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Our Top 3 Picks for Best Dollhouse
Best budget choice
Best dollhouse overall
Best splurge
A dollhouse is a quintessential kids’ gift. It can not only offer hours of pretend play at keeping house, but also be the star attraction in your child’s playroom, especially if you splash out on a gigantic one that’s gorgeously crafted.
But choosing the best dollhouse for your child can feel overwhelming. There are so many options, and they can be pricey. How do you choose?
Breathe a sigh of relief because we did the heavy lifting for you and researched the best dollhouse in 14 different categories. Whether you’re looking for a super pink and girly ultimate Barbie dollhouse, something more gender-neutral, or one that’s safe for your toddler, you’ll find it on this list.
- Our Top 3 Picks for Best Dollhouse
- Our Top Picks for Best Dollhouses by Category
- Best dollhouse overall: KidKraft Majestic Mansion Dollhouse
- Best budget dollhouse: KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture
- Best splurge: Tender Leaf Toys Fantail Hall
- Best dollhouse for toddlers: Fisher-Price Little People Big Helpers Home
- Best dollhouse for boys: KidKraft Deluxe Fire Rescue Set
- Best gender-neutral dollhouse: Pidoko Kids Skylar Dollhouse
- Best wooden dollhouse: Plantoys Adorable My First Dollhouse
- Best small dollhouse: KidKraft Enchanted Forest Dollhouse Doll
- Best portable dollhouse: Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Wooden Dollhouse
- Best Barbie dollhouse: Barbie Dreamhouse
- Best Disney dollhouse: Disney Frozen Ultimate Arendelle Castle
- Best KidKraft dollhouse: KidKraft So Stylish Mansion Wooden Dollhouse
- Best unique dollhouse: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Folding Medieval Wooden Castle
- Honorable mention: Melissa & Doug Doorbell House
- Best Dollhouse Buying Guide & FAQ
- Final thoughts
Our Top Picks for Best Dollhouses by Category
Best dollhouse overall: KidKraft Majestic Mansion Dollhouse
This dollhouse checks all the boxes. It has a traditional dollhouse aesthetic, is enormous, the reviews are nearly overwhelmingly glowing, and it comes with 34 pieces of furniture. Dolls up to 12 inches tall can ride on the mansion’s elevator, meaning even a Barbie can enjoy this dollhouse. Plus a lot of attention to detail, like the screws matching the colors of the dollhouse so they blend in seamlessly.
The biggest negative is that with a large size comes lots of tiny parts and time to assemble. One reviewer on Amazon said DO NOT try to put this one together the night before Christmas or a birthday. It’s a beast to assemble, but for the most part sturdy and will last a long time once it’s together.
Note: This dollhouse does not have a front facade.
- 4 levels and 8 rooms
- Gliding elevator
- Garage doors open and close
- Includes 34 pieces of furniture
- Dimensions: 52” x 14” x 53.5”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 36 months – 10 years
Best budget dollhouse: KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture
Cut costs without sacrificing style or play with this adorable cottage. Any child could have hours of open-ended play with this dollhouse and never suspect you got it for a bargain. Plus, it comes with plenty of furniture and accessories.
It’s a bit smaller in size than our best overall pick, but the design and look of it gives it a real traditional dollhouse feel at a lower price point.
A potential con for some is that this is ideal for dolls six inches tall and under. So larger dolls like a Barbie might not fit well into the smaller rooms in this dollhouse. Also, as with many of these dollhouses, it requires assembly, which can be time consuming and frustrating.
Note: This dollhouse does not have a front facade.
- 3 levels, 5 rooms and a balcony
- Windows open and close
- Includes 16 pieces of furniture
- Dimensions: 24.5” x 13” x 28”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best splurge: Tender Leaf Toys Fantail Hall
Gorgeous, big, opulent. This Edwardian-style dollhouse is more than just a house, it’s basically a mini-palace. The level of beauty and craftsmanship in this dollhouse take it from just a toy to an heirloom that you’ll want to pass down through generations. Also, unlike other dollhouses on this list, there is a full front facade that opens up, instead of just a back play portion.
