Table of Contents

7 Best Easels for Kids to Inspire Your Young Artist (2025 Reviews)

3 girls sitting at side angle view - kids
seen in: national geographic, cnn, travel + leisure, new york times
the guardian, lonely planet, usa today, forbes
By
Updated on

If your child loves to draw or paint, an easel might be the perfect gift for them. Most easels offer easy storage for paints, brushes, markers, chalk, and more, keeping them organized and easy to find. They also keep your child from drawing or painting on your table or the walls!

Easels offer many educational and physical benefits, but how do you know which one to choose? There are so many on the market, and they all offer these benefits. To help you narrow down your choices, I’ve created this list of the 7 best easels for kids.

The Best Easels for Kids

  • 1. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel

    (Best brand — $$)

    Why it’s great: Melissa & Doug is a reliable, trustworthy brand that makes high-quality kids’ toys and supplies. This wooden easel has a chalkboard and whiteboard, plus a paper roller making it very versatile. It even includes a child-safe paper cutter. It has easy-to-grip clips to hold the paper and plastic trays on each side for storage. One side is a plain tray for chalk and/or markers and crayons. The other side is geared more towards painting, with a spot for brushes, paint cups, and bottles of paint. It’s easy to assemble and folds up flat for storage when not in use.

    Keep in mind: This one doesn’t come with a roll of paper or the paint cups that fit into the tray, so you’ll need to buy those, plus your art supplies, separately.

    Good for: Parents who want a high-quality easel from a brand that they trust.

    Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. KidKraft Wooden Storage Easel with Dry Erase and Chalkboard Surfaces

    (Best storage — $$)

    Why it’s great: This easel is made of high-quality wood and is sturdy and durable. It has a whiteboard, chalkboard, and paper roll for versatility. This one comes with plenty of storage for all your art accessories. It has a tray on each side, with one side geared towards painting, and three storage tubs down below. It comes with three sealable, spill-proof paint cups and a roll of paper too. The trays and storage tubs are easy to clean and removable for storage. The easel folds up flat when not in use.

    Keep in mind: This is best for kids ages 3-8 years old, and it takes up quite a bit of space, so make sure you have enough room for it.

    Good for: Kids who have a lot of art supplies and need extra storage space on their easel.

    KidKraft Wooden Storage Easel with Dry Erase and Chalkboard Surfaces

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. TECHMOO Kids U-Stand Easels

    (Most adjustable — $)

    Why it’s great: This metal easel is sturdy and durable. It has a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard on the other side. The board is completely adjustable, so your child can change the height for sitting or standing and as they grow. They can also adjust the tilt of the board, and it will flip over 360 degrees. The board is also magnetic, so your child can play with magnets or use some to hold up the paper if they want to paint. It has an anti-pinch design to keep your little one’s fingers safe and is easy to assemble and fold up for storage.

    Keep in mind: It doesn’t come with any paper or clips to hang it if you purchase it on your own.

    Good for: Growing kids who need an easel that is height adjustable.

    TECHMOO Kids U-Stand Easels

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. U Play Wall Art Easel for Kids, Premium Chalk Surface, and Paper Roll

    (Best for small spaces — $)

    Why it’s great: This is a great easel for kids who don’t have the space for a big one. It hangs on the wall and has a chalkboard and a roll of paper with clips to hold it in place at the top and bottom. It’s an extra-thick wood design that’s sturdy and durable. The twist knobs for the paper are easy for your child to use, and it comes with everything you need to get it mounted on the wall. You can mount it at whatever height works best for your child and move it as needed. It comes with a roll of paper and turns your little one’s wall into a place for art.

    Keep in mind: This one has a smaller surface, and it doesn’t come with any storage or supplies.

    Good for: Kids who love art but don’t have room for a traditional easel.

    U Play Wall Art Easel for Kids, Premium Chalk Surface, and Paper Roll

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Award Winning Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid's Art Easel

    (Most eco friendly — $$)

    Why it’s great: Hape is an environmentally conscious brand that creates kids’ products from sustainable sources. This easel is made of wood from environmentally sustainable forests and has a child-safe finish. It comes with a tray for supplies, including three sealed paint cups. It also has a roll of paper attached to the top and special screw-down clamps to hold the paper in place while your child paints. It also has a whiteboard on one side that’s magnetic and a chalkboard on the other for added versatility. The height is adjustable, allowing it to grow with your child, and it’s safe for kids ages 3 and up.

    Keep in mind: You have to unscrew it to fold it down for storage, and the wood is not sealed.

