11 Best Easels For Toddlers & Kids with Storage + Paper Rolls in 2023

Discover how to choose the best easel for kids that will grow with children from the toddler years and beyond! We'll look at storage, complete art station sets, tabletop easels for toddlers, and what you need to know about easels with paper rolls!

Art easels for toddlers and kids are a great way to build motor skills, independence, creativity, and so much more. But with so many accessories and features, it can feel overwhelming to choose the best toddler easel that can actually grow with them, but we've got you covered with the options and tips below!

Overall Best Easel For Kids: Award Winning Hape All-in-One Wooden Kids Art Easel

The Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid’s Art Easel with Paper Roll is a fan favorite for good reason — it offers longevity, comes with a magnetic whiteboard, black chalkboard, and has built-in storage for the paper roll on top and paint pots with holders below.

The natural wood finish makes it compatible with a wider range of home decor schemes. You’ll like that the tray features three spill-proof paint pots. Better still, along with the included paper roll and holder, the easel features two paper holders to keep your child’s drawing flat against the board. So, you won’t need magnets. 

We give it the best easel for kids ranking thanks to it's price, quality, features, and height. There are higher quality easels on this list and cheaper one's, but this is the most well rounded art easel.

Best Multi-Use Easel: KiwiCo Marble Run + Art Easel

If you are looking for one of the best easels for kids, look no further than KiwiCo’s Marble Run + Art Easel! Its multipurpose design guarantees its use through the years across many ages.

While the other side focuses on the artist with a chalkboard that can also be pulled off and flipped over to a white board. Of course, you can sit a roll of paper at the top for painting, and it includes two cup holders for art supplies.

We recently had a playdate for my 4 year old and her friend brought her two older siblings (~10 and 12 years old). I was pretty nervous that our house had too many toys for little kids and they would be bored out of their mind; but alas the KiwiCo marble run easel saved the day! One even remarked “this is way better than our marble run at home!”

The only noteworthy thing I want to share is the marble run side comes with 2 bags for storage of the marble run pieces. We tried pushing the bags into the board to “catch” the marbles as they dropped, but the bags kept falling out of the pegs. Not a deal breaker at all, just a heads up!

Best Wooden Easel With Storage: Little Partners 2-Sided Art Easel

Little Partners is one of our go-to brands specializing in wooden toddler items and their 2 sided art easel is a fantastic quality and durable option.

It also comes with accessories: one paper roll, two trays for supplies, four spill-proof paint cups, an eraser, and paper clip holders on either side for for hanging or displaying art. Additionally, this easel has some of the best storage out there with it's two lower storage shelves and 2 fabric bins.

The Little Partners wooden easel is GREENGUARD GOLD certified and comes in six different finishes, giving you plenty of options to match your home’s decor scheme.

Best Budget Friendly Easel: C​​rayola Kids Mini Wooden Art Easel & Supplies  

Crayola is all about making art and fun accessible with price points that budget-conscious parents will appreciate. The Crayola Mini Wooden Art Easel features a design similar to the Hape, but at a fraction of the cost and comes with supplies.

We like that this pick can be shifted to it’s shortest position by simply removing the leg extensions. Similar to the Hape, once fully assembled this isn’t foldable. 

Best Wooden Art Station with Easel for Kids: Guidecraft Desk to Easel Art Cart

For parents that want an easel that can do more in terms of storage or with multiple kids, the Guidecraft Desk to Easel Art Cart is a smart investment that can also fold flat to a table top!

You’ll also like that the easel top can be laid flat for a stable tabletop surface for drawing or writing.

Note that this has a permanent footprint that measures 22.5 inches by 26 inches. 

Best All In One Art Station for Toddlers: Step2 Flip and Doodle Desk with Stool Easel

For true budding mixed media artists, the Step2 Art Easel and Doodle Desk with a stool is the perfect choice.

The easel can be easily raised for art time, and then returned to a horizontal position to become a flat table top when you need it. Unlike other fold flat easels, this one actually functions well as a desk and comes with a stool for children to sit at.

This pick is plastic, but it says there are no phthalates, BPA, and zero VOC.

