The balls don’t pop nor smell funny,” adds Alexis.

Another area in which this ball pit excelled was materials and construction. The soft foam walls are encased in a velvet cover that is machine-washable for cleanliness. Unlike other options, the base and walls are made from the exact same material, which is a big indicator of quality. “The base was made with the same foam material as the walls,” confirms Alexis, who said the ball pit was super-comfy for her little boy. “It’ll withstand years [of use] if taken care of properly,” concludes Alexis.

Age rating: 10+ months | Dimensions: 35.4" (D) | Materials: Foam | Weight: 8 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.

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!

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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.