8 Best Sandboxes from Small Turtle to Big Boat
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Remember how much you loved sandboxes when you were a kid? Well, they still are!
If you have the money (and the space), it is this pirate sandbox boat from Kidkraft really very good. There are hours of fun with all compartments, rudder, seats and of course sand.
In this article I discuss the best and the nicest sandboxes for your child. These top choices are guaranteed to provide hours of fun.
But I have looked at many more different sandboxes for you, for every budget.
Here's a quick overview of all the best sandboxes you can find and later a more extensive review of each of these options, then I'll give you all the background information about playing with sand and sandboxes:
Best sandbox boat
Little ones who like sand or boats may prefer to play in this covered boat than in a 'normal' wooden playhouse!
Best plastic sandbox
The sandpit is shaped like a turtle. Because of its nice design and green color, the sandpit fits nicely in the backyard as an extra playground.
Best sandbox picnic table
Your child from 3 years old can sit comfortably on the bench while playing with the sand. Children who prefer not to have sand in their pants will be happy to take a seat at this table.
Best sandbox with excavator
This pick is actually my favorite, and I actually kind of wish I had bought this one for him.
Best water and sand table
This fun sandpit table is easy to store and also has a drainage hole to drain the water after use.
Best sandbox on wheels
It is a mobile sandbox that stands on wheels and can easily be moved from one corner of the garden to the other.
Plastic sandbox with best lid
This durable sandbox is shaped like a treasure chest and is a great toy for imaginative play.
Best wooden sandbox with benches and roof
Your child is protected against bright sun rays and that is a great bonus of this sandbox.
Watch the best choices in my video, or read on for an explanation about sandboxes and an extensive assessment of all choices:
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Sandbox for home buying guide
It is not easy to make a good choice, you have to take a number of factors into account:
- how much space do you have in your garden or on your balcony if you want to add toys there?
- where do you put the sandbox: depending on where you want to place the sandbox, you choose the model and size of the sandbox. Choose a dry spot and, if possible, a shady spot with occasional sunlight, so that the sand can dry.
- are you going for a sandbox on the ground or on legs?
- which material do you choose: also choose a model that is easy to maintain and clean.
- the size of the sandbox, related to your child's age
- the price of the sandbox
- if you are going to dig the sandbox: then it is good if you choose a sandbox with an opening at the bottom to drain any excess water from the container
The size of the sandbox
I recommend a small model sandbox for young children, 1-3 years old. They still often play alone and can feel lost in a large sandbox.
For slightly older children of about 3-6 years, choose a large model, even if several children will often play together, you go for a large model sandbox.
Fill and cover the sandpit
You fill your sandbox with play sand that has been well sifted and washed. After all, young children can get (or stop!) Sand in their mouths.
The recommended amount of sand is stated on the instructions that you get with a sandbox.
You fill the smallest sandboxes with about 30 kg of sand, while for the largest models you may need almost 600 kg.
But how full should you fill the sandboxes? You do not fill a sandbox all the way to the edge, but to know exactly how many kilos of sand there should be in your sandbox, take the length x the width x the height of the sandbox (you can subtract something from the height if you do not fill to the brim).
Play sand weighs approximately 1500 kilos per cubic meter (1m3).
In the normal sandbox shell, however, each half can hold about 60 kg of sand. The large sandbox shell holds about 80 to 100 kg of sand (per half).
How expensive is it to fill the different containers? A 15 kg bag of sand usually costs around € 9 to € 10, if you buy more in bulk it might be a little cheaper.
How much does it cost to fill a sandbox?
In the table below you can see how many kilos you need for our top 8 sandboxes!
| Sandpit | Amount of sand | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Kidkraft Pirate Ship | 300kg | € 200, - |
| Little Tikes Turtle | 70kg | € 46, - |
| AXI Best Choice Nick | 5kg | € 9, - |
| Little Tikes Big Digger | 45kg | € 30, - |
| Step2 Cascading Cove | 5kg | € 9, - |
| Goplus Retractable Sandbox | 100-200kg | € 100, - |
| Step2 Play & Store | 90kg | € 60, - |
| KidKraft garden sand box with sunroof | 200-300kg | € 160, - |
Wood versus plastic sandbox
Do you already know whether you want a wooden sandbox, or rather a plastic sandbox? I'll list the pros and cons for you.
