All children love to play pretend. Especially when pretending to be grown-ups. Little do they know that it’s way more fun being a child!
One of the best ways a child can pretend-play is with a dollhouse. This way, they can use their imaginations to enact life through this type of fun and creative model.
These days there are many types, sizes, and styles of dollhouses to choose from. Parents searching for the best one for their child need look no further. We’ve compiled and reviewed a list of the best dollhouses for your child.
Our top picks of the best dollhouses
Best wooden dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 23.6 x 11.8 x 28.9 inches
Weight – 14 lbs.
Material – Wood
Recommended for ages: 3 to 5 years
All necessary accessories included
The wood used to create Wooden Dollhouse by Hape (check price on Amazon) is from environmentally sustainable forests. With its solid wood construction, this dollhouse is built to last. Its open-face style has 3 levels and can be played with from all sides.
The house features furniture sets for all six rooms. This home is well-deserving of the Editor’s Choice & Best Wooden Dollhouse award. Its environmentally friendly construction and sturdy build are a definite plus!
What we love
- It comes with all the accessories you need
- The construction is sturdy and long-lasting
Watch for
- There are a few sharp corners to be aware of
Best Barbie dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 8 x 30 x 34 inches
Weight – 1 lb.
Material – Plastic
Recommended for ages: 3 to 10 years
Comes with over 70 accessories
This is every child’s dream house with its 3 floors and 6 rooms. The Barbie Dreamhouse (check price on Amazon) comes with everything needed to move in, including furniture pieces, place settings, and more.
Children can let their imaginations run wild with the home’s realistic features, such as a working elevator. It even has a flat-screen TV area where a smartphone can be inserted for Barbie to enjoy a good movie.
It has interactive ‘smart’ accessories to enhance the experience with lights, sound, and motion. These extra features have earned it the Best Barbie dollhouse award!
What we love
- There are lots of integrated modern features
Watch for
- There are lots of small accessories that can easily go missing
Best travel dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 12.5 x 7.5 x 10 inches
Weight – Appx. 4 lbs.
Material – Wood
Recommended for ages: 3 to 6 years
All necessary accessories for instant play are included
This fully assembled, two-story Fold and Go Wooden Dollhouse (check price on Amazon) can be easily folded open for playtime. It can then be closed and carried with its built-in handle. It is equipped with working doors throughout.
This portable house comes with 2 flexible wooden play figures and 11 pieces of wooden furniture. With its sturdy and chunky handles and easy foldaway capabilities, this house earns the award for Best Travel Dollhouse.
What we love
- The fact that the kids can take this wherever they go will make it a firm favorite
Watch for
- Once folded it's just the right size for little ones to bash their shins with it as they carry it around
Best large dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 52 x 14 x 53.5 inches
Weight – 51 lbs.
Material – MDF, wood, fabric
Recommended for ages: 3 and upwards
Includes 34 pieces of furniture and accessories
This 4.5 ft. tall Majestic Mansion Dollhouse (check price on Amazon) is perfect for imaginative play with larger dolls. It has 8 rooms and comes with 34 pieces of furniture. It is sure to delight a child’s imagination and creativity.
The house comes with many extras, such as an elevator that glides between the 2nd and 3rd floor, and garage doors that swing open and closed. We chose this one as the Best Large Dollhouse award as its immense size and 4 floors look just like the real thing!.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Due to the size and weight of this dollhouse, make sure that it’s used on a low, sturdy surface. You don’t want to risk the dollhouse falling over on your little ones.
What we love
- This has been created to resemble a real-life home in as big a size as possible
Watch for
- It's big and heavy, so moving it around will be difficult
Best dollhouse for 4-year-olds
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 24.1 x 16.5 x 45.4 inches
Weight – 20 lbs.
Material – Composite wood and plastic
Recommended for ages: 3 to 15 years
Includes 11 detailed furniture pieces
This extra-large Frozen Themed Castle (check price on Amazon) is perfect for more than one princess to enjoy! It’s also large enough to accommodate Barbie-sized dolls and includes four open-spaced rooms, a balcony, and a molded staircase.
The castle also comes with an assortment of accessories, such as detailed furniture pieces, chandeliers, and an icy throne. It surely deserves the award of Best Dollhouse for a 4-year-old, what with its enchanting Frozen princess theme and size that’s perfect for that age.
What we love
- Frozen fans will love bringing the movie to life with this dollhouse
Watch for
- Castle is rather large, so be sure to have a good corner spot set up for its placement
Best dollhouse for boys
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 38.2 x 10.5 x 26.5 inches
Weight – 22 lbs.
