Best magnetic tiles in 2026: Magna-Tiles, Connetix, PicassoTiles
Magna-Tiles, Connetix, PicassoTiles and Coodoo compared for ages 3 to 8: how the magnets are held in, brand compatibility, value per tile and recall checks.
For most families, the MAGNA-TILES Classic 32 is the best-documented start: the maker says each magnet is riveted inside a lattice frame, it says it has never had a recall in more than 25 years, no US, UK or EU database lists one, and every MAGNA-TILES set fits every other as a collection grows. CONNETIX makes the strongest construction claims (welded and riveted magnets, with EN 71 and ASTM F963 listed) and ships to the UK and Europe. PicassoTiles costs far less per tile but does not say how its magnets are secured. Every set here is rated for ages 3 and up.
How we chose these
1Magnet security: what the maker says holds each magnet in place (rivets, welding, "sealed", or nothing stated), because a loose magnet is the main hazard
2Recalls and safety marks: checks in the US CPSC, UK product-safety and EU Safety Gate databases, and the toy standards each maker lists
3Age fit: the maker's age grading (every set here is 3 and up) and how small the pieces are
4Compatibility: base size and what each maker actually claims about mixing brands
5Value and availability: cost per tile and whether the set is sold in the US, the UK and Spain
The original 3-inch system and the best-documented one: MAGNA-TILES says its ceramic magnets are held by fastening rivets inside a lattice frame, states CPSIA compliance, and says it has never had a recall in more than 25 years; none of the three recall databases lists one. Every MAGNA-TILES set fits every other, so a small set can grow into a collection. It costs more per tile than most rivals, and the official store ships within the US only.
The original translucent magnetic tile set: 32 pieces (14 squares, 2 large squares and 16 triangles in three shapes) on a 3-inch base. MAGNA-TILES says each tile holds ceramic (ferrite) magnets secured by fastening rivets inside a lattice frame, and that every MAGNA-TILES set fits every other, including the smaller microMAGS. It is the brand's classic starter set.
Pieces
32: 16 squares (2 large) and 16 triangles
Magnets
Ceramic (ferrite), riveted inside a lattice frame (maker)
Works with
Every MAGNA-TILES set, including microMAGS; no cross-brand claim
Material
MABS plastic, free of BPA, phthalates and latex (maker); 3-inch base
Good to know
Maker states that rivets and an internal lattice hold the magnets and resist cracking
Fits every MAGNA-TILES set, so a collection can grow over the years
No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES in US, UK or EU recall databases on 2 October 2026
Food-grade MABS plastic that the maker describes as free of BPA, phthalates and latex
Watch out for
Costs more per tile than most alternatives
32 pieces run out quickly for big builds or two children
The official store ships within the US only; in Spain it is sold through Amazon and a distributor
The maker does not claim compatibility with other brands
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: CPSIA.
Maker guidance: for ages 3 and up; supervise young children who put toys in their mouths, check tiles regularly and stop using any damaged tile; get medical help at once if a magnet is swallowed. Under the mandatory US toy standard (ASTM F963-23, section 4.38), loose magnets that fit in the small-parts cylinder, as supplied or after use-and-abuse testing, must have a flux index under 50. No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026. The maker says it has never had a recall in more than 25 years.
No recall notices found in UK OPSS (October 2, 2026) and EU Safety Gate (October 2, 2026).
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "Magna-Tiles". See the search
2
Strongest build claims, ships to the UK and Europe
CONNETIX Rainbow Starter Pack (60 pieces)
CONNETIXAges: 3+Price band: $$
Why we picked it
CONNETIX says its tiles are ultrasonically welded and secured with metal rivets, and it lists US, EU and Australian toy standards (ASTM F963, CPSIA, EN 71). It ships from warehouses in the US, the UK and the Netherlands. Its magnets are stronger than most, which the maker itself says can make joins with other brands feel weaker.
