When shopping for a dollhouse, consider where your child will play with it and where you can store the dollhouse. It’s helpful for kids to have space around the house to play and fun to add other dolls, toys, or vehicles from your kid’s personal collection. If you have room, it can be helpful to put a dollhouse on a platform or table so kids can access the small details, especially if they will be playing with others. Use this guide to find the right dollhouse for your child, budget, and lifestyle.  These are the best dollhouses for kids. While this pick doesn’t come with any dolls, it does include over 30 pieces of furniture and accessories. Because it’s so big, the dollhouse easily fits dolls and figures up to 12 inches tall, which includes Barbie, LOL Dolls, and other popular characters. With a price tag of over $200, the KidKraft Majestic Mansion is more expensive and bigger than other options, but it is quite sturdy and well-built—and it will certainly last for many years and playdates. Because it weighs 50 pounds, this house is hard to move from room to room, so it’ll need to be set up in a bedroom or playroom. While assembly will require a couple of hours, the end result is totally worth it. Price at time of publication: $216 Weighing in at just over 5 pounds, it’s light enough that a child can move it from room to room or pack it up to store in a closet or under a bed. The smaller size makes it a challenge to find other dolls that fit, but Calico dolls and Playmobil figures (or similar-sized dolls) fit well in the house.  Made with sturdy, plain wood, the house provides a gender-neutral base for any kiddo. Creative types may also enjoy the opportunity to paint this wooden dollhouse to match their own home or your little one’s favorite color. A wallet-friendly pick, this smaller dollhouse is best for kids between 3 and 6 years old. Price at time of publication: $60 The plastic house comes with more than 75 accessories, but it doesn’t come with any Barbie dolls, so you’ll need to supply your own Barbie or other 12-inch dolls. The house requires three AAA batteries that power soundscapes, songs, and lights. While we love the open-air design for easy access, it does mean that this house is harder to put away and can never be closed off when playtime is over or when younger siblings are around.  Price at time of publication: $189 This set comes with 36 pieces of furniture and accessories but no dolls. It’s a bit small to fit 12-inch dolls, but other popular figures will fit in the house. One important aspect to keep in mind is that some of the accessories are very small, so they run the risk of getting lost or are a hazard if young siblings are around.  Weighing in at 6 pounds, the all-wooden house is lightweight, and the handle on top makes it easy to move from room to room, although be warned, the staircases may fall upon moving neighborhoods. Caregivers will also appreciate that this dollhouse requires minimal assembly. Price at time of publication: $129 The open-air design includes a slide, cocoon swing, and moveable elevator that are all sized just right for small hands. Interactive features include four spots on the dollhouse that light up or play more than 45 sounds, songs, and phrases. In addition to engaging fine motor skills and imaginative play, the slide and elevator promote cause-and-effect learning, a beneficial skill for toddlers.  Price at time of publication: $43 We love that the 22-inch house is chock full of fun elements, including two figures (Gabby and Pandy), accessories, delivery packages, and furniture. The four floors and seven rooms are accessed by a working elevator. When playtime is over, the front doors close, making a cute cat-shaped house that is easily stored and looks adorable on a bedroom or playroom shelf.  This is a fun, affordable pick for preschoolers who are fans of the show. Non-fans will still enjoy this dollhouse but may be less excited by the characters and show tie-ins.  Price at time of publication: $59 This Casa Madrigal dollhouse comes fully assembled and just requires the placement of well-labeled stickers to decorate and help bring the house to life. At 15 inches tall, the house has plenty of room for more than one kid to play. The only drawback we see is that the movie tie-in may date the house or cause kids to stop playing with it if they are “over” Encanto.  Price at time of publication: $70 The lightweight, plastic house comes with a built-in handle at the top, so it’s easy to move around. There’s a fold-up panel that serves as an outdoor deck and doubles as a storage compartment. Individual Bluey sets can be added on for more fun, but with the four figures and lots of furniture, it’s definitely not necessary.  Price at time of publication: $60 The iPlay iLearn Dollhouse comes with a sheet of numbered stickers that correspond to a piece of furniture. Once the stickers are applied, the furniture detail comes to life. Keep in mind that the stickers are very small, and since there is only one sheet and there are no backups if mistakes are made, it may be best to have an adult apply them. Note also that there are lots of small parts, so it’s best for kiddos who won’t put them in their mouths.  Price at time of publication: $33 Not your typical dollhouse, this LEGO set needs to be fully assembled and is recommended for kids 8 years old and up. In addition to the traditional instruction manual, a step-by-step guide can be accessed via the LEGO app, which also provides visualizations to help guide master builders. Once built, the house is pretty sturdy but should still be treated with care to prevent pieces from coming undone.  Price at time of publication: $80 Keep in mind that assembly for this house will take you approximately two hours, according to the manufacturer, and you will need a screwdriver, which is not included. Once built, the dollhouse weighs over 60 pounds and measures 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide, so it may be hard to move from room to room. Like most LOL toys, there’s a lot of extra packaging in this set, too. Price at time of publication: $145 As expected, this set is very small, and the accessories are tiny, so some of the pieces may get lost if kids aren’t particularly careful. A dedicated storage bag or container can help prevent lost accessories. The small size also makes it hard for more than one kid to play.  Price at time of publication: $23 Kids will love that the house comes fully furnished with realistic features like a kitchen island, flushable toilet (thanks to included batteries), sinks, tiles, working doors, and so much more. Fourteen additional accessories, like an iconic Cozy Coupe for the playroom or comfy blankets for the bedroom, add to the details. This house is built for dolls measuring up to 12 inches, but dolls are not included in the set. At 40 pounds and over $200, this dollhouse is a big investment in both size and money, but the versatility and attention to detail make it one of our favorites. Price at time of publication: $220 With a muted color palette and lots of wood elements, the house is attractive enough to leave out in a playroom and is a wonderful gender-neutral toy. Some assembly is required, but the main frame comes pre-built, so it’s not too complicated a project and should only take about 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer. Other than the fact that it’s kind of heavy and bulky, the only drawback we could find with this house is that it doesn’t include any dolls. Standard 12-inch dolls will fit, but your kiddo will need to use the ones they already have.  Price at time of publication: $219 Keep in mind that assembly might take you a few hours to complete, as the entire process involves 34 different steps. Because it is so big, this house should be anchored to a wall to prevent it from toppling over. The anchoring hardware is included, but be prepared to have the space for the house against a wall and for holes to be drilled into your wall. Anchoring also means the dollhouse cannot be moved. Price at time of publication: $176 The set comes with 50 pieces of furniture and accessories and three critters. Three working lights add to the fun and are a cute feature for kids to play with. While the house is small, it’s still a great size for younger kids, and with the multiple setups, there’s plenty of room for more than one kid to play at a time.  Price at time of publication: $100 The open-air design means there’s lots of room for more than one kid to play, which is a developmental benefit. “When sharing a toy like a dollhouse, kids get to practice taking turns, sharing, and working together to develop and explore storylines and social rules,” says Mary McGaughan, Psy.D. While this dollhouse comes with 30 accessories like a table and chairs, lamp, blankets, and a puppy, it does not include any dolls, so be sure your kiddo has some Barbies or other 12-inch dolls that are ready to move into their vacation home.  Price at time of publication: $105 Price at time of publication: $259 While some assembly is required, that’s part of the fun of Playmobil sets. Once assembled, it’s a sturdy house that’s ready for fun. This creative dollhouse is recommended for kiddos 4 years old and up. Price at time of publication: $95 Price at time of publication: $100

