Magnetic tiles have become an incredibly popular toy for kids that doubles as an educational tool to develop STEM skills, creativity, and motor functions. With name brands like Magna-Tiles costing upwards of $50-$100 or more for a decent sized set, many parents search for cheaper magnetic tile alternatives.
The good news is there are dozens of magnetic tile options available at steep discounts that don’t compromise on quality or durability. This guide will overview everything you need to know about cheap magnetic tiles for kids and recommend the best budget-friendly magnetic building block sets.
What Are Magnetic Tiles and Why Are They So Popular?
Magnetic building tiles are colorful plastic shapes, usually squares and triangles, that connect to one another via embedded magnets around the edges. This allows kids to build elaborate 3D creations and structures only limited by their imagination.
Unlike other building block sets that rely on friction or snap-and-stick components, the magnets allow connections at various angles and much taller vertical structures unsupported by anything but the magnetic force.
Benefits of magnetic tiles:
- Promote creativity, problem-solving, spatial reasoning
- Develop fine motor control and hand-eye coordination
- Teach fundamentals concepts of engineering, physics, geometry
- Endless play potential for open-ended constructive fun
- Easy to put away and store for quick clean up
This winning combination of education and entertainment value explains why magnetic tiles have become one of the most popular toys on the market.
Brand name sets like Magna-Tiles and Picasso Tiles can be quite expensive, leaving parents searching for more affordable magnetic tile alternatives. The good news is discount magnetic tiles provide nearly identical play and education opportunities at a fraction of the cost.
Types of Magnetic Building Tiles
Magnetic tiles primarily come in two varieties – solid plastic shapes or open frames. Here’s an overview of both:
Solid Magnetic Tiles
- Solid plastic tiles in a variety of geometric shapes
- Tend to be heavier but very durable
- Allow for fully enclosed creations
- Often come with specialty pieces like windows or pictures
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very durable | Heavier sets overall |
| Fully enclosed structures | Fewer pieces for the price |
| More variety with specialty pieces |
Open Frame Magnetic Tiles
- Hollow plastic grid shapes with open spaces
- Lighter weight sets for bigger structures
- See inside creations while building
- More basic building shapes
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Larger sets for less money | Less durable long term |
| Lightweight for big structures | No enclosed creations |
| View internal structure | Less variety in shapes |
Both types allow for endless creativity and STEM learning. Open frame magnetic tiles are the more budget-friendly option to cover big builds. Solid magnetic tiles hold up better over time. We’ll recommend excellent cheap options for both below.
Top Recommended Affordable Magnetic Tile Sets
After extensive research on over two dozen magnetic tile brands, here are our top picks for cheap magnetic building blocks:
| Product | Price | # of Pieces | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| WORTO Mexican Train Dominoes | $21.99 | 104 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SHINTOP Open Frame Magnetic Tiles | $39.99 | 120 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| EASYDAY Solid Magnetic Tiles | $42.99 | 72 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| TOYWIN Rainbow Magnetic Tiles | $47.99 | 100 | ⭐⭐⭐1⁄2 |
| HATOPENS 3D Magnetic Tiles | $52.99 | 156 | ⭐⭐⭐1⁄2 |
WORTO Mexican Train Dominoes – A 104 piece domino set that doubles as an affordable magnetic tile starter kit. At only $20, it’s our top budget pick. Mix and match to build 3D structures. More limited than dedicated magnetic tiles but highly rated.
SHINTOP Open Frame Magnetic Tiles – Our top pick for discount open frame magnetic tiles. 120 pieces for hours of STEM-inspired build play at 60% less than premium brands. Lightweight but durable with great variety.
EASYDAY Solid Magnetic Tiles – A smaller but high quality set of 72 solid magnetic tiles ready for fully enclosed creations. Fun patterns and shapes encourage creativity and spatial reasoning skills.
TOYWIN Rainbow Magnetic Tiles – Vibrant 100 piece magnetic tiles featuring specialty shapes like wheels, window frames, and pictures. Very versatile mix great for toddlers up to elementary age.
HATOPENS 3D Magnetic Tiles – For our biggest cheap magnetic tile set, this 156 piece collection features tall triangles, giant squares, pictures, and frames. Build super tall or flat mosaic creations with high play value per dollar.
Read on for an in-depth look at the educational benefits, recommended ages, choking hazard warnings, and pros/cons of our top affordable magnetic tile sets for kids.
Educational Benefits of Magnetic Tile Play
Beyond the obvious entertainment and fun provided for endless hours of play, building with magnetic tiles has many developmental benefits for children. Here’s an overview of key skills improved by constructive magnetic tile play:
Spatial Reasoning – Visualizing and manipulating 3D shapes and structures in space
Geometry – Understanding angles, symmetry, proportions, volume
Creativity – Improvisational and imaginative play potential
Fine Motor Control – Precision of finger and hand movement
Problem-Solving – Planning and modifying complex builds
Collaboration – Teamwork toward shared goals (for multi-player fun)
Preschool and Montessori teachers have utilized magnetic tiles for years alongside other classic manipulation toys like wood blocks. The magnetic factor adds increased engagement, flexibility, and engineering play not found in other materials.