An Australian-designed starter pack of 60 bevelled ABS tiles: 24 standard squares, 6 large squares, 18 triangles in three shapes, 6 square windows and 6 open squares, plus an idea book. CONNETIX says its tiles are ultrasonically welded and secured with metal rivets, that its magnets are stronger than most, and that it ships from warehouses in the US, the UK, the Netherlands (for the rest of Europe) and Australia.
Pieces
60: 30 squares (6 large), 18 triangles, 12 windows and open squares, idea book
Magnets
Ultrasonically welded and riveted (maker)
Works with
Most leading brands, though joins may feel weaker because its magnets are stronger (maker)
Material
ABS free of BPA, phthalates and PFAS; EN 71 and ASTM F963 listed by the maker
Good to know
Maker claims two layers of magnet security: ultrasonic welding plus metal rivets
Lists US, EU and Australian toy standards it tests to
Window and open-square pieces add variety a basic set lacks
Ships to Spain from an EU warehouse in the Netherlands
Watch out for
CONNETIX says connections with other brands may feel weaker because its magnets are stronger
Costs more per tile than mass-market brands
A 62-piece Rainbow Starter Pack is being cleared at the same time, so check the piece count when buying
Not waterproof: the maker says not to submerge tiles
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: ASTM F963-17, CPSIA, EN 71-1, EN 71-2, EN 71-3, AS/NZS ISO 8124-1.
Maker guidance: recommended for ages 3 and up; supervise younger children; clean with a damp cloth and never submerge, as moisture can damage the magnets. No recall notice for CONNETIX was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026.
No recall notices found in UK OPSS (October 2, 2026) and EU Safety Gate (October 2, 2026).
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "Connetix". See the search
3
Lowest cost per tile among the big names
PicassoTiles 100-Piece Magnetic Tile Set (PT100)
PicassoTilesAges: 3+Price band: $$
Why we picked it
100 tiles in five shapes at a fraction of the cost per tile of MAGNA-TILES. The trade-off: neither the brand's pages nor its Amazon listings say how the magnets are secured, and Everplay, a brand sold on the same store, had an EU magnet recall in 2026 that does not cover this set. If you choose it, check the tiles for cracks regularly.
PicassoTiles' signature starter set: 100 tiles in five shapes (8 large squares, 46 small squares, 20 small triangles, 12 medium triangles and 14 tall triangles). The maker says it connects with all its full-size sets; the box measures about 14 x 11.6 x 3.1 inches.
Pieces
100: 54 squares (8 large) and 46 triangles
Magnets
Not stated by the maker
Works with
Full-size PicassoTiles sets only (maker); no cross-brand claim
Good to know
Among the lowest prices per tile for a branded set
Five shapes give more building options than a basic squares-and-triangles set
Sold on Amazon in both the US and Spain
No notice naming PicassoTiles in US, UK or EU recall databases on 2 October 2026
Watch out for
The maker does not say how magnets are secured inside the tiles
The maker claims compatibility only with its own full-size sets
Out of stock in the official store on 2 October 2026
A sister brand sold by the same store had an EU magnet recall in 2026
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: not confirmed on the maker pages we read.
Maker guidance: for ages 3 and up. Neither the PicassoTiles product pages nor its Amazon listings checked on 2 October 2026 say how the magnets are secured (no rivet or welding claim). The EU Safety Gate lists a 2026 recall in the Netherlands of the Everplay 66-piece magnetic tile set (model EP66, magnets with high flux, not compliant with EN 71-1); Everplay sets are sold on picassotiles.com, but that notice does not cover this set. No notice naming PicassoTiles was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026.
Safety notices that mention this product or brand:
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "PicassoTiles". See the search
4
Best for siblings and classrooms
MAGNA-TILES Classic 100-Piece Set
MAGNA-TILESAges: 3+Price band: $$$
Why we picked it
The same riveted MAGNA-TILES construction in a 100-piece set, at a lower cost per tile than the 32. The natural second step once a starter set runs out, and enough for two children to build at once.