Advantages & disadvantages wooden sandbox
- Usually a lot bigger than the plastic version. Handy when several children are playing in it at the same time, but perhaps too big for a small garden
- Cannot be moved just like that
- No bottom, so the water can pass through easily.
- Can be left outside and is made of wood that is impregnated under pressure with a wood preservative, the sandpit is protected against weather influences, fungi and woodworm.
Advantages & disadvantages plastic sandbox
- Easy to clean
- Often has a lid
- Doesn't take up that much space
- Is easy to move and store
- A plastic sandbox can quickly be transformed into a bath
Top 8 best sandboxes rated
One sandbox is not the other, so we have investigated for you which types of sandboxes exist and which are the best.
kidkraft Pirate boat
- Good sandbox and climbing ship in one
- Solidly built
- Takes up quite a lot of space for a sandbox
Are you looking for a wooden sandbox, but you don't want just any ordinary wooden sandbox?
Then you can opt for this particularly cool wooden sandbox in the shape of a pirate ship.
With this pirate sandbox your child can play fun games such as chasing treasure and sailing a boat.
But you can also hide a treasure very well in this wooden sandbox. The possibilities are endless!
With a pirate theme, your child's imagination will be stimulated and you will see that the child will come up with very nice stories.
The sandbox is very practical and keeps your child safe in the shade thanks to the beautiful blue roof.
The boat also has storage space for toys such as scoops and sand molds. What we also like about this sandbox boat are the benches at the back of the boat.
Other pirates or maybe other shipmen could sit on it. In short, a very interactive sandbox with fun options.
Little Tikes Sandpit Turtle
- Small is beautiful
- Handy shield looks cute but also protects against rain (and cats)
- Small, so your child will grow out of it reasonably well after 4 years
This large green sandbox with turtle shape is perfect for hours of sand fun and is from the famous children's toy brand Little Tikes.
The sturdy sandpit has a high edge for the children to sit on and a practical lid to cover the sandpit when not in use.
The lid fits snugly on the sandpit and will stop unwanted visits from vermin and pets.
This is a wonderful sandbox for the little ones from 1 year to dig with a shovel and a bucket. The fact that they are in a large turtle is of course extra fun.
AXI Best Choice Nick
- Great sturdy table and handy to sit at
- 2 bins for sand and water, for example
- The sandboxes are small
This AXI Best choice with benches made of wood is a practical table sandpit that your child can enjoy for a long time.
Your child from 3 years old can sit comfortably on the bench while playing with the sand. Children who prefer not to have sand in their pants will be happy to take a seat at this table.
The sand also remains safe and clean for the next turn.
Children will have hours of fun with this picnic table and sandpit in one! Would you like to eat a sandwich together at the table? Place the table top on top of the 2 plastic bins.
Play with sand? Remove the table top and fill the containers with sand or water. They can of course also be used as a storage compartment. The bins are easy to remove and clean.
The table has 2 benches, is suitable for 4 children and is made of FSC certified natural wood.
Find here the 16 best playground equipment rated for every age
Little Tikes BigDigger
- Excavator attached to the bucket
- Low container that can be stored small
- Not for sitting and playing
This Little Tikes sand digger is a beautiful sandbox that offers endless fun.
This choice is actually my favorite, My son really loves excavators and I kind of wish I had bought this one for him.
We had already bought a water table from Little Tikes that he also likes, and we put sand in it every now and then.
But if I could do it all over again, I would have bought it for him. Super cool such excavator (here we reviewed more)!
It is a special sandbox and you don't really need anything else to keep the little builders busy.
Your child can play on it together with other children and you also get other toys including a descending road for trucks.
