We researched and tested the top dollhouses on the market, evaluating them on ease of set up, size, value, and durability. Our favorite, the Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse, is easy to assemble, constructed of durable wood, and includes accessories that encourage imaginative play. Here are the best dollhouses. If you’re looking for a dollhouse you’d be proud to display in your living room, the Hape All Seasons Wooden Dollhouse is the one. This solid-wood home features a modern design, vibrant colors, and an environmentally friendly theme. Though delightfully unfussy, the structure features thoughtful accents, like reversible solar panels that display green leaves or winter snowflakes to reflect the changing seasons. The house comes with enough furniture to decorate one bedroom, bathroom, media room, and kitchen. Though dolls are not included, the dimensions will accommodate four- to five-inch figures from any brand. (Hape also sells dolls and additional furniture separately.) Some architectural elements are interesting to look at but can impede play—the balcony is cool, but it blocks access to the lower levels, making it hard for even tiny hands to reach. You’ll need to assemble it yourself, but our tester found it to be a simple process for two people that only took about 30 minutes to complete. Our tester loved that it fostered cooperative play for their children, even lending itself to helpful lessons. “Both my children cooperated in creating stories, and my oldest son took the time to teach my youngest new words pertaining to the house and furniture (bedroom, kitchen, bathtub). The open sides made it easy for them to share the house and play together,” they shared. The modern design prompts imaginative play, while the eco-friendly accents provide an opportunity to introduce kids to concepts like climate change and environmental awareness. The wood is a breeze to wipe clean, and the entertainment value justifies the high price tag. Price at time of publish: $107 The design does feel a bit traditional, especially when compared with more stylish homes inspired by midcentury design, but the airy, open floor plan will keep kids happy and entertained. Our tester didn’t love the combatting patterns, so it’s better suited for someone who loves prints and maximalism in their kid’s toys. Note that assembly is required, and may take a while. You’ll need two screwdrivers and the Allen wrench, which is included. Price at time of publish: $100 The set is interactive, and there are more than 80 sounds across three different levels that can be changed as your child grows and develops. They cover topics such as the alphabet, counting, and opposites, as well as prompts that encourage open-ended play. The sounds lend themselves to extra learning and interaction, but they can definitely get annoying for parents compared to a traditional noise-free doll house. When playtime is over, you can tuck the pieces inside the pool, which folds for easy storage. Price at time of publish: $40 The layout features multiple half floors, staircases, and a front door, so your child can design the rooms any which way they like. While the overall structure is sturdy, some found that the doors and other small parts may break easily, but it’s nothing a little super glue can’t fix! Price at time of publish: $90 The walls of each room are designed with water-based paint, making the home feel cozy for its residents. The outside of the home is also stylish, adorned with windows and a front door for guests. Note that furniture sets, accessories, and characters are sold separately. To save a bit of cash, consider combining dolls and furniture to combine with the splurge-worthy dollhouse. Price at time of publish: $300 The house, which requires AAA batteries, also has a few interactive elements: The fireplace and stove burners both light up and make sounds. The exterior of the building also has lovely details such as realistic-looking icicles and snow dripping from the roof, and heart-shaped gingerbread fretwork. Price at time of publish: $130 The designers smartly made some items do double duty—the entertainment center can be flipped to reveal a pet area, for example—and more than 75 items are included with the set, which comes with furniture, textiles like blankets, and even a patch of grass. The house doesn’t come with any dolls, but you will get a puppy and a kitten. Assembly is required, but the plastic pieces fit together in a simple configuration. The only concern will be finding enough space: At just under four feet tall and more than three feet wide, this beauty is also a behemoth. Price at time of publish: $199 Because the coordinating furniture pieces can be on the smaller and more delicate side, it’s probably best suited for kids ages four and older. Assembly is required, and most people found it simple to do. Price at time of publish: $129 The neutral-looking wood will work with a variety of decor styles, and some shoppers also opt to paint the house to match their kids’ rooms. It comes with two figures as well as 11 pieces of furniture, but if you’re looking for non-white dolls, you’ll need to purchase them separately from a company like Hape—there’s no option to buy the house with different characters. Price at time of publish: $62 The house also has working lights, and it’s especially fun to turn them on, close up the floors, and watch the glow from the windows. If your animals need more space, you can purchase the Red Roof Cozy Cottage and connect the two, so you gain an additional wing. Price at time of publish: $100 The home is solidly built and won’t shift around as kids play with it. There are six rooms spread across four floors, and although the house only opens on one side, it’s large enough for two or three children to play comfortably. It’s best for dolls that are about five inches high. Price at time of publish: $286 The house also comes with a foldout book that offers additional backdrops and spaces; it can stand alone or inside the castle. You’ll also get 10 different accessories, such as a wedding cake, a dining set, a bathtub, and an easel (complete with its own sticky note canvas). Assembly isn’t difficult, but it will take time—plan on one to two hours. Price at time of publish: $95 The house is best for four-inch dolls, and the company sells their own, along with furniture—the house doesn’t come with either. (Options include sofas with tiny throw pillows and beds with soft blankets.) There are five rooms spread across two floors, and the house opens fully so it’s easy for more than one child to play at once. Price at time of publish: $98
Material
Most dollhouses can be made of solid wood, particleboard, or a mix of the two. Some are made of plastic, which is easy to keep clean, but may be more prone to cracks. Particleboard also tends to be less durable than solid wood, but on the flip side, also less expensive. There are also plastic houses that are lightweight and easy to wipe down.
Assembly
Some dollhouses come already assembled, especially smaller plastic ones, but most require at least a little work. Reading shoppers’ reviews can give you a sense of how difficult the process is. If you’re planning to give the dollhouse as a gift, you may want to put it together in advance to avoid having impatient kids bothering you as you’re building. If you buy a dollhouse that’s made of untreated wood, you can also paint or stain it yourself.
Furniture
When furnishing your dollhouse, the word to remember is scale. Many dollhouses are scaled at 1:12 (that means if something is 12 inches in real life, it’s equivalent to one inch in miniature). Remember that the smaller the second number, the bigger the house. Barbie homes, for example, are scaled at 1:6. When you’re looking at a dollhouse, check to see whether it comes furnished—many come with only a limited number of pieces. If sets are sold separately, make sure to note the prices. If you have a five-room unfurnished dollhouse and sets start at $20 each, that can add up quickly and cost as much as the structure itself. Some families also enjoy the process of slowly decorating a dollhouse room by room, looking at sites like Etsy for just the right pieces, or even making them from scratch. If you have young children, you might just want to open the box, set up the rooms, and start playing immediately.
Layout
If you plan to have multiple children playing at once, you might want a dollhouse that’s open-sided. But also remember that if a dollhouse has decor elements such as porches or balconies on the front and back, you may not be able to put it up against a wall without removing them.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Lexi Dwyer has written about outdoor toys, board games, and toddler gifts for The Spruce. As a kid she loved playing with a dollhouse her dad built as well as two Barbie houses (Dream and Town). Through the years, her own children have loved their Wellie Wishers Playhouse. For this round-up, she considered dozens of different dollhouses, assessing their sizes, layouts, materials, furniture options, and more, as well as notes from our product testers. All of the dollhouses on this list are considered to be both durable and beloved by kids. The materials used include solid wood, MDF, and plastic, and the houses come in a range of sizes that are suitable for dolls ranging from 3 to 18 inches. Additional reporting was done by Ashley Abramson, a home and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in MyDomaine, the New York Times, Washington Post, Allure, InStyle, and more.
