13 Best Wooden Building Blocks For Kids + Toddlers in 2023

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Best Extra Large Wooden Building Blocks For Babies: Lewo Large Wooden Blocks Construction Building Toys Set

Toys under 3 cm are considered a choking hazard and *most* blocks on the market are larger than that, but even that size can leave parents feeling uneasy, especially with babies! In that case, we love Lewo's large wooden block set for added comfort coming in at over 4 cm!

The 32 piece set includes 7 different colors, and 8 different shapes which can be used to construct ships, construction vehicles, castles or whatever other shape your child desires!

These are made from beech wood and have a non-toxic finish. It also comes with a soft carrying bag and a plastic shape sorting lid (though the shape sorting lid holes aren't big enough for all the pieces).

Pros

Larger than most wooden blocks
Good assortment of shapes

Cons

Some parents felt they still weren't large enough
Some parents didn't like the natural discoloration from the paint/dye

Best Jumbo Wooden Blocks: Gigi Bloks

Gigi Blocks offers giant XXL mega building blocks in several different sets that make an excellent choice for toddlers and big kids!

You can purchase the giant wooden blocks in packs of 60, 100, or 200 as well as plain or colored and even a set for building an extra large block house!

You can build a house with any of the packs though (need a couple extra pieces), as well as dragons, store fronts, race cars, the eiffel tower, tables, chairs, and so much more!

Gigi blocks actually come in two sizes too. The XL blocks measure 135 mm w, 65 mm D, and 84 mm H while the XXL blocks measure 195 mm W, 98 mm D, and 125 mm H.

These are technically not wood, but cardboard. So parents will need to assemble the blocks upon arrival. These are extremely sturdy and even average sized adults can sit on a “chair” made from these. Unlike most of the cardboard jumbo building blocks on the market, these feature interlocking tops for added stability and safety.

When not in use, you can store them stacked as a tower or even use them to build a toy box for the room! Since you can stack them vertically, the footprint in the room when not in use can actually be pretty small.

Pros

Truly jumbo building blocks
Limitless life size creations
Sturdy and safe interlocking
Decorate with paper and crayons or blankets for added imaginative play
Can store vertically or build into furniture for a playroom (storage in place site!)

Cons

Initial assembly can be tiresome
Storage may feel overwhelming
Not waterproof
Not technically wood but cardboard

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Best Plain Wooden Building Blocks: KidKraft 60-Piece Wooden Cutout Shapes Block Building Architectural Set – Natural

KidKraft is another well known brand in the wooden toys space and their 60-piece wooden block set is carved from a durable solid wood and has been around for decades.

This set includes a nice mix of reasonably sized pieces and shapes like arches, columns, cubes and triangles for limitless creation.

Pros

Decent size blocks
Natural finish + solid wood construction
Good assortment of shapes

Cons

Some Amazon purchasers had difficulty with customer service
No replacement parts guarantee

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Best Classic Wooden Building Blocks: Lincoln Logs

Who didn't love Lincoln Logs growing up? These vintage wood toy logs are great for teaching a slightly different STEM lessons than traditional wooden blocks.

These retro wooden blocks are also great for building little cabins and pretend play scenes.

They make an excellent gift for boys and girls 3 and up, especially for families who are looking to avoid plastic LEGOs but still looking for a fun way to build a town or little world.

Pros

Lots of compatible add-on packs
Different type of STEM lessons than just square wooden blocks
Useful for creative and imaginative play

Cons

Need A LOT of logs to build bigger homes/worlds

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Best Wooden Rainbow Stacker: MerryHeart

In every montessori playroom on Instagram I'm sure you've seen the rainbow wooden stacker blocks but the absolute best set, and one that we own, is from MerryHeart.

It includes a large arched rainbow stacker, plus flat back arches so you can really stack them into loads of other shapes, and flat rectangle wooden pieces that you can use as bridges, stairs, and so much more (my daughter uses them as “beds” for the dolls in the set).

You can also use the rainbow arches and ramps with the balls to build ramps and tracks. This is a great Waldorf inspired block set with countless ways to stack, build, and create that making it a longer lasting rainbow wooden stacker than others on the market in my experience.

