Best beach toys for summer 2026

A classic beach toy that can be enjoyed for many years to come, this high-quality bucket and spade set takes our top spot for a beach day must-have, making it a budget-friendly yet entertaining option for children of all ages. From sandcastle competitions and raking out moats to collecting pebbles and water from the sea, the opportunities for creative play are endless.

While many bucket and spade sets can take up valuable space in your suitcase or car boot, this set comes with three fully collapsible beach buckets, allowing you to conveniently fold them down flat, and a handy drawstring bag to keep everything together. Made from high-quality, durable plastic with no sharp corners in sight, the set also includes three handy shovels to help bring their sand creations to life.

Read next: Best collapsible folding wagons for the beach, festivals and family adventures

Heading on holiday can already be eye-wateringly expensive, so it’s worth remembering that you don’t need to spend a fortune to find a fun beach toy for your children. This brightly coloured inflatable giant beach ball will set you back less than your morning coffee, but it is super easy to pack in your beach bag along with your best sun tan lotion and beach towels.

When you’ve located your perfect spot on the beach, this beach ball can be quickly and easily inflated and be ready to play within minutes. It also provides great encouragement for your children to get up and active, whether that’s a game of catch on the sand or a volleyball-style battle across the waves in the sea.

A word of caution, however, on a particularly windy day you may find yourself racing down the beach to retrieve it, particularly if your children’s aim is questionable. Consider that all part of the fun!

Related: Best beach tents for a sun-safe summer holiday

Toddlers and water play make a great combination, so bringing a watering can along on holiday can provide hours of multi-purpose entertainment, providing fun at the beach as well as in the bath or swimming pool.

We love this lightweight silicone watering can from Bigjigs. This lightweight kids' toy is made from child-friendly food-grade silicone, an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, it's tough enough for sandpits, sea water, soil and sunshine. But the best bit is the watering can folds down flat, which means it is perfect for stashing in your beach bag for a family day out by the sea.

Read next: The best sand and water tables for kids

As well as being great fun for your sandpit at home, monster trucks and diggers make a great alternative beach toy, providing the perfect combination of imaginative play and construction in one.

Children will love pushing this Hape Monster Digger across the beach, digging out moats or creating circuits and watching the fun tracks and imprints it creates in the sand. With a large, easy grip handle, the digger also makes an excellent sand scoop, with the ability to collect impressive amounts of sand up before rolling it back to their sandcastle.

Related: The best pool toys for summer 2026

If you’re looking for a beach toy that’ll entertain even the most reluctant of tweens or teenagers, this re-imagination of the traditional frisbee is sure to have them up on their feet in no time.

Thin and compact, the Aerobie Sprint Ring has a 10-inch diameter that can easily fit into your backpack or beach bag. Claiming to fly twice as far as a conventional flying disk, the Aerobie transforms a traditional game of catch into a high-energy, fast-based battle on the beach between family and friends.

Easy to throw and with soft edges that are painless to catch, this beach toy encourages children to burn off some excess energy whilst mastering their signature moves!

Related: The best trampolines

Taking a game of throw and catch to another level, these smart Waboba palm-sized waterproof balls can actually bounce on water, making them a fun and engaging beach toy to throw or skim to each other as you paddle in the sea.

Small enough to fit into your pocket, these portable, lightweight balls come in a variety of colours and are made from a three-layer design consisting of lycra and gel. These brightly coloured Waboba Balls also float on water - meaning you won’t have to dive down under the salty waves to retrieve them, no matter how far they may bounce!

Read next: Best first bikes for kids: from balance bikes to pedal bikes

A classic toy many of us may remember from our own childhood, boules (otherwise known as pentaque) provides hours of family fun both at home and away. Whilst it’s heavier than some beach toys due to the weighted balls, this carry-along Boules Set makes an enjoyable, portable beach game to both watch and play, creating a shared experience for the entire family from young children to grandparents.

The rules are really simple, pop out these brightly coloured weighted balls from the handy carry case and roll the small white jack. The aim is to get your coloured balls as close to the jack as possible, carefully judging the distance and location to ensure accuracy.

In a game of skill and concentration, you can expect some fun camaraderie between players, but don’t get complacent, even when you’re in the lead, a forceful roll from your competition can quickly knock you off the top spot.

Related: The best outdoor toys for your garden

If your children love playing catch but are yet to master their technique, this Velcro catch set is great for improving their confidence.

An easy-to-play catch game suitable for the whole family, the set includes two large velcro paddles and a ball. Strapping the paddle over one hand, you simply throw the brightly coloured tennis ball to your opponent, who will aim to catch the ball with their sticky paddle, before pulling the ball away from the velcro and throwing it back.

Whilst the ball can be a little tricky to pull off the pad when new, this becomes easier over time.

Related: The best hammocks to relax in

Do not underestimate the enjoyment that can be achieved from flying a kite on the beach on a windy day. If you’re heading to the coat with your kids, you can certainly make the most of the refreshing breeze with this easy-to-use kite set.

This ZoomSky Kite set is ideal for siblings to share, including two kites with unique designs - a large rainbow delta kite and a red octopus kite with a bright, colourful tail. Both kites are made from strong nylon, are easy to assemble and come with an easy grip handle, helping even young children control the kite with ease.

With over 100 meters of string, your children will be watching in awe as these brightly coloured designs swoop up high above the horizon. It’s worth noting however that reviewers found the octopus much easier to use when getting started, whilst the delta kite is certainly a case of practice makes perfect.

Read next: Best skateboards for kids as recommended by parents

Belgian brand Quut certainly knows how to make beach toys with a difference, and if you’re looking for a multipurpose beach set that offers a great variety of play, you’ll love this set which can keep your kids calm and content for hours.

This Quut Beach Set includes a triplet, ring toss and magic sand shaper, all housed within a portable net drawstring bag, making a versatile beach toy for building fun sand constructions and playing games.

Children will love using the magic shaper to create unique patterns in the sand, while the uniquely designed triplet can be used as a shovel, sand sifter or water/ sand funnel, helping bring even the most creative of sand castles to life. When it’s time for a game, the triplet funnel also becomes the target for a fun-throwing game of ringo with friends.

This doesn’t come cheap, but made from durable recycled plastic that’s easy to clean and store, we feel this makes a versatile choice for children of all ages.

Read next: The best scooters for kids, tried and tested by Mumsnetters