Best Easel Toddler Tower Combo: Happy Tower + Little Partners (TIED)

Happy Tower and Little Partners both make a great toddler tower with an easel option making them the best easel for 2 year olds. but the styles vary quite a bit which is why they both make the list depending on what you're looking for! I have an entire post on how to choose the best toddler learning tower with more picks here.

In short though: Both picks include a wooden structure that doubles as a stool with a chalkboard easel only and no accessories. Our personal pick would the be Little Partners one since it's sturdier/enclosed design is a bit safer for younger toddlers and the chalkboard is always available for independent play. We also like that it can fit 2 kids and the height is adjustable.

With that said, if you are a montessori family looking for a weaning table. toddler, tower and easel, then the Happy Tower is a great pick thanks to it's multi-functionality.

Here's a closer look at each:

Best For Multiple Toddlers or Young Kids: Step2® All Around Red Easel for Two

If you have more than one toddler in your home, don’t let art time turn into a bickering fest. The Step2 All Around Red Easel for Two is a dual-sided chalkboard and magnetic whiteboard that also features compact storage solutions on either side so each child can have their own space.

This easel is made from an easy to clean plastic that is fear of VOCs, phthalates, and BPA. It's lightweight at less than 10 pounds. And the compact footprint makes this ideal for smaller play areas.  

Best Character Themed Easels: Delta Children Wooden Double-Sided Kids Easel with Storage

Some children are just obsessed with their favorite cartoon characters and want to see them literally everywhere. The Delta Children Wooden Double-Sided Kids Easel with Storage has a great selection of themed options including popular Disney characters as well as Paw Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Along with a double-sided easel featuring a chalkboard and magnetic whiteboard, you’ll also get a lower compartment for the storage bins and a small ledge under the easel for quick supply access. Overall, this is a great little toddler art easel featuring your child's favorite characters.

Note that the bottom segment isn’t a sturdy tray, but rather a fabric liner to hold the storage totes. 

Prettiest Kids Easel: Ultimate Art Easel

A kids art easel typically becomes a permanent fixture in your home for years so there is NO shame in wanting the prettiest kids easel for the best overall aesthetic and the Ultimate Art Easel is our top choice.

Along with a dual-sided chalkboard and magnetic whiteboard, the base features three storage trays with the middle tray being the perfect place to store artwork that needs to dry. Parents could also easily add clips to the side frame for additional storage for art that's completed or drying. The bottom deeper tray is ideal for storing art supplies. And the top tray holds three cup holders. Meanwhile, you also get a paper roll.

How To Choose The Best Easel For Toddlers + Kids:

Easels are such a fun way to get little ones excited about art as well as spark their creativity. But it’s also important to get an easel that seamlessly combines longevity with being age appropriate and safe for your child’s play area. 

Intended Use:

First consider whether you want a tabletop easel or traditional one. Tabletop easels are typically more portable, though sometimes they are simply a conversion setting at an art station. Tabletop easels are often designed to be used while sitting — meaning that your child can use it on the floor or place it on a desktop if they prefer. 

Similarly, think about whether you want an all-weather easel which can be used inside and outside, or one that’s meant for indoors. If you prefer an all-weather option, be sure that your easel is made of durable materials that are not only water-resistant, but UV-resistant to prevent fading in the sun. 

Storage: 

Does your easel provide additional storage options? Many easels will feature a middle panel tray which is perfect for laying art supplies like crayons, markers, paint sticks, and paint brushes. 

But these days, you can also find easels that come with additional storage cubbies or cups, which allows you to keep your child’s art station more organized. This is great for encouraging independent play as well as responsibility within the child to clean up afterwards.

Footprint in the room: 

How large will the easel be, and is there enough space for it to stay in a location without impacting traffic flow? This is an important question, especially if you’re thinking of adding an easel to a room with limited floor space. 

Don’t just think about the easel height, also consider how much area it will occupy when open.

Alternatively, how easily can you fold the easel? An easel designed to quickly fold flat means you can easily store it when not in use. And this can be a great solution for parents and caregivers who want their child to have an easel, but lack the ability to create a dedicated space for it. 

Single or double sided: 

Not all easels are double-sided, but this can be a great feature to prioritize. Often, double-sided easels are intended to be both chalkboards and whiteboards. In many cases, one or both sides are also magnetized. 