What to Look For

Follow the product’s age recommendations for the right dollhouse for your child. While you should avoid small parts for young kids, don’t shy away from encouraging younger toddlers to play with dollhouses. According to Mary McGaughan, Psy.D., a child and school psychologist, “At a younger age, say 2 or 3, children are more likely to play near each other but not directly with each other.” Although it may not seem like it, these interactions are just as valuable and important to their development. “During this stage, you may think they’re gaining less from imaginative play with others, but don’t be fooled, kids are keeping an eye on each other, observing what they’re doing, and learning more than you’d think,” says Dr. McGaughan. 

Size

Take note of both the dimension and the weight of the dollhouse prior to purchase, and consider where you will store and expect your kid to play with it. Some may be lightweight, portable, and can move from room to room. Others are large and need to be kept in one place. The Kidkraft 18-inch Dollhouse Manor, for example, is quite large and needs to be secured to a wall. Measure the spot you expect to keep your dollhouse in and make sure there is easy access on all sides and room for more than one child to play safely. 

Assembly

Some dollhouses are ready right out of the box, like the Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Wooden Dollhouse, but others will require assembly and may involve many different steps and a bit of time, like the Kidkraft 18-inch Dollhouse Manor. Be sure to plan accordingly. If the dollhouse is a gift that should be ready first thing on Christmas Day or is an early-morning birthday surprise, assembly should be done a day or two in advance, depending on how involved it is. One good tip of advice is to always open the box and make sure all the pieces are there as soon as you receive your dollhouse, as you don’t want to find out you’re missing a key component at the last minute. 

Materials

The dollhouses we selected are either made of plastic or wood. Each material has advantages (sturdy, easy to clean, modern style, colorful) and disadvantages (heavy, colorful, more fragile). Choose what works best for your aesthetic, lifestyle, and budget.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son, a 9-year-old son, and a 5-year-old daughter. Maya grew up with a beautiful (and quite large) dollhouse that she enjoyed playing with and decorating with her two sisters. That same dollhouse is currently packed away in her attic with a bin full of furniture. Writing this article makes her wonder if she’s ready to take it out of storage and is questioning where that dollhouse should go!