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After more than 7 hours of research and testing, our top pick for best checkers set goes to the WE Games Solid Wood Checkers Set. It is beautifully presented and an all-around workhorse with a sturdy hardwood construction and inset slots to store pieces easily. It is also large (1.45″ by 11.5″), making it a nice focal point for any table.
Choosing the best checkers set could mean the difference between spending countless hours on strategy or struggling with flimsy pieces and an uneven game board. Our evaluation focused on how well it serves as a ‘prestige piece’. material & durability, design, size, and auxiliary features such as pouches to store game pieces. Keep reading to learn more about other best checker sets available for purchase. You can also check out our review of the best board games to see what else is available.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This checkers set comes with a sturdy hardwood board and two inset grooves to rest conquered pieces on, making it a great choice for everyday players.
This premium checkers set is as traditional as they come, consisting of a 14.5″ by 11.5″ Malaysian Oak hardwood board and rustic-looking wooden red and black pieces. Each piece glides effortlessly across the board and recessed grooves on opposite ends keep conquered pieces in place. Along with a dotted decorative black border, we love how well it complements most home decor.
Each checker piece is also ridged, which allows for easy stacking atop one another. The entire set is also pretty durable, moisture, and rust-resistant, good for use outdoors. All in all, we were very impressed with this luxury checker set’s overall build and design quality. If your family also likes dominoes, you’ll want to take a look at our review of the best domino sets.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This checkers set uses a large 28″ by 28″ reversible rug with a checkerboard and Tic Tac Toe games printed on opposite sides, making it a great choice for players who would prefer to sprawl out on the floor or play on camping trips.
We love this themed checker set’s versatility, consisting of a reversible rug with Tic Tac Toe games on one side and a traditional checkers layout on the other. It includes extra-large pieces (12 2.9″ red checkers and 12 2.9″ black checkers). It’s Tic Tac Toe side also uses the same pieces, so we appreciate not having two sets of pieces to work with.
Although not intended as a true prestige piece, this checkers set makes more than up for it with its utility. It uses a soft woven material that offers a nice stickiness’ for each piece. Each checker piece also carries ridged edges, making it easy to grip, move, and stack. Kudos for this checker set’s portability – simply roll up and go. If your kid is a bit more high tech, try one of the best robot toys for kids.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This inexpensive checkers set offers a solid wood reversible board with a checkers board on one side and a Tic Tac Toe board on the other side, making it a great choice for 5+-year-olds.
This two-sided board follows a minimalist approach. Unlike others, there are no decorative boards or inset grooves to store pieces – simply a sturdy, solid, and natural-looking hardwood board with a checkers and Tic Tac Toe board on opposite sides, though it is not a chess set. Although not a prestige piece, it complements most rooms well with its simplicity.
Pieces are also well constructed, using wood with soft ridges for a good hold. They glide across the board’s smooth surface well with no friction. While playing, we were very impressed with the overall feel. This is by far one of the best toys and games you’ll be able to find for your kids.
Award: BEST NOSTALGIC
WHY WE LIKE IT: This checkers set is made of cardboard and is foldable in four sections, making it a great choice for people who want an easy-to-carry set with the classic red and black nostalgic checker scheme.
We love this checker set’s design. It uses durable cardboard, which is foldable in four ways for easy storage. In terms of aesthetics and as a prestige piece, it is limited to placing back in the box, offering no real visual appeal like other recommended solid hardwood boards and decorative border sets.
It also uses plastic checkers, which interlock and contain ridged grooves, making them easily stackable to save table space. It can more than hold up well with regular wear, though the edges may fray over time with heavy use. If you want your kids to play outside instead, check out our guide to the best nerf guns to tempt them.
Award: MOST PORTABLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This checker set comes with a plush two-sided rug for Checkers and Tic Tac Toe, along with extra-large checker pieces, making it an excellent choice for wilderness trips.
This 24″ by 24″ checker set’s board is very versatile. It uses a traditional checkerboard on one side and a Tic Tac Toe/Super Tic Tac Toe print on the opposite side. Although not a statement piece, frayed cloth edges and vintage-style lettering give it a rustic look. Kudos for coming with a storage bag, which makes it easy to fold and pack with.
We like this checker set’s jumbo-sized, 3″ pieces. Ridged edges make them stackable and they do not warp or break with heavy wear and tear. They can also be used for the Tic Tac Toe games. We can definitely appreciate not having two sets of playing pieces for the same board. If your kids love to build things too, you’ll love our guide to the best Lego sets.
Award: MOST DURABLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This check set is made using sturdy pine and baltic birch plywood and uses a clear lacquer, making it a great choice for people who plan on frequent play.
This .5″ thick checker’s set is simple and no-frills, with its checked pattern made using non-toxic color dye, which gives it a slightly rustic look. It is not intended as a prestige piece for room aesthetics but serves as more of a workhorse.
This board game is built solid using clear lacquered-sealed birch plywood, which holds up very well to wear and tear Kudos for its included pouch to store pieces. Each checker piece resembles a very smooth disk with slightly ridged edges to make them stackable. We like this for preserving space around the board. Bonus points for being made in the U.S.A. – we always appreciate testing homegrown products. If you love fun outdoor family activities, then you will love our review on the best nerf gun in 2020.
Award: BEST FOR TIPS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This checker set comes with a magnetized surface and a foldable design, making it great for travelers using unstable surfaces such as airplane seatback trays.
We love this checker set’s construction. A magnetized surface and small support “feet” on the bottom keeps pieces well-positioned with little to no sliding on unstable tabletops. It’s also foldable halfway, with chessboard buckles that “lock into place” when closed. On the aesthetic side, it offers a pure utilitarian look with a black and metallic checker color scheme that works well with technophiles.
This checker set’s pieces are very smartly designed, with a fine magnetized bottom and a smooth textured top with no buffs. Our only knock is that they are not stackable, so you may find yourself palming conquered pieces if not careful. Kudos for a carry pouch which makes it easy to carry game pieces from place to place.
In determining the best checkers set to buy, we explored how well it serves as a ‘prestige piece’, material & durability, design (e.g. insert grooves for storing pieces, etc.), and auxiliary features such as pouches for playing pieces.
Outside of our #1 pick, the rest are pure utilitarian picks. They use classic hardwood, foldable cardboard, floor rugs, and/or magnetic bases, not attractive enough to place as centerpieces in living rooms and play dens. However, they are versatile enough to account for hours and hours of fun with both board and checker pieces intuitively designed.
We love checker sets that can withstand regular wear and tear well. The Maple Landmark Checkers Set with its clear lacquered, birch hardwood construction performs very well. The Cardinal Wood Checkers Set is also made of solid wood and our two-floor mat picks are made of durable, fine woven material with thick frayed edges that do not shrink in the wash.
Kudos for checkers set that incorporate inset grooves to store pieces when not in use. We also always appreciate a good carry pouch to carry our pieces in.
