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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
A great dollhouse is fun to play with and provides kids with an opportunity to stretch their creative muscles.
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.
Best Overall: Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse
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Courtesy of Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis / The Spruce
Clean, attractive design
Accessible from multiple sides
Eco-friendly focus
Hard to reach lower levels
Who else recommends it? Insider, Best Products, and Good Housekeeping all picked the Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse.
What do buyers say? 86% of 2,100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
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
Best Cottage: KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture
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Courtesy of Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis / The Spruce
Affordable given the size
Comes with 16 pieces of furniture
Open design makes group play easy
Some may find the patterns kitschy
Assembly may take a while
This five-room, multi-level wooden house is suitable for five-inch dolls. None are included, but you will get a 16-piece furniture pack (it comes with fun furnishings like bunk beds and a grand piano), and additional items can be bought separately. The shutters open and close, and there are molded staircases connecting the floors—both of these touches help give it a realistic feel.
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
Best for Toddlers: Fisher-Price Little People Friends Together Playhouse
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Courtesy of Walmart
Stout figures are great for small hands
Incredibly durable
Easy to clean
Doubles as storage
Some parents may not like the noise
This colorful house embodies the simple, enduring vibe that has become a hallmark of Little People toys. There are four rooms along with a swimming pool and a tree swing, and the set comes with three Little People characters. Kids will love thoughtful details like the toilet's flushing sound, lights that turn on and off, the kitchen tablet displaying a recipe, and the sleepover-ready trundle bed.
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
Best Open Design: Pidoko Pidoko Kids Skylar Dollhouse
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Pidoko
Dolls and accessories included
Easy access to each level
Modern aesthetic
Some reported doors breaking easily
Thanks to its open design, your child (and a few other kids) can access the dollhouse virtually from any side. The dollhouse is designed with child-friendly paint and handcrafted wood for a simple, modern style. It already includes a family of five dolls, a pet dog, and 20 pieces of furniture, so you don't have to purchase any accessories separately. Bright, gender-neutral colors provide hours of fun for both boys and girls.
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
Best for Older Kids: Coco Village Wooden Doll House
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cocovillage
Includes exterior and interior
Versatile and sturdy design
Multiple kids can play at once
Expensive
Furniture not included
One of the largest dollhouses on this list, the Wooden Doll House by Coco Village is big enough for multiple kids to play with at once. It features three spacious floors, complete with three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom, and garage.
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
Best for Larger Dolls: Our Generation Cozy Cabin Dollhouse Playset for 18-Inch Dolls
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Courtesy of Target
Fun details will keep kids engaged
Inexpensive 18-inch doll option compared to other brands
Lights up and makes sounds
One-room layout may feel constraining
Plastic may be less durable over time
If your child loves 18-inch dolls such as American Girl and Our Generation, this affordable vacation cabin will be a fun addition to their collection, especially around the winter holidays. It has a compact footprint, but there is space for two dolls (note that none are included), thanks to the cozy sleeping loft. It also comes with fun accessories like a blanket, pillows, fire logs, a chair with an ottoman, pretend food (think S'Mores and cocoa), and cooking utensils.
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
Best for Barbie: Barbie Dreamhouse Dollhouse with Wheelchair-Accessible Elevator
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Courtesy of Amazon
Comes with dozens of accessories and extras
Fun interactive elements with sound
Massive size and open floor plan
Extremely large
Won't sit flush against a wall
If your children love Barbies and other 12-inch dolls, you might want to consider this palatial structure. It comes with dozens of high-tech features such as a wheelchair-accessible elevator, customizable lights and sounds, two pools with slides (one just for pets!), and an outdoor deck.
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
Most Stylish: Djeco Modern Dollhouse
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Courtesy of Amazon
Gorgeous design you'll want to show off
Gender-neutral color scheme
Arrives totally unfurnished
Can be hard to find furniture from other brands that fits inside
Glamorous and minimalist, this six-room dollhouse comes completely unfurnished, so you'll need to factor that into your budget (the Djeco children's room set, for example, currently costs about $33). It fits four-inch dolls and has an open layout that makes it easy for several kids to get in on the action since it's accessible from every side. Djeco, a French company based in Paris since 1954, is known for its stylish toys, which are sold at museum shops such as MoMA in New York and the Tate in London.