It was hard to find a lot of reviews for this exact model of dollhouse, but when researching this company they seem to care a lot about sustainability, quality, and design. So if we were ready to make a big splurge on a very aesthetically pleasing dollhouse, this would be it.
Besides being pricey, this dollhouse also doesn’t come with accessories, so you will need to purchase them separately. But that also means you can mix and match according to your tastes. Also, while it is large, the ceilings on each floor don’t appear to be as high as some of the other large dollhouses, so you will want to use smaller dolls with it.
- 4 levels of play
- Central and side panels open out
- Beautiful aesthetic
- Includes a seat, birdbath, palm tree, pink bush, and potted plant
- Other furniture sold separately
- Dimensions: 28.35” x 15.75” x 38.19”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best dollhouse for toddlers: Fisher-Price Little People Big Helpers Home
While toddlers would love to play with pretty much any dollhouse on this list, very few on the market are recommended for toddlers. This cute little house is recommended for ages one and up with Little People dolls that are the perfect size for tiny hands. However, older children will enjoy playing with this one too, and there’s no assembly required.
The biggest downside of this one is that it isn’t really a traditional dollhouse, but is rather more of a small toddler playset. However, it will fulfill the need for a dollhouse while your child is still too young for a bigger one, and it’s affordable enough to be replaced with another later on.
Also recommended in our list of best toys for 2-year-old girls!
- Opens up for 360 degrees of play
- Press buttons for songs and music
- Includes Tessa, Chris & Lucky figures, bed, dog bowl & 2 bar stools
- Dimensions: 5.63” x 24” x 16”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 1 year and up
Best dollhouse for boys: KidKraft Deluxe Fire Rescue Set
Wow, this dollhouse has it all. Boys and girls will both love this firehouse! It’s big enough for multiple kids to play together, and comes with so many extras, even a helicopter!
A few reviewers complained of broken or damaged parts on arrival, but also mentioned that KidKraft customer service was helpful in replacing them at no charge. It does require assembly, but can be done in about an hour.
- 22 pieces of furniture
- 3 firefighters
- Helipad and helicopter
- Garage with ambulance and fire truck
- Bendable firefighters
- Dimensions: 31.25” x 18.5” x 24.8”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best gender-neutral dollhouse: Pidoko Kids Skylar Dollhouse
This dollhouse is a great choice all around. It’s smaller in size than some of the others on this list, but the open sides mean children can play at it from all angles, so multiple children can play at once. Plus, it comes with plenty of accessories and dolls, it’s made of wood, and the colors are neutral.
Assembly is required, but reviewers said that it was fairly simple to put together even if you’re unskilled. However, a few negative reviews said some pieces are weak or flimsy.
- Includes 5 play dolls, 20 pieces of furniture and a pet dog
- Open-sided dollhouse, allowing multiple children to play at a time
- Wooden
- Dimensions: 23.8” x 10.2” x 19.3”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best wooden dollhouse: Plantoys Adorable My First Dollhouse
Basic, but beautiful in its simplicity. This wooden dollhouse is perfect for families looking for a sustainable option with a natural aesthetic. The colors are also gender-neutral and will blend in with most homes. Parents won’t mind this being on display in common areas.
While it’s a smaller dollhouse, it is open on all sides allowing multiple children to play with it at once. This particular dollhouse does not have a lot of reviews, but the ones it does have are generally very good. Most say the frame is very sturdy and well made.
One of the main reasons we chose this dollhouse as the best wooden dollhouse is because the company Plantoys is committed to sustainability, which many parents seeking a natural wooden dollhouse might appreciate.
Assembly looks simpler and easier than some larger dollhouses.
- Natural wood look
- Made from sustainable and toxin-free resources
- Sturdy and easy to put together
- Furniture sold separately, but moderately priced
- Compact size with 360-degree access
- Dimensions: 24.61” x 16.54” x 22.64”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best small dollhouse: KidKraft Enchanted Forest Dollhouse Doll
Small but packed with fun, this compact dollhouse opens and closes for easy storage. Even at a smaller size, this dollhouse doesn’t sacrifice design and is magical enough to capture the imagination. Plus, with 16 accessories, it’s a great deal.