For home use, magnetic tiles offer parents a break unlike TV or digital devices while still capturing a child’s full immersed attention. The educational benefits then get absorbed more naturally through play rather than direct instruction.
Are Magnetic Tiles Safe? Choking Hazard Considerations
Magnetic building tiles receive high marks for safety from pediatric experts due to meeting child safety standards for materials and magnet strength.
- The tiles and magnets contain no toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates or lead
- Magnets safely encapsulated and too weak to pinch fingers
- Recommended only for ages 3+; choking hazard for toddlers
Unlike free floating powerful magnet balls and cubes (like Buckyballs), magnetic tiles pose little health risks with proper supervision. However, they do still present a choking hazard risk for babies and younger toddlers due to small parts.
For children under 3, even with larger sized tiles, direct supervision is required. Any small tile or dislodged magnet that comes free could obstruct an airway if swallowed. Choking on magnetic tiles remains one of the most common hazards so vigilance with kids under 3 is vital.
Get Creative: Uses for Magnetic Tiles Beyond Building
Plain square and triangle tiles for building towers seems pretty basic. But magnetic tiles offer many more possibilities when you get creative. Beyond constructing towers, castles, mazes, and imaginary structures, magnetic tiles provide versatile “manipulatives” for all kinds of play and learning.
Template and Design Games – Foster fashion design, architecture skills, or geometry practice by providing outlines, grids, and templates made from magnetic tiles for kids to decorate, color, or design within. Creative use of magnetic tiles replaces paper printables for a hands-on way to encourage design thinking and fine motor precision.
Play Scenes and Landscapes – Craft landscapes like farms, neighborhoods, parking lots, or underwater worlds by using magnetic tiles as the framework and adding other toys like play animals, cars, houses, greenery to bring the scene to life. Mix magnetic tiles with other top affordable playsets for 3D worldbuilding fun.
Fridge Hangouts – Magnetic tiles adhere powerfully to refrigerator doors, dishwashers or other metal surfaces to provide another “play space” kids can rearrange, decorate, and creatively craft on.
Activity Challenges – Teachers often provide prompts, pattern outlines, challenges, and puzzles by placing specific magnetic tile formations for students to copy or modify. Keep kids engaged with their magnetic tiles for years with fun new arrangements, building inspiration, and creative thinking challenges.
The Verdict: Invest in Magnetic Tiles for Endless Play and Learning
Magnetic building tiles provide an investable toy with incredible play value and longevity. Unlike short-lived color-it-once activity books or one-trick novelty toys, magnetic tiles adapt over time to match growing skills while keeping preschoolers enthralled for focused play now.
For frugal families watching budgets, we recommend starting with an affordable 60-100 piece open frame set for around $30-$50. Look for a starter kit with some specialty shapes (wheels, pictures, triangles, rectangles) for more variety.
Prioritizeversatility and pieces big enough not to be a choking hazard over direct mimicking expensive name brand sets with smaller pieces. Then supplement with value packs of bonus triangles or squares to grow your collection over the years!
With the right cheap magnetic tiles set selected as a base alongside our creative enhancement ideas, your kids can construct endless memories while building vital developmental skills!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best budget-friendly magnetic tiles?
Our top picks for cheap magnetic tiles are SHINTOP’s 120 piece open frame set for $39 and EASYDAY’s 72 piece solid tiles for $42. Both strike a great balance of cost savings, durability, and design versatility for endless STEM learning creations.
Are cheaper magnetic tiles safe for young kids?
Affordable magnetic tiles from reputable brands use non-toxic phthalate-free plastic, weak magnets, and quality control from choking hazards. However, supervision is still required for kids under 3 due to small parts and choking risk from any dislodged magnets.
How do magnetic tiles compare to other building toys?
Magnetic tiles allow for more elaborate, vertically structured creations faster thanks to the angled magnetic connections versus friction fit blocks. The flexibility and STEM learning benefits exceed wooden blocks. And they inspire more creative open-ended play than snap circuit toys with single “right” outcomes.
What age are magnetic tiles appropriate for?
Magnetic tiles suit kids aged 3 years and up. The small loose pieces pose a choking hazard for toddlers under 3 who still put things in their mouth. Preschoolers around age 3 have the fine motor skills to start manipulating the small magnetic tiles into simple builds.
Can I add to starter magnetic tile sets?
Once you have a set of around 100 larger, open frame magnetic tiles, affordable add-on packs of bonus triangles, squares, or accessories can extend your original set. Mix and match colors and shapes for thousands more unique creations.