The large classic set: 100 translucent tiles (50 squares, 4 large squares and 46 triangles in three shapes) with the same riveted ferrite-magnet construction and 3-inch base as the 32-piece set. MAGNA-TILES lists it at 7.4 lb and made in the Philippines, and pitches it at siblings, larger builds and classrooms.
Pieces
100: 54 squares (4 large) and 46 triangles
Magnets
Ceramic (ferrite), riveted inside a lattice frame (maker)
Works with
Every MAGNA-TILES set, including microMAGS; no cross-brand claim
Material
MABS plastic, free of BPA, phthalates and latex (maker); 3-inch base
Good to know
Lower cost per tile than the 32-piece set
Enough pieces for two builders or tall structures
Same rivet and lattice construction the maker uses across the range
No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES in US, UK or EU recall databases on 2 October 2026
Watch out for
High upfront price
Heavy box (about 3.4 kg) and needs a storage bin
The official store ships within the US only
Still only translucent squares and triangles; no windows, doors or rectangles
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: CPSIA.
Maker guidance: for ages 3 and up; supervise young children who put toys in their mouths, check tiles regularly and stop using any damaged tile; get medical help at once if a magnet is swallowed. Under the mandatory US toy standard (ASTM F963-23, section 4.38), loose magnets that fit in the small-parts cylinder, as supplied or after use-and-abuse testing, must have a flux index under 50. No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026. The maker says it has never had a recall in more than 25 years.
No recall notices found in UK OPSS (October 2, 2026) and EU Safety Gate (October 2, 2026).
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "Magna-Tiles". See the search
5
Best for travel
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Travel 26-Piece Set
MAGNA-TILESAges: 3+Price band: $
Why we picked it
26 mini tiles in a metal tin that doubles as a building base. They connect with every MAGNA-TILES set but are 75% smaller, so they do not line up with standard tiles from any brand. Small pieces: strictly for ages 3 and up, with supervision.
A travel set of 26 mini tiles (12 squares and 14 triangles in three shapes) packed in a metal tin that doubles as a building base. MAGNA-TILES says microMAGS are 75% smaller than its standard tiles, use the same riveted construction and connect with every MAGNA-TILES set.
Pieces
26 mini tiles in a metal tin that doubles as a base
Magnets
Same riveted construction as standard tiles (maker)
Works with
Every MAGNA-TILES set; 75% smaller than standard tiles
Good to know
Tin works as storage and as a magnetic building base on trips
Connects with standard MAGNA-TILES at home
Low entry price for the brand
No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES in US, UK or EU recall databases on 2 October 2026
Watch out for
Small pieces: strictly for ages 3 and up, with supervision
Only 26 pieces
Mini tiles do not match the size of standard tiles from any brand
Costs noticeably more on Amazon Spain than in the US
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: CPSIA.
Maker guidance: for ages 3 and up; supervise young children who put toys in their mouths, check tiles regularly and stop using any damaged tile; get medical help at once if a magnet is swallowed. Under the mandatory US toy standard (ASTM F963-23, section 4.38), loose magnets that fit in the small-parts cylinder, as supplied or after use-and-abuse testing, must have a flux index under 50. No recall notice for MAGNA-TILES was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026. The maker says it has never had a recall in more than 25 years.
No recall notices found in UK OPSS (October 2, 2026) and EU Safety Gate (October 2, 2026).
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "Magna-Tiles". See the search
6
Budget starter that fits other brands
Coodoo magnetic tiles starter set (40 pieces)
CoodooAges: 3 to 14Price band: $
Why we picked it
A 40-tile set on a 3-inch (7.6 cm) base that Coodoo says fits other leading brands, sold on Amazon in the US and Spain. Coodoo only describes its magnets as sealed, with no rivet, welding or test-standard claim, which is why it ranks below the brands that document more.
A budget 40-tile rainbow starter set sold on Amazon in the US and Spain. Coodoo says its tiles have a 3-inch (7.6 cm) base so they fit other leading brands, are made of food-grade ABS, and that the magnetic blocks are sealed, with a cross-fix design against cracking.