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
Best Portable: Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Dollhouse
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Courtesy of Amazon
Stores easily
Classic design
Comes with play figures and furniture
Wood may splinter easily over time with heavy use
Dolls offered lack diversity
Want a dollhouse that doesn't hog space? This sweet fold-up home, which has handles that make it easy to carry, might be for you. Not only does it have four rooms, but there's also a garage with a door that opens and closes (you add the car yourself). This dollhouse is unusual because it's fairly compact and foldable, but also feels fulfilling to play with when it's fully open.
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
Best Nostalgic: Calico Critters Red Roof Country Home Gift Set
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Courtesy of Amazon
Flexible, modular setup can be customized
Fun touches like working lights
Adorable, nostalgic design
Delicate pieces not ideal for younger children
This adorable house comes with two of the popular Calico Critters figures—Bell Hopscotch Rabbit Girl and her Rabbit Mother, Heidi —as well as furniture like a bed, piano, kitchen items, and dining set. What's distinctive about it is that because it's modular, it can be reconfigured in different ways—the floors can be stacked, the house can be turned at different angles, or it can be completely closed.
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
Most Realistic: Tender Leaf Dovetail House
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Courtesy of Amazon
Flexible, modular setup can be customized
Made form a renewable resource
Realistic design
Dovetail furniture sets sold separately
Made from rubber tree wood, this dollhouse has a variety of realistic details, including floors with printed patterns that suggest wood planks and tiles, shutters that open and close, and staircases. On the exterior, you'll find a window box planting, potted plants for the porch, and a wreath for the door.
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
Best Castle House: KidKraft Disney Princess Royal Celebration Wooden Dollhouse
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Courtesy of Amazon
Comes with furniture
Dramatic, glasslike elevator
Beloved Disney characters hidden in decor
Two hour assembly time
Part dollhouse and part castle, this impressive structure is guaranteed to thrill young Disney fans. There are five distinct spaces divided among the four stories, and cinematic touches like a rooftop balcony, a working elevator, and a curved staircase.
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
Best Lightweight: Ollie Ella Holdie House
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Courtesy of Ollie Ella
Eco-friendly materials
Safe for younger children
Unfussy design
Small size may be outgrown quickly
Arrives unfurnished
This lightweight house is perfect for the toddler crew since it has its own vegan leather carry handle and weighs around two pounds. The sustainably sourced, untreated wood is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and can be either left plain, stained or painted with your child's favorite colors.
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
Our top dollhouse pick was the Hape All Season Kids Wooden Dollhouse because of its included furniture, open and wooden design, and accessibility for group play. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, the Fisher-Price Little People Friends Together Playhouse is made of plastic, easy to assemble, and fun songs and phrases for your kiddo.
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
What to Look for in a Doll House
Dimensions and shape
A dollhouse is an investment not just in money, but in space as well. You'll want to consider whether or not you want it on the floor or a table, and also whether you want something that folds up and can be stored in a closet, or whether you don't mind having it out all the time. Toddlers may appreciate having a smaller, more lightweight house that's easier for them to manage and even carry around. Some are attractive enough that you'll be proud to display them in your living room.
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.
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The Spruce / Charlene Petitjean-Barkulis
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.
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When were dollhouses invented?
Surprisingly, the first dollhouses weren't designed for play. In the 1500s, wealthy Europeans used so-called "baby houses" to display expensive miniature furniture and household accessories. In the 17th and 18th centuries, toymakers began making "dollhouses" for children, and they remain popular today.
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What scale are dollhouses?
Dollhouses vary in scale and understanding the scale of a dollhouse impacts the type of furniture you purchase. The most common sizes for dollhouses include 1:6, 1:12, 1:16, 1:24, and 1:48. Some scales are more popular for collectors, while others are common for children's toys. Playhouses for young children are typically 1:12 scale, while fashion doll (Barbie) houses are usually 1:6 scale. The other sizes are usually aimed toward collectors.
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Why are my dollhouse shingles bubbling up?
Dollhouse shingles are often very thin and will curl if you use a water-based adhesive. Many dollhouse experts recommend low-moisture glues, such as wood glue, to adhere shingles to the house.
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.
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