The children can dig and shovel to their heart's content just like real builders and make their own town or harbor. It is a sandbox with many options and possibilities and we like that very much.
These Little Tikes construction site (here are some more toy construction site choices) sandbox allows multiple children to explore the sand and water.
The sandpit comes with a large crane and a truck and is suitable for children from 2 to 6 years old.
Step 2 Cascading Cove
- Sand and water table in one
- Spacious playing surface suitable for 2 children
- Lid deforms easily
When you have several children at home or when your child receives a visit from friends, a versatile sandbox table is very useful.
On the one hand you can play with sand and on the other with water. And all that under a protective parasol.
This fun sandpit table is easy to store and also has a drainage hole to drain the water after use.
It is made of plastic and therefore very easy to rinse after use.
Do you want to keep the sand? Then you simply close the sandbox table with the supplied lid.
The table has loops that keep the lid in place.
This children's sandbox and water table is a great outdoor toy that offers your children hours of fun. It will be splashing and digging with Step2.
This table is suitable for children from 1,5 years and comes with a rake, shovel, boats, not to mention a nice parasol.
The content of the sandbox is 5 kg and the content of the water tray is 10 L.
Would you like a water table? Here you will find 12 other fun water play tables reviewed!
goplus Retractable Sandbox
- Sturdy frame and canopy
- Foldable and mobile
- Still very large, even when retracted
This is not an ordinary sandbox, but a very exclusive sandbox with many practical and fun options.
It is a mobile sandpit that stands on wheels and can easily be moved from one corner of the building to another. Outdoor.
The sandbank also has a small veranda where your little one can play in the shade. Under one roof with UV 50 sun protection.
If the little one doesn't feel like the sandbox, you simply slide it away under the veranda. The toys are then transformed into a nice house to play in and so the sand remains nice and clean and protected against cats, etc.
In our opinion, the adventures for this climbing frame are unlimited and very practical. Definitely a nice addition to the garden.
Step 2 Play & Store
- Large enough to sit in yet relatively small
- Soon grow out of it, just like the Little Tikes turtle
The Step2 Play sandbox with lid is a fun sandbox with a contemporary design.
Four contoured seats give children a place to sit while playing, but rather it can accommodate just two little ones.
This durable sandbox is shaped like a treasure chest and is a great toy for imaginative play.
They can leave their toys and 'treasures' in the sandbox; it has a well-closable and protective lid and that is immediately good against insects and cats.
You get the sandbox fully assembled at home, just open it up and play!
The color is a protective color, the sandbox disappears between the plants and trees, so no conspicuous colors in your garden.
There is 90 kg. sand in this treasure chest. Ideal for children from 2 years old.
KidKraft Garden Sandbox With Sunroof
- Sunroof protects against the bright sun
- Large container and also small containers in the seats
- Takes up quite a bit of space
This not only practical, but also beautiful sandpit from KidKraft is covered with a navy blue and white striped canopy.
Your child is protected against bright sun rays and that is a great bonus of this sandbox.
The wooden sandpit is large enough to allow several children to play at the same time, the dimensions are LxWxH 1.60 x 1.53 x 1.30 m and it is suitable for children aged two to eight years.
The sandbox panels - which must be mounted - are made of weather-resistant wood and prevent warping and weathering. A tarpaulin is added to put under the sand.
The two included plastic sand and water troughs fit into the wide rim, which your child can literally muddle along with. They are removable and also useful for storing toys.
The sand stays clean because the sandpit comes with a mesh cover that protects the sand when not in use.
Conclusion
Your child's own sandbox is like a whole new adventure with hours of fun.
By buying a good sandbox, you can also be sure that your child can fully enjoy the benefits of playing with sand.
You don't have to worry about unsafe contaminated sand, because you know exactly what ends up and what doesn't end up in your sandbox.
Having your own sandbox at home allows your little one to play in a controlled environment, as long as you maintain it properly.
We hope our top list of the best sandboxes has helped you on your way!
Looking for more fun toys for outside in the garden? Read more about this with our overview the best outdoor toys!
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.