The assembly directions are done in pictures, which one review said was fine for larger pieces, but meant assembling some smaller pieces was a bit confusing. Also, a tip is to not tighten the screws too tight to avoid the wood splitting.
- 2 levels and 7 rooms
- Opens and closes
- Includes 16 accessories
- Dimensions: 17.16” x 15.6” x 17.63”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best portable dollhouse: Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Wooden Dollhouse
Just grab and go. This portable dollhouse with 11 pieces of furniture and two dolls is perfect for travel, or for at-home play in a smaller space. While the ease of use is the highlight of this dollhouse, it doesn’t skimp on fun features like a front door and garage door that actually work. Plus, the design is simple and natural, perfect for a gender-neutral option.
Melissa & Doug toys are all-around great quality, and you know you’re getting something worth your cash with this brand. It’s also listed as “move-in ready”, so no assembly required. Another nice perk is the simple unfinished wood, meaning you can paint it to suit you and your child’s style.
- Portable with sturdy handles for carrying
- 11 pieces of wooden furniture and 2 dolls included
- Working front door and garage
- Dimensions: 10.4” x 11.9” x 16.7”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best Barbie dollhouse: Barbie Dreamhouse
Barbie will live in luxury in this dream house that screams pink splendour. The design is large and jam-packed with features like interactive accessories with lights and sounds. If your kid loves Barbie, they won’t be disappointed with this dollhouse.
But with all of the amazing features, this dollhouse does come with some cons. It requires assembly, and there are quite a few pieces. Also, all of the accessories will probably mean more cleaning up for parents.
However, most reviews are excellent. The most common complaint is that some pieces break easily.
Also included in our list of best Barbie houses!
- 70+ pieces of furniture and accessories included
- Working elevator and garage door
- “Smart” accessories
- Barbies not included
- Dimensions: 19.69” x 32.68” x 45.28”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best Disney dollhouse: Disney Frozen Ultimate Arendelle Castle
Disney traditionalists might prefer the Cinderella dollhouse, but today’s generation of kids will probably prefer the equally opulent Arendelle castle. This dollhouse is on-trend and based off of Frozen 2, the highest-grossing animated film ever.
This is by far the best dollhouse for any kid with Frozen fever. But it’s huge and allows multiple kids to easily play at once so it will be well loved by even those who aren’t Elsa-obsessed.
There’s an assembly video that some parents said made it simple to put together. Even though it has excellent reviews on Amazon, the most common complaint was that some pieces were missing or broke easily.
- 5 feet tall by 4 feet wide
- 7 rooms and 4 floors
- 14 accessories included
- Colorful light show
- Dimensions: 5ft x 4ft
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best KidKraft dollhouse: KidKraft So Stylish Mansion Wooden Dollhouse
KidKraft has made a few appearances on this list (even the best overall) because they have so many great options for dollhouses. This dollhouse could easily be the top pick overall, but only fell short because it doesn’t have the same traditional “dollhouse” look the other one does. It has tons of other great features though, like its large size and 360-degree open plan, allowing multiple children to play together easily.
Assembly is required, but one mom said it was the easiest-to-assemble dollhouse she has bought so far. There are also few pieces that are plastic, making it much sturdier than other dollhouses. However, there were some complaints that the stairs, made of plastic, can be a little warped.
- 3 levels and 10 rooms
- 42-piece lifestyle accessory set
- Modern design
- 360-degree play
- Dimensions: 26.8” x 23.25” x 43.3”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best unique dollhouse: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Folding Medieval Wooden Castle
Looking for something a little different than the traditional dollhouse? This wooden castle is perfect for little knights and princesses to bring their favorite fairy tales to life.
Most reviewers said it’s sturdily built and solid. Plus, it comes assembled so no extra work for parents
- 2 floors with towers and dungeon
- Folding design for easy storage
- Working drawbridge
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Dimensions: 20.2” x 18.6” x 15.3″
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Honorable mention: Melissa & Doug Doorbell House
We couldn’t create this without including the doorbell house. Kids absolutely love this house because it’s simple, but addictive to play with for little ones. The doorbells at each of the four numbered doors work, and four color-coded dolls are included.