Pros

Unique building options
Waldorf inspired dolls included
Nontoxic dye that shows wood grain for richer sensory experience

Cons

Could be a smoother sand
Not all the doll colors match exactly with rainbow (overall they do though)

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Best Wooden Castle Building Blocks Set: FAO SCHWARZ Wooden Castle Building Blocks Set

FAO Schwarz has been around since 1862 and they know a thing or two about kids toys so it's no surprise they have the best wooden castle block set on the market!

This set includes 150 neutral wooden pieces in unique shapes and styles to truly bring a castle to life. Complete with pieces, windows, and medieval style walls, kids will love building bridges, arches, and towers using this set!

They offer the set in a few different sizes (60 piece, 75 piece, or 150 piece) and colors with the most common being the 150 piece natural wood.

Pros

Includes unique arches, turrets, bridges, and tower pieces
Large sets for elaborate builds and multiple kids

Cons

Some reviewers felt the pieces were too small and not sanded enough

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Best Wooden City Building Blocks: HABA Cityscape + HAPE City Building Blocks (TIED)

Honestly I couldn't choose the best wooden city building block set!

Haba Cityscape

While the Haba Cityscape building block set features only 18 pieces it provides a unique waldorf inspired design that packs a big punch. It's reminiscent of the waldorf wooden houses building set (another favorite) and can be configured into the German City of Bad Rodach's skyline or into a ton of options.

Haba is a leading brand in wooden toys and this set is made of beech wood, free of lead, and phthalates.

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As a waldorf/montessori family, the HABA one above is personally the one I'd go with. However the Hape one below, is great for more of a done for your city set and it includes a map. While it doesn't encourage as much creativity, you do get significantly more blocks as well as opportunities for letter and number recognition as well.

Hape City building blocks with map

This 125 piece wooden building block set comes ready to build the ultimate city. With brightly colored blocks the child can arrange the market, hospital, school, bus station, and police station on the city map then decorate with people, cars, and trees.

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Best Lego Style Wooden Block Set: Eco Bricks

Eco-Bricks™ Kids Wooden Blocks are the go to wooden block set for parents who like the style of LEGOs without the plastic.

They come in several different size packs. Each pack includes several different sizes and shapes, and some of the packs even include colored pencils to color the blocks!

These interlocking building blocks are made from a non-toxic natural wood. They offer heirloom quality and contribute 1% of sales to the Trash Free Seas Alliance.

Pros

Plastic free alternative to LEGOs
Ability to color, paint, and customize
Interlocking design

Cons

Not the same precise build as plastic alternative

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Best Stacking Wooden Blocks For Toddlers: HAPE Pyramid of Play Toddler Wooden Nesting Blocks

A nesting and stacking wooden block set is a great pick for any household. The nesting feature makes them a great space saver, and the self correcting montessori inspired style (can't stack a big one on a small one) helps children develop confidence in problem solving while learning deeper STEM concepts.

The HAPE Pyramid wooden nesting blocks provide several additional features that can create new opportunities for play! Each piece is themed with a specific main color.

One side includes shape sorting (with wooden block shapes), one side teaches early letter recognition, another shows a number symbol, while another shows the quantity of that number.

Hape is a great Garman brand for blocks and kids toys in our experience. Their finishes are non-toxic, child safe, and good quality. This set is rated safe for 18 months and up.

Pros

Twist on a classic montessori item
Shape sorting puzzle feature
Letter, number, and color recognition sides for added learning opportunities
Nesting for easier storage

Cons

Wooden stacking blocks for toddlers of this size may not be the best pick for rougher toddlers prone to injury in general
Corners could probably be rounded a bit more for added safety
When fully nested, the shape sorting blocks don't fit in and need to be stored separately

Best Budget Friendly Wooden Building Block Set: Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks Set

Melissa & Doug childrens toys are usually top of mind when parents think of affordable wooden toys. While their quality can leave something to be desired, there's no arguing they do a great job of delivering at affordable prices in the wooden toy space.

Their 100 piece block set has 4 colors and 9 shapes and comes in around $15 (I've seen it on sale for as low as $10 and listed for as much as $25).

The pieces in this set are smaller than most wooden blocks and they have some mixed reviews (what do you expect at that price though?) in terms of splitting and splintering. Personally, I'd suggest this as an add on set wooden block set for older kids who can handle the responsibility of discarded a damaged toy and don't mouth toys any more.

Pros

Affordable
Large number of pieces

Cons

Not great quality; some reviewers noted their blocks split or splintered
Smaller than many block sets at roughly 1(ish) inch (can fit inside toilet paper roll)