Best STEM Kits for Kids — every ranking, by use case and budget
Every kit here was bought at retail and used by real children with a parent watching. Scores are locked before any affiliate link is added; Amazon links carry our Associates tag.
By use case indexed
By price page 1 indexedpage 2+ noindex
In-depth stem kits for kids reviews
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
Snap-together electronics with 101 projects — the classic that taught our 7-year-old what a circuit is in one afternoon
Read Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 ReviewKiwiCo Crates
A complete, well-designed project every month for every age from 0 to 16 — the kits our children asked about on delivery day
Read KiwiCo Crates ReviewSphero BOLT
A programmable robot ball with an LED matrix and sensors that took our 11-year-old from block code to JavaScript over two weeks
Read Sphero BOLT ReviewMEL Science
Real chemistry and physics experiments with lab-grade equipment and VR lessons — the most science per box in the test, for older kids
Read MEL Science ReviewThames & Kosmos CHEM C500
A proper beginner's chemistry set from the German lab-kit maker: 28 experiments with real reagents and a manual that explains the reactions
Read Thames & Kosmos CHEM C500 ReviewLEGO Education SPIKE Essential
The classroom LEGO robotics set for ages 6–10: motors, sensors, a hub and story-based coding lessons
Read LEGO Education SPIKE Essential ReviewOsmo Genius Starter Kit for iPad
Physical pieces the iPad camera can see — tangrams, number tiles, words and drawing — for ages 6 to 10
Read Osmo Genius Starter Kit for iPad ReviewNational Geographic Earth Science Kit
Crystals, a volcano, a geode and 15 experiments for under $30 — the best-selling starter science kit, and a fair one
Read National Geographic Earth Science Kit ReviewGuides that send readers to these rankings
STEM Subscription Box or One-Off Kit? What Two Weeks of Testing Showed
Cost per hour, return rate and learning depth for KiwiCo and MEL against Snap Circuits, chemistry sets and robots.
The Right STEM Kit for Each Age, 5 to 14
Our picks by age band from eight tested kits, and the one mistake parents make with the age on the box.