This can be a nice feature as you can rely on magnets to stabilize paper on the board so children can create works of art that you can hang elsewhere in your home. Having a double-sided board also means that multiple children can use the easel simultaneously. 

Adjustable height:

If you’re focused on longevity, an easel with an adjustable height frame is critical. Children are always growing, and the height that might have worked when your little one was two years old may be too short to be comfortable by the time they’re three. 

A good adjustable height easel will usually offer two or more heights. An ideal option is to pick an easel with a height range, rather than one or two fixed positions. This ensures that the easel will grow with your child and that you’ll get the best return on your investment. 

Type of board

There are a wide range of easels out there. Some are double-sided and flippable, meaning that you only get one workable side of the easel, but that panel can be rotated from a chalkboard to a whiteboard. 

Alternatively, more traditional double-sided easels will feature two separate permanent panels. While nice, this also means that you’ll need to move the easel (depending on where you place it in a room) so that children can easily access both sides. 

And you can also find easels with paper rolls. This can be a nice feature if you have a child who’s constantly interested in drawing or coloring on paper. Typically, it’s easy to replace the roll and most craft and art stores carry paper rolls with a universal fit, but you'll still want to double check the dimensions of the paper roll holder and your easel.

FAQS About Kids Easels:

Why choose an easel over a table? 

There’s nothing wrong with drawing or coloring at a table. But if you’re concerned about your child building a habit of using poor posture, an easel — even a table top one — will help to minimize that risk. 

Additionally, opting for an easel means that your child always has a dedicated space to tap into their creativity and artistic side. 

Benefits of an easel for kids:

Easels are great spaces for children to tap into their imaginations. Along with sparking creativity, children gain fine motor skills as they learn how to properly hold items such as paint brushes, markers, crayons, and chalk. 

Better still, working at an easel ensures that children maintain proper posture rather than sitting slumped over a table. And in many cases, with standing easels children also build enhanced core strength. Hand-eye coordination can also improve as children draw or color with intention. 

What age can a child use an easel?

Assuming your child has mastered standing and expressed an interest in arts (such as finger painting), even young toddlers around two years of age can begin to use an easel. Just keep in mind that if you’re going to introduce it to a child this young, you’ll want to pick an easel that’s best suited to their current height with the option to grow with them. 

How to introduce an easel to a toddler or baby?

Similar to any other toys you introduce to your child, children will learn to use an easel by copying your actions. Show them how they can easily draw on the easel, whether with crayons,chalk, dry erase markers, paint sticks, paint pens, or liquid paint. 

Demonstrate how they can keep their art supplies on the easel tray or in the cups and how to use the board(s) and accessories that might come with your easel. 

How do you clean an easel?

It’s usually a good idea to follow the cleaning instructions that came with your easel. However, it’s also smart to have some standard cleaning supplies nearby. 

Both chalkboards and whiteboards can easily be cleaned with warm water and a rag. If you want to use something strong, standard cleaners such as an all-purpose spray or window cleaner will likely work too. Use a soft cloth such as a microfiber towel, or paper towels.

For best results, you should wipe down the panels and frame after easel time is done to prevent permanent staining. 

Are easels safe for kids?

Assuming you pick an age appropriate easel, yes they should be safe. But also consider the easel frame and components, as well as if any accessories come with it. 

While not always standard, many easels come with markers and magnets. Check that the markers are non-toxic and washable. Remember that kids can be messy! Also check that any magnets don’t pose a choking hazard. This is especially important if the magnets are plastic with magnetic disks in the back which can fall out versus the fully magnetized backs like these which are generally considered safer.

If you’re concerned that your child is too young to understand that magnets shouldn’t be put in their mouth, remove them from the easel. Alternatively, you can also look for easels that come with different versions that feature a full magnet backing rather than the disks. 

What to look for when choosing in a toddler easel?

Since toddlers have a lot of growing to do, one of the first things we suggest considering is adjustable height if you want your child to get started right away and they are on the shorter side.

Most easels are fairly durable, but you definitely get what you pay for. Meaning the more expensive ones are typically made from the most durable high quality wood. Cheap wooden easels are typically plywood that can crack or splinter and plastic ones can easily be wiped clean but may have some hidden toxic chemicals in the plastic or crack and fade if used outdoors.