    Good for: Parents who want a high-quality wooden easel for their child.

    Award Winning Hape All-in-One Wooden Kid's Art Easel

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • Asher And LyricOn An Important Side Note… Asher and I (pictured) feel it’s necessary to highlight the value of life insurance for parents with young kids. After extensive research, we discovered that parents can get insured for as little as $10 per month. We use Ladder Life who offers coverage up to $3M per parent (without a medical exam, just a few health questions) and you can apply 100% online.

    Get a quote in less than 30 seconds at LadderLife.com ➜

  • 6. STEAM Life Art Easel for Kids - 4 in 1 Double Sided Magnetic Board, Chalkboard, and Drawing White Board for Kids

    (Best for young kids — $)

    Why it’s great: This easel has a chalkboard and a whiteboard, and both sides are magnetic. The height is adjustable, making it great for toddlers and older kids. It has a large storage tray with different cups and compartments. The board flips over 360 degrees, allowing your child to tilt the board to whatever angle feels the most comfortable. You can even completely remove the board to use in your lap, on the floor, or at a table. This easel is made of sturdy plastic and comes with a clip to hold paper on the board. Another bonus: this easel comes with magnetic letters and numbers, dry erase markers, chalk, a chalk holder, an eraser, and storage cups.

    Keep in mind: It doesn’t come with assembly instructions, but it’s pretty easy to figure out yourself.

    Good for: Toddlers and younger children who want an easel.

    STEAM Life Art Easel for Kids - 4 in 1 Double Sided Magnetic Board, Chalkboard, and Drawing White Board for Kids

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. U.S. Art Supply Children's 3-Sided Art Activity Easel

    (Best for multiple kids — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This easel is extra large and sturdy. It has three sides, with a chalkboard, a whiteboard, and a blackboard. Each board is magnetic, and it comes with number of magnets. Each panel can be separately adjusted for height, making it great for younger and older kids. It comes with two wooden trays and four paint cups. It also has a paper roll attached to the top of the blackboard. The easel has a large bottom shelf that can be used for storage as well.

    Keep in mind: This is big and bulky and doesn’t fold down flat without taking it apart, so make sure you have room in your house.

    Good for: Families with multiple kids who need to share an easel.

    U.S. Art Supply Children's 3-Sided Art Activity Easel

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel

The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Standing Art Easel

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about Easels for Kids

  • 1. Why should I get my kids an easel?

    Easels encourage kids to use their imagination and create their own art masterpieces. They improve kids’ coordination and fine motor skills too. The vertical angle kids have to use for easels requires better coordination and skill, improving these skills even more than drawing at a table. They’re a great way for your child to have fun while teaching them to be more independent. They’ll also learn colors, and if they’re using paint, learn how to mix colors.

  • 2. At what age can my child use an easel?

    This will depend on the child, but they’re usually better for kids ages 3 and up. This is because paintbrushes or chalk can end up in small pieces, making them a choking hazard. Plus, toddlers can be pretty wild and rambunctious, which could easily lead to paint flying everywhere if you’re not careful.

  • 3. What kind of easel is best for kids?

    There are so many different easels out there, and there really isn’t one that’s better than the others. They all offer different features, so it really depends on your child and their preferences. Wooden easels are durable and sturdy but often cost more than plastic. Plastic easels are usually geared more towards younger kids. Some have chalkboards, some have whiteboards, and some come with a roll of paper. Choose one that has the features that make the most sense for your child.

  • 4. Do easels come with art supplies?

    Most easels don’t come with any art supplies. Many come with a roll of paper for painting, and many come with storage for your supplies. However, these usually don’t include things like paint, paintbrushes, markers, or any of the tools your child will need to make their art.

  • 5. Are easels safe for kids?

    For the most part, easels are completely safe for kids. The biggest concern is setting them up or folding them for storage. There’s a risk of pinched fingers if your child is trying to do it themselves. However, if you’re leaving it set up, this shouldn’t be a problem. On the other hand, depending on the art supplies your child is using and their maturity level, there is the danger of damage to your home, such as paint or marker on the floors or walls. Supervise your child when they’re using the easel, and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Conclusion

Easels are a great way to encourage your child’s creativity while also allowing them to get up and move around. Standing at an easel and drawing or painting at a vertical angle will help to strengthen your child’s core and improve their motor skills and coordination.

Finding the best easel for your child doesn’t have to be challenging. This list gives you a variety of options with different features, which should make it easy to find one that suits your and your child’s needs.