Pieces
40 squares and triangles
Magnets
"Sealed", with a cross-fix design (maker)
Works with
3-inch (7.6 cm) base; maker says it fits leading brands
Material
Food-grade ABS (maker)
Good to know
Low price per tile
Standard 3-inch base that the maker says fits other leading brands
Same listing sold on Amazon in the US and Spain
No recall notice for Coodoo in US, UK or EU recall databases on 2 October 2026
Watch out for
"Sealed" is the only detail given on how magnets are secured; no rivet or test-standard claim
Limited official information: the brand store does not list this 40-piece set
Wide 3-to-14 age claim says little about fit for toddlers
Safety marks and recall checkListing last checked: October 2, 2026
Safety marks: not confirmed on the maker pages we read.
Maker guidance: from 36 months; the maker says the tiles are sealed and have smooth, rounded edges. Supervise young children and discard any cracked tile, because exposed magnets are an ingestion hazard. No recall notice for Coodoo was found in CPSC, EU Safety Gate or UK product safety searches on 2 October 2026.
No recall notices found in UK OPSS (October 2, 2026) and EU Safety Gate (October 2, 2026).
US CPSC, searched by hand on October 2, 2026: no recall found for "Coodoo". See the search
How to choose in four questions
1. How are the magnets held in? This matters more than the colour of the tiles. A tile that cracks can release a small, strong magnet, and the CPSC’s December 2025 recall of CreateOn’s Pip-Cubes described exactly that risk: magnets that can come loose when the seams separate. MAGNA-TILES says it uses rivets, CONNETIX says welding plus rivets, OugerToy says welding, Coodoo says “sealed”, and PicassoTiles says nothing either way.
2. Will you mix brands? Most full-size tiles sit on a 3-inch base, so they usually line up, but a maker’s promise is narrower than that. Only CONNETIX and Coodoo claim to fit other leading brands, and CONNETIX warns that its stronger magnets can make mixed joins feel weaker. MAGNA-TILES and PicassoTiles promise compatibility with their own sets only.
3. How many pieces? Starter sets of 26 to 40 pieces cover the basic shapes; bigger builds, or two children building at once, need more. Larger sets also cost less per tile: MAGNA-TILES’ 100-piece set costs less per tile than its 32-piece set at the brand’s own prices.
4. Where do you live? In the US, every set in this guide is easy to find. In the UK, MAGNA-TILES sells through its distributor Wow! Stuff and CONNETIX ships from its own UK warehouse. In Spain, read our Spanish guide to magnetic tiles: the best value there is different.
The key facts side by side
MAGNA-TILES Classic 32
CONNETIX Starter 60
PicassoTiles PT100
Coodoo 40
microMAGS 26
Pieces
32
60
100
40
26 (mini)
How magnets are held (maker)
Rivets
Welding and rivets
Not stated
“Sealed”
Rivets
Fits other brands (maker)
Own sets only
Most leading brands
Own sets only
Leading brands
MAGNA-TILES only
Standards the maker lists
CPSIA
ASTM F963, CPSIA, EN 71
None found
None found
CPSIA
Recall notices (2 Oct 2026)
None
None
None (one for a sister brand)
None
None
Maker’s age
3+
3+
3+
3 to 14
3+
Why magnet construction matters
Magnets inside tiles are safe while they stay inside. The rules focus on what happens when they do not. In the US, toys made after 20 April 2024 must meet ASTM F963-23, whose magnet section limits how strong a loose magnet small enough to swallow can be. In the EU, the EN 71-1 toy standard does the same job, and the UK’s product-safety regulator removes toys whose magnets exceed it.
What regulators keep finding is not the big brands. In August 2026 the CPSC announced a recall of about 213,500 Goody King magnetic building cubes sold on Amazon, after at least 27 reports of cubes breaking or opening and two children needing surgery. The EU’s Safety Gate lists tile sets withdrawn for magnets that are too strong: Everplay’s 66-piece set in the Netherlands (April 2026) and MOXY’s 32-piece Magnetic’Tiles in France (2025). None of the six picks in this guide appears in those databases.