Definitely keep price of the easels and accessories in mind while shopping. Some easels don't have a paper roll holder which can be annoying. Others include disk magnets which can pose a choking risk. Finally, some easels don't include any accessories so you'll want to factor that into pricing as well.

Are paper rolls included in an easel?

Paper rolls aren’t a standard feature for all easels. Not all easels come with a paper rolls or even a space to hold a paper roll so be sure to double check as this is a helpful feature for children who like to draw.

Are all easels magnetic?

Magnetic easels are fairly common but that doesn’t mean that this is a standard feature. Always read the product description to determine if the easel you want comes with all the key features that are important to you. 

Does the HAPE easel fold? 

The HAPE art easel technically can fold if you disassemble it. But it’s not designed to be a quick, flat-folding solution for homes trying to maintain a small footprint. 

Because of the design, which includes a permanent tray between the frame, it’s meant to be a permanent fixture.

If portability is a priority, the HAPE easel (and those similar to it) might not be the best choice for you and instead we'd suggest a tabletop easel.

What are the best easels for toddlers?

Art easels for a toddler should ideally be height adjustable so they grow with kids. Since easels are an item that will last for years, we like high quality wooden easels for kids as they are less toxic than plastic and less likely to dent or tip over.

Whatever type of easel you choose for kids, make sure that it has all the features you want. Popular ones include storage, a paper roll holder, magnetic white board and chalk board.

Beyond that bonus features and accessories you can easily add on to any easel, though some come with it, include clips for drying and hanging art, paint cups, chalkboard eraser, included paper roll, crayons, magnets, paint brush, paint, chalk, and dry erase markers.

What is the best drawing easel?

You can draw on any easel but a few things to consider when choosing the best drawing easel for kids are portability and slant.

For instance, the Step2 All Around Red Easel is a vertical workspace which won't provide the best angle for drawing/sketching.

With that said, a portable table top easel like this one will give children the ability to draw on the go, in their car seat, outside, waiting for appointments, standing, or sitting.

What accessories should I get for kids with an easel?

When first setting up an art easel for kids accessories you'll want to have on hand may vary by the type of easel (e.g. does it have a chalk board or a paper roll?) but in general we suggest having the following on hand:

• Chalk
• Chalkboard eraser
• Dry erase marker
• Magnets
• Paint
• Paint pots
• Paint brushes
• Paper roll
• Paint sticks
• Crayons

This is a great bundle 25 piece accessory set (note it's NOT washable paint) for children's easels with paper rolls that paint can be used on since it also includes chalk and dry erase accessories.

Alternatively, this is a great washable paint set – with no accessories for the chalk or dry erase boards.

If you want a less messy option, or are just starting out with art supplies, paint sticks can make a great alternative to traditional paint which you'll need paint pots and brushes for.

You also may just want to start with chalk before introducing dry erase markers which can leave a more permanent stain.

In terms of keeping things clean, you may want to get an art smock for your little one. A microfiber cloth is also a solid option for keeping the boards clean with a little water or household cleaner. If your child is especially messy, you can place a drop cloth like this underneath the easel to catch any spills.

Lastly, having additional paper rolls or construction paper on hand is helpful. You can also opt fotoddlerr clips to hang drying art on the easel.

Final Thoughts:

An art easel for kids is a fantastic option for building a wide variety of skills and interests in toddlers and young children.

The overall best art easel for toddlers is the Hape All-in-One Wooden Kids Art Easel thanks to its adjustable height, included paint pots, paper clips, and paper roll with holder. We do wish it had more storage and was a bit sturdier like the Little Partners 2-Sided Art Easel so if that one is suitable for your child's height we'd probably go with that one instead.

We are also huge fans of the affordable Melissa & Doug Deluxe Double-Sided Tabletop Easel which makes a great portable option and solution for small spaces or children who prefer to sit while drawing or creating art.

What Is Montessori? | Best Montessori Quotes | Montessori Playroom For 2 Year Old | Montessori Tips To Encourage Independent Play For Toddlers + Babies [0-3 years old] | Montessori Books For Parents | Tips For Choosing Books For Infants + Toddlers | Things To Avoid When Selecting Books Carefully   |  Montessori Baby Toys For 0-6 Months  

Originally published 2/22/22; Updated 9/19/23