Kids can work on a few different skills like learning numbers, matching, colors, and fine motor skills with this dollhouse.
It’s much smaller and not what you typically think of when searching for a dollhouse, but it might be a great accompaniment for a younger sibling when purchasing a large dollhouse for their older sister or brother.
- Working doorbells
- Keys with working locks
- 4 color-coded dolls
- Dimensions: 9” x 6.8” x 6.8”
- Manufacturer’s recommended age: 3 years and up
Best Dollhouse Buying Guide & FAQ
What is a dollhouse and why do you need one?
Dollhouses come in many shapes, sizes, designs, and themes. But the basic purpose is to be a place for children to play with their dolls to create stories and use their imagination.
How does playing with dolls help a child’s development?
Beyond the benefits of being an open-ended toy, dollhouses can provide additional benefits for a child’s development. For example, dollhouses can be therapeutic for children. Through play, they can create stories to express feelings that they may not have the language or ability to show yet.
Do boys play with dollhouses?
Dollhouses might be stereotypically labeled as a “girl” toy, but boys also love to play with them! There are more gender-neutral options available, but most boys will play right along on the more feminine-looking houses. Some psychologists even recommend dollhouses for boys because they can give an outlet for boys to release their emotions and reduce aggression.
What are the different types of dollhouses?
There are many different types of dollhouses, as you can tell from this list. Some are traditional and have a more Victorian style, others look more modern, and some even take the shape of a castle. Size and portability are other factors that can change the type of dollhouse with many being large and stationary. A few are more compact and easy to carry from place to place.
What should you look for when buying a dollhouse?
Who are you buying for?
The first thing to consider when looking for the best dollhouse is who will be playing with it. Are they princess-obsessed, or maybe more a Barbie fan? Are you shopping for your little boy who wants to be a firefighter someday or perhaps a toddler who can’t have tiny pieces that are a choking hazard? Thinking about what general style and look you like before shopping is important and will narrow down your search a lot.
How much space do you have?
Once you know the style you’re going for, you can start to consider other factors, like size. Dollhouses come in all shapes and sizes, from the size of a shoe box to five or more feet tall! So be sure to take the space it’ll be in into account so that it will easily fit and there is still plenty of room to play. Even if you have a small space, there are plenty of great options, like our pick for best small dollhouse.
How many children will be playing with it?
The number of children playing with the dollhouse will potentially impact which design is best for you. But just because you might have more than one child playing with the dollhouse at a time doesn’t necessarily mean you need the largest option. Our favorite gender-neutral dollhouse is smaller in size than some of the others, but the open sides allow for more than one child to easily play together at the same time.
Are accessories included?
Most of the dollhouses on this list include at least some accessories such as furniture. Some even include dolls so you can begin playing with it immediately. However, many of the more high-end dollhouses like our best dollhouse to splurge on does not come with furniture. With those houses, you’ll need to purchase the furniture and accessories separately.
What age is good for a dollhouse?
Kids of all ages love dollhouses for open-ended imaginative play. Even adults can recapture their youth by playing with their kids and dollhouses. However, most dollhouses are rated by the manufacturer for ages 3 years and over. A lot of dollhouses come with a variety of accessories that have small pieces and could be choking hazards for toddlers or babies.
We did include on this list one dollhouse that is suitable for toddlers 12 months and over. So don’t worry if you’re shopping for a little one, there’re still options for them too.
Are dollhouses educational?
Absolutely. The best educational toys for children are open-ended and allow them to use their imagination. Toys like dollhouses and other open-ended toys help children learn independence and foster the development of cognitive skills. They allow children to make their own choices during play instead of following a prescribed script.
Final thoughts
A dollhouse may often be thought of as a “girly” toy, but that’s an erroneous assumption. Any child can play with it. What more, they’ll gain cognitive skills such as creativity, imagination and expression that’ll help them in their lives. We hope our list has helped you find the perfect one for your kids!
Want to see more dollhouses for young kids? Here are the best dollhouses for toddlers.