Material – Plastic and wood
Recommended for ages: 3 to 12 years
Some accessories are included
This KidKraft Playset (check price on Amazon) opens up into four sections resembling the areas where police and fire rescue heroes begin their day. It has 3 floors and 12 rooms for creative play.
The playset comes equipped with everything to set a boy’s imagination on fire. It has bendable firefighters and dogs, helicopter, firetruck, and a police motorcycle. This one is definitely worthy of the Best Dollhouse for Boys award!
What we love
- This playset folds up for easy storage, or for travel
Watch for
- It weighs a lot when folded up, so be prepared for some heavy lifting
Best build-your-own dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 23.6 x 21.6 x 10.6 inches
Weight – 9 lbs.
Material – Plastic
Recommended for ages: 4 to 10 years
Includes play figures and some accessories
Batteries not included
This multilevel PLAYMOBIL Deluxe Dollhouse (check price on Amazon) will spark a child’s imagination with its six rooms and balcony. It comes equipped with windows that open and a functioning doorbell. The dollhouse also includes bendable figures, a flower box, mailbox, and other accessories.
There’s a vast selection of PLAYMOBIL add-ons and accessories available so a child can completely customize this home to their own taste. This one has earned the Best Build-Your-Own Dollhouse award.
What we love
- There are lots of add-ons and accessories, so children can put extra creativity into their home
Watch for
- The accessories and add-ons are sold separately, we advise buying one or two with the dollhouse so children can start playing right away
Best Lego dollhouse
Our opinion
Features:
Weight – 2.6 lbs.
Size – 13.9 x 14.9 x 2.8 inches
Material – Plastic
Recommended for ages: 6 to 12 years
Comes with all necessary beginner accessories
Your little princess can enjoy two favorite toys in one with this Lego-style Dream Castle (check price on Amazon). It features a bedroom, dining area, kitchen, and balcony. This model can also be mix and matched with other Lego Disney sets.
The castle comes with some extras for even more fun. It has secrets like the compartment hidden beneath the princess’s bed, a balcony with a revolving dance floor, and a revolving fireplace with a hiding space.
It includes Disney’s Cinderella, Prince Charming, a foal, and two mice mini-figures. This castle has received the Best Lego Dollhouse award for its cleverly hidden secrets and interchangeable capabilities.
What we love
- With so many hidden compartments and quaint accessories this dollhouse will keep your little one entertained for hours
Watch for
- Lots of choking hazards potentially present with this dollhouse
Best budget buy
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 25.6 x 9 x 16 inches
Weight – 15.25 lbs.
Material – Plastic
Recommended for ages: 3 to 7 years
Only a few accessories included
Batteries not included
Fisher-Price Family Dollhouse (check price on Walmart) opens wide for easy access and imaginative play. It has 4 floors containing 6 rooms, a balcony, patio, and even a doggy door in the side entrance.
For extra fun, this house comes equipped with a flip-out swing set and a working doorbell. The house comes with a mom, dad, baby, baby seat, and sofa. With all the fun sounds and extra surprises, this dollhouse receives both the Best Dollhouse for 3-Year-Olds & Best Budget Buy awards.
What we love
- This house can be closed up and easily stored
- It's light weight makes it easy to relocate if necessary
Watch for
- This set comes with very little besides the family figures, so be prepared to purchase some add-ons and accessories
Best dollhouse for 5-year-olds
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 24.5 x 13 x 28 inches
Weight – 14.99 lbs.
Material – Plastic
Recommended for ages: 3 years and up
Both you and your daughter will fall in love with the KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture Set (check price on Target). It’s an adorable little playhouse with 3 levels, 5 rooms, and comes with 17 pieces of furniture.
Of course, being only 28 inches tall, it’s best suited for 4-inch mini dolls or other similar-sized toys. Don’t worry if your little one isn’t quite five years old, because this toy is suitable for ages 3-12.
While young girls can enjoy playing with this dollhouse, parents can feel assured knowing that it’s constructed of sturdy material that lasts. It comes with easy step-by-step assembly instructions and is very reasonably priced compared to other dollhouses.
What we love
- It's not too pricey
- It comes with plenty of little colorful pieces to play with alongside her dolls
Watch for
- The small accessories can easily go missing
Upgrade choice
Our opinion
Features:
Size – 46.2 x 25.1 x 61 inches
Weight – 50.4 lbs.