Safety marks and recalls
We checked every product in this guide against the US CPSC, the UK’s product-safety notices and the EU’s Safety Gate on 2 October 2026. The UK and EU checks run automatically before every build; the CPSC’s data service was down, so we searched cpsc.gov by hand, and each card says so with the date and a link to the search.
MAGNA-TILES, CONNETIX, Coodoo and OugerToy: no notices in any of the three databases.
PicassoTiles: no notice names PicassoTiles. Its online store also sells Everplay sets, and Everplay’s 66-piece set (model EP66) was recalled in the Netherlands in April 2026 for high-flux magnets; that notice does not cover PicassoTiles sets.
The wider category: by our count of the CPSC’s recall list, 31 of the 120 recalls with “toy” in the title from February 2024 to September 2026 also mention magnets, mostly fidget sliders, stick figures and games. That is why the construction claims above are worth reading.
What about OugerToy, rods-and-balls kits and the cheapest sets?
OugerToy’s 104-piece set is a popular budget pick in the US and claims neodymium magnets sealed by ultrasonic welding, but it is not listed on Amazon Spain and the brand’s own site did not respond when we checked. Magnetic rods-and-balls kits, such as Lidl’s LUPILU set, are a different toy: their small metal balls and sticks appear often in EU safety alerts, so they need closer supervision than tiles. Below the brands in this guide, many sets say nothing about how their magnets are held in; at that point a lower price buys less certainty.
Frequently asked questions
Are magnetic tiles safe for toddlers?
Every set in this guide is rated for ages 3 and up. The danger is a magnet coming loose: two swallowed magnets can attract each other through the intestines. Choose a brand that says how its magnets are secured, check tiles for cracks, and throw away any damaged tile. In the US, toys made after 20 April 2024 must meet ASTM F963-23, which requires loose magnets small enough to swallow to have a flux index under 50.
Do Magna-Tiles work with Connetix and other brands?
Often, with caveats. Most standard sets share a 3-inch base, so edges usually line up, but only some makers claim cross-brand fit. CONNETIX says its tiles work with most leading brands, although joins may feel weaker because its magnets are stronger, and Coodoo says its 3-inch tiles fit leading brands. MAGNA-TILES and PicassoTiles only promise compatibility with their own sets, and microMAGS fit only MAGNA-TILES.
Have magnetic tiles been recalled?
On 2 October 2026 we found no recall of MAGNA-TILES, CONNETIX, PicassoTiles, Coodoo or OugerToy tiles in the US, UK or EU databases. Other magnetic building toys have been recalled: in August 2026 the CPSC announced a recall of about 213,500 Goody King magnetic building cubes after reports of loose magnets, and the EU's Safety Gate lists 2025 and 2026 recalls of tile sets from other brands, including Everplay's 66-piece set, for magnets that are too strong.
What about a 2-year-old?
Makers grade every set here for ages 3 and up because of small parts and magnets. Under 3, keep tiles for supervised play with an older child. Mini tiles and magnetic rods-and-balls kits are the least suitable: their pieces are smaller, and rods-and-balls kits appear often in EU safety alerts.
Are expensive magnetic tiles worth it?
What the higher price buys is mostly documentation: how the magnets are held in, which standards the maker lists, and a long record without recalls. MAGNA-TILES and CONNETIX document the most; budget brands often say little or nothing about magnet construction. If you buy budget tiles, inspect them more often.
Where can I buy them in the UK?
MAGNA-TILES has no UK store of its own and lists Wow! Stuff as its UK distributor. CONNETIX ships UK orders from its warehouse in Minworth.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance, checked line by line against the sources listed on this page, and published under the editorial responsibility of Idan Yehuda. We did not test these products ourselves.
IY
Idan Yehuda
Editor, co-creator of the WonderPad
Idan co-founded GoWonderia and helped design the WonderPad, a Montessori-inspired tracing tablet sold on Amazon in Spain and the UK, which took him through toy-safety certification first-hand. He is a product manager and a dad, and he edits every GoWonderia guide.