Material – Wood
Recommended for ages: 3 years and up
If you can afford a bit of extra pizzazz in your little princess’s dollhouse, check out the KidKraft Uptown Dollhouse (check price on Walmart). It’s built with sturdy materials and comes with step-by-step instructions. This full-sized dollhouse is big enough for Barbie and friends to play in.
It’s so big that your little one can invite a friend or sibling to play with her, side-by-side. It even comes with 35 pieces of furniture and, although not too heavy, parents should note its size when assembling it’ll probably take two to move it.
What we love
- A dream dollhouse that stands over five feet tall with plenty of accessories and room to play with others
Watch for
- Two adults will be needed to move it once assembled
- It's pricey!
What to look for when buying a dollhouse
Age suitability
Plastic houses are most suitable for small toddlers with a tendency to be on the topsy-turvy side. We’ve all seen it. That two-year-old that goes from strutting along confidently one moment, to a sudden memory loss on how those legs and arms work!
With the rounded and softer edges on a plastic house, you’ll worry less about your little one getting hurt during these moments.
Wooden houses mostly have sharper edges and can lack the same durability as plastic ones, so are best suited to older children.
The type of accessories a dollhouse has should also be appropriate to your child’s age. Some come with accessories that are too small for young children.
There’s always a potential for choking, and other mishaps, when bringing together toys and children under 3 yrs. Little ones always feel the need to taste all those bright, colorful objects they play with!
It’s part of their learning process. Some even like to hide those tiny objects up their noses, and, even to this day, I haven’t been able to figure that one out!1Toy safety guidelines
babycenter.com/health/safety-and-childproofing/toy-safety-guidelines_423
Style and theme
There are many different styles available when it comes to dollhouses. Classic wooden houses sometimes come with themes that include certain periods of architecture.
Many of the modern-style houses can come in princess, Barbie, fairy tale, or Hero themes. Some even come with boys (or tom-boys) in mind!
Materials
I remember making my own dollhouse as a child out of cardboard boxes and cutouts from magazines that served as wallpaper, carpets, or decorative wall hangings.
I even passed this creative trick on to my daughter when she was little. While this may be a fun way to pass the afternoon, those homemade cardboard dollhouses don’t last very long.
Today, you can find a wide selection of dollhouses made out of various materials. They generally come in plastic and wood. There are even Lego dollhouses!
Some houses come ready-to-go, then there are those a child can build themselves, adding that extra touch of creativity.
Wooden dollhouses are one of the most popular. They’re usually made of 9 mm thick plywood or MDF. These ones have stood the test of time for years with their durability and sturdiness.
Houses made of plastic have their own appeal, with bright colors and designs. These can be easily cleaned and are quite durable, while also less expensive than wooden ones.
Size
Children’s dollhouses come in various sizes and are broken down into ratios. They are generally 1:12, 1:24, and 1:48 in size, meaning that the house is 1 twelfth, 1 twenty-fourth, or 1 forty-eighth the size of a life-size house.
Larger-sized dollhouses can accommodate Barbie-sized dolls and are a perfect size for several children to play with together.
Accessories
Now comes the fun part! How to accessorize the house. Many dollhouses come with a certain amount of accessories, while others are available to buy separately.
Most houses do not come equipped with dolls. In either case, this is a fun opportunity for a child to express their creativity and decorate their new house in their own personal style.
No matter which type of dollhouse is chosen, there’s a vast selection of furnishings and decorations available for a child’s play home.
Budget
The price range of dollhouses can be extensive. It basically comes down to the size and material it’s made of. A small, plastic house can be in the $50 to $100 range; while larger, wooden houses can range from $100 to $200.
Play therapy
To a child, a dollhouse is a fantasy world of realistic possibilities. While playing with their inside (dollhouse) world, they feel a sort of separation from the outside world.
It provides them with a safe, secure space to act out feelings, dramas, and conflicts. There are times they may even re-enact real-life situations within this world to try and understand the world at large.
There are times when a child can feel troubled or confused by things happening in their life. Young children may have difficulty expressing their feelings verbally.
Having a small version of the world enables them to express certain thoughts and feelings by means of interactive play that they may not be able to express through words. It is most common for child therapists to utilize dollhouses in their office space.
And the winner is…
After much thought, we’ve decided that the KidKraft Majestic Mansion Dollhouse (check price on Amazon) is our winner amongst the roundups.
Not only does this one fit the bill for what a dollhouse can provide a child, but it can also work wonders when utilized for play therapy. With its large size and real-world feel, it will not only feed a child’s imagination but help them work out whatever may be on their minds in a friendly, safe place.
